Ariz. travel writer to visit Yuma
A travel writer for the The Arizona Republic who specializes in the Southwest will take a trip to Yuma on Wednesday for an event held in commemoration of his most recent book.
Writer Roger Naylor proclaims that he is “a travel writer who hates to travel” anywhere beyond the Southwest. His new and third book, “The Amazing Kolb Brothers of Grand Canyon,” features Ellsworth and Emery Kolb who arrived at the Grand Canyon in 1902.
The duo spent nearly eight decades exploring and photographing the area.
“Yuma does show up in one section of the book,” Naylor said. “In 1911 the Kolb brothers became the 26th and 27th men to navigate the Grand Canyon via the Colorado River. They started in Green River, Wyoming, and followed the whole trip. Only a couple dozen men had done that before them and a lot of people had died trying.”
“The following year after they completed the trip-they started in 1911 and finished up in January of 1912. The following year in 1913 Ellsworth decided to finish the rest of the journey,” Naylor continued. “He bought a boat in Needles, California and while the Colorado River was flooding, it took him down east and he eventually landed in Yuma at the prison there to re-supply. He met another cowboy, a man named Al Johnson, who was interested in getting some work in Mexico, so he joined Ellsworth and took his raft all the way down to the sea. Ellsworth took on only the fourth expedition to complete the entire journey.”
Naylor will read excerpts from the book Wednesday at the Sanguinetti House Museum and Gardens, 240 S. Madison Ave. Tickets cost $10 each and will be sold at the door. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The event is free for Arizona Historical Society members.
Autographed books will be available for purchase following the presentation.
Besides writing about the Kolb brothers, Naylor has penned many articles detailing Yuma destinations, sites and activities. While here, he has explored many areas including the Castle Dome Mines Museum and Ghost Town.
“I always hold Yuma up when I am giving talks and presentations throughout the state as a model for doing things right,” Naylor said. “I am the first one to admit that many years ago I was not a fan of Yuma. I did not care for the town. It really bothered me that here was a desert town right on the river and you couldn’t even find the river, you couldn’t even access it.
“I didn’t travel to Yuma very often and showed up again about a decade or so ago,” Naylor added. “I was just amazed at all the changes that had taken place. There were many improvements — the restoration of the wetlands and riverfront, the revitalization of downtown — everything fell into place. Yuma continues to improve day in and day out.”
Now, Naylor said he makes sure to plan a trip to Yuma every winter during his travels in the state.
“I consider Arizona my backyard,” he said. “I put on about 20,000 miles on my truck every year, and I don’t leave Arizona.”
Reservations are requested for Naylor’s presentation. For more information on the event, email ykruse@azhs.gov or call (928) 782-1841.
More information about Naylor can be found at www.rogernaylor.com.