I ran from the cold nights near Ajo then checked into a RV Park for a few nights in Quartzsite and Kofa NWR (National Wildlife Refuge) then called me back for full moon until the fridge wouldn’t stay lit so returned to Quartzsite again.
Parked and level in Shady Lane RV Park with full hookups for $22.50/night, can’t be beat in Quartzsite, Arizona. Sitting comfortably with heat on as the night temperatures dropped near freezing Fridge plugged in and humming along keeping the food cold. Considering this park’s vicinity to both main roads and it’s size with 80+ sites it is really pretty quiet.
I was even fortunate enough to join the owner who I follow on FB, Finius the Skinniest, and some other RVers on an outing into the nearby desert on Finius’ mine claim.
He drove several of us over some pretty crazy BLM ‘roads’ while Breezy took video, which I’ll try to link to on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/theadventuresoffiniustheskinniest/videos/799036383905843/
Lots of pretty rocks but no gold found that day. I refrained from gathering more than three pocket-sized pretties. Also lots of laughter.
Look closely for spots of color, 6 people
Good thing Finius loaned me a walking stick even though I didn’t climb as high as the others.
I spotted a small, 1/2 inch, scorpion, first of the year, and several tiny little flowers that are difficult to photograph. A wonderful day. I really needed some socializing.
Crossing the Colorado River on I10
After four nights there I drove 20 miles west to Blythe, California for groceries.
Then returned to Palm Canyon Road on the Kofa NWR to boondock and hoped to catch the almost full moon rise over the Kofa Mountains Friday and Saturday.
Sunday, the actual full snow moon, clouds were predicted before the next storm with rain.
Still having problems with focusing the camera. Maybe it’s my eyes.
Saturday night the fridge shut down. Still had propane with stove and oven working.
Sunday, as the clouds moved in, the fridge would not stay lit. I blamed it on the wind and turned the truck to block that side of the camper. Didn’t help.
With a freezer full of food, including more ice cream than I could eat in a day, I drove back to Quartzsite, filled the propane tank, and parked in my same site at Shady Lane. Fridge works fine on 110 electric.
That night the sunset was spectacular complete with crepuscular rays and here I was in town. Sigh…
I googled the problem and as suspected it ‘might’ be the thermocoupler. Thinking that I had changed one of those myself long ago I went to Youtube for instructions. Monday morning I walked the four blocks to a RV parts place and bought two thermocouplers as I wasn’t sure which one was needed. I can return the unused one for a store credit. No problem, there’s always something RV needed. I found the original Dometic refrigerator manual, opened the outside panel for the fridge, took a look, and decided this job was beyond my knowledge, skills, and abilities, not to mention tools. Hmmmmm…
Later that day, blogger friends Sharon and Sue, who I hadn’t met yet then turned out I had, would be boondocking south of Quartzsite. They picked me up and we had a late lunch at Silly Al’s Pizza. These two ladies are just as wonderful as I’d imagined. We chatted away like the old/new friends we bloggers are.
Sierra ponders the view
Tuesday, I pay for yet another night at the RV park and wait to hear back from a RV mobile tech to look at the fridge. He’ll be here Wednesday afternoon so guess I’ll be here again.
I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve returned to Quartzsite and Kofa NWR this winter. Beginning to feel like home. Never thought I’d say that about Quartzsite. Yet I no longer have a home to go home to. All these years on the road and for the last 15 years I’ve called Yarnell home. What happens when you don’t have family and no longer have a base to return to?
