Been enjoying a lot of sky watching lately what with the recent lunar eclipse and glorious sunrises and sets over the Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona. Yet fluffy clouds turned to skies of gray and there is also the chores of life.
After 13 of the allowed 14 days camping on the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) just outside the Kofa NWR (National Wildlife Refuge) I needed to move on. Where did the time go? Besides, it was time to dump and fill tanks and get groceries. I drove north through an almost quiet Quartzsite then continued 35 miles to Parker for a Safeway and Wally fix. I looked at and passed on both the LaPaz County Park and Blue Water Casino dry camp with too many others for my personal taste. Instead I drove a roughly paved six miles east of SR95 on Shea Road to a BLM boondock which was unimpressive and obviously a well used OHV area. So glad I was prepared to leave in the morning as the crowds of noisy rigs pulled in to go tearing around in the desert. Sure hope that’s not why there is less vegetation here.
In the morning I checked the weather and big wind was predicted for Saturday night. So being I still had to dump tanks and fill water ($12-15) plus take a shower ($8) I figured it was time to ‘treat’ myself to a RV Park. I checked online and found The Scenic Road with rates from 2015/16 at $30. Called ahead and they had space. Level and close sites located along Hwy95 as are many other parks if not on Central in downtown Quartzsite. With tax I figure that’s a $13/night site. I refused the first parking option with my kitchen window three feet from the Women’s bathroom door. Got a little better but definitely sandwiched in. Figured that might turn out to be a good thing with overnight wind gusts predicted up to 25 mph. Certainly not my cup of tea but I can sleep almost anywhere for one night. And I had electricity too.
I heard the wind pick up just before going to bed at 11pm. Guess it blew more but I never felt a thing so was good to be tucked in. Sunday morning, after filling a propane tank and topping off the truck’s diesel I headed back out to the desert south of Quartzsite, this time the King Valley Road into the Kofa NWR.
Found a side road from Kings Valley Road and although I could see a few RVs in the distance still felt like I had the place to myself. Camp was surrounded by a goodly amount of saguaros and ocotillos, some palo verdes, lots of creosote bush, a few varieties of cholla, and some other scrubby stuff I don’t know.
Pencil Cholla
Nice view of sunset over the Chocolate Mountains.
While baking pizza for dinner I noticed a chirping noise when propane was used. I Googled this new to me phenomenon and discovered the noise could mean time to replace hoses or regulator which I did about four years ago when I first got the camper. Hmmmmm……
Monday morning a layer of dark clouds hung over the eastern horizon. Only a 20% chance of rain predicted. I was parked on good hard rocky ground but the road I drove in on was soft dust and gravel. Did make me wonder if I could drive it if it got very wet. But I didn’t really plan to go anywhere for a few days anyway other than maybe a walk towards the mountains.
Wind picked up during the day keeping it cooler than it had been. These spring like temperatures are way too early making me wonder what this low desert will be like during summer. Even the desert will change with extended 100°+ and drought.
The day remained gray as rows of clouds hung over the valley. A we bit of soft female rain fell bringing a smile to my face. Rain is a gift to the desert dwellers especially when soft and not an extended downpour. Considering the lack of recent rain I was surprised how green leafed the ocotillo were dressed.
Ocotillo
Although chilly outside, I wore a jacket and scarf and opened the door to breath deep the petrichor of the desert. I could feel it crying for more moisture. What doesn’t kill us, makes us strong.
Border Patrol truck drove by and didn’t stop so guess I’m legal.
Sun poking through holes in the clouds sent patches of light dancing across the land. I grabbed the camera, stepped outside, and it was gone. Just a tease. In and out, taking ever more photos of the light on the desert while still processing the morning shots.
Gorgeous sunrays before sunset and after dark it seriously rained.
I awoke to a fresh desert Tuesday morning. The ground not really wet but with a scent of moisture and more low clouds indicating another day of perhaps life giving rain. Was enough to settle the dust on the road without making a mess.
Jumping Cholla Tank Mountains
Yet it did not rain so I went for a walk and heard only the wind and nothing else. Where are the birds.
Enough gray. Third day and I’m done with it. I wanted my sunshine back. And so, seemingly, did my solar system. The control panel gave a fault message saying “the batteries are discharged below the minimum acceptable level”. With another two days of cloud cover coming I would be in trouble. No lights and eventually the fridge won’t ignite. Called Solar Bill in Quartzsite and was told “gray skies don’t make much power” to keep my one battery charged. I could live without lights but don’t want the ice cream to melt. For some reason running the truck doesn’t charge the house battery. Something that needs to be fixed. At least the propane tank quit singing.
So, I could pay $20-30 to camp in Quartzsite to charge the battery, or, drive two hours to home, plug in, and take care of some business plus pick up mail including new slippers and a book. And here I am in Yarnell, at the top of the foggy mountain.
It will be a hard time selecting your desert pics for next year’s calendar. It would be helpful if the coach battery could be charged while driving, take a load off the solar panel on those gray days.
Did get some nice shots down there. I have an appointment this week to get the truck charging the house battery, plus a few other little things done. In the old days of boondocking I used a candle at after dark to read an actual book by, no techie stuff.
Back in Yarnell! Ah well, always nice to have a place to land when you need it.
Or when it needs you.
We’ve had lots of rain here in Tucson and it was nice to have a forced relaxation time. But we are so done with the clouds but they have made for some dramatic skies. Now we just need our warmth back.
Your photos of the desert are just beautiful! I so enjoyed looking at them.
Thank you. I do like clouds in the sky but not after too many days of gray. Even had a little snow/hail that thankfully didn’t stick and may have more coming. Last night below freezing.
Hmmm, we drove King Valley to the Horse Tanks on Saturday, 2/17. Might had drove past your camp on our way. Looks like a nice place for a quiet camp. We are staying in the Q LTVA, where there are some quiet spots now that most of the crowd has moved on.
Safe travels.
I was gone by then but will return. More likely passed me along Shea Rd. Q looked about dead when I went by.
Looks a bit cloudy Gaelyn but you still took wonderful photo’s. John, my partner and I always enjoyed caravan holidays although they were mostly when we were at Re enactment venues, so our van was not quite as elaborate and that was only in the same country England. Since moving to Crete we do miss the excitement of the battles being re enacted but we keep in touch with our re enactor friends. Thanks for sharing your travelling experiences with us.
I actually like clouds for photography but not solid gray. The drama queen in me has always thought reenactment would be fun.
Wow Gaelyn that sunset over the Chocolate Mountains is aaaamaaaaazing. But having said that all the photos are fabulous.
I am glad we do not rely on a solar system here at home, we have seen the sun briefly about twice since we came back from the UK at the end of December. The amount of rainfall to have fallen in France since December 1st is the highest recorded since 1959 – the year when the rain gauge’s were set up, Météo France has confirmed. Our area is reputed as one of the sunniest parts of France; so heaven help the rest of France this year.
Take care Diane.
Solar is great, when there’s sun. Maybe I should try wind power next. Try to stay warm and dry.
This might be my favorite all time post of yours. What a story about your lifestyle and the tension between the beauty outside, the issues of living in a camper, plus the need to dump the tanks, charge batteries, and get groceries. Love it. Not for the faint of heart.
Well thank you Yogi. I am always a bit surprised when people are actually interested in the every day life of a gypsy.
Gray days get tiresome after a while (at least so I remember from Oregon )…. the contrast of the beauty and the problems is fun to read about for me too, but for a different reason than that of Yogi — for me, it is ‘been there, done that’…. back when we had our pickup camper and more recently with the roadtrek van — thinking particularly of Alaska trip. Love it though! As I know you do.
I suffered from SAD in Washington although loved all the green and the few perfect sunny days. Yea, folks who don’t RV really can’t understand. But it’s worth it.