Tuesday, January 24, 2012

SOMEWHERE IN THE DESERT NEAR QUARTZSITE ARIZONA:))

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A PARTING PHOTO OF DARBY WELL’S BLACK MOUNTAIN MONDAY NIGHT

Short heavy wind gusts in the night led to a cool clear windy morning.  We were into our jackets for a short walk.

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WE QUIETLY SLIPPED THROUGH SLEEPY DOWNTOWN AJO THIS MORNING 

Travel days always start earlier for us.  We just like to get on the road & get rolling.  Figure once a decision is made to leave somewhere there is no point in hanging around.  The sooner we’re mobile, the sooner we can get to where it is we are going to, set up, & relax.

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KELLY GETS THE KIDS A SNACK FOR THE ROAD >>>

RV SUE must have been out walking Spike & Bridget so we didn’t get a chance to say good-bye.  Had the big wheels rolling at 8 a.m. & jostled our way down the bumpy desert lane.  I’m sure we’ll be running into Sue & the Crew again & we’ll likely be back to Darby Wells in a month or so.

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WE ARE ON OUR WAY   

There sits on I-8 between Casa Grande & Yuma the little desert oasis of Gila Bend.  This is always an important stop for us because of the Shell station in the north end of town on highway 85.  Free dump & water as well as gas & propane.  A McDonald stop can be had in Gila Bend as well & we did all of the above.  Of course my favorite part was McDonalds:))  What, you thought I would say my favorite part was dumping the black tank:((

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Nice straight 4 lane highway from Gila Bend all the way up to I-10 on the west side of Buckeye.  Swung the rig’s nose into the gusty west wind & plowed our way through to Quartzsite.  1:20 p.m. saw us in the Q hanging a right turn at the town’s main intersection & heading north back out into the desert .  This was our 5th time in Quartzsite and it was nice motoring through remembering all our good times here years ago.  Yes, I said good times.  Despite all my blah blah blustering about the crowds & stuff, if anyone were to read my Quartzsite posts from years ago they would see we had a lot of good times in this town & this area.  As long time readers know, I do have a habit of complaining about something until I actually do it & then I am just fine with it.  Well, most of the time.  Q ain’t so bad:))

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QUARTZSITE’S MAIN INTERSECTION LOOKING WEST

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We are once again boon docked in another beautiful area of the Arizona desert.  It is an area we haven’t boon docked before but had driven through a couple years ago when we stopped to meet JANNA & MIKE along with JIM & ELLIE for the first time. 

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HEADING OUT INTO THE DESERT BOON DOCKING LANDS

We could see then that it was a great area so when Wandering Willy emailed us an invitation to come on over we decided to make it our next stop on the way west.  ‘Chopper Blades’ Ivan is here as well so it was great to pull in & see those guys again.  Last saw Ivan at the Lazy W Ranch near Elfrida last year & Wandering Willy 2 years ago in Borrego Springs. 

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JUST A COUPLE MILES TO GO

This is actually a very rare occurrence considering Ivan, Wandering Willy, & ourselves are very particular about our privacy.  We are all loners but how nice it is for us getting together.  We did all sign a pre-nup agreement promising not to bug each other though:))

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YEP, THIS IS MY KINDA COUNTRY ALRIGHT:))

With directions from both WW & Ivan we had no problem finding our way through the desert to their location.  Even brought the rig up a dry wash through some big old Mesquite trees.  Unhooked the Jeep & wiggled the rig between some Creosote bushes, up a creek bank & into a nice level spot just a short distance from WW’s travel trailer & Ivan’s fifth wheel.

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AND YET ANOTHER GREAT BOON DOCKING AREA…. WITH FRIENDS:))

Pheebs & the Motor met Ivan’s cat Hailey for the first time.  Hailey was sitting on Ivan’s truck watching all the going’s on when Motor noticed the open door to Ivan’s fifth wheel.  Seconds later Motor was up the steps & into his rig looking for snacks.  In even less seconds that it took Motor to get into Ivan’s rig, Hailey was off that truck & right on Motor’s case bent on throwing Motor out of her house.  We very nearly had a big dust up on our hands & by the time Ivan got to the rig, little Motor was at the door scrambling to get out with a very mad pussy cat right behind her.  All happened too fast for me to get any pics.  But, there is always tomorrow & we will be here for a few more days probably:))

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LOOKING FORWARD TO EXPLORING THESE JEEP ROADS

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Was able to use our hydraulic levelers on the driver’s side of the coach to square everything up.  How nice to have at least 3 out of 4 levelers working.  Set our satellite dish up & hit the bird within seconds.  This new tripod is such a breeze to set up.  Within half an hour Pheebs & I had clambered up the nearest hill for some pictures.  Lots of great Jeep roads in the area so we may stay a little longer than planned.  As long as we all don’t bug each other too much that is.  In fact, Kelly just looked out the window to see if the guys were still here:))

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WE HAVE SORTA…..CIRCLED THE WAGONS:))     

GROANER’S CORNER:((  And remember, when feeling sad & blue, don’t despair….You are not totally useless, you can always be used as a bad example:))

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-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.

stargeezerguy@gmail.com

13 comments:

  1. Just returned from our second visit to Q this year. Something just keeps pulling me towards that place even though we don't shop. Very strange.

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  2. Great header picture. Glad you found a place to your liking close to Q. Sounds like a little excitement there between Hailey and Motormouse - glad no one got hurt. They'll probably become friends before all is said and done. Enjoy the Q and hope Kelly is able to find some bargains.

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  3. it seems strange to see a photo with your rig in such close proximity to another rv!!..enjoy your stay with your 'buddies'!!

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  4. We left Q this morning, heading east to Paws & Hooves. Sure is funny to read about the new, "social" Al!! :)

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  5. Un social Al, is a ruse! And to think we were buying into it too........

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  6. I was going to comment on how close the rig's look and got beat to it.Those guys are good guys so you won't have any trouble. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

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  7. Oh my gosh, I can't believe it Al is parked near someone, ON PUPROSE??? Enjoy our area, it is beautiful. Last year we saw big horn desert sheep almost every day.

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  8. A pre-nup. :) that's priceless Al.....love that one.
    its really great to have you,Kelly and the kids on board.
    At least now maybe Pheeps and Motormouse can keep Hailey busy enough that she will stop climbing on to the roof of my trailer......How she gets up there,I still haven't figured out yet.......Let the good times roll.

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  9. Lots of goodies to buy at Quartzsite. One of these days we'll make it there. I sure do miss Wandering Willy's blogs. I know he's on Facebook but I avoid Facebook like the plague. Will never become a member there!!!!

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  10. ok..gotta chime in on the "close neighbors"..couldn't believe my eyes...This is a good sign, Al..baby steps with socializing..We don't mind parking within yelling distance of others, but please don't expect us to join in Bingo, BBQ and Birdwatching groups..:-/

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  11. "Somewhere near Quartzsite", eh? Hey, hey, Al has mended his evil ways: no more "spill the beans" boondocking!

    Seriously, my first year or two in the Escapees I learned of their boondocking group. It used to be up-front with NOT providing a database of boondocking locations. As a newbie I remember thinking, "What selfish and unhelpful old farts they are. I won't even join them."

    By the second or third year I understood why they had their "don't ask- don't tell" policy.

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  12. Hi Al and Kelly,

    Boonie and Ed just drove up the lane and saw you were gone. They didn't stop, just smiled, waved, and left!

    I'm jealous of your new neighbors. Happy to see you've got another good boondocking spot.

    I read your blog and then give updates to Rick . . . Take care.

    Sue

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  13. Sue,

    It was not Boonie and I. I'm somewhat a recluse but I wouldn't do something like that.
    Read Boonie's blog today, he talks about boondockers socializing.

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