Walkabout With Wheels Blog

Monday, November 5, 2018

Walking Around Algodones, Mexico

Eric and I have been visiting Algondones, Mexico since 2015.

Algodones Fun Facts: This is Mexico's northernmost town. The United States surrounds Algodones. California is North and West of the town. Yuma, Arizona is East and South of Algodones.

Financial Fun Facts: Visitors from Mexico spend about $2 billion dollars in Yuma County Arizona each year. Mexican purchases on food, clothing, entertainment, and other services. The annual flow of money into Yuma County supports more than 2,000 local jobs. Snowbirds from other parts of the US and Canada bring in about

I was unable to find financial information on American spending in Algodones. During the first quarter of 2018 8 million Americans visited Mexico. Of the 8 million, 4.3 million tourists visited border towns.

Visitors see the Algodones

Water Tower from the

Border Parking Lot.

Americans & Canadians travel

here for low-cost dental work,

prescription drugs, eyeglasses

& shopping.

Many buildings are painted

with bright colors.

This building features masks

of Mexican Wrestlers.

This sign lists the
businesses off of...

.... this alley.

Eric in front of El Paraiso,
one of our favorite places
to eat, & drink.

MediPlaza is a recent addition

to Algodones.

See a dentist, get a new pair of glasses, fill a prescription, dine and shop here. The second floor has hotel rooms for visitors who are visiting or have multiple appointments.

Eric in front of Dental
Solutions.

He got his beautiful
smile here.

Drs. Marichi & Omeda's

dental practice has been

endorsed by Escapees

RV Club.

Reny Dental & the
sandwich board for
one of Algodones'
Spas.

There's shopping everywhere.... Beneath business awnings, in alleyways.... Vendors walk the streets selling hats, jewelry, lawn ornaments...

Liquis Pharmacy is

celebrating...

.... Halloween

The local school's Halloween

Party is fun-filled, &

lacks gore.

Friday, November 2, 2018

Visiting Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Ajo, Arizona

Eric & me at Organ Pipe

Cactus National Monument

in the Sonoran Desert

We went to the Kris Eggle
Visitor Center to get our
bearings &...

... to purchase my America the

Beautiful National Parks &

Federal Recreation Lands

Lifetime Senior Pass.

I celebrated my 62nd birthday in August and went online to purchase the "Senior Pass." I was sent to the United States Geological website states, "Due to the sudden popular demand for Senior Passes, we have partnered with Your Pass Now to simplify the order process for Senior Passes. You will be directed to their external website." The external website charges a $10.00 processing fee for the $80.00 Senior Pass. I do not pay additional fees to obtain government services.

It was worth the wait, and the beautiful photo, to get my Lifetime Senior Pass for $80.00. It comes with a plastic hanger to display in more than 2,000 recreation sites including National Parks, National Monuments, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Refuges, National Forests...

Today Eric & I will drive

the 20 Mile Loop Trail.

This route takes visitors

through an area of the 517

square acre monument.

Saguaro Cacti & Creosote

Bushes

A large Teddy Bear Cholla

Our first sighting of

Organ Pipe Cacti.

Eric and I told friends that we were going to Stove Pipe National Monument. Organ Pipe is not a commonly used phrase, and now we know it's the name of a specific Cactus. Travel is about learning and correcting errors.

Suddenly, Organ Pipe Cacti
are everywhere.

The views from a roadside pull off...

You can see for miles....

Eric, me & an Organ Pipe Cactus

Our Jeep is dwarfed by a
Saguaro Cactus.

The greenery on the right is

Ocotillo.

It isn't a cactus & it sheds

its spiny leaves.

Freezing weather damages the
Saguaro Cactus & its arms
droop.

This one looks like it's

hugging itself.

These two Saguaro are

locked in an embrace.

Ooooh... an arch

A close up....

This section of the National Monument shows long ago volcanic activity.

Jojoba Bushes live in the
Sonoran Desert.

Chain Fruit Cholla are known

as Jumping Cholla because the

plant's hanging fruit easily

detach to spread seeds

throughout an area.

This drive is beautiful! There are pull-offs with informational displays, picnic tables, and trailheads.

Eric and I explored the Campground, which has no hookups. Our forty foot Winnebago Vectra will fit in some of the tbe sites. Besides free admission to the National Monument, Eric and I can camp at half price. We want to return to walk the trails and explore the forty mile loop road in this diverse desert Monument.

Walking Around Downtown Ajo, Arizona

Roadside Attractions lists
the Singing Cactus.

Ajo has reinvented itself as a place to learn about art and practice and promote art since the nearby Copper Mine closed in 1986 and jobs the community relied on disappeared.