I suppose it figures when as many as one million people from around the world converge in the desert, wind blown germs carry the Quartzsite Crud, or in my case a nasty head cold.
It started January 23rd with a brutal wind at Carolyn’s meetup. Maybe germs fly on the wind or somebody there had a head cold. Either way, I’ve been fighting wind and a head cold ever since. I do feel better but still lack energy and have a slight cough. Good time to hunker in, and that’s what I did for several days at a new to me BLM area called Scadden Wash just east of Quartzsite.
Between the head cold and wind rocking the camper I stayed inside and watched the dusty window view.
A group of three RVs pulled in just a little too close considering how much open space is in this area.
Kathie & Gaelyn plus finger
Probably a mistake, but Friday I downed some Sudafed for the head cold and picked up a long-time Facebook friend as yet unmet and we went exploring at Tyson Wells in Quartzsite.
That amounts to 25 acres of aisles with vendors selling literally everything from nuts to rocks. Plus the Sports, Vacation, & RV Show sprawls across more than 40 acres including 550 booth spaces inside the big tent pushing vacation packages, 5th-wheel hitches, plastic storage containers and more. All I bought was two LED lights and some small bungee cords.
I wasn’t willing to pay $8 for an ice cream cone. We attended a workshop about RV electric that was very interesting. Had a great time but by the end of the day I had no voice.
After dropping Kathie at her motorhome I drove north of Quartzsite to Plomosa Road BLM in hopes of catching up with yet another RV Facebook person but was too sick to make that happen.
I did however have company when Ranger Chris came by. I warned him about the crud but he came inside anyway and we visited until 2am. Two days later he was sick yet tested negative for strep, COVID, RSV, and flu.
I spent the next two days sleeping and took Ibuprofen and electrolytes, all I had in the house for a head cold.
No choice but to move on Monday as I needed propane. Back to Quartzsite for that plus truck fuel and a lovely $10 shower at the laundromat. I’d planned to drive south and boondock near Kofa NWR but barely had the energy to get a mile to Shady Lane RV Park for the night where I could plug in for heat. I freaked when that cost $50 for the night. Place recently went under new ownership but wasn’t going to raise the price this season. Found out later, they had no choice as Quartzsite taxes went way up to cover the cost of a new and much needed sewage plant. A different form of Quartzsite crud.
At that price, I left the next day and drove an hour south to Yuma back to the free and noisy VFW-BLM camp, hungry but with no appetite. Gayle was there and gave me a cold Ensure which I managed to drink.
Joann shopped for me and dropped off groceries, day and night head cold medicine, and a COVID test which was negative.
Made a quick stop along the way at Palm Canyon Road to admire the Kofa Mountains where I had hoped to catch February’s full moon.
Spent one night in a friend’s driveway in Yuma before a quick shop and back to Tumco, California to, hopefully once again, watch the full moon over the Cargo Muchacho Mountains. And that’s where I still am a week later being wind blown and recovering from the Quartzsite Crud.
What an opener of a photo, beautiful. Not like the Q-crud. Egads. Your name for it? Love seeing some of your visitors too. A handsome ranger:) I ordered Ranger Rick for grandson:) I’ve heard of Tyson Wells. Looks like some dislike of crowds may be side-stepped for the gadgets galore! Wow. Thanks for the one vendor load looksee. I wish for a more speedy-now recovery.
Thanks. I heard the Q crud name over 25 years ago. Everybody should do Q once. As I was walking with Kathie I took less pics of the place. Oops.
Hi Gaelyn, So sorry you have not been feeling too good. sort of cold is not nice. Nice that one of the rangers was willing to keep you company. Keep warm and stay safe. I have no favourites of your photo’s they are all great. !!
Thanks Rita.
Loved this post. The wind is brutal here, coming from over the Sea of Cortez to blast me away. We had two very beautiful days (Sat. and Sunday) since I have been here. Other times the wind is relentless. It was the same in Havasu Landing last year, for almost the whole month of Feb. Continue to feel better.
Thanks. Sure glad I’m not adding beach sand to this wind. Head cold feeling better but still don’t have all my voice back. Hang on tight.
That sounds like a miserable cold! I hope you’re able to kick it soon.
Thanks. I am feeling better but still don’t have my voice back.
Double whammy for you battling the head cold AND the wind!!! Hope weather and health turns for the better ASAP!!
Thanks. Head cold is just about gone yet still don’t have voice totally back. Wind has my house rocking.
Sounds like you’re really sick with the Crud Gaelyn. Nice that you had people looking out for you. Looks like Sierra was giving the stink eye to that little dog at the RV park. Hope you’re feeling well again soon. Rest and recuperate. Keep drinking fluids.
I am feeling better from the cold but still don’t have my voice back. Much like me, Sierra doesn’t like to see others in our window views. I am staying hydrated. Hope you are well.
Ae there any good ways to fit a cold? let alone the Quartzite Crud! Nice of Ranger Chris to visit despite the cruddy outcoming 🙂 I’m sure he rather have the crud than miss a visit. Stay safe and we all hope this passes soon.
Thanks. Head cold is much improved though still have very little voice. The brutal wind keeping me inside doesn’t help my mood much.
Looks like you are having quite a time with that head cold. Maybe that California air will help clear it up. All the best and say hello to the Cargo Muchacho Mountains for me will ya:))
Thanks, I am feeling better and the mountains miss you. I believe this brutal north wind isn’t helping my mood.
Sorry to hear you’re not feeling your best. These winds and blowing sand don’t help at all. Take care and get well soon. Hope we run into one another again.
Thanks, sure glad I’m not any closer to the dunes. Head feeling better, still not much voice, but this wind drives me crazy and it’s a short trip.
I hope by the time you read this that you are feeling very much better. Lovely set of photos. Wish you were here, hot and sunny!!
Hugs from us both XXX and from Africa.
Thanks, head cold is gone but so is my voice still gone. I am jealous of hot and sunny in Africa. Enjoy!
Sorry about the crud!! I’m staying away from people right now.
Finally feeling better. I’m done socializing for a while.
Bummer to be under the weather when out on your own and trying not to “share” with others! Even with the winds at least you have lovely surrounds to enjoy. That sewer update is long overdue in Q!
Thank goodness I’m feeling better, finally.
Having been sick with a lingering cough for nearly a month I can totally sympathize. Especially with how difficult it is to move anywhere when you are sick or do anything for that matter. I’m glad you have so many friends to help you out and such a wide variety of places to stay. Hope you’re back to feeling normal again by now.
Thank goodness the cough is gone too, but still don’t have full voice back.
Sure hope you’re totally recovered by now. But don’t rush things. Take care of yourself. I usually come down with what we used to call the Upriver Crud along about March, but we have been so busy this year we haven’t really taken part in any of the group activities so maybe will be able to avoid it. (there has to be a plus side to all this). Get well soon.
Thanks, just about fully recovered. I guess socializing still isn’t so healthy physically. Hope your repairs are wrapping up.