Saturday, January 30, 2016

A Stop at Mittry Lake

 

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The past couple winters we spent quite a bit of time at Mittry Lake, about 15 miles north of Yuma, since both of us had dental issues to take care of in Algodones, Mexico. This year there were no dental appointments but we had a couple other things to attend to in Yuma, and wanted to show Mark and Bobbie one of our winter haunts. I don’t think they’re very impressed, but we still like it here. Smile

A fire caused by carelessness and fireworks back in August has changed our view. Where we park used to be blocked from the road by vegetation, but now it’s an eerie, burned landscape between us and the lake. On previous visits we could not see the RVs parked down by the water.

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It’s still pretty, though. Scenes from a sunset walk on our first day.

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We took Mark and Bobbie, along with Suzanne, on our favorite hikes up into the hills right surrounding the camping area.

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We call this area “Graffitti Rocks”. Don’t ask me how to get there. Even after several times I’m not sure if I could find it again.

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Our favorite is the “Ridgeline Hike”, where last year we saw bighorn sheep a couple different times. No such luck this time around.

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This is some stark, rocky terrain.

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Jim and I took a short trip to Algodones to get a few things from the pharmacy and do a little window shopping. The markets in Mexico are so colorful but we didn’t find anything to buy.

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We had a fun happy hour one night with Suzanne’s friends John W. and Mary, who are staying up the road at Imperial Dam, and John S. (Just Finding Our Way), who is also here at Mittry Lake.

From left, John S, Suzanne, Mark (practicing for his nursing home days), Bobbie, Jim, John and Mary.

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One day we biked over Laguna Dam into California and rode along the All-American Canal, an 80 mile aqueduct and the largest irrigation canal in the world.

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Continued on to the Imperial Dam BLM LTVA camping area. It was a good ride, and mostly flat.

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We had planned to leave yesterday and head to Anza Borrego, but after looking at the weather forecast decided to hang out here a few more days as it looks like the wind and rain won’t be quite as bad. We’ll see. So today we hiked the Telegraph Pass hill, 5.5 miles round trip, with about 1,200’ of elevation gain. A good workout with nice views.

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After the hike we went downtown to check out the Yuma Date Festival. Mark, Bobbie and Suzanne had a date shake, followed by lunch at DaBoyz, a great pizza place that we’ve eaten at a few times before.

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The festival wasn’t too exciting but we did buy a pound of Honey Dates, which are very small, soft and sweet. Had never tried them before but they are really good.

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So that brings us up-to-date, no pun intended. Hope to be out of here in a couple days, if we don’t get blown away.

20 comments:

  1. We will have to try the dates when we return thru Yuma next week.

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  2. We've never been to Mittry Lake. Looks like we need to make a visit the next time we are in the Yuma area. Hope you do get Mark and Bobbie to Anza Borrego!! The weather sure doesn't look for Monday.

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  3. Somehow the feeling of "stark and rocky" is enhanced by having ocotillos in the picture.

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  4. Telegraph Pass Is a beautiful hike.

    We love date shakes. We just ignore that they have a million calories.

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  5. That pizza stayed with us… had to skip dinner. Oh wait, maybe it was the 22 oz IPA, huge brownie, and date-shakes :). Thanks for all the tour-de-stones… especially "Telegraph." We're looking at moving to Yuma!!!

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  6. Thanks for sharing. We've never stayed there and it really looks nice. I think the storm will pass pretty quickly.

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  7. Looks like a beautiful place, we love all that rocky and stark! Can't believe Mr Colorado is the one bundled up in the cold :-))) Glad you found a spot to ride out this next storm.

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    1. In Mark's defense, he was wearing shorts and a short sleeve shirt.

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  8. I enjoyed the date concoctions that the culinary students whipped up last year at the date festival.

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    1. They weren't cooking anything up when we walked by. Would have liked to see what they did.

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  9. Looks like fun, although not as wild and gorgeous as Anza Borrego. We bailed from Ogilby Road yesterday looking at that weather report so we could hunker down before diving, literally, into the Central and Northern California storms on our way home to Oregon. Next year I have to plan more time south for sure!!

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    1. You're heading back to Oregon at the worst time! It was nice meeting you at Blogger Fest.

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  10. You convinced me. Arrived in Yuma today for laundry and such. Mexico tomorrow. Mittry lake on Tuesday. Also headed to DaBoyz very shortly. Thanks for the inspiration.

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    1. We'll probably be gone by the time you get here Tuesday, unless the wind doesn't let up. Hope the pizza at DeBoyz is as good today as it was yesterday!

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  11. Those don't look like date shakes.

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  12. Mittry Lake, another place to see.
    I'd love to do that hike up Telegraph Pass hill!

    Hope you are staying still and not blowing around in the wind. Cold here today in Apache Junction!

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  13. The storm is mostly gone, now we going to head to Imperial dam for a bit, Hot springs, Borrego and back to Pilot Knob.
    Love the area and the weather getting much better.

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  14. That Telegraph Hill is sure was a good work out and the views were excellent.

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  15. Wow! I can't believe how Mittry Lake has changed. What a bummer with the view.

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