Just have to go into more detail on our weekend around the Mohave Desert. We started in Laughlin where we stayed at the Colorado Belle. Our room was on the top floor (6th) facing the river. It's a shame the weather wasn't nice enough to sit on our balcony, complete with ornate wrought iron railings and posts. Took off Saturday morning and went down to Lake Havasu in AZ. Walked under and over the London Bridge. What a feat of dismantling and rebuilding that must have been! Of course it is a very touristy area with many shops and eating places. Everything is set back from the water so it looked quaint rather than gaudy. From there we headed out of town until Jim saw a dirt road. Jim can't resist dirt roads in the middle of nowhere! It was off of this road that we found the Havasu Wildlife Preserve. We had actually passed it but I had seen a little sign so we turned around and went back. No trails or anything. Just a parking area, boat ramp, little pier and dock, and a bathroom. This is where I noticed the grafitti on the dock. What a shame! The area was so beautiful and tranquil I could have stayed there for a long time. Headed north through AZ on back roads. Took a couple of side trips on "goes to nowhere" dirt tracks. Got to see cactus and rock formations up real close! Then it was back through Laughlin until we got to Christmas Tree Pass road in the Lake Mead domain. The sign said only street legal, SUV, truck vehicles recommended. We got half way through before there was a sign saying 4 wheel drive recommended from this point on. As far as I was concerned the whole trip was 4 wheel drive rutted, dipping, twisting, and jaw jarring terrain. When we got about 3 quarters of the way there was a stopping point where you could look through the mountain pass and see the specks of civilization that is Bullhead City, AZ. Breathtaking would put it mildly! Of course Jim saw no reason to continue over the flatland west of the mountains that would take us back to NV 95. So we turned around and went back the same way we had come. Bump and grind! It was fabulous. Stopped at a place called Grapevine Pass. The rock formations look like the namesake of the area. Bunches of rock grapes twineing their way around the mountain. Unfortunately I learned that I would not have made a good pioneer. It was getting dark so we headed back to the Belle. I was asleep by 7:30 (unbelievable huh). Got up Sunday and headed towards home on the major highways until we got to Searchlight. Headed back east and went to Lake Mohave. Got to go on the houseboats they rent out. Some of them are bigger than my manufactured home! 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, full kitchen with disposal and dishwasher, jacuzzi on the roof. In season they rent for 6000.00 plus gas a week. Lake Mohave has a marina with big bucks boats, a trailer park, cafe and store. Government regulations allow the owners of homes there to live on premises only 6 months a year. If anyone is looking for a job you can get one there. They said they went through 85 people last summer in the cafe/store. It's quite a commute if you don't live on property. Employees can hook up their motor homes free..an added bonus for sure. Interesting information..the park management is placing floating "johns" onto the lake for boaters and campers to use. Overnight campers along the shore will be asked if they have sanitation facilities on their sight and if not they will be fined. The floating johns are to curb pollution. I personally can't see myself getting up in the middle of the night, starting the boat, and going out looking for a floating outhouse. I guess they think others will. Mayby I misunderstood and the outhouses will be placed on shore at strategic spots around the lake. That makes more sense to me but then I don't work for the government! Anyhow headed back west through Searchlight down the Joshua Tree road which goes through Joshua Tree Forrest. I use the term forrest lightly. As we drove through I found myself thinking "so this is where powder puffs grow." Stopped in a town called Tipton, CA population mayby 25. General store had a good book on Windshield Tours which I bought. By now we were low on gas so Jim opted out of taking anymore back roads to Primm. He did talk to the lady at the store who told him the roads he was talking about were pretty much washed out and there wasn't much left of the ghost town he wanted to show me. We gased up in Primm and headed for home. Neither of us is feeling 100% well but it was a fun weekend.

We bought the travel trailer on the way home. These weekends out can get expensive with rooms and meals so we will bring our own. Checked the weight limits for Jims Ford Explorer and the Zeppelin should work well. It's a cute little thing with a lot of stuff in less length that the width of our house! Forgot to mention in my last post that it has an awning and lots of underside storage which really appealed to me. Whatever options were available this one has.

Happy Trails to all. See you ???

Where in the world have the past 2 months gone?

November is a blur-r-r. December was super busy between work and my relationship with Jim.

Noteworthy news...Jim moved in with us the week before Christmas, he cooked Christmas dinner for 18 people, Amy and Matt were able to spend an afternoon of their trip here with us, (luckily I had the right day off that week), got sick on New Years day and am still recovering. This past weekend we took off on Friday night and toured the Mohave desert area. We were in NV, CA, and AZ. Beautiful landscapes. I was dismayed to see grafitti in places so out of the way that I was surprised we found them. I had my 1st experience with 4 wheeling! It was awsome but I did have to take Naproxin when we got back.

Biggest news...we bought a 19ft travel trailer this Sunday. Kitchen with 3 burner stove, sink, oven, microwave, TV set up for cable or satelite or antenna reception, radio with surround sound, heat, air, all with 1 remote control. So if we're in bed we can change the temp, turn on the coffee pot, etc by pushing a button. Am I going high tech or what? It has 1 sleeping area, a bathroom with toilet and shower. We plan on sleeping in the u shaped dining area that makes into a bed. I would feel claustrophobic in the bedroom! Look out world here we come! For now just short trips until we get the thing paid for and Jim can actually retire. We will drive and bring it with us when we come to IL this summer. Of course we have to stop in TX along the way. We pick it up Thursday and will be taking a class on how to do what with what. Jim doesn't need it but I want to take it so at least I'll have an idea of what to do. Or what he's doing and talking about! If you want to check it out on line it's a 2006 Zeppelin, ZP191 model. I'm really excited.

Can't wait to see everyone this year!