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Yet another circle around Quartzsite Arizona

truck camper desert mts sunset clouds Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite ArizonaIf you drew a circle around Quartzsite about 200 miles in diameter that’s where I’d be, somewhere.  I went from boondocking near Congress and Wickenburg again, back to the town of Quartzsite, and then returned to Plomosa Road BLM where a friend is camped.

Date Creek Mts sunrise clouds Ghost Town Rd BLM Congress Arizona

desert mts sunrise clouds Ghost Town Rd BLM Congress ArizonaSunrise Date Creek Mts Congress

I really like the desert landscape inside the circle around Quartzsite with Congress high on the list for decent weather, remote, an occasional sunrise, not too many close neighbors, bird watching, brilliant sunsets, nearby friends, and close enough to services, but the signal sucks.  That’s a deal breaker for me.  I even dug out my old Wilson booster but it didn’t help.  It could be really out of date.

desert Vulture Mts sunset clouds Ghost Town Rd BLM Congress AZ

desert mts sunset clouds Ghost Town Rd BLM Congress AZSunsets

Choices for the day: 1) fuck the whole signal problem and just write and process photos for the next two posts which will have to go out from somewhere else. 2) Pack it up and go to Wickenburg, not appealing but could be planned for the next day.  I lazily chose #1.  Then remind myself to just relax and go outside into the 64° Arizona apricity, set my chair out of the wind and read awhile, or just stare off into the desert horizon.  I am treated to the most glorious sunsets.

desert Jackrabbit Ghost Town Rd BLM Congress AZDesert Jackrabbit neighbor

Chris helped me ID the mystery dark bird in my nearby Saguaro bird condo.  A Starling who seems to only spend the night in the nesting hole. The neighbors look in occasionally during the day.  Also a thrasher appears to have moved into the penthouse.

desert Date Crk Mts sunset clouds Ghost Town Rd BLM Congress AZSunset

The decision to move becomes more pressing as it approaches time to dump and fill once again.  Has it already been two weeks?  Well, close enough to get prepared to boondock for another two weeks.

desert rd mts sunset clouds Vulture Mine Rd BLM Wickenburg AZBut first a trip to Wickenburg where I bought some more books at Goodwill and a few groceries.  I actually made it to camp along Vulture Mine Road before cooking pizza for late lunch.  I have been known to prepare this meal in the parking lot as the frozen pizza large enough for leftovers is too big for the freezer.  I didn’t drive far off pavement on the terrible rutted and rocky road as I only planned one night.  A Cactus wren taunted Sierra hopping around within sight out the door and just below the steps.  Sadly, even out in the middle of nowhere, nearest neighbor 100s of feet away, and I still listened to and felt the drone of somebody’s music.  Too much weird.  That night as I stepped out to photograph the sunset I slipped off the step and did a slow motion fall on my left side.  The worse side, with a shoulder in need of replacing but it’s a bad time to be in a hospital.  Did manage to save the camera.  And after taking inventory made it back onto my feet with only a small cut on my palm, scuffed elbow, and desert dirty clothes.  Could have been worse.  Just scary, and a reminder to be even more careful.  I don’t want to be afraid of being out by myself.

sunset moon Vulture Mine Rd BLM Wickenburg AZBig bonus for Vulture Mine Road is the awesome signal staring up at a huge tower.  I planned to finish and schedule the next days blog post but for some reason Open Live Writer wouldn’t talk to my website.  I hoped that wouldn’t be a new norm and thank goodness the problem has since gone away.  But that night I had to cut and paste which took even longer than my already slow normal.

Breezie & Finius camper door Shady Lane RV Crt Quartzsite AZWent into Wickenburg in the morning to pickup mail, topped off diesel and add just a few more groceries.  Then off for the 1 1/2 hour drive to Quartzsite’s Shady Lane RV Court—at January’s increased price of $37 and still a good deal—and parked in my usual space.  I’ve gotten to know my neighbor who is permanent for the winter season.  After hooking up electric and sewer and throwing away garbage I enjoyed a long hot shower.  I realize these are the same activities we all do in a S&B (stick and brick = house/apartment) but when boondocking there’s no current bush (other than the sun), garbage service, or in my case almost endless hot running water.  Sometimes, it’s just the little things that make me smile.

When checking in, I mentioned to Breezie that I liked their first RVer video on FB and volunteered to be interviewed.  So we recorded in the park’s rec-room that night.  Finius and Breezie are awesome and fun folks.  Get to know us all better by watching the video.

Paul's dog Tippy Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZTippy welcomed me to camp

In the morning I didn’t hang out because there are lots more people in the smaller circle around Quartzsite as the “Big RV Show” with huge tent had started.  Instead I drove north of town and back to Plomosa Road BLM to meetup with Paul, a canyon friend and fellow part-time RVer.  It’s been a year since the Grand Canyon alumni crowd met up south of Quartzsite but this year the gathering was diminished by folks not traveling for obvious reasons.

Saguaro desert mts sunset clouds Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZThis camp is not too far east of where I was the beginning of January but on the north side of the road instead of the south and still offers great views of the Plomosa Mountains. Pulled in around noon and Paul and I sat outside in the sunshine visiting all afternoon. He made a delicious Broccoli soup for dinner.

plane towing Geico sign above boondock Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZPaul has the knowledge, skills, and ability to fix stuff and he solved the sticky door problem, rewired the 12v plug, and redid the sagging screw for my curtain wire. Then we spent another afternoon outside chatting the day away.  No, I still haven’t done anything with the sagging camper corners.  That’s a big fix.  Sigh…

desert mts sunset crescent moon Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZA Facebook memory from ten years ago gave me pause, my previous 5th-wheel sold and going out the driveway after six years living in it and my “new” to me 36-footer with three slide-outs. I like the space but don’t want to tow that monster all over the place. I’m having a hard enough time moving myself anywhere in the truck camper and am grateful most everything works good enough to live in. Yet I wonder what has happened to my wanderlust. I currently am pretty happy just hanging out in the desert under big skies in my chosen circle around Quartzsite. Driving much distance is getting more difficult with my bad shoulder.

 

 

desert mts sunset clouds Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZ

desert mts sunset clouds Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZAnd so I spend more time inside on the computer and I’m starting to figure out the pattern for power use off the camper battery charged by solar.  Unless it’s just absolutely gray and possibly raining, I have charge all day for phone and laptop plus a few hours into the evening.

mts sunset clouds Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZOf course gorgeous sunsets prompt me out to take far too many photos.  I find the camera weight also causes pain in my shoulder.

desert mts sunset clouds Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZLast week’s post went out about socializing in the desert but I couldn’t open it.  Comments came to my email so others could see the post, at least for a while.  Seems my entire website went down for no apparent reason.  After kind of freaking out, talking to my blog mentor, and others, with power slipping away, I gave up, shut down, and when I went back hours later all was well.  I should learn to let go of those things sooner.

desert morning light Dome Rock Mts Plomosa Rd BLM Quartzsite AZMorning light shinning down on Quartzsite

The next day, a couple of Paul’s friends from Colorado rolled into the southern circle around Quartzsite with their RV.  We made arrangements to meet in town the next morning and explore the “Big Tent” RV Show.  But due to gentle rain overnight continued into morning I wasn’t sure we’d go and look at RVs for sale.

Arizona, Congress, Places I've been, Quartzsite, RV life, United States, Wickenburg , , 29 Comments

Getter done in Quartzsite

broken camper cornerWhen I got all battened down and ready to leave Plomosa Road camp I had a list of things to getter done in Quartzsite.  You can find all things RV in Quartzsite, and many things not. Top of my list and first stop would be Solar Bill to ask questions, get answers, and hopefully get more solar power added, or at least an appointment.  As I climbed into the driver’s seat I noticed the camper pulling even more apart at the front corner, the tie-down dangling, and figured it had to do with the whole camper sliding back out of the bed of the truck.  Damn it!  It’s always something isn’t it.  No matter if your house is stationary or on wheels.  I fretted the entire 30-minute drive vacillating back and forth, repair or replace.  Should I bother adding more solar if the entire camper is going to shit?  What to do?  Who to talk to?

sign Solar Bill Quartzsite ArizonaI’ve never experienced Quartzsite so quiet, but am sure it’s even more so during the high heat of summer.  I lucked out being the second customer of the day and spent over an hour sitting outside, masked, talking with Solar Bill himself.  He started solar on RVs back in the 1970s wiring a big heavy panel on his father’s RV roof with coat hangers.  The rest is history. What a kick of a guy.

Six hours (1.45 hrs labor) and $550 later I had another panel on the roof, 190 watts added to 100 watts already there, that will actually charge the house/camper battery to full over six hours on most sunny winter days.  A 12v plug can charge my phone quickly and will see how long the laptop can run/charge through an inverter.  I’ll be watching the controller as explained not to run the house/camper battery too low.  The selling point if I did have to switch RVs, Solar Bill would remove and reinstall.

While that work was going on they called a local repair man, also Bill, who came to their lot to assess the camper problem.  First issue is lift the camper enough to back the truck back under.  The camper jacks all work yet concern would be if the front corners (yes both sides) were solid enough to hold weight.  Added support would be needed.  Then to think about stopping that from happening again.

sign Shady Lane RV court Quartzsite ArizonaWe had a couple days to research that which I did while plugged in at Shady Lane, with heat for a couple nights below 40°, a long shower, dump and fill tanks.  After reading and watching videos about the front breakage I know it’s way more repair rebuilding than is going to happen.  Maybe with a combination of liquid nails, expando-foam, and silicone it might look better and not leak because that would make it worse.  To stop the camper sliding, a friend suggested bolting it to the truck bed.  I’m hoping I already blogged about setting boards between the 5th-wheel hitch brackets in the bed of the truck to make a flat surface for the camper.  If I did, I can’t find it.

Another solar employee said he knew someone who might buy it and asked how much.  When I said $3000 he laughed.  Hey the appliances work and the roof don’t leak.  I looked later at the NADA value of this 1996 Weekender with a low retail (that’s a dealer price) $4100.  REALLY??  Don’t tell anybody I didn’t pay that much six years ago.  But then I would need another RV so I have a place to live. This is a good town for selling and buying RVs, but not until January when the RV businesses roll in.  And I’m told they are hurting for merchandise.

While in the RV park I spent much time online fighting with government websites, Federal and State(s).  Surfing off into the cyber yonder and processing photos occupied more than a bit of time.  Being plugged in meant no chance to test the new solar, but its time would come.

backup jack on camper corner Quartzsite Arizonabackup jack on camper corner Quartzsite Arizona

Waking Friday morning to 32°F made me thankful the camper appointment wasn’t until noon.  Back to Solar Bill’s with the truck parked on level cement and time to crank down the jacks.  Being it was questionable if the two front camper jacks would hold in possibly rotten wood, a backup plan was used taking even longer to jack the entire camper up, moving around and around until finally lifted off the truck bed.  The rear slid piece of plywood was moved back in place and super glued to the truck bed with additional dabs between it and the camper bottom.  Ever so slowly, backed the truck about 6-8 inches and let the camper back down.  Again, round and round cranking the jacks back down.  Bill was mostly able to use a drill on the jacks instead of cranking by hand.  Took about 3 1/2 hours and doesn’t fix the front corners that are pulling apart.  To be done correctly that would require the camper off the truck, peal back the aluminum and basically rebuild by replacing all rotten wood.  The previously described fix would be purely cosmetic.  Everybody’s recommendation is to stay off rough roads.  WHAT?  I couldn’t live like I do without some gravel.  I don’t take it 4x4ing as the truck isn’t 4×4.

putty fix on fridge hinge Quartzsite ArizonaAnother little yet important fix on breaking plastic around the refrigerator door hinge.  I asked about a method Jim and Diana used and instead this was much simpler.  A putty that works soft when warmed with fingers then hardens when cool.  It may not be pretty, but, seems a lot of my little home on wheels is rather glued together.

Saguaro cactus camper Peace flag sunset Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaI spent one more night at Shady Lane then time for chores and be done in Quartzsite before testing the solar while boondocking in the desert.

Solar readout beforebefore

Solar readout afterafter

If you’re looking for solar power for your RV I’d say getter done in Quartzsite if you’re in the area look up Solar Bill, and tell him the Geogypsy sent you.

Arizona, Places I've been, Quartzsite, RV life, United States , , , 23 Comments

Catching up in Congress

Saguaro cactus truck camper Ghost Town Road Congress ArizonaMy last long drive got me to Wickenburg in time to vote and then camping and catching up in Congress.  That’s Congress, Arizona, where I also followed the election results as best I could with limited cell signal.  It felt exhilarating to vote, a sense of relief, yet still not at peace.

inside Dazzo's Wikieup ArizonaAlmost as important was the stop along the way in Wikieup at Dazzo’s for my favorite Chicago style Italian Beef sandwich this side of the Mississippi River.

Saguaro cactus mountains sunset clouds Ghost Town Road Congress Arizona

mountains sunset clouds Ghost Town Road Congress ArizonaSunset views from Congress camp

After voting I bought a few groceries and found a place to boondock off Ghost Town Road in Congress, where I spent time last spring.  My old site was full but I found a huge Saguaro to camp near.

Palo Verde tree sunset Ghost Town Road Congress ArizonaThen I settled in for a couple lazy warm days, hanging outside, writing, reading, and just taking in the views.

truckcamper Trump flag on RV Ghost Town Road Congress Arizona

Palo Verde tree mountains sunset clouds Ghost Town Road Congress ArizonaI did move three times trying for a better signal.  Eventually I drove the maybe three miles to town to schedule a Foto Friday Fun post and topped off both propane tanks.

truckcamper North Ranch RV Park Congress ArizonaWith possible rain predicted along with nights hovering around, and below, 40° I decided North Ranch RV Park, where I stayed last December, would be a good and reasonably priced idea.  Being an Escape (ESKP) member I got a deal and paid for six nights and got one free, ended up being about $20/night.  Not bad.  I’d have power for heat and computer.  Actually quieter there than boondocking near people with generators running. They were very full, yet I had two empty spaces on each side.

RVs mountains storm clouds North Ranch RV Park Congress ArizonaWindow view of the Weaver Mountains

Didn’t really get much rain but I did get a lot done.  Spent the weekend formatting the calendar and finally put in the order.  Shutterfly said I’d have the calendars by Friday 11-13.  More on that later.

RVs storm clouds North Ranch RV Park Congress ArizonaSpent most my time writing and processing photos from the journey south so far.  I’ve felt rather ‘on edge’ since leaving Bryce.  Paying attention to the political news could have something to do with that.  Finally the announcement was made that our next President will be Joe Bidden with Vice President Kamala Harris. The country sighed relief with a record-breaking turnout of 74 million voters. I am glad to see a woman in office, and as she said, maybe the first but certainly not the last.  Now if we can just survive until January 21, 2021 with the current Idiot in Chief 45 who is probably having a “tweetertantrum”.

desert Weaver Mountains storm clouds North Ranch RV Park Congress ArizonaI don’t really know what I’m doing this winter, not that I usually do, but I don’t have any plan and am feeling lazy and lost.  What to do, where to go?  Interesting how writing about the trip south helped calm me a bit yet it didn’t last.

trees sunrise clouds North Ranch RV Park Congress ArizonaSunrise view

Updated my resume as job announcements for next summer are coming out.  And although I currently believe I’ll return to Bryce next summer I will also apply to other parks that appeal.  Sent a couple of my better shots from Bryce this summer for their photo contest.  Made an appointment with Alice in Yarnell for a long overdue haircut.  Feels like I’m on a roll. Is the best part of procrastinating crossing things off the list?

I ran out of time to totally figure out and solve the commenting problem on this blog.  Some of the language is way over my head.  But hey, I got some other stuff done.

So Friday I rolled out of North Ranch and first went into Congress town to check out a couple yard sales.  I don’t need a thing, but I do like to look and haven’t been in longer than I want to remember (before COVID).  I bought a 3-D-cell battery Mag light, one of the heavy duties that aren’t sold any more.  What really caught my eye was the rope wrap with a wrist strap that turns this flashlight into a weapon.  I am certainly not a violent person and have never needed a weapon in over 40 years on the road.  However, this flashlight brought back a memory from my first road trip in 1974.  My boyfriend’s mother was concerned for my safety and gave me two gifts,  a huge Maglight described as a club and a can of hairspray to use like mace, then told me to keep them next to the driver’s seat just in case.  Like I said, never used for defense.  I did throw away the hairspray after it released pressure over the Rocky Mountains.  Sadly, I left the Maglight on a motorhome bumper in an Oregon rest area back in 2000 and never saw it again.

From Congress, I drove the 25 minutes to Wickenburg and my first stop was Goodwill, surprised they were even open.  Bought some books, mostly light reading.  I’ve gotten out of the habit of reading actual paper books.  But alas, signal and power limitations brings me backwards in tech-time.  (Could also be why I’m behind reading other blogs, sorry.)  I perused the shelves pulling books from a variety of genre.  The books are not well organized like a library but I like a variety of topics, styles, and sometimes even recognize an authors’ name.  My current light reading is Duma Key by Stephen King, c 2008.  Used to suck up King’s work as it was published, decades and pre-accident ago.  He’s an amazing storyteller whether you like his style or not.  The other book is not ‘light reading’ and also well written for different reasons, No Future Without Forgiveness by Desmond Tutu, c 1999.  Wish I’d read this before traveling in South Africa.

After buying groceries and fuel I get a message that my Shutterfly delivery arrived.  I am excited, the calendars are here!  They shipped one calendar.  I ordered and paid for one bundle of 50 calendars.  I am upset.  I call.  The person I talk to without waiting on hold very long is difficult to understand, as in English is not his first language.  He says I only ordered one calendar instead of 50 and now would owe over $100 more for shipping on the bundle.  They have free shipping.  He doesn’t get it.  I loose patience, react angrily, and cancel the remaining order for credit back.  My bad.  I could have talked to someone else.

RV with Trump flag Ghost Town Road Congress ArizonaInstead, I head out to the desert, a healing place for me.  Yes, I have neighbors within sight but mostly hundreds of feet apart.  (This one took the flag down.)  Yes, some of them run noisy generators to provide for their power needs.  I’d rather do that quietly, but who knows.

camper Saguaro cactus Ghost Town Road Congress Arizona

holes in Saguaro cactus Ghost Town Road Congress Arizona

Flicker bird on Saguaro cactus Ghost Town Road Congress ArizonaFlicker checking out the bird condo

The only animals not keeping distance is the birds, and I’m just fine with that.  In fact I hadn’t seen many of these birds since here last spring.  The temperatures are marvelous with days in the 70s and nights hoovering just below the low 50s.

Gaelyn Ghost Town Road Congress Arizona by Joann

desert camp Ghost Town Road Congress ArizonaI guess catching up in Congress is OK.  Even more than OK when a friend from Prescott came down Saturday to hang out in the desert and motivated me to go for a walk.

trees mountains sunset crescent moon Ghost Town Road Congress ArizonaSo on Monday I’d calmed down enough to try Shutterfly one more time.  I’d already spent so much time formatting the calendar there I didn’t really want to start over.  Just get the order right.  I chatted with one of their people.  Yes, even though I bought “one bundle” I have to order 50 calendars.  They should arrive between 11/20-24.  Then I’ll start shipping them out.  Thanks to all who have ordered and still have some available.  And then, I may be done catching up in Congress and move on to who knows where.  Thinking about the next full moon rise.

Arizona, Congress, Places I've been, United States , , 14 Comments

Lijit

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