Bouncing Around Quartzsite

Tracking around the Rocks in the Desert!

Well, the weather outside (at home) has been frightful, as the song goes.  We've been hearing about all the snow-birds wintering in Quartzsite AZ for years and now we've finally tried it for ourselves.
For those few yet not in the "know", Quartzsite is home to a few bazillion acres of relatively flat BLM land upon which one can park, camper, RV or tent, rent free.  At least for 14 days, upon which you are required to relocate somewhere else - at least 25 miles away.
Most folks leave  colder climes somewhere before the deep snows and heavy frosts set in, meaning for most no later than early  November or so.  We have other demands on our time so we didn't feel like we could stay more than a couple or three weeks out here. After all, even without space rent, or more likely BECAUSE of no space rent, dry camping involves burning expensive gasoline in your generator, spending big bucks on solar panels and storage batteries, making trips and paying fees to dump "used" water and refill water and propane and gasoline tanks, none of which is all that cheap.  Cheaper than $20 to $40-something a night to plug into water, sewer, and electricity in a paid RV campsite, but still costing precious money.
Jacque's still at the house stuffing firewood into the stove to stay warm at home, but she will join me in a few days - weather permitting.
I drove out here with fairly clear weather to start, but with driving rain and wind the last 2 days of the trip.
I took what I thought was the southernmost route, down I-25 to Las Cruces, then west on I-10 through Deming, Lordsburg, Tucson, Casa Grande, Phoenix...... BIG mistake.  (Should have detoured via I-8 thru Gila Bend, so the experts tell me).  Getting stuck in Phoenix Parking Lot I-10 traffic was no fun whatsoever, and the rains poured in, making it even more frightful.  By the time I got out of Phoenix on the west end of I-10 it was getting dark and still raining.  I finally gave it up when I spotted a rest area just 66 miles east of Quartzsite.  Most rest areas warn against all-night parking but I wasn't the only one seeking relief from driving in the driving rain.  Trucks, vans, cars, trailers, RV's, with most of them running noisy generators or diesel truck engines all night, accompanied me.  I had a hard time sleeping through all the chugging and popping of all those surrounding engines but I was shot and grateful for a bit of rest AND not having to be out on the interstate with the darkness, rain, and crowded traffic.
Next day, as I drove over the last rise and saw the outline of Quartzsite coming into view, it appeared to be a fairly decent sized small town.... until I got closer and realized I was  seeing but very few houses and buildings - but THOUSANDS of  RV's and campers, parked willy-nilly and everywhere, as far as the eye can see.  There are 2 exits for Quartzsite, and both are clogged with trucks, RV's, cars of every description.... the whole town seems to be an unbelieveable conglomeration of swapmeets, flea markets, and quasi-temporary roadside businesses hawking everything you never heard of for RV's and camping.  I was shocked to see a well stocked RV windshield replacement  business, operating out of several trucks and RV's , with windshields in stock ready for installation.  (I should check out how their prices compare to my recent RV double windshield replacement cost of $1600-plus in Albuquerque).
There are NO "Big Box" stores within 40-50 miles but hundreds of small vendors seemingly selling anything you could imagine, if you can only FIND it.
I got here Saturday, and noticed an LDS ("Mormon") chapel just off the freeway exit, so I attended church next day on Sunday.  The congregation here is listed as a "Branch" which normally indicates a small group but there were SIX HUNDRED FIFTEEN or more people attending, wall to wall and packing the hallways.
Lots of Mormon Snowbirds, I suppose, but the locals tell me it's a pretty large congregation here year round.
There's a ham radio event called Quartzfest this week that is totally free and so far, a lot of fun.  There is no assigned parking.  It's on BLM property so all you do is register for free, select an open space somewhere amongst the rock and greasewood and Sonoran cacti, and park.
I brought my relatively new Catrike Road trike for commuting around during this experimental trip.  I feared it might not survive or do well without paved roads - or even decent gravel roads - to ride on.  With its tiny narrow street tires I feared they would shred themselves in short order but its been riding surprisingly well.  There are NO roads here once you leave the pavement and the ride is pretty bouncy but after 4 days of riding around no tire damage has been noted and the wheels are still round.  I do have trouble with the chain occasionally jumping off the cogs, but am learning to keep the chain on the higher gears to minimize slack loops while bouncing over the rocks.
Jacque has fat tires already mounted on HER Catrike Pocket so she will do even  better on these rocks when she arrives in a few more days.

Rides Started: 2-3 times each day, going back and forth between groups and gatherings
Stats from the GPS:    Total Miles:  5 or 6 miles, a couple or more each day these last few days
I refuse to TRY listing any average speed, crawling over rocks and through gullies