Quartzsite Days & Quartzsite Nights Part 2

Fellowship around the fire continued each of the next 5 nights and there was always plenty of food. People you didn't see all day would surface when the table was laden with food.

Some of the people we hook up with at Q are people we only see once a year. John and Barbara were there with a downsized RV - doesn't take a big unit to enjoy life!

One day trip involved a hill climb; Mike has a tough time passing up a hill when he is drivin' the Jeep trails... The picture just doesn't do it justice.

And later down the trail, the unexpected red of the fishhook cactus caught my eye. "Dripping Springs" sounded like a place we wanted to visit but GPS coordinates and written directions from Four Wheeler Magazine didn't work as good as following "the guy with the dog".

It turned out to be a good place for rock art, but not much for springs,

The path out made for some interesting driving!

I wish you could see the 4 foot high boulders Mike is crawling over in this wash. With David's guidance in several places, we made it home safely.

It will take a good day to get the car back into shape for city streets; I have never seen it so dusty or with so many pinstripes! My brother Rich would have fits if his car ever looked like this.
After that day of jeeping, we enjoyed a couple more days of shopping and eating at Quartzsite.

One night, Sue used Granny's Pot to make peach cobbler.
It didn't get done all the way through but it was still delicious, especially with Larry's homemade ice cream.

I think our biggest crowd for dinner was 26. All three grills were cranking that night - I do love to see the guys being useful... And Larry's Ribs were delicious!

For years, Sue has been the organizer behind this annual event and she is loved by all. Years ago when Mike worked at Indy Speedway and I was still employed, she made Mike practice saying "yes dear" every day so he wouldn't get out of practice.

And then it was Sunday morning and time for group photos before everyone went in different directions. It was a little disorganized so all present may not be in each photo.

This year, we had people from Minnesota, California, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming (parttime), New Mexico, Idaho, and South Dakota (that would be us). And, as "they" say, a good time was had by all.

Next stop - The San Diego Area

Quartzsite Days and Quartzsite Nights - Part 1

We have just returned from 10 days of dusty dry camping in the desert near the town of Quartzsite, Arizona. This was our 8th year of making the journey to the location known as Senior Citizen Spring Break or Viagra Flats depending on who you talk to... This year, as all others, we did some shopping but this year, unlike others, we also did a great deal of "deserting" or "Jeeping". We put our Jeep through the paces and got some new "Arizona Pinstriping". If this is beginning to sound like a counter-culture... it's because it really is!

We discovered new trails marked by strange symbols.

We searched for gold in "dem dar hills". Pick and Shovel came with us on each excursion, but we only brought home rocks... and more rocks.


In fact, we brought back to the camp so many rocks that the suggestion was made that I should ship them back to MN so they didn't weigh down the motorhome...

So I got a flat rate box and Dan loaded it up... less than 24 pounds! it is now on its way to Janet in Minnesota for safe keeping. I do wonder if it will make it in one piece...

Back to the daytime treks into the desert. It seemed at times that there were trails going in every direction and it is tough to know which one to take.

And we stumbled on a windmill and well on one of those roads.
Beautiful scenery everywhere we look.

One night we had a dinner party. Since it was windy and since there were only 9 of us in camp at that time, we ate inside; it was close but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Carole and Jacques, friends from Quebec that we met on our cruise, joined us and Carole challenged Mike to a "strength test" - she had purchased a new "miracle bracelet" - next day we all bought them!

Next day, we set off on yet another trail,

discovered a downed saquaro on a hike,

and drove right up to an operating mine. Unfortunately it wasn't operating the day we were there.

We walked a couple of washes and found some really fine quartz; brought home several chunks.

Note the size of the quartz boulder on which I am resting my foot.

Some pretty dusty boots when we arrived back at camp.

Rosco was happy to see us... at least I think that was a happy face...
The group for dinner had grown. Here we are gathered by Bobbi and David's trailer as the sun sets on another great Quartzsite day.

And later Mike (and all his friends) enjoy the first campfire of the season.
TO BE CONTINUED...

The Yuma Area

In each of the last five years, we have visited Yuma. And every time we do some of the same things; visit Mexico to pick up a bottle or two and see the dentist or get glasses, and go to the flea markets in town. In the past week, we have done those things, but we also decided to do something different.

Our visit to the Yuma Territorial Prison was a step back in time. This is the "high tech" way in which wagons, coming into the prison grounds, were checked... "Security" looked down and eyeballed each and every wagon and its contents.

Although it was prison, there was at least sunshine 350 days a year.



There were men and women housed in this facility for such crimes as adultery, and burglary, selling liquor to an Indian, and cheating at cards. (There were also a couple of murderers; one a gal who murdered her brother.) I was fascinated by the way they photographed each and every criminal - a mirror was used to ensure that they got a face shot and a profile.

An old time criminal...
Today's version...

And the days in Yuma passed, a little chilly - only in the 60's most days - and a little windy, so the sunsets were beautiful. This was the view from our campsite one night.

"And then there is that Wildlife Refuge just north of town a ways, let's go there one day." So it was that we set off to check it out one day this past week. Along the way, we passed a lettuce field that had recently been picked and since it is legal to "pick the leftovers", Mike harvested a couple of heads. Do you know that fresh lettuce has a wonderful fresh smell and it is juicy... and does it ever taste good. Everyone should taste lettuce right from the field sometime in life!

And next to the field is a tiny little chapel that was built by a farmer on his land to honor his wife who lost a battle to cancer. She never did get home to see it. It is one of those special places where you just have to stop a minute.




We finally did make it to the wildlife refuge; didn't see any wildlife, but did see some beautiful scenery along the Colorado River.








We hiked a couple of miles; it felt good!

Then we headed to a "ghost town" that was a real bust - evidently it was bought by an entrepreneur a few years back and he or she is trying to make some money off the old town. We did not pay $6 to go in and see rebuilt old buildings. Instead we went for a Jeep Ride - not too treacherous, but fun.

It has been a good stay in Yuma. Oh, I forgot to tell you about the church we went to last Sunday and will attend tomorrow. The Pastor runs a one man show... not only does he welcome people and preach, he plays the organ, sings and actually wrote several of the songs for "Baptism Sunday". His voice is not the best, and I have heard better sermons, but you gotta give it to this guy, he is motivated! The songs that he wrote had great music and meaningful words. I am anxious to find out more about him tomorrow.

Later...