2/03/10 – 2/12/10 Mittry Lake

2/03/10 – 2/12/10 Wednesday – Friday


Photos:  http://silverserenity.shutterfly.com/313

We found a spot at Mittry Lake. This area will be our camp area for the next several days.

Mittry Lake is located 17 miles northeast of Yuma, AZ. It is actually the Mittry Lake Wildlife Area which includes about 600 acres of water surface and 2400 acres of marsh or upland. There are 3 different mountain ranges surrounding it.

Tuesday night we located a camping area. It was fairly close to the dock and picnic area. The only thing it lacked was a view of the lake from the trailer. Also on the walkway to the lake another couple had set up a small tent.

The next morning we moved around the lake to a spot that is almost perfect. This is a long area and someone has a screen tent set up at the one end. We moved almost to the other end. The bad thing is that someone could, if they chose to, fit in between us and the tenters or between us and the road. But if you take 10 steps out our front door then you are wet!

On the lagoon in front of us are little ducks. They have a dark gray body, black head and white bill. They are so cute! Their sound is similar to a squeak toy. It must be or getting ready to be mating season. They seem to stay in two’s or group together. You can tell the males because they are a little more aggressive and chase after the females.

I couldn’t stand it any longer. Thursday morning found us finding the Fish and Game Office to get me a fishing license. That afternoon was for fishing! Most of our remaining days here consisted of fishing or taking a hike and just relaxing.

On Saturday it looks like we are going to have company. Two airstream trailers with matching trucks pulled in between us and the tenters. The tag on the trucks is from Texas but they are full-timers and are on the road all the time. He is German, she is from Poland. They met in Canada and have been married for 25 years. Really sweet couple. Later a 5th wheeler pulled in between us and the road. They are from Canada. Now our strip of land beside the lake is full.

Late in the day a very large white bird (see photos) which might be a heron paid us a visit. It froze on the edge of the water and we were able to get a good look at it. There are several of these pure white birds here.

Saturday night brought a terrible thunder storm. First was the torrential rain which turned to hail then back to rain. The lightning seemed like it was inside the trailer. The thunder seemed to rattle and shake us! This has been the worse thunder storm we have seen in the trailer. Thankfully no damage from the storm.

Sunday, the 7th, brought another beautiful day here in Yuma. Just after lunch we went for a hike to the top of the mountains behind us. Well, to the top of the highest we could see from where we were. This is a very different type of hiking than hiking in the green mountains of the east.

This is desert mountains. They are full of large rocks and gravel and sand. Every thing on first glance appears bare and desolate. But if you slow down and just be, you will find this land is very much alive. The recent rains have brought a fine green hue to the mountains where tiny grasses and plants seem to flourish everywhere. The Crucifixion Cactus which we found to have red blooms on while at Pilot Knob now are covered in green leaves which hide the thorns. Keep looking and you start to find barrel cactus everywhere. They are turning a burgundy red and look very healthy and dangerous. Sitting down for a rest, we spotted a couple of lizards which were trying to stay hidden (and doing a good job of it) and looking for food.

Tonight introduced us to another native creature. Coyotes. A couple of packs sang us to sleep. We could tell that both packs were on the far side of the lake and that was just fine by me!

Monday, the 8th, brought a full day of sun. The Sun Oven came out and was filled with a turkey breast and cornbread. Ohhhh, supper will be great.

Once again, I took to the fishing pole. Needless to say….stupid fish! No fish for supper so instead it was turkey, cornbread, mashed potatoes, gravy and broccoli. Yum.

The rest of the week was pretty much the same slow pace. I tried my best to coax a fish from this lake. It seems that the crazy weather is affecting the fish. We have seen a few large bass jump but nothing will bite.

The coyotes have taken to having a sing-fest almost every night now. On Wednesday night they were on our side of the lake and in the mountains where we had hiked previously. Thursday night/early Friday morning one ventured into our little area and called to his friends from right in front of our trailer. Yikes!

Thursday morning broke full of clouds and promise of more rain. This area has had all the rain they usually get for years. We checked out the Imperial Dam LTVA and free boondocking area. All the rains have washed out the road to Ferguson Lake where the free camping is so this location is out. We drove into town for pizza and just to get out. Also part of the trip was to decide on our next location. The first spot was just parking on flat areas on the hills. The second, Redondo Lake was wall to wall with RV’ers and no room for anything called privacy. Fortuna Pond was much better and had a better access to fishing the pond and there were several sights but decided to stay where we are and just leave on Saturday.

Thursday night we decided to take a walk down the road. Just as we started out, I turned/twisted my knee. The same area and same type pains as what Thomas experienced in Hot Springs, AR. I was able to finish the walk and felt a little weak on it but otherwise fine.

Friday morning found me not able to straighten out my leg without pain. The swelling in the knee was minimal. The aching pain was what woke me up. Tylenol didn’t help. We still have the crutches; maybe they were for me and not Thomas. I have no plans of going to the Dr unless things do not get better or get worse. Hopefully I will heal as fast as Thomas did.

Friday afternoon I finally hooked a 1 ½ foot catfish. I got it to the bank and Thomas was helping me to get it onto the bank. The fish thought Thomas looked hungry so it took off. Oh well, at least I did get to enjoy reeling one in. When we leave I will sure miss our ducks which were there faithfully every morning and most of the day. Good bye ducks.

We plan on leaving Saturday morning and staying at the Quechan Casino RV parking lot. There we will have internet and be able to update the photos and journal. Before we get to the casino the usual stuff….laundry, restocking food, supplies, propane and water.

From there we will be going to Holtville, CA. This is a small town with a natural hot spring on the BLM land and we will have free access and be able to camp for free. Depending on what we find, we will stay there somewhere between a couple of days to a week. The next stop will be “The Slabs” on the east side of the Salton Sea in Niland, CA.

I do have internet on my phone and have tried to update through it but it gives me problems. So if you need us or just want to say hello, give us a call.

Happy Valentines Day to everyone on Sunday!
PS- Hear it is snowing back home again!
And to Cheryl:  I meant to tell you that Sylvia Brown was at the Quechan Casino while we were there the first time.  Thought about you.  No, I didn't go because the tickets were too much.