Before heading to Yuma, we had to make a cruise ship stop in Phoenix, Arizona- for our geographically challenged friend, Deb P, this is a funny thing to do since Phoenix is land-locked in a middle of an arid desert. Our mission was to hook up with the Number 1 fan of Holland America Cruise Lines, Hal G. We had met Hal on a HAL cruise ship in Brazil and we have followed his travel ever since. Hal and Kay probably travel more than we do and the vast majority of this travel seems to be conducted via the upper deck cabin of a Holland America ship situated right next to the captain's quarters. A number of passions drive feed their travel bug but one in particular seems to make Hal weak in the knees- architecture! And since Phoenix is the summer home of Taliesin West, the world famous school of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Hal encouraged us to visit (actually I think he ordered us to go, with the implication that U.S. Immigration might be contacted if we didn’t). It was good fun.

After our mandatory Frank Lloyd Wright visit, we pointed our car at the hottest, sunniest place we could find in this part of the world- Yuma, Arizona. The only reason I had ever heard of Yuma before had to do with a traumatic movie viewing experience on a plane some years ago. After a bailing out on a couple of film recommendations from DH (Bridesmaids??), I found an action-packed, good western movie ("3:10 To Yuma") and right before the critical final few minutes, the plane started to descend, and the on-board system was abruptly turned off. I’ve never had a chance to finish this cliff-hanger but I’m thinking that it must be playing somewhere in Yuma (then again we wasted a lot of time trying to find the musical 'Oklahoma’ somewhere in Oklahoma).

Apparently just about every retiree with an RV must be a fan of the movie because we felt like we were part of Airstream pilgrimage as we approached the city. There were RV’s and RV Parks everywhere. It turns out that the primary attraction of Yuma, which sits right next to the Mexican border, is that fact that it sits right next to the Mexican border. Christine and Gary L- this is your RV future- there is a daily migration over to the Mexican town of Algodonas. Algodones is also known as Molar City and the town focus is medicine and not tourism- the popularity of both inexpensive prescriptions and medical care catering to Canadian and U.S. senior citizens has prompted a virtual explosion of pharmacies, opticians and dental offices since the 1980s. After a nice lunch at a cantina we lined up at the border re-entry with our new senior friends all carrying a mysterious purple plastic bag and sporting sparkling clean teeth as well as a brand new set of ‘Ban Ray’ sunglasses.

We never did find the movie and I still don’t know how it ends, and after Yuma we crossed into California… and entered a new dimension. First up was The Center Of The World which shocked the Princess since I had always told her that she was the center of the world. Andre Istel has officially established the Center of the World, and he has built a town around it to bolster his claim (Felicity is named after his wife). He's the mayor and a man with a vision. Maybe a crazy vision, but a vision nonetheless, and it seems its becoming a reality. And speaking of slightly off center, just up the road, Leonard Knight was painting and repainting his bright Biblical messages on the sides of Salvation Mountain starting in 1985. Now deceased, Leonard was a classic lone dreamer, intent on feeding his vision- Salvation Mountain is now part of the cultural landscape.

And right next to Salvation Mountain you get an entire community of self-confessed crazies- many people have moved to The Slabs to learn how to live off the grid and to be left alone. The former military camp has no electricity, no running water, no sewers nor toilets, and no trash pickup service, and it looks a little bit like a Mad Max town.

California promises to be an interesting State to visit.