We didn't say anything...

It's a Monday, and we are on the move.  Our last three moves have been on Mondays, and we have had some nasty wind.  Two days ago, the weather weasels were forecasting strong winds for our route from Laughlin, NV, to Phoenix, AZ.  We didn't say anything out loud about our plan to move, and yesterday, the weasels downgraded the wind forecast.

We were up early and ready to hit the road.  As soon as we crossed the Colorado River, we lost an hour (going from Nevada to Arizona).  I dropped Joan at a convenient McDonald's; she went in to get us a breakfast sandwich, while I found a place to put the motorhome and trailer.  No room in the McDonald's lot, but next door is a Chili's, and they aren't open, yet...

This rig is small enough that I can get into most lots, but not so small than any ol' parking place will do.  This one was easy.  Joan brought out our chow and we started the climb out of Laughlin/Bullhead City...

A pretty drive.  We motored over the pass, heading towards Kingman, AZ.  Through Kingman and onto I-40 driving east.  Decent road, and still very little wind.  We turned off on Hwy 95, making our way southeast, direct for Phoenix.  We passed a few boondockers...

... and marveled at how green things are in the desert right now...

An unusual occurance: we passed someone.  I usually keep our speed around 60 to 62 mph when we're towing...

Coming into Wikiup, AZ, the gas prices are a bit higher than the $1.31 we paid in Bullhead City...

This route is mostly 4-lane, occasionally narrowing to 2-lane, but pretty decent road.  And more greenery...

It wasn't long before we started seeing Saguaro Cacti on both sides of the road...

Then, a change to Joshua Trees...

Getting closer to Phoenix, the terrain flattens out - and even more greenery...

We pulled into the RV park around 1:30, and will be here for a week to visit with Steph and Dan.  We tried to get a site in their pull-through area (been trying since last December), so we wouldn't have to put the cargo trailer in storage.  Nope - nothing available.  (I drove through that area later on my scoot - 12 sites were unoccupied.  Yes, I know that doesn't mean they will be that way through the week.)

It didn't take us long to get set up...

We are right behind the site we were in during December and January.  Notice the rig next to us...

Yep; it is the ratty old Storm that was here when we were here.  You may remember the guy who picks up dog poop with his bare hands.  Yep.  Joan said, "Be sure to watch where you are walking - he may not have picked it all up!"

Izzy checked it out when we walked around our site... all clear.

Night Stalker...

A light supper and some more gaming last night.  I am beginning to think the odds on this gaming stuff are, perhaps, tilted in favor of the house.

While Joan stayed "on the job," I walked (well, rode the escalators) up to the auto display.  It isn't the biggest or the most exotic diplay, but it is nicely done... and the price is right.  There are vehicles on-loan from private parties, so the exhibit does change.

A walk through the display...

We walked back to the coach - a pretty evening.

The "night stalker" thing?  No, I didn't forget.  Izzy wanted to go for a walk when we got back.  The RV park here is "casino basic" - the landscaping theme is a big rock and a potted plant at each site in the upper area (where we prefer to be).  Iz likes to "scale" the rocks occasionally...

Yes, she is the "queen of the mountain."  She also gets braver after dark.  Well, a bit.  Human voices are still a scary thing... tends to make her crouch down as she walks... it looks like she is stalking her prey.  Yeah, we'll go with that.

Now what?

Busy morning.  We had a couple free buffets that needed to be eaten, and the Riverside has a good breakfast buffet.  Free is my favorite price, and a never-ending supply of bacon just can't be beat.

We were all spruced up for the day before heading down to the casino.  No line at the buffet.  Joan went for the omelet bar, I went for the big ol' tub of bacon.  We had a nice, laid-back breakfast.  Joan looked at her watch and said, "If we go now, we can catch the 9:15 movie."

That would be 9:15 am.

She wanted to see "Room."  It is a harrowing story about a woman who has been taken captive years ago; she has given birth, and the viewers come in as the boy is turning 5 years old and never seen the world outside their "room."  Not exactly cheery Saturday morning stuff, but the story kept you involved.  Two thumbs up from us.

After the movie, Joan was feeling the pull of the casino.  I was feeling the pull of Joan.  She came out a bit ahead.  I didn't.

A beautiful, warm day here in the desert - we decided to walk back to the motorhome instead of taking the shuttlebus.

Back at the motorhome in time for Izzy's noon meal.

Now what do we do with the rest of the day?  ;-)

Well, I'll be dammed...

The other side of the dam, that is.

Today, we were out and about on the scoots.  Beautiful, warm day - high in the low 80s; lots of sunshine.  The nearby In & Out Burger for lunch (celebrating Burger Friday for Steph and Dan), then a ride before making a grocery run.

Davis Dam is close to Laughlin.  It is the facility that controls the water flow for the part of the Colorado River that we were on yesterday.  Ahead of the dam is a nice marina area (Katherine's Landing) that is on the Lake Mead National Recreation area.  Not really a part of Lake Mead, but that is the controlling agency.  The water above Davis Dam is Lake Mohave.

The Geezer Pass got us in (otherwise, it is $20 for the day).  Pretty area...

Pretty area.  Not as big as Lake Mead and the marina facilities there, but not as many people around here.  They are doing some construction on the roads in the park, so hardly any traffic here.

The grocery run: we rode into Bullhead City for a stop at Safeway.  The place was packed.  Laughlin is a small(ish) gambling town; across the river in Bullhead, it is... well, I don't know what brings people here, but there seems to be an interesting collection of desert dwellers.  We didn't go the extra few miles to go to Walmart, but we could have scored well with the People of Walmart Bingo here.

One thing on the shopping list today: ice cream.  That means: get back to the motorhome as quick as possible, so it doesn't melt.  We took the side street out of Safeway to have access to the main road with a stoplight.  Obviously, they don't use the same road engineers as the California stoplight folks - this was a really short light for that side street.  Barely 4 cars could get through before it turned yellow.  And there was a car a few in front of us that was unfamiliar with the custom of "go when the light turns green."  No, we don't have a schedule... but, we do have ice cream.  And thanks to a series of short time stoplights, we got to be behind that car for a while.

I put the scoots away while Joan took the groceries in.  She tells me the ice cream survived intact.  Whew!

Jet boat to Lake Havasu...

Boat tour day today: taking a jet boat from Laughlin to Lake Havasu City.

The boat is an interesting design...

We were the first ones on, and picked seats up front...

We stopped at two other casinos to pick up passengers, and started down the Colorado River...

The offer a booklet to describe what you are seeing on the way down.  It is a 58 mile trip to Lake Havasu City, passing by Needles, California, and through Topock Gorge.  I'll let the photos show the ride...

There are some RV parks, both commercial and state parks along the way.  Some dramatic scenery, some just stark.  And some beautiful homes...

This bridge used to be part of Route 66...

Now, it supports a pipeline (moving natural gas from Texas to California).  Traffic now moves over this gorge on I-40, which we also passed under.  Heading into Topock Gorge...

Definitely the prettiest part of this trip.

Until this point, there was almost no other boat traffic.  We did pass a couple other boats in the gorge.

Looking back inside the boat...

Approaching Lake Havasu City...

Off the boat, and into a nearby restaurant - lunch with a view...

Yes, that is the London Bridge...

This looks different from the last time we saw it...

Empty docks at the London Bridge Resort.  Last time we were here was during a trailer sailor gathering, and the docks were full.

We walked around the area; nothing either of us needed, but this sign made me chuckle...

We had a two hour stay in Lake Havasu City.  After eating and wandering, I visited with Joe, the boat owner and operator...

He was chillin' on the bow.  Not a taxing schedule: two hours down, two hour break, two hours back.  I'm thinking the "route" would get a bit routine.  I asked him about summer crowds... "Weekends, from mid-April through October are challenging..."  Lots of people and boats, and a narrow passage to get in and out of Lake Havasu City.

Leaving LHC today...

We kept our same seats as the way down, so you get a different view on the way back...

We were told this was an ancient Indian petroglyph...

I don't know - coulda been something drawn by a hippie in the 60s.  ;-)

More scenery...

One lone palm tree...

Crossing under the bridges again, this sign is visible from this direction...

A long photo essay isn't complete without a selfie (courtesy of Joan's phone)...

A fun day on the water.