We arrived in Yuma on October 22nd and got settled in for what we thought would be 6 months. We were staying at the Cocopah Golf and RV Resort which is located in the extreme northwestern corner of Yuma, where the Colorado river bends and forms a natural border between Arizona and California. From our rv site we were actually only about a quarter mile from California. In addition, just about a mile south of us was Mexico and the city of Algodones.
All around us were fields in various stages of growing, from bare ground to lush greens, ready for harvest. As we learned, some 90% to 95% of the green leaf vegetables in the United States are grown in Yuma. Since the early part of the 20th century, the Colorado has been dammed and diverted to make the land along the lower Colorado River some of the most productive in the country. Greens like cabbage, spinach, lettuce and even dates are all grown near Yuma. At any one time, a field is either under planting, growing or being harvested. Quite a different landscape than the stark desert we crossed on the way there.
We did manage to get to Algodones, Mexico, one afternoon, and it’s pretty much like most other border towns. I guess if we had to choose, we like Progresso a bit better.
In most of the seasonal parks we have stayed in have been in areas with much to do and see, usually within 30 – 45 minutes drive. Yuma is different in that it is primarily agricultural. We had the golf course and beyond that there wasn’t much to do. So after 3 months in Yuma we decided to return to Tucson for the balance of our winter. We enjoyed our week in Tucson and there are a number of activities we didn’t have the time for. In addition, we have friends and family in Tucson, so on February 1st we left Yuma.