Xscapers Bash, Lake Havasu, AZ

Travel Day: to S.A.R.A. (Special Activities Recreation Area) Park on the other side of Lake Havasu, AZ, 6 miles from where we were. HA The event this week was “Bash.” We are members of an RV club called Escapees. Escapees has a group called Xscapers. Xscapers is usually a younger group who work remotely. With people still having jobs, the event has  community-led things happening during the day, for example, exercise. Most of the regular happenings start in the later afternoon and go through the evenings. 

It is always fun to pull in at the rodeo grounds where the event is held. (We attended here in 2023.) There are lots of Xscapers at the check in gate waving and jumping and so excited to see you. You can choose, when registering, what area you want to be park your RV in: general, solar (no generators allowed), party, family, solo. We picked general again. They parked us at a good angle to catch the sun and our solar panel charged for many hours during the day! Wahoo! We get all set up quickly since there are no hook ups just our generator. 

At 5:00 p.m. all 500 people here met at the rodeo seats for welcome and announcements. Everyone moved to center camp for a margarita toast (non-alcohol was also offered) since this is the 10th anniversary of Bash and it started with people talking over margaritas. There were 3 food trucks here but one didn’t open. So a hamburger place and Mexican. We got in line and had Fry Bread (we know it as Navajo Tacos). The line took a while and after ordering took even longer. But you know what? That is how we were able to visit with people and meet them. One couple joined us at the table to eat. That was fun. There was a band playing in the background.

Monday

At 7:00 p.m. it was time for visiting in each section where your RV was parked. Kevin went and I was so glad. Since I am deaf and it was dark out and they sat around fire pits, it would be too hard for me to see any signing. (This is in the middle of the parking for the rodeo grounds and there aren’t lights around.) He had nice visits and came in when it was done around 9:00 p.m. I stayed home (footnote 1) and read my book.

Tuesday 

We visited with a couple who have a 5th wheel toy hauler. They have been full-time for 1 month and are loving it. They asked our advice and I suggested they keep a travel journal. She said she had thought about that, hadn’t started but would now. The entertainment for the evening was Talent Show. The talent all involved talking or singing and all too fast for Kevin to interpret. So I just sat there and people watched. That can be entertaining! 🙂 

Wednesday

We found the best food truck food we think we have ever had. It is Sweet Cream Crepes. The man and lady working inside were very nice. We had the Cuban crepe and also banana split crepe. Rated: Every Day! In fact, we went back for dinner and I had Boston Creme crepe – hold the chocolate and Kevin had Philly cheesesteak. Rated: Sad They Won’t Be Here The Rest Of The Week! Oh, the man chuckled when I said to hold the chocolate. He had never heard of anyone not liking chocolate. Afterwards we told them they were the best food truck we have ever had. We wanted to give them our itinerary and have them follow us around the country! 🤣 The evening entertainment was Bash Olympics. I just get a kick out of watching them. I think there are about 10 different games and each team of 4-6 plays and gets their paper signed. In the rodeo field were three huge inflatable: an obstacle course, wear a pack that is wired to hold you back and you struggle forward and throw a basketball to the hoop, and whack-a-mole. People would pop up in this huge inflatable and the center person had to whack them! That was hilarious to see! Sumo-wrestler suits was a funny race. There were many others. Kevin ended up sitting at a table in center court and visiting with a couple from CA who have been full-time for 6 months. It was dark and hard to see any signing so I just went around by myself and watched the different games. Fun. Later it was time around the humungous campfire with a band playing.

Friday 

We learned some good things from the BLM office seminar yesterday here at Bash. Kevin was impressed with how the three rangers were encouraging us all to go camping on the BLM land. He thought they might be “don’t camp on our land” stuff but they didn’t. That was good. I took several pictures of their slides showing where to camp in their area, Lake Havasu office. I am sure we will use this for reference down the road. 

Saturday

We enjoyed looking around the marketplace. This is a two hour time for people who make things to sell them or set up a table for their business. At 2:30 p.m. KC Chiefs game against Texans was on and Bash had it on the big screen at the big tent. We went and watched! I had set my big cup from Maverick gas station on a table near the side of the tent because I was afraid to knock it over. What happened? A big burst of wind happened and the flap knocked my drink over and on the ground. I ran to the restroom nearby and grabbed a bunch of paper towel and went back and cleaned it up. We went home after the game and I realized my thumb ring was gone. It has been a problem, since we bought it in Pennsylvania. It is a bit too big and slides off easily. I ran back to the restroom figuring it came off when I washed my hands after the clean up. I looked all over but didn’t find it. I was so sad because I really like this ring. We got in line for the BBQ catered dinner. (Can you imagine the line for 500 people!) While waiting, an announcement came over the Bash app that someone had found a lady’s ring in the bathroom, “find Kim from registration, she has a painted hat”. I took off, knowing this was my ring, and went over to the registration booth but no one was there. I walked along the long line looking for a “painted hat” but didn’t see one. Then I saw Hollie, the lady in charge. I ran over to her, showed her the announcement, said I am deaf, and who is Kim. HA She looked around and didn’t see her and then had me follow her into the side door of the building where the food was. Hollie found her and described the ring as I had described it. I got it back. I was so thankful and relived! That evening we watch a few songs played by the same band as before in neon lights and 70s songs. 

Bash ended the next morning. We enjoyed ourselves, the people we met, the seminars, and so many activities. Next we went for our 3rd week in a row of boondocking to the “capital” of boondocking! 

1. “Home” is where we park it. Home is our 2022 Alliance Avenue, 36 ft, 5th wheel.