Note: the italic text is a contribution by Elaine; the non-italic text is Yvon's.
Feb. 8, 2016
I would sleep outside tonight. Calm wind.
We have had constant wind since Nov.
Price of fuel today @ fill up: 1.279/gal
Feb. 10, 2016
Went to Imperial Date Farm today with Leslie Larson-Royalty, Jim & Yvon. On the ride we saw many workers harvesting various crops. We saw a crew of guys picking parsley. From there we went Felicity, California know as the centre of the earth. What an amazing place. There are granite slabs engraved with many historic events. We will definitely be going back. There is a none denominational church built on a hill accessed by forty nine stairs.
Field workers
In this region of inhospitable land, man has made use of its ingenuity to convert the arid landscape into a fertile asset.Sure, technology is playing an important role into it. It's intriguing to read a business board claiming "Rain for Rent". And the way they utilize water from the Colorado River in various ways, continues to astound me.
All this transformation and activity would not be possible without the courageous labor force that relentlessly work the fields. From soil preparation, seeding, irrigation to harvesting.
The crew is comprised in majority of Mexican. Working long hours. In extreme weather conditions. At hard backbreaking tasks.
They deserve recognition.
Today, driving on out-of-the-way roads, we had a first hand look at them in action.
In most cases, they work along a moving piece of equipment, with long extended arms; in the arms are conveyors that move the produce to the centre for packaging, right on the spot. The workers pick, check for quality, trim excesses and drop the product on the moving belt pulled by a tractor. All in a constant motion.
In the case of smaller and more delicate greens, they kneel on the ground, cut the plant, trim and tie it, before stuffing it in the large pocket of their apron.
Visit to the Imperial Date Garden.
A couple of years ago, we have been educated about the process of growing dates, when we visited a date farm near Yuma, AZ. Many people have been talking about the Imperial Date Gardens, in California, just on the other side of the Colorado River.
We had the chance to drive over with some friends and drop by to see they products. Of course, it becomes an unusual occasion to savour a date shake.
The location offers an open view of the mountains across the Colorado River, with a feel for the vastness of the area.
At the front of the property, we can walk around a variety of cactus. They have been late flowering this year; and I can enjoy my first Ocotillo flowers this year. Just love them. Now, I need to go for a hike in the desert sometime, to visit them in their wild environment.
Visit to the Centre of the World.
Our friends asked us "Have you been to the Centre of the World"?
Huh! No!
In Felicity, CA?
No!
That's how we got to visit the Centre of the World, in Felicity.
Located a short distance from Yuma, west on I 8, in California; from the highway, we had often noticed this cute small church, on a mound; and I wanted to get closer and take pictures.
Well, we got to discover a lot more about and around this church. A lot more!
From Wikipedia:
"Founded on May 11, 1986, the community was named after a town mentioned in Jacques-André Istel's book Coe the Good Dragon and inspired by his wife, Felicia."
The town is incorporated; Mr. Islet is the mayor; we had the chance to be introduced to him and his wife Felicia.
On arrival, we got to walk around the sundial and observe the "Eiffel Tower stairs", an original piece of the old landscape that was bought when a section of the stairs were replaced for practical and technical purpose.
We watched a 20 minutes video about the project.
We are lead into the pyramid, where we could actually step on the "Center of the World" plaque; face the Church on the Hill and make a wish.
Between the pyramid and the church is arranged books of knowledge engraved in granite stones; drawings, sketches, classic reproduction and text, all engraved and etched in large granite slabs;
stood-up back to back in 100 foot length section; each section describing a different subject.
We spent hours reading and studying about fascinating subjects, immersed in this fountain of knowledge.
Museum of History in Granite
The Little Church itself is worth the climbing of the 49 steps.
It is understood that a part of the day is not enough to take in all the information covered in these pages of granite.
We left overwhelmed and with a promise to ourselves that we would return.
The whole experience remains harder to describe than my words can express.
Next to walking the grounds, I suggest searching the internet for "history in granite".
The official site is http://www.historyingranite.org/
It offers information on the creation of this project, its creator, its objective and its progress; because this remains a work in constant transformation.
On March 19, 2016, there will be an official dedication of many newly engraved panels and public celebrations, complete with parachutes jumping in formation with the National flag.
We left with an official certificate as Visitors of The Center of the World.
The Q Casino is on our way home and a good place to catch a decent meal.
When the sun disappears in the west, the whole horizon turns pink, in all directions.
Every day, I have the chance to experience a different, but ever amazing sunset.
I continue to celebrate the time we are spending in Yuma.
We found healthy climate, plenty of activities and adventure to participate in, reasonable cost of living and a hospitable community, adding to the one we already blended in for the past years.
Feb. 8, 2016
I would sleep outside tonight. Calm wind.
We have had constant wind since Nov.
Price of fuel today @ fill up: 1.279/gal
Feb. 10, 2016
Went to Imperial Date Farm today with Leslie Larson-Royalty, Jim & Yvon. On the ride we saw many workers harvesting various crops. We saw a crew of guys picking parsley. From there we went Felicity, California know as the centre of the earth. What an amazing place. There are granite slabs engraved with many historic events. We will definitely be going back. There is a none denominational church built on a hill accessed by forty nine stairs.
Field workers
In this region of inhospitable land, man has made use of its ingenuity to convert the arid landscape into a fertile asset.Sure, technology is playing an important role into it. It's intriguing to read a business board claiming "Rain for Rent". And the way they utilize water from the Colorado River in various ways, continues to astound me.
All this transformation and activity would not be possible without the courageous labor force that relentlessly work the fields. From soil preparation, seeding, irrigation to harvesting.
The crew is comprised in majority of Mexican. Working long hours. In extreme weather conditions. At hard backbreaking tasks.
They deserve recognition.
 |
| Harvesting parsley |
In most cases, they work along a moving piece of equipment, with long extended arms; in the arms are conveyors that move the produce to the centre for packaging, right on the spot. The workers pick, check for quality, trim excesses and drop the product on the moving belt pulled by a tractor. All in a constant motion.
In the case of smaller and more delicate greens, they kneel on the ground, cut the plant, trim and tie it, before stuffing it in the large pocket of their apron.
A couple of years ago, we have been educated about the process of growing dates, when we visited a date farm near Yuma, AZ. Many people have been talking about the Imperial Date Gardens, in California, just on the other side of the Colorado River.
We had the chance to drive over with some friends and drop by to see they products. Of course, it becomes an unusual occasion to savour a date shake.
The location offers an open view of the mountains across the Colorado River, with a feel for the vastness of the area.
At the front of the property, we can walk around a variety of cactus. They have been late flowering this year; and I can enjoy my first Ocotillo flowers this year. Just love them. Now, I need to go for a hike in the desert sometime, to visit them in their wild environment.
Visit to the Centre of the World.
Our friends asked us "Have you been to the Centre of the World"?
Huh! No!
In Felicity, CA?
No!
That's how we got to visit the Centre of the World, in Felicity.
Located a short distance from Yuma, west on I 8, in California; from the highway, we had often noticed this cute small church, on a mound; and I wanted to get closer and take pictures.
Well, we got to discover a lot more about and around this church. A lot more!
From Wikipedia:
"Founded on May 11, 1986, the community was named after a town mentioned in Jacques-André Istel's book Coe the Good Dragon and inspired by his wife, Felicia."
 |
| Elaine and Felicia |
On arrival, we got to walk around the sundial and observe the "Eiffel Tower stairs", an original piece of the old landscape that was bought when a section of the stairs were replaced for practical and technical purpose.
We watched a 20 minutes video about the project.
We are lead into the pyramid, where we could actually step on the "Center of the World" plaque; face the Church on the Hill and make a wish.
Between the pyramid and the church is arranged books of knowledge engraved in granite stones; drawings, sketches, classic reproduction and text, all engraved and etched in large granite slabs;
stood-up back to back in 100 foot length section; each section describing a different subject.
We spent hours reading and studying about fascinating subjects, immersed in this fountain of knowledge.
Museum of History in Granite
The Little Church itself is worth the climbing of the 49 steps.
It is understood that a part of the day is not enough to take in all the information covered in these pages of granite.
We left overwhelmed and with a promise to ourselves that we would return.
The whole experience remains harder to describe than my words can express.
Next to walking the grounds, I suggest searching the internet for "history in granite".
The official site is http://www.historyingranite.org/
It offers information on the creation of this project, its creator, its objective and its progress; because this remains a work in constant transformation.
On March 19, 2016, there will be an official dedication of many newly engraved panels and public celebrations, complete with parachutes jumping in formation with the National flag.
We left with an official certificate as Visitors of The Center of the World.
************************************
The Q Casino is on our way home and a good place to catch a decent meal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Every day, I have the chance to experience a different, but ever amazing sunset.
I continue to celebrate the time we are spending in Yuma.
We found healthy climate, plenty of activities and adventure to participate in, reasonable cost of living and a hospitable community, adding to the one we already blended in for the past years.
No comments:
Post a Comment