JANUARY 2018 - MARCH 2018

TRAVEL TO QUARTZSITE, AZ - then returning through CA, OR and WA

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TRAVELOGUE # 2 - QUARTZSITE, AZ
What the heck is in Quartzsite, AZ?

Tuesday January 16 - Thursday January 25, 2018

Published February 8, 2018

What's in Quartzsite, AZ? What's the big deal? Here's what one website says:

Over 2 Million Visitors a Year!

Quartzsite, Arizona, barely 18 miles east of the Colorado river, on I-10, may be the RV boondocking capital of the world. Quartzsite has become a mecca to visitors and exhibitors for rocks, gems, mineral specimens and fossils during the town’s famous two-month-long gem show and swap meet every January and February. From its humble beginnings the now-massive Quartzsite show has grown to RV-epic proportions with vendors offering everything under the Quartzsite sun.

Wikipedia website says:

Quartzsite is a town in La Paz County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population was 3,677.[2] Interstate 10 runs directly through Quartzsite which is at the intersection of U.S. Route 95 and Arizona State Route 95 with I-10.

And another says:

Every January something happens that is hard to believe, unless you have seen it! According to the Arizona Highway Department, as many as 750,000 to 1,000,000 people, mostly in RV’s, converge on this sleepy little desert town, located just 20 miles east of the California border on Interstate 10, for the rock, gem and mineral shows, plus numerous flea markets and the Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show. This phenomenon started over 40 years ago and is now billed as “The Largest Gathering Of RVers in the World”...

OK, so that's a lot of people. Why do I and many of my RVing friends go there? It's a gathering place - for some a once a year reunion. I belong to several RV communities: The Loners on Wheels singles club, The Escapees Solos sub-group of Escapees RV club, and the Toyota Motorhome owners group (I'm a past owner). They all have a gathering of RV's and loads of activities - many happy hours, breakfast coffee, dances, campfires, and more! It's hard to keep up with all the activities! I parked my RPod on BLM land north of Quartzsite with the Solos group, and not far from the LOWs. The Toyota group have a special location in town just a few blocks from the "Big Tent" where the RV show is.

I arrived on the afternoon of Tuesday January 16, parked my trailer and setup my solar panel. This is all boondocking, or "dry" camping, with no hookups or water. You have to come prepared! BLM has designated much of their land for camping. And it's FREE! The first full day I was there, there was coffee in the morning, a big happy hour for all Escapees (a big club), then a hot dog dinner. Thursday, I took a long walk in the desert with Sunna, then drove into town and checked in with the Toyota group who were just arriving. I love having my truck to drive around in without having to move my "house". Friday had coffee, explored some in the truck, attended a talk on RV refrigeration, then joined the Toyota group for dinner. Saturday, I went to the HUGE swap meet area and of course bought some stuff. Came back, did some needed interior decorating, then joined the Toyota group for a potluck dinner. I've known the Toy people for 4 or 5 years, so they are my friends. Sunday I took Celeste and Myrna (LOWS from OR and WA respectively) and we drove out to a place called the Desert Bar (officially the Nellie E. Saloon). An old mine converted into a bar in the middle of the desert. We had their traditional burgers, listened to live music, and hung out. I had Sunna in the car so took her for a few walks. There was quite a crowd and folks still arriving when we left. Monday (22nd) Solos had their annual meeting (it's the only official gathering in the year) followed by a dance with DJ music - all singles in various groups were invited - and lunch. Tuesday the Solos had their annual auction of items donated by members and proceeds going to CARE. Wednesday I finally had a chance to go to the "Big Tent" RV Show - it had opened on Saturday but I was too busy :) - and of course I bought some stuff, really useful stuff. Myrna had arrived and we went over to the LOWS group for dinner. Thursday was my last day, got all packed up, and spent a lot of time saying goodbye as everyone headed off in different directions. Finally hit the road at almost noon and made it to Yuma in a couple of hours.

Enjoy! Sometimes I was just too busy to take photos, but I think you'll get the picture (so to speak!)

Ann

QUARTZSITE - I"M HERE!

Photo above shows the "BIG TENT" where the RV Show is held. Not sure what year this was taken, this year the tent was white. Below, inside the big tent.

Another view of the Big Tent.

Above a view of the "outskirts" just random camping. Below a bigger view of the whole area. Impressive!

 

This is the schedule for the Solos - very busy!!

Love the desert sunsets!

This is the area behind where we were camped. Not much there but open desert.

More sunset photos. It's really hard to show the total number of RVs, because it's all so very flat.

I took my truck and drove out into the desert until I came to this wash. The middle part where Sunna is standing was high enough that I didn't trust the truck could clear it, so we turned around and went back.

Here we are at the Toyota Rally. The tent below has a bunch of picnic tables so the group is protected from wind or rain. Carol and I went for a walk with Sunna and her dogs in the open desert behind the RVs.

Above - the Toyotas lined up. This was Friday night, there were a lot more by Saturday. Below, Sunna and Ellie and the sunset.

Above: my RPod and truck. Below, what it looks like inside. I know, not so neat, but that's life!

Above, the gathering place for Solos (in the middle) - they circle a bunch of large RV's to act as wind breaks, shade, and then they created a "dance floor" - by picking up all the rocks and putting down carpet. That's dedication!

Below a friend took this photo at a dinner at the LOWS group.

The photos below (all 18 of them) are from the Desert Bar - out in the middle of the desert at an old mine it's been converted into a fun place to go. Live music, burgers and hotdogs, and of course a bar.

Band and dance floor.

It was really cold, so some of us found some seats in the sun. Below, lining up for burgers and drinks.

Above, rest rooms. What was unique was that all the stalls were made out of rusted sheet metal - very "old mine" style.

There were tables on many levels and walkways all around. It all felt kind of random, but they made a lot of useful space.

Above, looking down on the band - look at all the angles in the roof! Below, one of several parking areas.

This was meant to look like a church, but I think was really just for photo ops.

 

Above, an actual bar This was the only enclosed space.

Above, Myrna looking so cheerful, below, Celeste. Second below, Jack and Wayne. All other Solos.

This was the line of cars leaving. It was a pretty rough dirt road. Glad I have my 4x4 truck!

"Monster Mountain"

Above and below, see the profile of Lincoln?

Above and two below, the dance and lunch party.

Above, the auction. Below, items donated by other Solos.

Four GM trucks in a row. Mine is the one on the right. It's noticeably smaller. Hard to tell from the photo angle.

My rig with Myrna's in the background with her red Jeep. Below, last sunsets in Quartzsite.

I bought the Chevrolet Colorado truck and RPod trailer in June 2017. This is 7 months later... Fun on the road!