the wandering chick
...Lake Havasu
sunset on Lake Havasu
and Topock Gorge

Lake Havasu City is an oasis of a town situated on the Colorado River on the Arizona-California border. It's a mecca for snowbirds as well as those looking for year-round boating activities. It's also the home of London Bridge, purchased by an American entrepreneur Robert McCulloch who purchased the bridge, and who, in 1964, bought the land that would become Lake Havasu City.

A two-and-a-half-hour boat ride from Lake Havasu City will take you to Topock Gorge, which is accessible only by boat. It's a 20+ mile wildly rugged section of the lower Colorado River and which cuts through the Havasu Natural Wildlife Refuge between Needles and Lake Havasu City. It's red rock cliffs jutting out of the cool jade water create spectacular scenery as do a few interesting hoodoos you see along the way.

London Bridge
Bridgewater Channel
Bridgewater Channel
A path along the Bridgewater Channel starting at English Village under the London Bridge makes for a wonderful late afternoon stroll.
London Bridge
silhouette of palms on Bridgewater Channel
London Bridge once spanned the River Thames in London, but because its structure was weakening, it was sold by the city and purchased by Robert McCulloch in 1967. By 1971 the reconstruction along with reinforced concrete was completed and now spans Lake Havasu.
sunset over Lake Havasu
London Bridge at night
The Dixie Belle
The Dixie Belle is a paddlewheel boat that takes tourists on rides along Lake Havasu.
The Chemehuevi Wash can be hiked from Lake Havasu City to the lake. Once you get close, you find exceptional views of Lake Havasu, such as the one to the right.
the Chemehuevi Wash
Lake Havasu from the Chemehuevi Wash
Along the shores of Lake Havasu, the city has installed several working lighthouses, replicas at a scale of 1/3 the size of the real lighthouses on U.S. coasts. Sixteen replicas have been installed so far, and others are being added. As a result, it can be said that Lake Havasu has more lighthouses than any other body of water in the U.S.
lighthouse replica, one of several on Lake Havasu
Rotary Park, Lake Havasu City
Rotary Park at the south end of the Bridgewater Channel
on Lake Havasu
Topock Gorge
The remaining shots and the one above were taken in Topock Gorge.
Topock Gorge
Topock Gorge
petroglyphs in Topock Gorge
Petroglyphs can be seen etched on the rock in several different parts of the gorge.
Topock Gorge
Topock Gorge
Sandy dunes are a part of the terrain of the Topock Gorge.
burros in Topock Gorge
Various wildlife can also be seen roaming the gorge, including the burros above.
small cove for kayakers
An occasional sandy cove such as this one gives kayakers a place to stop and rest.
various grasses that thrive in the gorge
Topock Gorge
Various types of grass thrive along the shores of the Topock Gorge.
old rock in the gorge
the star gazer rock formation

Two hoodoos - a rock formation that takes on a human appearance - were pointed out to us along the route of the gorge. The one on the right above is called the Star Gazer. With little imagination, you can see a face looking upward and a 'star' where the eye would be.

In the picture on the left, I see an elephant's eye. This formation was not 'on the list' of documented formations. I think I just saw it and snapped the picture. Perhaps it takes a little more stretch of the imagination than the two documented ones.

The other formation is in the picture below, on the right. It's of an Indian facing left. You might also see his praying hands.

No hoodoo here; only a rock that appears could be sent tumbling in the next high wind.
a praying Indian
Topock Gorge
the jade colored water of the Topock Gorge

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