December 11-31, 2022
2022 had been an amazing year (be sure to check out our year in review!), and we were wrapping it up nicely in Lake Havasu City. We were staying at the Islander Resort, and the Golf Car Parade on the 17th went right by our place. The resort had a lot of activities, and everyone was really nice.
We were able to get a very inexpensive mooring post for the boat, a "parking space" on the water in the inlet off of Lake Havasu owned by the resort. We were on the island, and we had to cross over the London Bridge to get to it. So, we were able to boat all the way around the island, including through the Bridgewater Channel that goes under the bridge. It's full of partying boaters in the summer, but very mellow during the winter. We saw a few boats, but not many.
We were in the right place at the right time to see the ferry come in and dock. It shuttles people back and forth from the casino on the California side. When we got through the channel, we headed over to check out that side of the lake. We bought some snacks and hung out there for a little while.
One of the evenings, we drove over to the waterfront shops along the channel. We went in the evening so we could see the holiday lights. There wasn't much open, but it was a nice visit. They even had a snow-making machine and kids were having fun under it (with Margot).
We had dinner out on Christmas Eve, sitting by the windows of a restaurant that overlooked the water in the channel.
We couldn't get enough of Lake Havasu, and the boat was easy to use because it was already in the water. We spent a great boating trip on Christmas night. We went out into the biggest water and watched the sunset. One of the best things about Arizona that gets better as you get farther south are the sunsets. The southwest is dry, and dust particles hang in the air. That makes for some amazing scenes, and we had a beautiful sunset out there.
Of course, the lights in the channel from the boat's view were perfect. It was one of the best Christmas spectacles we'd both seen, and we were so happy we were there for it.
We got luckier still and made last-minute plans with Sue and Toni for a visit on the last day of the year. We took them out on the boat for another wonderful sunset and trip through the channel. They brought Lacey's half-sister Mollie, and they had a great time playing.
The resort where we were staying had a woodshop, like many of the resorts. Margot made some time to check it out, and met some great mentors to get her started on a project. She made a box for the hutch out of maple and a naturally purple wood that one of them had. It's perfect, and it is perfect for our little home.
This was a great stay, and on the first of the year we headed farther south.
