One Year Ago

The following photos and blog post have been on my computer desk top for a year. I guess I was busy back then and just didn't get it written and posted. Here it is now...better late than never.

We just so happen to be in the same vicinity as a year ago, doing some of the same things as a year ago. Our traveling companion is not with us this year. We are in Yuma AZ attending the biggest AZ geocaching event, SWAG or South West Association of Geocachers. We have attended 7 of these yearly events since our first in 2013. 2019 is the 16th Yuma SWAG Event.

But back in 2018, OFD happened to be in AZ at the time of the event. We thought she'd like a road trip to another corner of the state and to experience a trip across the border to Mexico. So here are some photos of that trip on February 10 and 11, 2018.


Our first stop was the Naked Date Farm (Organic dates) at Wellton. We stumbled upon the Naked Date Farm while geocaching several years ago. The farm is owned by a friendly, young couple, with few employees, just trying to make a living. I like their small operation and their products, so try to stop every year or time we are in the Yuma area.

date fronds are netted as they flower and produce fruit

helps with pollination and producing the size and 

number of dates from each tree

From Wikipedia:  In order to get fruit of marketable quality, the bunches of dates must be thinned and bagged or covered before ripening so that the remaining fruits grow larger and are protected from weather and animals that also live off of it, such as birds.

basket to catch the dates at harvest

rows of medjool date palms

they will bear fruit 5 years after planting

can grow to a height of 75'

this is a young date farm

showcase of fresh organic dates

cute T-shirts

and the reason for stopping? a date shake

daughter tested & approved

 The following day we made a quick trip to Mexico for some shopping and some geocaching.

geocaches just like anywhere else

OFD found the food court and some refreshment

we joined her

and enjoyed some lunch

sign around the Paraiso area

Then it was back home on Sunday afternoon. The trip to Yuma was pretty much our excitement with OFD on that trip. She isn't coming to AZ this year. Photos from our 2019 trip to Yuma will be up this week. We had some excitement...