Lake Havasu City

On December 30 Sunday, cloudy cool morning we made our last day trip from our Quartzsite RV Resort.

We had breakfast and headed out by 8:30 am, entering La Paz County, we drove north on AZ#95 towards Parker., which is long the Colorado River.

The Parker Dam is just north of the city. The drive was through the desert terrain that had very few cactus. The road was low and the signs read “watch for washes” when it rained. As we approached Parker we were in a mountain area with the highway making many curves.

We turned on to AZ#72 and drove through the Colorado Indian Reserve. The large Blue Water Resort and Casino was situated in the valley near the River. There sure is not a shortage of RV Parks. The dammed Colorado River makes for a beautiful treed campsites. Parker was founded in 1908 however the town's name and origin began when a post office was established in 1871 on the Colorado River Indian Reservation. 

We connected with AZ#95 again in Parker and drove 38 miles further through a red – rock mountain range to Lake Havasu City. 

The famous London Bridge is situated there. This 1831 bridge that once spanned the River Thames in London until when in, 1967, it was dismantled by Robert McCulloch who spent millions of dollars to bring it piece by piece to a planned community he established in 1964, on the shore of Lake Havasu, Arizona. It was completed in 1971 along with a canal and links an island in the lake with the main part of Lake Havasu City.

McCulloch was the chairman of McCulloch Oil Corporation and the founder of Lake Havasu and wished to make the area a tourist attraction as well as a retirement place. This has been the only place in our travels so far where we see new development.

From Wikipedia
It is a popular rumour that the bridge was bought in the belief that it was London's more recognizable Tower Bridge but this was ardently denied by McCulloch himself and by Ivan Luckin, who sold the bridge.

The bridge's relocation was the basis of a 1985 made-for-television movie Bridge Across Time, also known as Arizona Ripper or Terror at London Bridge, and starring David Hasselhoff and Stephanie Kramer. In the film, a series of murders in Lake Havasu is attributed to the spirit of Jack the Ripper, whose soul is transported to the United States in one of the stones of the bridge. Also, the movie falling Down, the title of which references the nursery rhyme “London Bridges Is Falling Down”, has a Los Angeles policeman's wife who wants to relocate to Lake Havasu City after he retires.

Even with the cool day we walked through a park along the canal. We stopped to try our hand a basket ball – shooting baskets.

We noticed there were many memorial plaques at every tree in the park. There is a dedication to the US Military who are fighting “Terrorism” and were killed in the wars. We walked across London Bridge going up 60 some steps from the park to the highway. We read all the information plaques along the way.

The statue of McCulloch and his partner was a good place to take a picture of me reading the document they were holding.

Although popular belief has it that the London Bridge falling down, it's not true. It did twice in the past, but now it stands in Lake Havasu City.

So until next time remember to "Discover It and Live It".

Doin' The Desert in a Pinzgaure

December 27th was some day!! We were up early and packed a lunch, water, toilet paper, flashlight, cameras and dressed warmly for a free “Off Road Desert Trip” in the Sonoran Desert.

It was a first-come, first-served basis to participate. So we went to the office at 8:00 am to make sure we would get on it. It ended up that only twelve people showed up so there was no problem get on the tour.

At nine o'clock, three Pinzgauer Swiss Military Jeeps arrived. They are locally owned. Each one was able to handle four to six people on the bench seats along each side in the open back, . Blankets were given to us to keep warm during the full day's trip. The tour of the desert was sponsored by Holiday Plan RV Park. One of the pinzgauer owners takes it to the California Baha to assist with the races that are held there.

Our driver's name was Bob and the other couple that rode with him was Gertie and Eric, from BC. They had been on rides before and also taken trips on their own into the desert. They told us places we should go and see around the Quartzsite area.

The group headed south down AZ#95 for a few miles. We had to keep warm in the open vehicles. The blankets were very comforting. We turned east into “Kofa National Wildlife Refuge”. Now at the time we, Randal and I, did not know where we were going, just out into the desert. After the tour we researched this area and found this refuge in the Sorona Desert, was established in 1939 and is managed by US Fish and Wildlife Services. The Castle and Kofa Mountain ranges running through it.

In this area the roads are not maintained and requiring only licensed four-wheeled drive vehicle to drive on them. In the information sheet we got it said that the vehicles can be damaged by brushing with bushes and rocks or becoming stuck in sandy areas. The trails are limited to designated areas.

There are no facilities, gasoline, sanitation or drinking water available in these areas. This area was once used as a military training exercises by General Patton during WWII.

We drove pass Crystal Hill where visitors can collect rocks and minerals for recreation use only, with out using tools and only 12 pieces during a twelve month period. It is said that one side of the hill has been dug away.

After an hour of driving over the rough terrain we made our first pit stop in a “wash” area. There are many of these areas throughout the refuge as well as all around Quartzsite. When heavy rains occur the water run off can be very danger for travellers and make the trails unsafe for driving. Here were given a chance to stretch our legs, rub our bums and find a bush to tinkle behind and out of sight of others. This stop had a watering hole with a wind mill to pump water from a well into a trough. Many wild animal come by to drink the water. There are many of these wells scattered in the Refuge. The small, widely scattered waterholes attract a surprising number of water birds for a desert area. A wide variety of plant life is also found throughout the refuge.

Camping is permitted in designated areas, limited for 14 days in any twelve month period. The use of fires can be only from dead, unattached trees or wood purchased. Camping here is very popular during the early months of the year.

The broad, gently sloping foothills as well as the sharp, needlepoint peaks of the Kofa Mountains are found in the rugged refuge. When we heard the sound of the jeep horn we were on our way again, heading further into the Kofa Mountains and higher elevation of 300 feet. Our second stop was near lunch time but before we ate we walked up to a “natural” waterhole fed by spring water or water that was collected by the rains. The walk took us along a very rocky path and climbs. I noticed that the cactus here were much larger than lower down in the desert.

When we returned to the parked vehicles we ate our lunch. After what I had I craved a chip chip cookie!!

On again over the washes and through the bushes we went. By this time I was completely turned around and if it were not for the sun I would not have known what direction I was going. It did not matter anyway as I did not know where the hell I was!!

The third stop was near a mountain gap high above us. We walked on a challenging narrow path up into this gap that was created by huge boulders. A few of the sure footed people climbed through the opening to the top of the ridge.

Again the horn was sounded and we were back in the Pinzgaure Jeeps going out of the mountains towards a communication tower on a hill. From there we could see #95 highway. The many types of cactus were growing in this area. We were warned about the “Jumping Cactus” and it's dangerous needles.

It was getting close to three o'clock by this time and the day's adventure was almost over. Off to the trail again, but this time not so rough, turning onto AZ #95 and back to Holiday Pines RV Park. Dirty, sore and tired and filled with a great memory!!

Until next time remember to "Discover It and Live It".

Hope and Alamo Dam Tour

Dec 24, 2012 - Temp 5ºC and sunny with only a bit of a breeze.

We left Quartzsite to do some visiting in Ramblin Road RV Park at Hope, AZ. At 10:00 am and we drove east on #10 for 12 miles and turned on # 60 NE to the junction of #72 north. Lorraine's first cousin, Judi and Hershel Eno spend their winters in Hope AZ. They are from Alberta near Gull Lake, Alberta.

Hershel drove us out into the Arizona Desert and Harvcular Mountains. As we left Hope there was a sign that read “You Are Now Beyond Hope”. Many cactus filled the dry lands.

There were many orchards of pistachio trees

Hershel took us to see so many other places in this dry desert where there are RV Parks and Boondockers. The roads were paved and were good for travelling.

We stopped at Alamo Lake State Park to view Alamo Dam and Lake Alamo.

Here, at eye level with the ravens and vultures, gaze across the impounded Bill Williams river, which forms Alamo Lake. The name “Alamo” comes from the Mexican word for cottonwood tree. 

The prominent volcano shaped mount across the lake to the north is Artillery Peak. 

Wild Burros, left by miners, have adapted to the harsh environment. You can often catch a glimpse of them, but are more likely to hear them or see their droppings.

We drove on a dirt road to Wayward End RV Boondocking Park in the middle of nowhere.

To see the beautiful sunset behind the mountains, as we drove west to Quartzsite, was great.

So remember "Discover It and Live It".

Hi Jolly Cemetery

On  December 25 we went to the “Hi Jolly” Cemetery in Quartzsite and later drove into the La Posa Dry Camp Area.


“Hi Jolly” became a living legend until his death in Arizona in 1902. His tomb is in a shape of a Pyramid and has a camel on top.

What Wikipedia has to says:
In 1935, Arizona Governor Benjamin Moeur dedicated a monument to Hadji Ali and the Camel Corps in the Quartzsite Cemetery. The monument, located at his gravesite, is a pyramid built from local stones and topped with a copper camel. The monument is the most visited location in Quartzsite.

Hi Jolly or Hadji Ali (Arabic: حاج علي Ḥājj ‘Alī; Turkish: Hacı Ali), later known as Philip Tedro (born ‘Ali al-Hajaya c. 1828–December 16, 1902), was an Ottoman subject of Jordanian parentage, and in 1856 became one of the first camel drivers ever hired by the US Army to lead the camel driver experiment in the Southwest. Hi Jolly became a living legend until his death in Arizona. Once, insulted because he had not been invited to a German picnic in Los Angeles, he broke up the gathering by driving into it on a yellow cart pulled by two of his pet camels.

As near as anyone can determine, he was born of Jordanian Bedouin parentage in Jordan in the region of the Levant around 1828. Hi Jolly, originally named Ḥājj ‘Alī, was an Ottoman citizen. He worked for the Ottoman armed forces and he was a breeder and trainer of camels. Some sources allege that he took the name Hadji Ali during his early life after making the pilgrimage to Mecca. The title hajji was given when, as a Muslim, he made the Hajj pilgrimage. Other sources report that his mother was of Greek origin and his father was Syrian. Hi Jolly's membership in the Army's Camel Corps experiment was not his first quasi-military adventure. He served with the French Army in Algiers before signing on as a camel driver for the US Army in 1856. 

Ali was one of several men brought over by the American Government who were to drive the camels as beasts of burden for transporting cargo across what was then known as the "Great American Desert." Eight of the men, including Ali, were of Greek origins, having arrived at the Port of Indianola in Calhoun County, Texas aboard the USS Supply. The book Go West Greek George by Steven Dean Pastis, published in both Greek and English, specifically identifies all eight men. These pioneers were Yiorgos Caralambo (later known as Greek George), Hadji Ali (Hi Jolly, a.k.a. Philip Tedro), Mimico Teodora (Mico), Hadjiatis Yannaco (Long Tom), Anastasio Coralli (Short Tom), Michelo Georgios, Yanni Iliato, and Giorgios Costi. The Americans acquired three camels in Tunis, nine in Egypt and 21 in Smyrna, 33 in all. Ali was the lead camel driver during the US Army's experiment with the U.S. Camel Corps in using camels in the dry deserts of the Southwest. After successfully traveling round trip from Texas to California, the experiment went bust, partly due to the problem that the Army's burros, horses, and mules feared the large animals, often panicking, and the tensions of the American Civil War led to Congress not approving more funds for the Corps. In 1864, the camels were finally auctioned off in Benicia, California and Camp Verde, Texas.

After the Camel Corps, Ali attempted to run a freight business between the Colorado River and mining establishments to the east using a few camels he kept. Unfortunately, the business failed and Ali released his camels into the Arizona desert near Gila Bend. He was discharged from the Quartermaster Department of the U.S. Army at Camp McDowell in 1870. In 1880 Ali became an American citizen and used the name Philip Tedro (sometimes spelled Teadrow) when he married Gertrudis Serna in Tucson, Arizona. The couple had two children. In 1885, Ali was rehired by the U.S. Army where he worked as packer under Brig. Gen. George Crook during the Geronimo campaign. In his final years Ali moved to Quartzsite, Arizona where he mined and occasionally scouted for the US government. He died in 1902 and was buried in the Quartzsite Cemetery.

The older section of the grave yard had graves that dated back to 1800s. The grave sites were covered with stones of all kinds or cement pads. Other were individually designed making them very beautiful. 

Later we drove to see were the boon-dock or dry camping area, that Quartzsite is famous for, was on the desert. It was quite a distance on rocky paths/roads that stretched for miles in the desert.

The La Posa Long Term Visitor Area (LTVA) was formed in 1983 to realize the needs of winter visitors and to look after the local desert ecosystem from over-use. The campground is roughly 11,400 acres in size, flat landscape, sparsely vegetated with plants such as Creosote bushes, Palo Verde trees, Ironwood trees, Mesquite trees and various species of cacti.

One of the hardest things to do in the desert is hug a tree. Here Lorraine is demonstrating  the  "Don't Touch Hug" popular with the movie star crowd.

A Long Term Visitor Area Permit is required from September 15th through April 15th each season for the cost is $180.00 and is valid for up to 7 months. A Short Term Permit can be purchased for a 14-day stay for $40.00. From April 16th through September 14th, the fee is 10 per vehicle for day-use, $15 per vehicle for overnight use, or $75 annually per vehicle, for up to 5 people per vehicle. The maximum stay is 14 days in a 28-day period. Visitors must pay daily fees or purchase annual permits at the La Posa South Contact Station or at the BLM Yuma Field Office.

It was a good afternoon of adventuring, so remember to "Discover It and Live It".

Palm Springs

Wednesday December 19, 2012

It was -0.6ºC and sunny this morning. As we are at 1000 feet elevation it is much colder than is was in Bakersfield. We went for a long walk through the streets near the RV Park. Many residents had dogs fenced in so every one of them barked as we walked by.

We did the laundry in the morning. Later we drove to Palm Springs where it was warmer at 15ºC .

Palm Springs, California lies on the western edge of the Coachella Valley, within the Colorado Desert. Located approximately 110 miles southeast of Los Angeles and 140 miles northeast of San Diego, it's an easy two hour drive by freeway. The permanent year-round Palm Springs population is 45,000, and doubles during the winter season. To the east of Palm Springs, are several other desert cities including Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Desert Hot Springs, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, and Indio.

The first place we stopped was PalmSpings City Hall. The City of Palm Springs was incorporated in 1938 and is a charter city with a City Council/CityManager form of government. As its governing body, the Palm Springs City Council is comprised of five members, including a separately elected Mayor. The Council is elected citywide. Currently serving on City Council are Mayor Steve Pougnet, Mayor pro tem Chris Mills, Ginny Foat, Rick Hutcheson, and Paul Lewin. The City Council holds regular meetings on the first and third Wednesdays of the month beginning at 6 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way.

There was a special Fenced-in Dog Park there with two sections, one for small dogs and one for larger ones.The Palm Springs Dog Park consists of 1.6 acres of fenced-in rolling grass with fire hydrants, dual purpose canine/human drinking fountains, picnic tables and benches made from recycled materials, solar lighting and shade structures. Dogs run and play leash-free; park never closes. Separate play area for small dogs. Beautiful fence designed and built by artist Phill Evans; double-gated for safety.

 "SOD THE DOG PARK" DONATION OPPORTUNITY

Make a difference in your community. Volunteer to donate to “Sod the Dog Park.”

Every year in the spring it is necessary to plant new grass in the Dog Park. Although sod is more expensive than seeding, by using sod, downtime is minimized keeping the park open for our four-legged friends to enjoy. 
The Palm Springs Community Fund was established to allow residents to give a tax-deductible donation to the City’s general fund or individual city programs. No gift is too small. Your contribution will be used for the sole purpose of sodding the Palm Springs Dog Park.

You may donate any amount you wish. Please put “Sod the Dog Park” on the memo line of your check.

We then stopped at Sunrise Park and did a walk round it. Everything was so green and looked really nice.



It was a good place for more pictures.

Until next time don't forget "Discover It and Live It"

Travel to Banning

 Friday December 14 was a good morning for us. The temperature was 7ºC and cloudy when we packed up to leave Orange Grove RV Park, Bakersfield. The temperature was up and down from 7ºC to 12ºC. It was windy in places causing driving to be slow and the sun did come out but quickly clouded over at the end of the trip and started to rain. Most of the way we were on Ca I-58 East and the elevation when we started was 644 feet and during the trip we were up as high as 4,250 feet above sea level.

It was a very interesting trip. The highway from Bakersfield to Tehachapi was through the the mountains. Along the way there were hundreds of windmills on the hillsides, all working, making a beautiful scene. I took many pictures and a movie. They did not really showed them well. The rail line went along the hills and through tunnels.

As we come to Mojave we were close to Edwards Air Force Base. This was desert country. There were signs saying, “Twenty Mule Teams”. were teams of eighteen mules and two horses attached to large wagons that ferried borax out of Death Valley from 1883 to 1889. They traveled from mines across the Mojave Desert to the near the railroad spurs, 165 miles (275 km) away in Mojave, California. The routes were from Furnace Creek to Mojave, CA, and from the mines at Old Borate to Mojave.

At Kramer Corner we turned onto Ca I-395, a single lane highway South. We climbed to 4250 feet elevations and went down a long winding highway with a 6% grade towards San Bernardino.

There we joined #210 on a four lane double highway for fourteen miles, which went through the city. It was noon by this time and Randal drove with both hands on the steering wheel. There were many over passes and construction of new one to go through. We merged onto I-10 East south of the city.

Just east of San Bernardino near Beaumont we stopped at a rest area to go to the restroom. This was second one we saw all morning. Back on to I-10 towards Beaumont and Banning. We arrived at Stagecoach KOA Park shortly after 1:00 pm. We registered for one week for $150.00 or $21.45 per night.

The sites here are not long, with are few trees. It is not full so it was not hard to get a spot.

Until next time don't forget "Discover It and Live It"