Great drive from Yuma to Palm Springs. There is lots of "food" farms - even great expanses of palm and fruit trees. And there is the desert world as well - plus the great bonus of the sand dunes.
As I got closer and closer to Palm Springs the traffic and congestion picked up and the longest slog of the whole trip as the last 25 miles of the day.
Feel like a landed in a great spot for the next couple days - was so glad to hop out of the car.
I decided it was worth heading all the way down to Yuma on the way to Palm Springs - the long route for sure. And well worth it.
So interesting to see this part of the USA. The geography is fascinating - it changes as you go and the changes again. The Colorado River dictates so much of what happens in all the spots you travel here.
Also, so interesting to see how people live in this part of the country. In many ways it is so remote and so empty. But there is a whole world of people that live in probably the widest range of options available - from grandiose homes to tents all alone in the middle of nowhere with a tumbleweed or cactus nearby.
After a long stretch through the mountain area it was wowing to get close to Yuma and all of a sudden have green on both sides of the road as far as I could see. It continued to be true for large stretches of my trip to Palm Springs out of Yuma. Another spot that feeds America.
Not too many places that I don't get a walk in at some point to check it all out. Beautiful morning before another 80F day.
Wandered off the island I was on in to the heart of the downtown area and back. Lots to like about this spot on the map.
I didn't quite know where I would end up for the night - had an idea and it all finally worked out as planned. Interesting driving along the Colorado River - you go back and forth between NV, AZ and CA. And your phone and car may/may not jump to the different time zones with you.
It is a stunning drive south on either side of the Colorado River.
I did not have a locked in destination for today - but had Havasu in my head based on the bigger plan. I have learned lots can happen when you are on a wander and you may stay elsewhere as night gets closer. I have learned I am not interested in driving through mountain style roads in the dark anymore.
I only know Havasu because my parents had great friends their whole life that somehow chose this as their winter destination long before it was the popular spot it is now. And therefore it had a bit of interest for me - but now it is one big destination to the rest of the world.
Glad I got the opportunity to check it out a bit.
Don Laughlin moved to Nevada in the 50s and this town is named after him. He is from Owatonna MN and had a connection to my father either by friend and/or related. I remember my parents talking about visiting Don at one point in time.
Interesting spot on the map and the world he developed on both the NV and the AZ side of the map.
Always heard you should see the Hoover Dam - now I understand why someone who has been there would say it.
Wow - what a visual and emotional experience. And you get to experience it with so many other Americans and visitors from wherever as well - lots of great and easy conversations start happening.
And then when you think that we were bold and brave enough to take something like this on it gives you pause to how uninspired we can be in this current world of waiting for what...
