Feb 27th - Saturday

Petroglyphs

BLM camping  outside of Yuma, on edge of Ca and Az.- Border wall in background

 

Sunset at Petroglyph camp site

 

Great white Snowy Egret over irrigated  hay field

Sunset in Dateland, Az

We have covered quite a bit of territory since last I wrote.  I left off in the Recreation Area just west of Buckeye, Az.  We traveled west from there to the Petroglyphs Monument.  We stayed one night in their dry camping area and walked among the ancient petroglyphs left by the indigenous people anywhere between 700 BC to 500 AD.  It is strange to drive through the desert and suddenly come upon this huge pile of boulders with drawings etched on them.  It is difficult to ascertain their meanings as it could be directions, story telling,  but most likely have spiritual significance for the people of that time.  As time has passed new symbols have been added, i.e. the cross which means those petroglyphs were etched after the Spanish came which may place it around 1200AD.  The rock face in that area of the desert is covered with "desert varnish" or patina which makes them appear black.  The people etched or scraped the designs through the patina on the rock face to make the designs. 

The next day found us trying to stay off the major highway and stay on the back roads.  Unfortunately my little Garmin failed to mention that one of the roads we were taking on the scenic route came to a dead end because of a dam that had been placed in that area and so the roads were closed off.  Of course, there was no sign indicating this when we started up that route either.  We were able to see more desert before we had to turn around and take the highway after all.  We traveled west from there and stayed in a hickup of a intersection that boasted 3 RV parks.  We chose one off the highway back once again into the desert.  This area is called Dateland because the people in the area have planted a plantation of dates!  We learned that the dates need 10 feet of water a year to produce and also have to be hand pollinated!  It seemed like coming to a little oasis in the desert - oh wait, it was an oasis!!!!  Didn't see any mirage just date trees.  We stayed in a little RV park which we discovered in the night was about 1/2 mile from the railroad track.  There must have been at least, AT LEAST 40 trains going through that night.  It was like Grand Central Station out in the middle of the desert.  Makes for interesting dreams.
Yesterday we continued on west into Yuma.  Richard will begin his bike ride for the Iron County Cancer Unit next Tuesday, March 2nd.  Please tune in to WIKB at 10:00 AM CST and pledge any amount that you can for this worthy cause.  It has helped so many people in our home area., my family  included.  Any money donated to the unit stays in Iron County to help those at home in countless ways. The web site for the cancer unit is:  www.tcoinc.com/iccu .

I have added some pictures from the last few days in this blog.  Hope you enjoy.  We did!