20-YUMA-Part 2

The desert near Yuma is greener than what we have seen previously.

Please excuse the windshield chip and bug spots in these pictures.  This is what happens when I photograph through the windshield. (Darn bugs!!)The desert at this point is more interesting than in a lot of places.

The Saguaro Cactus are everywhere, reaching for the sky. They don’t grow arms till they are in excess of 60 years old, so these are ‘youngsters’.

For a while as we drove the Interstate, the blacktop was lined with blue lupine backed up with yellow flowers.

Now here is something we have never seen in all our previous travels as we are passed by…

…the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile! (How dare a Weinermobile pass a motorhome, anyway????)

On this day we are heading out into the desert, 45 minutes north of Yuma to Castle Dome Mines Museum. The Castle Dome Mountain is in the distance as we drive a rough, dusty gravel road.

Our first view includes a large Saguaro Cactus, and old building, a well driller with the Castle Dome mountain in the background.

We found that there are 35 old buildings here in one location. Most have been gathered from the general area and moved here to compromise a “ghost town” type of museum. Because these buildings have been moved to this location, I wouldn't really call this a ‘ghost town’ but definitely a museum.

There is an amazing amount of old things that the owners of this area have collected. These were representative of an old silver mining town.

In the old buildings there are lots of antique items, including several really ugly manikins.

Castle Dome City was established 1864 according to a sign on a building in the background.

A Well Driller towers over the “town.”

There was one two-room building that had a note on the outside that parents were not to let children write notes here…this was for veterans only…and veterans were invited to write notes on the walls and ceiling. It was totally covered with signatures and notes from veterans, current and retired. It was very impressive.

There was an old mercantile building and a church in the background. The church appeared to still be operating judging from the hymnals in the pews and the pipe organ in the building.

In contrast was the Bar complete with a cow skull outside.

Every old mining town has a graveyard and this was the last grave marker in that cemetery.

Another old building is in the background of this one, along with a mountain.

There were yellow flowers almost everywhere, adding color and life to things that are only an echo of what they once had been.

Huge antique bellows were in the blacksmith’s shop.

There was a “mine” that you could walk through. It was pitch black in there. After a few steps inside, I turned on the flashlight on my cell phone as I did not want to find any slithery company in there. Happily, I made it through with no unwanted or surpring company.

On the way back to town we noticed that the cactus flowers were beginning to bloom. They were a brilliant pink. In another couple days these cactus would be covered with them. Because it has been so dry, we were happy to see even a few of them.

MEANWHILE, back at the ranch, or maybe I should say, “Back in Sunriver”….the two feet of snow that recently fell has now melted and was then followed by rain. One of our neighbors, Ron Pugh, sent us pictures. Ron and Christine live just around the corner from us and on the same river we live on.  Our house sits much higher then theirs and therefore will stay dryer.

This is the back of Ron's new house that faces the river. They are completely surrounded by water.

From his back deck, you can see the two closest willows. They used to be on the bank of the river at the edge of his yard. I just can't help but wonder if when Ron and Christine walk their dog does he do the back stroke?

Well, as they say, if life hands you a lemon, make lemonade…or at least try to catch some fish!

Throw ‘em in the freezer, Ron.  We will be home soon and will be coming over for a fish dinner!!

Our next stop is San Diego.