A Christmas Getaway
It was a chilly 55 degrees when we arrived in Lake Havasu City. Add that to the fact that it was Christmas weekend and there were very few people out and about.
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| I had my camera on the wrong setting, hence the blur. |
In 1962, London Bridge was falling down. Built in 1831, the bridge couldn't handle the ever-increasing flow of traffic across the Thames River. The British government decided to put the bridge up for sale, and Robert McCulloch, Founder of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and Chairman of McCulloch Oil Corporation, submitted the winning bid of $2,460,000.
The bridge was dismantled, and each stone was numbered. Everything was shipped 10,000 miles to Long Beach, California, and then trucked to Lake Havasu City. Reconstruction began on September 23, 1968, with a ceremony including the Lord Mayor of London, who laid the cornerstone.
A canal was dug separating the peninsula, creating an island for the bridge to go across.
We rarely consider a landlocked, desert state such as Arizona for a lighthouse location, but it just so happens that Lake Havasu City is home to more lighthouses than any other city in the entire country. These scaled-down replicas are actual functioning navigational aids built to the specifications of famous lighthouses on East Coast, West Coast and Great Lakes. More than eighteen can be seen on the shores of the lake. Most can be hiked to while some are only accessible by boat. The lighthouses we visited were with our own little feet.
A canal was dug separating the peninsula, creating an island for the bridge to go across.
We started the morning with hot coffee, tea and "The Christmas Story" before heading out on our bikes on Christmas morning once it warmed up to 50 degrees.
This massive collection of lighthouses was originally started for safety purposes. The Lake Havasu Lighthouse Club wanted to make the lake a safe place for night boating and fishing. They took pride in their development and chose to pay homage to the famous lighthouses in the U.S. by making smaller replica lighthouses. All lighthouses are fully-functional replicas of famous lighthouses make a boating experience even more beautiful and unique.
All of the lighthouses on the west side of Lake Havasu are replicas of famous lighthouses on the West Coast, while the east side consists of East Coast replicas. The lighthouses around the island are all replicas of lighthouses from the Great Lakes. As per the coast guard's navigational regulations, lighthouses on the west coast use a green beacon, while east coast lighthouses use a red beacon. Lighthouses with a flashing amber beacon signify safe harbor lights for emergency use only.
I loved the leg lamp on this sailboat as we took an evening walk along the canal pathway.
On Christmas Eve, we took a hike in Sara Park which is 4 miles south of our condo. We took a wrong trail as we entered the wash to the slot canyon going right instead of left. We didn't see any yellow trail markers for 3/4 mile and turned around. We had taken the wrong wash.
It was tough walking 5 miles in the sand. Minimal precipitation over the past year made the sand very loose. So we watched for parallel trails along the ridge and took them as much as we could.
It was further down using the rope than it looks. After lowering ourselves with the rope there was a ladder to climb down the rest of the way.I was hoping no one would feel ornery and move the rope before we returned. I am not sure I would have made it out even with Mike boosting my butt.
Sara Park has many single track trails that would be great for mountain biking.
It was a nice way to spend Christmas.
I knew the story of the bridge getting to AZ but didn't know they also created the water for it to cross, lots of pretty decorations around.
ReplyDeleteIt was nice to walk along the canal in the evening and look at the lights.
DeleteWe enjoyed our stay in LH many years ago. We missed the lighted high heel. Prey cute.
ReplyDeleteWe hate hiking in sand. It sure is good for the heart and legs but beats us up.
I lovee the lamp. My hips were aching after that walk.
DeleteYou find the most interesting hikes! As if sand based slot canyon wasn't enough, you felt the need to add repelling?
ReplyDeleteIt was a little unnerving climbing down the rope. We would never find those hikes without the internet.
DeleteWe've never been to Lake Havasu but it looks interesting -- and especially pretty with the holiday lights. I like your first photo with the soft focus, even if it was unintentional!
ReplyDeleteSoft focus? I like it. Turn an oops into a positive.
DeleteWe have never been to Lake Havasu but it looks and reads very interesting. Also was unaware of the story behind the bridge...wow!
ReplyDeleteSincerely, thank you for sharing about this.
Some of the stories behind places are a little crazy at times. It was a good place to see once.
DeleteHi there. I think when your address changed it didn't come through on mine and it looks like I've missed some. Lake Havasu area is one of those places on our list that we seem to never get to (like Anza Borrego) even though we drive by twice a year. Still looking forward to it. We're in Quartzsite now until the end of Jan. Maybe we'll be able to make it up there on our way up to the NW in March. Nice info on the lighthouses. Is there a trail that you can ride around the lake on? The hike looked fun as well!
ReplyDeleteWe don't hit all of the spots either. We just wanted a get away since we are spending more time in AZ. Get that hitch itch. There is a 4 mile path around the lake and along the highway.
DeleteWe enjoyed our stay at the Cattail Cove SP about 9 miles south of Lake Havasu. I noticed that the rope on the slot canyon is longer now than when we were there in 2012. We also biked from the highway all the way to the lake. What we missed are the lighthouses!
ReplyDeleteThe area around Parker looked interesting with all of those mountains and great state parks.
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