Rolling North

We had a great start out of the Hot Springs LTVA and were rolling towards Yuma at about 8am. Filled up on gas and continued straight up to Quartzsite. The road was lined with the most beautiful blooming Palo Verde trees. Quartzsite was pretty empty, all the vendors had closed up shop. Hard to believe all that huzzle-buzzle which goes on here just 2 months earlier- At mile marker 99 we pulled into the 14-day area – not to stay 14 days but just to have our lunch. It was very peaceful out there with only a slight breeze blowing across the desert. I was almost tempted to stay – but no, we are on a mission. We also remembered our German friends Reinhard and Jutta which we met the 2.time right here at mile marker 99. As we continued farther north we passed Parker and then Lake Havasu City which has grown so much since we last have seen it 5 years ago. Before we reached the I-40 we had to decide which way to go to Las Vegas. We then went via Kingman entering Hwy 93 which is a highway almost entirely without any curve. It runs up to the Hoover Dam which again was way low on water. There wasn’t much left of the day so we thought of looking for a spot to park. Right up over the hill is Hacienda Casino and remembering that Casinos use to be very friendly towards RVers we pulled into their parking lot from where we had the most gorgeous view across Lake Mead. Since we were both tired we tried the casino restaurant, which is something we normally would never do. I ordered a burger while Bea had a grand salad. The food was OK and we were ready to retire into the trailer when a young man in a white shirt came up telling us that we could NOT stay in the parking lot, unless we rented a room in their hotel. I was kind of flabbergasted about their policy and had I known that I would never gone into their restaurant. So if you come this way, don’t stay here. It’s not worth it.   Nice view across Lake Mead, but we couldn’t stay. Right across the highway is a graveled area where trucks park. I guess you know that I am not a great fan of parking on truck stops, but this one offered an area way out along a cliff where I figured no truck would bother to pull alongside us.   I was dead WRONG! In spite a widely empty parking lot a noisy truck was pulling up right after we had settled in. I was furious! Are they doing this to piss off RVers and discourage them from using truck stops for their overnight stays? If so they have succeeded with me. Next time I am pulling straight out on the road again. Even driving, after 12 hrs behind the wheel, is better than a noisy night. I sure hope we‘ll have a better spot tomorrow.