Start on the way back to the Northeast

 Thursday, March 16 was our departure day from Holtville LTVA 

where we had stayed for about four month. There was a lot of good-bye-saying, 

hugs and exchanging of telephone numbers before we finally got on the road. 

Purple Sand Verbena near, Glamis Sand Dunes

Along the road through the desert we could see purple Desert Verbena everywhere. Along the road Brittle Bush was showing their yellow flowers.

Yellow Brittle Bush

Lots of "Dip and Bumps"

Around noon we arrived at Cibola National Wildlife Refuge, an area along the Colorado River. 

Hart Mine Marsh Unit

During the winter thousands of Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes are overwintering here in the marshes. Unfortunately for us, we were told by a very friendly and knowledgable guide at the visitors centre, that they had already departed towards their northern nesting grounds in the first week of March.

After checking out a place called the free area of "Hippy Hollow" 

we decided to rather stay for two nights at Oxbow Recreation Area, a small campground right at the river. The camphosts, Tee and Attila, were very friendly. Tee is an artist and paints rocks for the guests to find around the place. 

One of Tee's painted rocks

Very pretty!

Colorado Rivere

View over the inlet

A very quiet, relaxing spot. 

our spot seen from the other side

Our spot in the morning light

On my walks around the place I saw a few feathered friends 

Great Egret

Pied-billed Grebe

Great-tailed Grackle

and some daring to take a brief swim in the cold waters of the Colorado river.

Brrrr.. cold!
In the end - they did not. :)

Tomorrow we will be going on to Quartzsite, Arizona.