Wrapping up Yuma

Cocopah RV & Golf Resort

Yuma, AZ

March 6, 2026

No trip to Yuma for us is complete without a patio brunch at the Garden Cafe.  

The vegetable quiche is my favorite and the homemade fruit bread is so yummy.  The fruit in the bread changes day to day and we were happy we were served warm (just out of the oven) strawberry walnut bread.  

The cafe is down a short narrow alley with small businesses on either side.  Lots of color, trees and plants and pots and benches. 

 

Vintage Studio Art Treasures...a fun place to browse.

Another day, the four of us visited Martha's Garden.

The Gardens were founded in 1990 by Nels and Martha when they planted 300 Medjool date palms. Today there are over 8,000 palms in over 130 acres of desert.  It is still a family run and operated business which is proud to mention that they grow, pack, and sell their own product. It is an organic farm...no pesticides or chemicals are used from transplant to harvest.  

The date farm is open everyday except Sunday from 10:00 to 5:00 in the winter (summer hours differ).  They advertise one farm tour a day which begins each morning at 10:30, but we couldn't go because pups are not allowed and we had Lucy.  There is a nice patio setting and a gift store on site.  In addition to date shakes, they offer a variety of packaged dates. Dark chocolate covered, white chocolate covered dates and dates rolled in walnuts, pecans and coconuts.  Dates are a new food item for me. And I came home with three containers of plain Medjool dates (which can be kept in the freezer for up to four months) and a small container of the walnut dates which I didn't think were as good as just the plain ones.  

Bags help protect developing dates from pests (birds, insects, and bats), and from harsh weather (rain, wind and sun).

Back at Belle, I was excited the African Violet I have nurtured for a while finally has a bloom.  It was on the "almost gone" counter at Civano at the end of last summer.  

Carol's tulips bloomed.

Lucy plays ball.

Joe makes repairs.

We take daily walks...a morning walk and an evening walk in-between the heat of the day works good for us.

Sunrise

Long-billed Curlew...one of my all time favorite birds.

Screwbean Mesquite Tree

Golden Tickseed

Northern Mockingbird

Sunrise

The castor oil plant (except it looked like a tree).

Sunset

Yesterday was travel day so stay tuned.

Until next time, 

HAPPY TRAILS!

and SWEET DREAMS!

Lower Colorado River Excursions

Cocopah RV and Golf Resort

Yuma, AZ

March 1, 2026

Popcorn Senna bush at Cocopah

The history of paddle boat cruises in Yuma began 175 years ago..  It all started with Captain James Turnbull's "Uncle Sam" which supplied Fort Yuma in 1852. Today, the tradition continues with modern, scenic cruises on the "Colorado King" wheeler operating near Yuma.  The Colorado King was built in 1993 on site on the banks of the river at Fisher's Landing on Martinez Lake.  This easy going boat is 52 feet long, weighs 52 tons, and is powered by the paddles itself...no help from outboard/inboard motors. 

Lower Colorado River Excursions offer a variety of scenic cruises including brunch cruises and sunset dinner cruises, narrated scenic cruises and private charters.  If you have a need for speed, you might enjoy the "Liberty Jet" lower or upper river cruise.  The four of us reserved tickets for a sunset dinner cruise last week and what a wonderful experience we had!  Dinner is a themed buffet...Fiesta, Western, Taste of Italy, and Hawaiian.  We chose a Thursday night for Italian with seating on the upper deck which is covered, but has a delightful breeze. Seating is limited and reservations are required for both lower and upper decks on the dinner cruise. Our excursion was a 90 minute easy going...slow and smooth...trip.  The staff was wonderful and worked so hard to make sure we all had everything we needed and that we enjoyed ourselves. 

Joe and Ronnie

I have no photos of appetizers, dinner or desert. It was all quite tasty and as most times at dinner with friends, we were all enjoying the conversation, the scenery, and filling our tummies.  Lower Colorado Excursions is nestled within the bounds of the Kofa Wildlife Refuge. I did get a few photos which were hard to pick from...it was so pretty being on the river.

Captain Kelly...a U.S. Coast Guard certified captain...ensured smooth sailing.

Carol

A selfie! And all smiles!

Back at Belle, it has been HOT!  Yep,  we have had a heat wave in Yuma.  The kind of heat wave that sets new records on the temp chart. The mornings and early evenings are nice so we get our  walks in then.   

One of two duck ponds

Date Palm

A pair of Mallards

Sunrise

American Wigeons

So until next time,

HAPPY TRAILS

and, SWEET DREAMS!