Wanderlust.... Ready For The Next New Adventure: 3:10 to Yuma & Abuelito (via Laughlin and the Hoover Dam)

1,200 Miles later and we're back from a very short but very fun trip to see abuelito (Grandpa in spanish) in Yuma, Arizona. A 4 day weekend for me made the trip possible and I'm so grateful to have had even that short amount of time off - we really crammed a lot of things into our trip and we came home happy and very tired. We left early Friday morning and were in Laughlin, Nevada just after lunch. The weather was gorgeous! 64f and very sunny... a huge contrast from what we left in Utah! Our good friends Bernie and Diana have a home down there where they stay in the Winter and it was so good to see them again that evening for dinner.. it's been several months since I last saw them and we had lots of catching up to do.. it was so nice. Overnight in Laughlin gave us chance to take in a Score Racing event they were holding - unfortunately it was far too expensive for us to afford to view the race itself but we watched the staging area and got to see all the cars and trucks, much to Alfredo's delight. Owen got to go down to the banks of the mighty Colorado River which was flowing fast and full, and throw some stones in which he loved; it was so nice sat on the sandy banks watching him run around chasing the pigeons. Saturday morning we were up early and on our way to the Davis Dam on the outskirts of Laughlin - a large dam holds back the Colorado River and a hydro-electric plant generates enough power to provide electricity to some 1 million homes in the tri-State area. Back on the road and the long trip south to Yuma which lies 24 miles just north of the Mexican border. There was absolutely NOTHING to see on the journey that didn't include desert brush/scrub and cactus.. we stopped in Parker for a picnic lunch, again on the Colorado River, looking rather small in comparison to what we saw a few hours north in Laughlin.. again Owen terrorised the pigeons and ran on the sand, he loves to have picnics and it was a nice break in the journey. 2 Hours of more desert and cactus later and we reach the most amazingly green, fertile fields full of all manner of fruits and vegetables on the north end of Yuma.. by this time, the weather is very hot and such a treat for us at this time of year! Alfredo's dad was waiting for us at the hotel and it was so good to see him again after nearly 3 years; for his 80-something years, he's doing amazing and it was so nice to see him in such good health. We spent the evening and Sunday catching up and talking; we visited the local park and visitor center which had the most awesome display of antiques and things from the area, Owen had so much fun with all the old machinery, cars and a train-car. The grounds were beautiful and we spent most of the morning wandering round. Next stop was the most awesome play park I think I have ever seen... Owen was in kid heaven and it was quite difficult trying to get him to leave! Alfredo's dad spent 2 nights with us and we parted company on Monday morning - him to cross the border back to Mexico and us to start the very long trip back North. Around 2.30pm we were in need of a stop to stretch our legs when we were approaching Las Vegas and saw a sign for the Hoover Dam so we made a quick detour and had a great time despite the rather chilly weather that had surrounded us. The Dam is really hard to describe unless you've been to it.. the size, the views.. just everything is insane how they managed to build that thing.. it's crazy! I'm so pleased we got to see it. 3 Hours later and we are home after driving through the most torrential rain and sleety snow.. we made it safe after the most wonderful weekend with abuelito.. the break did us all the world of good to spend time together and see new places.