We decided to head to San Diego to visit Robert’s cousin. We enjoyed a walk to Mission Bay to see the ocean!
On the way back, at the top of the hill, Robert spotted the perfect place for lunch! We didn’t realize San Diego is so hilly!
It was great to see spring in full swing, with flowers everywhere!
A beautiful sunset provided backlighting for these Ocotillo buds at our latest campsite.
A short time later the sunset morphed into the proverbial ‘red sky at night, sailor’s delight’. Maybe not the appropriate saying for camping in the desert, but a harbinger of beautiful weather tomorrow!
We stayed in town an extra day to see the Yuma Crossing Day Celebration along historic Madison street in the old town section. It was centered around the Sanquinetti House Museum, an 1870’s adobe house converted to a museum to highlight the history of the region from the mid 1500’s to the present. There were several colorful re-enactors dressed in period costumes from a 1540’s Spanish soldier and his wife to an 1870’s riverboat captain, an 1880’s couple, and 2 ladies circa 1912 describing the ‘Valentine’s Statehood’ of Arizona 100 years ago. There were even a couple of banditos, but they left their stinking badges at home! The most photogenic though, were the young folklorico dancers waiting for their turn to perform.
In town to resupply we decided to stroll into the historic downtown Yuma area across the river from the Indian Casino parking lot we were camped in.
The sun was low in the west and shown through the stained glass of the Indian Mission church as we approached the bridge.
We enjoyed an elegant repast of wine and fine cheeses at a local wine shop.
When we returned we caught the bridge lights reflected in the Colorado river along the riverside park.
We have to head to town tomorrow to resupply so we moved our camp closer to the paved road. Just in time we think. Two days ago we noticed some big bugs (one to two inches long) flying into our campsite and they were hanging around!
An internet search informed us they are Master Blister Beetles, and Mavrik learned not to mess with them, one sniff and he backed away and didn’t bother them again! They have a toxin that can cause your skin to blister if you handle them! They swarm in spring and devour the flowers and leaves of young plants.
Robert dismantled a trashed firepit at the campsite, but carefully replaced the rock under which he found this guy!
This Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion is relatively harmless, but pretty scary looking! I remember back in the day I would be thrilled to find it because I needed to collect it for The High Desert Museum!