Trip to Yuma

I drove to Yuma the other day to pick up some paintings, which included this beautiful Bill Schenck. It was about a four hour trip and I approached it with a bit of dread. 

But it turned out to be a great drive and day.

I left at 6:00, did the Costco fillup in Escondido and made my way down to Interstate 8 east.

They must have had a lot of rain in East County because it was really green for the most part. 

Not too hot either, quite enjoyable.

Basically had the road to myself.

I drove through Jacumba and checked out the hot springs, which has become a real destination for the hipsters.

"Come here, leave different."

Hmmm.

Made it to El Centro and had lunch, sopes and flautas.

Same as it ever was.

I met my friend Rick Merrill in Yuma, at a park.

He cast this heroic bronze of a member of the Mormon Battalion back in 2006.

It is located at the exact point where the battalion crossed the Colorado River.

Rick is a very talented artist and a helluva nice guy.

On the way back I decided to skip the traffic on the fifteen and go through the back country. 

Eleven minutes longer, who cares? It was beautiful up there in Mt. Laguna, cool and perfect.

All in all, for an eight hour journey into 115° weather, a very nice day.