We arrived here to the Roadrunner BLM near Quartzsite, Arizona on Monday. The wind and cold has pretty much been with us since late Monday. Though as I write this the wind has now calmed quite a bit. Plus it looks like there is a chance for some warmer weather this weekend. Not really complaining, well maybe a little bit...😎, mostly recording the weather for future reference.
Monday, February 13, 2023 (Moving Day)
Up before the sun today because the goal was to have the wheels rolling by 8 o'clock and surprisingly as we pulled out I looked at the clock and it was 7:56AM. Deb and Riley pulled out ahead of us and we thought Doug was behind us. Come to find out later in the day he had not even started up the White Lion when we pulled away. The White Lion did start and he did make it to Roadrunner so I guess you can say all is well that ends well. We saw the Dogsled pulling the Igloo into the Chevron by Pilot Knob, Deb was stopping to dump there, as we went by on I-8. We continued on to Quartzsite we needed propane, fresh water and did have to dump and Tom decided to do it all here.
As you can see from the picture below we did not see a sunrise this morning. The clouds to the east and north of us looked dark. Not our favorite type of day to travel but there was a prediction for high winds on Tuesday and that would have meant we would not move before Wednesday and for Tom and I it was time to move on.
Top picture is where the sunrise would have been. Bottom picture is looking to the Northwest. |
As we turned onto Ogilby Road we could see the Imperial Sand Dunes were in the sun. |
The sky as we traveled south on Ogilby Road and then turned on to I-8 was a beautiful combination of blue, white and dark clouds. |
Just past Pilot Knob the Interstate was wet and we could see evidence they had gotten a downpour not long before we got there. Lots of puddles in the landscape and along the road. |
On US-95 passing through Yuma there are a lot of fields waiting to be planted, just planted, growing, ready to be picked, or just picked. |
Passing the Road to the Yuma Proving Grounds and |
looking ahead it looks like there could be rain in our future. |
I believe these pictures |
are of the |
Castle Dome Mountains. |
Not sure about this one. Maybe I should just say I liked the light and shadows on the mountains as we went by. |
Do not remember the last time this Border Patrol Checkpoint was open. |
I know these are the Kofa Mountains. The light and dark contrast was so beautiful to see. |
I believe this is part of the Trigo Mountains. |
We could see puddles as we drove by. |
Kofa Mountains, Palm Canyon is out there. |
Looking ahead towards Quartzsite. |
Not exactly sure where we are. But the clouds were adding shadows to the mountains. |
As we waited for the Fresh Water Tank to fill looking |
That was the last picture I took today. We left here, Tumbleweed RV, after filling the fresh water tank and dumping the black tank . Then we head back south to the Roadrunner BLM. Deb and Riley were already there and after unhooking the Little Black Limo from the Stinger "B" Riley agreed to come along with me and help find the right spot for us all to park. Tom and I are the only ones of the group that has parked out in this area in the past. After checking out three spots, one was filled, we have parked at in the past Riley liked the first spot we checked out and I agreed so we and went back to the entrance to lead the Igloo and Stinger "B" to what would be our home for a while. Deb has some nice pictures of the area in her blog, On a long and lonesome highway...
We all parked and were getting pretty much settled in when I received a text from Shirley stating they, her and Ken were following Doug, were just about to La Paz Valley Road. So Deb jumped in with me and we headed out to the road to show them the way in. We had a slight miscommunication about where to stop at the entrance but in no time we were all headed to our spot in the desert. Once the Mansion and the WL got settled in it was time for Happy Hour. The sun helped keep us warm and we chatted away until eventually the cool air chased us all into our own homes.
We did have a few sprinkles on the drive here today but in the end we had blue sky and sun. It is a wonderful feeling to look out the windows and see friends parked close by. Plus, we are looking forward to spending time with other friends parked down the road. It is a good life.
Saturday, February 11, 2023
Today we decided to make one last trip to Los Algodones. I did have some glasses I had new lenses put in to pick up but other wise we were just planning on enjoying the day. Doug decided not to come today and he talked about that in his blog, Miss Adventure Travels. The rest of us, Deb, Riley, Tom and I, piled into the "Little Black Limo" about 10 o'clock to make our way to the border.
None of us had ever gone into Los Algodones on a Saturday so needless to say encountering a long line of cars just after going over the All American Canal was a surprise. Algodones Road, is two lanes and until we got closer we did not realize this line of cars we were in, for the most part, was not going into the parking area but crossing the border.
The sun leaving and taking its warmth with it. |
The truth is the truth and the truth is it was a wonderful day spent with friends.
Sunday, February 12, 2023
We were both up before the sun this morning and I was having my first cup of coffee chatting with my sister when I looked out and saw the sky turning a bright red/orange. I took the first two pictures then Tom took over and took the rest of the sunrise.
A burst of color to start the day. |
This is looking more to the southeast. |
The orange changed to a beautiful golden glow. |
Then the sun itself popped up over the Cargo Muchacho Mountains |
before slipping behind the clouds. |
When I got up close it did have quite a few tiny green leaves on its branches. |
Then I noticed this one, |
This one did not have any green on it but I have never seen one so twisted before. |
Looking back I can see we are all pretty much ready to leave in the morning. Happily we are moving together and so no see you laters, yet...😎 |
Another Ocotillo starting to get leaves on its branches. You can see in the close ups why you should never grab one. |
This Ocotillo had branches that were obviously dead but they were completely devoid of any thorns. Then near the base there were branches filled with little green leaves. |
just off of Ogilby Road for this Adventure. |
My thoughts exactly ... no matter how bad the weather has been, it's still so nice to be around RV friends in the desert.
ReplyDeleteVery true words!
DeleteThank you for all of your nice pictures you share with us.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome.
DeleteExcellent post Deb. We too are enjoying the companionship of old and new friends. The time is slipping past quickly and soon we will all be heading out in our separate ways but the memories will be sweet and comforting.
ReplyDeleteDeb
Thank you, Deb. These memories will be with us forever.
DeleteLoved this post, Deb! You caught essence of friendship perfectly. Your pictures of the sunrises and sunsets along with the pictures of the beautiful and rugged Kofa Mountains catch the real southwest perfectly, too.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Doug. It has been, and continues to be, a special time together.
DeleteBeautiful pictures. Happy times! Becky
ReplyDeleteThank you, Becky.
DeleteIt has been a special time and you are right looking at the photos will prompt wonderful memories of this time.
ReplyDelete