What a Deal

A couple of months ago, we received an invitation in the mail to spend three free nights at Emerald Cove RV Resort in California, across the Colorado River from Parker, Arizona.  Although we've gotten these invitations before, this one came with a couple of added hooks - $200 in gas and a tablet. Since we were planning on heading west anyway, we thought we'd take them up on their offer.

The experience reminded us why we don't like RV parks - the crowded parking, the noise (kids screaming and loud music), and the smells (neighbors smoking, lighter fluid).  In this case, the boats added to both the noise and fumes.  Yes, we really are old fogies.  Even the girl who tried to sell us our membership, knew we weren't going to buy.  She admitted this place is for people who like boats, dirt (ATVs), and drinking.  But we really could see benefits for RVers who stay in parks as the membership included the nine CRA (Colorado River Adventure) parks, plus all the Coast to Coast parks.  Plus lots of other travel benefits which I won't get into.

Just imagine if you had a boat and snagged one of the sties right on the river.

As expected, the tablet is an inexpensive one which I don't know if we'll use much and the $200 in gas is a rebate with lots of restrictions, but we're going to jump through the hoops for that.

While there, we took a day trip to Lake Havasu City, certainly a prime example of  'if you build it, they will come.'  It's now a thriving city of more than 50,000 people.

In 1963, Robert McCulloch flew over this spot in the desert and thought it looked like a promising spot for a city. Along with developer C.V. Wood, he flew in people from colder climates trying to interest them in the area.  Ron actually remembers receiving some sales literature on it.

Well, I guess things weren't going as well as expected and McCulloch decided he needed a 'hook.'  In 1968, he purchased the London Bridge for $2,460,000, had it dismantled, sent to Lake Havasu, and reassembled for an additional $4,500,000.  Wow!

He dug a channel to pass under the bridge, creating an island in the lake.  This is now very popular with spring breakers.

And the bridge is popular with swallows.  The stones were numbered during the dismantling process.

And stores and rental shops were built near the bridge with tudor fronts for a 'British' feel.

There's even a cute English phone booth for photo ops.  (no phone, though)

I really like the vintage lights on the bridge which were made from melted-down canons of Napoleon's army.

But what really caught our attention was this girl who was flyboarding.  If you haven't seen this before, I'm sure you'll be as fascinated as we were.