After Tucson we decided to travel to Yuma, AZ, to check it out. We have a discount camping membership, so we decided to check out one of the association’s RV parks, Cocopah RV & Golf Resort. Turns out this is a top end RV park built around a 18 hole golf course. There are over 800 spots for RVs and “park models”. About half the spots were empty because the snowbirds were leaving and heading north to their summer homes. In fact, over 80 winter residents were checking out and leaving that day. Although we saw no Native Americans involved in the operation of the park, it is actually on the Cocopah Reservation? 
http://www.cocopahrv.com/
That evening we headed to a nearby Indian Casino, Paradise Casino. The road there takes you over a very narrow bridge that has stop lights at each end to only allow one way traffic. Turns out this is the Ocean to Ocean Highway Bridge, the first bridge built for vehicles to cross the Colorado River, and the last link constructed in a patch work of roads to travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific crossing the southern USA. During the Depression California State Troopers stood “guard” at this bridge and turned away many “Okies”. Back then steamships transited up the Colorado from the Gulf of California to transport passengers and cargo, making Yuma an “ocean” port. Now-a-days the river is barely an irrigation canal, and dries up in Mexico miles from the Gulf.
http://www.paradise-casinos.com/
The next day, Thursday, Corrie went shopping in the morning, allowing Dan to tour the Yuma Territorial Prison later that day. The prison is famous (or infamous) because of its depiction in movies and TV shows. Turns out it was only in operation for 33 years and it wasn’t all that bad compared to other jails/prisons. In fact, the prison had water, electric, telephone & sewer often years before the city of Yuma did; for awhile the prison even sold excess electricity to the city. The daily work was hard and exhausting, but many inmates learned to read and write, and learn a trade before release. Only one prisoner was hanged there, but many prisoners did die of TB. One surprising thing was how early most prisoners were released (even rapist and murderers), turns out paroles and pardons were easy to get (ie buy). One of the “famous” inmates of the prison was Mother Jones, jailed for her union activities on the behalf of miners. After it was abandoned it was used by the local high school for four years, to this day the high school mascot is the Crims (ie Criminals). Lastly, remember those Okies turned away from California, many of them took up long term residence in the empty cells. 
//www.pr.state.az.us/parks/YUTE/index.html
While driving around Yuma we noticed several outside eating establishments that Dan called Taquerias (aka Taco Shops). These establishments usually were in an empty lot, surrounded by a fence, and usually doing their cooking in an outdoor kitchen making tacos, burritos & tortas. So Thursday night we picked one called “Tacos Lucy” and stopped for dinner. Corrie went with the chicken burrito that she will be eating for at least three days. Dan went with several tacos. We would tell you what kind of tacos he had, but we don’t know. They had a whole list of taco stuffings, but Dan would skip over the usual chicken or beef, and pick the Spanish words he had no idea of the meaning. Luckily it was all good, especially the huge tray of condiments they bring to top everything with! 
Friday morning it was off to tour the Town of Felicity (aka Center of the World). Why is it the Center of the World? Because they have official proclamations from the local County and something called Institut Geographiue National (supposedly part of the French government) saying they are the Center of the World. This is the brainchild of the Mayor Istel and his wife, Felicity. Istel’s family fled Nazi France to the USA and he has led a colorful life ever since. For $15 you can enter the pyramid over the Center of the World, and stand on the spot, and then receive a certificate from Mayor Istel. Unfortunately no one was around, so we could not enter the pyramid and stand on the Center of the World. Istel is also constructing “The Wall For The Ages”. This is rows and rows of mostly blank granite slabs that eventually will contain the History of Humanity. We are not sure what parts of history will qualify to be included? For example we see he has room set aside for the histories of California and Arizona; what about the other 48 states? One section that is done, had a fascinating history of the French Foreign Legion. And for some reason there is an original section of an Eiffel Tower Staircase. Getting over our disappointment of not standing at the center of the world we returned to the RV park to lay around the pool. Tomorrow back on the road!
http://www.cocopahrv.com/
That evening we headed to a nearby Indian Casino, Paradise Casino. The road there takes you over a very narrow bridge that has stop lights at each end to only allow one way traffic. Turns out this is the Ocean to Ocean Highway Bridge, the first bridge built for vehicles to cross the Colorado River, and the last link constructed in a patch work of roads to travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific crossing the southern USA. During the Depression California State Troopers stood “guard” at this bridge and turned away many “Okies”. Back then steamships transited up the Colorado from the Gulf of California to transport passengers and cargo, making Yuma an “ocean” port. Now-a-days the river is barely an irrigation canal, and dries up in Mexico miles from the Gulf.
http://www.paradise-casinos.com/
The next day, Thursday, Corrie went shopping in the morning, allowing Dan to tour the Yuma Territorial Prison later that day. The prison is famous (or infamous) because of its depiction in movies and TV shows. Turns out it was only in operation for 33 years and it wasn’t all that bad compared to other jails/prisons. In fact, the prison had water, electric, telephone & sewer often years before the city of Yuma did; for awhile the prison even sold excess electricity to the city. The daily work was hard and exhausting, but many inmates learned to read and write, and learn a trade before release. Only one prisoner was hanged there, but many prisoners did die of TB. One surprising thing was how early most prisoners were released (even rapist and murderers), turns out paroles and pardons were easy to get (ie buy). One of the “famous” inmates of the prison was Mother Jones, jailed for her union activities on the behalf of miners. After it was abandoned it was used by the local high school for four years, to this day the high school mascot is the Crims (ie Criminals). Lastly, remember those Okies turned away from California, many of them took up long term residence in the empty cells.
//www.pr.state.az.us/parks/YUTE/index.htmlWhile driving around Yuma we noticed several outside eating establishments that Dan called Taquerias (aka Taco Shops). These establishments usually were in an empty lot, surrounded by a fence, and usually doing their cooking in an outdoor kitchen making tacos, burritos & tortas. So Thursday night we picked one called “Tacos Lucy” and stopped for dinner. Corrie went with the chicken burrito that she will be eating for at least three days. Dan went with several tacos. We would tell you what kind of tacos he had, but we don’t know. They had a whole list of taco stuffings, but Dan would skip over the usual chicken or beef, and pick the Spanish words he had no idea of the meaning. Luckily it was all good, especially the huge tray of condiments they bring to top everything with!
Friday morning it was off to tour the Town of Felicity (aka Center of the World). Why is it the Center of the World? Because they have official proclamations from the local County and something called Institut Geographiue National (supposedly part of the French government) saying they are the Center of the World. This is the brainchild of the Mayor Istel and his wife, Felicity. Istel’s family fled Nazi France to the USA and he has led a colorful life ever since. For $15 you can enter the pyramid over the Center of the World, and stand on the spot, and then receive a certificate from Mayor Istel. Unfortunately no one was around, so we could not enter the pyramid and stand on the Center of the World. Istel is also constructing “The Wall For The Ages”. This is rows and rows of mostly blank granite slabs that eventually will contain the History of Humanity. We are not sure what parts of history will qualify to be included? For example we see he has room set aside for the histories of California and Arizona; what about the other 48 states? One section that is done, had a fascinating history of the French Foreign Legion. And for some reason there is an original section of an Eiffel Tower Staircase. Getting over our disappointment of not standing at the center of the world we returned to the RV park to lay around the pool. Tomorrow back on the road! 
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