12/26/2015 Winter in the Desert

Adios, California and off to Quartzsite, AZ. We decided we will try to winter this year in the Southwest and Quartzsite was stop number one. It was a temporary stop, we needed to burn a few days before meeting some friends in Tucson. For those a bit naive about the ways of the RV life, Quartzsite is a winter mecca for boondockers looking for warmer weather patterns. It also happens to host an RV show and a large gem/mineral show, as well as a large craft vendor’s area for those of the RV lifestyle. This all takes place January-February, but the scattered tents of vendors are operable pretty much all year.

We picked a spot to boondock for a couple of days off Cholla Rd. which runs off Dome Rock Rd. At this stop we learned, again, that common sense is a terrible thing to waste. We were within sight-line of the county dump transfer station. Don’t set up camp anywhere NEAR a county dump transfer station. The flies were so thick they were flying in formation. Being here for only a couple of days, we did not try to do much sightseeing, but we did take a few miles hike with Woody into the nearby hills. The entire area around for miles is BLM and popular for ATV/dirt bike riding, which also offers a myriad of choices for hiking.

We also took a stroll through the vendor tents here in town and I came upon an NRA trailer that offered CCW permits. When I retired I vowed I would not bother carrying a gun ever again. I was not willing to try to obtain the retiree’s permit because I am basically lazy and did not want to deal with any type of yearly qualification in order to get some government agency’s permission to carry one. But the actions and comments in recent times by our Fearful Leader and his untrustworthy cohorts at the helm of our government has made me rethink that strategy. And speaking with the NRA rep here, I found Arizona to be a CCW friendly state. For the $40 fee, plus $60 background check fee, I could obtain the Arizona CCW. As a retired flatfoot, the 2 1/2 hr. required class would be waived. There is no range time required, no qualification shoot administered. There is no requirement to ever have to qualify to maintain the CCW, all is done by mail after 5 years. And the permit has reciprocity with 37 of the more intelligent states of the union. Well, make that 36, at the time of this writing the state of Virginia legislators had a group lobotomy and decided to drop 25 states from their reciprocity list (AZ included) because they felt those states had gun laws too lax for their preference. So bing bang bong, checks cut, permit on the way…

From Quartzsite it was on to the Lazydays/KOA in Tucson, AZ. There we hooked up with our friends Steve & Christy and Harry & Kathy. We are all former guests of Bruce Deaton’s Auto Body and RV Resort in Red Bay, Alabama, (sarcasm emphasized). Deaton runs an auto body shop which specializes in RVs just outside the gates of Tiffin RV, and he allows full timers to hook-up and stay in his paint bays when getting work done. If you try to call him up for reservations at his “RV Resort”, he will probably laugh uncontrollably…

In Tucson, we checked out the Tucson Air Museum. We toured the main buildings and surrounding grounds with all their historic military aircraft. Unfortunately, we did not get a chance to take the Boneyard Tour where they say they have, give or take, some 3,000 parked aircraft waiting for use or to be parted out. 

We had heard that the Desert Museum was a must-see as well. It is. We did. There are some indoor displays such as snakes and desert bugs/critters, along with some winding paths through the cacti and outdoor displays (large cats, an aviary, coyotes, and javelina’s, just to name a few).

Old Tucson was another sight-seeing excursion we did. It is a group of buildings that were old sets for various movies. They do various performances throughout the day such as a stunt show and a vaudevillian type Can-Can musical.

After about a week here in Tucson, we decided we wanted to do some more boondocking. Jeanne found a very large area near the American Girl Mine (an active gold mine) just 14 miles west of Yuma in the southern desert area of California near the Imperial Dunes. Harry & Kathy joined us for some solitude in the desert. 

We used the opportunity to go into Los Algodones, Mexico, to pick up some drugs for Jenn & Gus (daughter & son-in-law). The Purple Pharmacy is a popular destination for full-time RV folk to get medications way mo’ cheaper than in the U.S. It is also popular for optometry and dentistry. While walking around we picked up some good ol’ tequila at the liquor store and just happened to spy some Cuban cigars in the tobacco section. A big sign let us know that taking Cuban’s across the U.S. border was a big no-no. Being the brave chicken $hit that I am with no desire to become Big Juan’s new boyfriend in a Mexican prison, we bought a couple of the stogies and smoked them “in country”. VERY smooth!

The big highlight of our boondocking stay here was that Jeanne got her first taste of 4-wheel “Jeepin’”. Harry & Kathy are members of a Jeep club and very into the art of 4-wheelin’ on Jeep trails. So off into the desert hills we rode, Jeanne following Harry onto some very rough trails that I never thought I would see the day Jeanne would attempt to traverse. But she slayed them! And the Jeep returned to the bus in one piece…

After about a week here we returned to Quartzsite  for a few days stay at the Holiday Palms RV Park to dump, fill, and otherwise reload for the next stop in Lake Havasu City with Harry & Kathy. This stop was during Christmas, so we had a very nice dinner put on by the residents of the park. We ended up extending this stop just a bit due to some hellacious winds and sand storms. But prior to leaving Jeanne, Woody, and I took the opportunity to drive out to Palm Canyon inside the  KofA National Wildlife Refuge. We took the short hike up into the mountains and got to Palm Canyon about 45 minutes too early. The canyon is very steep on both sides and the 100 or so Palm trees growing in it only get sunlight very briefly at midday. It was too cold while we were there to wait for the sun to hit the trees, so I took what photos I could and we high-tailed it back down to the Jeep and it’s heated interior.

Our next stop was more boondocking near Lake Havasu City. We got a little more 4-wheelin’ in and checked out the London Bridge. The bridge was transplanted here from London by the McCulloch chainsaw guy. They actually dug out a “river/channel” to create an island to which the bridge provides access. And, as always, we got in some nice hikes into the mountains.

From here, we have several things happening. The RV show in Quartzsite starts around the 16th, we will be participating in a Jeep rally by the FMCA in Quartzsite starting around the 24th, and overall lollygaggery for the next several months until the Allegro Club rally in Casa Grande in April. “Th-th-th-th-that’s all folks!” (for now, until next post…)