Oh Parker, Arizona!

2022 is the first year since 2015 that we have not wintered in Yuma, Arizona.  This year we thought that we would try Parker, Arizona.  Parker is only about 100 miles north of Yuma, so the climate conditions are pretty much the same.  Parker is a MUCH smaller town than Yuma, and it is in the middle of the CRIT Reservation.  CRIT is the local government of Colorado River Indian Tribes on the reservation.  The tribes included in CRIT are the Navajo, Hopi, Mohave, and Chemehuevi.  If you are anything like us, you are trying to pronounce Chemehuevi now.  The CRIT reservation was established by the US Government in 1865.  The area was primarily rural and used for agricultural, but recreation has been added to that primary activity over the last 30 years.  The winter weather is very mild and the Colorado River that runs along Parker provides many opportunities for recreation.  Parker sees a number of seasonal visitors, but nothing like Yuma.  There are about 3,500 local residents in Parker, and we guess that the populations doubles during winter events.  There are three grocery stores in town, so there is plenty to choose from. 

It's good to be in Parker in the wintertime.

As you cross the Colorado River on the Rt 95 bridge from California you see what is now the iconic Genesee & Wyoming shortline bridge along side of the highway.

We see the town of Parker was founded soon after the reservation was founded, and is at a very low elevation similar to Yuma, which is also situated along the Colorado River.

Gari tries to escape the camera lens, but is forever captured by the speedy Blogger.

This is the historical train display in the center of the industrial section in town.  There is the train crane, the passenger car and a train station building just out of view behind.

Main St in Parker, Rt 95 looking east.

The mural below hints at some of the recreation in Parker, which is home of the National Jet Boat Association. We understand there is a race here this month.

From humble beginnings we see TowMater is his aging glory.

Below is the place in town to get not just regular jerky, but the really good & fresh kind!  We haven't been in there yet, but it is just a matter of time.

We will get fuel at Terrible's before we depart.  $3.79/gal cash for diesel toady, not so bad considering we have been seeing $4 and above for the last two months all around this area.

An older building on the edge of town, we liked the flag.

Below was a wood carved bear that caught our eye in the foyer of the medical clinic.  We are not sure the significance of a bear in the foyer of a medical clinic, but we liked the bear, so we stopped to get the picture.

On an after dinner bike ride we stopped across from our RV park to soak in the sunset.

Another moonlight ride....

Local ingenuity.  Much improved refrigerator space and hot water volume in one easy modification.

The entrance to our RV park.  It is not fancy, but is fairly well kept and we are comfortable here.  The prices are the best we have seen for years.

A shot from outside the park you can see our rig Penelope in the foreground of the "P" mountain in the distance.

A colorful sunrise this morning.  We had a little weather come through yesterday.  The wind blew 20 mph, 12 raindrops fell and the temperature was stuck around 60F.  We will be back in the 70s today and for the rest of this week.

Our campsite.  There is good bike riding here.  Not much traffic and good sidewalks.  We ride bikes to get our groceries.

Gari stops to look at the Razor Trail model displayed on the corner.  This signals two things.  There will be a follow up blog on the ORV races in Parker, and if Gari is looking, it won't be long until she's riding in one.  A sad thought, we may not pedal as much when that happens.

Towmater's Cousin.... with the rest of the story on the next post.