LONDON BRIDGE

On our way north from Green Valley, I had hoped to catch two of my young nephews, Gerrit and Fletcher, in Phoenix, but it didn't happen. Instead, we visited Casa Grande a Hohokam archaeological complex with a three-story structure still standing in ruins and an unexcavated ball court influenced by Mesoamerican civilizations to the south. Starting in 500 BC, the whole development came to a sudden halt around 1400 AD for reasons not completely understood. Maybe it was the heat the got them--it was 120 degrees there.

Moving north to Lake Havasu, we were relieved that it was only 110 degrees. Do you know the difference between 110 and 120? In 110 degrees you can breath without it burning you. At 120, every breath hurts to breathe.

It's kinda spooky for my wife and me to have walked over London Bridge together in London and then many years later in Lake Havasu, Arizona where it was shipped and put back together stone by stone. Lake Havasu on the Colorado River is an artificial resort town built by a developer. It is amazing how it has flourished over the years. I've heard that there are over 35,000 inhabitants in the winter, but it boils in the summer. It was only 110 during our visit to my father-in-law whom we visit every year regardless of the temperature. He's a fabulous cook at 89. I just hope I'm doing half as well as he at his age. He's a real inspiration.

I can't say that I enjoyed our walk along the river and across the bridge in 110 degree heat, but we tried it again the next morning early, and it was much more pleasant.

This little town is bustling with every store, restuarant, and hotel you can imagine with a boat or two in every driveway in the homes that have popped up everywhere like wildflowers after a desert rain. Frankly, it's not my kind of place. The throb of the powerful boat engines resonantes in your chest and that coupled with the noise of the music (?) everyone seems obligated to blair is a major turn-off. But, there are people who obviously enjoy it.

We had a pleasant visit, but we are eager to be moving toward home. Our next stop will be Las Vegas to visit my wife's brother Frank and his wife Jerri. It's kinda nice to have a hospitable relative in Las Vegas as there is just no way I would go there and pay those outrageous hotel rates otherwise. I don't even like to gamble. I sort of do enjoy strolling along the strip at night when it's cooler and doing some people watching and taking it the sites. I even get a kick out of strolling through the casinos with their extravagant settings, but I can't take it for too long.