When we arrived in Arizona, we really did not have a solid idea of our travel plans for the year. There were destinations on the east coast we wanted to see, but it wasn’t clear at what point we were to see them. Our only solid plans were to spend the month of June back in Wisconsin and then head to Iowa for my nephews wedding. After seeing what spring was shaping up to be in west Texas we decided to head north through Utah and Wyoming then east on our way back to Wisconsin.
Our next stop was in Parker Strip, AZ which is about half way between Phoenix and Las Vegas. We stayed at a nice laid back campground on the Colorado River. Just north of us is Lake Havasu City. Lake Havasu is a popular tourist destination. It was not high on our list (well mine at least), however we figured we would check it out since it is on our way. For the week we spent in Parker Strip, we largely just chilled out but there is one story that must be told.
One night we were driving in Lake Havasu and I saw big bright lights that said “London Bridge”. I said to Colleen “I wonder what that is about”? Her face lit up. She knew exactly what it was. As it turns out this was the original London Bridge that was disassembled brick by brick and shipped over to be reassembled over the Colorado River.
The founder of Lake Havasu is Robert P. McCulloch who was the chairman of McCulloch Oil. In 1967 Robert P. McCulloch purchased the bridge for $2.46 million. He was given the land by the state government with the promise to develop it. The bridge assembly began in 1968 and was completed in 1971.
Now to really grasp the weight of this, keep in mind Colleen LOVES bridges. And for her to visit this bridge would be the equivalent of a teenage girl meeting her favorite boy band heart throb.
I know when we hit on something special to her because she is already posting to Facebook before we leave the attraction. The fact that I was blind to Colleen really wanting to visit here shows to what degree I am on a “need to know” basis. Although I did not know it, there was not a chance we were leaving the area without visiting here.
