London Bridge

London Bridge is…

Well, it’s perfectly alright to be quite honest about it. The old London bride, or at least one of the incarnations of the London Bridge lives right here in Arizona.

Lake Havasu City Arizona is the site of the London bridge that was disassembled in London England, and moved stone-shipment by stone-shipment to the Arizona desert to span a bit of the dammed up Colorado River.

The Bridge seems to be the major touristy draw, but the desert "dry camping" was reason enough to stay.

It’s a kitschy little tourist area, to be sure, but the town (City) is a growing little community on the dam that is surrounded by some rather pleasant desert scenery. If you manage to visit the area before the heat of summer you’re likely to be surprised by the beauty that the desert offers as it blooms (Feb - ????).

There are two BLM “two week” camping areas on either the North or South side of Lake Havasu City on highway 95. The one to the South of the city eluded me completely, but the Craggy Wash area is right where I’d heard, just past mile marker 190 and the bridge over the wash, bordering the fences around the Lake Havasu City Airport, it is a collection of (semi) level RV sites that are perfectly fit for larger RV’s and fifth-wheels, the road goes back for a couple of miles. Turn right on the unmarked (pretty well maintained road) and go in half a mile to the host. There always seems to be someone on duty half a mile in, or a second host farther in, look for the “site host sign”. Two weeks dry camping, no charge.

Do some stuff.

If you’re up for a hike, there always seems to be hiking available. The colors available in the Spring time are grand, and sometimes you’ll see the herd of Bighorn Sheep (supposedly about 15 animals, though I never saw more than three at a time) grazing the hills around you.

I’ve taken several hikes straight up the sides of the hills and been surprise to find how much “here” is here that is just not visible from the BLM road on the “valley” floor.

If you’re energetic, you can fight the deep sand to bicycle the roads and trails back here. Results vary depending on your aggressiveness and expectations. Be careful of the off-road vehicles you’ll sometimes meet up here. Or, you can bike from here into town; right by Walmart is the “London Bridge Rd” that stretches all of the way from this periphery of town, to the center of Lake Havasu City (at least 5 miles downhill, just remember you’ll have to pedal back up at the end of your trip), where you have access to the library, main post office, or other town stuff.

Driving into town.

There are well maintained “Sun Water” stations in the middle of town to refill on filtered water for one dollar per five gallons. And there is supposed to be a dump station at Max's Mini Mart, though I didn’t use it.

More babbling about hills.

I just can’t say enough about the beauty of the blooms of life in Spring. The formerly brown desert hills turn green with every sort of living thing trying to capitalize on the short mild season. Lizards and hummingbirds, by the thousands, seem to be everywhere. The snakes aren’t yet out that I’ve seen. Temperatures are mild (sixties to low eighties during the day), and feeling somewhat chilly at night (but that’s why you bring your RV, right?).