A Day With Glee and John

During the past few months, Mike and I have spent many days with Glee and John, but there have always been others around.  This is the first time we actually took a day and did some sight seeing with this Minnesota couple.  Glee and John have been a part of the work in Mexico for several years and they welcomed us this year with open arms; glad to have others around to share the work and the play.  In getting to know them, we found that they are our "neighbors" up north - only 30 or so miles away.  They are retired potato farmers and Glee drove school bus for many years - she is a far better woman than I - that is a job I said I would never do!  In the fall before coming to Yuma, they work the sugar beet harvest and Glee drives truck - another thing I wouldn't do... not only that but she sews - yep, this is one amazing woman!

Anyway, last Wednesday we decided to take a field trip.  Our first stop was Yuma City Hall to see a plane.  I knew Yuma had an aviation history, but really knew nothing about it - interesting stop.

This is the "City of Yuma".  In 1949, this plane flew 47 days without stopping.  It was refueled in the air by a car on the ground.  Someone actually handed gas cans up to the copilot while both the plane and car were moving. 

This diagram shows how it was done.

The city of Yuma wanted to be "on the map" as a place where the sun shines and flight is possible 365 days a year.  With this world Record, they accomplished the mission. 

Once the flight was over, the plane bounced around and ended up in Minnesota owned by a fellow John and Glee knew.  It had been altered and was being used as a float plane.  The city of Yuma bought it for $18,000 and it was restored to its record breaking glory. 

On the 50th anniversary of the flight, they did a reenactment.

The City Hall of Yuma has a video which talks about the flight and the planes history, but the day we visited the electricity was off for repairs - I think we will go back another day.

Since we were in the aviation mode, we ate at The Landing which depicts lots of local flight and railroad history; good food too.  From there we went to The Date Farm - first time Mike had been there this year - that man is working way too much!  Of course we had date shakes for dessert and then stopped at the Fruit Stand.

Out next stop was the Imperial Dam.  All of the crops that grow in this area are possible only because of the irrigation from the Colorado River and the American Canal.

Because of security concerns, we were not able to get real close to the dam, but we got a good idea of how the canal filled.

It was just another absolutely beautiful day in Arizona. 

That is Castle Dome that you see on the left.

After we left the dam, we stopped at the "U Pick Place" and we took time to explore the "Bridge to Nowhere".  We have been by this place dozens of times but have never stopped - too much of a tourist place me thinks

but the bridge was really cool.

It is the Mcphaul Bridge (or something close to that) and it was built to cross the Gila River.  The bridge was only used a short time as the river was diverted.  It now crosses lots of desert and a wash.

There was a fence and some of us broke the law by going around the fence... Okay, all of us did - it was perfectly safe for walkers, probably not for vehicles.

The U-Pick fields were beautiful - love all the shades and tints of green.

It's spring!

This is artichoke plants in the beginning stages - they will grow to 5 feet or more - learned they are a member of the thistle family and they grow wild (weeds) in Minnesota - who knew...

It was a great day with fine people.  Thanks John and Glee!