Texas to River for Vacation

[MOISTURE MISSILE]

I don't post to often on here mainly do to work, but I look at this site almost on a daily basis. The river has been a part of my life since I was a baby. Recently my family and I moved to Texas, but we still have a burning desire to go boating, hang out on the beach, BBQ and do all of this with our River fiends and family.

For all of you that post pictures of your river trips and boat rides, I want to start off by saying thank you. Willow Valley is a short 16 hour drive for us now, seeing your pictures of river trips and boatrides allow me to feel like I am closer to the place we love than I actually am. So here is my attempt at posting my families river trip for those who like seeing these threads as much as I do.

We left Fort Worth on Thursday at 5 AM, Made a pretty good run with the Kids and Wife sleeping for the first couple hours. First stop was Amarillo for my daughter. Bringing the little potty chair was a huge time saver....

We drove straight through from Texas to Willow Valley. Both kids were awesome for being stuck in the truck for so long.

Finally made it. Friday we ran errands for the first part of the morning, making sure we had everything we needed for the week. Spent the rest of Friday on the beach.

Time to get some rest:

We went boating Saturday. Hung out on the river just south of Needles on a sand bar we call “Island of Dreams”. I didn’t take any pics but I will snap some this week.

 

[milkmoney]

Thanks for sharing. Keep it coming [emoji106] [emoji202]

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[MOISTURE MISSILE]

Sunday was an awesome day. We spent it with a bunch of our Willow Valley river family. I don’t call them friends because they are so much more to me than that.

Was a great day kids played, adults got to have some cold Coors Lights and stayed cool in the water. Highlight of the day, besides seeing my kids fall in love with a place that I love so dearly, and being able to unplug from all electronics and not even want them because they are having to much fun playing and swimming with friend, was definitely going for a ride on the Schiada!!

Can’t get the video to upload but it’s a good one. Will have to do some learning on how to upload the video, something about not having the correct file extension.

 

[SoCalDave]

Can’t get the video to upload but it’s a good one. Will have to do some learning on how to upload the video, something about not having the correct file extension.

You'll need to upload it to YouTube or Vemo and copy/paste it here.

 

[MOISTURE MISSILE]

So my daughter is calling the shots today. She wants to go boating. She wakes up and comes in the room to wake me and my wife up and says, “come on guys, let’s go!! I drive the boat with Daddy today!!” Going to do some serious boating all week long. Thinking we are going to launch and head down to Topock. Both my kids love the boat, been going since they were 3 months old, just like when I was a kid. Trying to teach them the right way to do things. Most importantly I want them to have a concience to know that life is not all about them. Their actions affect tier fellow man, and to be good, honest hard working people.

Spending times doing things like this make those lessons so much more impactful and easier to teach. This is an old photo. I will upload some new ones from today’s adventures. Hope some of you are enjoying this. I know I greatly enjoy seeing your posts like this. If anyone is out on the water this week or upcoming weekend, we would love to meet up.

 

[milkmoney]

So my daughter is calling the shots today. She wants to go boating. She wakes up and comes in the room to wake me and my wife up and says, “come on guys, let’s go!! I drive the boat with Daddy today!!” Going to do some serious boating all week long. Thinking we are going to launch and head down to Topock. Both my kids love the boat, been going since they were 3 months old, just like when I was a kid. Trying to teach them the right way to do things. Most importantly I want them to have a concience to know that life is not all about them. Their actions affect tier fellow man, and to be good, honest hard working people.

Spending times doing things like this make those lessons so much more impactful and easier to teach. This is an old photo. I will upload some new ones from today’s adventures. Hope some of you are enjoying this. I know I greatly enjoy seeing your posts like this. If anyone is out on the water this week or upcoming weekend, we would love to meet up.

View attachment 670909

Friday , a couple of us will be heading north from havasu to beach up. Will post pics of boats in a couple days, maybe hook up at the beach.
I have no kids , but my buddy got 5 of them .... and another got two ...
[emoji106] [emoji202]

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[KENDOG689]

2nd beach should be nice all week!Enjoy.

 

[MOISTURE MISSILE]

Friday , a couple of us will be heading north from havasu to beach up. Will post pics of boats in a couple days, maybe hook up at the beach.
I have no kids , but my buddy got 5 of them .... and another got two ...
[emoji106] [emoji202]

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We would love to meet stop by. Was planning on boating down to Havasu either Friday or Saturday.

 

[milkmoney]

We would love to meet stop by. Was planning on boating down to Havasu either Friday or Saturday.

Not sure of ur location , beach area.
We will be going to beach across from pirates on Friday more than likely. Or a beach in the gorge area
Jus take my number and send a text
702 236 1221 [emoji202]

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[milkmoney]

Also 3 dunes on Saturday,

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[OldSchoolBoats]

We would love to meet stop by. Was planning on boating down to Havasu either Friday or Saturday.

We will be north this Friday. Plenty of kids for yours to play with!

Either here at Grandpa's Beach or at Pirates Cove.

 

[RiverDave]

I'm going to be out of town this weekend, or I'd join you guys..

OSB, pick up Stacy and the kids!

RD

 

[WillyWonka]

Cool pics! Willow Valley is indeed a special place. We will be camped out on Park Moabi Wed - Monday. Can't wait to get out of here. Hope to see ya.

 

[SoCalDave]

We will be north this Friday. Plenty of kids for yours to play with!

Either here at Grandpa's Beach or at Pirates Cove.

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We always stop/hangout at GB when in the area.

 

[MOISTURE MISSILE]

Pulled out of Willow Valley not another boat in sight.

Jumped in the water to cool off. One kid is passed out already. Lol.

Island of Dreams is empty today.

 

[MOISTURE MISSILE]

Stopped at Topock. Kids wanted to swim in the pool and get strawberry smoothies (virgin daiquiri’s) along with a mudslides for the adults.

My son just figured out what Rocky Mountain oysters were a couple weeks ago from one of his friends at home in Texas. I told him Topock has them on the menu, he’s thinks it’s funny that people eat “fried balls” as he calls them. Well he asked the waitress if he could please try the “fried balls” she laughed and said yes. He loves them!!

 

[FlyByWire]

Nice post Mike, see you guys soon!

 

[MOISTURE MISSILE]

Nice post Mike, see you guys soon!

Thanks can’t wait to see you my friend!!

 

[Headless hula]

Fried balls. Lmao!

 

[72Hondo]

Fellow Ft worth guy here. Texas convoy next time!


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[MOISTURE MISSILE]

Fellow Ft worth guy here. Texas convoy next time!


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Really debating bringing the boat back to Texas with us when we head home. Eagle Mountain Lake launch ramp is about 10 min from my house. Just need to figure out boat storage. Would be cool to get together with a fellow Texan who is into boats like I am. First round is on me!!

 

[Meaney77]

Island of Dreams is empty today.
View attachment 671128

Looks like a great trip! We stop at that sandbar all of the time, never knew it had a name. Its crazy how deep it is on the closest to CA. Enjoy your trip

 

[MOISTURE MISSILE]

You'll need to upload it to YouTube or Vemo and copy/paste it here.

Well here is a quick video of the Schiada.

 

[MOISTURE MISSILE]

 

[SoCalDave]

Pulled out of Willow Valley not another boat in sight.
View attachment 671121
Jumped in the water to cool off. One kid is passed out already. Lol.
View attachment 671123
Island of Dreams is empty today.
View attachment 671128

And that is exactly why we are going Mon-Fri of next week. I can’t take the weekend shit shows and can enjoy the river more.

 

[milkmoney]

And that is exactly why we are going Mon-Fri of next week. I can’t take the weekend shit shows and can enjoy the river more.

I agree , but I have to do some weekends to hang with friends. Poor bastards have to work , during the week [emoji202]

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[gqchris]

Great post Mike. Can you give a hint to where the the "Island of Dreams" is? Looks like a great spot and I am going to be dong Willow Valley for first time this year. Thanks!

 

[MOISTURE MISSILE]

Great post Mike. Can you give a hint to where the the "Island of Dreams" is? Looks like a great spot and I am going to be dong Willow Valley for first time this year. Thanks!

Thanks for the compliment. Here is a 30k foot view I circled it in yellow to give you an idea of where it is between Needles and Topock. I also zoomed in and dropped a pin with the Lat/Long so you could punch it in a phone or iPad and scroll around. At work we know this location as the Westbound Control Signal East Needles. Lol. @Kachina26 and @02HoWaRd26 will know what I mean. When the waters low we pull up there and have some pretty good horseshoe tournaments. Later in the day when the waters up it’s a great place to throw a football with the kids.

 

[KENDOG689]

Great post Mike. Can you give a hint to where the the "Island of Dreams" is? Looks like a great spot and I am going to be dong Willow Valley for first time this year. Thanks!

Willow Valley is closed.

 

[SoCalDave]

Never knew it was called Island of Dreams. We always stop there for a bit on the way back up river and let the kids play while the adults have their favorite beverage. It's just south of the big wash that spill's out on the Cal side.

 

[Tamalewagon]

Great pictures. It's the best when your kids love the river as much as you do.

 

[gqchris]

Much appreciated for the pin! And yes, Willow Valley is closed. Way too dangerous water levels.

 

[72Hondo]

Really debating bringing the boat back to Texas with us when we head home. Eagle Mountain Lake launch ramp is about 10 min from my house. Just need to figure out boat storage. Would be cool to get together with a fellow Texan who is into boats like I am. First round is on me!!

We’re over by TMS about 20 min from Eagle mountain. If you don’t bring the boat back you guys can ride with us!

 

[MOISTURE MISSILE]

Tuesday’s are some of the best days. Nobody on the water. Hung out with some friends on the beach took the kids tubing, now finishing it up with BBQ, cold beers and a couple frinds over at the house. Life was good today!!

 

[SoCalDave]

Tuesday’s are some of the best days. Nobody on the water. Hung out with some friends on the beach took the kids tubing, now finishing it up with BBQ, cold beers and a couple frinds over at the house. Life was good today!!

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View attachment 671618

Enjoying this thread and can’t wait until next week!
Our grandkids last year!

 

[MOISTURE MISSILE]

Awesome pics!! Great looking family you got there!! It’s times like those in your pictures that make all the hard work worth while. Love the picture of your Grandchild driving with you, I used to love driving the boat with my Dad and my kids love driving also. Got to start them young!!

 

[MOISTURE MISSILE]

Started today off launching in Willow Valley. Group consisted of 2 boats with 7 adults 5 kids. Floated down along the houses south of Needles bridge.

Then kids wanted to do some tubing on the way to Topock for lunch.

Pulled up to Island of Dreams around 5:45 pm and played a couple games of horseshoe’s.

Pulled off the water just as it got dark. Cleaned up the boat and were headed to Laughlin with some friends for adult fun tonight. Wife’s mom is going to watch the kids, we don’t get that opportunity much now that we live in Texas and all of our family is out here!!

 

[MOISTURE MISSILE]

So I met up with Milkmoney and Old School Boats today at Park Moabi. Both are great people to hang with, if you ever have the opportunity, I highly recommend it. Even had Fly by Wire with me as a witness that Milkmoney’s Schiada actually left the trailer!! Lol.

Left Park Moabi and went to Island of Dreams with some friends and played some horseshoes. Today was a great day!!

 

[FlyByWire]

Meeting Milk Money was fun, especially hearing him threaten to literally murder someone if they got his Schiada wet with their water cannons. [emoji23][emoji23] His string of insults for these geniuses was great too:

Dinner and drinks with the river family to include THE Don Johnson was a blast as always..... I’ll leave the details of who had who for dessert for another thread.

Thanks for having us on the boat. It was great seeing you and the family after such a long time. It was the two of you that got us absolutely hooked on this life and Willow Valley. We all wish you guys still lived only 2 doors away. Some day again hopefully. Love you, brother!!

Oh, your wife and I make a cute couple [emoji14][emoji14]