Tomorrow morning we are heading out to the desert for a couple of weeks. We're going to Joshua Tree National Park. I know what you're thinking. "It's a National Park, dummy! They are all closed." Of course those of you thinking that are right. However, we hope the whole shutdown thing will be worked out soon. If it's not, there is still plenty to see out there.
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Okay, now back to today's post!
I know I said I was done with posts from Yuma this year, but how about just one more. This may be the last Yuma post for 2013, but it's also a teaser of things to come in 2014. We're a few months away and I already have an agenda of things I want to see. So bear with me, umkay?
Laguna Dam
Believe it or not, this was the first dam built across the mighty Colorado River. It was basically an earthen dam built to control flooding. This is the place that caused a bunch of controversy because of all the swastikas imprinted in the concrete structures. Some of you will remember it. It was just about the oddest thing we've run into in our travels. If you haven't see this and you have a minute or two, check it out.
This looks like a standard photo of some old stuff, right? Not really...There is so much history both in the photo and where I was standing when I took it. The bridge in front is a very old and an important railroad bridge crossing the Colorado River. The white bridge behind it, is mega-famous. It's called the Ocean-to Ocean bridge and was the first auto bridge across the Colorado. Before it was built, if you wanted to go east, you had to travel about a thousand miles for to go around the river. The white structure in far right is also a famous place. To top it all off, I took this photo while visiting the Yuma Territorial Prison. After we return there in early 2014 and I take some more photos of each of these things, I'll do another post.
The next three photos were taken in old Yuma. These are the only photos I have of it. That will change in a few months. It looks pretty interesting there.
No shortage of trains in the desert.
Just because I thought it was pretty.
People like to shoot at old signs, right? Well, this one is inside the city limits! Did I mention that a high percentage of folks in Arizona carry weapons?
Okay, this time I promise! This is the last post relating to Yuma this year.
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I'm really looking forward to 2014, it looks like a great place.
ReplyDeletea very nice look at the place. yes, i remember the swastikas you showed us on that bridge.
ReplyDeleteyeah, we get quite a few bullet holes in signs and mailboxes here, too.
Wonderful shots as always, Pat. And I always enjoy your pics of Yuma> I haven't spent a lot of time there, but I do like it! Hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteYou never disappoint Pat. As I've said before, I envy you the range of places you're able to visit (and produce such wonderful photos). I don't think I'd be too comfortable with all those guns though.
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine going a thousand miles out of your way just to cross a river?
ReplyDeleteHope the park is open when you get there!
j'aime beaucoup ton post !
ReplyDeletebonne semaine, cath.
I'd love to have all the photo opportunities you have!
ReplyDeleteThose are terrific Pat. You always make me feel like a real time traveler!
ReplyDeleteYou took me on a nice little tour today...we have lots of those signs with the bullet holes in them around there here parts :-) Virginians like to sell, buy, and use their guns. g
ReplyDeleteHope Joshua Tree is open for you next week!
ReplyDeleteAs always, terrifically evocative pics, designed to make one think.
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely shots of this place!
ReplyDeleteCool shots! Hope Joshua Tree is open by the time you get there!
ReplyDeleteVery fun photos. I loved seeing the S.S. Kresske's Five and Dime Store Sign. We had those in New Jersey when I was a kid in the 60's. When I drove across Nebraska into Utah I was parallel to a train for hours! That's all I saw moving on flat terrain! lol. Great post. And I don't care how many you put up about Yuma!
ReplyDeleteThe photo of the store is very interesting - Kress on the front which is the name of the one I worked in during 1947. Then on the side it looks as if it were S. H. Kress & Co. and then changed to read Kresske later!
ReplyDeleteI need to do some searching to see how the two are related.
The photo of the store is very interesting - Kress on the front which is the name of the one I worked in during 1947. Then on the side it looks as if it were S. H. Kress & Co. and then changed to read Kresske later!
ReplyDeleteI need to do some searching to see how the two are related.
Whatever - Me too! I would never want to live there, but there are a lot of interesting things to see there.
ReplyDeleteTexWisGirl - It is an odd place to be sure. Bullet holes in signs are one things, but mail boxes! That's a little too close to home. Now, mailbox baseball is another story...
Sylvia - Thanks Sylvia! Thanks so much the nice words. I'll try to get over to your place tomorrow!
Dennis - Thanks my friend! In places like this, guns aren't a big thing because almost everyone has one. Not only do they have one, many times they carry them around in public.
Alex - I can not imagine that! I hope it's open soon also. We've been parked here for three days now and are still waiting. Still finding other things to do though.
Cath.H.C. - Thank you so much!
Ms. A - I hope you get the opportunity soon. I'd say your plate is overflowing right now.
ReplyDeleteBrian - Thanks Brian! I'm happy that I'm doing my job!
Genie - Thank you Genie! I think it's that way in many more areas than people want to believe.
Sally - Thanks Sally! I hope so also! Joshua Tree is an amazing place. I hope by Friday it's open.
Shelly - Thanks so much Shelly. It makes me happy that you enjoy them.
ladyfi - Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteMama Zen - Thanks! Too late for that, but maybe in a day or so.
Bouncin Barb - Thanks Barb! It's not until you get out in the open areas that you see how reliant we still are on the railroads. They are everywhere.
marlu - Thanks Marlu, We didn't have them where I grew up, so I'm not up on the history of the brand. Let me know what you find out.
If I could, I'd be chugging along at a distance behind you. Everything you see is wonderful. If ever you see a little person running to catch up - it will be me!
ReplyDeleteLove your use of black and white in so many of these photos.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a safe trip and I hope you find the national park open again.
Can't get too much of a good thing Pat! Looking forward to more photos and musings of old Yuma. I have such a romantic notion of the place as it is...
ReplyDeletebang, bang...some people shoot anything that moves, or not....
ReplyDeleteEsther - No need to run behind. We'll wait for you to catch up.
ReplyDeleteMynx - I really do like B&W over color. Some scenes cry out to be taken that way. thanks! I'm hoping the place will be open in a day or so.
Stickup Artist - There was just too much to do and see there and not enough time to do it. The more I did there, the more things I find. Thanks!
Rosemary - That is so true! I guess I'd prefer the shot at the non-moving things.
Mammoth signs are sans bullets...I hear there's a really terrific police chief up here!!!
ReplyDelete(Love your B&W's!!!)
We toured the prison, but it was last century and I don't remember too much about it:), except that the prisoners were made to build it themselves I believe. You always find such great and different things about every place you go.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a cool place nice photos and I'm looking forward to reading more. I always laugh at the signs that say "no shooting" which are riddled with bullet holes.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos, looks are like! Beautiful autumn of Grove! Surprising the shooting!
ReplyDeleteDon't get shot out there with those gun-totin crazies!
ReplyDeleteYes I remember the swastikas. Love the old building, and your tenacity for finding back streets that reveal a world gone by.
The Chieftess - Thanks Kathryn! Apparently, the wild wild west is still alive in Arizona.
ReplyDeleteSallie - You are right about the prisoners building their own prison. In order to build those bridges, about 40% of the prison had to be destroyed. Thanks Sallie!
Al - I agree Al! That is so funny. I'm not sure I've ever seen a "no shooting" or "no hunting" sign without bullet holes in them.
Leovi - Thanks Leovi! A little bit of everything.
Anthony - Thanks Anthony! I'll do my best. We love to find those places.
Always enjoy your black and whites and the stories.
ReplyDeleteI love the pictures you find. The sign, the fall color...gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteHope that you did not spray coffee / beer / whatever when the sign in Wells made you snort! It's one of my favourite bits of signage!
ReplyDeleteI do like the B/W shots - esp the ones with the ghost advertisements in them.
It would seem that your parks will be open!
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
They are all fantastic shots! I like the photo of the yellow trees! It is pretty!
ReplyDeleteI'm wearing out the pages of my Arizona Highways magazine planning fall trips to see color!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping we can get back on the road again soon.
I think our pick-up is getting annoyed with being garage bound for so long!
That IS the oddest thing Pat, swastikas is not a decoration I would expect to see on a bridge in Arizona, wonder what the story there is? You never know what you might come across out there.. I wonder if its the same in our outback.. I'm not going out there to find out :))
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who grew up in Arizona, and she says it's the wildest state left in the Union. And lots of guns, yes. So this drove me to look up murder per capita by state, and Arizona is pretty tame compared to, say, Louisiana.
ReplyDeleteI never tire of watching trains in the desert--those colorfully painted box cars give a little extra accent to the stark desert.
ReplyDeleteI so want to come out there and explore all of these things....
ReplyDeletefantastic captures! i really like that bottom one! perfect!
ReplyDelete:))
Hubby wants to drive to Yuma some weekend. Your photos make me want to get there and explore it! :-)
ReplyDeleteCheryl Ann