Going to a place time slows down - cibola

[RiverDave]

Every so often my friend Kenny and Lindsey invite us down to cibola! We haven’t been in years but the last time we were there it ranked up with one of my favorite trips to the river.

It’s a small community with very little boat traffic and a “cheers” vibe where everyone seems to know everyone.

Even with the temps we decided to load up the motorhome and head down. We left about 5:30 pm Friday night. It’s about 2 hrs down there and we arrived around 7:30.. it’s a nice drive and relaxing

 

[RiverDave]

We arrived right before sunset and Kenny / Lindsey and Ryan / Alisha and all the kids were already there!

I think the best thing is draping the power chord over the fence to the neighbors 50 amp. Lol

We stayed up pretty late just looking at the stars / drinkin and bs’ing. Kenny is an early riser type so staying out until 2:00 was an unusual instance..

RD

 

[RiverDave]

We jumped in “OJ” and started making our way to the beach. This is a thrasher desert truck that hasn’t been washed in 10+ years.

I wasn’t 10% sure where the beach was so we just started hitting the side trails.. about that time in typical cibola fashion we get the text “turn right at the orange life jacked hanging in the bush”. Lol.

 

[RiverDave]

As advertised our own little slice of heaven for the day!

 

[RiverDave]

Daniels first attempts at wakeboarding

He almost got it

 

[RiverDave]

This is almost a staged social media vid.. lol but we were just waiting for a boat to go by

 

[RiverDave]

After about 30-45 minutes of wake boarding we headed back to the beach.

 

[RiverDave]

 

[RiverDave]

Now the Malibu came out for the first round of tubing the kids

 

[RiverDave]

It’s pretty rad getting to sit on the beach and watch the kids get towed out of sight then a minute later come back in view and down river again and again..

 

[RiverDave]

Slide Anchor! The original in making family memories!

 

[MK1MOD0]

We just LOVE the lower river. Glad ya enjoyed the time out there with the family.

 

[RiverDave]

Daniel brought his rc boat and all the kids had a good time with it.. then They went out tubing for another 45 minute session!

 

[RiverDave]

I’m telling ya sitting on that beach I’d check my watch every now and again thinking hours had gone by.. and it had only been 20-30 minutes..

Just an awesome relaxing day in the water and on the beach. I am really looking forward to spending more time down there at some point..

Sierra got quite a bit of reading in..

And Stacy got a much needed perfect day..

 

[RiverDave]

We went back to the house and I was pretty wiped out from the heat and the booze.. I had two hot dogs and passed out on the couch right after dinner.. lol. So I didn’t get any pics after that..

At 4:30 in the morning I woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep. So at day break I got up and drove the family back to havasu.

On the drive back while everyone was sleeping I saw 3 deer running through the fields. First time I have ever seen deer in the desert. Pretty cool.


To @Fabhouse thanks for the invite! We look forward to seeing you guys again soon

 

[Tank]

That sounds and looks awesome.

Family is looking good bro.

 

[Joker]

We’ve got quite a few friends that bought there a long time ago and put in manufactured homes and big garages. We used to go through Cibola to launch at the hippie hole. Did you guys launch at the ramp across the river or at the hole?

 

[rivermobster]

The whole place to yourselves just about. How awesome.

 

[RiverDave]

We’ve got quite a few friends that bought there a long time ago and put in manufactured homes and big garages. We used to go through Cibola to launch at the hippie hole. Did you guys launch at the ramp across the river or at the hole?

They launched at hippie hole and the beach that we were hanging out at was maybe a mile or two down river from there.

RD

 

[retaocleg]

i love the lower river............good on you for the memories you are creating, bringing in another generation of boaters

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

Looked like a much needed break in scenery.... and I'm with your lil DMan; they could never get me up on a wakeboard either.
I'm guessing Havasu gets a bit much in summer months with tourism.... I get a bit testy here at shore right around now each summer. Gonna escape to Big Bear and just get a little reboot from all the energy.

 

[RiverDave]

Looked like a much needed break in scenery.... and I'm with your lil DMan; they could never get me up on a wakeboard either.
I'm guessing Havasu gets a bit much in summer months with tourism.... I get a bit testy here at shore right around now each summer. Gonna escape to Big Bear and just get a little reboot from all the energy.

Normal weekends are cool, but holiday weekends are a bit much for us anymore.. lol


I will say we enjoy the change of scenery but I always find myself wanting to come home.

Stacy is more of a free spirit.. if she could jump on something and travel the world she’d be gone. Lol.

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

Happy birthday to your lil gypsy girl Dave.... I've always been envious of folks that can pull up and just go ... Thats a gift.

I think as long as we miss home after these reboots that tells us we're living where we want to be.

 

[Mandelon]

It is such a different vibe down there. Hang a left at Neighbours Blvd and don't stop!

 

[OCMerrill]

Looks like a fun time and I like the idea of having watersports fun with no other boats around.

 

[jesco]

Next time hit up Carls Sand Shack for some onion rings!!! We offroad down to there once in while in the winter for lunch. Good burgers, fries and onion rings. The off-roading south of Cibola to Martinez is AWESOME!!! We do a trip every February leaving our place in Ehrenberg, head down through Cibola, down to Martinez for fuel, and end up in Yuma for the night. It's roughly 250 miles round trip depending on the route, so we call it the Yuma 250, hahaha.

 

[brianwhiteboy]

The lower river is closed. Way more gators then Havasu. Stay far away!

 

[Joker]

It is such a different vibe down there. Hang a left at Neighbours Blvd and don't stop!

I’m thinking Zach & Maggie’s restaurant was off Neighbors

 

[throttle]

Looks pretty cool!

 

[2Driver]

Looks like my kind of place. We loved Topock in the 80s and big river.

If we ever re-river I think Id look down there.

 

[Fabhouse]

We had a really great time with Dave and Stacy, and having 3 groups of kids that played so well together made it even better. I'm ready for it to be off road season now, there are so many great trails and destinations in the area.

 

[Mr. C]

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As advertised our own little slice of heaven for the day!

Looks like the beach we always would hit up. Didn’t look at location. But is it 2 bridges + down river from McIntyre The rocks give it away. If so.
It is just a great spot

 

[Joker]

We had a really great time with Dave and Stacy, and having 3 groups of kids that played so well together made it even better. I'm ready for it to be off road season now, there are so many great trails and destinations in the area.

I’m assuming you’re the ones with the place there. Do you know the Howell’s?

 

[Fabhouse]

I’m assuming you’re the ones with the place there. Do you know the Howell’s?

I am-but do not. Always willing to meet new people out there though! My wife has been going there for about 30 years now, and I have been going since I met her, so around 20 years. My FIL knew everyone, and still visits now and then. There has been a definite change in the people, but not the attitude (amongst homeowners) in the area. Everyone waves, and is always willing to help. Its a cool place, but lack of infrastructure will always keep it a bit off the beaten path. I like it that way-

 

[rivermobster]

Looks like the beach we always would hit up. Didn’t look at location. But is it 2 bridges + down river from McIntyre The rocks give it away. If so.
It is just a great spot

We used to ride out of the McIntyre back in my jet ski (kid) days. You could ride/float for hours and not see another soul.

Lots of good memories from there.

 

[rmarion]

I haven't been down there in 10+ years.

I was considering heading down for a one day Sunday trip ...

I've forgot all my gage reading on the water levels...

how is the water level typically on a Sunday??

Thanks

Rick

 

[Joker]

I haven't been down there in 10+ years.

I was considering heading down for a one day Sunday trip ...

I've forgot all my gage reading on the water levels...

how is the water level typically on a Sunday??

Thanks

Rick

I’d tow from bullhead over there. We left McIntyre in 2006 and haven’t been back since.

 

[rmarion]

I’d tow from bullhead over there. We left McIntyre in 2006 and haven’t been back since.

We put 1000 hr on our boat riding at McIntyre 2004-2006...

then put another 1000 hours on her from 2007-2023...LOL

were giving the boat to my eldest... two Granddaughters LOVE the boat... she's leaving at end of the month...

I through I'd take her out for one more river run...

2004 Tige 22i

 

[dspracing]

@RiverDave i was pretty shocked to see you at acoma and Saratoga at such an early hour last Sunday. Probably 7:15? Makes sense now. Looks like the family had a blast!

 

[DUN]

This place looks amazing. How v-drive unfriendly is this area? Ski boats aside I assume you need to know the river like a nautical John Muir..

 

[HOOTER SLED-]

Place looks and sounds perfect.

 

[Fabhouse]

I haven't been down there in 10+ years.

I was considering heading down for a one day Sunday trip ...

I've forgot all my gage reading on the water levels...

how is the water level typically on a Sunday??

Thanks

Rick

This place looks amazing. How v-drive unfriendly is this area? Ski boats aside I assume you need to know the river like a nautical John Muir..

No issue with a V-drive-
Water levels are typically low during the week, and come up on Saturday/Sunday. I have a direct drive 21', and we can still ski when the water is low, but it is much more enjoyable when you can head straight down the middle. One thing I like about going out when the water is low is that I can see where the main channel is that weekend-the sand moves and the route you took 2 weeks ago might have changed. Your deep water is easy to see when there is a breeze, just follow the surface chop, and avoid the glass. The glassy water is the slow moving shallow areas. If you do get stuck, open a beer and wait. The water is likely coming up, and the current will free you.
On the plus side, its sand, not rocks. I have found my self in the wrong place twice, and both were rather uneventful. Damage to your drivetrain or hull is very unlikely. I regularly see much larger boats than mine-one regular has some huge 25' MasterCraft surf boat that must draft more water than any boat that you could launch there.
I have owned multiple tournament boats, a Spectra 20, and a Vector w/ Bravo. All were perfectly useable.
There, as anywhere, are lots of pontoons, most are 22-26'. For deck boats, the Hurricane/Tahoe 22-24' seem very popular there. We went to Walters Camp a few weeks ago and every other dock had one.

 

[RiverDave]

@RiverDave i was pretty shocked to see you at acoma and Saratoga at such an early hour last Sunday. Probably 7:15? Makes sense now. Looks like the family had a blast!

I thought that was you. Lol. Yeah we were pulling back into town from this trip

 

[RiverDave]

This place looks amazing. How v-drive unfriendly is this area? Ski boats aside I assume you need to know the river like a nautical John Muir..

It’s all soft sand.. the sand makes these constant S turns all the way down the river.. with decent polarized glasses you can see it fine.

That said we were running v drive ski and direct drive boats down there this last weekend and didn’t have any problems. You do have to know what you are doing though