Quartzsite, Phoenix International Raceway

Feb 22    Buckskin Mountain State Park - Quartzsite     51 miles      1 hr 15 min

Pulled into Quartzsite and took our time finding a boondocking site on Dome Rock Road, this is all BLM land. Boondocking or dry camping refers to staying in an RV in a remote location without being hooked up to water, power, or sewer.

BLM stands for Bureau of Land Management, the agency that controls millions of acres of federally owned public land throughout the Southwest. Use of BLM land is free of charge. We should take more advantage of BLM land to boondock but Joe and I don't feel it's totally safe.

Quartzsite is a little different. It's one big flea market area after another. Stalls to sell everything and anything are all under tents with many attached to RVs. Every year in January and February, the population of this town swells from just 1,900 people to an estimated 75,000. In those two months, more than 1.2 million RVers pass through Quartzsite. There's an annual RV show and many come for the largest gem and mineral shows on the continent.

After we picked our camping spot, we went to see the vendors down the road. Yes, it's one big flea market and they sell everything.

The wind really kicked up tonight. Had to pull in the slides because we didn't want the awning ripped with all the wind.

Got pretty rocks here

Feb 23    Quartzsite - Phoenix International Raceway    

We arrived at the Phonix International Raceway in Goodyear and got our camping spot for the next four nights. This is the reason for coming to Arizona. The Good Sam RV Super Show. Lots of RV's to see along with vendors selling all kinds of RV stuff and lots of exhibits. Also got different seminars where you can learn different things. Plenty people here and lots to see.

Dry camping for the next 4 days filling up fast

Feb 24

Spent the whole day at the RV show. We both went to different seminars and picked up some tips. Little disappointed with the seminars because the two rooms they use are not big enough to accommodate all the people that are interested in attending. We looked at a lot of RVs. Wish we had money to upgrade to a nice rig......

Got to watch people practicing on the track

Feb 25

Spent the morning at the RV show then in the afternoon we went to a baseball game. It was the opening day game for spring training at Goodyear Park. This park is the home field for the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians. So for opening day, they played each other. We left about the 7th inning but the Indians were up 4-2.

Tonight we went to a concert at the rally. Was an oldies band and was fun to see all the old futs get up and start dancing. There was a fireworks show after the concert to end the night. 

Feb 26

Last day for this RV show. I signed up for a motor home driving lesson. I got to drive a motorhome and had an awesome instructor. Ralph Miller works at Camping World in Chattanooga, Tennessee and said if we're ever in that area, we can camp for free at their campground and I can sign up for more free lessons if I wanted to. Normally, I don't do much driving. Joe likes to drive and I don't think he trust me anyway!!

We also bought a membership for FMCA (Family Motor Coach Association). We were thinking about joining for awhile now, since they were at the show, we just signed up. We found out FMCA is having their rally near here next week. We might still be in the area and might go.

This is the last night camping here at Phoenix International Raceway. We'll be heading out to Usery Mountain Regional Park in the morning.

Last sunset here

Everyone clearing out

Lake Havasu, Parker

Feb 20    Laughlin, NV - Lake Havasu, AZ     61 miles     1 hr 30 mins

We drove to Lake Havasu this morning. Parked at Walmart and took the car to the visitors center. This is where the London Bridge is located. The London Bridge is one of Arizona's biggest visitors attractions.

It was designed in 1799 and opened in 1831, spanning the River Thames in London, England. By 1924, it was evident that the bridge was sinking, as it had not been designed to withstand the impact of 20th century automotive traffic. In 1967, the City of London placed the bridge up for sale.

On April 18, 1968, the winning bid went to Lake Havasu City. Each block was meticulously numbered before the bridge was disassembled. The blocks were then shipped overseas to California and trucked to Lake Havasu City, where the bridge was reconstructed and rededicated on October 10, 1971.

Next stop was the Lake Havasu Lighthouses. Located over 200 miles from the nearest ocean, Lake Havasu City is home to 24 lighthouses. Each lighthouse is an actual navigational beacon for boaters on Lake Havasu and meets all US Coast Guard requirements. All but one lighthouse are 1/3 scale replicas of actual US lighthouses.

Lake Havasu - Buckskin Mountain State Park         34 miles       1 hr

Continued on to Parker, Arizona and checked in at Buckskin Mountain State Park for 2 nights, $35.00 per night. Very nice here, right on the Colorado River. On this side of the river, we're in Arizona. Across the river, they're in California.

We did some hiking this morning, all over Buckskin Mountain. Started out on Lightening Bolt Trail, across the bridge to Buckskin Trail, then out to The Mine. The whole thing took us about 3 hours. Lots of stops to enjoy the scenery and rest.

Across the river is California

This afternoon at camp, there was an ice cream social. You bring your own cup and spoon and donate $1. Well, we went with our paper cups and spoons and donated $5. Thought they would at least pack our cup with ice cream with our generous donation. They barely filled our cups! Next time, I'm just giving $1.

Laughlin

Feb 15    Las Vegas - Laughlin      85 miles     1 hr 45 minutes

We checked out of Orleans this morning, picked up the car and RV and was supposed to spend the next few days at Main Street Station RV Park, getting everything ready for our road trip.

We decided that there was no reason to hang out in Vegas because we were ready to go. We did some food shopping at Costco and Walmart then hit the road.

We checked in at the Riverside Casino RV Park for 4 nights ($27 per night). Lucky Joe called to make reservations, this is a very busy park with all the snowbirds.

Our site for the next 4 days

Tonight as I was unpacking and putting everything away, I couldn't find my jade bracelets. Turned everything upside down, inside out and just couldn't find them. Realized I must have left them at Orleans. So bummed and so mad at myself....these bracelets are from my mom and I treasure them. If I could kick myself in the ass I would.

Feb 16

Had a very hard time sleeping last night. So mad at myself about the bracelets. I called Orleans this morning and spoke to Security Lost & Found. They had my bracelets...I couldn't believe it. I'm so, so happy! We drove back to Las Vegas today to pick them up.

Lunch was at 808 HMP (Hawaiian Mixed Plate) on Craig Road. Very good local food here. Joe had hamburger steak and I had the seared ahi salad....so yummy! Then we went to Poke Express, located in the same strip mall. Got some poke and other goodies for us and Greg, Joe's retired police friend. They worked together in Wahiawa. Greg lives in Bullhead City, AZ which is right across the river from Laughlin, NV. This is the Colorado River, one side is Nevada and the other Arizona. Greg was really happy with the poke and spam musubi.





Feb 17

Today we drove to Oatman. The Arizona town of Oatman was born in 1906 as a tent camp, flourished as a gold mining center, then was stricken a near fatal blow in 1942 when Congress declared that gold mining was no longer essential to the war effort. Oatman is located on historic U.S. Route 66, the trail of the people who migrated in their Model T's from the midwest in the 1930's. It is the last stop in Arizona before entering the dreaded Mojave Desert in Southern California.

Joe in a coffin

Oatman takes pride in keeping its town as authentic as possible, giving visitors a look back into history, showing the wild west as it really was.

Burros all over the place

We met Greg for dinner at The Prime Rib Room located in the Riverside Casino. Excellent place to eat for a very reasonable price, $16.99 per person. You start with all you can eat salad and potato bar. Prime rib is carved right at your table. Very, very good. Then you finish with all you can eat dessert. The view is great, overlooking the Colorado River. We will definitely eat here everytime we come to Laughlin.












Feb 18

There's a storm passing through Southern Nevada. Laughlin is very wet and windy today. We're supposed to be driving to Lake Havasu tomorrow but we'll decide in the morning. If it doesn't clear up we're spending one more day here.

Very gloomy day

Feb 19

We woke up to another dark and gloomy day so decided to stay one more night in Laughlin. Took care of some laundry, kind of expensive here $2.50 wash and $2.00 dry. We went for a walk and ended up at the Aquarius Casino and was just in time for the Sunday Champagne Brunch. $56.00 for both of us but excellent brunch. Prime rib, crab, sushi, champagne, the whole works and the desserts was so ono, very good selection. We even had a couple of strawberry marguiritas...so yummy!

Sushi and champagne

Crab legs was so ono

Carrot cake and red velvet cupcake

After that big feast, we took a walk along the river.

Here We Go Again...........

These 2 make us smile

We begin another RV journey. It's been 10 months since our last trip. We normally travel during the Fall season but missed last year because there was an addition to our family. Joshua and Casey welcomed baby Jade Marie last August. We love being grandparents and are so fortunate we have JJ and Jade. They are so much fun. We'll miss them during our 3 months away but we love our RV adventures...this time we're exploring Arizona and New Mexico.

Las Vegas

Feb 13   Our friend Winky picked us up this morning at the airport and drove us to our storage in Henderson.  The Kia started up right away but the RV was dead. We had to replace 3 batteries. Lucky Winky was with us, he drove Joe around to find the batteries and helped install them.

Very busy day for us. After Winky left, we had to get a smog check for the Kia, pay the registration that expired last August (big penalty), and find a car wash for our dusty car.

We checked in at Orleans, we got 2 nights comp. Then met Winky and Leslie for dinner at Vino's at the Cannery. The Italian food is excellent here. We don't even go to Olive Garden anymore.

Feb 14   Back to the storage today to get the RV and car ready to go.

 We gassed up at Costco, $2.29 a gallon, can't beat that price! We filled water in the RV and found a problem with the water filter. Off to Camping World to buy new filters. This is just part of owning an RV, things always need fixing.

Lunch was at In-n-Out, I know it's Valentine's Day but this is where we wanted to eat...so ono! For dinner, we went to the buffet at Orleans. Was good, the best thing was the gelato for dessert.