Arizona, Lake Havasu City. April 22 - 28

We are at the Lake Havasu RV Park in Lake Havasu City, AZ with our friends Dick and Bonnie Kotrba.  They brought their pontoon boat so we could enjoy the Colorado River and Lake Havasu.  This week was a very busy and fun time with Dick and Bonnie.  The weather was really good, in the 90's - 100's.

Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Captain Dick taking us on a ride south on Lake Havasu. 

The water was so blue and clean.

Kay enjoying the ride.  She said she could live like this.  

There were several light houses along the shore.  I really don't understand why, but they looked nice.

Bonnie spotted the Long Horn Sheep on a hill.  We have seen a lot of wildlife in our travels on the water, but never sheep.

As we were watching they came down to the lake's edge for water.  We took lots of pictures of them drinking and climbing back up the hill.

What an amazing experience.

Another one of the light houses along the shore.

London Bridge.  At the end of this blog, is the story of the bridge and how it got here from England.

Bonnie and Rascal 

One of the many colorful boats parked in the channel.

Dick let me drive.

Bill Williams River Wildlife Refuge
The following pictures are of our kayaking adventure on the Bill Williams River.  It is located about 30 miles south of  Lake Havasu City.  The serene Bill Williams River runs right through the heart of a refuge, creating a kayaker's paradise.  A kayak launch ramp, just west of the river delta, makes it convenient and easy to enjoy the natural vegetation and habitat.  As the gentle river pulls you through, take notice of the majestic mountain tops and the riparian forest river valley, with its beautiful wildlife and green marshes.

Bonnie enjoying the great weather

Dick and Rascal

Rascal on the lookout for wildlife

Zoe at her usual position at the head of the kayak.

I built this platform for the dogs to ride on.  It has a rug glued to the board so it is not so slippery for them.

Bonnie and Rascal

A view up the river.

Some of the wildlife

The annual boat show in Lake Havasu City

Much to our surprise, we happened to be here on the weekend of a great boat show.  They blocked off one of the streets so all the boat owners could display their boats.  Talk about some very beautiful and expensive boats, this was the place to see them.  Even the trucks they used to pull them with were out of this world.  I would have liked to take a lot more pictures, but I tried to limit myself.  Darn

This little truck would cost you about $175K

I put this on on because of the frog.

How about the colors on this one.

It had two 1350 HP motors in it.

It took two people to run this one.  One to drive, and the other to take care of the motors.

Dick thinking about buying this one.  $350K

What can I say about this one.  Only two people can ride it it.

This one was my favorite one. It had two 1675 HP inboard motors.  It has a speed of over 200 mph.  The owner said he would sell this one for $550K.  Should I get one?

Here it is on the river.  What a awesome sound the twin motors made.

We stopped at a restaurant along the channel for dinner.  They had some of the best shrimp cocktails I have ever eaten.

Was a good meal and very good friends.

The next day, we went down to the channel to watch the parade of boats go under the London Bridge.

These are some of the boats parked along the channel to see all the boats pass by.

There were many good looking boats.

This one was very interesting.

Dick and Marty enjoying the boat show

This one was trying to set a speed record

The four of us enjoyed a good meal at the Black Bear Dinner.  Bonnie and the bear.

Kay and the bear.

Saturday night at the Havasu 95 Speedway

We went to the Havasu 95 speedway to see the cars run.

This is a line up of the cars before the races started

The gang

This is the first car that I picked to come in first.  That is the only one I got right.

I picked this one to win, until it crashed into the wall.  That is water that is on the track.

Our pontoon boat adventure up the Colorado River North.

Bonnie and Rascal relaxing.  We brought the dogs along on this adventure.

Kay and Maxwell

A view of the Colorado River north of Havasu City

Max and Zoe are enjoying the ride.  They spent a lot of time just looking at the water.

This is not a bad way to spend the day.

This is the Interstate I-40 bridge.  we went under it and up the river about another mile.  

Marty and Maxwell driving, to give Dick a break.

Dick taking a rest from driving the boat.  Kay and I sure do appreciate Dick and Bonnie bringing their pontoon for us all to enjoy.  The four of us had two great days on the river.

London Bridge in Lake Havasu, Arizona

It seems an unlikely destination for an old world relic, but the official London Bridge, built in 1831, is indeed, the very same bridge that now resides in Lake Havasu, Arizona. Cited by the Guinness World Book of Records as the world’s largest antique, the famed stone bridge is an important Arizona landmark today. Though it once graced the mighty Thames River, London Bridge has retired to a resort community where it stretches regally over a channel of Lake Havasu.

How Did London Bridge Wind Up in Arizona?

After World War II, traffic on the bridge began to dramatically increase. By 1962, it was evident that the bridge was crumbling into the Thames and was unable to handle the traffic flow over the river. With the London government in financial straits, it needed someone willing to buy the crumbling heirloom and remove it for them. Luckily, the right person came along. Oil man Robert McCulloch, the Chairman of McCulloch Oil Corporation and the founder of Lake Havasu City, Arizona purchased London Bridge for $2,460,000 and paid an additional seven million dollars to have the bridge dismantled, shipped to American and reconstructed in its current location.

The dismantling process was long and tedious; each stone had to be numbered in order to be properly replaced in Arizona. Also, McCulloch strategically had the bridge declared and antique in order to save on taxes for such a monumental purchase. The bridge’s parts were initially shipped to Long Beach, California and then sent on to Lake Havasu. The bridge was finally opened on October 10, 1971 to great enthusiasm.

London Bridge History

Built in 1831, this version of London Bridge is the official structure. However, the Thames saw many versions of the bridge precede it. The first London Bridge was Roman-made in 43 AD. Subsequent bridges were destroyed by invaders or fire. The 1831 model actually featured bridge lamps that were made from the melted down cannons of Napoleon’s army, so it has considerable historical appeal. The granite bridge graced the ancient Thames for more than a century and was a beloved London landmark.

London Bridge Today

London Bridge currently sits across a boating channel off Lake Havasu. It is a major tourist attraction as one might expect. The bridge is 950 feet long and weights more than thirty tons. As a fitting backdrop for the bridge, the town put up a mini Tudor village complete with many Tudor-style structures that house various shops. As a popular resort town, there is much to see and do in Lake Havasu, but no visitor should miss a chance to drive or take a stroll across the famed London Bridge. For more information also see Lake Havasu London Bridge.