Blogs from Yuma, Arizona, United States, North America

We’ve now been in Yuma, Arizona for 3 months, and it’s been an amazing time, enjoying Christmas when the weather is far from cold and white. After the new year is well under way, it’s interesting to consider our changes in 2022: A little over year ago, I was still an employee, even though it was two weeks of annual leave with one work day left to check out of a federal government job, and believe me, checking out of a federal job is hard labor. Just a year later, life is very different: I’m not waking up at zero dark thirty to go to work, even if the commute was just down the hall. Our home is now 37 feet long, and happens to be wherever we happen to be. At the moment, that’s Yuma, ... read more

YUMA CROSSING BIKE TRAIL - Yuma Arizona Location From I-8 take the Winterhaven Drive/4th Avenue Exit and turn (right or left) south. After 0.5 mile turn left onto 1st St. Go 0.3 mile and turn left to 310 North Madison Ave (or GPS 32.727309 114.619554) This is known as Gateway Park There is lots of parking and some shaded spots as well, under the bridge that connects with California over the Colorado River. Since this trail is located within the city, there are of course many other places to access it from. Another good location is at 201 North 4th Avenue at the site of the Quartermaster Historical Depot. Here you will also find parking, tourist bureau, washrooms and the historical park. If you do not have bicycles with you, you can also rent them here ... read more

FLAGSTAFF to MINGUS MT. Section 5 CANYONLANDS STAGE 58 Distance Kms 109.37 kms; Total Dist to Date 6485 kms; Road Condition: mostly good, but last 3 km rough dirt surface; Weather Cold 4c start, then cooler sunny ride. Time in Saddle: 5.23 hrs Speed: av 20.3 kph. Max speed 51.3 kph Av Cadence 66 rpm Elevation: 1596m up; Total up to Date 59,866; 1400m down; down to date 50,991m. This morning riding out of Flagstaff, the canyon scenery was very beautiful and the switchback descent was exhilarating. I felt that Flagstaff was very liveable, the most appealing town in the US to date! We then rode through Sedona which perhaps was more liveable than Flagstaff, certainly a tourist, artisan town. Many buildings in the adobe style, with colours that blended with the natural environment. Continued riding ... read more

BUTTERFIELD TRAIL Southern states coveted a transcontinental railroad link to California that could operate year around. It was proposed to Congress by Senator Gadsden of South Carolina but the route passed through Northern Mexico and that was not acceptable. In 1853 Gadsden was made Ambassador to Mexico with extraordinary powers to negotiate the purchase of lands needed for the railroad. The treaty was ratified in 1854 and the international boundary was shifted from the Gila River to the town of Mesilla and on to the southern border of California. The survey of that land acquisition was completed by 1856 but by then Congress was reluctant to allocate funds for construction of the railroad because of concerns about the expansion of slavery to the Territory of New Mexico. A compromise was reached for the funding of a ... read more

THOMAS R. BARD Go out to the north end of 4th Avenue and cross the river. Take a right turn at the first stop sign. It will put you on to county road S24. That road goes out to Imperial Dam after making a few twists and turns. Stay on the paved road surface and follow the painted line. In due course you will arrive at a date grove and the sleepy little community of Bard. If you go out there around Christmastime it will be a handy place to use the post office. Long lines of customers do not exist there at any time. One of the date farmers out there has collection of old rusty farm machinery that he proudly calls the Cloud Museum. The main attraction at Bard is a little store where ... read more