Back Home in the Sonoran Desert Near Quartzsite, Arizona

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

We started today slowly. There are things that need to be done inside and out of our new to us home but we have time. Over the next few days the new water pump will be installed and the basement and some of the cupboard in here will be gone through. We are purging slowly but surely. 

Tom worked in our basement today and I went into Park Place to play Pokeno, someone had to do it they need pennies...lol, with the ladies. Or as I like to say, I drove into town to visit my pennies. I think I may have left about even today...lol When I got back home Happy Hour was in progress so I joined the circle. 

The afterglow was again beautiful.

Monday, February,  23, 2026

The last four weeks flew by.

Monday, we were up and moving early. Our first stop was at Discount Solar to have our new home's solar installed. They installed our solar on the Stinger "B" and we were happy with the results so to our thinking it would be foolish to go somewhere else. This is an all day job so we needed to find a few things to occupy our time. Second stop was at Mountain Quail Cafe, original one, to meet up with Melissa and Lyle for breakfast/lunch. They will be heading north soon and it was time to say so long and see you down the road. We will miss knowing they are nearby but we will stay in contact. Third and final stop of the day was a site out at Roadrunner our "Happy Place" out in the desert. 

The sun had already slipped behind the mountains when Kim
and I got up to take a picture.

The afterglow was beautiful!
A wonderful sky to greet our being back in this place.

As I mentioned above the solar installation is an all day job so we decided to take a ride. We turned off of Plymouth Road where we could see several RV's parked in an area so we decided to check it out. We have come out at this particular spot when we have cut across from Plomosa Road but there were never the rigs parked out there like know in the past. Mostly we would encounter ATV's. 

I read about a Labyrinth in this area so I was glad when we
came across it not far down the road. It is not large but well 
done. People have left a few painted rocks along the edage.

It takes awhile to walk a Labyrinth and Tom would have had to sit and wait for me so not today. I would like to go back though; for me it is a prayerful, relaxing, and peaceful exercise. I like the feeling of letting go while concentrating on my footsteps as my mind wonders where it may. 

We kept going and the scenery with the Plomosa Mountains
as the back drop was beautiful.

The road was rocky and rutted.

Off to the west the air looked a dirty brown.

A few of the Saguaros we passed today.

We eventually made the decision to turn around as it was getting close to the time to pick up our home. They finished up right around 4 o'clock and after some quick instructions we were on our way out to Roadrunner. 

Happy Hour had already begun when we arrived but they got
up to greet us and Ken helped Tom move through to our spot.

As much as we do like staying in an RV Park, and Park Place RV is a wonderful choice, we were ready to be back in the desert. Though to be honest full hookups will be missed...lol

Home!

Sunday, February 22, 2026

This morning we were up and moving early we had some errands to run in Yuma. Tom wanted to pick up a new water pump, since we will be boondocking we will need that. The one presently in here is working but not like it should. Since, we had planned a trip to Mexico this past Friday, that for various reasons did not take place,  I had place an Amazon Order delivered to UPS Store there. No logical reason as to why I just did.  So that also needed to be picked up. Plus, we did some grocery shopping. I would not complain about the shopping in Parker or right here in Quartzsite but they do not always carry everything we are looking for. So it is nice to go down to Yuma once and awhile. For all those reasons we were in the Jeep and on our way by 7:40. Mass at St. John Neumann is at 9 o'clock and that was our first goal.(We were actually out the door earlier then that but the door lock is still not co-operating so that delayed us. We still made it with five minutes to spare.)

The sun was up and just making its way above some cloud cover
as we went by the road to the palms. 
The bottom pictures are the mountains across US-95 to the west.

Part of the Kofa Mountain Range and always my favorite view.
I may have posted this view a few times in the past...lol

The sun lighting up some of the ruggedness of the Kofa Mountains.

I believe these are the Muggins Mountains in the distance.

The Laguna Mountains behind what looks so empty without
the howitzers in place at the entrance to the road leading to
the Yuma Proving Grounds and Imperial Dam

A closer look at the Muggins Mountains

Not long after the above pictures we start seeing fields where
vegetables grow and a citrus orchard.

Not long after these first fields we are turning left onto Fortuna Road which took us to E 40th Street and another left turn and then the church on the right. This is a large parish with lots of young families and it is nice to sit among the different generations versus when we go to Mass here in Quartzsite where it is mostly people around our age, not that going to Mass here is not enjoyable it is just different. Every congregation we join has it own atmosphere or vibe. There is a difference in the noise level when there are young families with children but it is a good sound. It is the sound of children being taught our faith, being taught it is important to take time out of our lives to spend time with God, by example and that is a good thing. (I want to stop here and say something about what Tom and I believe. We are Catholic and we do believe going to Mass on Sunday is an important part of our week. That does not mean it is the only time we pray and it does not mean we do not respect what other's believe. At the same time understand this is who we are, therefore, there will be times, as in the past, and going forward our Catholic Faith will creep into this blog.)

After Mass we made a stop at the RV Store for the water pump
then we headed over the Yuma Landing for brunch.

After lunch we stopped at Sprouts, Walmart, Fry's, and to pick up that Amazon Order before turning back north and headed home. It ended up being a longer day then planned but we can say we accomplished what we set out to do.

If you have been on US-95 by the Yuma Proving Grounds you
have seen this Tethered Aerostat Radar System in the sky. 
Today it was on the ground. The corner right picture was in the 
morning the larger one on our way home.

It has been several busy but good days in a row but again we are glad to again be parked out in a place we feel at peace.

If you have enjoyed the pictures I have put out there 

or the words I have added that makes me smile. 

If you have time to leave a comment they are always special to read. 

No matter what I am glad you stopped by!

The Wind Has Been Blowing (A Step Back in Time)

The sun setting on February 18, 2026

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

The sleeping Indian. I wonder what mountains this is part of?
I am thinking the Plomosa's just not sure.

Today, Tom decided to work on one of our door locks. We have two, a new one put in by RV Country to replace the one they had to drill out which does not work and we will be talking to RV Country about that one. There is also a deadbolt we have been having trouble with and that is the one Tom was working on. During the fun he was having he locked it while inside and it would not unlock. Yes, we were locked in. So I called Patsy and Bill came over to help. The key and tools were, of course, outside. Bill tried with the key and had no luck getting it open then he had to head home for a bit. Tom eventually went out the driver's side window to get the tools he needed and then came back in. By then Bill had come back and with his help they were able to get the deadbolt off, the door open, and then the deadbolt back on. The fun of owning a motorhome never ends....lol I have mentioned it before and I will probably repeat it in the future one of the best things we discovered about living this lifestyle is the friends we have made along the way. Friends, that never hesitate and, if at all possible, are there to help when you need it. Thank you Bill for coming over and helping us get out of the motorhome.

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Today was Ash Wednesday the beginning of Lent and even though it is not a Holy Day of Obligation it is always nice to start this season by attending Mass. Part of today's tradition is having ashes placed on our forehead as the priest reminds us, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."  

Why Ashes? The ashes, made from last year's Palm Sunday palms, are applied in the shape of a cross as a public sign of faith and a call to turn towards God. This tradition has its roots in the Old Testament, where wearing ashes was a common sign of repentance for sins, and a sign of one’s humility before God. 

Ashes hold deep spiritual meanings of mortality, repentance, and transformation, symbolizing that humans are made from dust and will return to dust, while also representing sorrow for sins, a call to spiritual renewal, and hope for resurrection or new life, particularly prominent in Christian traditions like Ash Wednesday. They signify humility, the finite nature of earthly life, and a desire for God's mercy and forgiveness.  

The Dome Rock Mountains in the distance.

Thursday, February 19, 2026

We started today like so many enjoying our coffee and talking about things. The door locks are on our mind and plans for our time in Michigan this summer are key topics right now. A plan for the trek home is also being discussed but weather will determine that and until the time to head east is closer that plan will be up in the air. 

I ended up taking a ride over to Parker to visit Walmart and pick up some needed groceries and the CVS for a prescription. While I did that Tom made phone calls and took care of some other things around the motorhome. The wind is not helping his progress because what he mostly needs to take care of is sorting under the motorhome and that is hard to do when the wind is moving things and the dust is all around you. He also was making phone calls about our door lock situation and hopefully this morning, Friday, brings the promised phone call to have a solution.

I saw this guy in the clouds on my way home.

The shadows from the clouds on the mountains always
strike me as beautiful.
The sign that says it all.

It was game night here at the clubhouse so I joined several other woman and we play Rummikub. I had only played it a couple of other times in the past but I must say it is a fun game. The one thing about game night here is it does not matter what game is played or winning it is just about a really good time. The place is filled with laughter and the kind of conversation that even if you do not remember what was talked about the memory of a good time will always be there. We will be leaving here Monday so it was my last night joining this group and I miss them and the laughter.

Friday, February 20, 2026

Today started with our coffee and a short talk with my sister and we came up with tentative dates for our siblings camping get together in the Upper Peninsula. As the day progressed the dates became reservations. Though, we will spend five days camping as a group that became a plan for a month for Tom and I. (Yay, one reservation in the books.)  In reality two other months are pretty much planned around where our grandchildren and their parents live and at least one month we will spend in Escanaba. It is now just a matter of firming up reservations which I will do next week. 

In between phone calls I have been getting our wash done so when we head out to the desert on Monday we head out with clean clothes, towels, and sheets.

No progress on the door lock as of this writing. Though, Tom was in contact with them a couple of times today. 

We did have some good news looks like we will have license plate tags for the motorhome in the near future. Maybe even before the ones we have expire at the end of February. The Jeep's, as they saying goes, are in the mail. 

The light on the mountains to the east of us

as the sun sets on our day here at Park Place RV.

( A Short Step Back in Time, January 16 through February 10, 2026 )

My last "step back in time" we were leaving our site out on Plomosa Road near friends, Melissa and Lyle. Our new destination was just a few miles south to Roadrunner BLM to park near friends, Kim and Ken, and Joan and Dave. What I just realized is I never took a picture of the area with us all parked in it. 

The sun had already set on January 16th when I took this picture.

Heading towards the "Big Tent" on January 17th.
By the end of this visit we had made a big change in our
living arrangements. At least we were pretty sure we had...😉

Coming back from Yuma on the 19th.. I saw these to guys heading
in opposite directions. You may or may not see them but I did...lol

The sky was filled with color as the sun set
on January 19, 2026

The sky in the afterglow held the color.

We could see, what ended up being, smoke from a fire in 
California up near Lake Havasu, on our way into Quartzsite
on the January 20th.

As I mentioned in a previous post we left Roadrunner on the 23rd of January to pick up our new home and then on the 26th we moved into the Park Place RV Resort.

In our site at Park Place RV

Happy Hour outside of Bill and Patsy's home on the 28th.
Left to right: Bill with Gibbs on his lap, Ken, Dave, Joan.
myself, Kim, and Patsy. I nice break from organizing from
organizing our new home. 

Moving into February.

Happy Hour by Kim and Ken's home out at Roadrunner BLM
on February 8th. Left to right: Patsy, Tom, Dave, Bill, Ken,
Joan, Kim, and Gibbs sitting in the center.

On February 10th we invited our friends, Joan and Dave, Kim and Ken, Melissa and Lyle, Patsy and Bill, over for Taco Tuesday and we were glad they all showed up. We had chips and salsa, beer margaritas, tacos with all the fixings, plus refired beans and rice. Joan and Kim brought some snacks to share, Patsy brought a banana cream pudding (formerly known as a pie) which was delicious, Melissa brought a lovely fruit platter and her and Lyle provided a bottle of champagne. It was a special evening made special by the people who we sat, chatted, and laughed with. It was a way of saying thank you and we appreciate all the help and support during this time as we moved from one home on wheels to another. One or two pictures to add to this part of the blog would be nice but neither Tom nor I took even one picture. But the words are here and the memory will last pictures or no pictures. 

So this is where I will end the "short steps back in time". I do have have some really big step back pictures I will be adding as time goes by. Those pictures will be all about memories for Tom and I but they will be there if you want to look. This last month has been a whirlwind of activity for us. Some of which I had pictures for some I did not. Some of this past month I remember other days I do not have a clue what we did. Now the goal is, of course it always is, to stay in real time. 

 If you have enjoyed the pictures I have put out there 
or the words I have added that makes me smile. 
If you have time to leave a comment they are always special to read. 
No matter what I am glad you stopped by!

Watching Night Flying at the Desert Flyer's Field and (A Step Back in Time)

Saturday, February 14, 2026  

Hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Valentine Day's Flowers!
Tom came through yet again...♥️

We were up early to put some "stuff" out for the Park wide Rummage Sale. We were lucky and made a few dollars off of some of that "stuff" purged from the move. Plus, we chatted with a few people as they stopped by which is always fun. Patsy stopped by for a bit and relieved me of a few things which she was able to put to use in her cupboard which helped us both out...lol Every little bit helps.

Friday, February 13, 2026

Tom and I stopped at the FishAk Food Truck, their menu is Wild Alaska Smoked Salmon, and picked up a late lunch today. Patsy and Bill had mentioned how good it was so it was on our radar to stop by and try it. We both had the Quesadilla which came with a chowder shooter. Neither of us could complain about the amount of food we got for the price. Tom who really likes smoked fish said he would definitely have the Quesadilla again. Even though I am not the biggest fan of smoked fish I would have the chowder again. Basically we both agreed with Patsy and Bill, it is definitely worth the stop.

A little later we headed over to the Desert Flyer's Field to watch the Night Flying part of their weekend Air Show. They put on a nice show and watching the planes dance in the sky as it darkened was fun to watch. I did manage to capture a few pictures but those small planes move at a pretty good pace and are hard to capture. 

This was a pretty one.

Coming in for a landing.

This one "blurred" right buy us...😉

Not sure how I lucked out and got this one with the mountain
so nicely positioned behind it.

The Desert Flyer's put on a two day event. The night fly which we attended then they fly again on Saturday. Patsy, Chillin' with Patsy, did post more about the event, here, Since, Bill, her husband is the President of the Club she does have a better insight as to what it is all about. She also posted two nice videos check it out.

( A Short Step Back in Time, January 6 through January 16, 2026)

Up even earlier on January 6, 2026 our son picked us up at our daughter's for the ride back to the Detroit Airport for our flight back to Phoenix. On this flight I actually had a window seat with a window so there are some pictures. (I had about a quarter of a window on the way to Detroit but the person who had control of the shade never opened it...🥺)

Coming into Phoenix.

Phoenix

Basically today, January 6th, was a reverse of December 23rd. Our son dropped us off in Detroit at the Delta Terminal and our friends, Melissa and Lyle, picked us up in Phoenix where they had dropped us of in December. Then we got back home to the Stinger "B" and they again fed us a nice dinner. I know what you are thinking and we agree, we are lucky to have them in our lives. 

As much as we loved spending time with our grandchildren and children back in Michigan, we did start missing them the minute Thomas drove away, we have to admit it felt really good to be home and sleeping in our own bed. 

The sunset on January 6th.

The next morning as I was sitting, drinking my 
coffee, I noticed a face out the window.

I spotted the one on the right and when I showed Tom the picture he did not see that one but the one on the left which I had not seen. What we did find out was it was just luck because the light has to be just right to see them at all.

On the 9th we headed over to Parker for groceries
and lunch at the Black Pearl Restaurant at the 
Pirates Den Resort. They have what we both feel is
a really nice Cod Fish Fry.

Driving past the Plomosa Mountains on Sunday on our way
into Quartzsite for Mass.

On our way back home, January 11th, we could see the black smoke
from AZ-95. A firetruck past us on the way but no ambulance and 
we never heard anything. So hopefully that means no one was hurt.
So sad to see the motorhome engulfed in flames. 

Always great to see out home waiting for us.
Thank you, Melissa and Lyle for taking such good care of 
her while we where gone.

Great sunset on the 12th of January

Our spot next to friends.
Our last sunset at this spot on the14th of January.

After 9 nights it was time to say so long and move on. 
This is a beautiful spot and we will miss being here. 
Especially we will miss the company.

If you have enjoyed the pictures I have put out there

or the words I have added that makes me smile.

If you have time to leave a comment they are always special to read.

No matter what we are glad you stopped by!