Buses By The Bridge

Annual gathering of Buses at Lake Havasu, Arizona. Rather than a separate page for each event, they're all listed here.

XVI – January 12-15, 2012

This was my first partaking of the event and it certainly did not disappoint! About 300 Buses attended, with over 60 Vanagons by Saturday morning.

Upon arrival, a spot was found along the canal where other Vanagons had parked.

After reserving our spot, we headed out on the dice run, driving all over Lake Havasu City stopping at pre-determined locations to roll a handful of dice. Returning to the start, I had one more hand to roll; after the the tally, I had the lowest and tied-for-the-highest hands! When the run was officially closed, I still had the lowest hand (yes!). The two high rollers had to do a roll-off, which I lost (bummer!). First BBB, first dice run and I took home a very cool trophy (metal wind spinner) made right there in Havasu by a London Bridge Bullis member. Woohoo!

Fun weekend, despite my migraine on Friday (apologies to those who stopped by to chat), the aux battery dying (turns out, the fridge being left on DC is a bad thing due to the DC outlet added to the kitchen), and the e-brake handle bending. Looking forward to BBB XVII!

Special thanks to Mr. Carter for being a great shotgun rider, adding to weekend's entertainment, for the (overpriced) VW burgee, for the awesome dice run navigating, and for breakfast.

Total miles: 563

XVII – January 17-20, 2013

This year's event coincided with the balloon festival. With well over 300 Buses in attendance and so much going on, I didn't take many photos this year.

I left Wednesday and stayed down-river at Cattail Cove to do a little kayaking. Old Blue was the only VW there.

After some rough water kayaking (wind created 2-3 foot swells), I headed up to "the bridge" and was able to park down by the lighthouse ~ prime real estate! While it was a spot that got all the chilly wind, it was a spot with great views, no fire smoke, and convenient kayak launching. I set up the awning and its enclosure; by the time that was completed, it was Dice Walk time! This year, it was a Dice Walk around camp, instead of the traditional Dice Run around town. I had the high roll... for a short time. No Dice Walk prize this year.

Friday was kayak day... ventured down to the marina and Nautical Inn area. Too windy for the balloons all weekend, except in the morning hours.

Saturday was mountain bike day. Road down the path along the canal (a no-no come to find out), watched out of control off-road RC cars race around a dirt track, and visited my cousin's condo for the first time in decades. Panda balloon arrived, but didn't stay too long thanks to the wind. Saturday night was raffle time! Between Mom and I, we bought $40 worth of tickets. We were after the way-cool VW-themed stainless steel fire pit and went home without it. Bummer! Mom & Dad did win a minor prize though, so they didn't go home empty-handed.

Sunday, rode over to the dirt lot near the bridge to watch balloons fly over, a couple dipping their baskets into the lake. Spent the night at my cousin's condo; made dinner in the van (running out of propane in the process!) and I slept in the van. Woke up Monday morning to the van getting drenched in water thanks to a balloon and got to watch a balloon land on a pontoon boat! Headed home via Wickenburg (nice day for a drive & didn't want to fight freeway traffic); saw a bus-turned-motorhome towing a matching Bay Window Bus pass the other way... very cool; wish I could've gotten a picture of that!

It was fun putting faces to a few The Samba usernames, meeting up with familiar folks and seeing so many different Buses and Vanagons! Looking forward to BBB XVIII!

Only two issues: 1) Rear heater began making its leak known (see the mechanical project page for additional info). 2) In doing the pre-flight check on Tuesday (16th), noticed black rubber crap all over the engine. A/C belt had flipped itself inside out and had been rubbing against the pulley's center rib. In cleaning up, noticed a bolt in the 4 o-clock position had backed itself out and wedged itself against the pulley, half shearing its head off. Bizarre... Quick, temporary repair: cut the near-new belt off.

Total miles: 460

XVIII – January 15-20, 2014

Left Wednesday to camp out at the campground at Havasu, just around the bend from Windsor Beach. Why go out a day early? A) I wanted to roll into BBB early to get “my” spot and I’m most certainly not a morning person. B) Wanted to fill the water tank. C) Wanted to do a little kayaking (which didn’t happen because I left too late in the day). The van ran fabulously… never had to downshift! A full moon was shining bright… gorgeous night to drive!

At the campground, tried out the new portable propane-powered campfire. Works great… and no smoke! Ate dinner (tacos!), did a few word puzzles, and drifted off to sleep.

Next morning, while still half asleep, I heard a knock on the sliding door. Sat up, cracked the window blanket, and saw the park ranger. Quite nice lady who was confirming who was camped in that spot (had reserved it back in November). After a leisurely breakfast, began packing up. In doing so, an older gentleman walked up and we began chatting about Vanagons. He was from NorCal and just had a "new" diesel installed; he brought the motorhome to BBB because there were still bugs to be worked out with his van's engine. He thought Old Blue was a beautiful van.

After a stop to get the BBQ propane tank topped off (had no clue how much was in it… it took a mere 0.3 gallons), headed off to BBB… and was able to park in the exact same spot as last year! One difference though: Brand new sign had been installed. This was the largest turnout yet for BBB with nearly 400 Buses/vans! This year's event coincided, like last year, with the balloon festival.

Thursday night, Mom and Dad arrived. Friday, Mom and I went kayaking. Started out going counterclockwise this year to see something different. Before we knew it, we had gone all they way around to where the marina is. We arrived just in time to see balloons launching and doing lake dips; they were then hooked onto official "safety boats" and towed to shore, where they were then towed via man-power back to the launch area. Yeah, the one time Mom and I didn't bring our cameras along. D'oh!

Saturday, got up early (wasn't sleeping anyway thanks to a neighbor slamming his doors shut at dawn) to watch balloons and look at all of the amazing VW's (apologies, not many photos of them; if you'd like to see additional event photos, head over to The Samba).

Went kayaking again to take a panorama and to, hopefully, get balloons dipping into the lake on camera. After paddling down to the marina area and watching just two balloons go up (began getting windy), we headed back to camp. Upon lifting my kayak out of the water, out fell the camera and into the water it went. Yay.

Sunday… time to pack up and head home.

Had a fun time as always, despite not winning a single thing in the raffle… again!

Side note: After drying out for a week while disassembled, the Canon Powershot A650 is back to operational status… phew! (Update: It's back to being dead.)

Total miles: 450

XIX – January 2015

Lighthouse again - this time the prime spot!

Once again, BBB coincided with the Balloon Festival.

Four stikes: Won nothing in the raffle. Fun time as always though!

Total miles: 508

XX – January 2016

Basically a repeat of last year: lighthouse camping and balloons!

Strike five: Still no raffle win.

Total miles: 863

XXI – January 2017

This year, I planned things differently: Actually left early on Wednesday, got to Havasu by noon, filled the gas tank, was going to fill the propane tanks (giant RV pulled in, so nixed the idea and went without the Dometic), and headed over to the parking lot. The lot was already near half full! Darn good thing I opted for parking lot camping this year!

While the sun was still up, I opted to get some exercise and walked down to the London Bridge and toured the visitor center. En route, I could swear there was a very familiar burgundy Syncro near the front of the line; stopped by on my way back, but no one was around. Then, awhile later Bob walked up with a buddy! Good to see him again after skipping Moab for two years. Prior to Bob arriving, two vans had to get pampered.

Thinking I had to be in line early this time around in order to retain "my" lighthouse spot was shot to complete hell. Upon arriving down towards the point, that whole area was now blocked off! Contingency plan: Bob offered a spot up on the grass, and the Genie Bottle Bus folks offered the spot taken up by their tow vehicle along the canal. I opted for the latter.

Sadly, this year I took more photos of hot-air balloons than Buses, but you can trek over Eric Arnold's beautiful photo album.

This year, the raffle was held late afternoon on Saturday (as opposed to Saturday evening), which was great. However, Mother Nature decided that Saturday would be a damp day, and during the raffle would be a wonderful time to produce a downpour! Despite that, everyone had a great time!

Well, that is, until Sunday. While Dad was collecting raffle prizes (once again, bupkes for me!), I started packing up. Eventually, the Buses thinned out, the pink barrier tape was removed, so Dad brought his beloved, pristine 10-year-old truck down near Old Blue for easier loading. Unfortunately, he didn't park towards the water far enough, and Vanagon-driving Eric didn't pay close enough attention while backing up in an effort to give his buddy's van a jump-start, and…

An unfortunate end to a fun weekend. But props to Eric: Very apologetic and kept in touch with Dad until the tailgate was replaced (truck is as good as new); still friends years later. Given that I had a nearly four-hour drive ahead and given the late-ish hour, I opted to stay in Havasu and camped out in the overflow at the campground. As the sun set, I gave Old Blue a cleaning, then sat by the campfire for a bit.

Total Buses: 514(!)
Total attendees: Over 4,000(!)

Total miles: 400

XXII – January 11-14, 2018

This time, I left Tuesday evening. Near Salome, downpour! Fortunately, highway 72 wasn't washed out, just some minor flooding, which the van handled without issue. Rolled into Havasu well after dark to find the line all the way back to the parking lot! Jeeze… next year, arriving on Monday!

While cleaning the van Wednesday morning, discovered the right headlight was loose thanks to broken adjusters. Temporarily repaired with zip ties.

Thursday morning arrived and parking lot was full of Buses with the line extending down the access road, around the motel and out to the main street. Gates opened at around 9am and we all began filing in. Drove down to my usual spot (with fingers crossed) only to find it coned off and vans already parked along the canal side. Decided to attempt to park parallel to the cones, but an official blocked that maneuver. After asking if I could then park parallel to the walkway, he said that I could provided that I have no issue moving later if the Park Service says to. While setting up, a Bay Window pulled up and asked about parking. After explaining to him what the official told me, he asked if he could park between Old Blue and the outhouses. "Fine by me!" Later, a Park Service vehicle drove through and said not a word… phew!

This year was a huge turnout… so huge (600+ Buses!), I shamefully didn't bother with many photos. I also didn't win anything at the raffle.

XXIII – January 2019

This year, two family Vanagons were in attendance, with my parents having bought their own en route back home from 2018's trip to Laguna Seca. While I lined up along the fence, parents camped out at the state park next door Wednesday night, getting in line early Thursday morning. Made my way down to the lighthouse to find it blocked off with both Buses and cones. Fortunately, there was a space between a tree the lighthouse group. I put out a few items to save the space next to me for the second van.

Not in attendance this year were the hot air balloons. The organizers wanted full use of the park and petitioned the AZ State Parks & Lake Havasu City to use it over the MLK holiday weekend. The London Bridge Bullis contested this plan. The ultimate decision was that BBB a) was there first, b) brings in a lot of charity money for children's causes in Lake Havasu City area annually, so BBB won out. The Balloon Festival now takes place the weekend before or after BBB.

Once again, no raffle win!

XXIV – January 2020

This year, arrived in Havasu on Sunday! With parking now being organized ("Pre-line"), we were told not to line up until midnight for legal reasons. Had dinner, went to my cousin's and cleaned up the place, filled the water tanks. Made our way back over to the fence at around 10pm to see Buses already lined up! "We got permission to line up early."

Gates opened up at 9am Thursday and it was a mad-dash down to the lighthouse. Despite being in line way early, we, again, did not get our old spot. The Bay Window group that was there last year appears to have staked its claim. The area was marked off and a couple of Buses were already parked there. Dad & I road our bikes down on Wednesday and the club member marking the area off remembered us and graciously marked off the water-front spots we had last year.

Raffle: Keeping my nine-year losing streak going! After the event ended on Sunday, we ventured up to Hualapai Mountain outside of Kingman to spend the night.

Unbeknown to us at the time, 2020 would be Mom's last trip to BBB. The event was cancelled for 2021 due to stupid COVID protocols and on May 3, 2021 Mom passed away due to double-pneumonia and sepsis from poor care at a physical rehabilitation facility just two days before her scheduled release.

XXV – January 2022

XXVI – January 2023

XXVII – January 11-14, 2024

Updated: 1-Jan-2024