Palm Springs, CA

Leave Lake Havasu City and head towards Palm Springs for a free 3 night stay at Desert Pools RV Resort (less 1 hour of our lives we will never get back- sales pitch)

Gets a bit windy in this part of the country so there is a huge wind farm.

We arrive at the Desert Pools Resort in Desert Hot Springs

Our site is nice enough, but we find out the 2nd day that it is bordered by Oleander shrubs which Tucson was playing in and chewing on  sticks on the site.  We find out after he develops a cough that it is highly toxic.  I of course panic and we take him to the vet.  Vet thinks it is just a respiratory thing and we vow to keep him clear of Oleander in the future! 

After boon docking in the Desert for a few weeks it is wonderful to sit and soak in the Mineral Hot springs Tubs.  They ranged from 98 degrees to 104 degrees.

That made the 88 degree mineral springs Pool feel refreshing in the evening. 

We ran into our friends Gloria and Rich - who we met last winter in LaFeria Texas.

We even got to get together with my friend from High School, Shelley and her husband Rick.  Had a nice dinner out in Palm Springs. 

Enjoyed ourselves but now it's time to head to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico to do some work at a Hot Springs there!

Till Later!

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa, Gary & Tucson



Great Western Winterblast Fireworks Show

Friday night the Fireworks begin - looks like we are close enough to view but far enough away so that they obviously don't disturb Tucson!

We had found some wood and set up a campfire to watch the fireworks by

But a large Motorhome pulls in late and parks across from us blocking our view.  We can still see the high ones though.

Hey it was a Blast!

But Tucson was unimpressed!

Till Later!

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa, Gary and Tucson

Lake Havasu City - Hike a Day - Crack in the Mountain

Staying at BLM Land just south of the City and 2 miles from Sarah Park where the Fireworks are to be shot off from.  We didn't want to be too close with the Puppy's first time.

There was a trail head entrance in the back of Sarah Park so we decided to investigate.

We follow the Yellow trail markers.

the route starts to narrow. . .

and find the Crack in the Mountain! 

You can't make me go down there! 

Gary gives Tucson a lift. 

Finally back to wide open spaces! 

Another 1.5 miles and we see water in the distance

A cove on the Colorado River. 

The BLM actually has water access camp sites in various coves along the river. 

Time for the return trip - oops which way do we go? 

Don't worry Mom - I'll show you the way!

Looking forward to several more hikes in the area!



Till Later!

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa, Gary & Tucson



Quartzsite to Lake Havasu City

Quartzsite is just one big Flea Market.

The tomb of Hi Jolly.  Hi Jolly's real name was Hadji Ali.  He was one of the first camel drivers ever hired by the US Army  to lead a camel driver experiment in the Southwest.   The Army wanted to build and supply a Western wagon route from Texas to California.  The region was similar to the camel's natural habitat and needed a lot less water and rest than horses and mules.  The experiment was very successful but ultimately dropped as the site of the Camels caused horses and mules to stampede.  

We visited the Redwood House made out of one log

Makes a pretty good RV

Since we don't have one of these toys we leave Quartzsite and head out and up towards Lake Havasu City where the Pyrotechnic Society holds their Winterblast.

Parker is a town right on the Colorado River

We stop to watch someone flying their remote control sea plane

Tucson gets his first introduction to water.  He finds a new friend Shadow.  Shadow is a water dog!

We cross the Parker Dam.   It is 320 feet high, 235 feet of which are below the riverbed, making it the deepest dam in the world.  It runs between California and Arizona and created Lake Havasu.

The California side is a scenic byway so we drive over to that side.  Looks like it might be an interesting drive.

Maybe a distant cousin of Tucson's?

We actually get to see some Burros though they are not as friendly as those in Custer State Park.

Lake Havasu City is now home to the London Bridge.  In 1967, the Common Council of the City of London placed the bridge on the market and began to look for potential buyers. The Bridge was sold to Robert B. McCulloch for just under 2.5 million.  It was disassembled and reassembled in Lake Havasu City and was dedicated in 1971. 

The City has a walk along the river and we passed and watched some remote control speed boat races.

All sorts of boaters enjoy the river.

There are replicas of Lighthouses along the way.  The lights are legitimate aids to navigation, with designs approved by the Coast Guard and locations approved by the state as part of a master plan for lighting the waterways of the lake. Eventually there will be more than 20 lighthouses, including several on the California side of the lake.  This one is actually the Buffalo Lighthouse 

There is also a great dog park which Tucson thoroughly enjoyed.  We would spend an hour here in the morning and then we could leave him sleeping in the car while we took care of internet at the Libary. 

So Tucson really does consider it Paradise!   The Fireworks start on Friday and go through the weekend so we will hang out here till then.

Till Later!

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa, Gary & Tucson