22/02: River Drive
Category: General
Posted by: The Agnew Family
One of the ideas in the visitor's guide is a scenic drive from Parker to Parker Dam along the Colorado River. They were correct, it was a very picturesque drive.
The drive started in Earp, California across the river from Parker. Wyatt Earp spent a number of winters in Earp after he retired to Los Angeles. Shortly after his death in 1929 a post office was established and the town given the name Earp.
About five miles up the road from Earp is Crossroads, once a thriving tent city of 3,000 people. It was the home of miners and laborers who hope to make their stake copper mining. Parker Dam construction workers moved in during the 1930s, and Crossroads could boast five grocery stores, three restaurants, a pool hall, barber shop, mortuary, bowling alley, three service stations, several automobile garages, two used car lots, a church, power plant, saloons and tourist cabins. Today, there's only the shell of the Crossroads Mercantile Company.
There was a lot of evidence that burros had been in the park where we stopped to eat lunch, so we invited Zaph to sit on the bench of the picnic table with us. He decided that daddy's lap was more comfortable.
A view across the water to Castle Rock RV park where we are staying.
One of the wonderful river views.
One of the many burros we saw on our drive. At one of the stops while we were looking at the river we heard the braying of a burro .... when they bray they want everyone to hear them.
Just before the Parker Dam was a road that had a sign pointing to Black Meadow Landing. Not sure what Black Meadow Landing was but the road looked interesting so we drove it. Turned out after driving ten miles on a beautiful hilly road we ended up at an RV park on Lake Havasu. This photo was taken from the mesa in the park looking down at the lake.
The drive started in Earp, California across the river from Parker. Wyatt Earp spent a number of winters in Earp after he retired to Los Angeles. Shortly after his death in 1929 a post office was established and the town given the name Earp.
About five miles up the road from Earp is Crossroads, once a thriving tent city of 3,000 people. It was the home of miners and laborers who hope to make their stake copper mining. Parker Dam construction workers moved in during the 1930s, and Crossroads could boast five grocery stores, three restaurants, a pool hall, barber shop, mortuary, bowling alley, three service stations, several automobile garages, two used car lots, a church, power plant, saloons and tourist cabins. Today, there's only the shell of the Crossroads Mercantile Company.
There was a lot of evidence that burros had been in the park where we stopped to eat lunch, so we invited Zaph to sit on the bench of the picnic table with us. He decided that daddy's lap was more comfortable.
A view across the water to Castle Rock RV park where we are staying.
One of the wonderful river views.
One of the many burros we saw on our drive. At one of the stops while we were looking at the river we heard the braying of a burro .... when they bray they want everyone to hear them.
Just before the Parker Dam was a road that had a sign pointing to Black Meadow Landing. Not sure what Black Meadow Landing was but the road looked interesting so we drove it. Turned out after driving ten miles on a beautiful hilly road we ended up at an RV park on Lake Havasu. This photo was taken from the mesa in the park looking down at the lake.