Feels like my winter life is getting closer to normal as I spend my January watching and walking as the desert calls and the weather allows. The wind comes about every other day.
My mobile lifestyle allows me to BE dry camped—off grid—on this BLM managed piece of the Sonoran Desert adjacent to Kofa NWR free for 14 days. It just is where I’m living at the time, doing what I like, with no particular time schedule. Still sleeping in and not getting up for sunrise. Actually, I frequently wake up in time for sunrise, note there are no clouds, and snuggle right back under the covers, Sierra curled by my side.
The desert calls me to walk during the warmest part of the winter day in the 60°s. Not usually the best light for photography unless there are clouds to give visual interest to the otherwise famous clear blue Arizona sky.
Plus Southwest sunsets carry their own fame. And those I’m awake for, and sometimes bundled up enough to get outside.
Yet winter wind can be quite chilling in the desert creating an uncomfortable crispness to the air after the sun goes down.
When there’s no chilly wind I get my healing apricity with some walking exercise. One afternoon I sauntered for almost three hours and never left sight of camp. I was checking out the scenery, looking at rocks, and following trails for another possible place to camp on the north side of the road. Less RVs in my view.
The Palo Verde frequently acts as a shade providing nursery tree for Saguaro cactus. Then as the cactus grow taller and demand more water they often outcompete the tree and it dies. Not this survivor Palo Verde at 30+ feet tall even with mistletoe growing in its crown.
Clouds blew in the day before actual full moon rise. That’s when I like to scope out exactly where to see the moon on the horizon. I watched the changing light, shadows, and colors of the Kofa Mountains to the east while the sun passed through the day. Getting crowded out here. Late in the afternoon two trailers set up two lanes behind me to the SSW. Then a big 5th-wheel backed in to the south and almost out of sight behind the trees also two lanes over. Interesting to watch the configuration of vehicles. I saw a Smart car towing a small flatbed trailer and didn’t get a photo.
I watched for the moon through clouds.
Then turned around for sunset’s silver lining and crepuscular rays.
As I began my second week without moving the truck I thought about driving the 30 minutes to town for a paid shower at the Quartzsite laundromat. But below 55° felt cold to me with NW wind gusts up to 30mph so I did not feel like going out. Hey, I live alone so it’s OK to be a dirtbag at least sometimes.
Watch what you ask for. Mid-afternoon, I started to smell propane like a tank is almost empty so when it went off I wasn’t surprised. I just turned on the other tank, presumably full, and nothing happened. It wouldn’t work. WTF? So I had to go to town to either fill the tank that was working and now empty or stay at a RV Park for electricity to keep the full fridge/freezer working. While getting propane I was reminded these new fangled tank valves have to be opened very slowly or they register as a leak and won’t turn on until they reset, and that is an undetermined amount of time. It’s a safety thing. It worked.
Now it’s good for over a week. I headed back to Palm Canyon and parked in a slightly different place just before dusk.
I should have taken the tripod out but settled with just a few hand-held shots of the Wolf moon rising over a hill in the distance. I will continue to practice night photography, especially if it’s not cold.
Like it was the next day with chill hair-blowing wind when I stayed mostly indoors watching the Kofa Mountains change color over the moving light of the day.
This followed by a gorgeous day of no wind, mid-60°s afternoon when the desert calls, “Visit the Saguaros.”
Meet the cactus people, each so unique you will soon know them by name.
Have I been here too long? Excuse me, I have to go, the desert calls.
Inside a dead Saguaro cactus
OK, maybe you already looked it up, but… “dirtbag – A person who is committed to a given … lifestyle to the point of abandoning employment and other societal norms in order to pursue said lifestyle.”
Big RV show 18-25 Quartzsite Arizona
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MscerVCt-tA&feature=share documentary about Quartzsite
What a fun post, Gaelyn! Saguaros are my favorite part of the desert. 🙂
J
Thanks. Just one of my favorites.
Some fabulous photos here of the desert, skies and night sky. I tried to get the wolf moon, but my lens will not focus when fully extended so I just gave up. The desert there is so pretty as I also generally find the deserts in Africa. Having said, that I do not remember the Sahara ever being pretty. Perhaps at only 9 years old I had a different outlook on views and what was pretty and what was not. I simply remember miles of fairly flat sand for miles behind and ahead of us!! Keep well and keep taking those night skies, love them. Diane
Thanks. It’s hard to shoot the moon and almost have to manually focus.
I enjoyed the deserts I saw in SA and think I’d very much like the Sahara but probably not as a child.
These are glorious photos, as always. I enjoyed the tour!
Thanks. Always glad to have you along.
Hi Gaelyn, Nice to know that you are enjoying your travels again. Love all the photo’s, especially those dramatic skies. Looking forward to Fun Friday. Take care.
Thanks. I am in heaven, well actually the desert.
Truly gorgeous photos today, and lovely words. I can feel the desert.
Thanks, they’re getting better even if it’s still difficult to hold the camera for long.
Although I’ve tried a number of times previously my comments haven’t got through. Here I go giving it another try.
Hey it finally worked:)))))) Great memories of the Kofa area for me. Keep those great photos coming.
Came through just fine. Currently closer to Quartzsite visiting with friends. I’ll keep trying to take pics. try to stay warm up there and take care of each other.
Wow – I love your desert photos, Gaelyn. The moon pics are awesome. I smile when you talk about “uncomfortable crispness!” Finally today we’ll go just above freezing – it felt “almost” balmy when I walked in town. Enjoy your desert interlude. Hope your wrists are healing well.
Thanks. I would be a block of ice. Wrists are doing better all the time.
You can see how wonderful your desert experience is with your spectacular photos. You have your next calendar right here in this post. Wow! Your truly have a great eye. Thanks for sharing so many beautiful photos. I love every one.
Thanks. Feels more like where I should be.
So many dramatic shots! The moving light and changing clouds give you an endless selection from your sweet spot in the desert. I love that moon peeking over the mountain. The wind sure makes a difference for what temps are tolerable outdoors!
Thanks. I like when there’s clouds to lend to the light and shadows.
Great photos of the desert. Being “Off the Grid” is a Lifestyle that becomes Intoxicating in it’s own way.
Be Safe and Enjoy!
It’s about time.
Thanks. Intoxicating is a perfect description.
You sure made the most of your outings. I learned two things from post. I’d never heard of the concept of the nursery tree and the thing about the propane tanks. I didn’t know that. I exchange my tanks and I’ve taken a couple full ones back where the valve didn’t work. I just need to wait a little it sounds like.
I thought you are the gas guy. Wrong kind huh? 😉 I do want to be safe but the changes are difficult to keep up with. I can’t just exchange these.
So fun — I’m so glad you are taking it easy and replenishing as your spirit moves you! You deserve that — and what a beautiful place to do so. Stunning scenery, thank you for sharing it (doesn’t look as if you need to get up early to see beautiful skies. That sounds ideal!)…….. But you gotta’ have the gas for life to be perfect!
I like taking life easy, especially during winter healing.