MOHAVE VALLEY (PART 5)

NOW TO THE OTHER END OF OUR VALLEY, NEEDLES, CALIFORNIA. THE ARRIVAL OF THE RAILROAD AT THE COLORADO RIVER IN 1883, ACTUALLY CAUSED THE FOUNDING OF THE TOWN ON THE SHORES OF THE RIVER. THE NEW SETTLEMENT WAS NAMED “THE NEEDLES”, TAKEN FROM THE SHARP MOUNTAIN PEAKS AT THE SOUTHERN END OF THE VALLEY. NEEDLES WAS AND IS A RAILROAD TOWN AT HEART. IN DAYS GONE BY THE TRAINS STOPPED AT NEEDLES TO ICE DOWN THE CALIFORNIA PRODUCE ON IT’S WAY EAST.
NEEDLES, LIKE DEATH VALLEY, IS KNOW FOR EXTREME HEAT DURING THE SUMMERS. TEMPERATURES IN NEEDLES ROUTINELY REACH 120 DEGREES IN LATE JULY AND AUGUST. THE RECORD WAS SET AT 125 DEGREES, JULY 17, 2005.
IN THE COMIC STRIP PEANUTS, CREATED BY CHARLES SCHULTZ WHO LIVED IN NEEDLES, AS A BOY, OFTEN CARTOONED SNOOPY’S BROTHER SPIKE LIVING IN THE DESERT OUTSIDE OF NEEDLES.
NEEDLES IS ALSO WHERE THE MOTHER ROAD, ROUTE 66, CROSSES THE COLORADO RIVER, AND MANY OF THE OLD MOTELS AND CAFES ARE STILL AROUND.
OUR TRIPS TO NEEDLES ARE MONTHLY TO PURCHASE CALIFORNIA LOTTO TICKETS.