Eastward we go,,,

Sun was out again on Monday morning when we departed from Yucca Valley. First, we drove from 29 Palms into Joshua Tree NP again, this time passing through its Southern part, which is less frequented by visitors. This section shows perfectly the slow transition from Mohave to Sonoran (Colorado) Desert. Joshua trees became rarer, more chollas (below, right) and ocotillos (bloom on the left photo) mixed in, though, no Saguaros yet. 

 

 

We left the park at Cottonwood - with another little Visitor's Center and drove through the Painted Canyon south towards Salton Sea. 

Surprise when we got down to sea level: lush and green, agriculture, fields, grapes, date palms, cabbage, strawberries, salads, everything, and, in large amounts. About 50,000 acres are farmed in the Coachella Valley. We drove along the north shore of the Salton Sea, a lake with an interesting story, and stopped at the visitor center. No fishing, no boating, no swimming, just camping! Reason is that the lake is a terminal lake with concentrated salinity.

The Salton Sea is California's largest lake, caused by natural flooding from the Colorado River and called Lake Cahuilla originally. The current Salton Sea was formed when an irrigation dam of the Colorado River in the Imperial Valley broke in 1905 and flowed into the Salton Sink. The lake now functions both as a sump for agricultural runoff (!) and an important wildlife area, resting and nesting area for many species of resident and migratory birds. Problem now is the collapse of the Salton Sea ecosystem due to increasing salinity and worsening water quality with increasing temperatures and other factors involved.

 

On Hwy. 111 we drove a rather dusty, boring southern route following railroad tracks (and loooong freight trains), then on Interstate 8 along the Mexican border with border patrol stations (fortunately we crossed only one and didn't have to stop!) and the fence to be seen closeby (far below). Isn't it a shame that such a fence is necessary at all? Pretty boring drive with little towns, almost dead, lots of agriculture, hay baling, feed lots and other industrial plants.

Arrived at Yuma, at the border between California and Arizona, in the afternoon (had "lost" one hour on the way with different time zone). Sitting on a bluff overlooking the (not so mighty anymore) Colorado River (photos below), with its newly restored wetlands, stand the ruins of Arizona's famous Territorial Prison.

Yuma began to bloom when immigrants crossed by ferry from Yuma on their way to the California gold fields in 1849. The following year, a military post was established. 

The Territorial Prison was established in 1876, and some of the prisoners were helping to build their cells. The prison held a variety of law violators, including the legendary stagecoach robber Pearl Hart. The Prison was in operation for 33 years, until 1909, when, due to overcrowding, inmates were moved to a new facility in Florence, Arizona.

Most daunting, till today: the dark cell, a cage in the dark for notoriously bad inmates. Still to be seen today. Interesting: the museum's exhibitions.

 

Railroad bridge which destroyed part of the prison

 

watchtower

After our visit to the prison we checked into our "Historic Motor Inn" in downtown, which was more nostalgically historical than up-to-date

 

 

And out we went again to check out "Historic Downtown" - with lots of murals (see photo on left and below) and to have a bite and a beer at Prison Hill Brewing Company. Fried avocados, fried chicken, some sausage, pretzels and dips.