Back at Why

Well, finally it’s Saturday night and I am back on track.  It has been really hard to stay on schedule with all the demands of this life!!!

We spent two great weeks in Yuma visiting friends but time marches on and it was time to move.  We certainly did not want to over stay our welcome.  You know what the say – after three days we can be like fish – we start to smell and heavens, we were way past that length of time!

We went back down to Why, AZ which is right down by the Mexican border where we met with our friends, Rick and Chris.  Along the road, about half way here, we pass a power generating plant .  It is the Solana Solar Power Generating Station which uses a “parabolic trough system which rotates with the movement of the sun and thermal storage using molten salts.

The technology involves mirrors which reflect the sunlight onto a pipe containing synthetic fuel, which is heated to temperatures of up to 700°F. The heated synthetic oil is transferred to a heat exchanger that heats water to produce steam. The steam generated is then used for spinning conventional steam turbines for generating electricity.

The technology also allows for the synthetic oil to flow into the molten salt storage tanks which retain the heat to be used occasionally when there is no sunlight. The storage tanks at the project site can store heat for six hours at a stretch.”

Once down at Why there seem to be quite a lot of birds – they are always singing.  Our friend puts out a dish of water and scatters bird seed which is very effective in attracting not only birds but an occasional other critters.

A little walk the other day took us to an old ranch. 

Now, as you can see, everyone decided to be mean and put me in a cattle hold – meanies!!

We also found some morteros - holes created in the rock by ancient native Americans as they ground their food (mainly corn).

We went down a trail and saw some very interesting scenery and places.  There was a crested Saguaro – these are quite rare, and there seems to be several theories as to why some have this misshapen top.

We also stopped at an old ranch that seems to be in the process of being rebuilt.  There was an interesting sign.

And an old grave site.

  There was also some great scenery as we drove up into the mountains.  In never ceases to amaze me of the different types of vegetation.

I hope everyone has a great week - hope to see you next week.  Take care and stay safe!!