Sunday, February 4, 2018

Weather Repeat, Go Directly to Jail, Do Not Pass Go, Chili's


We were up before sunrise on Sunday, Feb. 4th, which sounds early but it really isn’t right now.  Around 7:15 and I was getting dressed to greet the day. I still had yesterday’s post to get published. Bill was up soon after and we made our hot morning brews while computing. We talked about last night as I downloaded my pictures. We had fun!

It was 9:30 when I began making breakfast, bacon and eggs today. After dishes, Bill had his shower while Clemson and I went for a leg stretching walk, for both of us. Then I can have my shower. He would be put in charge of the Suite again for a few hours. We are very lucky that he is such a laid back little dog and doesn’t mind being left alone. Even at 13 years old, he seldom leaves us anything to clean up upon our return.
This is one of Clemmy's tricks
Bill hangs his shirt on his chair

And Clemson does everything he can to get it into the recliner
so he can lay on it
We laugh every time

there isn't much running and stretching of the legs when
Clemson goes to the dog run
Today we drove to the Yuma Territorial Prison Museum. We’d heard good things about it and the admission is very reasonable at $6/person. It was impressive from the get-go, walking up to the grounds and you try immediately to put yourself in the shoes of the prisoners. The thick walls sure enough kept the heat out but allowed no circulation. We caught up with the tour group which started 9 minutes before our entry.



Just this first view makes me shudder
Dr. Duane Weeks was our commentator and he had the interest peaked of all 15-20 of us. There are a few videos set to play when you approach some of the cell blocks and they could give you the chills, listening to their story, why they were there, how long and their carefree concern of human life. I really enjoyed the talk and especially the Dark Cell tales.



Dr. Duane Weeks, volunteer kept us entertained
Our commentator had to stop periodically while this train went by just over the stone fence

Cell in the rock
The row of cells, each gated door opens to the outside
End to end cots, 3 levels high
Open to the elements
Imagine incarceration in July, August, September in Arizona!
If you are interested, it is worth visiting this historic site which closed its ‘doors’ as a prison in 1909. When a fire grounded the town high school in 1910, an opportunity arose and the students were taught in these buildings until 1914. What is kind of cool is that the modern day sports teams were named ‘The Criminals’ because of the history and they ‘stole’ so many wins. They were proud of that.

This lady from Michigan and I shared a cell
Neither of us could remember what we did to get in here
Deb & Riley - how soon can you send bail?
You can research it yourself here. Read about the Incorrigible (aka Solitary) cells, the Dark Cell and other stories. We heard about the 29 women who were incarcerated there and the individual stories of 3 of those. How much is true, well, it is up to the discretion of us visitors to believe as much as you want. I’m pretty much of a believer of most things I’m told in a historical museum so walked around with the ‘wow’ glow for the whole visit.
Just for the record, Bill is no angel
He ended up in his own cell
Not very big for 4 cell mates
this picture is taken from the corner of the open court yard
looking back to the entrance
Parts of this prison, was built in a hill, therefore it was
comfortable ONLY as far as the temperature because of that
Another one that didn't get away!
(More pictures of the jail at the bottom)
Because we’d had a good breakfast around 9, we had planned for a mid-afternoon lunch/supper. When we left the museum, it was 1:30 and we were hungry. Bill promised me a stop at Chili’s at least once more this winter so that was where we headed. With the new (and Unimproved) menu I wasn’t sure what to order. First, we settled on a Black Cherry Lemonade because we’d enjoyed them once before.


Bill ordered the Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburger, he’s a creature of habit, and I settled on the Bacon Ranch Chicken Quesadilla. I questioned the pico and the ranch sauce because it sounded ‘hot’. It was best to ask them to ‘hold’ them both as he said jalapenos were blended with tomatoes for the sauce. It came with lettuce and sour cream but it didn’t discourage me. I ate the whole thing!


With no dishes to do, yay! We drove to Pet Smart and made an appointment for Clemson to get his hair cut. The hot weather has to be tough on him now that he is so scruffy again. We arrived back home at 3:30 and the little guy got his supper. Late again. It is a wonder he doesn’t fire us from parenting duties.


We had tried calling our friends, Rob and Pat, this morning before he headed out but could only leave a message that we’d call back. When we got inside we made the call. It was great to hear their voices and hear about things back home. They were receiving a bunch more snow but the temperatures were at least not too cold. They are hoping for their winter weather to end by the time spring officially arrives in mid-March. We are too.
Google Pearl Hart and Joe Boot's story
It is quite an interesting read


By this time, it was too late for the pool, in our thoughts, and we were kapooped anyway. So, we decided to do some reading or television. It has been a long time since we’ve watched tv so that is what we ended up doing. The tail end of Karate Kid 2 and NCIS reruns to start and then a few episodes of COPS. Again, because of Super Bowl, Madame Secretary is not on.


The Suite was cooling down with all of the windows open as the air temperature outside dropped. The truck thermometer was registering 88F when we were driving home early afternoon but already at 6:30 it is 20 degrees cooler. Neither of us had any need for supper, persay, but we have ice cream in the freezer if we need something to fill a hole in our tummies.
The story behind the sports teams
This has been a good day. We did some touristy stuff and some lazing around stuff. No complaints from this home. These are the types of days we come down here for. I hope you have enjoyed your day too.

It's okay, Bill made bail
Thanks for stopping in. I love reading your comments if you care to leave one.

18 comments:

  1. Glad your enjoyed the prison lots of interesting history there, and the stories about some of the prisoners are quite amazing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It definitely is a must see. I'm glad we got there. It was different than I expected.

      Delete
  2. That prison is very interesting for sure. Those recordings were as if the walls are talking to you. Kinda creepy and scared the bejezus out of my the first time I heard one.
    That Pearl Hart was quite the gal, huh.
    Happy to hear Bill found his way out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We really enjoyed it. Yes, the walls were talking. :o
      Pearl Hart was not only pretty but clever.
      Bill saw the light and was released too.

      Delete
  3. Thanks for the tour. We will definitely visit there when we are in Yuma early next week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome. You will enjoy it. Be careful, they might keep you!

      Delete
  4. What a great day, and I would say the cheque is in the mail but it seems you don't need it. Thanks Bill. Hahaha....
    Glad you had a great day!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We had fun and got tired just like ole people do. :)
      It was only pennies to get me out, he could afford that.
      thanks all the same.

      Delete
  5. Clemson is so cute with Bill's shirt :) We loved the prison tour, very interesting. Your lunch looked good, but you're missing the margarita to go with it! Looks like you're enjoying the area and just doing what you feel like..Cute pic of you at the end.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The prison is worth the $6 easy, we enjoyed it.
      I know, I debated on the margarita but thought we'd play it smart since Bill was driving. I know I could have but.....

      Delete
  6. You guys are way too nice to be locked up (although you looked good behind bars :-) Thanks for the tour and we put the Yuma prison on our bucket list. We toured the prison of Devil's Island, French Guyana and the prison of Isla Gorgona at the Pacific side of Colombia. The island was infested with poisons snakes and everyone had to wear boots. Old prisons are fascinating places.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. aah thanks, and you don't even know us! (yet!) You will enjoy Yuma prison, I'm sure, it is small and mostly outdoors.
      The one at Isla Gorgona sounds freaky!

      Delete
  7. Definitely one of my all time favorite prisons. I'm glad they were able to save it from the politicians. I just can't imagine being locked up there in the summer! Another wonderful day in the desert!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't visited more than two probably, one back home in Ontario and this one that I can recall. They are interesting and when you put yourself in that state of mind, it gives me the chills. I wonder how many repeat offenders there were?

      Delete
  8. Glad Bill made bail.😂. I went to the prion a number of years ago but had forgotten most of it. Thanks for bringing the memories back with your pictures.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too!! You are welcome, maybe it is time to have another visit. :)

      Delete