We followed our friend’s 4Runner down from Christmas Pass to the Camino and turned toward Yuma, trail’s end.
Heading up the Camino, we passed roadside memorials…
… and saguaro cacti propped up with 2x4s.
We soon entered the Barry M. Goldwater bombing range…
…and tried not to get too nervous about the plane circling overhead.
Along the roadway stood pretend tanks…
…more pretend tanks…
…pretend rocket launchers…
…and signs warning us not to pick up any “unexploded ordnance.”
Our goal here was to get to the tenajas in the Tenajas Atlas mountains. These plunge pool tanks hold water for both the local wildlife and the those pioneers who followed El Camino del Diablo out west.
A short walk up a less-than-friendly trail and wash bottom lead to the first tank.
From here, we continued into Yuma and checked into the Super 8 Motel we had pre-booked. We’d have showers, a comfy bed, a flush toilet and waffles for breakfast.
Tomorrow, weather permitting, we will head off to the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, which lies northeast of Yuma and south of Quartzite.