RV There Yet?

Over the past couple of months, no matter where we have been, the weather has kept me inside, for the most part, so I haven’t been able to take many photos. In northern California today, the weather warmed up enough that I was able to get outside. Just for fun and practice, I grabbed my newest camera and my largest lens and walked around the RV park just looking for something interesting to shoot. These photos are a mixed bag with no definite theme. Please take a look and let me know what you think.

On Saturday Barbara and I were sitting outside enjoying the fresh air, sunshine while eating crackers, cheese, salmon and fruit. On the far side of the Mokelumne River was a crop duster spraying the fields. So I got out my camera and took some photos of it flying just above the levee and the trees. (6)

Yesterday Barbara and I traveled 120 miles, round trip, to visit the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area just northwest of Las Vegas. This is the second time we have visited here and both times we weren’t able to get in. The first time was during Covid and no one was allowed in. This time we found out that you have to have a reservation to get in. So just like the first time I took photos from outside the park.

Since we couldn’t get into Red Rock Canyon we stopped at nearby Spring Mountain Ranch State Park. This is an historic site established in 1974. It contains replicas of the original ranch buildings, a visitor center and gift shop, a picnic area and some hiking trails. Barbara visited the visitors center while Toby and I walked several of the hiking trails and I took some photos. They are currently filming a movie here. (10)

Saturday evening Barbara and I went “Cruising” Lake Havasu with several other retired folks. Copper Canyon was up until the early 1940’s the largest mining community along the Colorado River. Miners first started arriving here in 1864 on their way to California seeking to make their fortune during the Gold Rush. For almost 80 years abundant quantities of copper, gold and silver were extracted here. However, when Parker Dam was completed and Lake Havasu filled, Copper Canyon was filled with water and the mining activities ceased.

While on the boat tour two young women on nearby boats treated our tour to “Full Moon’s”, with cracks in them, in their thong bathing suits. One of these young lady’s was so “Hot” she had to cool herself down by pouring beer on her Full Moon. Cheap entertainment. As most of us know, alcohol will make some of us do just about anything.

We enjoyed the tour, the sunset and our narrator, Kenny. He provided abundant information along with some trivia and even some questionable comedy. (17)

A few weeks ago Barbara, Toby and I traveled to Lake Havasu City, AZ for a short stay. While here we enjoyed it so much that we came back for a longer stay. We have really enjoyed our time here. In the Lake Havasu area there is no shortage of things to do. We visited the famous London Bridge, gone to the beach a couple of times and enjoyed the colorful sunsets, to name a few. We are already making plans to return here next fall.

For you trivia buffs I’ve got one for you. Did you know that the London Bridge is the largest antique ever sold? The bridge needed to be moved or destroyed because it was slowly sinking. So in 1967 Robert P. McCulloch, Sr. an inventor and entrepreneur who had great success in the boat motor and chainsaw markets purchased the bridge for just under $3,000,000 and had it moved to Lake Havasu. The bridge was disassembled block by block and moved. The bridge was completed in 1971. I first visited the bridge in 1972 at the age of 13. A long time ago in a galaxy far far away. There wasn’t much here back then. Boy have things changed. This is a thriving retirement community that is busy most of the year. But when the heat is on, June through August, things slow down a bit.

Below are a few photos I have taken of the sights we have enjoyed while here. (15)

This evening there is a beautiful full moon on display so I got out my camera and took some photos. This is known as a worm moon because this is the time of year when earth worms start making their way to the surface. I tried different settings so each photo is going to look a little different than the rest. Take a look!

This past Thursday Barbara and I braved the cold and took the train from Williams Arizona to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. This is a great trip because someone else is doing the driving.

When we arrived at the canyon there were clouds but we could see all of the way across to the north rim. After enjoying the view and taking a few photos Barbara and I enjoyed a nice lunch at the El Tovar Hotel. While enjoying our lunch I could see the weather moving in out the window. After lunch I hiked the rim trail, but the further I hiked the deeper the snow got. So I took a few more photos of the canyon as it disappeared and hiked back to the hotel.

On the train ride back to Williams a bunch of desperados held up the train and demanded money. They left with a bunch of one dollar bills and the sheriff hot on their tails. I hope it was worth it. (20)

When Barbara was researching aquariums in the Phoenix area she discovered that at the Odysea Aquarium you can dive and interact with stingrays, a Tiger shark, a Leopard shark, a Moray eel and other sea life. When she told me about this I thought this is something I need to try. This was an amazing experience. You put on a wet suit and they place a helmet on your head so that you can breath underwater. The helmet weighs 72 pounds and rests on your shoulders, so when they first place it on you it feels real heavy. This and the cold water you climb into are a little unnerving; however, once you get to the bottom of the ladder the buoyancy of the helmet in the water makes walking in the water very comfortable. In fact several times during my underwater adventure, as I was walking, I was so buoyant that my feet weren’t touching the ground. I had a wonderful time and was grinning from ear to ear the entire time. Below are several photos from my underwater adventure. (25)

Recently, Barbara had to fly back to Texas to attend the funeral of a dear family member. While there Barbara, her son and daughter went to an aquarium to kill time before the flight home. From what I gathered they really enjoyed the aquarium so the next day, when we arrived in Apache Junction, near Phoenix, Barbara looked to see if there was an aquarium in the area that the two of us could visit. As it turned out there is what is called the Boardwalk in Scottsdale and it has an aquarium called the Odysea Aquarium. So last Friday Barbara and I went to visit our underwater friends. It always amazes me how colorful our aquatic friends are. This is a wonderful aquarium. So if you’re ever in the Phoenix area be sure to visit the Odysea Aquarium in Scottsdale. (31)

On Thursday Barbara and I visited the west side of Saguaro National Park (NP). The west sides cactus forest has significantly more cactus than the east side. In addition, the west side contains some Indian Petroglyphs. Take a look! (12)