After retiring and purchasing a van that I converted to a small mobile home, I began traveling and exploring the western part of our great nation. Of all the beauty in our western states, Arizona won me over almost immediately and I fell in love with the state.
Arizona sunset..
As a result, Arizona is my winter destination every year. There I meet and mingle with other like-minded folks, most of whom are escaping the harsh winters of the north.
A commemoration to the Legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine in Arizona..
One of my favorite places in Arizona is Lake Havasu City. I tend to spend more time there than other areas of the state. I’m a “boondocker” which means I rarely camp in RV Parks and Lake Havasu City has all that I need in terms of stores and other retail outlets for food and other camping supplies. There are thousands of acres of BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Land around Lake Havasu City that is free for our recreational use. **
Lake Havasu City is a beautifully planned city on the banks of the Colorado River, just a few miles south of Interstate 40.
Lake Havasu today..
The city was founded by Robert McCulloch of The McCulloch Chain Saw Company in the early 1960’s. In 1971, McCulloch purchased the London Bridge; the original “London Bridge” that had spanned the Thames River in London, from the city of London, England. He had each stone numbered as it was dismantled so it could be reassembled exactly as it had been while spanning the Thames. The bridge was then transported via ship to the USA and then trucked overland to Lake Havasu. The bridge was then re-assembled exactly as it was when it was built across the Thames in the early 1800’s.
London Bridge in the reassembling process at Lake Havasu..
London Bridge now is not only a draw for thousands of tourists to Lake Havasu, but also provides a means for thousands to cross Lake Havasu daily.
Keep in mind that the London Bridge was reassembled in a desert, not over any body of water. Once reassembled, water channels from Lake Havasu and the Colorado River were dug under the bridge creating what is now an island in that part of the city. This is a beautiful bridge that can be driven or walked over. There are numerous pubs, restaurants, and shops adjacent to the bridge.
London Bridge at night over Lake Havasu..
At night, multicolored flood lights, combined with reflections off the water make for a beautiful sight. At Christmas time each year the area around London Bridge becomes magical as locals and tourists are treated to a beautiful parade of boats of all sizes and shapes and adorned with colorful lights move along the waterway.
This link: https://fb.watch/cR5HSVMoqy/ shows some of the history of London Bridge in Lake Havasu City and provides information for the upcoming London Bridge Days Music Festival scheduled for October 21-22, 2022, celebrating over 50 years since the bridge’s arrival at Lake Havasu.
** Did you know that there are approximately 640 million acres of public lands in the United States? That equates to approximately 28% of the country is Federally owned land and most of that is available for us to use free for camping and other recreational activities.
Until next time, enjoy the pleasure of getting lost.
