Change in scenery: from river to desert in Arizona

I started to think about a change in scenery a few weeks ago when I shopped in Parker and saw a sluggish Colorado River.  But instead I ended up back in Quartzsite for fridge repairs that this time are working.

I had some business to take care of at the Social Security office in Blythe, California, just the other side of the Colorado River and stocked up on ice cream before heading down Ox Bow Road adjacent to the river on the Arizona side for a change of scenery.

Sometimes I just have to stop and back up for a window shot

The major change in scenery occurred along the first mile with brilliant green cotton fields that to me look really out of place.  But of course there is water to pump from the Colorado River.

It’s a firm packed sandy drive with a few RVs pulled off the road onto a flat and sparse landscape that is out of sight of the river.  I may have gone five miles before finding an extra-wide space parallel to the road and above the river.  Thank goodness there was never much traffic.

Bending over was needed but no crawling

A nice trail lead to a shallow sandy beach along a backwater with a sandbar in the river.  Rather fun to see a change of scenery with such different vegetation than the desert.  Other than the tamarisk that is invasive and a few cottonwood trees, lots of plants I don’t know.

I saw a few clouds before sunset and hoped for some color and possibly reflections on the water.

Let’s just say it was pretty, but not spectacular.

I walked a little ways down the road looking for another river access to the sand bar where I’d seen a few people walking.

Wasn’t far to a steep sandy slope down just in time to have a guy on a bike careen down that sandy hill which is obviously driven on by at minimum OHV (Off Highway Vehicles).  He came from an old noisy small white pickup truck parked across the road that I’d heard drive past a few times.  Then I heard voices from the beach.  Suddenly I’m feeling a little weird about this place.  I’ve learned over the years to listen to my intuition.  I didn’t feel in peril yet felt a slight sense of unrest and returned to my own camp.

Three days later

The river level dropped daily revealing another sand bar and eventually eliminating the backwater completely.

I dislike this activity

You may remember me mentioning how human marks on the land last a very long time.  Imagine my surprise to see these circles that had been underwater a day before but obviously around for a while.

I took care of business all day on the computer and that night enjoyed another change in scenery with constant color and pattern changes in the clouds.

I could smell rain coming and figured this sandy location wasn’t where I wanted to be.

On the drive back to the highway I pulled into the signed Ehrenberg Sandbowl, a designated landscape that BLM encourages OHV to tear up to their hearts delight.  Kind of gave me the creeps.

So time for yet another change of scenery.  Well kind of a change.  The nice thing about wheelestate is the ease of moving.  Yes, I returned to the desert about 30 bird miles away.  Back to Palm Canyon Road south of, you guessed it, Quartzsite near the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge.  Been here so much I probably should have just gotten a job here this winter or at least volunteered.  Well, maybe next year.

A storm was approaching and the clouds added to the sunset show for another change in scenery.

Shimmer like satin.  That night the wind rocked us a bit and rain fell.

The morning clouds looked like cotton balls reaching for the ground.

Female rain fell on and off all morning revealing a patchwork of light and shadow.

The clouds moved and changed so rapidly I bounced in and out of the camper all day to take photos.

Moving so frequently makes it difficult to keep up with processing photos and writing stories.  But I try, and I sit at the computer and look out the windows thinking, I could live here.  Then I smile, because I do.  So even though I couldn’t build a house right here,  I am grateful to BLM and USFWS for sharing access to these lands they manage for us.  I am happy to know there are many more landscapes and environments available on our public lands even if I haven’t seen them yet, or ever will.

Once again I smile each time I look out the dirty window and see some change in the light and shadows, then reach for the camera and step outside for a least a photo from the open door.  As much as I like to go outside and be outside, I don’t live outside, not any more than anyone in a S&B (stick and brick = house).  Our species is rather soft, or at least I am.  Hiding under cover during wind and rain, seeking heat when it is cold and cool when it is hot.

But that didn’t keep me from going out and taking more sunset shots, because, ya’ know, no two are alike.

My exercise for the day became turning 360° in awe.  Maybe I should take up spinning.  LOL!

It’s windy so I sit inside enjoying the view, working on this post, and not ready for another change in scenery, yet.