HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME - COURTESY OF LAKE HAVASU.Byline: Marlene McLean Greer San Gabriel Valley The San Gabriel Valley is one of the principal valleys of southern California. It lies to the east of the city of Los Angeles, to the north of the Puente Hills, to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, and to the west of the Inland Empire. Tribune Our kayaks floated past the beautiful red rock mountains with their jagged peaks and unusual rock formations with names like Leaping Dolphin and Praying Indian Praying Indian is a 17th century term referring to Native Americans of New England who converted to Christianity. In 1646, the General Court of Massachusetts passed an "Act for the Propagation of the Gospel amongst the Indians". , and glided into the calmer backwaters of the Colorado River Colorado River River, south-central Argentina. Its major headstreams, the Grande and Barrancas rivers, flow southward from the Andes Mountains and meet to form the Colorado near the Chilean border. It flows southeastward across northern Patagonia and the southern Pampas. . Away from the motorboats on the main channel, it was quiet and peaceful. We watched beavers swim among the tall reeds, and spotted two bighorn sheep Bighorn sheep a tall (up to 3 ft), heavy (up to 300 lb body weight) wild sheep that lives in inaccessible mountain country where it exercises its principal achievement of prodigious leaping and climbing. Called also Ovis canadensis. Several regional varieties, e.g. O. c. as they came down the steep rock cliffs for a drink. My mother, sister, two nieces and I had come to Lake Havasu on a woman-only weekend getaway, and we were paddling through Topock Gorge Topock Gorge is a mountainous section of the Colorado River between I-40 and Lake Havasu. Recreational boaters inhabit the area year round, though Spring Break is an exceptionally busy time of year. Topock Gorge is virtually inaccessible other than by boat in this area. , Lake Havasu's most scenic area. With its majestic red rock canyons and quiet reed-filled marshes, Topock Gorge is a beautiful slice of the Sonoran Desert Sonoran Desert Arid region, western North America. Covering 120,000 sq mi (310,000 sq km), the Sonoran Desert is located in southwestern Arizona and southeastern California, U.S., and northern Baja California and western Sonora state, Mex. . In the summer, the gorge can be as crowded as any L.A. freeway. But our guide on this 13-mile paddle and float trip, Larry Sisk of Western Arizona Canoe and Kayak Outfitter, took us off the main channel to the quieter backwaters and marshes, as well as a beach with interesting Indian petroglyphs. The kayak trip isn't easy, but it is not so difficult that two 30-something women, two teen-age girls and a 60-year-old grandmother couldn't manage. Lake Havasu is a year-round water playground. The 45-mile-long waterway marks the border between Arizona and California, and was created by the construction of Parker Dam Parker Dam, at the Ariz.–Calif. line, on the Colorado River; completed 1938. It is 320 ft (98 m) high and 856 ft (261 m) long. The dam impounds water for Los Angeles and other coastal cities, has a power plant, and supplies some water for irrigation. on the Colorado River in 1938. Located on the Arizona side of the lake, Lake Havasu City is a growing community of 42,000. This desert oasis is hot in summer - when highs can hit 120 degrees. But if you're out on the water, the heat isn't as noticeable, and the temperature drops to a reasonable 90 degrees at night. Visitors to Lake Havasu have to get out on the water to enjoy its beauty. Fortunately, there are numerous opportunities - Jet Skis, kayaks, canoes and boats. Tourists can rent on their own or join a guided trip. Extending from Lake Havasu City to Parker Dam, Lake Havasu has countless coves to explore and beautiful rock arches and mountain scenery to enjoy. Some coves, like Copper Canyon The Copper Canyon (Spanish: Barranca del Cobre) is a canyon system in the Sierra Tarahumara in the southwestern part of the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. This canyon system is larger and deeper than the Grand Canyon in the neighboring United States, although the Grand , are packed with the party crowd, but others are quiet and secluded. Then there's the popular scenic Topock Gorge. Within the gorge, Blankenship Bend, a huge shallow sandbar sandbar or offshore bar Submerged or partly exposed ridge of sand or coarse sediment that is built by waves offshore from a beach. The swirling turbulence of waves breaking off a beach excavates a trough in the sandy bottom. in the middle of the Colorado River, is the hangout. Visitors can pull their boat or personal watercraft personal watercraft n. 1. A motorized recreational water vehicle normally ridden by straddling a seat. 2. (used with a pl. verb) Such water vehicles considered as a group. up on the sandbar and get out for a swim, a walk or even a game of volleyball. It's extremely crowded here, however, and can get very noisy with all the music. But it's definitely worth a stop. Once past the sandbar, boaters head into the upper portion of the gorge and the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge  National Wildlife Refuge . The further upriver you go, the less crowded and more beautiful it becomes. For the really hardy, you can motor all the way to Laughlin, Nev., a grueling 80-mile round trip. If you don't want to venture on the lake on your own, Blue Water Jet Boat Tours will take you on a boat trip through the gorge. London Bridge Watercraft Tours offers guided Jet-Ski trips. The water may be the best place to enjoy the area's scenic beauty, but everyone who comes to Lake Havasu has to see the London Bridge. Once spanning the Thames River in England, the bridge was purchased for $2.5 million in 1968 by entrepreneur Robert P. McCulloch
Robert Paxton McCulloch (May 11, 1911 – February 25, 1977) was an American entrepreneur most notable for McCulloch Chainsaws and purchasing the new London Bridge and Sr., founder of Lake Havasu City. The bridge was dismantled stone by stone, shipped across the ocean and re-assembled. It now connects the lake's island with the Arizona mainland. At the base of the bridge is English Village, a popular area of shops and restaurants. I'd suggest walking through the village in the evening, when temperatures are much cooler. A great place for dinner is the London Arms Pub and Brewery. The microbrewery mi·cro·brew·er·y n. pl. mi·cro·brew·er·ies A small brewery, generally producing fewer than 10,000 barrels of beer and ale a year and frequently selling its products on the premises. Also called boutique brewery, brewpub. has a lovely patio dining area and serves a selection of pizza, pasta and English fare. On the other side of the London Bridge at the Island Fashion Mall, Barley Brothers Brewery and Grill also is a good place to eat. Both restaurants are busy, so reservations are a must. Another great way to enjoy Lake Havasu is relaxing on one of its many beaches. The best beach is London Bridge Beach on the island. The beach has shaded picnic tables, barbecues, palm trees and a designated swimming area. Whatever your preference in exploring Lake Havasu, keep in mind that summer weekends are the most crowded time of year. Reservations are recommended for accommodations, watercraft rentals and guided boat trips. IF YOU GO Western Arizona Canoe & Kayak Outfitter (520-855-6414) offers six-hour guided trips through Topock Gorge. The cost is $44 for adults and $22 for children 10 and under. London Bridge Watercraft (800-732-3665) rents Jet Skis for $70-$85 for two hours, $99-$119 for four hours and $169-$189 all day. Lake Havasu Marina (520-855-2159) rents boats for $125-$170 a half day and $180-$240 all day. Lodging: Nautical Inn is located two miles from London Bridge. Older beachfront beach·front n. A strip of land facing or running along a beach. adj. Situated along or having direct access to a beach: beachfront hotels; beachfront property. Noun 1. rooms run $74-$89 a night, while the newer bayside rooms cost $89-$129, double occupancy. For more information, call (800) 892-2141. The Holiday Inn is located a half mile from London Bridge. Rooms are $59-$89, double occupancy. For more information, call (520) 855-4071. CAPTION(S): Photo, box PHOTO Watercraft pass under London Bridge in Lake Havasu, Ariz. Marlene McLean Greer/San Gabriel Valley Tribune Box: If you go (see text) |
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