Yuma is full of interesting places to see and is having above average temperatures lately. So nice! Sorry, no gloating, just saying. Finally got to interact more closely with the road runners (at least 4 of them live close to me) and find their behaviour interesting.

The Marine Corps Air Station is also nearby and I have been watching them fly over and marvel at the speed and power. Lots of different aircraft, from various jets to Ospreys to helicopters.

Still haven't solved the mystery of Engine 2521. According to this interpretive display, it was built by Baldwin Locomotive in Schenectady NY, but Baldwin was in Pennsylvania. Hmmmmm did they collaborate at some juncture in their history. Alas, another puzzle to work on.

Time for more birding and biking, me thinks. I will be heading for Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument for a week or so and then off toward Tuscon, Tombstone and the rest of southeastern Arizona.

Those muffin tin meatloaves were filled with peach mango salsa under that cheese. I got to go to the Yuma Territorial Prison State Park during the gathering of the gunfighters, a once a year event in the Yuma area.This prison was really an eye opener. I wouldn't have wanted to spend much time here in the 1870s.

I have also been visiting more wildlife refuges. Finally got a better look at a roadrunner along with other species of birds.Will carry on and try to update more often.

While staying at the Crossroads BLM campground, I noticed the remnant of an old building and decided to investigate further. This area was known as Crossroads, California in the 1930s.

What a tale these walls could tell. Lots of walking and some biking. Took a trip to see the ghost town of Swansea. They found silver and when it ran out they mined copper until the bottom fell out of the market after the first world war.

Even Denny couldn't resurrect this relic.

Then encountered some snow in the desert. Lake Havasu City even got snow (elevation 545 ft) for the first time in 27 years.

New Year's Eve was a quiet affair, but some of the locals had their own fireworks. I tried something new with my venison, added some spices and a package of stovetop stuffing. It worked out great!

Let's see what the New Year will bring.