We came to Lake Havasu for about a week, not only to check it out, but to connect with a buddy of Barry’s from Boeing – Don Ellington, before heading to the big RV gathering in Quartzsite, AZ. The Lake Havasu Elks Lodge had RV parking and we were able to reserve a spot ahead of time. Reservations are highly recommended because they do fill up during the winter months. Sites were quite nice and fairly level with plenty of room for all RV slides and tow vehicle.. They even have a fire pit and BBQ grill that RV visitors are welcome to use. Unfortunately, the only picture I got was the sunset after we arrived. The RV space was a welcome change compared to the Chula Vista Elks where parking is like being in a can of sardines.
Don picked us up to give us a tour of Lake Havasu City. His daughter, Keanna, who is a hairdresser up in Edmonds, WA, happened to be visiting so we got to meet and get to know her. We walked all along the channel waterfront. The beautiful trees, great walkway all the way around the channel, and the mountains in the distance, along with the low key, happy people make this a very peaceful place. It just feels good to be here! The walk along the channel allowed Barry and Don got to catch up with each other while Keanna and I chatted and got to know each other. We grabbed a bite to eat near the London Bridge. Just as we were finishing we noticed several balloons flying overhead to sail over the London Bridge. Timing is everything! We scrambled up to the bridge to have that birds eye view vantage point. We went over to Don’s house afterwards to see his place. What a beautiful home with a great pool! Definitely his daily paradise.
Barry & Don 
Lake Havasu 
Fountain at London Bridge Plaza 
Lighthouse Club of Lake Havasu 
Lower part 
Robert Paxton McCulloch of McCulloch chainsaws, bought the London Bridge and had it brought and reassembled here. 
Bird nests under the London Bridge 
Part of the channel 
Now that’s serious beer pong! 
View of the London Bridge across the channel. 
How close to they dare get? 
Closer? 
Lock on the bridge…just like Paris 
Wished we had one to add.
We checked out the Balloon Festival with all the exhibits and vendors the next day. What a bonus to be here during the festival! Barry and I went back down later. After several of the balloons launched, we walked down to the channel waterfront . It was so cool because today many of the pilots timed things well to be able to dip the basket into the channel. Several were able to dip multiple times before ascending over the London Bridge. We walked back to the festival to hear the ABBA cover band that was scheduled to play that night. It took a while before they got started, but I loved it. How can anyone NOT like those songs. Barry wasn’t that into it, but agreed to go down to the dancing area near the stage to dance with me. (I think because it was also on the way out.) We had no idea that Don and Keanna were there, but Keanna spotted us dancing. Darn–we could have stayed longer with them. Keanna may have danced with me while Don and Barry enjoyed a beer.
DAY TRIP to The Desert Bar
Don took us to the famous Desert Bar in the Buckskin Mountains of Parker, AZ. It is quite an interesting place. It is out in the middle of nowhere and you have to take a dirt, washboard, road off the highway to get there. It is built where there used to be an old mining camp. They had a group providing live music while we were there, but when it started raining the entertainment was over because their instruments were exposed to the elements. It was strange yet pretty cool to have an open view of the place from the women’s restroom as you are standing at the “sink” washing your hands. The place is powered by solar. Oddly enough there is a very narrow church or church facade near the parking lot. A popular place for Parker, AZ. For more info: http://www.thedesertbar.com/
DAY TRIP to OATMAN, AZ
After our day at the Desert Bar, Barry and I made the long drive to Oatman, AZ on old route 66. Oatman is a former mining town in the Black Mountains. It began as a tent camp soon after two prospectors struck a $10 million gold find in 1915. Oatman is a quirky place known basically for all the wild burros that roam the streets. The donkeys are descendants of those that were just left behind from mining days. It was cool to see them. The “stores” were also interesting as you will see from the pictures below.
“DONKY’S”…really??? PLEASE! “Donkey” is the proper spelling. Second, it is not a possessive, but a plural! DONKEYS!!! Geesh! 
Now here is a possessive. LOL 
Just going shopping. 🙂 
Babies have a tag on them to NOT feed them since they are still nursing. 
Magnet selection 
Flooring in one of the stores. 
Smile. 🙂 
Barry and I enjoyed walking along the channel again. We also took our bikes to ride around the island portion on the other side of the London Bridge a couple of times. One day we drove the loop to try to get a picture of each of the smaller-scale lighthouses that are replicas of famous lighthouses from both coasts of the US. We couldn’t quite get to all of them. These Lake Havasu lighthouses actually help boater navigation safety as well as being attractions for visitors. Later that afternoon we met Don and Keanna at the local bowling alley. I hadn’t been bowling in years other than one game I “bowled” about a month or two ago with Justin & Erika, and it was pitiful! Today, however, went quite well! Keanna was over the moon with her game. Two strikes in a row–a first for her! We had a great time and laughed a lot. That evening we took the water taxi/ferry to the casino. No big winners…but no big losers either. Just a fun day from start to finish!
That evening we took the water taxi/ferry to the casino. No big winners…but no big losers either. Just a fun day from start to finish!
It has been great spending these three days with both Don and Keanna! Onto Quartzsite in the morning.