- Spring 2019: Yuma, AZ to Montana Home
- Day 1 of 18
- April 17, 2019
This was the first This was the first day of a 18-day trip back to my home in Columbia Falls, MT. And the day was a good day to drive. There was a lot of preparation to be done before I could get on the road, but I finally was all packed and ready to go and left Yuma at 4:30 PM. This was a beautiful day and I enjoyed bright blue sky all the way, though I fought a wicked wind off the port bow for most of the drive.
The drive from Yuma, AZ to Lake Havasu City, AZ is along US 95 and is the shortest drive of my planned 18-day trip. The drive was only 152 miles and I arrived at my destination in less than three hours. But there is see along the way. I have seen most of it on past trips but thought I would share highlights here.
U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground
My trip home to Montana began in Fortuna Foot Hills, a town of about 26,000 people on the outskirts of Yuma. I soon was northbound on US 95 and on my way. About 30 minutes into the drive I passed the entrance to United States Army Proving Grounds, which is easily recognizable due to the large sign saying so on the east side of the highway, and the large artillery pieces at the entrance on the west side of the highway with their barrels pointed high in the sky.
The Army Proving Ground is one of the largest military installations in the world and counts training and the testing of all kinds of military weapons as its major missions. Near the entrance is a small museum with several tanks, cannons and other artillery pieces placed around the grounds for visitors to see and touch. Each tank or artillery piece has an accompanying sign describing the equipment and when it was in service. (There also are signs cautioning visitors to be aware of possible rattlesnakes in the area).
Once past the Army Proving Ground, views are mostly of the Sonoran Desert. And the highway extends north straight as an arrow most of the way for several dozen miles. Frequent highway signs warn of wildlife. Other highway signs warn when a section of the highway is prone to flash floods. The flood prone places are marked by signage approaching a low spot in the highway where a channel has been carved in the desert by torrential rain storms. Those storms generally occur in late summer and early fall.
Quartzsite, Arizona Boondocking Capital of the World
About an hour and fifteen minutes into the drive I come to the intersection of US 95 and I-10 at Quartzsite, Arizona. Quartzsite is less than 20 miles east of the Colorado River and sports a population of less than 4,000 people but has become the RV boondocking capital of the world.
RVers come from all parts of the US and Canada for a variety of reasons. Some to escape winter weather in their home towns. Others come to enjoy camping in the desert environment, meet up with friends met in years past, attend a variety of events. Some RVers just like to hang out in the desert for a spell. This influx of RVers often swells the town’s population by several hundred thousand people in the winter.
One of the most popular events is the annual Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show. This show is held mid-to-late January and draws 750,000 to 1,000,000 attendees according to the Arizona Highway Department. More than a dozen other kinds of shows usually are listed on the Quartzsite Chamber of Commerce web site including such events as rock and garden shows, rock and gem shows and arts and crafts shows.
Parker and the Nellie E Saloon-Desert Bar
Thirty six miles north of Quartzsite is the town of Parker, Arizona. Parked is situated on the banks of Colorado River. The town has a population of about 3,000 people and is just 38 miles from Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Parker and communities along what’s called the Parker Strip are somewhat scenic and provide a relief from driving across the desert. Local attractions include a nearby golf course, marinas, the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge, the Parker Dam, Buckskin State Park, River Island State Park, and a little farther north, the Cattail Cove State Park. Also, RV parks and resorts can be seen all along the river.
A popular and unusual nearby attraction is the Nellie E Salloon – Desert Bar. The Desert Bar is just 10 miles northeast of Parker and 38 miles south of Lake Havasu City, Arizona. To drive there, one exits US 95 at Cienega Springs Road. The junction of US 95 and Cienega Springs Road is about five miles northwest of Parker. Then it’s another five miles to the Desert Bar over a gravel road that is highly traveled when the bar is open. One see all kinds of Jeeps, SUVs, ATVs and everyday autos when driving the road.
The bar is popular because it is unique in location, atmosphere and offers good music in an outdoor desert setting. The Desert Bar is situated on land that was an old mining camp and is a collection of all kinds of antique and eclectic buildings, furnishing, out buildings and related construction projects. Electricity if provided by solar panels. Visitors find good beer, food and good bands. The bands provide live music October through March. Other months are just too hot for the bar to be open. Reservations are not required, but the place often is crowded because it is open only on Saturdays and Sundays.
I visited the bar with friends a year before this trip and had a great time. The live music was a delight. The band from California produced great music which we enjoyed with our burgers and beer. I also picked up a t-shirt that is one of my favorites.
After passing the junction of Cienega Springs Road I continued north to Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The town was just a few miles ahead and I arrived at my reserved site at Lake Havasu State Park shortly after 5:00 PM. I quickly made camp, took a few photos and settled in for a restful night.
