Partying at the Porters' Project and Party Place, Lake Havasu City, Arizona

It's great to have such wonderful friends down here in the southwest. We join two other RV couples at the Porters' Party Place for the American Thanksgiving. There is a lot of eating and drinking, a bit of swimming (temps are a bit cool even though the pool is heated) and much hot tubbing.

Brad working hard Paul and Sue built a house in Lake Havasu City two summers ago, leaving a life of full-time RVing for a part-time home, part-time RV lifestyle. Fortunately for their friends (including us - YAY!) they added 3 spaces with RV hookups outside their beautiful new home, and they love having visitors. Especially since a visit is the perfect time to get some help with heavy work, like planting a 6-foot palm tree. Brad, Tom and Dave help Paul plant two trees this week. Brad also takes the opportunity to fix a crack in the outer shell of our trailer (with a lot of advice from everyone) and replace our truck's driver's side mirror which broke requiring an electronic part.

Hiking Lizard Peak

Sue takes Brad and me up Lizard Peak, about a 2-3 mile steep hike. At the top is this picnic table which was carried up the difficult trail we just climbed. That's determination! This view looks down the Colorado River, south towards the Parker Dam.

This view looks north towards Lake Havasu City.

The Boat Parade

Christmas is less than one month away, the lights are being hung all over town, and we attend the annual Boat Parade at the canal. This cute little tug also has fake smoke puffing out of its stack and takes a spin (literally) every once in a while.

Probably the most lights on one boat.

Santa and his sleigh. Ho Ho Ho!

Hiking SARA's Crack

Every year when we are in town (sometimes for the fireworks in February, last year for Christmas at the Porters') we have wanted to hike SARA's Crack, but it's been too hot or we've been too busy. This year, we finally do it. The Crack is a short slot canyon with a bit of rock scrambling required.

This is the biggest drop, and a rope is provided. I do great at first, until my heel steps on the rope and I go off balance and smash my elbow into the wall to my right. I'm not really hurt, and we all have a good laugh.

Sue shows us the slide method.

Paul show us all how to do it right!

The 2.5-mile trail leads down to Lake Havasu in a pretty little cove where we sit and have lunch with the ducks and coots (not just the 3 old coots we walked down with LOL!) before making the 2.5-mile trek back. So glad we finally get to do this cool hike.

A Christmas Lights Walk in the English Village of Lake Havasu City

Paul, Sue, Brad and I walk along the canal at the London Bridge to see the Christmas lights. This is the English Village lit up like Clark Griswold's house! Have you ever seen so many lights?

Paul, Brad and Sue with the London Bridge in the background. It is a beautiful, warm evening with no wind.

Porter's Party Place, Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Our friends, Paul and Sue Porter, spent the summer in hot, hot, hot (120+F or 50C) Lake Havasu City (LHC) building a house. They are "full-timers" (live 12 months/year in an RV traveling) now coming off the road for a few months of the year to enjoy boating, a beautiful home and to offer their friends full RV hookups in their massive yard. As we leave St. George, Utah with snow predicted, we expect to spend 2 or 3 days with the Porters on our way to warmer southern Arizona. Then they invite us for Christmas, and we end up staying just over 2 weeks!

Porters' Party Place

Sue taking the first plunge! The pool has just been filled and Sue is anxious to test it out; after all, she had designed this pool to her own specifications - the baja shelf, the swim-up bar and the hot tub. She is in and out pretty quickly on this maiden swim. I think the water temperature is barely 70F and the air maybe 60F!

Our rig outside the Porters' house in Lake Havasu City There are two full RV hookups on this side of the house, and when we first arrive we are at the front of the house because Paul and Sue's rig is hogging precious Site #1. Well, okay, it IS their house!

In coveted Site #1 After the first week, Paul has time to move their rig and we move into the back, with a beautiful view of the pool and Christmas lights. This is not the full Christmas moon, but just a couple of days before; still big and bright!

Iron Door Mine Hike

Overlooking LHC.  Mountains across the valley are in California During our first week, we feel the need to stretch our legs. While the Porters are busy with sub-contractors and finishing jobs on the house, Brad and I explore one of the trails in the mountains above Lake Havasu City, the Iron Door Mine. A 4-mile hike up a road too rough for us to drive leads to an old mine that can be entered due to its solid rock walls and ceiling. No interesting pictures of that, but here's a view of the city and Lake Havasu which is a dammed section of the Colorado River.

Good thing you carry a spare! As we make our way down the foot path from the mine to the 4x4 road, we meet a young man and his friendly dog Eva. He offers to give us a ride back down to our truck (2 miles away) in his "rock crawler", a jacked-up Toyota 4Runner. He's driven these roads all his life, having grown up here in LHC, and it's apparent by the speed he drives. Suddenly BAM! His front tire hits a large rock (and there are MANY on the road), but does he stop? Nope, he picks up speed. Have to get to flat ground closer to the paved road before the tire goes completely flat! Scariest ride of my life - so far. I'm not sure if I'm hanging on to the dog for my sake or hers. But we make it back safely to the top of the 20-foot dryfall, and he's quick to change the flat like this has happened before (it has). Always an exciting adventure.

London Bridge Lights

London Bridge in Lake Havasu City On a calmer excursion, Brad and I walk along the channel to the London Bridge to see the Christmas lights. I have photographed the London Bridge for previous blogs (Feb 2015 and Feb 2014), but these are the first at night and with decorations. It is a beautiful night, and many people are out.

Three sailboats with their masts fully lit.

The Resort and shops lit up like a roman candle. I don't think I've ever seen that many lights on a building before.

Christmas with Friends

Nancy, Dave, Julie, Mike, Sue, Paul, Dozer, me and Brad I must admit, I do miss being with my family at Christmas. Usually, we are in California with my uncle, but sadly he passed away this past year. So we find ourselves with no plans when Sue suggests we stay for Christmas with them and 2 other couples whom we know from our RV gatherings (almost) annually in Quartzsite. What better way to spend the holidays. I will need several weeks to recuperate from the constant eating and laughing.

Could Christmas Eve get any better than this? The group of us (minus photographer Sue) in the hot tub on Christmas Eve: me (front and centre), Dave, Nancy, Brad, Paul, Mike and Julie. The day was actually warm and winds calm enough so, with the pool heated to about 80F, the swim preceding the hot tubbing is extremely comfortable.

Finally, with some persuasion, the guitars come out. Dave and Mike put on a fabulous concert for us after Christmas dinner.

They do not practice beforehand. Dave plays a melody and Mike follows with the chords. The result is we are witnessing a creation. Such talent.

What?!! Sue plays the guitar too? Who knew? Well, she says she hasn't played in many years, but it sounds great to us.

And Brad too? Is there anyone here who doesn't play the guitar? Oh, right - the rest of us. We have such a great time with this group, and look forward to seeing them again in a couple of weeks at the annual gathering in Quartzsite. Thank you, Porters, for the Christmas invitation and hospitality.

Lake Havasu and the Western Winter Blast Pyrotechnics Show, AZ

Each year, Lake Havasu City hosts a four-day pyrotechnics show where fireworks companies showcase their latest and greatest products. We join many of our RV friends for the event and other fun on Lake Havasu.

Boating on Lake Havasu

A heron in the shallows at the north end of the lake. The city is visible in the background.

Captain, I'm pretty sure the rental company warned us about this sandbar. Many areas of the Colorado River have shallow sandbars of which boaters have to beware. Luckily, no damage is done.

We rent two boats for the twelve of us. Here's our sister crew with the sand dunes and Arizona mountains in the background.

Inside Topock Gorge, surrounded by dark red volcanic rock.

The whole gang beached along the river in Topock Gorge. Crazy Sue and Julie actually go for a swim in the 50-60 degree water! The rest of us freeze our ankles off just getting in and out of the boats.

Chugging through the Bridgewater Channel with a view of London Bridge. In 1968, the bridge was purchased from London, England and moved here stone by stone. Read the history and some fun facts about the bridge.

The fireworks

There are hundreds of RVs camped out at the SARA Park where the fireworks are displayed. It's great not having to fight traffic after the show, and instead enjoy a campfire with friends.

Many of the fireworks are different from those we usually see on Victoria Day or Canada Day (or for our American friends on the 4th of July). I admit, I quit taking pictures early and just watched the show.

A day at the beach

Brad at London Bridge from the west side of the channel.

The view up-channel while crossing London Bridge. Note there are already many boats parked along the edge with everyone simply enjoying the sun and sand. Pathways line both sides of the channel for those who prefer walking to boating.

Everyone is here from the snowbirds to locals with their kids and dogs. By March, I suspect it will be difficult to find a parking space along this channel as Lake Havasu City is a very popular March Break destination.

Lake Havasu, AZ

	These signs are everywhere, and it's true. What a paradise. Like an oasis, the reservoir that is Lake Havasu creates a welcoming atmosphere in this arid desert land. The city is full of snowbirds and vacationers who come for the boating and warm weather. The lake is thanks to the Parker Dam about 30 miles downstream on the Colorado River.
	This is London Bridge - for real. Purchased from London, England in 1968 by the city's founder for $2.5 million, it was dismantled, shipped to California, trucked to Arizona and reassembled across the channel.
	At the end of the channel that separates the city from the island in the middle of the lake, palm trees and sand remind us of Florida beaches. Brad and I have the opportunity one evening to play beach volleyball with a group of locals, most in their 20s, but a few our age. Great fun!
	One big reason for coming to Lake Havasu City is the fireworks convention. Fireworks companies show what they can produce in hopes of getting new business. A lot of the fireworks are experimental. We regroup with our "Quartszite friends" for quesadillas, margueritas and an evening show! Over one hour of spectacular pyrotechnics. What a blast! (Hard to choose one photo from the 200 we shot.)