After leaving Madera, California, we stopped at North Shores, one of our Colorado River Adventures Resorts on the fast-flowing Colorado River. On the California side of the river at Needles, we drove into a shady oasis with park-like patches of green grass dotted with benches for watching the clear Colorado flow past.
In past travels, Spot has enjoyed doggie parks and once in Washington, a doggie ranch. But at North Shores, he had a designated doggie beach. He joined the company of several other visiting dogs each morning of our stay.
Situated about 22 miles from Bullhead City, North Shores is a perfect home base for day trips to several destinations. We found stores, restaurants, movie theatres, and other amenities in bustling Bullhead City. Across the river, we saw the towering casinos of Laughlin, Nevada, an unincorporated town 94 miles south of Las Vegas. We got in line with dozens of other cars to cross the river for photos and a closer look. Casinos are not high on our “to-do” list of places to visit, but we discovered that Laughlin is one of the top five destinations for American RV enthusiasts. Many motorhomes and fifth-wheels were parked in the casino parking lots. At dusk, we wandered into a Denney’s for dinner along the River Walk.
The lights of Bullhead City sparkled in a myriad of colors as we drove parallel to the Colorado on our way back to North Shores after dark. The next morning, we followed the same road back for a daytime view, but bypassed Laughlin to drive to Boulder City, Hoover Dam, and the new bridge crossing the Colorado River.
On our third day trip, we drove to the ghost town of Oatman, Arizona. A lively tourist trap of old buildings maintained as they stood in the days of gold mining, we walked the boardwalks and sidestepped the donkeys that definitely have a right-away in the streets.
Fortunately, we had no time schedule to keep because the different zones coming together made confusion of the daytime hours. Since North Shores is in California, we kept our watches set to the Pacific Zone. After a day, we discovered that our resort operated on Mountain Time. When we crossed over into Nevada, we were back in Pacific Time.
Until next winter, we bid good-bye to the Colorado River and California, Arizona, and Nevada towns—and their clocks set on different hours. As we traveled back to Arkansas, we experienced Daylight Savings Time before returning to Central Standard Time. Back on our corner of the world, we often do have schedules to meet, so with watches in tune to both daylight savings time and Central Standard Time, we settle down to the daily chores and appointments that keep our lives on track.
Traveling in their motorhome several months each year, Arline and her photographer husband, Lee Smith, make their permanent home in Heber Springs, Arkansas. She currently is a presenter for Workamper Rendezvous, sponsored by Workamper News. Arline has dozens of magazine articles published, as well as five books: “Road Work: The Ultimate RVing Adventure” (now available on Kindle); “Road Work II: The RVer’s Ultimate Income Resource Guide”; “Truly Zula; When Heads & Hearts Collide”; and “The Heart of Branson”, a history of the families who started the entertainment town and those who sustain it today. Visit Arline’s personal blog at ArlineChandler.Blogspot.com
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