Ocean to Ocean Bridge

As a final touristy activity for Grandpa, we took him to the Ocean to Ocean Bridge.

Usually we walk underneath it and along the river trail.

Today, however, and due to the fact that he was tired out and ready for a nap, Dallin stated that we needed to "walk across the bridge!" He was very insistent. So insistent that in order to avoid a tantrum, we took Grandpa for a walk across the bridge.

That's California on the other side.

We can now say we walked all the way to California with Grandpa!

View looking UP

 

View looking DOWN

It actually was much further to the ground than it looks.

View looking across the road

The other bridge is for the trains.

Dallin mesmerized by the flowing Colorado River

Historic sign on the end of the bridge

After the bridge walking event, we were all tired out and returned home to eat Valentine's treats.

Quartermaster Depot

To help celebrate Arizona's Centennial (happy 100th year of statehood today!), we took Grandpa to the Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park and learned a bit more about the history of Yuma. This was a military supply distribution center in the late 1800's and later the Signal Corps used it as a telegraph and weather station.

Young Outlaws in Jail

(pun intended)

Grandpa liked the old trucks and cars.

 

Dallin preferred the fake mules pulling the wagon.

Steamboat Replica

Steamboat Steering Wheel

The sign said, "Please Do Not Touch!"

Dallin tried to turn it. Blame it on him not being literate yet.

Amazing Antique Desk

Look! Green grass does exist in Yuma,

in the wintertime.

Roxaboxen

We took Grandpa to a mound of dirt and rocks on the corner of 8th Street and 2nd Avenue.

This isn't just any mound of dirt. 

It is a restored park immortalizing Roxaboxen.

Roxaboxen was an imaginary town created from rocks and boxes by a group of children living in Yuma in the early 1900's. The book is a charming story detailing the inventiveness of the children living on the edge of the desert.

 We took the book and read it on site.

Erin walked along one of Roxaboxen's "roads."

Dallin preferred playing on the big rocks surrounding the park edges
(not part of the "town" rocks).

There really wasn't much to it, and the rocks are rearranged by each visitor.

However, it was fun to try to imagine what it was like nearly 100 years ago.

We straightened out some of the roads and filled in some gaps.

Erin asked if we can go back to Roxaboxen tomorrow.

She's still at the age where imagination runs freely.

 Our teenager must be too old for imaginative play with rocks.

Napping was apparently a better option.
Blame it on early morning seminary class...