Boating. Kayaking. Off-roading. Hiking. Boondocking. Wine tasting. Sun. Snow. Desert and cactus. The new and the old. Connecting with family. And we have barely scratched the surface!
Lake Havasu City
Our first stop in Arizona was Lake Havasu City, on the border next to the Colorado River, with California easily in our sights. This is one of many “snow bird” havens in Arizona, with many retirees from the western states descending upon it every winter. It is also a popular location for spring break and for summer vacations. Since Arizona is landlocked and mostly desert, lakes and rivers are magnets for those thirsty for wet activities. And this area is no exception. At first, it was a rest camp for the Army Air Corps during World War II. In the late 50s, a businessman with a vision, Robert McCulloch, started buying up acreage and established Lake Havasu City by 1963. When London, England dismantled the original London Bridge to construct a new one, McCulloch bought the original and shipped it to Lake Havasu City to be rebuilt as a tourist attraction. It is now the second-most visited attraction in Arizona, with the Grand Canyon topping the list.
We boondocked in a popular BLM (Bureau of Land Management) spot some 3 miles north of Lake Havasu City, visited and walked across the London Bridge, and cruised across Lake Havasu to the Copper Canyon. Even with covid restrictions in place and various businesses closed, Lake Havasu City was still bustling with visitors at the beginning of November. We were told that the boating activity on the lake was down considerably, but can get crowded enough in spots—Copper Canyon being one—that people can walk from boat to boat! I wouldn’t want to be there when it is that crowded, and enjoyed having the lake mostly to ourselves as we motored across it.
Up next in Part 2 … driving on Historic Route 66!
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