Nice ride near the Mexican border.

Yesterday Cindy and I took a 70 mile road trip most of which ran parallel to the border fence (could hardly call that a wall) between Mexico and US in our Smart Fortwo car. It was nice getting out and surprised to see all the farming going on.

I am not sure if you know this but the Farming Area around Yuma during the winter months of Sept. thru March is the WORLDS LARGEST supplier of Lettuce. Yes I said World Largest. Keep in mind that Yuma and the surrounding area is a Desert Valley flat and almost at sea level bordered on all sides by mountains, foothills or sand dunes which are viewable from the road in almost any direction.

It reminded me a little of Minnesota in that passing through farm fields with flowing green growth, tractors were working the soil and fertilizer trucks were delivering their products. On the way back we took the road less traveled and drove thru Date and Cotton fields. It is an amazing view and accomplishment.

This area is very unique in it's agriculture diversification which btw was started in 1859 by a father and son team. They came to the area and were the first to tap into the water running from one of the local rivers. They trenched it building a cannel to their field which they had build channels in for the water to flow thru and started planting crops much to the citizen of the locals folly. Obviously in a few years this idea caught on much to the locals surprise.

We took notice thru our travels at all the Helicopters flying around and along the boarder fence. Fact is this area has a huge military presents with not one but two large bases within it's proximity to Yuma. And I could not help but think about the possibility that more air support for the boarder might me added soon. One also sees a large Boarder Patrol presence covering the area. We even while out target shooting last year were approached by them ourselves.

I have to say there is not much more air space to be filled without some serious danger of over crowding. And now they are talking about the possibility of bring in National Guard troops to monitor the fence or wall or what ever the correct terminology is.

This place is flat, hence the fact that there is almost always a breeze. You can see for as far as your eyes will let you in any direction. And because most the area is planted in low height crops. There is no place to hide, other than a few agriculture dump sites and those are inhabited by snakes and scorpions. My point being, should the National Guard be deployed I would hope not to this location as from what I have seen over the last several years is that the area is already well served.