Category: Kofa NWR

After weeks of camping solo, only talking to myself and Sierra, with barely neighbors in sight, several friends contacted me about coming to camp Kofa for at least one or two nights along their travels.  I felt happy for the company and had several days to prepare.

Not sure if someone parking too close is considered company.  Saturday afternoon a small SUV drove by, turned around, and parked what I call too close at about 50-75 feet.  Still there in the morning, a young man camping out of his vehicle.  He walked past into the desert and when returning I stepped outside and told him about Palm Canyon trail two miles up the road.  He was interested so we chatted.  Turned out that Liam, from Oregon, was on his second day out and first experience boondocking.  I told him he was too close but had done the right thing by not driving over vegetation and parking by a rock fire ring.  He thought it was a “campsite” so I filled him in on BLM public land camping.

After chatting for at least an hour I went back inside for my camera and when I came back out, he was gone.  Actually, he’d moved much further away.  I was reminded of my first road trip 45 years ago at 22 years old in a hatch-back Vega.  I mostly stayed in forest campgrounds with at least a picnic table and outhouse.  Don’t know if anybody was boondocking in the 1970s like we do now.  But we all were newbies at some time.

That Sunday morning sunrise lasted at least 15 minutes.  Starting out with rather soft pink swirls of cirrus clouds.

As the sun rose still behind the Kofa Mountains rays of light slipped through.

Then beacons of light reached across the desert floor.  Of course I took way too many photos.

Light clouds danced across the sky all day along with shadows across the land.

Sunset was pretty but not over exceptional.

The next two days were predicted for strong Southwest wind.  Pretty steady 30mph with gusts up to 50mph kept me indoors.  In fact, there were times I couldn’t have opened my south facing door.  The rocking eventually got old, like being in a rocking chair and can’t get up.  Even the Saguaros were rocking.  I watched a Prairie Falcon soar for several minutes.

I think the wind may have blown some people away.  Most of the vehicles within sight left so there were no landmarks to guide in my first company to camp Kofa.  Doris worked at the North Rim several of the same summers as I yet we hadn’t seen each other in many years.  Originally from Germany, she has lived in the US over 20 years working many different mostly seasonal jobs, traveling around and currently living in a van.  Following my directions she pulled into camp Kofa about 4pm and we spent the evening catching up inside my camper and out of the still brutal wind.

Doris left in the morning and I considered leaving as well.  It was just a little past the usual two-week mark for needing propane, a necessity for refrigerator, stove, and heat.   Weather was deteriorating with prediction of rain and overnight low of 34°.

But the clouds kept me intrigued, in and out of the camper for yet more photos.

Tom called to say he and Tracy would arrive late the next afternoon and while talking I watched a Prairie Falcon soar and play on the wind.  Trish called to say she’d be there also.

A light dusting of snow fell on the top of the Kofa Mountains quickly obscured by clouds and when revealed minutes later, gone.

All day the clouds danced.  The 50° day had me running heat and watching the propane level drop until it was precariously low and I knew I had to go.

Called Shady Lane RV Park about 3:15pm to make sure there was a site and told them I’d try to make it before the office closed at 4pm.

Packed and on the road while the storm rolled towards me from the north.

Made it to the park in 30 minutes.  My usual space was taken so parked on the opposite side of the park, conveniently near a newly renovated bathroom with awesome shower, and the laundry room.  Very nice to be plugged into electricity for a heater and the fridge and stop stressing about running out of propane.

Driving out from camp Kofa I measured the distances in hopes of better directions to my next company.  1.2 miles from pavement, including .4 from the gas line road, to the left turn followed by right, left, and right, left, right .4 miles.  Then I just hoped nobody was in my preferred camp Kofa location when I returned.  Before leaving Shady Lane, I did laundry plus the bi-monthly dump and fill.  Then filled the propane tanks before shopping in Blythe 30 minutes away.  Returned to camp Kofa and pulled in to the same tire tracks by 3:30pm.  At 5pm Trish called from where I could see her parked along Palm Canyon Road, beyond her first turn.  She managed to turn around and I talked her in to camp Kofa without having to physically lead her in.  She’s been traveling extensively for five months towing her little trailer, staying with friends and state park campgrounds.  But this was only her second boondock, her first last year with me.  We chatted for a bit and went in after dark.  Tom didn’t arrive until about 7pm and after making the first turn off Palm Canyon Road I told him to park and I’d see them in the morning.  No way I was going out into the cold wind to guide him in under the dark sky.

I’d seen Tom’s headlights so knew he was on the right track.  In the morning he could see me in the distance and drove right in to camp Kofa.  First question was did he plan to run a generator, and if so he couldn’t park close to Trish or me.  He’d planned to bake a pre-made lasagna in his microwave/convection oven that would require the generator.  I volunteered to bake it in my quiet propane oven instead.  Problem solved.  I met Tom many years ago while working on the North Rim Grand Canyon.  He’s a well-traveled photographer who sometimes travels in his RV.  We’ve met in other places before.  I had not met his most recent travel companion Tracy.

After some visiting and lunch, all but Trish loaded into Tom’s toad-car for a tourist trip to Quartzsite, Tracy’s first visit.  The end of February is not particularly “prime” Quartzsite but there’s still a few vendors at Tyson Wells.  Besides, Tracy is recovering from a broken leg and wearing a brace so walking needed to be easy and limited.  We made another stop at the historic Hi Jolly memorial and cemetery in town.

Tom’s sharp eye caught sight of an old car half hidden behind a building, so he pulled off the main street and parked in front of the pumps.  Sort of like a museum but not open and nobody around.

He and I wandered enough to spot the Edsel, Ford, Cadillac, Plymouth, Corvair, and a few others.  The renovated classics were hidden in a garage and barely visible through dirty windows.

Back to camp briefly then out for a drive on Palm Canyon Road for the pre-sunset golden light on the glowing Cholla cactus.  More of them grow on the rocky slope at the foot of the Kofa Mountains.  Gorgeous to look at but nasty to be around.  Once back to camp I baked the lasagna and we all ate in Tom’s rig with the biggest table.

In the morning Trish pulled out at ten on her way to Palm Springs.  Tom and Tracy left 30 minutes later on their way to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.  I settled in for a quiet day at camp Kofa knowing more company was coming the next day.

Gayle drove right past the turn off and me before calling.  I advised to continue no more than a mile to the refuge boundary for an easy turn around then directed her in towing a car behind her motor home.  At 82, this fiddle-playing lady is an inspiration.  Been a couple years since we’d seen each other at the Fiddle Festival in Ajo.  Time seems to slip away when visiting with friends and I never remember to take photos.

She managed to get out of camp Kofa before noon only going an hour away near Yuma.  If I continue to expect company to remote places like camp Kofa, maybe I should carry a bag of brightly painted, fist-sized, rocks to set out, and retrieve, guiding them in.  You know, all this coming and going has got me to thinking maybe I should go somewhere too.