April 22, 2009 – Today was our trip into Wickenburg which is about 35 miles away. (Opposite direction from when we went to Quartzsite.) Even though we were there two years ago, we found that things had changed. We had brunch at Country Kitchen. It was clean, the food was good and service was also good. It’s a place we would go back to. We revisited some of the places we did before. We looked in some of the shops. 
One of the things we saw on the way was an ultra light flying over the fields. Another was what we understand is a pistachio grove. We have since found out that they are not harvested until fall. My horticulture education continues as we travel through the different areas. Also, it’s fun to see the different types (I guess you could call them “types”) of mountains. Of course, none are as beautiful as our North Carolina mountains.
Temperature was not as high today. I think it only got up to high 90’s.Tomorrow should be even better. It’s been a long time since we have seen rain. The farmers are getting the fields plowed and ready for their crops and I guess praying for rain.
One thing that I forgot to mention was that on our way from Fort Davis to Las Cruses, we were told to take highway 505 to get to I-10 heading toward Valley Vista. This highway is “open range” and believe me we had to really be careful. There were cows/bulls all along the roadway and if that wasn’t bad enough, there were also “deer” who just stood on the side and looked at us like they were asking “what are you doing in my territory?” Sometimes, they were in the middle of the highway and would just stand there until we were almost on them. I was so excited and awed that I forgot to take any pictures. So, if any of you ever have the opportunity to take 505 out of Fort Davis, do so at your own risk and heed the signs that say “open range”.
Another thing I remembered is to tell you about the aerostat (which looks like a small white blimp) that you see in various areas. There is one near Sierra Vista and we had wondered exactly what its purpose was. Well, apparently others have to so there was an article about it in the magazine we picked up about Cochise County.
Here’s what it says: It’s a helium filled balloon that hovers about two miles in the sky and is anchored to the ground. Visible from different points of Cochise County, the aerostat is part of the country’s anti-drug surveillance program. It is also equipped with radar capabilities designed to alert officials of suspect targets, to include aircraft flying illegal drugs across the border into the United States.
Now you know so if you see a “Fat Albert” (nickname) flying near the Mexican border, you don’t have to wonder anymore. Do you?
The last couple of days we have been trying to see the other things we don’t want to miss while we are in this area. On Thursday, April 23, we went to the “farmers Market” which is a place in Wenden where the Mexican come in, set up and sell vegetables (really cheap). They put veggies on a plastic plate about the size of a breakfast plate or in a basket about the size of a bead basket and whatever is on that plate/basket is $1.00. It could be three/four tomatoes, large peppers (red, yellow, green) --$1.00; a basket full of sweet banana peppers.. $1.00; a basket of lemons…$1.00; fresh strawberries ..$1.00; egg plant..$1.00. Guess you get the idea. The Jiamacas (sp) were 2/$1.00. . I just wish we had more room to put the fresh stuff.
After we finished our shopping at the “market” we had lunch at “ingredients”. We really like that place. The food is delicious and the ladies there (Gloria, DeVona and Jeanne) are great A place to remember if you’re ever in this area.They have added an outside area that is just as unique as the inside. It really is a unique place and hopefully, I’ll learn how to put pictures on the blog so you can see for yourself.
Friday, April 24, 2009, we decided to take the trip to Parker since we have never been there. It is about the same distance as it is to Quartzsite or Wickenburg. You see a lot of desert and a lot of mountains.
We stopped at the Visitor’s Center in Parker and were given a map of the city and also a map of a suggested route to take to the Blue Water Casino
(where we had lunch and made our deposit) 
and then on to Parker Dam. We traveled up Highway 95 in Arizona along the Colorado River to Parker Dam. They no longer give tours of the dam but you can drive across it. Later I’ll tell you a little about the dam itself. After crossing the dam, we were on California Highway 62 which traveled down the California side of the river. All in all it was about a 30 miles round trip and well worth it. There are developments and RV resorts all along the river on both sides. The weather was great and the scenery was beautiful.
Now for a brief note about Parker Dam (built between 1934 and 1938). – It is the deepest dam in the world, 73 percent of Parker Dam’s structural height is below the original river bed. Only about 85 feet of the dam is visible. However, with its superstructure it rising another 62 feet above the roadway across the top of the dam.
The power plant is located on the California side of the river and produce 30,000 kilowatts of hydroelectric power.
(I really didn’t know all this, I read about it)
Here we are on Saturday, April 25, 2009. The wind is blowing (gusts up to 30 mph). We got up early and went to breakfast at Christina’s Café where we were served large portions for breakfast. It’s a little like Turtle Bay in Rockport only larger and a few more helpers.
Our plans are to get everything ready as we intend to pull out early tomorrow morning. Chris is still finding things to repair (today the latch on the door broke).
One of the things we saw on the way was an ultra light flying over the fields. Another was what we understand is a pistachio grove. We have since found out that they are not harvested until fall. My horticulture education continues as we travel through the different areas. Also, it’s fun to see the different types (I guess you could call them “types”) of mountains. Of course, none are as beautiful as our North Carolina mountains.
Temperature was not as high today. I think it only got up to high 90’s.Tomorrow should be even better. It’s been a long time since we have seen rain. The farmers are getting the fields plowed and ready for their crops and I guess praying for rain.
One thing that I forgot to mention was that on our way from Fort Davis to Las Cruses, we were told to take highway 505 to get to I-10 heading toward Valley Vista. This highway is “open range” and believe me we had to really be careful. There were cows/bulls all along the roadway and if that wasn’t bad enough, there were also “deer” who just stood on the side and looked at us like they were asking “what are you doing in my territory?” Sometimes, they were in the middle of the highway and would just stand there until we were almost on them. I was so excited and awed that I forgot to take any pictures. So, if any of you ever have the opportunity to take 505 out of Fort Davis, do so at your own risk and heed the signs that say “open range”.
Another thing I remembered is to tell you about the aerostat (which looks like a small white blimp) that you see in various areas. There is one near Sierra Vista and we had wondered exactly what its purpose was. Well, apparently others have to so there was an article about it in the magazine we picked up about Cochise County.
Here’s what it says: It’s a helium filled balloon that hovers about two miles in the sky and is anchored to the ground. Visible from different points of Cochise County, the aerostat is part of the country’s anti-drug surveillance program. It is also equipped with radar capabilities designed to alert officials of suspect targets, to include aircraft flying illegal drugs across the border into the United States.
Now you know so if you see a “Fat Albert” (nickname) flying near the Mexican border, you don’t have to wonder anymore. Do you?
The last couple of days we have been trying to see the other things we don’t want to miss while we are in this area. On Thursday, April 23, we went to the “farmers Market” which is a place in Wenden where the Mexican come in, set up and sell vegetables (really cheap). They put veggies on a plastic plate about the size of a breakfast plate or in a basket about the size of a bead basket and whatever is on that plate/basket is $1.00. It could be three/four tomatoes, large peppers (red, yellow, green) --$1.00; a basket full of sweet banana peppers.. $1.00; a basket of lemons…$1.00; fresh strawberries ..$1.00; egg plant..$1.00. Guess you get the idea. The Jiamacas (sp) were 2/$1.00. . I just wish we had more room to put the fresh stuff.
After we finished our shopping at the “market” we had lunch at “ingredients”. We really like that place. The food is delicious and the ladies there (Gloria, DeVona and Jeanne) are great A place to remember if you’re ever in this area.They have added an outside area that is just as unique as the inside. It really is a unique place and hopefully, I’ll learn how to put pictures on the blog so you can see for yourself.
Friday, April 24, 2009, we decided to take the trip to Parker since we have never been there. It is about the same distance as it is to Quartzsite or Wickenburg. You see a lot of desert and a lot of mountains.
We stopped at the Visitor’s Center in Parker and were given a map of the city and also a map of a suggested route to take to the Blue Water Casino
(where we had lunch and made our deposit) 
and then on to Parker Dam. We traveled up Highway 95 in Arizona along the Colorado River to Parker Dam. They no longer give tours of the dam but you can drive across it. Later I’ll tell you a little about the dam itself. After crossing the dam, we were on California Highway 62 which traveled down the California side of the river. All in all it was about a 30 miles round trip and well worth it. There are developments and RV resorts all along the river on both sides. The weather was great and the scenery was beautiful. Now for a brief note about Parker Dam (built between 1934 and 1938). – It is the deepest dam in the world, 73 percent of Parker Dam’s structural height is below the original river bed. Only about 85 feet of the dam is visible. However, with its superstructure it rising another 62 feet above the roadway across the top of the dam.
The power plant is located on the California side of the river and produce 30,000 kilowatts of hydroelectric power.
(I really didn’t know all this, I read about it)
Here we are on Saturday, April 25, 2009. The wind is blowing (gusts up to 30 mph). We got up early and went to breakfast at Christina’s Café where we were served large portions for breakfast. It’s a little like Turtle Bay in Rockport only larger and a few more helpers.
Our plans are to get everything ready as we intend to pull out early tomorrow morning. Chris is still finding things to repair (today the latch on the door broke).
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