Spring is in the air, the “daffy dills” are bloomin’ and I was sitting here reminiscing about my misspent youth during that rite of passage known as “Bal-Week.” Ahhh, yes, spring break in Balboa!
Afternoons on the beach with the original College Girls Gone Wild crowd, then hanging out at the Rendezvous Ballroom, dancin’ and groovin’ to the Beach Boys, The Surfaris and Dick Dale and the Deltones, “King of the Surf Guitar.”
Spring break is upon us again and, as sure as the circle is unbroken and the world keeps on spinnin’, the youth of our mountain towns will find ways of their own to celebrate this timeless period of promise and renewal. Or is it just time off from school and a promise to goof off that they will celebrate? I’m afraid so, my friend, for I’ve already been there and done that.
Anyway, be mindful and give the kids some space and a chance to enjoy their youthfulness. Afterall, you did it and so did I, and we turned out all right…well, some of us did.
The Missus and I spent our spring break at the Aquarius Casino in Laughlin, where we spent countless hours spinnin’ little reels around and around, pigging out at the buffet and checkin’ out the poolside scenery, if ya know what I mean…heh, heh, heh. When we got tired doin’ that, we went down to the big white tent, known as The Edge Pavillion, next door to the Edgewater Casino, where we watched a concert by an Eagles cover band called The Long Run, which is slated to play at Lake Arrowhead’s Center Stage this summer.
Our journey to Laughlin turned out to not only be fun, but profitable as well. The only bummer was that it was snowing when we left Crestline and then it rained the entire way there and back.
Here’s a piece of advice for you: If you ever drive to Laughlin, fill your gas tank across the river, in Bullhead City. It’s only $3.47 a gallon for regular at the Maverick station on Bullhead Blvd.
Soon, me and the Missus will be heading north to Alaska, where the rush is on. Yep, our casino host set us up with a five-day cruise out of Seattle in early April. We will be sailing northward on the Norwegian Bliss, with stops in Sitka, Juneau, Icy Strait and Ketchikan, with a visit to Victoria, Canada, on the return trip. We’ve sailed with Norwegian several times in the past, courtesy of Arizona Charlie’s Casino in Las Vegas. Ironically, but probably not, one entire deck on their ships is a casino.
Way up north (North to Alaska), way up north (North to Alaska), we’re goin’ north to Alaska, the rush is on, north to Alaska, the rush is on. (“North To Alaska” – Johnny Horton – 1960)
It’s been fun sharing some of the fond memories of my misspent youth. Hope I didn’t bore you and I hope the youth of our mountain communities celebrate in a fun, but safe and sane manner so they will have many years to reflect on Spring Break 2024.
Keep it flyin’,
Uncle Mott
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