Desert Camps... Boondocking Budgets... and NASCAR!

I moved camp yesterday... Not 'cause I really wanted to... but 'cause the BLM keeps fairly close tabs on the 14 day rule of that Plomosa Road area... since they had my name on a permit, figured I'd live by the rules... sort of...

So... we moved north and a bit east across "the line"... into legal territory. :o) truth is just a touch over 20 miles... our nearest neighbor is almost a half mile back toward the pavement... just off there to the right...

This is dry country... a cow has to open her mouth wide... hang it down on the ground like a scoop shovel... and then run like hell, all day long, to get enough to not lose weight... too... fast! :o)

... but for a boondocker, just wanting a place to use up some of the winter, where the thermometer doesn't have to be defrosted before it can let you know how cold it is... it'll work... and, no shortage of space.

This would actually be a pretty good place for folks wanting to learn the boondocking ropes, to spend a while early in their rv boondocking travels... at least if they start in the winter! 120 round here in the summer might get as nasty as the 4 degree blizzards back yonder...

There's dumps and water in Bouse and Quarzsite. Groceries in Bouse, Quarzsite and good Ol' Wally World in Parker... a real good laundry over to Parker... and... for the folks worried about finding places to set up... it's almost... pick a spot and shut the engine off easy here, to pick a camp.

Then... shine up all those attributes by it being tee total free living when it comes to camp/parking costs... a good thing for those of us... NOT... wandering in the Diesel Pusher, rubber tired Mansions. :o) ... and then... parked way out here... those folks in the Diesel Mansions... can't see me drooling over their rigs. :o)

... just a lil' honesty in advertising :o)

*First Sunrise in a New Camp... near Bouse, Arizona*

Last night the sky was so clear and dark, the stars sparkled like diamonds... though Plomosa was quiet... there were enough rigs around, it wasn't noisy... but, you could always hear... something... here... the night was silent, only the breeze in the creosote bush and the sound of your own breathing... intimidating to some... soul filling requirement... on occasion, for others.

*Eastern View from Bouse Camp*

*Morning light on the Saguaros*

The "official" rule out here is still 14 days... but... to be honest... I don't think, if you aren't causing trouble and trashing the countryside, that anyone is gonna enforce that rule too much...

Though... it looks like I'll be obeying it anyway...

I'm taking Heidi to Phoenix in the Morning... She's going to Tucson for the Gem and Mineral show... me I'll be coming back here to hopefully get some writing work done... right after I do a job interview...

Now... don't get your shorts all knotted up... not about to leave the road...

This actually looks like the kind of "workamping" jobs I'd like to line up several of... work a week or two, at relatively pleasant events... with a month or so between short periods of doing different things... in different places... I could handle that...

It's for a NASCAR event in Phoenix... in February... one week, working a Nascar Race... with pretty good pay, plus a dry camp spot for no charge... then... it's back to another camp on the back side of beyond for me...

... and that will leave us with an unbroken string since Thanksgiving. Outside of a couple motel nights on our Christmas run to Denver... we've not dropped a nickle on camp fees since the camp on the banks of Lake Mohave in Nevada, back at Thanksgiving... and now, with our mileage slowed, way down... our budget is slowly crawling back into line... padding it with a short stint helping out at a NASCAR event will help...

... assuming I Kiss Up enough to lock down the job! :o)

Free on the Earth
Brian

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Full Time on the Road... The Magic Pill? Everything's Better Now?

Sorry, I'd like to tell you yup! Ever'thing is gonna be smooth sailing... but... Nope, it ain't that way. The problems or issues ya'll had back in the Old life, before you left, still remain...

Anything you had before, debt, spending habits, procrastination, disorganization, you don't like pizza... it's all still there, waitin' to trip you up, if you let it. Those issues will still have to be dealt with...

So, why go then?

This is almost one of those; "If I have to explain it you won't understand", Motorcycle Moments... but, I'm gonna make a run at it...

First off, the only thing that does get cured, right off... or better, not cured but soothed, is your wanderlust... The miles of windshield time will knock it down to a tolerable level... just hopefully before Your diesel budget wears out!

You'll walk across a parking lot... to climb back into your rig from looking at some thing that caught your eye as you rolled along... your butt will hit the seat as you reach for the key, and you're thinking... "Where should I pull in for the night"... and then it hits you...

THAT is YOUR CHOICE...

Where you see tonight's sunset... where the sun cracks the sky over your rig, in the morning... is YOUR CHOICE... no one to command that now... But You! You are Free. Your life is your own...

You close your eyes for a minute and just breathe... terrified that when you open 'em back up, you'll be setting back in the Old parking lot... preparing to drag yourself in for another day in that soul grinding slavery of a job.

But... you open 'em up... and there you are... The Wal Mart in Cody, Wyoming! ;o) .... or the Sea Lion Caves in Oregon... or... just parked in a desert camp in Arizona... getting ready to pull the fifth wheel in deeper... past the motorhomes... past the group camps... back into the far country that feeds your soul... that rebuilds your spirit...

... You discover that Healing Power of the Open Road makes all those problems and issues you thought you'd leave behind... so inconsequential...

... putting those "problems" or "issues" that still remain, in their proper place is maybe my "second off" ;o)

Don't get me wrong... you still have to take care of business and deal with 'em... whatever they might be... but... when your spirit is strong... your vision is clear... and you've put ever'thing in the proper order... They just don't seem so crushing any more...

It might still be a bit unpleasant dealing with "stuff"... you might still be flat broke! :o) but... bathed in the Pure Light of Liberty and breathing in the crisp, biting, clean air of Freedom...

... with those constricting bindings taken off your heart...

 Your're Just a man... Free on the Earth... uh... or Woman! :o)

... those old problems start seeming pretty insignificant... like changing a flat tire... you just do it... and move on down the road... with your eyes straining to see, what's over the horizon...

One last thing... A good friend just wrote me that she's in hot pursuit of her dream... she'd waited long enough... "Sick of Waiting"...

Why go? Because you have to... because if you wait... that's what you do... you wait... Waiting on "better times" only gets you older before you step off... "better times" never come on their own... you have to Make it Happen...

You want to get that donkey out of your road?... wait on him, and ain't nuthin' gonna happen... you gotta climb out of your truck... walk up, grin... say "How Do Donkey?"... tip your hat... and then... politely... kick that sucker in his A.. uh...  Butt!

Campfire Philosophy... From Deep in the Desert
Brian

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Searching for the Balance... Who's following the Right Trail?

IS... there a Right trail? ... or ... What is important? Finding the trail?... or simply to keep on Searching for it?

For a few days, parked just beside us was a couple of a certain age... likely around my own, that bein' old enough to know better, yet still too young to care!

She spent her days sitting in the sun beside their van reading, while he climbed on his dual sport bike, and wandered around the desert for much of the day.

Their rig was about as minimalist as you could get... a van... at what I'm guessin' the lower end of class B, as far as equipment goes... the only thing ever outside the rig was a pair of folding chairs... and the pretty rickety looking trailer he hauled the motorcycle in.

When they left... twas revealed that she'd been up to a lil' more than reading... while she waited in the sun... at least we figured her to be the sculptor...

*Quartzsite Desert Sculpture*

*RV Boondocking Sculpture*

Then sits our rig... 10 years old and road worn. Waiting on a new window, another couple of tires, and some ambition to put on a lil' wax.

Across the road for the past week sat two shiny 40' Diesel pushers... electric awnings, full body paint... more slides than a ski slope...and price tags that total more than I've made in my whole life...

Just back to the west a 1/2 mile or so are a couple of banged up old pickups, more raggedy than my own, backed up into the spotty shade of some thirsty looking desert trees. The only shelter accompanying those rigs are a couple of dusty looking nylon canvas tents.

Scattered all across this Arizona Desert are RV's and camps of every variety, from every level of the Human Herd you could imagine...

What am I getting at? Hell... I can't really say!

Those Balanced Rocks left by our recent neighbor just got me to wonderin' is all... about balance... about life... just wondering... We've all come to the same place... gathered here for the "Sturgis" of the RV world...

Why?

When you look at the kaleidoscope of wanderers that collect in this Desert... from every level of this confused world of ours... just what is IT that brought 'em here?... What is that One thing that all the people gathering here have in common? What are they looking for? What is it that pulls them here, to rub elbows with people that they wouldn't or don't... back in the World?

Is it even... just... One... thing? ... is it a wrong assumption to think they are even looking for anything?

a Curiosity... here in the relatively busy camp on Plomosa Road... I've not seen anyone Wave... when we pass... just watch, dead pan, heads swiveling, as we roll by. Yesterday, with the truck idling though the Desert twenty miles NE of here, scouting a new camp... everyone we passed, in the far more dispersed camps... Waved...

There's all sorts of conclusions I could make from the way folks set up their camps here; From whether they Wave or not; from the economic status of their rigs... from the variety of the sorts of rigs that gather together... and outside of coming to the conclusion that I haven't got a clue!... any other sort of judgment based on such limited information... would likely lead a man to create imaginative, but no less Wrong... assumptions...

So I'll just go on wondering without answers, curious about rocks piled in the Desert... and what it is that motivates the sorts of people who collect in camps where worn out old Toyota mini-motorhomes park next to million dollar mansions... with dusty Tenters as neighbors...

Wondering in the Desert Sand
Brian

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... and the Quarzsite Desert Rolls on...

Wish I could say I've been accomplishing a lot... not so much... mostly been just lazin' around and feelin' kind of droopy...

The big RV show opened up on Saturday... so we avoided the "Downtown" area for a couple of days... finally walked through day before yesterday... there's several "flea market" areas around town... but he "Big Tent" is where the big doin's was supposed to be...

We'd walked through the Flea Markets a lil' bit... not really my cup-o-tea... In the Big Tent, we found a few things we'd like... some LED Lights to compliment our solar power system, an Antennae to upgrade my Wilson Cellular Amplifier system... and a few lil' odds and ends... 'course, by the time I made a decision... we have to wait for their reorders to come in... guess business was better than they'd expected... good thing for them huh?

After the Big Tent in Quarzsite we took the truck for a roll down to the Kofa Wildlife Refuge area... 'course for us it was the wrong time of day... mid day ain't the time to expect to see any fancy critters...

... as you get in closer to the Mtns. the brush and Saguaros thicken up some... if you're a desert rat, the country starts feeling pretty comfortable...

... would make a real fine boondock camp back in there, for most people... and for me too... except for the Raider. :o)

If you need cell svc. ... there's signal in there... usable if you've invested in a cellular amplifier... which a boondocker likely should... we saw from 2-5 bars when we checked it...

You can't see 'em in this picture... but there's a fifth wheel camp back in there... about the center of the photo... look private enough for you? :o)

Just to show ya'll... here they are from a lil' closer and a different angle... to sneak in behind the trees and brush...

Guess they don't ride a big Yamaha. :o)

aw well... ya gotta make concessions now an' again don't ya.

The fish and wildlife service has done a lil' work developing some water sources for the local residents...

Near as I can tell this fence was built to keep big stuff, like horses and cattle out... if there are any in the area...

Up under the low ramada is a small water tank. They've even put a ramp in it, so the dumber critters that fall in... have a way to find their way back out...
you can see the start of it in the lower left of the water tank...

I saw a few tracks... though my "Daniel Boone" parts weren't workin' well enough to identify 'em for sure... I'm pretty sure what left 'em had fur :o) but... not truly sure whether it was a cat or a 'yote...

Hopefully not just somebody's Labrador... :o)

Long way from not much out here... so they put in a windmill to keep the tank full...

Don't windmills look more Right... in black and white? Maybe I'm odd... but somehow... the creak of a windmill is a soothing kind of thing... maybe it's the reminder for a desert kid... that the life giving water keeps flowing...

Back in camp it's been a few soft nights...

*Vintage RV under a Quarzsite Sunset*

This Old rig was a neighbor for a couple of days... an old airstream "Type"... I'm unsure of it's brand... but pretty sure she came from back in the fifties or early sixties... then he had her polished up brite adorned with modern electronics... judging from his antennae array. :o)

*Dusk outside Quarzsite Arizona*

Captured this view... looking through the trees for a long view to the south... sippin' on a drink... while the desert breeze flowed by...

I've gotta move camp in a few days... so today we're gonna go scout a location... not going far, just far enough to keep it legal... and far enough to gain a lil' more solitude... then pick up some propane... do the normal camp chores...

Just Living Each Day as it Comes
Brian

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Smoky Nights In RV Boondocking Camps...

Remember the Old John Denver Song? "Some Days are Diamonds... Some Days are Stone." ... Finally went up to view whatever Bad happened night before last... and yup... for somebody, it was a pretty rocky night...

As it was happening... my camera wouldn't focus on the scene, just the intensity of the fireball... but... from the glow and height of the flames, I just knew whatever was burning, it wasn't good...

That fire was around  1/4 mile east of us... with the flames rising at least 20 feet into the sky... likely more...

Truthfully, as close as other rigs were parked, it was amazing only one burned...

Near as I can tell it had been one of the lil' Toyota Chassis Mount rigs...

Old Toyota or Million Dollar rolling mansion, it's sad...

*RV Fire at Quarzsite*

***Update*** The unfortunate RVer is only identified so far as Paula...

For more info ... and the organization RVers could donate to... check this link to Froggi Donna's blog...

I'm bettin' for the other folks in the circle these folks were with... it was a scary lil' while... If I could be so bold... was it me... and I was camped in one of those RV Circles you see at these big gatherings... I'd have a fire extinguisher settin' outside, by a tire on every rig... quick and available for an instant response...

I carry multiple extinguishers... two in the truck... two in the fiver... one inside, one in an outside compartment... If you can get on a fire quick, before it has time to really catch... and seconds count... you have a chance of it not gettin' this bad...

When you're out on the back side of beyond, depending on the fire department is pretty much consigning your rig to ashes if things turn south on you. There's not a whole lot they can do when they're miles away... and they've got maybe 20 seconds to get control... just sayin'...

So... on a shinier note... we climbed in Bud and Sherry's Ford yesterday, and made an afternoon run to the Desertbar. over on the other side of Parker.

*The Nellie E Saloon*

Five miles or so up a twisty, just about two lane dirt road is this rough lil' spot... Now if ya'll are the patent leather and finicky sort, ya might not like this place...

... but... if you're a bit more relaxed, and not into bein' in a great hurry... it is kind of a fun spot... some decent music... kind of an odd restaurant... but then... ya ain't gonna find much of the Spice of Life at McDonalds... are you?

Would have been a pretty fine afternoon... if somebody... hadn't tripped over a step in the patio... and sent hisself sprawlin' all over the place... crashin' chairs and spewin' beer like he was a stumblin' drunk... at 12:30 in the afternoon! the poor devil had to go hide in the bushes till the blushin' faded... :o)

For those old vintage car boys... there's some old equipment and such layin' about to tickle your imagination...

... and if you need to restock some supplies there's a Wally World in Parker on your way back to your desert camp... and if you need to See some water... you can make a circle down along the river front of the Colorado...before or after you stock up...

*Camps along the Colorado*

Yeah... there's a lil' somethin' for ever'body around here... sand for the desert rats, 4x4 and ATV'ers... water for the boaters... and asphalt for the Road Bikers... space and sun 'nuf for all of us...

Headin' for the "Big Tent"
Brian

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Some Places Retard the Developement of Hitch Itch...

Leastways I think so... maybe it's the combination of a hell of a lot of miles in the last four months... knowin' that juuuuuust a lil' bit north of here... the winter ain't quite so soft... and the built in peacefulness of the desert...

*To the Far Blue Mountains*

Whatever it is... I don't much have that feeling of itchy restlessness growin' that I usually get, after we've set for a few days... and maybe I'm... finally... settling into the more measured pace that will be required in a time of high dollar diesel! :o) which is more than likely gonna be how it is for the rest of the time I'm burnin' it on this lil' blue marble.

Didn't go real far yesterday... just to the other side of those mountains... and a lil' bit left... Mike and Janna of the TinTeepee are boondocked over there... just a lil' ways... They've found a sweet lil' spot on BLM... I could tell you where... but... then it wouldn't be so sweet any more... and Mike & Janna would likely be chuckin' rocks at me... Just know... that if you look around in this desert... there's no shortage of places to set up and let the desert soak in...

We haven't yet decided how we're gonna "Do" the Tucson show... I have a whole lot of work I truly need to get done... and fact is... I don't get it done very well, when there's other folks close about... maybe I'll just hide out in the desert round about here, while herself meets up with her Bead People over to the Gem Show in the Old Pueblo...... hmmmmm.....

Me thinks there's enough quiet inspiration, layin' about in this desert, that I could pile up a lot of words in a week of writing solo... :o) gonna have to give that some careful cogitation...

The Quartzsite Airforce patrolled by again last evening... If I wasn't one of those fellas that gets the quivering wigglies... when I look over the edge of a cliff... and the screamin' jeebies, if some fool tries to drag my kiester onto an airplane... Ridin' one of those machines might could be some genuine fun.

*Another Sunset Patrol by the Quartzsite Airforce*

As he flew off into the lengthening shadows... a few of the rare and fleeting Quartzsite Clouds floated in the sunset sky...

And as the burgers sizzled on the grill... the sun finally sank clean out of sight on another soft day...

*** A little while after dark, last night, the sirens started wailing... Two engines and a third emergency car... lights flashing, sirens screaming went past on Plamosa Road... as I watched 'em approach I wondered where they were headed... until... as I turned, watching them as they passed... the flames came into View!

Uh Oh... maybe a quarter mile east of our camp... the flames were licking the sky above the rigs parked up that way... I knew that spot to be filled with Motorhomes and rigs... and I thought... "Damn, some poor soul is having a truly bad day...

My camera wouldn't focus on the flames in the dark... and to tell the truth, I haven't had the heart to go see what actually burned... it's a real bummer... but I know... these rocks don't burn... there's no grass... it didn't spread anywhere... and it was way, way too big for a campfire, flames 20 feet high or more... so... odds are... some poor Boondocker lost their rig last night... hopefully, it was just stuff, and no one got hurt... I'll likely find out today... but the first thought in my head was; "Now THERE is a good reason to NOT park your rigs so tight... in one of those big Rendezvous Camps."

The Eagle remains Nested in the Arizona Desert
Brian

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The "Q" Gives You Plenty of Opportunity to... Unwind...

... Though it's still kinda hard sometimes to do it... Too many of us have that pestering feeling we should be doing... something...

I think we gotta just keep tellin' ourselves... that's the massuh, talkin'... WE, are the Masters of our lil' kingdom now... not the Bossman... just slap his butt and send him along... His power is broken now... right? :o)

So... we laid about quite a bit yesterday... Took a mid morning walk... and you'd think, considerin' all the rigs within a stones throw that the desert would be kinda crowded, wouldn't you? ... uh uh... Never even saw one of the ATV's... though their tracks were evident... but for walkers, I didn't see hide or hair... and not much more than a track or two...

Apparently, the biggest part of these folks don't get out of eye sight of their rigs... which is OK by me... leaves the open country more open... for the likes of me!

*Mountain View from near Plamosa Road area*

I suppose they're worried 'bout gettin' lost... though with all the landmarks to navigate off of... I don't know how you could get bad lost...

Me... I get lost in the dang malls... lost and turned around in TOWN... but out here?... I head out... come back and I'm never more than a hundred yards or so off target... yup... genuine Dan'l Boone! :o)

One lil' bit of Housekeepin'... Mark and Bobbie sent us a shirt a bit ago, to commemorate conquering Imogene pass last July. It came with the instructions that it must be Modeled on site! ... so... here it is!

*I survived Imogene Pass T-shirt... with the guy and truck that survived*

*Mark, Heidi and the truck on Imogene... I.. .was taking the pic!*

So... that was a long way from Quartzsite and better than 16,000 miles ago! Whew!

We did take a lil' toot yesterday, on the Raider... maybe 20 miles give or take... down through the La Posa area...

Lots of room down there... but to be honest... I kind of like it here better... to each his own I suppose...

Late in the day we got a lil' entertainment from some zoomies... some folks round-a-bout here are haulin' some of those motorized parachutes...

...and come skimmin' over the desert, just before sunset... looks like fun... except for maybe that occasional lil' gust of desert wind... I'll bet that makes for a liver quiverin' few seconds... when they slide in this low...

*The Quarzsite Airforce*

But then... they flew off into the sunset... and left us to the peace of the desert...

To grill up our chicken, turn some more mesquite to ashes... and watch the stars come out in the cloudless sky...

... before we got chased inside by the cold... when the thermometer dipped below fifty with the advancing evening... :o) sorry Mark... just couldn't help myself...

*Desert Flyers fading off into the Sunset*

So... sittin' round the fire... another day faded away... feeling guilty that we were in light jackets... while Mark, and all the rest up north and back east... Have to keep on struggling against the winter winds... We feel so bad for 'em all.... as the sun fades behind the western mountains... and a gentle desert breeze caresses our camp...

NOT! :o)

I don't think so! Ha hahahahahahaha I'm here and you ain't! :o) just turn up the furnace folks... or point your Radiator south! Ya'll can't blame it on me!!! :o)

Gloating on the Desert
Cruel, Cruel, Brian

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Just Another Sunny Day in Quartzsite...

In Arizona... if ya'll ain't ever rolled this way... the long time residents get up in the morning, look out the window, and say; "Aw Hell... another... beautiful... day....!" :o) Bunch O' Whiners eh? :o) Yeah, after you go six months or nine... 'thout ever seein' a cloud... ya start wishin' for some bad weather! :o)

Well... Not me... not yet anyhoo... had enough on the Pacific Coast to last me a bit. I'll take the soft weather of an Arizona winter. Anybody that wants my share of a Colorado winter can just step up to the desk, where ever they hand that junk out, and tell 'em that the up and coming Western Fiction Author, B.K. Gore done gave you all of his share... just tell 'em to look right here for verification. :o)

Now, Sharlotte was askin' for pics of this area, and I hung a few on the wall yesterday. Thought I'd set up a 360 degree view... so anybody wondering can see just exactly what it's like using one of the "Developed" ... undeveloped areas! :o)

This here is Plamosa road... The area is three miles long, and a 1/2 mile wide... we're in two miles... I climbed up on the roof to take these of the four directions... (click on a pic if you want larger)

*Plamosa Road Looking North*

*Plamosa Road Looking East*

*Plamosa Road Looking South East*

*Plamosa Road Looking South*

*Plamosa Road Looking South West*

*Plamosa Road Looking West*

So... there you have the four directions in ... uh... six pictures... yeah... jus' like Montana and Texas... ever'thing is bigger in Arizona! :o)

We had the thought... You look out across this otherwise empty desert ... for miles... there's enough High Dollar machinery layin' about... to erase the National Debt! :o) 

Not ever'body... maybe 10%, has an old, worn rig such as ours... Hell there's a million dollars+ of Motorhomes sittin' just across the way this morning from my window... and that's just two of 'em! :o)

... and they've been lookin' at ME, with a jealous gleam in their Ol' eyes... as I roll out on that Red Raider! HooYa!

The "Campground" isn't what I'd call a picturesque sort of a thing... but there's no shortage of space... and a short distance in almost any direction and you're out in open desert and Far Country... factor in that parking here... for 14 days don't cost one red cent... and you've got rent that fits a frugal budget, don't you think?

Know what? I've not paid a dime in parking fees since we left Lake Mohave in November. Between Boondocking up to Ash fork on the Kaibab, parking on the back of my Sisters place through December and Now RV Boondocking north of Quartzsite... It's low cost living for sure!... 

Combine that with most of our runnin' around is on that Raider at 50 miles a gallon, give or take... and a poor boy can roll back his cost of living to squeeze it into a cowboys budget fairly comfortably... Now... If I can just quit breakin' things, I'll be Golden! ;o)

Miss Sharlotte also wondered 'bout the generator... I've not had to unwrap ours yet... plenty of sun on the panels... but... there's little in the way of restriction... I'd say it's mostly dependent on etiquette... that Ol' 6am - 10pm rule... 

That said, if you've got one of the Honda EU series type RV Generators... why, they're so quiet you could run the dang thing all night and ain't nobody gonna whine... they'd not even hear it... unless they were straining to... and, I don't think there's much Straining goin' on around here...

We wandered around one of the Swap Meet type areas for a while yesterday... failing to find what I was lookin' for... now that's something that don't impress me much... but... you can't like ever'thing, right? Today... we're gonna ride south a ways... 

People keep on tellin' me it's prettier down to La Posa... and south... and then, tomorrow, we're takin' a ride to the North, up Bouse way... same thing... the country breaks up a bit more... then Sunday we've got plans to take a meal at some lil' desert dive known as Nellie's somethin' or other... I'll have clearer information, should I survive the groceries there... :o)

Time to go suffer through another 70 somethin' Arizona winter day... Boondocked with 700,000 other RV Boondockers... On the Arizona Desert :o)

Brian

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The Great American Quarzsite RV Rendezvous

We got movin' ahead of schedule, got my rig pulled out of the back and we were ready to roll for "Q"...

Already fueled... coffeed up... and warmed up we hit the 101 and headed west...

Seemed like every other vehicle was an RV of some variety... Motorhomes and Fivers the heavy favorites.

Hmmm... don't look like we'll be lonely, out there on the desert...

Linked up with some friends of my sisters west of town a ways at the TA truckstop, motorhomers all... and continued west.

... and I got to say, I had my misgivings... for a long time I had no interest in comin' here to the big Quartzsite show, or even to use the area to warm up part of the winter.  My memory from growing up around Tucson was that the area 'round here was nothin' but  a big, dusty, sand box. That, and I'd seen the pictures of the RV's adorning the countryside...

... with the desert, littered with Rigs... from one horizon to the other. Looked like a crowded Zoo to me... it just didn't tickle my fancy...

Seeing all those rigs... headin' for right here... as we rolled along, my misgivings didn't lighten up any.

*Rolling for Quartzsite*

Fact is I kept askin' myself... "what are ya doin' here? You like far country with few people. Where you're headed... FEW ain't exactly how a fella would describe the numbers!" :o)

Then, after I think 130 miles or so from where we've been... My first view of Quarzsite slides into view as we crest over a small grade...

... and I think... Uh Oh... this is gonna be an "Interesting" week...

*1st View of the RV City at Quarzsite*

Whooooeeee... thousands of 'em... white RVs almost as far as you can see... and I'm still wonderin'...

But you know what? It's 75 degrees while much of the rest of the country is gettin' hammered with winter storms... and I'm about to learn that First Impressions and Preconceived Notions...

... will often lead a shallow thinkin' Buster astray...

Sherry and Bud... and their lil' caravan of Motorhomes went south to their reservations... and I turned us north... having decided to try our luck on Plamosa Road...

Passed the Hi Jolly area... and it looked kinda crowded, but opening up some... rolled another couple miles to the Plamosa Road turn off... and pulled into the Camp Host site...

*Camp Host on Plamosa Road*

Now... this is one of the 14 day, free areas... but they keep ever'body honest by requiring permits... So I asked 'em; "Where's my refund?"

Huh? It's free here!

"But I have a card that gets me half off 'cause of an Army Disability... don't I get some back 'cause of that?"

Uh... it didn't work this time either... Dang it... :o)

anyhoo... this area is 3 miles long... and a half mile wide... you just pick a spot that toots your whistle... and put down your jacks.

OK... things are lightening up a bit... this ain't half bad... it's warm... we've got Plenty of room... there aren't ATV's and dirt bikes scramblin' around makin' a dust storm... it'll do...

*View from under the awning on Plamosa Road*

We picked a spot out on the edge... so anybody that comes in, would be behind us... though... most follks seem to want to give each other some elbow room...

It's a good solid base... so if it does rain, no problem...

... and herself can walk her pups, right out from camp without an issue...

*Plenty of space to run the Pups*

Then of course, is the important stuff... the ability to do the hard work of Boondocking... once all that other junk is dealt with...

You know what I'm talkin' 'bout... right?

It's that risky and delicate business of depressurizing the cranial cowboy headspace ... It's best left to professionals... but... if you pay attention... and take great care... it is a chore that can be done by the amateur...

*The Dangerous process of RV Boondocking Depressurization*

So... been here but a few hours more than one night... and I'm already startin' to see the error of my judgment..

Fact is... I could get a passle of writing done... sittin' here in this quiet desert... OK... almost quiet desert...

But, there's space... there's little pressure on a tight budget... the sun is shining... and except for the professional whiner... Life is Good...

And though I don't guess you can call the graveled area pretty... all you've got to do is lift your eyes a mite... and there's no shortage of Vistas to fill up your soul... to wash away the mental grime of the city... and refresh your spirit...

Then, the sun goes down... you get your fire goin'... pop a top... and, aw, if you're still complainin'... get over it! :o)

*Quarzsite Boondocking Campfire*

The smores are roasting, the beer is cold and the fire warms you against the cool desert breeze...

What more can a fella want? Beer, Smores and big Red Motorcycles in a Boondock Camp! HooYa!

*Beer and Smores in a Boondock Camp*

The morning breeze is gusting... and I got lazy last night... and left the awning down... so I better get to takin' care of chores... if we're gonna go do some shoppin' at the "Big Tent"...

So... as I close... if you've been Not comin' to the "Q" ... 'cause you had the same misgivings or preconceptions... ths Ol' Buster had... think it over again... I'd suggest you give 'er a chance... at least one time...

That's another lesson I gotta see if I can remember a lil' bit better...

Boondocked on Plamosa Road... and Better Off for it!
Brian

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