Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Swimming at Last!
Today's drive took us to Martinez Lake and the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge. After driving
12 miles through the desert and Yuma Proving Ground (US military testing area) we arrived at
cluster of trailers. This was Martinez Lake. After parking we headed to the marina and the lake
where Zaph saw a chocolate lab swimming. I was hoping to keep the truck drive so I took Zaph
on the far side of a retaining wall. Well, he had a different idea — watching the other dog was
too much so he decided to jump onto the wall and then down 4 feet to the ground. Unfortunately, I was holding his leash but fortunately between it's length and my stretching over the wall I didn't go with him. Anyway to make a long story not too long, Zaph went swimming with the chocolate lab.
After drying Zaph off, we headed up to the wildlife refuge which consists of a visitor center,
several look out points and two marked trails. The refuge plants mullet and floods and area
inviting birds to stop during their migration. We saw a several types of ducks, moor hens and of
course many Canada Geese. Ed also saw a fox. The area terrain is also very interesting as much
of it was covered by lava flow and has now been shaped by winds and rain. We were happy to be driving a 4 wheel drive vehicle as the road tended to be hilly, windy and sandy. During the course of the day we could hear "booms"in the distance — the military must have been busy.
Swimming with a new friend is great!
The visitor's centre for the imperial NWR
Interesting rock formation, a volcanic vent tube filled with rock, which cooled and formed this oddly shaped piece of rock which being harder than the surrounding rocks remains as the softer material wears away
a Sign post at Yuma proving grounds
some of the rugged terraine near the river
12 miles through the desert and Yuma Proving Ground (US military testing area) we arrived at
cluster of trailers. This was Martinez Lake. After parking we headed to the marina and the lake
where Zaph saw a chocolate lab swimming. I was hoping to keep the truck drive so I took Zaph
on the far side of a retaining wall. Well, he had a different idea — watching the other dog was
too much so he decided to jump onto the wall and then down 4 feet to the ground. Unfortunately, I was holding his leash but fortunately between it's length and my stretching over the wall I didn't go with him. Anyway to make a long story not too long, Zaph went swimming with the chocolate lab.
After drying Zaph off, we headed up to the wildlife refuge which consists of a visitor center,
several look out points and two marked trails. The refuge plants mullet and floods and area
inviting birds to stop during their migration. We saw a several types of ducks, moor hens and of
course many Canada Geese. Ed also saw a fox. The area terrain is also very interesting as much
of it was covered by lava flow and has now been shaped by winds and rain. We were happy to be driving a 4 wheel drive vehicle as the road tended to be hilly, windy and sandy. During the course of the day we could hear "booms"in the distance — the military must have been busy.
Swimming with a new friend is great!
The visitor's centre for the imperial NWR
Interesting rock formation, a volcanic vent tube filled with rock, which cooled and formed this oddly shaped piece of rock which being harder than the surrounding rocks remains as the softer material wears away
a Sign post at Yuma proving grounds
some of the rugged terraine near the river
If you wish you can sign our guest book
We have added a web page with a map of our current location and route to date