I don’t really have much to say, if you can believe it, but the drive into the desert was a delight and it sure is quieter in Quartzsite. Not empty but a whole lot less vendors. I was able to buy two more of the LED lights. I love their bright white light, in some places.
Had lunch at Beer Bellys, with no beer for me, which is tucked backed a bit in the Tyson Wells vendor area. They refer to themselves as the “Adult Day Care Center” and provided some decent cowboy music for entertainment.
Made a stop at Desert Gardens specifically to look for a small rock quartz crystal ball. Before the Yarnell fire I had several of them, but… I want to experiment with taking photos through it. This was just the first try.
Then drove a few miles west of Quartzsite on I10 and took the Dome Rock exit to a gorgeously desert BLM area which allows 14-day limit free camping. The gravel roads appear to get rougher the further away from the Interstate and although I can see the highway I barely heard any noise from it. Found a slight rise to park on for the night with a wonderful view and mostly had internet connection. Funny how I like to be surrounded by nature but still connected to the web.
Spent the afternoon moving my new chair—very comfortable BTW—from shade to sun while finishing a book started on the last road trip. Funny how I rarely read books when I’m home. In fact I’d already read this Nevada Barr mystery Deep South many years ago and guess I’d forgotten the ending because it sure drew me in from start to finish. Well except for that three week break in Yarnell. I love how Barr places her mysteries in National Parks. For me, it’s like Nancy Drew grew up. Anybody remember those books?
OMG, the rocks here are marvelous! I only wandered within sight of camp and stopped more to pick up one color or another. Then put them back. It’s too early in this trip to add the weight of rock. Well, maybe just one, or two.
Sun set over the mountains left a soft pastel glow as there were no clouds to the west. Yet those last rays of light sure do make the landscape glow. Especially those spiny covered cholla.
And believe it or not, I was awake before the sun this morning.
Seems when camping I go to bed earlier and see more sunrises.
Yet the best for me is seeing how the light wakes up the the colors.
I could definitely spend more time exploring here.
But the road calls my name, it’s an hour later in California, and today I’m headed to Anza-Borrego in the hopes of seeing different colors on the desert as the wildflowers begin to bloom. Guess I had more to say than I thought.
I am so looking forward to your flower report, and lots of photos!
Well, I’m here, parked almost in the same place and tomorrow I’m going flower hunting.
I feel warmer just looking at your photos!!! (We’re – 20 C.!)
Well that’s good. I’d be a solid block of ice at the temperature.
Your photos always make me yearn for getting back on the road.
Well then it’s working. Because you will be soon, just a different kind of road.
I love Nevada Barr. I have read all her books. I think I like the earlier ones better than the most recent. Some of the recent books are sooo supenseful they scare me! I still read them though.
I haven’t read any of the recent ones, but she holds me in suspense very well.
Great set of photos from your snowless trip. All we see is white up North.
Thanks. I can’t do that cold and snow shit anymore.
Awesome photos. Loved watching the sun inch it’s way down the mountains around Dome Rock a few weeks ago. Have read all of Barr’s books. Was really disapointed with her latest one.
Thank you. I’ll have to spend more time around Dome Rock on another journey. I haven’t read any of the recent Barr books. I’m sorry to hear it was disappointing.
My sort of peace and quiet, I am very jealous. Have a good week Diane
I’ll share some more peaceful desert with you soon.
Hi G,
You missed us by a few miles. We were in Q yesterday and camped last night and tonight up the palm canyon road of 95 south of Q.
Hiked from our camp up to palm canyon this AM. Estimated it to be a mile each way turned out to be 6 round trip so JP is napping and I’m beading in the shade enjoying the view of the Mts.
Well darn it. Had I known you were there I’d have headed your way. Where to next? I’m back at Anza-Borrego and tomorrow on a search for wildflowers. Then Joshua Tree next.
Did I miss the post with the chair picture ? 🙂
interested in the crystal ball, are they expensive ? different sizes ?
Oops, haven’t shown the chair picture yet. Maybe now that I’m back in Anza-Borrego I’ll set up the tripod to show I’m using it. Crystal balls come in many sizes, and quality. This one is small, relatively clear of inclusions and cost $25. I’ve bought them cheaper in the past when I bought quantity.
Were you in the Yarnell fire?
That Crystal Ball looks cool. I’ll bet the subsequent pics you take through it will be awesome.
I like the pic of Q….now I have an idea what it looks like there 🙂
Yes Cindy, I lost a shed full of stuff in the Yarnell fire. Hoping to try more pics with the crystal ball. Quartzsite is really overrated.
Awww…sounds like you lost a lot of art supplies, tools and stuff in the fire, then. Sometimes that stuff is hard to replace.
You know I wondered what the big hoopla was about Q. Even Technomadia took 9 years to get there. And it seems like the most they got out of it was the socializing. I have a feeling they won’t be beating the path to go back unless they’ve got a compelling reason to do so.
It just seems like a giant flea market with Chinese made schlocky stuff.
I’m glad you found something, though.
I miss the real flea markets.
Decades ago, Quartzsite was The place to buy rocks, gems, minerals, and Real flea market stuff of which there still is a little. Plus there’s so much nice BLM land surrounding the town. Gives some boondockers a place to park long term and be entertained walking through the vendors.
Figured out why your comments aren’t showing up, they are going to my spam and I tend to just throw those all away.
Just love the crystal ball idea. That looks like a fabulous campsite for a long spell of easy living and checking it out. Do I understand that you only stayed one night? Bummer………love your pictures from there. So many great ones. The close up cholla is fantastic. Love the moon, the sunrise, the color coming down the mountains…………one of the things I most love about being on the road is that I am much more likely to go to bed early after a good tired day and get up to see the sunrise. Of course in the east, you have to be on top of a mountain or by the shore to do that. No sunrise to be seen in the woods. Love Nevada Barr too but only her National Park mysteries. Really liked the Natchez Trace one but the Isle Royale was too gruesome for me.
Definitely the best boondocking near Quartzsite, IMO for desert vegetation and mt topography. Only one night, this time. Coming to CA I lost an hour so that will screw with my bedtime a bit. Barr’s books can be a little ghoulish sometimes.
I love the Nora Barr books in the National Parks too. Looks so peaceful and quiet there.
Sure was dark dark, with stars and milky way shining above.
I love your adventures. Good thing to pass up the free beer. Free beer is generally worth less than you pay for it.
Thanks for the advice Yogi.
Those photos look soooo inviting. I’d hav bought a crystal ball, too. Love the photo with the cholla….hope you kept your distance.
I always keep my distance from the cholla. Looking forward to playing around more with the crystal ball and some better photos than that first one.
Oh, I love the Nevada Barr books! I’ve read ALL of them except her last one, which got horrible reviews! She has one that takes place in Yosemite. Have you read that one?
Did I miss the photo of your chair? We bought 2 at COSTCO…folding ones with a holder for coffee. We love to take them with us to Idyllwild or June Lake and sit outside and watch the blue jays! I need to keep one in my car so I can go watch the red-tailed hawk up in Garner Valley.
Cheryl Ann
I’ve missed he last several of the Barr books. Really need to read the one around Glen Canyon seeing that’s in my summer back yard.
Guess I forgot to post a pic of the chair. It’s nice. A little heavy, and I have no review on it yet as I haven’t gotten to use it enough.
You’re on the road again – and looking for wildflowers. Glad that camp chair was worth waiting for! I love the light in your photos. It looks serene and lonely (in a good way) there in the desert.
I may have to return to Dome Rock for the amazing color and light. Found some flowers yesterday afternoon back in Palm Canyon.