Eldy Goes to Prison

 Yuma, AZ.  High: 76. Low: 45.  Foothills Village RV Park.  Site: 113

We drove just a little under four hours today to go from Mesa to Yuma, AZ. Eldy did not follow the exact route the Garmin RV GPS suggested, but rather, we took the 202 loop out of Mesa to I-10, then to I-8 all the way to Yuma. Sometimes the GPS wants to shave off some time for you and have you do the "state road shuffle", Sparky calls it. But sometimes we prefer to take a route which seems the easiest to us, even if it adds a little time.  And, the roads were in very good condition so it was a decent drive. So here we are in Yuma, ready to see what there is around us. We came to be closer to Sparky's brother, Charlie, for a possible visit, but since Sparky had been suffering from a stomach bug, and Charlie was participating in a 100 mile awesome bike race in a few days, we had to postpone a get-together so Charlie wouldn't get sick. We will try and hook up later.

We are in a Thousand Trails/Encore membership park for the week. It's a smaller one, but very friendly. It's called Foothill Village RV Park right off of I-8 outside of Yuma. There are so many HUGE RV/geared to retirement people parks here in Yuma, it's mind boggling. We kind of like being in a smaller park for a change. Many, many of the parks in the southwest, Arizona and Texas, are basically gravel parking lots with a few palm trees thrown in and are situated very near main highways. Foothill Village RV Park is right next to Interstate 8 and there is a LOT of road noise. But as far as we can tell, lots of the RV parks here are near the interstate so you are going to be dealing with road noise in many RV parks in this area. And if not highway noise, train noise, or air force base noise based on some of the other reports we've heard about nearby parks.

There are about 131 sites here at this park as compared to 331 at the last park (Viewpoint Golf and RV resort in Mesa). There is a nice BIG modern laundry room, a very small pool, shade gazebos with couches at the ends of the site rows for anyone to sit and enjoy the daily breezes, a small activity center and a little restaurant you can walk to, which has tasty food. We are very happy with our stay, despite the highway noise. On to seeing what's in Yuma.

Yuma Territorial Prison State Park Open 9-5, seniors 6.00 entry fee. You read that right. It's a former prison that sits on a bluff beside the Colorado River. It was built in 1876. The prison operated for 33 years. You can walk thru an original cell, see the history of the inmates, and take a mug shot of yourself (you used to be able to don a prison uniform to do that, but no longer). 

It was VERY interesting to see and read about the inmates, like the "Shotgun Sister"--Maria Moreno, 16 years old, whose brother didn't like the way she was dancing and told her to stop. She threatened to kill him, and he said, "So kill me then." She shot him in the face, killing him instantly. Or Elena Estrada who stabbed her unfaithful lover, cut open his chest, pulled out his heart and threw the bloody mass into his face. Sentenced to 7 years for manslaughter. Wonder if she really did that? Or was it just sensationalized news of the day? How about  Pearl Hart, the most famous female bank robber? Or this guy....C. E. Hobart, a lifer...murdered a man, spent most of his days making adobe and quarrying rock. Tried to escape twice. But in his "spare time"? He knitted lace!!!! Beautiful lace.....Kinda creepy, the way Sparky's reflection is right behind him....

Yuma Prison was one of the top and most up-to-date prisons in its time, despite it being known as a "hell-hole", more for the weather, snakes and desert and impossibility of escaping, than for actual living conditions. It was considered the "Country Club on the Colorado." It had electricity, forced ventilation, sanitation including two bathtubs and three showers. It had a library of 2,000 books, the most in the territory at the time, a progressive administration, and even a prison band! But the terrible heat made the place an inferno and tuberculosis was the #1 killer. They had 6 guys in one cell block!

OK, one more thing, want to know the science behind a hanging? No? Well, gonna tell you anyway just in case. For Jeopardy or something. The day before they hung a man, they would weigh him. Then they would get a sandbag that weighed the same and test it out to determine the length of the "drop". If the rope was too long, the inmate could be decapitated. If it was too short, the strangulation would take as long as 45 minutes. The rope was boiled and stretched to eliminate spring or coiling. If they planned it right, the prisoner's weight would cause a rapid fracture and dislocation of the neck. BOOM! And he or she was a goner. (Sorry about that, Sparky thought that was interesting.)

Eldo wasn't too happy about taking the tour today.....But he made the best of it. Actually, he did enjoy the tour, we both did! 

After the tour, we were hungry. Eldo decided to buy some jelly beans at the shop. He said, here, have some! They might be a LITTLE hot. he says. HOLY MOLEY! They were on fire! He laughed and laughed at Sparky gasping for air.....NOTE: a few snacks available in the gift shop but they are ALL hot and spicy snacks, REALLY hot. Then he shows me the jar....Funny man, that Eldy.

A couple more stops to see art installations around town before heading back to the rig....Yuma has beautiful murals all over town. Stop at the Visitor's Center on Main Street for a map. Here is Sparky's favorite....You can't see all of her, but she's a mermaid. 

Some more art work outside of the Visitor's Center....In the back of the center nearby.

And a cool building facade...A cool shot would be to capture someone walking past it, but nobody came by.

While you are at it, stop by Lutes Casino. It's not a casino, but has the most eclectic assortment of art, posters, mechanical sculptures, weird characters hanging from the ceiling, movie star memorabilia and neon plastered all over the place. Very good tri tip steak sandwich. That's right nearby on Main Street after the prison tour.

Sparky was thrilled to be at Lutes as she didn't have to cook, but disappointed she missed the ice cream which Eldo participated in while she went to get some photos. (just kidding....) Here is the inside of Lutes from one angle...Sensory overload, for sure!

Aren't the bike racks outside all over town, pretty cool, too?

Lots to see here in Yuma...we have a few more days, need to see what a couple of hikes and biking trails look like. Sparky is finally feeling better and might be able to handle a little bit of that...See you later!