SOLAR POWER

My comments a few days ago regarding the solar electrical system that we are having installed on the house has generated a few questions. In an attempt to try an answer those same questions for other folks, I'll try and keep it simple.

First of all, solar power makes a lot of sense here in Arizona, but may not in other parts of the country. Both the federal, and most state governments have created tax incentives for residential homeowners who install solar systems. There is a 30% tax credit from the feds, and here in Arizona, the state offers a flat $1,000 tax credit. Most of the individual power companies offer some sort of incentive, but that varies greatly depending on the utility company.

There are several ways that a homeowner can purchase, or lease a system, and here's where it gets a little more complicated. Esmay Electric (Michael Kirk 928 575-5335) here in Havasu is our contractor, and they offer 3 ways for the homeowner to have a solar system installed.

1. Purchasing a solar system is pretty straight forward. The system we are having installed is considered small at 4.6 kilowatts (4,600 watts). As an interesting comparison, we have 3 solar panels on the roof of our motor home, and their total wattage is 320. The total cost for our system, including permits & installation is $30,130. If we were eligible for all of the tax credits, which we wouldn't be, the cost is reduced to $22,770. With a straight purchase, we would be responsible for applying for the tax credits, and would have to write a check up front for the full amount of $30,130.

2. Two lease options are available, and the first one makes no sense at all, unless you need a no money up front option. With O down, our monthly lease payment would be $72 a month, and over 20 years, the total cost of the system would be $25, 808.

3. The second lease option makes a lot of sense, and here's how it works. We make an up front payment of $9,286, and have no lease payment. In the 7th year of the lease, we make a final lease buyout payment of $885, and the system is ours. Total cost $10,171. Since the system is owned by Sunpower for the first 7 years, they can depreciate the equipment on a 100% schedule, and they also are the ones eligible for the tax credits. Their profit margins are built into 3 things - our up front payment, the tax credits from, the feds, state, utility company, and the ability to depreciate the system over 7 years.

In a nutshell, we invest about 10 grand, and reduce our utility bill to zero. If you look at it from a length of time return on investment, with an average monthly utility bill of $100, it will take about 8.3 years for us to get our money back. I look at it slightly differently. We're investing/spending $10,000, and will immediately get a little less than 10% return on that money, paid to us every month in the form of no electric bill.

This type of expenditure may not make sense for everybody, but it sure does for us, particularly when you look at the dismal return on investment from any type of savings account.

GRASSROOTS RACING

My interest in motor sports started a long time ago during my high school years. As soon as I was able to drive, my buddies and I could often be found at one of the local drag strips, or at the Watsonville Fairgrounds for the dirt track action.

Yesterday afternoon, I made my way to the Havasu 95 Speedway for some fender banging, roundy round racing. This type of competition is where most of the NASCAR Superstars started their careers, and who knows, perhaps one of the next NASCAR Champions was driving yesterday.

When the racing started, there was a pretty good crowd.

A half hour before the races started, the bleachers were almost empty.

From 2pm to a little after 5pm, the action was almost non-stop. This little track has established an excellent program, attracting drivers from as far away as Tucson, and Las Vegas. By the time the racing was nearing the end, the sun was setting directly across from the grandstands, and the only negative was the fact that it became a little difficult to watch the racing with the sun in your eyes. Most of the Saturday racing programs are at night, so that's not a problem.

There's no such thing as a cheap entry into any type of racing, but some of the stock classes were pretty bare bones regarding the equipment. I saw one of the race cars for sale at $1,500, it just needed a seat. It was an entertaining afternoon with lots of sunshine, and some pretty darn good racing action.

CHP MEMORIES

Back in 1982-83, our fleet of patrol cars was mostly Dodge Polara's, with a few Ford Mustangs. Both had small block V-8's, and the horsepower numbers weren't anything to brag about. The Mustangs were much lighter, so the weight to horsepower ratio was much higher, and that contributed to a faster top speed. The Dodge's & Mustang's were prepared identically, but there often was a lot of difference between the cars, in respect to their performance. The top speed of the Dodge's was in the 110-120 mph range, and most all of the Mustangs would attain a top speed in excess of 120 mph, and a few approached 130 mph.

I was working the swing shift, on a hot summer day in 1983, and the southern section of Interstate 5 was my responsibility, from State Route 152 on the north, to Panoche Road on the south. This was about 50 miles of freeway on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, an area of mostly farmland. I was driving one of the Dodge's, and the day was unfolding as pretty routine.

In the late afternoon, the routine of the day was sharply interrupted when the dispatcher broadcast that an armed robbery had just occurred at one of the gas station/mini markets on I5, approx. 20 miles north of my location. The suspect vehicle was described as a dark blue, late model Camaro, and was last seen southbound on I5. I knew that one of my friends was working at this particular business, but there was no information about the robbery, other than a handgun was the weapon used.

Rather than head north, trying to spot the southbound Camaro, I decided to wait on the SR165 (Mercy Springs) overpass, approx. 8 miles south of SR 152. I knew that there was a good possibility that if the suspect traveled south to SR152, he/she might go either east or west on that cross highway, and I would be out of the picture. My wait was only a few minutes, when I spotted what looked like the suspect Camaro pass under the overpass, still traveling southbound. By then, I had a Merced County Sheriff with me, and we both hit the southbound on ramp, just as the Camaro went by. We were in plain sight, and as soon as we took off, so did the Camaro. I can't remember what make of vehicle the Sheriff was driving, but I left him in the dust rather quickly as the Dodge I had that day was one of the faster ones in the office. By the time I got up to top speed, which as I recall was just a little over 120, the Camaro was a good distance in front of me. When I alerted the dispatcher that I was in high speed pursuit of the suspect vehicle, I requested that the next CHP Area to the south (Coalinga) be notified, and that the CHP fixed wing aircraft based in that office, either get airborne, or if it already was, for it to head in my direction. For 50 miles or so, it was just me and the Camaro, and fortunately, there wasn't a lot of traffic. Apparently, my Dodge was just a little faster than the Camaro, as I slowly gained some ground. In this situation, without any close backup, lots of things race through your mind, like the possibility of this guy stopping, and then it's just you and him if he decided to shoot it out. Fortunately, that didn't happen.

The farther south we went, the closer we got to the next CHP Area, and some help. There were a couple of Los Banos CHP Officers trying to catch me, but they were many miles behind. I learned that the CHP Aircraft wasn't in the air, but the Coalinga Area had a couple of units headed north. When we passed Panoche Road, we were in Fresno County, and now in the Coalinga CHP Area. I also had requested that if Coalinga had any Mustangs on duty, that they send them north, as our speeds were pretty consistently around 120 mph. Coalinga CHP and Los Banos CHP were on different radio frequencies, with two different dispatch centers. There is a statewide frequency (blue channel) that I utilized to communicate with the northern most Coalinga Officer who was in a Mustang. As we approached his position, I remember telling him to get going on the shoulder before we passed, otherwise he would be left in the dust. As we passed, he was accelerating, but had not gotten up to any significant speed, and indeed, we left him far behind. A few miles farther, the second Coalinga unit was also in a Mustang, and he was up to about 100 mph when we passed.

By the time we were approaching the Coalinga turn off, approx. 100 miles south of where the pursuit started, the first Mustang had caught up, and there were now 3 CHP units behind the Camaro. Fresno County Sheriff Deputies were also trying to keep up, not very successfully. The protocol for these types of chases, that go from one CHP area to another, is for the primary role to switch to whatever area the pursuit is in. When there were sufficient troops behind this guy, I dropped out, and headed for a gas station, as I was almost out of fuel. The coolant temperature in my patrol car was well into the red, and I remember having to run lots of water on the radiator to cool the thing down.

While I was at the gas station, the dispatcher called to tell me that the robbery suspect had run out of fuel, and he was taken into custody without incident about 5 miles south of where I dropped out of the chase. I remember thinking that I was happy the guy got caught, but that I narrowly missed the pleasure of putting the metal bracelets on an armed robber.

GOOD NEWS BAD NEWS

The good news is we had a nice Thanksgiving Dinner here at home, and have lots to be thankful for. Patty fixed a great meal, and I can't wait for that first turkey sandwich. The bad news is Marc, Chandra, and Laila had to cancel their trip here to Lake Havasu, due to a medical issue. At the last minute, we were going to make a quick trip to Tucson, but decided against it for a number of reasons. We'll all be together in a couple of weeks anyway, when we meet up in Fort Lauderdale, and head out on a 1 week Caribbean Cruise.

The next good news is that despite her 14 year age, our little Beagle is still doing quite well. Her hearing is just about gone, but the nose still works as good as ever. The bad news is the Vet. had to remove two more small growths, one from the top of her head, and one from under her right eye. For some reason, this dog has always been subject to these wart like tumors that can become quite large. While in Skagway, Alaska, we made the mistake of waiting too long, when Sami had one of these growths on an ear. By the time we got her to Whitehorse in the Yukon, we thought she was going to lose part of that ear. Fortunately, the Vet. did a great job, to the tune of about $1,000, and saved her ear. Since that incident, whenever we notice a new growth, it's quickly off to the Vet. for some surgery and stitches.

The next piece of good news is the weather. The forecast for the next week is mid 70 temperatures, and lots of sunshine. This kind of weather is one of the main reasons we moved here in 2002. The bad news is that a lot of the country is mired in cold, winter weather, with everything from rain to snow. It will get a little cooler here pretty soon, but for me, it's pretty much t-shirt and shorts weather the entire year.

Continuing with the good news, at least for us, it was the signing of a contract to have a solar, electrical generating system installed here at the house. The idea of getting all of our electricity from the sun, and having a $O utility bill, is pretty appealing. This is something that I've been thinking about for quite awhile, and after doing some research, decided to pull the trigger before the end of the year. That's when some of the incentives for this type of expenditure will disappear, so, it's signed, sealed, and almost delivered. That's the bad news. Due to the backlog, installation won't be happening until about March. When we get closer to the system being activated, I'll share more details.

And lastly, the good news for the shoppers out there, it's Black Friday, and the deals were just waiting for those folks who got up at O dark thirty, and stood in line long before the sun even came up. More good news for those bargain hunters, you won't have to worry about me competing for those super deals. For the next several weeks, the big box stores are akin to the plague for me, and even though some exposure is necessary, it's doubtful that you'll run into me in one of them. The bad news is that for many Americans, the option of shopping at these stores is off the table, and unless our government gets serious about solving the debt crisis, it's going to get a lot worse for everybody!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

ADIOS KURT & PHYLISS

Phyliss and Patty

Kurt and Phyliss Hanson

Since our departure from the drag race circuit almost 8 years ago (has it been that long?), our race family continues to grow smaller and smaller. Many of our old friends have left NHRA Drag Racing, and there's only a handful left that we still know.

We had a nice visit with Kurt & Phyliss, and as they were hooking up their trailer, in preparation for a cross country trip to Florida, I couldn't help but think that part of me would still like to be involved with drag racing. I enjoyed traveling around the country, even though pulling a big trailer like the one pictured here, wasn't always a lot of fun.

As I mentioned yesterday, Kurt brought me up to speed with most everything associated with the NHRA race circuit. During the off season, in all of the different racing organizations, there are always lots of changes that take place. Having been sworn to secrecy, I can say there's a big announcement coming that will impact his driver - Alexis Dejoria. She drives an 8,000 horsepower Fuel Funny Car, and hopes to be competitive when the season begins next February in Pomona. I know I'll be watching her progress, as she competes for the rookie of the year award, and maybe wins a race or two.

We said goodbye to Kurt & Phyliss, and wished them a safe trip, as they headed for Florida where their race team is headquartered. They'll be spending most of the off season near some other race friends, so we asked them to say hi to Frank & Suzie when they arrived in Florida.

THE TEQUILA CONNECTION

Yesterday morning, our friends, Kurt & Phyliss Hanson called to tell us they were in town. They were on their way from the last drag race of the season in Pomona, to Florida for the winter. The purpose of their stop in Lake Havasu was to get their race team merchandise trailer measured for a custom awning. When that process was completed, I led them up to the house, and after Kurt parked the trailer, he backed their motor home in next to the garage, adjacent to the electrical, water & sewer hookups.

We first met Kurt & Phyliss in 2005, when they went to work for MainGate, the company we had previously worked for during the 2002 & 2003 NHRA campaign. This past race season, they moved on to greener pastures, and are now in charge of the Alexis Dejoria merchandise trailer, which was debuted at the Dallas Race, near the end of this years season.

Kurt & Phyliss brought us up to speed on all of the happenings in the NHRA world, and particularly how they transitioned from running the Kenny Bernstein race team merchandise trailer, to this new gig, with Alexis Dejoria.

Later in the afternoon, we threw some steaks on the grill, had a nice dinner, and continued visiting until bedtime. Kurt & Phyliss will be leaving this morning, heading for Florida where they'll spend the off season. If they have this local company install an awning on their trailer, we'll see them again in late January, or early February.

A BBQ & A POOCH PARTY

We've been busy the last couple of days. Yesterday, we had some friends over for a BBQ, and despite a cloudy day with cooler temps, it was good to get together with some of our buddies. It was Ron's birthday, so Megan brought a cake, and I think we all got plenty to eat.

L to R, Ron, Judy, Jeanette, Patty, Jim, & Bob

We hadn't seen Jim & Megan since before summer, and it was good to catch up with their work summer at Dollywood in TN. We shared our experiences while living & working at the Grand Canyon this summer.

Ron, Jeanette, Jim, & Bob

Jeanette, Megan, Jim, & Bob

This group of friends all made the connection when we were summer work camping in Skagway, Alaska. Bob, Jeanette, & Jim, Megan spent 4 summers with us in that tiny town in Southeast Alaska, and we've become good friends from that first meeting in 2004. Ron & Judy were also there that first year, but didn't spend all 4 summers in Skagway. As always, it was good to get together with our friends, and it was a nice visit.

This dog is a Shiloh Shepherd, and caught my eye.

On Saturday, we spent a couple of hours at the Pooch Party, taking place this weekend at London Bridge Park. We watched the Mohave Sheriff's K-9 demonstration, as well as a Frisbee contest, & even a beauty contest. For anyone who likes dogs, this is a must on your calendar.

This Welsh Corgi has always been one of my favorites.

Some of the vendors, and a partial view of the "POOCH PARTY".

With the last name of CHANCE, whenever we see the word in writing, our natural reaction is to focus on it. I can't tell you how many times in my life, that in response to someones question regarding the spelling of my name, I have come back with "take a chance", and then, they usually get it. This group of critters were all up for adoption through the local humane society, and lets hope that some of them found a loving home. The alternative for these dogs, and many thousands like them, is not very attractive.

KELLI WARD FOR SENATE

The London Bridge Park was the scene yesterday for the annual Pooch Party. If you like animals, dogs in particular, this is an event that has everything from Police K-9 demonstrations, to Frisbee catching critters. In addition to the dog activities, there were vendors, and yes, even an aspiring politician running in the upcoming Republican Primary for State Senator.

This was the second opportunity that I've had a chance to talk to Dr. Kelli Ward, and I'm convinced that she is the right choice to represent Lake Havasu City in the State Legislature. Before I turn all of you non Western Arizona readers off, rest assured that the BYCHANCE Blog is not morphing into a political action committee, but, from time to time, I have been known to voice my opinion regarding political issues.

I'm not going to get into specifics, but generally speaking, I think the politicians (both state & federal) have taken this country in the wrong direction, particularly with out of control spending. Fiscal conservatives like Kelli Ward are exactly the remedy for bringing back some financial sanity to government, and accountability to the voters. Unfortunately, the current, and past political leaders have taken us so far into the financial abyss, that bringing the pendulum back will probably cause considerly pain, most likely to almost everyone. This is what really gets me angry! The irresponsible deficit spending policies of both political parties in the past, have taken us to the edge of the cliff, and we're all facing the consequences.

After talking to Dr. Ward, and reviewing her positions on everything from health care, to the economy, I think it might be time to get involved, and give the silent majority a little louder voice. I would encourage anyone who might be interested, to check out Kelli Ward's facebook - Kelli Ward for AZ Senate, or website DrKelliWard.com, and if you're a voter in her Senate District, at least take a look at her positions before voting.

OUTA CONTROL

There's no hope, I'm convinced that we are totally out of control! We've sunken to the lowly depths of deprivation, as we have been seeking that perfect treasure, hidden away in someones pile of junk, cleverly disguised as a garage, or yard sale. The way we have been searching through other peoples throw away stuff, you would think that we don't have the proverbial pot to p#$$ in, and that our lives are as hopeless as the occupy wall street crowd. When you're up at the crack of dawn, with the GPS programed to strategically take you from one sale to the next, and you just know that the early bird gets the worm, the word urgency takes on a new meaning.

Yesterday, we spent about $50, not to mention 1/4 tank of gas looking for treasures. When the dust had settled, I was glad I had a truck, and wasn't driving a VW Beetle. When we finally called it quits, about 25 garage sales later, we had accumulated a whole bunch of stuff that we didn't need. But, when something sells new for X amount, and you can get it for only a buck, how in the world can you pass up a deal like that! Unfortunately, there were a whole bunch of those super bargains that ended up packing the back of the truck to the brim.

Here I am with our days treasures, which included 2 pot shelves, a crock pot, a bread maker, an umbrella stand, a drink warmer, an ammo can, assorted books, XMAS decorations, a toothbrush holder, & probably something else I've already forgotten. No, we already had the dog.

There were 55 garage sales advertised in the weekly white sheet, and around the 8am hour, the numbers of vehicles at any given location can be almost frightening. There were a few times when I had fleeting thoughts of resurrecting my former career, and either directing traffic, or writing parking tickets to the idiots who park right in the middle of the road. I guess it's all about being at the head of the line, and being the one to find that hidden treasure. There's almost a cult mentality involved, as we sometimes followed, or were pursued by the same people from one sale to the next. Heck, as much as Patty likes to chat with folks, I'm surprised we don't have a bunch of new friends coming over for dinner tonight.

I guess when you're retired like a lot of folks in this town, garage sales cater to a bunch of people like us, who have the time to become somewhat addicted to the pursuit of that perfect find. When that happens, I'll be sure and let everyone know. In the meantime, the pile of stuff for my next garage sale is piling up!

GO GABBY

If you missed Diane Sawyers interview with Congresswoman Gabby Giffords last night on ABC, it was beyond inspirational to see the tremendous progress she has made since being shot in the head 10 months ago, by a lunatic gunman.

Patty and I watched with awe, how far she has recovered from the terrible damage done by the bullet wound to her brain. Her husband, Astronaut Mark Kelly provided home video that chronicled her recovery, from right after the shooting, to where she is today. At one point, when she became frustrated during a therapy session, and started to cry, I would be willing to bet that there were several million viewers with a few tears as well.

Much like a movie script, this remarkable story about a woman with such determination is ongoing, and the final scenes are yet to be played out. Ten months ago, the story line was would she live? The idea of her returning to Congress was hardly even a passing thought. After watching last night, I wouldn't rule anything out, in respect to her ability to resume her job as a Congressional Representative for Southern Arizona. When asked that question, her answer was "better", which translated by her husband, meant that she wanted to get better before making that determination.

I think it's safe to say that even though Gabby is a member of Congress, which enjoys approval ratings that are at historical lows, her favorable ratings would be through the roof! Politics aside, this woman deserves a special place in American History, and even though she feels no anger toward her assailant, many of us do.

NHRA vs NASCAR

Yesterday was the last NHRA Drag Race of the 2011 season, and it was the next to last NASCAR race of the year. For the race junkies out there like me, we are approaching the time of year when there are several months of no racing action on the tube.

I'm a fan of both styles of racing, but ever since I witnessed my first drag race in Fremont, CA, where "Big Daddy" Don Garlits won the top fuel action back in the early 60's, I've been a devoted follower. When we retired from our Harley-Davidson Dealership, and joined the NHRA circuit, pulling the brand new Harley-Davidson Pro Stock Drag Bike Team merchandise trailer, I just knew that I had died and gone to heaven. Being part of that racing community for 2 years was like a dream come true. We were a part of that traveling road show for 2 seasons (2002 & 2003), putting almost 50,000 miles on our motor home, and seeing a good part of America in the process.

Toward the end of the season, the individual drama involved with those drivers who are competing for the championships, can be quite interesting for race fans like me. The last NHRA race of the season was completed yesterday in Pomona, CA, and the professional champions were all crowned. Out of the 4 pro classes, the one that we were most involved with was Pro Stock Motorcycle, so that's a class that is always on my radar screen. When the dust was settled at Pomona, Eddie Kriewic, on the Vance & Hines, Screaming Eagle, Harley-Davidson V-Rod, won his 2nd championship trophy. Since we were a part of that team when it started in 2002, they have won the championship 5 out of the last 10 seasons. That's a record that most race teams would love to have, and I'm sure there was quite a celebration last night.

There's one more NASCAR race next weekend, and it looks like the new champion will be either Tony Stewart, or Carl Edwards. After that, the long dry spell begins, and I'll be counting the days toward February, when both series start their respective racing action once again.

FREEDOM RALLY

In conjunction with Veteran's Day Weekend, the annual Freedom Rally was held for the first time on Main Street (McCulloch Blvd). In years past, the event venue had been down by the lake at Windsor Beach. The first time Patty and I attended this patriotic gathering was a few years ago when the Vietnam Memorial moving Wall was displayed.

There are a lot of things that Lake Havasu City is not, but for sure, it certainly is a City that embraces patriotism. There are so many residential flagpoles (including ours) with American Flags flying in the breeze, that you can almost say that when you drive around town, you are almost never out of sight of an American Flag. I suspect that with a large retired population, many of the city residents are Military Veteran's, even though there is no Military Base nearby.

This plaque was on the side of one of the firetrucks, and kind of hit home when I read it. You may have to click on the picture to enlarge the text.

As events go, this was not one of the best attended, but there was a pretty good crowd wandering up and down Main Street, checking out the vendors, and the other activities. Later in the evening, there was a concert by the Fryed Brothers, a band that I have seen many times back in the days when I attended a lot of motorcycle events. Fireworks were also on the agenda after the live music. Needless to say, we were back home when all of this took place.

When I returned from overseas in 1968, a military uniform was not very much admired or respected. So glad that has changed.

A lot of the vendors had nothing to do with Veteran's Day, but they provided a good mix for the crowd. We walked from one end to the other, before heading down to the island, where I walked/ran my 3.6 miles, and Patty walked about the same distance along the London Bridge Channel. It was a good day to be an American, and living in a country that honors the service of it's Military Veteran's.

YADA YADA

The past few days have been pretty routine around here, and as a result, not much to write about. We did make a quick trip to Sam's Club in Bullhead City on Monday, and I've always got little projects going on around the house, but nothing to get really excited about.

Last week, we got into the garage sale thing, finding a few treasures for cheap. This week, starting yesterday, we continued in our quest for that perfect find, not really even knowing what it might be. Yea, there are a few things that I'm looking for, like some heavy bookends for all of my train books, but it's mostly one of those - "I'll know it when I see it".

Our local weekly White Sheet with all of the ads, comes out on Tuesday, and the photos show a map of the city, with locations for all of the garage sales. The ones highlighted in blue were yesterday, and we made our way to all 12 of them. Today is an orange day, with a total of 22 locations. What in the world did we ever do without G.P.S.?

As holidays go, today isn't one of the most celebrated, but in my mind, it's one of the most important. Veteran's day here in Lake Havasu is a big deal, with a parade this morning, and a closure of Main Street with all kinds of festivities. It shouldn't matter what your personal, political, or other beliefs are. Everyone should be thankful that we live in a country where freedom really means something. No, it's not a perfect world, but the sacrifices of all who have worn a uniform also means something, particularly those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Today is a day for remembering, and giving thanks to the millions of Vets who have served their country.

GUNS N ANNIE

On our Sunday trip out to the Desert Bar, I took along a few of my guns. After leaving the Bar, we stopped at an area that is well frequented by folks that like to make noise with their firearms. Let me just say that this isn't a weekly routine with us. As a matter of fact, since moving to Lake Havasu in 2002, this was the first time that we had both done any shooting in the desert.

The 2 guns that got the most action were both 22's. One was a revolver, and the other, a Ruger 10-22 that I had never fired since purchasing in Oregon a couple of years ago. Patty had never fired either gun, so she got most of the action, and surprisingly, hit the target almost every time.

I told her she needed to change her name to Annie Oakley, and get a summer job doing shooting exhibitions. Not really, but her hits were impressive at a distance of about 25 yards.

After killing the target, and a few pieces of junk left at this desert shooting range, we drove back to the highway, and then home. I have a feeling that we'll be making another trip or two out to The Desert Bar this winter, and perhaps Annie Oakley will ride once again!

THE DESERT BAR

There isn't much about this place that you can call conventional. The Desert Bar started as an old copper mining claim in the Buckskin Mountains, north of Parker, AZ. It sits out in the middle of the desert, on a dirt road, about 5 miles from the closest paved road. The only sign is the one shown below, and it's about a half mile off Hwy 95.

Yesterday was our third trip out to the Nellie E. Saloon, and the first time we stuck around long enough to enjoy the live music. Because the Desert Bar is in such an isolated location, the electrical grid does not reach it, and the source for electricity is from solar panels. The history of this very popular watering hole is pretty interesting, and if you're curious, click on the above link for all of the details.

This 1927 Oldsmobile is one of the first things you see upon arrival at the Desert Bar.

"The Church" is made entirely of metal, and is one of the unique landmarks at the Desert Bar.

The entrance bridge over the wash was completed in 1981.

After about a 20 minute drive on the dirt road, we arrived at this desert oasis just a little after their opening time of high noon. For years, water was hauled in by truck, then in 1997, Ken the owner drilled a 360 foot well which serves as the current water source.

The outside bar serves as the food area, and the inside bar is for drinks and souvenirs. Not exactly expecting an IN N OUT quality burger, I ordered one for $3, and it served the purpose of quelling my hunger. When the band started playing, I would probably categorize the music as somewhere between the Grateful Dead, and country. I think these guys were from Southern California, and they were actually quite good.

Inside the Desert Bar before the crowd started to fill the place up.

"No, that burger isn't for me, but I'm enjoying the sunshine".

The Shakedown, a group of 5 young guys, making some good music.

After an hour or so of listening to the band, we left the Desert Bar, and passed a bunch of vehicles heading toward this very unique place. Before we got back to the highway, we stopped at an unofficial shooting range in the desert, and unloaded some ammunition. More of that tomorrow.

SEAPLANES BY THE BRIDGE

This is about the third year that we've spectated at the remote (radio) controlled seaplane classic, and it's always been fun to watch these miniature airplanes flying & landing on the lake. When this event kicked off on Friday, the wind was blowing, with afternoon gusts up to 30 mph. We waited until yesterday, when the wind had died down, and the conditions were almost perfect.

There was a good crowd of folks, who like us, brought our fold up chairs. We watched everything from aerobatic flying, to a few planes that crashed into the water. I would guess that the later proved to be rather expensive for a few of these pilots. Some of these planes were so big that it took two people to carry them down to the water.

This plane was helicoptered down to where the tail actually touched the water.

Some of the best seats in the house were in the boats that anchored just outside the flying area. The flying pattern was clockwise, but with up to 7 planes in the air at any given time, I was sure that at some point, we would see a mid air collision. Many of the pilots seemed to ignore the pattern, and were doing loops and other maneuvers that put their planes at risk. But, by the time we left, the only crashes we saw were single plane incidents.

Some of these planes looked just like the real thing.

These ducks were looking for a handout, and had almost no fear of the people.

BEFORE

AFTER

The before and after show a replica Piper Cub that did a spectacular spiraling nose dive right into the water. Hard to say what went wrong, but it's probably safe to say that it wasn't the way this seaplane was meant to land on the water.

We enjoyed watching these small airplanes flying around, and it's one of many events that take place here in Lake Havasu City during the winter months.