Thursday April 6th 2017

I continue to have a weak cell and internet signal here at the River Island State Park. This blog updated will be posted on Friday the 7th after I get to my next location.

It was hot on the banks of the Colorado River today. The temperature topped out around 95 degrees with very little breeze.

London Bridge over a channel in Lake Havasu viewed from the north

I drove about 25 miles north to visit the London Bridge and do some food shopping in Lake Havasu City. I’ve visited this area a couple of times before. The idea of moving an ordinary bridge with an iconic name from London England to the desert of Arizona continues to be a wild marketing idea. There is nothing special about the bridge other than the origin of the stone work. I drove across the bridge onto the island in the lake it connects to the mainland. Going across it you wouldn’t know it was anything special. Looking at it from the water side it is a stone arch bridge with a London England themed resort, tourist attraction and marina on the mainland side.

London Bridge

It is a nice shop and recreation area. The town around the bridge has really grown over the years. The hills are packed with homes and there are new housing developments and shops under construction. I don’t recall the area being as developed the first time I visited the area about fifteen years ago. I guess bringing the bridge to the desert had the desired impact of selling property and developing a community. It is just many years later than the original developer intended.

Desert tree in bloom

The grocery shopping I chose was at Walmart on the far north side of town. It was a fairly new and big store with the expected layout and products. There were other stores nearby including both types of home improvement stores and JC Penny. Closer to the center of town there were other food stores and discount stores. I’m taking the time to document these seemingly unimportant facts, because I am considering spending next December and January in this area.

There are several attractions in the area during December and January. The London Bridge area has a number of Christmas celebrations including a boat parade. In January a hot air balloon festival takes place. I think I’ve heard of other events, but without Internet I haven’t been able to do any research. The events are the upside. The downside is the temperature only averages in the fifties and sixties.

A view of one of the rock cliffs surrounding the River Island State Park.

Back at the campsite this afternoon I retreated to the air conditioned comfort of the RV until around five when the sun slipped behind the nearby cliffs. I walked over to the river bank and watched the jet skis, speed boats and pontoon boats dodge the kayakers. It really looked to be dangerous in the small craft. There is a park ranger patrol boat parked in the parking lot of the State Park. I think they could do a lot of business trying to heard boaters.

Tomorrow I move one hundred miles and three thousand feet in elevation. It should be cooler and hopefully I’ll have cell service and internet.