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Geogypsy
Menu
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  • About Geogypsy
    • Herstory
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    • United States
      • Arizona
        • Antelope Slot Canyon
        • Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
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        • Pipe Springs National Monument
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Tag: Nevada

13 January 2016

Planning a road trip to Quartzsite

One of my favorite things to do is planning a road trip, and even better is going on one.  Bill, Sasha and I leave Friday for a road trip to Quartzsite, Arizona, via Nevada.

SashaWe survived a week in the camper during bitter cold temperatures over Christmas and agreed not to worry about presents for each other.  Well Bill did get me a comfy pair of down booties for in the house and I framed a photo of Sasha for him.  Our idea was to share experiences instead.  Of course my dream would be to fly away somewhere warm but that’s really not in the budget.  Especially after buying a new laptop this week.  More on that latter.

 

 

 

Sunset, saguaro & me reflection Plomosa Road Quartzsite ArizonaJanuary is a time when snowbirds should already be south, farther south than I am for sure.  Things are happening in Quartzsite, other than the RV and Rock Shows.  Fellow RVing friends who worked at some point in their lives for the Grand Canyon Association gather between the 17-23 on BLM short-term south of town.  I joined them last winter for a few days and got reacquainted with some folks and met some new people too.  The jello plan has us arriving the 19th and cooking dinner the 21st.  Everyone takes turn with dinner so I won’t have to cook for the other three nights.

 Jerri & Sandie & bloggers Plomosa Road BLM Quartzsite Arizona

Recognize anyone from last year?

Then there’s the second annual Bloggerfest on the 23rd and they meet in the same place as last year that’s BLM short-term north of town.  Was so fun last year to meet IRL fellow bloggers, many I’ve known online for years.  Plus now I follow a few new blogs after meeting new bloggers.  I look forward to seeing who shows up this year.

So that’s the why of going to Quartzsite.  What about the “via Nevada” idea?  It’s 277 miles between bridges over the Grand Canyon and Colorado River, that large obstacle to the south of Kanab, Utah.  One option to the southeast crosses at Navajo Bridge but first goes up to Jacob Lake at 7,000 feet and then through an equally high Flagstaff which just got dumped on with snow.  The other option to the southwest goes to Las Vegas, at 2,000 feet, and crosses at Hoover Dam.  Just before Vegas is Valley of Fire State Park where we plan to camp three nights starting Friday.  From the photos I’ve seen, the twisted and colorful rock formations, petroglyphs, and canyons will provide plenty of dog friendly—on leash—hiking.

On the way to Quartzsite I’d like to stop at the Lost City Museum in Overton, Nevada which preserves Native American artifacts.  Then continue south, cross the Colorado River at Laughlin and follow SR95, maybe camping on BLM around Lake Havasu City leaving about 80 miles to Q.  After that depends on our moods and the weather.  You have to know I’ll be looking for the warmest temps.

Because I use a PC in my 5th-wheel home I travel with a laptop.  Haven’t been happy with the Windows 8 (fooled with Shell 7) ASUS since I bought it in South Africa after my other laptop was stolen.  Also had a tiny ASUS netbook with my favorite Windows 7 but it’s too slow for photo processing and multi-tasking.  I traded them both in at Best Buy towards the purchase of yet another ASUS with, unfortunately, Windows 10.  Oh boy a new operating system to learn.  So far better than 8 but not as good as 7.  Been downloading Windows Office, Live, Solitaire, and Picasa.  Still have to get Lightroom but having problems connecting to my phone’s FoxFi hotspot with often limited signal and the equally shitty signal here at the RV park.  Hope this new laptop is as ready to travel as I am by Friday.  But if you don’t hear from me, it probably wasn’t packed.

Bloggerfest 2016Look for me in Quartzsite.

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03 September 2014

I’m thinking fall road trip

Darlene Yucca Valley fleamarket CaliforniaI am compelled to visit a very special person, a life mentor, who lives in Washington.  If you’ve been around for a while you may remember my dear friend Darlene, who I traveled with over a couple of winters. So I’m thinking fall road trip.

Truck camper at Crazy Jug Point FS292 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaI do not want to haul my large RV home for various reasons.  Instead I want a cab-over camper similar to what I’ve had before, not too old or long but with the basic comforts: toilet, stove/oven, sink, hot water, bed, fridge, table, heat.  Been checking on Craigslist for months starting with the nearest option three hours away in Saint George, Utah, then Flagstaff, Arizona at four hours.  Doable on my three day weekends.  Dang these things sure do hold value, or at least the owners think so.  Really, do you think I’d pay $1000 for a 35+ year-old camper?  A new one can cost up to $30,000.  That’s more than I paid for the 36 foot 5th-wheel with three slides that I live in.  I’ll keep looking.

Anyway, back to the road trip idea.  My season at Grand Canyon is over October 17th, then it usually takes me a couple days to pack it up and roll with at least a one day layover in Flagstaff on the return to Yarnell.  Where I’d like to be for at least a week to visit with friends unseen over summer.  But I don’t want to dally too long as winter will be chasing fall out of the Pacific Northwest.  I don’t like to be cold.

Columbia river from Sternwheeler  WashingtonWorking on a tentative plan to take about a week to get to the Columbia River Gorge where Darlene lives.  Don’t know how long I’ll stay there.  Then, weather permitting, continue north and west before a slow ride south along the coast.  All this with visiting people and places along the way.

With that said, I’m open to suggestions.  I’ll want to visit parks and forests along the way, national, state and local.  Think moderate hiking, hot springs, rockhounding.  Plus any unusual places you might know and where to find some good grub.  (Bear in mind I can’t eat seafood.)  If you’ve been there, tell me more.

Plus I’d love to meet up with you if you’re located near my route.

Tentative route to Washington:  Keep in mind I want to do this in 7 days, about.  (In Red)

US93 north from Wickenburg, AZ, thru NV to US50 west to Great Basin NP then east to Austin, north NV305 to I80 west, and north on US95, OR78 northwest, Mahleur Cave, Mahleur Lake to Burns; US395 north Mahleur NF, John Day Fossil Beds NM, Umatilla NF, hot springs at Ritter, to Pendleton; I84 west to Biggs, US97 cross Columbia River to WA14 west.

Badwater Basin off Hwy 190 Death Valley National Park CaliforniaFrom there:  Weather permitting and the money don’t run out.  (In Blue)

North into WA, central or eastern, cross Cascades, ferry to Port Townsend, loop Olympic Peninsula, south on US101, side trip to Cave Junction and Oregon Caves if still open, then back to CA south US101, coastal 1, SF, 1 & 101 to Oxnard, or earlier to Death Valley NP then south to Mojave NP, or east to Joshua Tree NP…

Map of tentative road tripHere’s a rough map for folk like me that love maps.

Of course this all hinges on me finding the right camper.

And would someone tell me please how to make a better map than this Scribble thing.  Can’t seem to get to Google with my slow connection.  Anybody?

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Hi, I’m Gaelyn, the Geogypsy

I retired after 29 summer seasons as a Park Ranger, traveling solo for 40+ years. My passions include travel, connecting to nature, photography, and sharing stories.

I started exploring US National Parks in 1977 and 20 years later became a seasonal Park Ranger.  I’ve lived full-time in a RV for 30 years working summers and playing winters.  I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow old, other than grow up.

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