Category: California

Three different camps within a week, each for a different reason, beauty, convenience, and crowded.  You decide.

Ocotillo moon

Typical Southwest winter wind, more intense than I remember, rocks my little home on wheels and batters my spirit.  Even with temperatures up to the mid 70s, the wind keeps me inside.  Thank goodness for sunshine on solar to keep my phone and laptop charged.  I sometimes knit or read.  I am easily entertained just looking out into a beautiful landscape at different camps.

After a full night of wind rocking that lasted until noon it was suddenly calm.  Warm 73° sunshine beckoned me outside.  I set up the solar shower bag before going on a walk in a nearby dry wash below the Cargo Muchacho Mountains in Tumco.

Hawk soared overhead and flowers appeared at my feet.

Birds sang in the naked branches while I took advantage of the 110° water to wash my hair.

Later, just enough clouds slipped in for a colorful sunset.  I felt a click, like turning on the “you are finally healthy” knob after too many weeks of the Quartzsite crud.  Though I still don’t have my full voice back.  Join me for a previous walk in the Cargo Muchacho Mountains here.

First light

Sunset

Tumco has been a lovely boondock for much of the winter so far but it’s time to consider different camps.  I made an appointment with Mendoza Optical in Los Algodones, Mexico for Monday 9:30am.  Eye exam only $20 or free with eyeglasses including frames for $100, second pair half price at $50 more.

Sunday morning’s sunrise made it difficult to leave.

Bumper rock collection from Cargo Muchacho Mts

I was up early to dump tanks and grocery shop while folks were in church but it was Super Bowl Sunday so still pretty busy.  Also visited with Joann while doing laundry and getting a real shower.  Living in Yuma, she’s been a savior for me from the different camps near that town.  We made plans for our border crossing into Mexico the next day, her first visit.

Then I headed to the Quechan tribe’s secure parking lot on the US side of the border for a $10 night.  Here’s a video of that camp view.

It rained overnight but stopped by the time Joann met me at my parking lot camp in the morning.  Headed straight to Mendoza Optical, part of the Liqui’s Purple Pharmacy complex, within the first block of the border.

Started looking at children’s frames because I have a small and narrow head.  One pair for progressive lenses and a second pair for single distant vision.  This is only a few I tried on.  Which two did I choose?

Some of the tequila choices

While waiting the two hours for the eyeglasses to be ready for pickup we wandered first into the adjoining businesses, drugs and alcohol.

Then strolled past vendors selling nothing I need.  However Joann picked up a couple trinkets for her granddaughters.

We wandered to the edge of tourista-town and stopped at yet another optical shop where I found an adorable pair of Harry Potter frames and ordered a pair of progressive for $60.  How could I resist?

Chicken Milanesa with vegetables and rice

We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Mi Casa Su Casa where I’ve eaten before and shared a huge margarita for a total of $15.  Then returned for my first two pair of glasses and waited in line 30 minutes to cross back into the US.

I paid for another night then walked back across to Mexico for my third pair of glasses in the morning plus enjoyed a $3 breakfast called Divorced eggs with bacon, hash browns and beans.  They must have chickens laying eggs out back at the price.

I was back across the border by noon.  From there I had a couple choices of different camps, a return to Tumco, or to the noisy VFW-BLM.  I chose the later because Gayle was there to say hi to, and it would be OK for a few chilly nights, plus be close to town for shopping before moving on.

Wind blown dust headed my way

It’s crowded because this camp is within ten minutes of Fountain Hills/east Yuma.  I guess shopping appeals more to some people than me.  I like much different camps that are remote, quiet, dark, and lack crowds.  Much of the area is like a huge dusty parking lot with an occasional bush where the mostly big rigs–30+feet—park closer than an RV park.  No pics because I always forget.  The area I try to park in best accommodates smaller rigs and is also crowded.

However, this place is full of unique rigs and people.  Note the converted Armored truck.

Neighbor Rick’s home-made “dream home” that partially comes apart for driving.  I didn’t see that process but I bet it limits him moving frequently to different camps.  I only planned to stay a few nights.

Through dirty camper window

I’m seeing more boondockers putting small orange cones around to designate “their” camp site.  I don’t want to carry stuff like that, but maybe I should.  Late Thursday afternoon a huge motorhome pulled in and parked blocking my way to back out. Neighbors Rick, who reacted loudly with swearing, and Scott who was more sedate, and I asked them to move. They are from Canada and said they didn’t speak very good English. Not true, but I don’t speak French. The man decided, without asking, that I could pull forward across a soft sandy dry wash that has tracks where someone else has already been stuck. I won’t drive that.  He refused to move.  So I gave them one night.  I took and posted a 360 video on YouTube and a photo on FB.

As above

At 9am I knocked on their door and informed them they had 30 minutes to move or I would call the police.  They ignored me at their door and flipped me off through a window so I yelled my message.  In 45 minutes he had their towed jeep hooked back to the motorhome and by 11am they pulled out.  In over 30 years of RVing, mostly boondocking, I’ve never had this happen.  I just don’t get it.  One more reason for me to not like this BLM camp.  But with them gone, I made it a couple more days before thinking about a move to different camps.