Quartzite boondocking

January 19-22, 2011

Well...we've heard about it all along our travels...and everyone asks..."Are you going to Quartzsite?"

We had to do it...to see what it was all about. Thousands of trailers gathered out in the desert. Hard to imagine.

As we approached Quartzsite, AZ, you could see a thin line of "white stuff" way out there at the base of the mountains. Was it a lake??? Hard to tell.

As we got closer...everywhere we turned, there were RV's, 5th Wheels, pull campers...all out in the desert. Gathered around in groups...like "circle the wagons." Rv's everywhere. Not as crowded together as we had pictured...but spread over a large distance...our group was 5 miles north and 2 miles east of town...there were 8 or 9 groups in our area...and there were more gatherings of rigs to the south, east, and west of town.

We camped with SKP chapter 39 - the WashPan group. [Several couples at the Casa Grande SKP park are from Washington state or the pan handle of Idaho - Thus...WashPan]

Everyone circled around...and most days there was a potluck breakfast...and a potluck dinner...lots of good conversations...although the campfires at night were sparcely attended, as the temperatures, which were in the high 70's during the day, dropped below 40 at night.

We went to an Escapee (SKP) Rally the second afternoon...and met a couple from our "Ozark Chapter #17"...Don and Susie Tannehill...they live in Oklahoma...just a few miles from Arkansas/Missouri border.

Downtown Quartzsite was a miriad of shops. RV supplies...jewelery...gems...crafts...indian goods...you name it! Across the highway there were tents...and more tents...and more tents. Probably a 2 block square section of just ROCKS and stones...and gems.

We didn't stay for the opening of the RV tents...we've seen a bunch of RV's on several occasions...and are pretty happy with our Home Sweet RV.

The sunsets were gorgeous...and there were activities going on for anyone's interest. Lots of folks brought their "dune buggies" and ATV's to ride out in the desert.



All in all...it was a good experience. We'll probably do it again.