Really Leaving Tomorrow

March 25, 2015

Today was the day we were going to leave. We talked about it, we decided, then we got up this morning, drank our coffee, looked at each other, and decided we should stay one more day. We have so enjoyed these last 17 days parked in the Sonoran Desert and will miss the quiet and serenity we found here.

 

Looking out towards the East from our "patio" area
this evening as the sun set behind us.

Our final sunset parked in this place.

Our time here is up and tomorrow we will truly start our trek East.

 

 

 

"Change always comes bearing gifts."

                                      ~Price Pritchett

Eastbound

March 24, 2015

Today was our last day parked here in the desert near Quartzsite.

We have been parked in the La Posa South LTVA for the past fourteen days.

We have spent most of this time parked back about as far as you can go and still be in camping area. We have loved this spot. It has filled our days with quiet and serenity.

We have spent time with new friends, we have done some shopping, and we have checked out the area for other places to park in the future. Mostly though, we have just enjoyed our time here. When we come back in the future, if it is available, we hope to spend some more time parked in this spot. For this year it is time to reluctantly leave.

Since, we left the Upper Peninsula at the beginning of November our direction has been South and West. Tomorrow we will take the East entrance onto Interstate 10 and spend the next few weeks driving to the Atlantic Ocean before we head North into North Carolina to visit some special people in our lives.

There is no definite plan for this time. We will let it unfold as it will and enjoy" the ride".

Tonight's Sunset

"You don't always need a plan.

Sometimes you need to breathe, trust, let go

and see what happens."

                                            ~ Mandy Hale

Pizza and Fun

March 23, 2015

Tonight we went out for pizza with a couple we met recently. We went to Silly Al's Pizza in Quartzsite. The pizza was very good and the company even better. We look forward to seeing Rose and Art later this summer when they head up to the UP to visit family.

This time we remembered to take a picture.

Left to right: Tom and I, Rose and Art

Wishing Rose and Art safe travels as they head North towards home.



A Lazy Sunday

March 22, 2015

The title says exactly what today was. We had thought we would have to move and dump but it ended up we were still good. So we just mostly just sat around and enjoyed the serenity of this place.

Tonight's Sunset
In the upper right is a sliver of the moon.



 

 

 

"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storms,

but to add color to my sunset sky."

                                                                               ~Rabindranath Tagore



Parked Near Quartzsite, AZ

March 21, 2015

Still parked in the desert near Quartzsite. Actually we are parked at LaPosa LTVA South. Tomorrow we will have to move so we can dump the tanks. We will decide in the morning if we will pick another spot for our last few days here or just come back to this spot. Wednesday we will start heading East.

This is one of the greenest plants we have seen in the desert.
The one on the left is really a dark green and on closer inspection the green
is clusters of small leaves. This is Ocotillo a member of the Candlewood family
the only representative of this family in the United States.
The one on the right is in bloom and in the center is a close up of the brilliant orange-red blooms.
 

Some of the saguaro cacti near us. On the top right a small flowering cactus. 

The top tree I believe is a Palo Verde.
The bottom is a creosote and a close up of its yellow blossoms

Upper left is a small wash near us.
Upper right a dead ocotillo still very picky.
Bottom left small green plants sprouting between the rocks.
Bottom right the floor of the desert we are parked on which is like a gravel.
 There are a lot of larger rocks scattered throughout the floor of the desert, also.

The top photo is the sun setting this evening.
The bottom three are to remind us, if we would need reminding,
of the vastness of this place.

Some days are just meant to be ordinary days. Days filled with quiet and relaxation. No plans, no place to be just enjoying the day. Today was one of those days.


 

 

 



 



 

 

 



 

Continuing the Blog Update

January 12th through 18th of 2015
(Parked in Huachuca City, AZ)

We took a ride over to Historic "Old Bisbee", AZ. It was a nice ride and as always the scenery was breathtaking.

Bisbee was the acknowledged "Queen of the Copper Camps".  Even though the mines were closed in 1974 this town has endured and is not a "ghost town.  After the mine closing some life long residents stayed and they have been joined by retirees who found inexpensive housing (from what I read not so true anymore), young artists, photographers, and craftmakers who started small businesses. We did see evidence of this plus several restaurants and a couple of coffee shops. We ended up having a very nice late lunch at a Mexican Restaurant the name of which escapes me.

Also, the Queen Mine offers underground tours. I have been on an underground mine tour in the Upper Peninsula, child's class trip, and it had big open areas plus we have been on cave tours and I just do not like the idea of being underground. I did offer to sit and read, not a sacrifice I love to read, while Tom took the tour but he decided against it.

Some pictures from our day.

So many homes clinging to the hillside.



Our view as we ate lunch.



Sign reads:
 The Bisbee District
Has The Best
Year Round Climate
On Earth

Views looking down over "Old Bisbee".

The Lavender Pit Mine.

Heading back to Huachuca City.

I do not see how we can ever get bored with the views seen from the road before us as we drive through this country of ours. The total beauty of it all.

"The cure for boredom is curiosity. 

There is no cure for curiosity. "

                                                 ~Dorothy Parker

Meeting new Friends

March 19, 2015

One of Tom's fishing/canoeing/camping buddies, Dennis, is married to Lorayne. Lorayne has a sister named Rose who is married to Art. Rose and Art are parked near Quartzsite. Dennis and Lorayne thought it would be nice if we met. Today we did just that. We had a nice lunch and spent time chatting and getting to know one another. (They have been snowbirding for a few years so we also got some good insights and hints about what works and what does not.)

All in all it was a nice afternoon spent talking with a nice couple. We hope to see them again, if not before, when they head up to the Escanaba area later this summer to visit with Lorayne and Dennis.

The only thing that would have made the afternoon nicer is if one of us would have remembered to take a picture.

Thank you Lorayne and Dennis for getting us together with your family.




March 20, 2015

We are still parked out in the desert near Quartzsite.

We have a washer/dryer combination in the Crusader but because we are dry camping and did need to do some necessities we headed into town and the laundromat. As far as laundromats go it was nicely kept up and clean but taking the time to do this confirmed the cost and space to have the convenience of a washer/dryer on board was the right decision for us.

It was a beautiful day.

Enjoying the Quiet

March 9 - March 18, 2015

We are parked in the desert near Quartzsite and just enjoying the quiet. We have been seeing how well we do conserving water and room in our tanks. We have checked out the different areas and moved twice and are now parked in what will probably be remembered as our favorite place in this area.

Plomosa Road

LaPosa LTVA (South Camping Area)

 

LaPosa LTVA (South Camping Area)

Tonight's Sky at Sunset

We could see the rain coming and just as the sun set this evening it started to rain. It is now coming down steady and has cooled down considerably. Another day enjoyed.

"What a wonderful thought it is

 that some of the best days of our lives

haven't happened yet."

                                        ~unknown

Sunday Drive

March 8, 2015

We decided to take a ride and check our Oatman, AZ.  We turned the corner and immediately knew this was not any place we wanted to be on a Sunday afternoon. To many people and to many "tourist traps".

So we drove through Oatman and kept driving on Historic Route 66 until reached Interstate 40.

 

The pictures say it all.

A lot of curves

Sitgreaves Pass Elevation 3550

Route 66, looking back at our route

A stop at Cool Springs

 

A lovely leisurely Sunday ride enjoying the beautiful scenery.