Quartzsite BLM

A woman is like a teabag...You don't know how strong she is until you put her in hot water.

It’s still a bit nippy in the Quartzsite area.  I certainly wish it would warm up.  The only thing the cold weather is good for is staying inside and working on projects that should have been finished weeks ago when my sewing machine was in the shop.  However, I've finally realized these projects aren't going to get done anytime soon.  It's just not going to happen.

<<   We looked for the trash bins at the park.  This is what we found behind the office building.  The trailer is the bin.  Behind the trailer is a clothesline.  Now that was surprising.  Having a clothesline at your own site is a big NO-NO.

Actually, California is responsible for all this cold weather.  They shouldn’t have let the Santa Ana winds come through and carry that cold air behind them.  The only good news about that is that it will soon pass and the temperatures will warm up.  At least we’re hoping it’s sooner than later.  The problem is with all this cool weather, I'm beginning to think I need a beach instead of a desert.  Maybe it has something to do with the movie I watched last night.  In the movie everyone was running around on the sand in their swimsuits.  This definitely is not swimsuit weather here.

Check this setting out.  They've even put up a garage for their ATVs!!

We’ve met some pretty nice people in this park.  We were even invited to take a 60 mile ATV trip  ... isn't that a long ways for an ATV over rocks and riverbeds?  However, we still prefer the Thousand Trails and other parks where folks come for a few weeks but not a season.  Maybe that's because those are the parks we've stayed at most.  Or, maybe we just haven't found a place in the south we like so much we're ready to make it a winter homebase.  Maybe we need to find that beach after all.

One tidbit of gossip we heard was that some of the BLM land is no longer open for RV parking.  I have no idea what BLM land but thought we were told it was north of town. 


After a few months of having your little town overrun by people especially slower older folks, it probably gets a little annoying.  However, can you imagine the economy of a town this size without the extra revenue?  The RV parks in the area right now have lots of empty spots.  Right after the holidays these spots will fill up.  Just like anywhere else.  There are some great parks here with great hosts and managers.  We also heard there are also some parks to be avoided.  We heard lots of stories at breakfast.  However, we also know ... stories can be just stories.  With all the free spaces to park and all the parks in the area, you would think there would be a big push on to have the biggest and best park in the area.  Some RVers actually spend all winter here and not just during the month of January when most of the activities take  place.

Prices are low at the parks but few amenities are offered.  The entertainment is Quartzsite itself with all the vendors, jams and events.

I love driving around and checking out the personal RV sites people have chosen on BLM land.  It’s great entertainment to see how they have personalized their areas.  

On Sunday morning a church service is held at the South Posa LTVA.  I didn’t know about it until I went with friends, Paul and Marsha, Where's Weaver, a couple years ago.  A table is put out front inviting people who have extra food or items they don’t want to drop them off.  The sign says, leave what you don’t need and take what you do need.  There are people who visit Quartzsite during the winter who don’t have much.  This is a great place to drop off a few items knowing others will certainly appreciate what you leave.

BLM church

We became more aware of the circumstance of some of the folks in the area last year through Johnny.  Many of you may remember our story about Johnny.  He spent a couple of weeks here last year in a tent.  Thus, we became a little familiar with some of the people pitching tents close to the little outhouse buildings.  The tents or small trailers that are not self-contained must be within so many feet of a bathroom.  Since the BLM land is patrolled and monitored by Arizona Park Rangers, this is pretty much enforced.

Some folks pitching a tent do so because they want to.  Other folks pitching the tents do so because that’s all they have and they have no choice.  While there several of the RVers invited Johnny to join them for meals.  Others brought hot food to him.  Some folks are nice and some folks are just nicer.  Maybe this year some of us can be just nicer yet.

‘Tis life on the road.