DEliTOUR: Squaring the circle

Yes, we did gamble and lose. But we broke even in Vegas. It was on the back to LA where we stopped off at Laughlin on the Colorado river that we put our luck to the test. And blew 100 dollars on roulette. Laughlin was a mini Vegas with a steamboat motel and pop-up desert charm. Lake Havasu was a bonus. At Havasu city we saw London Bridge. The London Bridge lovingly relocated many moons ago by another crazy entrepreneur. Of course the locals and strays have built a whole industry around the bridge. Though the town will be rembered for the beach filled by speedboats and posers out on a Thursday afternoon in the desert sun.

We have seen quite a few lakes now. Tahoe is a rugged natural beauty surronded by imposing mountains (and ski resorts). Havasu, like Powell, Mead and many more are products of the dams that have been built on the Colorado and other rivers to enable the growth of the desert behemoths like Vegas. On all the lakes the abundance of water craft, from house boats to jetskis and everything in between, is frightening. We saw some amazing images of a square mile of Havasu filled with recreational water vehicles shoulder to shoulder. And then we went to Palm Springs where every shop and restaurant has sprayers dusting a fine mist of cool water across its threshold. And where every palm on the sidewalk has its own personal irrigation system. And our motel had a pool. And the atmosphere was actually very pleasant. I am very confused by desert living. On one hand I am amazed by the resoucefullness, but then I am shocked by the articiciality. Driving in Arizona we were stunned by the vastness and desolation. And then in the gambling centres you are of course struck by the tackiness, shamelessness and futility.

Now we are back in LA I am so glad we got to see so much. We both agree that just the three weeks around California is the best holiday we have ever had.

I is ah bidnissman. It wahs bidniss.

Three songs about coming back:
#3 Take it to the limit, The Eagles
#2 Hear my train a comin', James Marshall Hendrix
#1 I'll Stay, Funkadelic