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Sunday, March 17, 2024

Quartzsite 2024

Every year I seem to take several pictures of things that catch my eye as we drive in and out of Quartzsite and LaPosa South LTVA. Even though we do not always stay there we do buy the 2 week pass, a couple of times during the season, to be able to use the dump station with our blue boy, get rid of our garbage, and fill up our fresh water bladder.  Most years I keep putting them in a album then we leave and I have not done anything with them and they eventually get deleted. This year I have decided to share a few of them in this post.



Where Quartzsite is now located, was from 1863 to the 1880s the site of a waterhole and later a stage station, called Tyson's Wells, along the La Paz - Wikenburg Road on Tyson Wash, in what was then Yuma County, in the newly created Arizona Territory. It was about 20 miles from the Colorado River steamboat landing of La Paz and 25 miles from the landing of Erhenburg from 1866. The next stop was 25 miles to the east at Desert Station.

In the valley around Tyson’s Wells, individual prospectors successfully worked various places during the Colorado River Gold Rush of the 1860s up until the 1950s. While some large-scale operations in the early 20th century faced failures, the area remained significant for gold seekers. (When you ride into the desert near the mountains you can see where there are still mines being worked.)

Today Quartzsite as of the 2020 census, had a population of 2,413 residents. During the winter months that population expands into the millions. It is a popular destination for snowbirds, just like us looking for a place to enjoy a warmer climate then the winters we lived through throughout our pre-retirement days. 
The Dome Rock Mountains overlook the town to the west. Granite Mountain and Oldman Mountain add to the scenic beauty. Nearby going south is the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge and north the Plomosa Mountains. 
It is surrounded by BLM land (Bureau of Land Management) and is approximately 17 miles from the southern California border and 100 miles from Mexico.
The town is famous for its gem and mineral shows, along with the Quartzsite Sports, Vacation, & RV Show which draw over a million visitors annually.
I am going to end this by saying we do enjoy spending time there. It is quiet at times and a madhouse of people and vehicles at other times. We find our spot tucked in on BLM land either alone our with friends and thoroughly enjoy our time. 

The following are some of those random pictures that caught my eye.

Heading west on Main Street.

The "Big Tent" 

Just a few of the many RV's for sale during the show.

This little guy stands at the main entrance road into the show.

Some of the stores in Quartzsite.
Top right is Gem world I have been known to spend a few dollars.
Middle right Coyote Fresh Foods in my opinion they have an
excellent meat counter and some pretty good bake goods.
Bottom Right looking out at I-10 from the bridge on US-95.
The semis going east and west are a constant reminder of all
 the things they move for us every day.

Yes, they even have a Yacht Club.

There were camel rides for a short time.

Where we live there are some big fish in front of businesses.
We have seen cities with moose and buffalo.
Here in Quartzsite they have camels.

Top left I thought I had gotten a picture of all the traffic on Kuehn
Street but I also got some shoppers.
Top Right I was actually behind this guy.
We were both turning right on to Main Street.

I believe this is the Hagely General Store Ruins.
The last rammed-earth building built in Quartzsite.
It was built by Anthony Hagely in 1893

Hagely General Store Ruins. These remnants, dating back to the 1890s, stand as a testament to the town’s history. The Hagely store was once a bustling hub for trading goods and sharing news, and its weathered walls now evoke a sense of nostalgia and survival. 

For the ten years we have been coming here we often questioned what kept this place from totally collapsing there were some boards holding it up but it was totally open to the weather. When we came back in January this year and went by this structure had been built over it. They are trying to preserve it. It is an important part of the history of this town and how wonderful to see this. 


Ocotillo

I take a lot of pictures of the Saguaros all beautiful. This one
looked like it was waving at me.


This one looked like a little munchkin to me.


Driving into LaPosa South LTVA

While Tom was emptying our black tank and filling our freshwater
tank I took a ride around LaPosa South. Someone put this together
not far behind the water stations. Interesting I did not take a picture
of their RV parked inside the circle.

One of the first things I noticed back in 2015, the first time we landed out here, was how many different kinds of rigs, not brands though there are an overwhelming number of those, but all the different types of  "homes"  people live this lifestyle in. I guess would be a better way to put it. When we are in Quartzsite we see people living in cars and million dollar rigs and everything in-between. Tents, cars, vans, travel trailers small and large, truck campers, cargo trailers, homemade campers, pop-ups, 5th wheels, Class C's, Class B's, and Class A's. We see rigs specifically for off roading and we have seen people living in boats. A couple of years ago we saw a fire engine someone had converted into and RV and we saw one guy living in what looked like a large wooden box. There are a lot of school buses big and small, plus city buses, and buses that would have traveled across the country converted into homes on wheels. Panel trucks, ambulances and the list goes on. Sometimes you see a rig and you wonder how it is making it down the road in one piece and then you see one you know just came off the "showroom floor". We see young people with families and older adults, even older then us, and every age in between. The list could go on and on but I will stop here. Well maybe one more observation. What we have found is there is a friendliness that hardly ever existed when we lived in sticks and bricks along with a willingness to help and get to know your neighbor even if it is just a short conversation while we are waiting for the fresh water tank to fill. Now I do know that is not always true and we had some nice neighbors in our last sticks and bricks and I am sure some of you did also. There are, of course, times to be cautious about who you come in contact with, always trusting your instincts, but for the most part it is a good life living among good people. 

Below are some of the pictures I have taken of the different ways people live this lifestyle.








Well if you made it this far I hope its because you enjoyed the pictures. 


☘To All Our Irish Friends and Those Who Wish They Were,
We Hope You Enjoyed a Wonderful St. Patrick's Day!☘



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Saturday, March 16, 2024

Filling in the Rest of Our Time at Roadrunner BLM in January 2024, Part 2

Continuing:

Today the 23rd we decided to check out "The Big Tent". 

Every January something happens that is hard to believe, unless you have seen it! According to the Arizona Highway Department, as many as 750,000 to 1,000,000 people, mostly in RV’s, converge on this sleepy little desert town, located just 20 miles east of the California border on Interstate 10, for the rock, gem and mineral shows, plus numerous flea markets and the Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show. This phenomenon started over 40 years ago and is now billed as “The Largest Gathering Of RVer's in the World”...


It was midway through the show week when we attended
and the crowds have somewhat thinned.

Heading home the clouds were putting on a show.



Arriving back to our neighborhood we could see Keith sitting out
by his home on wheels so we grabbed our chairs and joined him.

We had not been sitting out long when the sky, the sun, and the clouds started putting on a beautiful show!








A beautiful way to end our day!

On the 25th Deb, On a long and lonesome highway.... and Riley drove up from their spot out on Ogilby Road to spend some time with the group, Kim, Ken, Keith, Tom and I. The four of us, Deb, Riley, Tom, and I went to breakfast and did some catching up before heading back out to Roadrunner. A little later Doug, Miss Adventures Travels joined us. He drove over from Phoenix where he was stationary in the White Lion. Since then things have changed for him and he is now out boondocking. He tells his story within the pages of his blog. We were, also, joined by Nancy, Patsy, and Bill. It made for a nice circle of friends catching up and just enjoying each others company. The weather cooperated and we sat outside chatting a laughing. All to soon it was time for everyone to head home. The time always goes by to quickly when we get together.

The sky as our day began.

Circle of friends.
Top picture: Ken, Kim, and Keith
Middle pictures: Doug, Nancy, Patsy, and Bill
Bottom picture: Deb, Riley and Tom

The moon rising over the Kofa Mountains.


A wonderful day visiting with friends ended but the memories last forever.

On the 26th Doug joined Tom and I for breakfast then we sat outside for a while and chatted with Kim, Ken, and Keith for a bit before it was time for him and Yuma to head back home to the White Lion.

Doug and Yuma getting ready to leave.

The sun just slipped behind the Dome Rock Mountains.

We always go and visit some of the venders on Kuehn Street and we usually visit all the ones on the southside but this year for the first time we decided to park and go up and down all the rows on the northside.  Which is what we did on the 27th.

Bottom left that is Tom getting some ice cream.

The beautiful Saguaro behind the Stinger "B" in
a lovely afterglow.

On Sunday the 28th we were up and moving before the sun made an appearance. Mass is at 8:00AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Parker, AZ and we are making an effort to not be late. 


We are headed north towards Parker on AZ-95 as the sun is
making its way slowly to the east of us.

Just ahead of us is a traffic light and we will turn left to stay on AZ-95

Not long after our turn the sun popped up over the mountains.

Parker is just ahead.



Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Parker, AZ

The last of the sunlight touching the mountains to the east of us.

Since I did not take any pictures I am not sure of the date, but I think it was the 28th, that Melissa and Lyle drove over for a short visit and to meet Kim, Ken, and Keith. Plus, Nancy stopped out for a quick visit and to say, until next time, as she was heading out for Tucson the next day I believe. I remember the day itself ; we sat out of the wind, sort of, at the back of the Stinger "B" and had a nice few hours chatting. The one thing about getting behind like I so often do is remembering details. If I have pictures that helps because when you pull up the file information it gives you the date, time, and usually the place it was taken. Unfortunately, if I am having fun talking and laughing with people so many times taking a picture slips my mind. That was the case for this visit.


On the 29th we had an invite for dinner along with Kim, Ken and Keith, though Keith declined, out at Melissa and Lyle's. They are parked in a lovely spot on the East Side of the Plomosa Mountains. I always enjoy the ride on Plomosa Road especially through the mountains. We headed out with Kim and Ken following in their car. Tom and I had a pretty good idea where they were but just to make sure we did not get lost when we got close Lyle met us to show us the way in. 

Going by the "Big Tent" 

We are on Plomosa Road.







I wonder how many times I have taken and posted this Saguaro.
He always looks so proud and tall overlooking 
his kingdom every time we drive by.

Small arch in the distance.
I believe this is part of the Plomosa Mountains



Two of the views surrounding them.

Dinner inside their lovely home.
Top picture: Ken, Tom, and Melissa
Bottom pictures: Kim and Lyle

After dinner we went outside and enjoyed a campfire. In no time a couple of hours had passed and it was time to head home. Lyle nicely led us back out to the road. Thank you guys for the delicious dinner and beautiful campfire.

When we arrived home I could see the moon over the
Kofa Mountains and managed to get this picture before
it slid behind the clouds.

One of things I have forgot to mention as I have looked back and posted about this time is all the "see you down the road" that are said along with all the hugs that take place. We have made a lot of wonderful people as we travel enjoying this lifestyle and they all are special.

So closed our time at Quartzsite for this year. I did a blog, here, about our last day for this Adventure in this place.








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