Getting Needled

Northshore RV Resort

Needles, California

Our four days at Northshore RV Resort was very restful. The first two days were lovely and sunny, but windy.

We had heard that the Avi Casino just across the state line in Nevada, had a special on Thursdays. Two for One Lunch Buffet. So we, and Russ and Kay decided to go and enjoy lunch together. We registered for the Players Advantage card which gave us a free $5 to play on the slot machines. Russ and Kay got a free lunch coupon and some free points.

The buffet lunch was not bad at all. Lots of meats, salads, veggies and other selections. So for $8.99 Michael and I had a good meal. Then I went and played the $10 we got between the two of us. It was soon gone and we all left to go home.

The next two days were rainy and windy so we just stayed home and read our books, played on the computer and, of course, had happy hour with Russ and Kay at 4 pm every day.

Saturday evening we got ready to leave early in the morning so that we could get to Palm Springs Thousand Trails Resort early and get a good site.

Thanks for following along and feel free to leave a comment.

A Desert Adventure and wonderful new friends.

Northshore RV Resort

Needles, California

From Emerald Cove we went west along Parker Dam road and then CA-62 for about 30 KMs. Then we missed the turn to 95 N and carried on for about 4 kms before we realized our mistake.

Picture this (because I forgot to take a picture). Single lane each way in the the middle of the desert, dips every few yards and loose sand on either side of the road. No turn around areas. Many miles before we could turn at a crossroad. What did we do? Said a prayer, found an area where the road had better visibilty both ways and made a quick U Turn. This is one time when we were very thankful that we have a tiny trailer!

Our trip took us through the Mojave Desert (For my SA friends it is pronounced Moharvee). Incredible views of the desert with mountains circling the area.

Our destination was Northshore RV Resort in Needles, California, another Colorado River Adventures Resort. We have Coast to Coast and RPI Memberships so can stay at these resorts for only $10 a night.

We had met Russ and Kay Wallace through RVillage, at Emerald Cove briefly for Happy Hour and were thrilled that they would be at Northshore when we got there.

After we were set up on our site we re-connected and enjoyed another great Happy Hour in fantastic warm weather. Even Timmy and Jake are friends.

Welcome to North Shore

Rock formation on Parker Dam Road

Into the desert

Somewhere like this that we did a U Turn.

Our site at North Shore

Upstream on the Colorado

Downstream

Dee, Russ and Kay

Before the rain started

Water level was low in the morning, and high in the afternoon.

Kitch

Sculpture made out of a Shovel. a rake, Rebar and other bits and pieces of metal.

Thanks for following along. Feel free to comment.

A change of plans and heading home

Northshore RV Resort

Needles, California

When we first set out on this journey in November last year, we had pretty much decided to wander around Southern Arizona and California for December, January and February and then start heading up the west coast into British Columbia visiting friends along the way.

We have really enjoyed our time so far, spending time in RV Resorts and boondocking in the desert at Holtville Hot Spring and Quartzsite. The extended boondocking was a first for us and I must say that we coped very well, considering the fact that we have no solar panels and small tanks in the trailer.

Our first boondocking experience was at Hot Spring LTVA near Holtville, CA. $40 for 2 weeks. We kept our batteries charged with a small generator we had bought while we were in Benson.

Our spot in the desert at Hot Spring LTVA

After a brief storm

Dee in the hot tub

Dee and Aline in the hot tub

The oasis where the hot spring run off goes.

A little piece of desert paradise

 After a week at Pilot Knob Resort near Yuma we moved up to La Posa South LTVA just south of Quartzsite. We stayed there 2 weeks while the big RV show was on.

The views around Quartzsite are wonderful

The sunsets are spectacular

The space between RV is fantastic

Just find a spot and pull in and set up. No neighbours, Very few rules, and lots of peace and quiet.

We started off close to a small wash, but after a storm we got a bit of a scare when it filled up rapidly, so we moved!

Lots of Happy Hours with friends from Ontario.

Now we have come to a crossroads, we will be going to Palm Springs on the weekend for 3 weeks and then the plan is to go to Wilderness Lakes in Menifee for 2 weeks, but we have decided not to go up to BC, instead to turn around and start the slow meander home via the southern states. The route is not determined yet.

The reasons?? Firstly, Michael feels that the truck will struggle through the mountains in the north west. Secondly, our little trailer is very basic and not fitted out for cold weather camping, i.e. exposed tanks and plumbing, single glazed windows and not very well insulated. And Thirdly, the weather in the west seems to be very unpredictable this year with lots of rain and potentially lots of snow in the mountains. So we will put that trip on a bucket list for another year when we are better equipped. Maybe, going west through Canada and then south to Arizona in the fall. That is what is so great about this lifestyle, plans can be made and changed at an instant.

Thanks for following along and we love comments.

Winterfest in the hot Arizona sunshine and crossing London Bridge.

On Sunday we decided to go up to Lake Havasu City to the Winterfest. As if we did not already have our fill of flea markets after Quartzsite. We drove north on Parker Dam rd and crossed the dam wall again and then carried further north up to Lake Havasu City.

Sand dune just off Parker Dam Rd

A good shot of Parker Dam

The drives around here are all so picturesque that I took lots of photos, but the photos just do not do justice to the beautiful panoramas.

As we got into Lake Havasu, we saw some really fancy houses.

I think all the booths from the La Paz County fair were all here in Lake Havasu

Cloth bags

Wind chimes

Metal flowers

Lotsa people here

 After walking the length of the flea market we walked back again. About a mile each way. Bought a couple of things and then went to find the London Bridge.
The bridge is actually over a canal that runs between the city of Havasu City and an island that was formed after the canal was cut through. Here is a link to the Wikipedia article about the bridge, along with some interesting photos.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Bridge_(Lake_Havasu_City)

We drove across and found parking on the other side.

Timmy and Dee at the bridge

Lots of Union Jacks

This is supposed to be an English Village

Strong wind from the west

The canal

Old Lamp post

Ferry boat coming back to shore

Locks

Gorgeous mountains in the background

Base of Lamp

 Unfortunately we did not know about the water taxi across to the casino until after we had left. Something to come back for!

Thanks for coming along with us.