Travel Tuesdays: January in Quartzsite, AZ

Sunsets are often spectacular in Quartzsite. I'm told it's because of the dust in the air. Whatever!

 

Quartzsite, Arizona in January is a phenomenon. I suspect it is unique in the whole world. Where else would you find so many RV enthusiasts in one place? For over 30 years, upwards of a million people have annually flocked to this desert town during the month of January. Sunshine and warmer winter weather play a part, but the space to spread out plays an even larger part. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) owns miles of land around the town. Not just acres, miles. There are two types of areas where RVers can park. Dispersed camping areas are free to stay for 14 days, no services, just a place to park. The Long Term Visitors Areas (LTVA) is $40 for 14 days, or an annual permit for $180 lets you stay for seven months . Provided is garbage dumpsters, water stations, and dump stations. Some places have pit toilets, but many do not. 

Most often we park in the dispersed camping areas, although we did stay in an LTVA once. It’s a favorite way to gather in groups. Such places as “Mile Marker 99” a favorite meeting spot for Geocachers and Ham Radio aficionados. “Scadden Wash”, one of the first areas we stayed, is off the worst road I’ve seen yet. This is a ‘paved’ road where the old pavement is so broken and cracked that a rig like ours can only go about 3 miles an hour to prevent being shaken to pieces. Driving on the wide dirt edge is preferred. Clearly, it’s not on any road crew’s maintenance list. Our favorite place now is Plomosa Road, where 3 miles of camping on either side is occupied with different special interest groups. Some groups are as small as two or three, some as large as 200 or more. The Bureau has rangers who come from time to time and check to see that people have checked in with the Camp Host to register. It’s how they get their numbers and can allot resources. One year the Ranger came to the Boomers BOF group and spoke. He said the head count that year was 850,000 people. It boggles the mind because it doesn’t seem that crowded and it leaves you wondering how that many people can be so easily spread out around this small town of 3,000.

What attracts people other than all the space to gather with each other? This area is famous for its rocks. Everywhere you look there are rocks. This has drawn rock hounds from all over for years. The town has capitalized on that and has an annual rock show, where collectors can find not only local rocks, but ones imported from around the world. There are more rock shops in town than gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants put together! After the rock show, there is the Big Tent Outdoor Recreation and RV show. I hear that back in the day it was really something special. Still, it’s fun to see what all the vendors bring. Outside of the Big Tent, there are hundreds of vendors with all variety of goods scattered about town. This year seemed to have less people shopping, but more than I expected in the surrounding area. I think many people headed out to the desert for a safe and enjoyable place to maintain distance while still being able to socialize.  

We reserve a day to shop, but most of our time is spent with the RV groups that have gathered. We have three Escapee RV Club groups (BOF: Birds of a Feather)  that we belong to that meet off Plomosa Rd: Boondockers BOF, Boomers BOF, and Christian Fellowship BOF. Thankfully they are now all within an easy 1/2 mile walk of the Christian Fellowship group where we start out. 

A camp setup that got my attention! There are some great cooks in this group.

 Besides getting to know the other Christians in the group, we enjoy the daily message given by a retired pastor and the time of worship music prior to that. This year I led the worship for the Monday through Friday times as well as the church services on the Sunday before and after. I was thankful for Nancy on her guitar and Kathy singing along. We made a great team and their input was invaluable for choosing songs and praying together beforehand. We were dubbed “The Desert Trio”. I also shared my music after dinner one evening, and although I hesitate to call it a concert, it was well received and appreciated by the group. First I shared songs I had written, which didn’t take long. When I finished, their expectant faces looked for more, so I went on to play favorite worship music and invited them to join me in praise of our Lord, welcoming his presence. What a blessing to know that I am doing what the Lord is asking of me, even if I feel only minimally qualified! He is so good to take what I have to offer and magnify it for his glory.  

The Christian Flag flying in the sunset. 

Traipsing off to Page, AZ

snow capped mountains near Flagstaff, AZ

While the roof was being repaired, we enjoyed spending the time with my friend Ruth and her new husband Tim. We 'moved in' for 2-1/2 weeks and had a great time. The second week we were there we went on a road trip to Page, AZ. What a beautiful place! It's about a 4 hour drive and our phone cameras were busy. We discovered that we had no way to recharge our phone enroute, so that put a bit of a damper on it. It was a fun surprise to pass snow along the way.

Wahweap overlook of Lake Powell

 We were able to get a 'room' which was like a small 2 bedroom apartment with a full kitchen for a very reasonable price. The owner of the Red Rock Motel was very helpful in pointing out places of interest around Page. We made it to the Wahweap Lookout just as the sun was setting, and it was gorgeous! 360 degree views and fascinating rock formations all around. But the wind was cold, so we didn't linger.
    The next morning we went on a tour of the Glen Canyon dam which was quite interesting. The town of Page essentially grew up around the people who came to build the dam.

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With so much to do here, it seems that only 2 nights is not enough time. Next time a week! I really want to do the raft trip that starts at the base of the dam and goes to Horseshoe Bend and back. It's hard to see in the picture, but there are blue rafts in the river.

Jerry and Ruth coming through the slot canyon,

Ruth coming up the ancient aluminum ladder!

Tim climbing up to the rock formations.

This shows the scale of Cathedral Canyon.

The Four Sisters rock formation, a part of our tour.

Ruth had especially wanted to see Antelope Canyon, the most famous of the red rock canyons, but tours were booked out weeks in advance. I think the tour we took to Cathedral Canyon and to see a couple of other rock formations in a group of 7 was much better than dealing with the crowds in Antelope Canyon which can be as many as 200! It was a fun tour and well worth the time and money to see it. We had a 4-wheel ride in to see it on sandy roads which just added to the fun.

Panoramic view of Horseshoe Bend, just south of Page, AZ

When we headed back the next day, we stopped at Horseshoe Bend and hiked the 3/4 mile to the rim. It was pretty amazing to see in person and there were lots of people there. I heard all kinds of languages, and people came from many different countries: China, Japan, Australia, England, Mexico, France, Germany, etc. were some that I identified.

Selfie at Midgley Bridge in front of Oak Creek as it flows towards Sedona, AZ

    What a fun road trip and a great way to spend my birthday.

    But wait, there's more! Not only did I get to spend my birthday with Ruth, but when we got back to Phoenix, she had a dinner party for me. She invited a couple of friends over and after a yummy dinner and candles in gluten free cupcakes, we played games. She even got me a dozen red roses! 

   But wait, there's even more! My cousin Stephanie was able to come from Deming, NM. I haven't seem her for over 30 years and it seemed as if we just picked up where we left off--but with quite a bit to catch up on! The next day we went and had pedicures and manicures together for a fun girly time. Next year it's on my "must-do list" to go to Deming to visit with her and her family.

Arizona Desert Museum

Sunset at Gilbert Ray Campground.

After leaving the Escapade, we went to Gilbert Ray Campgound which was not far away and very near to the Arizona Desert Museum. It's a beautiful campground, and it felt quite decadent to have an electric hook-up! We were treated to a colorful sunset and enjoyed walking around and seeing all the desert plants.

Maguey (Agave avellanidens), at the museum.

Grey Hawk.

Harris' hawk in flight.

Great Horned Owl.

Gilbert Ray Campground as dusk was creeping upon us.

Flowering cactus at Gilbert Ray.

The next day we met up with Neal and his family, a friend of Jerry's that grew up next door to him.  We went first to the Raptor Free Flight show which was amazing. We were able to get quite a few good shots of the birds flying near us or perched and posing! There were about 8 different ones. We also saw the hummingbirds in their own area, and one flew so close to me, up one arm and down the other; I could feel the wind from it's wings. Breathtaking!


To see the desert blooming is such a delightful thing. This barren-seeming land has such exotic colors. We have seen so many more blooms this year. Partly because we are here a little later, partly because the rains have caused so much more to bloom.

Beautiful trumpet shaped flower on cactus at the AZ Desert Museum.

On to Quartzsite

The white dots are hundreds of RVs camped.

Our first glimpse of RVs parked in the desert en masse.

Jerry: I was a little sad to leave the AGM boondocking area, as I've grown to love it here, but the next event is about to start. Every year at this time, Quartzsite Arizona is host to "the world's largest gathering of RVs and RVers". There are numerous events there, but the main RV draw is the Sports, Vacation, and RV Show (Jan 17-25 this year). So we pulled up jacks and hit the road again, leaving California behind and heading into Arizona. Linda drove the truck to do some shopping in Yuma, and I drove the motorhome to Yuma also, with the mission of finding a place to dump tanks, get water and gas. Avoiding the Chevron that charges $20 to dump (robbery), I find a 76 station where it's free. I pull in behind an older motorhome with a Michigan license plate saying "WWII Vet" and strike up a conversation with this older gent. He turns out to be a very nice guy and says he and his wife have been snowbirding to the southwest for 20 years. I tell him I'm on my first snowbird trip and he gives me some good tips, including a free place to stay in Yuma that he uses. The fellowship among RVers, particularly in the southwest, is a real bonus to the lifestyle.      So we hitch the truck back up, and head north on 95 toward Quartzsite. On the way north, everyone is required to stop at a Border Patrol checkpoint. They inquire if it's just the two of us and then wave us on (guess we don't look the type to be transporting illegals). We are now seeing large Saguaro cactus and you know you're REALLY in Arizona now. 

Sunset in "Boomerville"

First night of "Boomerville", catching the sunset.

     Getting close to Quartzsite, we start getting views of hundreds and thousands of RVs spread out over the desert! It's pretty amazing! (in the first pic, all those white objects are RVs). We eventually leave the pavement and drive down a dirt road to join our group of Boomers that will be 50-100 RVs. We get parked and set up in time to notice an AMAZING sunset and I go up on the roof to tilt two of my solar panels up and take pictures while I'm up there.

REAL Boondocking

      After the Jojoba resort, our next destination involves REAL Boondocking. Off the blacktop, out in the boonies, no services, no fees. Still in California, but just barely. As I leave I-8 (between El Centro and Yuma) and head north on a little 2-lane road, the first thing I see is a guy with his RV and an ATV off on the sandy acreage to the side. He gives me a big grin and a wave, he seems to know what my goal is. I wave back and keep going nearly 5 miles and then turn off the pavement onto a wide dirt road (see last pic in "Leaving Jojoba"). There are berms on both sides and no visible place in sight to turn this large motorhome around if things get bad. This is where I start wondering "Am I crazy to be doing this?". Eventually we see a few scattered RVs out 100 yards off the dirt road and come to the openings in the berms they used to get there. Farther on, the road is getting more rugged and we decide to unhitch our little truck to explore and try to find a good camping spot where the big rig can actually go. After a few "maybes", we find one we really like. Linda offers to drive the motorhome there, and she gets it turned around and drives about a mile to the spot without scraping or bottoming at all (see why I married her?, lol). We've pointed our nose to the west, tilted half our solar panels up toward the south, and settled in for some quiet time to enjoy the beauty of this area. Our nearest "neighbor" is 200+ yards away, so it's been very quiet and peaceful.

Jerry’s posting 1-14-15                   There's gold in these hills, lol. The dirt road we came in on is called the "American Girl Mine Road" (reminds me of the American Girl dolls, my daughter had one). Anyway, there was a gold rush here around 1877, and in the years after there has been commercial mining off and on, depending on the price of gold. We can see trucks going in/out the current operation quite a ways off. I'm not a rock-hound, but one of the first things I did here was walk around our site for about 20 minutes and pick up some samples of the interesting rocks just laying around. Here's a pic of my "rock collection".

Jerry’s posting 1-15-15

We drove the truck into Yuma for supplies today. And yeah, the motorhome was still there when we got back. The temperature in our RV has reached a comfortable 82 degrees the last two days. There is generally a little breeze here so you can adjust the temp by how much you open windows, very nice. I could get used to having January like this. I'm amazed by how clean this area is, I've wandered over many acres and have only seen one cigarette butt, and you have to search quite a bit to find any scrap left by people. I'm very impressed by how the folks using this area are doing the right thing ("leave it cleaner than you found it"). We are enjoying the sunsets every night, it's quite a show here. Hard to capture the glory with little photo skills and point-n-click action, but you can get the idea.