POST 1276; MARCH 31, 2014; PARKER, ARIZONA

Two nights ago we had all of five minutes of RAIN falling a staccato on the roof of SPIA-2...and, yes,you guessed it...flies and no-see-ums have hatched by the millions.

For night-time ventilation, have left all windows open a bit...have also added window screen to keep out the bugs...well almost keep out the bugs.  Have found no adhesive which adheres to the plastic screen...and adhesive which does not turn to liquid in the intense radiated heat under the Arizona Sun.

And, it is time to walk with the mouth closed...

SR 62, upon reaching PARKER, stays on the West side of the COLORADO RIVER.  From PARKER, it is 17 miles up-river to PARKER DAM...and another 21 miles to LAKE HAVASU CITY.  Tomorrow morning, will walk that part of SR 62.  Today, checked out the first 5 miles or so

Very few specimen of CACTUS Trees decorate downtown PARKER.

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A big jump in $$ for non-ethanol gasoline.   It has become well known that ETHANOL is DEATH on engines, fuel tanks and other metals which it comes into contact.  Beyond me why it is still being pushed as an alternate fuel, knowing very well it destroys vehicles.

Especially with the MEGA-finds of Petroleum within the USA, it can benefit only farmers who raise the CORN - from which much of the Ethanol is converted, and the BIG OIL COMPANIES, which are being GIFTED a near free source for 10% of their finished product...

...this is what I discover...this is what I share...

A down stream look at the CANAL of water taken from the COLORADO RIVER at Parker, Arizona.

A 4-lane bridge addition is nearing completion over the COLORADO RIVER.  Increased traffic certainly seems to justify the additional lanes.

The COLORADO RIVER.

Beginning SR 62 continuation from PARKER to PARKER DAM, 17 miles distant...and LAKE HAVASU CITY, 21 miles beyond that.

PARKER City Park, three city blocks from WALMART and Supermarket SAFEWAY.


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Tomorrow, plan to walk further out old SR 62 to visit some of the many "resorts" listed on the previous roadside sign.

My Ribs and Chest Muscle Pulls are quickly healing.  Of course, I am walking a few miles each day, not giving any uric acids time to collect to slow down the healing process.

Yesterday, I broke into my reserve store of Canned Veggies and fruits.  PROGRESSO MINESTRONE is not bad eaten COLD.

My "Reserve" is intended for emergency designed to sustain a couple folks up to one month.  Water is included, but only 5 gallons.

On short $$ months, the reserve is also appreciated.

POST 1275; MARCH 30, 2014; PARKER, ARIZONA

Had a mission today...to check out the Indian CASINO on the shore of the COLORADO RIVER; and. to walk to the PARKER DAM.

Success at the CASINO, but SHATTERED all previous "facts" about PARKER DAM.

Not a stone throw directly behind the WALMART Building - where SPIA-2 has been over nighting -

LIES A SECOND DAM...

HEADGATE ROCK DAM; a project of the US DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, to whom THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS reports.

WALMART...The CASINO...and, HEADGATE DAM form a neat triangle fitting in a plot of desert sand and the Colorado River about 1/2 mile on the side.

I asked no less than a dozen "locals"...not a single one knew there was a second dam (HEADGATE DAM) the location of the dam (a two minute drive from mid-town), and only one knew it was the source of Colorado River waters to fill a rather large Canal delivering water to ranches and farms located to the South West of PARKER.
 
Kinda like New Yorkers never seeing / visiting the Empire State Building; or, Seattleites having no idea that  THE SMITH TOWER...was, for nearly a half century, the TALLEST BUILDING WEST OF CHICAGO.

Back to the CASINO...

Lots of COLOR to greet visitors.

View from the elegant waterfront facing HOTEL ,,,an integral part of the milti-features of the CASINO

...including a well located and appointed RV Park...

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...a Gaming Center

...a CINIMA Center showing the latest releases

...and yes, the entire building is set to take off...the guest rooms distinctly leaning back against the rest of the massive building

...each river front guest room looking down on the ultra-modern harbor...complete with small boat berths, launch ramp, and a park-like island for strolling and simply enjoying being on a river island with ultra-beauty on every hand.

Centered between East and West Guest Room Tower is this lofty space housing the swimming pool...

...a milti-level series of pools, connected by water slides, fountains, and designer architecture to enlighten any bather's mood.

River bank is lined with thick BAMBOO Groves...hidden trails leading to more hidden alcoves of privacy.

Time, like the Lake waters of the COLORADO RIVER before the CASINO seems to stand still.

...and, following a shore side bamboo trail no more than 100 yards from the marina, lies the mystery Dam.

Returning to WALMART, I again ask how one finds his way to the second dam.   Finally, one young WALMART employee was proud to direct me to a desert trail leading from behind WALMART, a 15 minute walk to the HEADGATE ROCK DAM...yes, he even knew the name of the dam.

...and so, I looked for the trail.  Instead found a paved well-traveled "work-road" leading past a fenced Electrical Sub-Station...a positive sign I am on the right trail (road?).

...Another 1/8 mile on the still paved road, came to:

...The above locked gate and BUREAU OF RECLAMATION sign.

I followed the dirt roadway inches from signs promising ugly death if touched...HIGH VOLTAGE

I climbed a 6-foot high BERM (hill)...

...There, not 5 feet from my shoes was a SHEER VERTICAL CLIFF...

...300 feet directly below lay the mystery Dam...

HEADGATE ROCK DAM

Also Down There, flowed the Irrigation Canal, diverting a good deal of the entire volume of the waters of the Colorado River.

I was delighted and shocked. 

A major Dam located essentially in the center of the city of PARKER, Arizona...of which residents admit only by rumor was even there...a 300 foot vertical UNPROTECTED DROP with not even a small curb to let folks know...;not the tiniest sign, warning

..."Hey, Folks...two more steps forward and your are swimming...if not DEAD from a broken neck from the fall."

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Walking to McDonalds to create this Blog Update, I AGAIN injured myself.

Of all things, I pushed open the hydraulic assisted door, only to have a customer on the other side - leaving the store -pull HARD on his side of the door.

Not paying attention...not being ready for any kind of force, my right arm - yep, same side - was jerked forward.  The lateral chest / breast muscle has been over stretched...the same type injury as a Shin Splint of the Leg/Foot.  Normally a 4 - 6 week Repair Time...and yes, the ribs still hurt in a mean way...actually hurts like the devil when I cough...which is much too often...the Sinus still flows with a vengence.

Have until Thursday morning before continuing our walk from BOUSE.  Still about 175 miles to PHOENIX, Arizona, where a Niece or Nephew might take me in for a day or two.

POST 1274; MARCH 29, 2014; PARKER, ARIZONA

Starting this walk 3 months ago, I looked forward to spending a bit more time in some interesting places...to search out a bit more than a one-time transit through.  Four years of "quick" transit has discovered - which we have shared - so very much....over 1,000 postings and over 30,000 photographs.  Our "enforced" stay in PARKER, ARIZONA, has demonstrated the wisdom of delaying here and there.

This, my second transit through PARKER, has revealed things which I missed before.  Specifically, PARKER DAM blocks the COLORADO RIVER only a stone throw from down town PARKER.

I never knew this !

Today, walked some 15 miles North of PARKER on US 95 toward HAVASU LAKE CITY.

A few miles out of PARKER, I came upon a community snuggled along the shore lines (both sides of the river), stretching for miles of "waterfront" living within pristine blue river - lake waters in homes to make any one drool...and fantasize...IF, ONLY I HAD... !!!

PARKER is essentially surrounded by an Indian Reservation...sitting smack on Parker Dam Lake.  Tomorrow, I plan to walk to the CASINO advertised in the above image; then, too, to walk to Parker Dam
...just to see what is to be seen....Sure lots of "to" in that sentence.

LAKE HAVASUE CITY is also on the shores of the COLORADO RIVER.

Interesting...and somewhat shocking:

At YUMA, ARIZONA, only 100 miles down the Colorado River, one can WADE across the Colorado River just about anywhere.  Sitting on the USA / MEXICAN border, the depleted waters of the Colorado River, flow South into Mexico...TOO...it is said (I have not personally seen it)...disappear into the Mexican Desert Sands many miles from the SEA OF CORTEZ.

Next to where the near empty Colorado River flows, is a HUGE concrete-lined CANAL...diverting the Colorado River Waters to where, I do not know...

...I suppose it flows to nearby Mexican towns, but fear it is headed into the SAN DIEGO - LOS ANGELES metropolis just "over the hill".

I DO have personal knowledge of the depleted Colorado River...AND ...the existence of the Mega-Canal full of flowing Colorado River Water.

Visiting my parents some years ago at their YUMA, ARIZONA home, ...not far from where I sit creating this BLOG, I spent three weeks RUNNING into the ARIZONA - CALIFORNIA - MEXICAN Desert...in final preparation for my one-time quest to run the Boston Marathon.  At age 43...having quit smoking (three packs a day - for 20 years), on June 15, I completed Boston  (April 16) - 9 months later in UNDER 3 hours (having left the course at the top of Heartbreak Hill to seek out a toilet)...from the top of Heartbreak Hill, I FLEW...I mean my feet never touched the ground...I feel I passed 5,000 runners in that final 10 miles or so...

...in the "Recovery Area" in the underground garage of the PRU (Prudential Building), towel over my head, I cried for 30 minutes...I knew I had done something special...I have never looked back...

..."WHAT IF"...I had started in Group 1 - 1,000 ?

Forget that...at least I saved my body...and now it is giving back...taking hundreds ( thousands?) on our many-year journey across America...

Something good must come from that !

Started Boston in the 11,000 to 12,000 group.  My Certificate says I finished Boston in 4,440 th place.

Nearly 40 years later, it still chokes me up.  Every STEP of our walk has been for Cri...every moment is for you, my body.

This is the "soil" MOHAVE DESERT" is made of.  NEVER drive off the prepared roadway without a special 4-Wheel Drive High Center Vehicle...and close windows and air vents when the wind blows desert soil your way.

Two bikes actually came down that hill.

Starting to get the "hang" of imaging downward sloping hills.

The "Hidy-Hole" Community of PARKER ON THE LAKE...stretching for miles on both sides of the COLORADO RIVER.

I popped into this BAR...where I was...

...gifted a LARGE COLD ONE (Coors Light)...

and use of the toilet facilities.

Thank You, JODY (back to the camera).

...talk about homes hanging on a cliff !!!

At this point I wish to refer back to my MANY photographs of soils of the Pacific Ocean along the USA Coast from the Strait of Juan d' Fuca to San Francisco: 

Much of the soil is CLAY.  A type of clay that when saturated with water ... or subjected to intense SHAKING...(Earthquakes) becomes liquified and tends to "SLIDE".

Care must be taken to consider this when building ANYTHING on such clay ... particularly on steep slopes.

COLORADO RIVER LAKE behind Parker Dam.

I like this photograph very much.

The scene is the left hand side of a PUBLIC BOAT LAUNCH RAMP...

pictured next.

...and, the home on the right, built into the actual lake,...

...IS FOR SALE.