More Havasu BLM - Windy Travel to Bullhead City

The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

Most importantly:  Congratulations Sandie and Jim on selling your motorhome!!

We drove through Needles, California on our way north.  On our trip south a few months ago we had stayed at the Elks in town.  The RV parking at this Elks is really nice.  The sites are long, pull-thrus and with full hookups for $16 a night.  We think it’s quite a deal.  Needles isn’t a busy town.  Not a lot of snowbirds hang around the town even though there are a few great RV parks. We think they probably head towards the Laughlin area and its casinos to play.   What we did notice is that Needles is on the old Route 66.  Actually, it wasn't hard to notice that.

We’ve spent just a little bit of time scoping out Bullhead City and hope to do a lot more.  One place I wanted to visit was Davis Camp.  It’s a Mohave County park and located just across the river from the huge casinos that Laughlin, Nevada are known for.  The park has a couple boat ramps plus rents cabins and RV sites.  Some of these sites even have full hookups.  However, the best sites are those right along the river. Some have concrete pads and covered picnic tables.  However, what they do not have are hookups. 

Davis Camp Sites

After being in the desert for nearly two months without a soaking pool, we’re glad to be planted with full hookups for a week.  Our site is fine.  There is plenty of room for our motorhome, the trailer and the car.  Matter of fact, the site is larger than most RV parks.  It's longer but not wider.  However, we’ve had some pretty big sites the last few months and this one is the smallest of all.  Of course, most of those sites have been on BLM land but not all.  We know it’ll be a while before we get to experience the wide open spaces again and we miss it already.

Riverfront site at Davis Camp -- Laughlin, Nevada in background

We’ve been struggling with the wind just a little bit. Folks say that the wind seems to blow a lot in this area. Since we’ve not spent much time here in the past, we’re hoping it’s a little exaggerated. Only time will tell on that one but I’m thinking it might be true. The deal with an RV is that you can really hear that wind howl from the inside and we don’t like it one little bit!

We have some things we want to see around here but first we have to get through the local winds.  Getting here was no piece of cake either.  I’m constantly amazed at how the weather forecast can be wrong so often.  In Arizona the forecasters are very good at predicting sunny days because that's fairly common.  It’s the changes to that where they go wrong.  Such was the case on the day we were heading into the Bullhead City area.  High winds were forecast for Monday but not for Sunday until the wind started blowing early that morning.  Then, the forecast was changed to reflect that.  It was almost changed on the hour.

One of the online weather websites I like to connect to is wunderground.com.  The velocity of the wind is close to "live" on their website.   It wasn’t a good day to plan on moving but we kept watching the forecast and listening to the howling.  We knew the next day would be bad too.  Well, at least we thought it would be.

Winds - 47 mph	Winds - 41.3 mph

When the high wind warning was finally posted it was due to start calming down by 11:00 AM.  Closer to that time it was changed  to 1 PM, then 2 PM and then 3 PM.   It was a head wind and not a side wind.  We figured we could go.  We did but certainly didn’t see many other RVs on the  road.  Travel was uneventful and eventually the winds died down but that was even after we arrived at our new RV park and everything had been put in its place.

There are casinos to visit, dams to tour, ATVs to ride,  Lake Mohave, petroglyphs and even Oatman to revisit.  That’s the plan once we get the Quartzsite and Yuma dust out of the motorhome.  I just hope we can do it all in the short time we’ll be here.

Update:     -----------------------------------------------------------

This sign is supposed to be on Hwy 95.  We did not see it.

On my previous post I mentioned we could not find the BLM north of the Lake Havasu airport.   I've discovered that Craggy Wash is the name of that BLM area.  Evidently there is a dirt road that we were supposed to turn off on and then drive about 1/2 mile on before we would see any RVs.  We didn't find the road and we didn't see the RVs.  It actually sounds like a perfect spot to stay close to town and best of all, it was free. I also found this --- N 3435.610  W 11420.982 -- about mile marker 190.  Another campsite area at mile marker 192 is Blankenship Wash.  We didn't see that either but here's a great website (where I "borrowed" the picture) for additional information.  I'm not sure if information is current or not.  Also, check out this website with maps to five BLM areas around Lake Havasu.  Again, make sure information is current before you go.



One more thing ---  I had also heard someplace that it was impossible to get internet with your Verizon aircards in Lake Havasu.  We have an aircard from Mellenicom that connects through the Verizon cell towers.  Our internet was great.

Previous post A little Bit of Lake Havasu.

‘Tis life on the road.

A Little Bit of Lake Havasu

Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.

Lake Havasu is a beautiful little town.  Just about everything you would want or need could probably be found there.  It’s kind of like being in Yuma in the winter.  There are a lot of snowbirds and the roads are full of traffic.

We had been told about a couple BLMs in the area so we were looking for them as we drove north on Hwy 95.  One was the The Steps area about mm 164.  It’s about 10 miles south.  It’s a nice level area and several RVs were still parked there as we passed by.   We also passed another area (Standard Wash)  just south of town where we saw a few more RVs parked.

We had also been told about a couple other BLM camping areas.  One of those was just north of the airport and we went looking for it but couldn’t find it.  At least we didn't see any RVs parked close. The only place we discovered north of town was about 10 miles north.   Did we miss the one at the airport or is it no longer a BLM area?

The other place was close to the Beachcomber's RV Resort at the end of McCullough Road.  That would have been a gorgeous place to park had that been BLM land because it was right on the lake.  We did see a few RVers parked there so talked to them and discovered it was day use only.  No overnight camping was allowed.  We were certainly hoping this one was right on …. but it wasn’t.

It’s not that we didn’t like the Lake Havasu State Park and were looking for someplace else to go.  We did like the park but we also like checking out other places for possible future visits.  The state park is in a perfect location and it is beautiful.  The quail and cottontails are all over the park.  In addition there is even a really nice cactus garden.  It’s a short term park and campers are limited to a 14-day stay at $20 per night for dry camping --- water and dump is free.  Would we return .... absolutely.  The point is to let the Dwyers know if they reserve a spot on the lake, they will be able to launch their boat from the site!!

The park is almost in the center of town.  The Blue Grass Festival was scheduled for the following weekend.  Thus, after Sunday all the sites were full.  The park has a lot of nice areas for overflow so they can accommodate quite a crowd even when full.  .  Actually, the overflow is probably just as nice as some of the defined sites. 

Saturday was laundry day.  Normally doing laundry isn’t anything special.  However, we discovered one of the nicest laundromats we had ever been to.  There were lots of washers and the dryers were at the end of each row.  To top it off this laundromat even offered nice comfortable places to sit with a leather couch and a TV  to keep patrons entertained while they waited for their wash to finish.

When we originally headed to Lake Havasu we figured we would stay at the Elks.  We had read that this Elks had just added RV parking.   However, since we had only planned to stay one night, we didn’t really want to unhook the trailer.  The developed dry camping sites were level but all back-in.  The open areas for parking were on a slight slope.  Even though we still had to unhook where we ended up staying, we had a much better view, a bigger site and were right in town.  That was a no brainer.

I talked to another RVer who had just pulled into a beautiful site right on the lake in the state park. He indicated he had reserved his site some time before and that he and his wife had been to the park several times over the past few years.  He also indicated he didn't like the noise at the park.  He had complained to the rangers about generators being used during the day and he didn't like the noise from the jetboats on the lake either.   My question is why did he reserve that waterfront site if he didn't like the noise?   I would have offered to swap him but sure he wouldn't have gone for that.   Oh well ..... next time we'll think about reserving a site right on the water -- noise or no noise.

Next stop ….. Will it be Nevada?

‘Tis life on the road.

On the road -- Quartzsite and Lake Havasu

Finance is the art of passing money from one hand to another hand until it disappears.

Our first day of travel heading just a little north didn’t get us too far.  We traveled the approximate 100 miles to Quartzsite from the BLM at Pilot Knob which is just west of Yuma.  We didn't stay at the fee BLM but the one three miles west on the very bumpy frontage road just off Sidewinder.  We were loaded fairly early and we were ready to go ….  slowly down that road.  In addition to passing quite a few walkers, we also passed a dark blue truck pulled over on the side with the driver in the back having a cigarette.  It didn't take him long to get back in his truck and fly right past us.   We discovered his hurry when we got in line at the Shell dump station.  He wanted to beat us there!!  

The travel north on Highway 95 was slow.  There were lots of vehicles and RVs heading north and also heading south.  The biggest delay was the construction.  For about 12 miles of this road there was only one lane of traffic.  Actually, it wasn’t too bad and we did get to enjoy the new spring flowers along the way.  The flowers weren’t out yet when we were heading south just a few weeks before.

We had left Quartzsite less than a month ago.  At that time it was flooded with vendors, people and RVs.  On Wednesday it looked bare compared to then but it really wasn’t.  There was still lots of activity but nothing close to what it had been.   The BLM had been packed with the RVs at that time.  There were still lots of RVs but definitely not as many.

Wednesday’s journey landed us at the Hi Jolly area just north of Quartzsite at mile marker 112.  We figured we’d spend the night, visit the town and eat at Palo Verde’s.  That we did.  Duchess was also thrilled that we weren’t moving into an RV park where she had very little room.

Checking the weather report we discovered that the area around Lake Havasu was expecting some pretty strong winds the following afternoon or at least that's what the weatherman was saying.   Our plan was to leave early with only 67 miles to go .  It was an uneventful drive.  When we left we weren’t even sure where we were going to stay.  First we checked out the Elks but ended up at Lake Havasu State Park.  

Sites are huge but we didn't get a pull-thru so had to unhook the trailer to back in.

Check out the waterfront view ..... it only lasted until two other RVs moved into their sites.

It was still dry camping but we certainly had a gorgeous site and along with it came a temporary lake view.  It was pretty darn nice …. at least for a couple days.  The park has quite a few sites right at the edge of the lake.  It's a perfect spot for launching canoes or small boats right from your own RV site.

 

We also took a little drive in the afternoon.  First we went across the LONDON BRIDGE.



Then, we took a drive around the island.



By the time we got back to our site, the wind was starting to blow a little but the temperature was still close to 80.  We didn’t do much else other than enjoy the sunshine, the view and the ribs on the barbecue.

Friday more wind was expected but that’s okay.  We had no plans to go any place.  Laundry needed to be done.  Whatever happened to the idea of disposable clothes? 

‘Tis life on the road.

Starting the Move North and Last Supper

I have climbed the ladder of success ... one wrong at a time.

We seem to have had several “Last Supper” events during the year.  Tuesday night we had another one.  Our Last Supper was with Freddy and Delcie.  We had been parking next to them at the Pilot Knob BLM for almost two weeks.  We have had an absolutey great time getting together with them every evening.  It was only fitting that we would have a Last Supper event.  The best part of it for Terry and I was they invited us for dinner, provided all the food and did all the work!

Cooking the steaks

Check out all the food!!  Those steaks were some of the best we had ever had.  They were scrumptious!  Everything was so perfect.   Thank you so much!!

There's enough food to feed an army!

The steaks were not only fabulous.  They were huge.  Terry and Freddy even split one.  I thought Delcie had a whole but I guess I was the only one that did.  I had to have my very own and I ate the WHOLE THING! Of course by the time we finished with our first helping, we were pretty much stuffed!!

This was my plate --

Here it is past the middle of February already.  The weather has been nice in the Yuma area but not what we would consider hot yet.  The wind seems to blow a cool breeze most all the time.  We don’t like it hot but we don’t like it cold either.  We’re getting ready to pull up those levels and get the wheels off the BLM and on the road north.  The problem with this is that the places we’re thinking about going really don’t warm up enough to visit until May.  However, in May we hope to be all the way back north.  After all, that’s when family time starts.

Wednesday is going to roll around and we’re going to head someplace.  By the time this gets published we will be someplace else.  The California coast was the original plan.  Then, Utah came into the plans.  Then, it was back to California and then, it was a toss up again.   However, looking at some of the locations in Utah we were thinking of going to I discovered that the nights are still in the 20’s during the month of April!!!!!  That temperature is not in the range we want to be in.  With the 20’s come ice and snow and all kinds of weather we prefer to avoid.  Thus, we have a dilemma. Maybe Utah should be a fall venture and not an early spring one.  We don’t know.  So, where will we head when we pull out of the Yuma area?  Will it be farther west or north in California or farther north in Arizona?

I guess the dilemma will only be solved on Wednesday when we actually hit the road and start heading someplace.  We’re just not sure where that will be.  Ever been in this situation?

Loaded up and getting ready to go -- Duchess sure isn't going to like leaving but we haven't told her  yet.

That’s it, folks.  We said our “so longs” until next year.

Are those rollers in Delcie's hair?  You still look great, Girl!!

Even the kids said their farewells.

 

Right now we need to think about getting put away and ready to hit the road.  Anyone taking bets?  We’re certainly not betting on where we might head to right now.

‘Tis life on the road.

Grays Wells Dunes–Motorhome Stuck in the Sand !! Déjà Vu

When something has been said or done well, have no scruples.  Copy it!

This past weekend was a holiday weekend.  Thus, lots of folks were out playing.  There was a big shindig around us.  Every place you could see on the dunes people were riding and congregating.  This was a big event.  Vendors were selling event t-shirts, hats and most anything a  dune buggy or ATV owner might be willing to dig out his wallet for.  We didn’t buy a thing but we sure did look.  Now next year they’ll probably sell the left over items from this year at a reduced price during that year’s event.

When we pulled out of Glamis and the dunes on Friday we knew this was going to be a big, big weekend for the Imperial Sand Dunes.  We figured there would probably be several hundred toy-hauling RVs sitting at the base of those dunes with a few more hundred on the slopes.  We also figured this would be one spectacular site.  We were a little off.  We discovered that we were off when we took our  little drive on Sunday to Gordon Wells And Gray Wells.  These are both areas that more RVs and ATVs converged on over the holiday weekend.  It was party city.

There weren’t just hundreds out enjoying their time off.  There had to be thousands.  The areas were packed with weekend warriors.  They were partying and they were riding.  Just about every type of RV was to be seen as well as just about every type of OHV/ATV/ROV/UTV (you name it) was around also.

Now that the weekend party is over the tickets will probably start.  Actually, they’ve already started.  As I’ve mentioned previously, there is a Highway Patrol station between the Dunes and Arizona State line.  The little black and white cars are like bees swarming on this highway and it’s rare to drive on I-8 here without seeing at least one or two cars pulled over to the side of the road.  Now with all these weekenders heading home I am sure it will be a very busy one for the officers as they freely hand out those tickets.

------------  That was going to be the post for the day but then this happened ------------ 

We came back Sunday afternoon to our own little sand problem.  Actually, it wasn’t OUR sand problem.  It was another déjà vu situation with a motorhome stuck in the sand.  The motorhome belonged to the Shadowtracks duo.  Nancy, however, swears it wasn’t her doing.

We had a similar issue last year only a few hundred feet from where this one got stuck.  At that time it was later in the evening but this is the photo I posted then.   It was dark and you can't see much but you get the idea.  The driver of the motorhome took a wrong turn and got stuck in the sand.   I’m not going to tell you whose motorhome it was that got stuck but I will say that the “Sands got stuck in the sand” …. kind of ironic, huh? 

This time it was a little earlier in the day so it was much easier to see exactly what was going on.  Some of the area on the BLM has soft sand and driving can be a little difficult.  It looks like the sand is packed but after all the rain we had a few days ago, it is definitely not packed.  We now have photos to prove that.

First, they tried pulling it in reverse using a rope.  The rope broke.

Then, the shovel came out and the boards went down.

Then, they tried pulling it forward using cables.

Success!!  These are the tracks that were left.

Celebration!

Gorgeous sunset to end the day.

‘Tis just life on the road.

Tumco Ghost Town – Glamis Sand Dunes

 

Statistics say one in every four people suffer from a mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If it's not one of them, it's you.

Sometimes I have a few little blogs as backups.  These usually aren’t current blogs about where we’ve gone or what we’ve seen.  They are about thoughts I’ve had or things I want to know from others.  That was the one I posted prior to this.  Eventually, I’ll respond to some of the responses about the perfect park but right now I really need to get caught up and caught current or I’ll forget where we were and what we did.  

Morning after evidence of rain

It doesn’t rain a lot in Arizona and especially in the desert portions of that state.  Most of the part of Arizona we stay in during the winter is obviously the desert.  Well, we got rain.  We really saw rain the other day.  I take that back.  We heard rain hit the top of the motorhome through a good portion of the night.  The picture shows the true evidence of that rain.  We had puddles and we had mud.  Now that we’ve had it, we’re ready for everything to dry up and the mud to go away.  The mud hasn’t totally disappeared yet.  We noticed that as we rode out in the desert on our ATVs.  Mud was slinging everywhere.  I like it.  Terry hates it.  I think that’s because he has to clean the ATVs when we’re done.

Cactus Wren

Friday rolled around and we took a drive with Freddy and Delcie.  We had some ideas of where we might go but weren’t totally sure where we would end up or what we would see.  First of all we took I-8 to Ogilby Road.  A lot of RVs were still parked on each side of the road just off the highway.  This is another BLM and these RVs were taking advantage of a place to park and spend a little sunshine time in the gorgeous deserts of California.

As we moved north on S-34 we also noticed that even though the calendar indicated it was just February spring really was here.  Several plants were already blooming and the color just added to the beauty and mystique of the desert.    Finding the perfect ones to take a picture of was a little difficult.  There were many just beginning to bloom and others with lots of yellow or red or purple flowers on them.  We did stop and take a few pictures.  After all, that’s what we like to do.

A few miles up the road we came to Gold Rock RV Park.  We had hoped to stop there and get information from the office on some of the local mines in the area.  That wasn’t to be as the manager was out of the office.  However, one of the residents directed us just across the road to the Tumco abandoned mines and ghost town.  

Freddy's treasure -- motorhome wheel cover

Delcie checking the blooms

Actually, this area is a ghost town. It’s not that we saw any ghosts.  Heck, we hardly saw any town at Tumco (previously known as Hedges).  The informational pamphlets were out but we did go under the barrier and saw a little of the remnants of that mining town.  There really weren’t many remnants left though.  What appeared to be rocks marking a few sites on a cemetery, a well and some pads that once belonged to buildings was all that was left.  This might have been a hopping town a few years ago but on this day there wasn’t much left.  Obviously, the lure of wealth by mining the area is no longer a pull.  We didn’t stay long.  There was no gold for us to keep and no ghosts for us to talk to.

Old Tumco well

Back out on the road we kept heading north towards Highway 78.  We were heading towards Glamis.  Is this town really the Sand Dune Capital of North America or is it self-proclaimed?  Who knows but it was one fantastic place.  We didn’t realize it was a holiday weekend.  What we did realize is that hundreds and of other RVs hauling trailers were going to the same place we were.  This place really comes alive on the weekends, let alone on holiday weekends.  We also followed a convoy of army vehicles.  They weren’t heading to Glamis.  They were heading to fenced off military bombing targets just around the bend from Glamis.   That’s one area you better be sure your GPS isn’t giving you false directions as you certainly wouldn’t want to be in the middle of the target.

 

The sand dunes that surround Glamis are nothing short of awesome.  ATVs, UTVs, dune buggies and many other kinds of 4-wheelers were on the slopes.  Now normally when you’re talking about slopes I’m thinking about snow covered slopes.  These aren't snow slopes, these are sand slopes.  It’s such an awesome sight to see.  These dunes stretch for about 40 miles and are close to six miles wide.  

Riding the dunes

The camping area was starting to fill up.  Tents were up selling all kinds of flags and equipment.  People were getting ready to ride and others were zipping everywhere as fast as they could.  I wonder how many accidents occur in places like this over the holiday weekends since the sand roadways aren’t defined and they certainly aren’t one-way roads. 

‘Tis life on the road.