Old Moe Wins The Battle on the Colorado River

March 29 through April 1, 2013

Parker Arizona and the Colorado River

SIT left Twentynine Palms Friday (March 29^th) and headed to Parker Arizona so we could enjoy the river for a couple of days.  We ended up staying an extra day – I’ll explain a little farther into our story.

The weather was about 20 degrees warmer than Joshua Tree so the shorts came out and stayed out.  We met some folks immediately at the RV park who gave us the low down on things to go see and where to eat some great fish and chips.  Being the kind of people that listen and respect what others say we took their advice.

One of the places they told us about was called the Desert Bar.  It’s a bar out in the middle of the desert and it is a rough road to get there – dirt all the way, and quite exhilarating – that is if you like to get bounced around a lot!  Well, apparently one of the front tires on the pick-up didn’t appreciate that and the belt started to separate internally.  Guess what?  They don’t carry that size of tires at the tire store so they were ordered.  Therefore the extra day, but the trucks’ wheels are all better now!

Steve had an opportunity to ride the motorcycle a bit around the area and it is one spot where 4 wheeling is the norm.  There is a lot of country to see and great rock formations along the trails.

While we were exploring we cruised by the golf course and decided to get a tee time.  We played Sunday and managed to play 18 holes.  The course was great and technically challenging so it tested our abilities.  Good thing we don’t have to make a living that way!!

The last thing we decided to do was go fishing the last night we were there for catfish.  SIT went to the river (the RV park was right by the river) and set up the fishing poles.  Now Steve being the long-term fisher dude has all the cool stuff, right.  Rod holders so you can sit back and relax and therefore you put bells on the pole so if you get a nibble or bite they jingle.

We got the lines cast, placed the poles in the rod holders, and then opened a special bottle of wine Leslie gave me for retirement.  The sun was setting (pictures below) and life was good……………then I had a bite.  I was working the fish and getting it close to the bank and it decided it had somewhere more important to go.  Oh well…………….the surroundings are great and we have nice wine.

We put bait on my pole again and I did an amazing cast job!!  Steve also had a nibble and apparently the fish was pretty crafty since it managed to eat the bait without putting the little hooky thingy in its mouth.  Steve baited his hook again and did a cast to end all casts!!

We sit back down and enjoy the wine……………..it is dark now so the fish should be really, really hungry right?  Izzy has already been swimming and is now laying down wondering why we aren’t letting her chase the cast into the water.

Just a few minutes go by and all of the sudden the bells on my pole start jingling, and the pole is bent over.  Oh forgot to tell you that you put a rock at the bottom of the pole handle to hold it in place.  So I leapt out of my chair and reached for my pole and just as I got close it launched into the air and flew out into the river.  Oh no!  Standing there not believing what I had just witnessed, I couldn’t let that fish get the better of me.  So being the smart, intelligent, fully clothed person I went in after it!  Needless to say, it was cold, it was dark out, and I needed light quickly.  My partner in crime shone the light on the water, but the water was already murky.  I was not going to quit though so I reached it  (so I thought) and put my foot down thinking I was standing on it.  Did I mention it was cold and the water murky?  Well at that point I had to decide if it was really under my foot or not as I was going to have to get completely wet to reach it, although I was already wet up to my armpits.  In the end, I didn’t get the pole, or the fish.  All I got was wet clothes and the ability to tell you the story!!  Old Moe was now swimming around with my pole, reel, and line……………maybe someone else will hook him and have an early Christmas present!!  Think I go back to holding my pole when I fish and not use a pole holder!

We headed back to the trailer so I could get dry clothes on and continue to pout…………..you see it wasn’t really the pole and reel going away, the fact of the matter was that I really wanted to catch that super big fish!!

                                                            The View from the RV Park

                                                                      The Colorado River

                                                                     The Parker Dam

                                                                 Just One of the locals

Our Temporary Hangout in Parker

                                                      One of Izzy's Favorite Things To Do

Do I have to get out now?

 

                                                         Do you need a fire engine?

Desert Bar

Wonder when they passed this law?

 

                                                Parking is at a premium at the Desert Bar!

                                                            Our truck can't do this.

Steve asked if we could use this truck to pull the trailer.

Flatbed Truck as old as me!

                                               One of the beautiful holes on the course.

The desert fairway.

 

Peaceful time at sunset.

                                                        All wet because of Old Moe!

The end of the day!