Yuma Medjools & on to Mexico

We took in the Yuma Medjool Date Festival Nov. 15. We did two tours, first to Datepac the world's largest date packing plant where we had to "suit up", remove all jewelry & cover all hair. We got to ride an old farm bus, learn how dates are sorted, first by camera & computer, then by hand. This is done by many Mexican women for $9/hr. Of course there were samples! Second tour was to the actual "farm" where they explained how each tree, some up to 50 ft tall, are handled 13-18 times per season. They require pruning, pollinating, thinning, covering with nets, etc till they are picked. Very labour intensive, again for $9/hr. We even got to see the original 6 trees that were sent to the US from the Middle East when their trees were being destroyed by disease.

Also in Yuma we drove about, amazed at the huge fields of lettuce, broccoli, cotton, cilantro, etc - these fields are irrigated mainly by flood irrigation where the entire field is flooded.

We had a good visit with our friends from Quebec that we met 2 years ago on the Baja, ran into another couple we met also on the Baja.

We left Yuma (it got too cold) & went to Gila Bend where we spent 2 nights tucked in amongst the semis in a truck stop (even had free WiFi). The closest we got to a Gila monster was an iron art statue. We spent a long day out rockhounding, put on 180 kms, out to Chimney Beds & Fourth of July Peak. Found some nice agates, quartz crystals & lovely green rocks (will figure out what they are later). We passed several huge dairy operations & massive fields of solar panels, apparently providing power to southern California.

Onward/southward to Ajo, a little town with a lovely town square & beautiful old churches. We camped in BLM land (free) & enjoyed an amazing sunset & sunrise. We did a day trip to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, drove the 19 mile Ajo Mountain Trail which took 3 1/2 hrs. There was a guidebook with 18 stops, we learned a lot about the cacti & trees, saw quail, a coyote & a young rattlesnake! It was a bit creepy, there were several signs reminding you that the park shares 30 miles of border with Mexico & that illegal smuggling activity of people & drugs is a possibility. None spotted though.

Today we finally crossed into Mexico at Lukeville/Sonoyta. The Mexican agriculture guy actually looked in the fridge but somehow missed the fruits & veggies that we weren't supposed to have! We had to stop in two places, one for our Tourist Immigration visas & again for the Temporary Vehicle Import permits. The first stop was quick for us but there must have been over 50 semis lined up waiting their turn! Mainland Mexico roads have many tolls, we paid our first of 158 pesos, about $13.  We have made it to Santa Ana, tomorrow we should be on the Sea of Cortez at Kino Bay, enjoying the ocean breezes. Definitely loving it!