Background.
Last season while Dennis and Cheryl were walking through the Big Tent RV show in Quartzsite, they came upon some coupons for: three nights and a couple of buffet meals at the Riverside Hotel Casino for a good price. She picked up a bunch of the coupons so she had enough for the whole group.
There is some good jeeping around the area so the group comes up here every couple of years for a few days. This was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up.
Getting on the Road.
We met at the fire station on the north end of town. The sky was cloudy and there was a chilly wind blowing out of the north.
There were seven jeeps this time.
By 8:30 we were ready to go.
On the Road.
We headed north on AZ 95 and drove through Parker going toward Lake Havasu City.
We stopped at this gas station with a big rooster on the top and a sign that advertises five star restrooms.
One thing about jeeping with other seniors you stop for a lot of potty breaks.
We topped off the gas tanks, bought snacks and coffee and used the restrooms, of course.
Once we were all back in the jeeps we were off again heading up 95.
Closed Area.
We had hoped that we could find some trails on the west side of highway 95 heading through the rocky hills to the shore of
Lake Havasu.
We turned off at a large ATV staging area on the west side of the highway but couldn’t find any trails going west out of there.
What we did find, was a sigh saying that the area was closed to vehicles. Apparently it is closed all the way to Havasu City.
Oh well, it was worth a try.
Byson Falls.
Dennis M, who planned this expedition, included a trail from our Arizona Back Roads book that we haven’t been on yet called Byson Falls.
The trail start’s in a neighborhood on the east side of the Lake Havasu City. You drive east on a good gravel road.
The trail goes through some rolling land with some great looking mountains in the background.
The trail chokes down and follows a wash for while.
Pretty soon it opens up and you are at Bison Falls.
The guys behind the rock wall are digging out dirt and gravel that has accumulated over the last 15 years. The rock wall is a catchment to hold water for wildlife.
There is a trail that goes around the left side of the falls so we took it.
The trail goes up a steep grade with some rocks…
and over a steep ridge. . .
with a steep roll down the other side. Here there is room to turn around.
Now we are on top of Bison Falls.
You can see the two guys digging out the sand and gravel.
Heading Back to the Highway.
We left Bison Falls and did some exploring on the way back to where we came in.
We stopped near an old mine site and had lunch. The wind was still blowing so we didn’t sit around very long.
After lunch we continued exploring. At first we were in a narrow wash.
Eventually we came out of the wash…
and onto some rolling hills with views of the Lake.
Splitting up.
The rest of the group were going to Oatman, Arizona on old highway 66. Oatman is an old mining town that has been turned into a tourist trap. Their claim to fame are the “wild” burros that wonder around the town begging for carrots.
And oh yeah, they also have a simulated gun fight twice a day.
We have already been there a couple of times. Also Patti’s camera was acting up so we decided to stop at Walmart in Lake Havasu City to see if they might have something.
We split up with the group and met them later at the Riverside Casino.
We stopped at two Walmart’s and didn’t find anything we liked.
We got to the Riverside at the same time as the rest of the group and lined up with them to check in.
Dinner and Gambling.
Patti and I had dinner at the Casa Serrano Mexican Restaurant in the Riverside. I had the Mexican Flag ( one chicken enchilada, one pork enchilada, And one machaka). They were pretty good. Patti didn’t care for her Chicken Fajitas. They didn’t have much flavor and was more bell peppers and onions that chicken.
After dinner I came back to the room to work on yesterdays blog.
Patti played Black jack and came out ahead by a few bucks.
Okay that was our ride to Laughlin, Nevada.
Tomorrow we are going to do the Chloride Loop.
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