Davis Dam -- Grapevine Canyon Petroglyps

If you can’t see the bright side of life, polish the dull side.

More winds were expected on Monday but they were expected later in the day.  Thus, we decided to check out a few things before the weather got too bad.  Rain was even due to arrive!!  Now that’s a big thing around here especially since the total rainfall for the year averages about 4 inches!

First, we headed due west across the Colorado River into Laughlin – a mere mile away.  The climb on highway 163 heading west is steep.  It is a 6% uphill climb for 7 1/2 miles.  However, in the Jeep it was a piece of cake.  As we climbed and then climbed some more, we figured we might as well go to the top and then down the other side.  It actually wasn’t much farther than where we had planned on turning off on the dirt road to Grapevine Canyon anyway.  This is the route we will be taking into Las Vegas in just a few more days.

This is the trail marker I followed.

Our destination was at the canyon on Spirit Mountain.  We were there to take a look at the petroglyphs carved into the rocks some possibly as early as 1100 AD.  There are about 700 of these petroglyphs in this canyon.  The Mojave lived in this area but not sure whether they actually did the carvings.  According to what I had read it was a short quarter mile hike from the trailhead.  After parking we headed straight towards the rocks on the upper level.  I figured it had to be towards the rocks since that's what petroglyphs were carved on.  WRONG!  I walked and walked and walked and still no petroglyphs, I figured I goofed someplace   .... obviously. 

This is the trail marker we should have followed.

The trail led to the river bed.

At the trailhead there were two markers.  One was down into the river bed. The short walk was in a sandy, dry river bed. That’s where we should have gone in the first place.  Terry just waited in the wash.  Petroglyphs were everywhere. 

Back to the car and off to the next destination --- Davis Dam.  At one time tours were given of this dam but not anymore. This area was under construction.  The dam was closed to visitors and to traffic.  We did drive past the first sign or two that indicted this but eventually had to turn around since there were barriers across the road.  The construction looked like they were building a park for visitors.  Well, we went, we saw but really didn’t get to visit this time.

Our next stop was just north of Bullhead City, Lake Mead National Recreation Area on Lake Mohave.  It is known as Katherine Landing and was close so we wanted to go.  This area has just about everything including a gorgeous view of the lake from several different places.  You can stay in a motel, camp in an RV, rent a houseboat or launch your own boat. 

It didn't look like any of the houseboats were currently rented.  There were so many of them at the dock.

There weren’t a lot of people around but there certainly were a lot of boats in the water.  We noticed two campgrounds.  One had full hookups and the other was dry camping.  Some of the dry camp sites were fairly small but others weren’t.  Water and a dump was available.

Campground site at Katherine Landing

We liked the park, the cost and the short distance from town – 6 miles.

Even though we’re back in vacation mode that was it for the day.  We never did see real heavy winds.  The showers came.  It wasn’t much but just enough to leave dirt spots all over the car again.  We have been to the little town of Oatman before but that’s what’s up next.

‘Tis life on the road.