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Category: Skull Valley

Back and forth between Skull Valley and Quartzsite

On the way to Skull Valley (see previous post) I stopped in Wickenburg to register the new wheeleastate and received a call from Tim. He’d just passed Quartzsite on the way to meet me when the transmission on his bus started to go out. So he headed back to Quartzsite BLM where friends were camped while I continued north.

Almost felt like Christmas, and not just because of colder temperatures.  Thank you all for filling my Amazon wish list. I am overwhelmed with gratitude.  Thankfully, the 5th-wheel kitchen was well stocked.  Still a lot of fun wants but immediate needs were met.

Izzy, from the caravan, arrived the next day to help me sort, pack, and clean.  I decided to sell the 5th-wheel as I no longer need two RVs. 

So while Izzy scrubbed, I made piles: keep, trash, and sell or give away.  There for a week and only made a small dent in it all.  Not easy to move from 36 feet with three slides (300 sq ft), after 12 years of living, into 20 feet (100 sq ft). Back and forth, pile to pile, until the trash pile exceeded all others.  $25 at the dump when I usually pay $2 for up to three bags. 

With cooler temperatures approaching, we headed downhill to Congress for a couple nights. 

Plus we set up roadside, along with others, and sold a bunch of stuff. Made enough to go out for a nice dinner at Nickels West.

Then we high-tailed back to the caravan camp near Quartzsite to attend a Halloween party at the Lit Cactus. 

After a few days in camp and work on my new wheeleastate, we went back to Congress on the way to Skull Valley once again. 

This time my intent was to prepare the 5th-wheel to roll.  Driving three hours each way just didn’t make sense. 

Of course my current rig won’t tow it. However a friend in Quartzsite could, and did.  Bye-bye Skull Valley, it’s been nice.  Life rolls on.  Seemed it would be more convenient and easy to sell in a town full of RVers like Quartzsite.

But first I had to completely empty and clean it.  Have I ever mentioned I hate housework?

I’m still operating on my phone with no laptop, however that’s another story.


Arizona, Quartzsite, RV life, Skull Valley , 9 Comments

Home from a winter full of adventures

trees boulders last light sunset Skull Valley AZI returned home to Skull Valley last week after a quick visit with a friend in Mesa.  Seemed like the right place to be, at least for a little while.  I have much catching up to do from April’s travels, and I will get there, eventually.

boulders sunset clouds Indian Bread Rocks BLM Bowie AZLeft Indian Bread Rocks Recreation area after 14 days of delightful boondocking courtesy of Bureau of Land Management (BLM).  It was going to get HOT.  I wasn’t ready to go home.  But if I went north into the mountains and forest it would be cold, possibly snow.  No thanks.

towtruck old garage Bowie AZHeaded north to Bowie and it appears that the only thing open in Bowie is the post office.  Yet another small town that died after opening an interstate.

former Teepee Cafe Bowie AZI just had to stop for the defunct Teepee Cafe.  Obviously, not many call this place home.

truckcamper Sunrise RV Park Safford AZ

N window view Sunrise RV Park Safford AZNeeded to dump and fill so stayed one night at Sunrise RV Park in Safford less than an hour north.  Level site with a great view for $25 but they don’t take reservations and office is only open in the morning.  Looked like many permanent people call this place home.  Also able to shop for groceries and bought a hook-n-eye latch for the screen door to keep Sierra from head-bumping it open.

Then I heard from Sandee in Mesa, who is recovering from extensive surgery, and knew I had to go there.  OMG, Mesa, that’s big, actually seems like Phoenix to me.  Yikes!  But friends are important, so off I went.

Sandee's patio Mesa AZThe next day I tried for backroads heading towards the megapolis of Phoenix.  US70 and US60 go through some fabulous country that deserves more time.  But I was on a mission.  I took video of the drive with a new dashcam but the quality is too poor to share and the camera has been returned.  Spending time with Sandee reassured me she’s on the mend.

So where next?  After looking seriously at weather predictions for the next couple weeks the decision was simple.  Go home.  Skull Valley sits at about 4600 feet and looked like the best temperatures at 80/50° even with some rain.  I braved some freeway interstates to get out of Mesa and headed north.

yellow Palo Verde & flowers Saguaro Lake Pleasant SR74 AZwhite flowers Saguaro Lake Pleasant SR74 AZ

SR74 west took me past Lake Pleasant where I had to stop briefly for photos of the neon Palo Verde bloom and even saw a few flowers on the Saguaros.

Yarnell Hill SR89 N AZYarnell Hill SR89

SR89 N Peeples Valley AZPeeples Valley

Stopped in Wickenburg for fuel along US60 then took SR89 through the familiar Congress, Yarnell, and Peeples Valley.

RR underpass Furguson Valley Rd Skull Valley AZI felt a certain trepidation and nervous excitement going home.

RVs Skull Valley AZBacked in front of the 5th-wheel with no intention of moving back into the big house.  There was the less than usual accumulation of mouse poop to be cleaned up.  But I was in no hurry for that job.  Besides, I forgot to buy the 6-month replacement water and sewer hoses.

trees sunset clouds Skull Valley AZA nice welcome home.

row boat pond Skull Valley AZ by Gypsy

swimming hole Skull Valley AZ by GypsyGypsy came to visit the next day and we chatted and took a walk around the ranch.  Place looked different.  More sand in the wash that is my driveway.  Water backed up behind the rebuilt dam across the big wash and the swimming hole is full.  I forgot phone and camera so these shots are from Gypsy.

trees Weaver Mts W storm clouds Skull Valley AZDark clouds hung out as a prelude to more days of stormy skies.

Although I’m perfectly comfortable staying in the truckcamper I did clean the 5th-wheel.  Starting with the desk where because of a booster on the roof I get better internet signal.  I had videos to load, 360° view of my Mohawk Mountains camp and Bates Well desert camp.  I continued cleaning the living, dinning, and kitchen room but saved the bath and bed room for later.  Feels like a mansion after living in the 60 square foot camper for six months.

trees rainbow clouds Skull Valley AZStormy skies skirt mostly around me, reminiscent of last summer’s monsoon.  But it’s only May, much too early for typical monsoon storms in the Southwest.  Oh yea, what’s typical about weather?  Does make planning for future travels more difficult.  I really am going north from home, at some point anyway.  Maybe I’ll finally get that journey to the Pacific Northwest.  Are you along my route?

mt sunset clouds rays Skull Valley AZIn the meantime, I’m trying to catch up.  Finally posted the video from Easter in the desert and I will get to more blog posts about the places I visited before coming home.

Arizona, Places I've been, Skull Valley, United States 17 Comments

Time to head to the desert

Although I’ve been feeling real lazy, cold mornings motivated me to head to the desert.  So over several days I slowly prepared the truck and camper for my winter months further south, where it’s warmer than Skull Vall

shadow people Verde Canyon RR AZThe day after the train ride—that I promise to share soon—I felt tired and took a nap.  Four hours mostly standing outside rocking on the rails in beautiful weather challenged me physically.  I loved it!  Yet as morning temperatures drop below 50° I’ve been thinking it’s about time to head to the desert.  Also time for an oil change at my favorite shop in Congress, a 2000 foot drop in elevation and 15-20° increase.  Frequently my first fall/winter boondock camp area of the season.

Waking up to mid 40s and cold house made me feel unmotivated yet I managed to post a video from the trail-cam.  Also made me think about my winter destinations as I head to the desert.  I don’t spend much time in the town of Quartzsite, but it’s a place to get some chores done.  For many years I’ve used the affordable and friendly Shady Lane RV Park as my overnight place every 2-3 weeks to dump and fill camper tanks, do laundry, and shower longer than a solar-bag.  I don’t know what to expect as the ownership is about to change.  I considered buying a BLM LTVA (Bureau of Land Management Long Term Visitor Area) for $180 to get access to dump and fill plus camping with too many people from September 15 to April 15, the winter season near to Quartzsite or west of Yuma.  Either way, still have to go beyond Quartzsite—Parker, Yuma, or Blythe CA—to stock up on reasonably priced groceries.

tree reflection Fain Lake Pk Prescott Valley AZ

catails Fain Lake Pk Prescott Valley AZBut I wasn’t there yet and ended up lucking out with an almost 80° day in Prescott that included laundry, shopping and fun with Joann at Fain Lake Park.

tree arch trl Fain Lake Pk Prescott Valley AZ

boulder reflection Fain Lake Pk Prescott Valley AZWasn’t quite as Autumn colorful as another visit but still very pretty.

drive home sunset clouds Iron Springs Rd AZDusk by the time I got home and unloaded the groceries.

trail cam Stripped Skunk Skull Valley AZ

trail cam Stripped Skunk Skull Valley AZThe day after a town day is often a down day, and this no exception.  I managed to get a long overdue blog post out.  Then decided to move the trail-cam closer to the water bowls.  I downloaded the previous images of skunk and racoon visits before tying it to a tree.  That night Skunk came for a visit.  The next thrift store visit I’ll be looking for a convenient traveling container for wildlife water.

storage bins back seat

open space in back seatI saved room for rocks

With the next mornings bout of ambition I reorganized the backseat of the truck, also known as the closet when I head to the desert.  I keep a decent sized 12v/110 cooler for a pantry to store back-stock of liquid products so they don’t explode from heat or cold.  I added two plastic tubs for craft supplies that don’t need constant—if ever—access for the “when I get bored” projects.

sunset clouds Skull Valley AZThen the wind picked up and I returned to lazy mode with good intentions.

storm clouds Brushy Mt Skull Valley AZI woke to 33° and took hours to thaw out then wrote and scheduled a blog post.  I had every intention of writing the train post and maybe even revive Foto Friday Fun, if anybody is still interested.  Instead the gray sky day made me sleepy, so I took a nap.

trail cam Stripped Skunk Skull Valley AZ

trail cam Stripped Skunk Skull Valley AZWhen I awoke to 32° outside and less than 50° inside my mind was made up.  Time to head to the desert.  I looked at the 7-day weather forecast here and in Congress, 15-20° warmer at the later.  Time to go south!

truckcamper bed

Once I make up my mind, I am ready!  Unfortunately the camper wasn’t ready and I wasn’t packed.  It took over an hour just to make the bed.  Not so easy when basically in a hole, surrounded by walls, crawling on the mattress, and struggling with a fitted sheet.  Like they aren’t bad enough just to fold.  I also put up curtains in the “bed room” and cleaned the freezer and fridge before turning them on.  I made piles in the big house and worked more things out to the camper throughout the day.

unidentified hawk Skull Valley AZEventually my shoulders gave out and I called it quits.

last light Bradshaw Mts Skull Valley AZUntil the next day when the morning started at 35° and barely 50° inside.  I put together clothes that cover from high-heat of summer to yes-it-can-get-freezing-cold during winter as I head to the desert.  Frequently the wind makes a cloudy 50° day feel like Alaska.  Well, at least to this Arizonan it does.  Because both kitchens are stocked with dishes, utensils, pots and pans it’s just food that gets moved, dry goods, fridge and freezer.  Thank goodness my food storage space is comparable in both RVs.  I fill reusable grocery bags and move two at a time making several trips.  Joann stopped by for a timely visit that gave me a break.

truckcamper camp Congress 1 AZThere’s always last minute moving like the coffee and breakfast stuff.  Plus I showered before winterizing the 5th-wheel/big house.  I didn’t need to rush, especially at 36°.  But I was looking forward to a high of 75° instead of 65° plus waking the next morning to 50°.  Said goodbye to Skull Valley around 1:30pm after dropping off my ballot.  Within an hour I parked at my first of this season temporary home boondocking on BLM in Congress, Arizona, and here’s a 360° video from camp.

sunset crescent moon Falcon 9 StarX Congress AZWhat a huge surprise as I watched the orange glow sunset with crescent moon and saw what turned out to be a Falcon 9 SpaceX launch.  I’ll probably be here for the lunar eclipse, if I get out of bed, or maybe head to the desert further south.

This & That

Opened a Geogypsy Community on YouTube.  Hope you’re subscribed.  Will put up a video to introduce the Community. Please stop by and drop a comment.

Join me in the desert of Congress, AZ to watch November’s moon.  I’m sure to be awake for the rise and set, and maybe for the lunar eclipse.

Still have to write about the train.  I hope being warm will continue to motivate me to write and create a video about the train.  How do you all feel about Foto Friday Fun? Yea or Nay?

Don’t forget to order Geogypsy 2023 calendar  https://geogypsytraveler.com/2022/10/14/time-to-order-geogypsy-2023-calendar/ .

Arizona, Congress, Places I've been, RV life, Skull Valley, United States , , , 20 Comments

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