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Category: Congress

Slowly moving northward

After an extra long weekend near Wickenburg to shoot the moon I continued moving northward, not far mind you but I’m in no rush.  Don’t have to be at Bryce Canyon until the 11th.

desert mts moon set sunrise Vulture Pk Rd Wickenburg AZThe morning after full moon rise I was up early enough to catch a touch of color at sunrise with a pale moon setting.

Vulture Pk evening clouds Vulture Pk Rd Wicknburg AZDamn wind kept me in most of the day working on the laptop which is slowly sickening including the sticky keyboard.  I’ve been putting off replacement all winter.  And surely it is spring because I saw a little cottontail bouncing around near camp.

Vulture Pk sunset clouds Vulture Pk Rd Wicknburg AZThen the day ended with a gorgeous sunset reflecting over Vulture Peak.

Thought about leaving the following day but with the great signal stayed and finished the last post and took care of lots of online business.  Plus going into town meant laundry and shopping, not my favorite chores.  From Vulture Peak I would be moving northward to Congress for a night where there is basically no signal at all.

Cottontail Ghost town rd Congress AZ

mts sunset Ghost Town rd Congress AZI enjoyed one night in Congress except for that problem with signal.  But even better was a visit by a local friend.  And more cottontails plus a pretty sunset.

Date Crk Mts sunrise clouds Ghost Town Rd Congress AZ Left after sunrise moving northward into Yarnell where I stopped for breakfast and a brief visit.  Then drove the curvy White Spar Road over the Bradshaw Mountains thinking I’d camp at the White Spar national forest camp.  I’d looked online about reserving a space due to it being Easter weekend and the only option I saw was first come first serve.  I was already questioning my sanity about staying so close to Prescott in a campground over a holiday weekend.  The campground was full as it turns out reservations can be made, way ahead of time.  So I moved on to plan B.

forest Copper Basin Rd Prescott NF AZNot far away I followed the Copper Basin Road a short way into the Prescott National Forest to the first designated dispersed camp site I found.  Even saw patches of snow in the forest on some north facing slopes.  A little bit of logging going on in this area to clean up after a fire.

Sierra cat at camper door Copper Basin Rd Prescott NF AZOMG!  I was back in the lovely smell of Ponderosa Pine with no neighbors and only a little traffic on the dusty gravel road.  Even Sierra noted new smells.  Wish I could share that with you.  Bonus I had an awesome signal and Joann lives only a few miles away.

tree reflections Copper Basin Rd Prescott NF AZ

waterbug rings creek Copper Basin Rd Prescott NF AZA small creek runs nearby.  I hadn’t seen flowing water in many months.  All a perfect tradeoff for limited view through the trees for sunset.

Rained just a little that first night and in the morning, the delightful forest smell had increased multi-fold.  Around noon Joann came and got me then allowed me to use her minivan while she worked the afternoon.  Nice that I didn’t have to move my rig and loose my campsite.  I went computer shopping and bought a new Lenovo laptop at Staples.  The prices are high when you want speed and storage.  Now I’ll have to spend time setting it up how I want.

field tree redtail hawk Prescott Valley AZI returned a little early to pick up Joann from work and saw a Redtail hawk in a tree nearby.  Only had my phone to take a photo.

Bradshaw Mts sunset clouds Sierra Prieta overlook Prescott NF AZ

Bradshaw Mts sunset clouds Sierra Prieta overlook Prescott NF AZThen we drove beyond my camp to an overlook for sunset.  Several people were there enjoying the view over Skull Valley and beyond to the Weaver Mountains.

Joann in minivan Copper Basin Rd Prescott NF AZJoann’s minivan

Hassayampa Bridge Wagner Rd AZHassayampa Bridge

Saturday morning Joann picked me up as we were attending a celebration of life for a friend lost last year.  You may remember my staying with Mary and Jerry last Spring on their 45 acres of Juniper/Pinyon woodlands in Wagner.  Sadly, Jerry, at age 80, was diagnosed with cancer shortly after I left and died months later.

Gaelyn & Freddy Ready puppet Copper Basin Rd Prescott NF AZMe with Freddy Reddy, Joann’s puppet

But before that, I had an appointment for a long overdue biannual haircut with my favorite beautician in Yarnell.  Went a little shorter than usual and the hair won’t stay behind my ears but it will grow and in a few months I’ll be hoping I was closer in miles for another haircut.

campfire Copper Basin Rd Prescott NF AZJoann camped with me that night and we even had a small campfire, my first all season, and we roasted hotdogs on sticks. I hadn’t done that in decades.

5th-wheel BRCA NP UTAnd I found out my 5th-wheel has been moved from storage to the park, leveled and the slides are out.  Just about ready for me to move in.

horses Wagner Rd AZI feel elated! It’s all around me. Online, FB, the people, the air. SPRING!!!!!  I sure hope you feel it too.

But alas, it was time to continue moving northward, or first a little more east.  So on to Plan C, a visit with a friend from my North Rim days who lives in Dewey, east of Prescott.  Because there is strong WIFI there I worked on setting up the new computer, and that’s a slow process.

Arizona, Congress, Places I've been, Prescott, United States , 27 Comments

Yet another circle around Quartzsite Arizona

truck camper desert mts sunset clouds Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite ArizonaIf you drew a circle around Quartzsite about 200 miles in diameter that’s where I’d be, somewhere.  I went from boondocking near Congress and Wickenburg again, back to the town of Quartzsite, and then returned to Plomosa Road BLM where a friend is camped.

Date Creek Mts sunrise clouds Ghost Town Rd BLM Congress Arizona

desert mts sunrise clouds Ghost Town Rd BLM Congress ArizonaSunrise Date Creek Mts Congress

I really like the desert landscape inside the circle around Quartzsite with Congress high on the list for decent weather, remote, an occasional sunrise, not too many close neighbors, bird watching, brilliant sunsets, nearby friends, and close enough to services, but the signal sucks.  That’s a deal breaker for me.  I even dug out my old Wilson booster but it didn’t help.  It could be really out of date.

desert Vulture Mts sunset clouds Ghost Town Rd BLM Congress AZ

desert mts sunset clouds Ghost Town Rd BLM Congress AZSunsets

Choices for the day: 1) fuck the whole signal problem and just write and process photos for the next two posts which will have to go out from somewhere else. 2) Pack it up and go to Wickenburg, not appealing but could be planned for the next day.  I lazily chose #1.  Then remind myself to just relax and go outside into the 64° Arizona apricity, set my chair out of the wind and read awhile, or just stare off into the desert horizon.  I am treated to the most glorious sunsets.

desert Jackrabbit Ghost Town Rd BLM Congress AZDesert Jackrabbit neighbor

Chris helped me ID the mystery dark bird in my nearby Saguaro bird condo.  A Starling who seems to only spend the night in the nesting hole. The neighbors look in occasionally during the day.  Also a thrasher appears to have moved into the penthouse.

desert Date Crk Mts sunset clouds Ghost Town Rd BLM Congress AZSunset

The decision to move becomes more pressing as it approaches time to dump and fill once again.  Has it already been two weeks?  Well, close enough to get prepared to boondock for another two weeks.

desert rd mts sunset clouds Vulture Mine Rd BLM Wickenburg AZBut first a trip to Wickenburg where I bought some more books at Goodwill and a few groceries.  I actually made it to camp along Vulture Mine Road before cooking pizza for late lunch.  I have been known to prepare this meal in the parking lot as the frozen pizza large enough for leftovers is too big for the freezer.  I didn’t drive far off pavement on the terrible rutted and rocky road as I only planned one night.  A Cactus wren taunted Sierra hopping around within sight out the door and just below the steps.  Sadly, even out in the middle of nowhere, nearest neighbor 100s of feet away, and I still listened to and felt the drone of somebody’s music.  Too much weird.  That night as I stepped out to photograph the sunset I slipped off the step and did a slow motion fall on my left side.  The worse side, with a shoulder in need of replacing but it’s a bad time to be in a hospital.  Did manage to save the camera.  And after taking inventory made it back onto my feet with only a small cut on my palm, scuffed elbow, and desert dirty clothes.  Could have been worse.  Just scary, and a reminder to be even more careful.  I don’t want to be afraid of being out by myself.

sunset moon Vulture Mine Rd BLM Wickenburg AZBig bonus for Vulture Mine Road is the awesome signal staring up at a huge tower.  I planned to finish and schedule the next days blog post but for some reason Open Live Writer wouldn’t talk to my website.  I hoped that wouldn’t be a new norm and thank goodness the problem has since gone away.  But that night I had to cut and paste which took even longer than my already slow normal.

Breezie & Finius camper door Shady Lane RV Crt Quartzsite AZWent into Wickenburg in the morning to pickup mail, topped off diesel and add just a few more groceries.  Then off for the 1 1/2 hour drive to Quartzsite’s Shady Lane RV Court—at January’s increased price of $37 and still a good deal—and parked in my usual space.  I’ve gotten to know my neighbor who is permanent for the winter season.  After hooking up electric and sewer and throwing away garbage I enjoyed a long hot shower.  I realize these are the same activities we all do in a S&B (stick and brick = house/apartment) but when boondocking there’s no current bush (other than the sun), garbage service, or in my case almost endless hot running water.  Sometimes, it’s just the little things that make me smile.

When checking in, I mentioned to Breezie that I liked their first RVer video on FB and volunteered to be interviewed.  So we recorded in the park’s rec-room that night.  Finius and Breezie are awesome and fun folks.  Get to know us all better by watching the video.

Paul's dog Tippy Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZTippy welcomed me to camp

In the morning I didn’t hang out because there are lots more people in the smaller circle around Quartzsite as the “Big RV Show” with huge tent had started.  Instead I drove north of town and back to Plomosa Road BLM to meetup with Paul, a canyon friend and fellow part-time RVer.  It’s been a year since the Grand Canyon alumni crowd met up south of Quartzsite but this year the gathering was diminished by folks not traveling for obvious reasons.

Saguaro desert mts sunset clouds Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZThis camp is not too far east of where I was the beginning of January but on the north side of the road instead of the south and still offers great views of the Plomosa Mountains. Pulled in around noon and Paul and I sat outside in the sunshine visiting all afternoon. He made a delicious Broccoli soup for dinner.

plane towing Geico sign above boondock Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZPaul has the knowledge, skills, and ability to fix stuff and he solved the sticky door problem, rewired the 12v plug, and redid the sagging screw for my curtain wire. Then we spent another afternoon outside chatting the day away.  No, I still haven’t done anything with the sagging camper corners.  That’s a big fix.  Sigh…

desert mts sunset crescent moon Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZA Facebook memory from ten years ago gave me pause, my previous 5th-wheel sold and going out the driveway after six years living in it and my “new” to me 36-footer with three slide-outs. I like the space but don’t want to tow that monster all over the place. I’m having a hard enough time moving myself anywhere in the truck camper and am grateful most everything works good enough to live in. Yet I wonder what has happened to my wanderlust. I currently am pretty happy just hanging out in the desert under big skies in my chosen circle around Quartzsite. Driving much distance is getting more difficult with my bad shoulder.

 

 

desert mts sunset clouds Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZ

desert mts sunset clouds Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZAnd so I spend more time inside on the computer and I’m starting to figure out the pattern for power use off the camper battery charged by solar.  Unless it’s just absolutely gray and possibly raining, I have charge all day for phone and laptop plus a few hours into the evening.

mts sunset clouds Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZOf course gorgeous sunsets prompt me out to take far too many photos.  I find the camera weight also causes pain in my shoulder.

desert mts sunset clouds Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZLast week’s post went out about socializing in the desert but I couldn’t open it.  Comments came to my email so others could see the post, at least for a while.  Seems my entire website went down for no apparent reason.  After kind of freaking out, talking to my blog mentor, and others, with power slipping away, I gave up, shut down, and when I went back hours later all was well.  I should learn to let go of those things sooner.

desert morning light Dome Rock Mts Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZMorning light shinning down on Quartzsite

The next day, a couple of Paul’s friends from Colorado rolled into the southern circle around Quartzsite with their RV.  We made arrangements to meet in town the next morning and explore the “Big Tent” RV Show.  But due to gentle rain overnight continued into morning I wasn’t sure we’d go and look at RVs for sale.

Arizona, Congress, Places I've been, Quartzsite, RV life, United States, Wickenburg , , 29 Comments

Socializing during COVID while boondocking in the Arizona desert

Saguaro desert mts reverse sunset clouds Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZI have missed face-to-face socializing during COVID even though I’m pretty darn good at isolating during the winter.

Gaelyn shadow truckcamper nearest neighbor Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZMy nearest within sight neighbor, also overlooking the Plomosa Mountains, sat 100s of feet away.  It’s a big desert without many obstructions.  I stayed a week, and we never spoke.

desert mts late light Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZ desert mts late light clouds Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZ

I did get to know a few of my neighborhood trees.

desert mts clouds Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZSat out in the warmest afternoon sun, a delightful 63° with no wind, reading or crocheting.

desert Plomosa Mts OHV dust BLM Quartzsite AZ

desert dust OHV mt sunset clouds Plomosa Rd BLM AZLots of noisy OHV and I figured out it’s because I’m so close to town, within sight in fact, and there’s a “trail” they can use. Sets up a lot of dust, in the distance thank goodness.

desert sunrise clouds moon Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZCaught a few sunrises and more sunsets.

desert mts sunset clouds sunburst Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZI often put off writing blog posts as my routine seems redundant to me, boring even for others.  I haven’t really traveled much this winter though I am enjoying many days of desert environment.  Makes me wonder why readers return.  I thank you, you feed my ego.

Packages arrived at my Wickenburg mail but nothing I couldn’t live without or felt the need to rush off the 1 1/2 hour drive.  I could go in a few days and make arrangements to outdoor socialize with friends in the area.

desert mts sunset clouds Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZReally, with a strong signal looking at the Quartzsite tower I spent lots of time online socializing with friends, sharing photos, working on blog posts, and a little news.  Heck, I did that for days and days.

Until…all shit broke loose on the 6th.  I was obsessed like I rarely am staying in touch with the news all day.  I felt my blood pressure jump and my computer wouldn’t respond. That’s some powerful energy.  My fridge wouldn’t stay lit and the ice cream was on melt down.  I ate faster.

desert mts sunset clouds Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZ

desert mts sunset clouds Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZI did get outside several times to cool down and center with nature thankful for a brilliant sunset.

sunset clouds Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZI also needed more down time the next day so figured to roll to Wickenburg on Friday.

truckcamper & Trish's rig clouds Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZ

Trish & Gaelyn Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZ

mts sunset clouds BLM Quartzsite AZHowever, Friday morning I got a phone call from Trish, who would be traveling from two months in California to her Colorado home and coming through Quartzsite.  So I directed her to my camp for her first boondock experience.  And we sat outside all afternoon safely socializing during COVID.

Christmas cards Ghost Town Rd BLM Congress AZThe next morning she continued her journey as did I.  Picked up my mail including three Christmas cards, bought groceries, and headed to Congress and my ole stomping grounds off Ghost Town Road.

truckcamper desert Saguaro Date Crk Mts Ghost Town Rd BLM Congress AZIn fact, this giant Saguaro, a diverse bird condo, might look familiar as I’ve camped here before.

Gaelyn water tank Ghost Town Rd BLM Congress AZ by JoannMy social life is feast or famine.  Saturday I had two visitors.  Joann drove down from Prescott and we took a walk to the “swimming pool”/wildlife water tank.  The camera is gone but the air and water were still too cold to dip.

Saguaro cactus Date Crk Mts clouds Ghost Town Rd BLM Congress AZLater Gypsy stopped by bringing vegie-cheese muffins we snarfed down as we sat in the sunshine, trying to avoid the wind, sharing our herstories as we all get to know each other better.  I’m so glad socializing during COVID is possible while boondocking in the Arizona desert.  Especially nice in real time because the signal is not reliable in Congress.

Gila Woodpecker bird Saguaro cactus Ghost Town Rd BLM Congress AZFlicker bird Saguaro cactus Ghost Town Rd BLM Congress AZ

And so I’ll spend a few more days of isolation working on posts and photos mostly offline before I have to do the necessary dump and fill again.

Starling bird looking out Saguaro cactus Ghost Town rd BLM Congress AZGilla Woodpecker bird inside Saguaro cactus Ghost Town Rd BLM Congress AZ

Bonus, I get to watch the birds in my local Saguaro condo.  This is a very diverse community hosting in the many holes Flickers, Gila Woodpeckers, Curve-billed Thrasher, and a solo Starling that only seems to stay overnight.

desert mt sunset clouds Ghost Town Rd BLM Congress AZAnd might see a few more sunrises or at least some sunsets.

sunset clouds Ghost Town Rd BLM Congress AZAnd before too long, another friend is coming to Quartzsite, so guess I might just head back that way, again.

Arizona, Congress, COVID-19, Places I've been, Quartzsite, RV life, United States , , , 31 Comments

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