Texas Gypsies: Lake Havasu, AZ

Sunday, January 18, 2015

This morning we left the desert near Quartzsite and headed to Lake Havasu City, AZ. The drive there was pretty. This part of the country has its own beauty.

We took AZ Hwy 95 up to Lake Havasu City. Much of the way, the Colorado River was just next to the road. The Colorado River is the border between Arizona and California.

We drove up and down through these rugged looking mountains just east of the river.

There were little towns tucked away in the small valleys. Clouds are pretty too.

Next thing you know, you are along side the river again. I believe this is the first view of Lake Havasu & City we got to see.

We stayed at Lake Havasu RV Park. It was nice enough. The streets were paved. The parking spots were gravel with a concrete pad and picnic table.

Here was our spot. It was on the out edge of the park and it was quiet.

We were staying only one night so decided to take a drive around.

We came across section of the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge. There was a short walk that ended at a pier you could go out on and fish.

This picture was taken from the beginning of the walkway and looking towards the pier.

This is looking away from the fishing pier. This was an inlet off the main part of the Colorado River.

Tic climbed up a small hill and got a little different perspective on the inlet.

From the hill, Tic zoomed in on the pier and got Dusty walking to the end. See the heron on the covering of the dock.

More of the inlet. See the little black ducks. Tic was still on the hill. On down the road next.

Well, here it is...London Bridge crossing the Colorado River. According to the internet the following is a short clip on the history of this bridge.

"In 1967, the Common Council of the City of London began to look for potential buyers for the London Bridge. Lake Havasu City founder and entrepreneur Robert P. McCulloch placed the winning bid of $2,460,000 on April 18, 1968. McCulloch came by this figure by doubling the estimated cost of dismantling the structure, which was $1.2 million, bringing the price to $2.4 million. He then added on $60,000 – a thousand dollars for each year of his age at the time he estimated the bridge would be reconstructed in Arizona. Each block was meticulously numbered before the bridge was disassembled. The blocks were then shipped overseas through the Panama Canal to California and trucked from Long Beach to Arizona. Following reconstruction of the London Bridge, Lake Havasu City rededicated it in a ceremony on October 10, 1971."