MORE ADVNTURES AND FUN IN YUMA

We had a nice day today and were able to meet up with my friend and former teaching colleague, Jean TerHark and her husband Ron for lunch. They winter down here  and it is crazy I had to come all the way to Yuma to see Jean. We recalled many fun and crazy memories of our teaching together, she music and I drama. What fun times and memories we have.  We could probably write a book.  We ate at a yummy place called DaBoyz Pizza and it was excellent.

NEXT WE WERE OFF ON ANOTHER TREK TO FIND THE ACTUAL CROSSING OF THE MORMON BATTALION. AFTER ONE FAILED ATTEMPT WE WERE DIRECTED TO A GENTLEMAN WHO HELPED TO CATEGORIZE ALL THE SITES IN THE AREA. HE GAVE US LOTS OF INFORMATION AND MATERIAL TO READ AND DIGEST AND SOMJE EXCELENT DIRECTIONS TO THE SITE.

WE DROVE WET THROUGH MANY FIELS OF LETTUCE AND CAULIFLOWER ACROSS A DIRT DIKE ROAD TO THE CANAL. WE WERE RIGHT ON THE MEXICAN BORGER AND COULD SEE ALGODONAS , MEXICO ACROSS THE WAY. THEN DOWN ABOUT A MILE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CANAL WAS THE MARKER PUT UP BY A BOY SOCUT AS HIS EAGLE PROJECT.

WE LEARNED WHY THEY CROSSED HERE INSTEAD OF  WHERE OTHERS CROSSED.  THIS AREA IS COVERED WITH VERY HIGH SAND DUNES AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PULL THEIR WAGONS THROUGH THE HEAVY SAND.  SO THE SCOUTS SENT THEM SOUTH INTO MEXICO AND OVER THE COLORADO RIVER. THEY SENT THEIR SUPPLIES OVER BY BARGE. THEY SAY IT WAS EXTREMELY COLD THAT WINTER AND SOME OF THE MULES ACTAULLY HAD ICE ON THEM.

THE MORE I SEE AND LEARN ABOUT THIS BRAVE GROUP OF MEN THE MORE I CAN APPRECIATE WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH AND THEIR SACRIFICES. IT IS A SHAME THAT WE DON'T STUDY ABOUT THIS GROUP IN AMERICAN HISTROY BECAUSE THEYREALLY CUT THE SOTHERN ROAD THROUGH TO CALIFORNIA.

ALGODONAS MEXICO IS IN THE BACKGROUND

THEY PASSED TO THE LEFT OF THE MOUNTAIN. WE ARE CAMPED JUST BELOW THE GREY MOUNTAIN.