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!

We Have Changed Locations

We are now parked out in the Roadrunner BLM near Quartzsite, Arizona. The plan was to arrive on Thursday park out a Dome Rock BLM overnight, we had a morning appointment at RV Lifestyles to have a new Convection/Microwave Oven installed, then make our way out here. The wind had other ideas, basically laughed at our plans, and we did not leave our spot near Ogilby Road in California until first light on Friday. Tom called RV Lifestyles on Thursday about our situation and they said not to worry about being late. Living in an RV is always an adventure and we learned right from the beginning if you cannot go with the flow this is not the lifestyle to be living. Of course, raising two kids we already had plenty of training/experience about going with the flow...LOL

Saturday, January 13, 2024

Today started under beautiful blue skies and we spent part of the morning getting things organized inside our home after arriving the day before. 

The plan for today was a late lunch at Quail Mountain Restaurant in Quartzsite with our friends, Melissa and Lyle. We had not seen them since this past spring so we were looking forward to some hugs and a nice catch up. Both of which happened. A picture would have been nice, I say that a lot, and I did think of it a about half way home. Hopefully next time I will think of it when we are together. Never the less it was a lovely couple of hours and we are looking forward to our next get together.

Arriving home we saw our neighbors outside enjoying a Happy Hour but there was already a chill in the air as the sun was close to taking today's heat with it behind the Dome Rock Mountains. Kim was heading inside but the Ken and Keith were still sitting out so Tom did join them for a short time. I decided Kim had the right idea and stayed inside.

We parked perfectly and I can take pictures of the sunsets and sunrises without leaving the warmth of our home, if I so choose. Sometimes it is the little things in life that make me happy and this is one of them...lol

The sunsetting on our day from our bedroom window.

This guy is out our front window. He is beautiful and
I guarantee you will see more pictures of him.

Ken, Keith, and Tom solving some world problem,
I am sure.

A little after the sun disappeared behind the Dome Rock
Mountains we had a lovely afterglow.

Friday, January 12, 2024

As I mentioned before we were on our way this morning with the first of the morning light. With one final hug with Deb, we had said our see you laters and I had gotten hugs from Riley the night before, we were on our way. First stop was to dump at the Chevron Station near Pilot Knob then back to Ogilby Road to make our way north to Blythe were we merged onto to I-10 heading east towards Quartzsite. It is about a 90 mile drive and we already knew we would probably be about 90 minutes late for our appointment so we made the decision not to hook the Jeep up to the motorhome to save some time. We very seldom make the decision not to hook up but I do not mind driving and sometimes, like today, it just makes more sense for me to do so. 

The sun is slowly making its way up over the 
Cargo Muchacho Mountains
as we make our way to Ogilby Road.

We will miss the green Ocotillos that are out here.

There it is just barely making it over the mountains.

Then I stopped on Ogilby Road to see it coming up again
this time over the Ogilby Hills.

As we figured we arrived at RV Lifestyles about 90 minutes late and after talking with them we went and to get some breakfast at Times 3 Family Restaurant. A few hours later we were on our way out to Roadrunner to join Kim, Ken, and Keith. They had found us a great spot  and we got parked just in time to join everyone for Happy Hour. We will be missing Deb and Riley though we will see them again in a few weeks.  This area is one of our favorite places to park and even though it will be busy and hectic being in this area the last couple of weeks in January we do enjoy it.  We are looking forward to our time here and getting together with friends and some campfires. 

I really like looking out the front window and seeing this Saguaro.  

Our first sunset back at Roadrunner.

Some beautiful color in the sky to end our day.

I do love being parked by the Saguaros.

It was a good travel day and it is really nice to again have a Convection and Microwave Oven. We are living our Retirement Dream and enjoying all the moments!

Thursday, January, 11, 2024

Today, as I mentioned above is the day we were suppose to leave this place near Ogilby Road. We were up and moving early not just because it was a moving day but Tom had a dental appointment in Yuma before we would be heading out. He is finally getting a bridge in the bottom front replaced after a lot of years and today was the day they were taking out what was left of the old one and putting in a temporary one. He will get his permanent new one when we head back this way in a few weeks. While I was in the waiting area I could see the wind picking up; we knew there was going to be some wind today but not quite the strength it ended up being. During the time I was sitting there I heard from both Melissa and Kim about the wind in the Quartzsite Area. This is when I found out they were under a Wind Advisory and this is when I knew we were not going to be traveling today. By the time we got back home we could barely hold the door to get inside the motorhome.

There was definitely dust over the mountains this morning

as you can see in these pictures.

The strange thing is where I am standing taking these

by the motor home there is barely a breeze.

The sun was well up through the dust when I stepped out.

Again out on Ogilby Road we could barely see the 

Imperial Dunes through the dust. Yet there was no sign of
wind or movement in the sand near where we were.

Pilot Knob Peak is behind a wall of dust, also.

This is coming back and there is now a definite wind

as we make our way home on Ogilby Road.

It is hard to see in the pictures but there is dust above the desert.

The wind was with us until about 4 o'clock. I spent a lovely few hours inside the Igloo with Deb and Riley. There was even a delicious Bloody Mary, thanks Deb, to be enjoyed during Happy Hour. Going with the flow and enjoying the day it brings are some of the best days and today was one of those days.

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

This morning the four of us, Deb, Riley, Tom and I, went for a ride into the Cargo Muchacho Mountains in search of the way through. There is one we just did not find it, though, we still had a really nice ride. We will try again another day. This blog is already long enough so I will be posting those pictures in another blog.

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Today was moving day for part of our neighborhood. Kim, Ken, Keith, along with Oreo are heading back north to park near Quartzsite. We left before them for Tom's dental appointment, his first one to find out what he needed done besides the new bridge and when they could do it. I did hear from Kim later in the day to let me know they had found a spot and where. As I mentioned above we were heading up that way to join them at Roadrunner.

Tonight's sunset.

A beautiful end to another good day in the desert.

Sunday, January 14, 2024

The sun rising above the Kofa Mountains!

A New Day Begins 

What we do with the hours between now and when the day ends

lay ahead of us with all its possibilities. 

We are glad you stopped by!

If you have time to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.