Monday, December 15, 2014

The Pineapple Express

 

Does anyone doubt the power of the Moisture Man?

Does anyone think it is just a coincidence?

Thursday afternoon I briefly strayed into Southern California while following the Colorado River north from Parker to Bullhead City in AZ. Just for 20 miles.

California Sign

I passed this fact along to Brother Mike. He responded with a text message containing a pic from his computer..

Storm Warning

By early Friday morning the consequences of my intrusion would be felt all over SoCal.

My friend Danny sent me a pic of a flooded street on Friday.

Danny Storm Pic

Hey, he never claimed to be a photographer but I think you get the point.

I am the Moisture Man!

OK, enough of that. I will be back in SoCal around Christmas. You locals have been warned.

After leaving the Roosevelt Lake area in AZ I drove through the Superstition Mountains to McDowell Mountain Regional Park near Fountain Hills.

McDowell Mountain Sign

There are 76 sites available and I parked in number 5 as the sun went to bed.

McDowell Campsite

McDowell Sunset

This park is known for excellent hiking and biking with miles of trails. The sites are mostly open and you can pick a spot to face the sunrise or sunset.

I walked the campground the next morning before leaving. Some of my favorites were 6, 52, 54, 58, and 76.

McDowell Mountain_006

McDowell Mountain_052

McDowell Mountain_054

McDowell Mountain_058

McDowell Mountain_076

Just be aware that a 60 foot python is known to frequent the area.

McDowell Mountain Playground

I skirted around the north side of Phoenix to another Maricopa County Regional Park called Lake Pleasant.

Lake Pleasant Sign

Lake Pleasant Visitor Center

For some reason cactus always strike me as comic characters, with their arms upheld in a “What? What did I do?” pose.

The lake was pleasant if a little low.

Lake Pleasant

The sunrise was spectacular.

Lake Pleasant Sunrise

Lake Pleasant Campsite

Red skies at night, sailors delight. Red skies at morning, sailors take warning.

With that in mind I took a tour of the 151 campsites with an eye towards the sky.

About half the sites here have water and electric and cost $30, same as McDowell. The basic sites run $20 like mine, number 174.

If you want power and a nice view, go for 11, 13, 15,or 18.

Lake Pleasant_011

Lake Pleasant_013

Lake Pleasant_015

Lake Pleasant_018

49 and 119 were fine for the no-hookup crowd.

Lake Pleasant_049

Lake Pleasant_119

That poop in the lower left is from the wild burros that can scare your shorts off at night as they roam the campground. Trust me.

That old sailor saying held true as I headed west to the Colorado River.

Rain

The cactus were mocking me, but the rain did not last for long.

Road 1

Road 2

12 miles north of Parker, AZ you will find River Island State Park.

River Island Sign

At first I thought it said Free Area but I was wrong. My eyes are getting old, or maybe just hopeful.

I set up camp in site 3 and finished up the last of my chicken and cooked up a fresh batch of cow.

River Island_003

Last Chicken

New Tacos

I am an equal opportunity omnivore.

The park is set in a small cove off the river as I discovered the next morning. This is the beach.

River Island Beach

And a view of California across the water.

River Island View

There are only 37 sites here and in addition to mine and numbers 1 and 2, I liked 16 and 29.

River Island_016

River Island_029

29 mainly because it had a Honda Element.

If you have a tent, 30-37 are closest to the water and you pitch on grass.

River Island_030

All the campers I met here were very friendly but none more so than Walt and Beverly. They had a cool trailer and car.

Walt and Beverly

Travel on my friends!

A mile south is Buckskin Mountain State Park.

Buckskin Mountain Sign

The 68 sites set near the main body of the river.

Here is the beach and another look at California.

Buckskin Mountain Beach

Colorado River

They even offer a store and gas pumps inside the campground.

Buckskin Mountain Store

Every site has water and electric for $30, same as River Island.

I was taken with 9, 31, 58, and 66.

Buckskin Mountain_009

Buckskin Mountain_031

Buckskin Mountain_058

Buckskin Mountain_066

Cabanas are also available for $35 per night but they won’t handle any kind of rig over 15 feet. I think they are for tent campers.

Buckskin Mountain Cabanas

Not quite sure.

Anyway, I pulled out of River Island on Thursday and did a quick stop at Lake Havasu State Park.

Lake Havasu Sign

Two miles before you reach the park is this thing.

Bridge Sign

Bridge 1

Bridge 3

The park is being renovated and it looks quite dandy.

Of the 46 sites, 2, 3, 10, 34, and 38, were close to the water.

Lake Havasu_002

Lake Havasu_003

Lake Havasu_010

Lake Havasu_034

Lake Havasu_038

From there I drove 80 miles north (including my quick dip into SoCal) and entered the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Lake Mead NRA Sign

It includes areas surrounding Lake Mohave as well as Lake Mead.

I spent one night at Katherine Landing just north of Bullhead City.

Katherine Landing Sign

Days are so short in the winter that just after I parked the sun went down.

Katherine Landing Sunset

And I mean parked. Did not even unhook my trailer. Because Brother Mike happened. In a good way.

I will explain in a minute. First let’s look at the campground pics I took Friday morning.

There are 156 spots available in the NPS campground. Of those I was taken with 2, 8, 76, 83, 114, and 141.

Katherine Landing_002

Katherine Landing_008

Katherine Landing_076

Katherine Landing_083

Katherine Landing_114

Katherine Landing_141

These spots and all the rest in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area are $10 per night. There are also several concessionaires that run RV parks, but those are geared towards the seasonal visitor.

You will also find a marina, store and restaurant nearby.

Katherine Landing Marina

Katherine Landing Store and Restaurant

But lets get back to Brother Mike.

I left California on December 2nd, 2013. Been a while since I have seen any family members.

It turns out that Nephew Riley had a lacrosse tournament in Henderson Nevada just outside Las Vegas on Saturday and Sunday.

I could have been in Maine or Florida, but it just so happened I was right next door.

So I bounded north to Boulder Beach campground on Lake Mead Friday evening.

Boulder Beach Sign

I checked out the sunrise Saturday morning before driving 12 miles to Heritage Park.

Boulder Beach Sunrise 1

Getting old is just a state of mind. I still feel like I am 25 and physically, except for a few extra pounds, I haven’t changed much at 52.

I always thought of Riley as a youngster. The kid I shared a camera with back in 2004 so he could take pictures of Nephew Jake.

The Wood Family__0147

The Wood Family__0148

Not sure if those are long short pants or short long pants.

Time speeds up as you get older and suddenly Nephew Riley is 15 and will be able to drive next year. (Scary huh, Brother Mike?)

So indulge me briefly as I share some photos of my nephew.

Mike and Riley.

Lacrosse_001

And some action shots from Saturday and Sunday. He is number 21.

Lacrosse_002

Lacrosse_003

The ref is keeping a close eye on him.

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Lacrosse_005

Lacrosse_006

Look up! The ball is on top of the Stratosphere Tower!

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Now its on the turf.

Lacrosse_009

Lacrosse_010

Play well, long poler. Live long and prosper.

Merry Christmas to all from myself and the crew at campsitephotos.com.

Regards,

Greg

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