LODGE ON THE RIVER

THE NEXT PRIORITY PROJECT IN LAUGHLIN IS TO FIND GRANDMA A ROOM TO STAY IN WHILE SHE VISITS IN JANUARY AND FEBUARY. A LOT OF SNOWBIRDS COME TO OUR MOHAVE VALLEY AND THIS PROJECT WAS HIGH ON THE LIST, BECAUSE MOST SNOWBIRDS ON HAVING SUCCESSFUL ACCOMADATIONS DURING THE WINTER GO AHEAD AND MAKE THEIR RESERVATIONS IN MARCH WHEN THEY LEAVE FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

WHEN GRANDMA DECIDED LAST SPRING SHE WAS GONNA TRY ARIZONA THIS YEAR, INSTEAD OF FLORIDA, MARY AND I DID A LITTLE SCOUTING IN NEEDLES, CA ON THE SOUTHERN END OF THE VALLEY WHICH IS WHERE WE CAMP. WHILE WE WERE DISCUSSING THIS OVER COCKTAILS WITH STEVE AND MERYL THEY BOTH SAID, NO, NO DON’T LET YOUR MOTHER STAY IN NEEDLES, IT ISN’T SAFE.

BUT MY MOM LIKES THE DAYS INN, AND THERE IS ONE RIGHT THERE OFF OF INTERSTATE 40? AS THE SUMMER WORE ON I GOT TO THINKING ABOUT STEVE’S WARNING AND MOM STAYING IN THE SAME ROOM AT THE DAYS INN WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME A TARGET. I NEEDED TO FIND A SNOWBIRD FRIENDLY MOTEL/HOTEL WHERE THERE WERE OTHER SNOWBIRDS STAYING AND THEY KINDA KEEP AN EYE OPEN FOR EACH OTHER, NOT SOME DAYS INN ON THE INTERSTATE.

I STARTED SEARCHING THE INTERNET AND FOUND WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE A PERFECT PLACE DOWN IN OLD BULLHEAD CITY. SO I ASKED STEVE IF HE WOULD RIDE ALONG WITH ME TO LOOK IT OVER AND GIVE ME HIS OPINION. WE ARRIVED AT ABOUT 11 AM AND FOUND THE FRONT DESK CLOSED, THE SECURITY DESCRIBED ON THE INTERNET DIDN’T SEEM TO EXSISIT, AND WHEN WE WALKED AROUND BACK TO CHECK OUT THE POOL, WE FOUND A DOG TIED OUT PERMANTLY ON A PATIO WITH A BIG “BEWARE OF DOG” SIGN WIRED TO THE PATIO BARS.

WE ASKED ONE OF THE RESIDENTS IF THEY COULD RECOMMEND ANOTHER SNOWBIRD PLACE IN OLD BULLHEAD AND SHE RECCOMENDED TWO MORE. THE NEXT PLACE WAS A BEST WESTERN, AND AFTER CHECKING PRICES THERE, WE ASKED HIM IF THERE WERE MORE SNOWBIRD FRIENDLY PLACES TO LOOK AT?

ONE PLACE LED US TO ANOTHER AND THE BEST WE FOUND IS LODGE ON THE RIVER, A NICE SIZED TWO ROOM SUITE FACING THE POOL AND THE COLORADO RIVER, WITH PLENTY OF AFTERNOON SUN.

THE PROBLEM, AND THERE ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE ONE, IS THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE SUITE LEFT AVAILABLE DURING JAN. AND FEB.. A PHONE CALL TO GREEN BAY AND UNCLE NEIL TO THE RESCUE. GET AHOLD OF MOM AND HER CREDIT CARD AND CALL LODGE ON THE RIVER RIGHT NOW AND RESERVE THAT LAST SUITE!!! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!! NICE JOB UNCLE NEIL!!!

SHE’S GONNA LOVE IT, IN THE BACK, JUST OFF THE POOL, GROUND LEVEL, THE COLORADO RIVER, SMALL FRIDGE, COFFEE MAKER, MICRO WAVE, LIVING ROOM, DINNING TABLE, BREAKFAST BAR, SEPARATE BEDROOM, SIDING GLASS DOORS TO AN OUTDOOR PATIO, AND MAID SERVICE. WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE IS A STRIP MALL COMPLETE WITH A SAFEWAY GROCERY STORE, A DENNY’S RESTRAUNT, A POPULAR MEXICAN RESTRAUNT, AND A GOOD ITALIAN RESTURANT.

NOT ONLY DID UNCLE NEIL GET THE ROOM SUCCESSUFULLY BOOKED BUT ARRARANGED HER ROUND TRIP FLIGHTS AS WELL. THANKS AGAIN UNCLE NEIL FOR YOUR HELP!! AND IN DECEMBER WE WILL BE WELCOMING GRANDMA TO OUR MOHAVE VALLEY JUST IN TIME FOR A WARM CHRISTMAS!

YOU KNOW MY GOOD NEIGHBOR STEVE ALWAYS GIVES ME GREAT ADVICE, THE PROBLEM IS, AND I ALWAYS LISTEN TO HIS HELPFUL ADVICE, IS THAT I ONLY FOLLOW HIS ADVICE HALF THE TIME. DO YOU THINK I’LL EVER LEARN, STEVE?