RVing Quartzsite

The Week Before Thanksgiving--QZ Holds Its Breath

2008-11-23T02:55:00.000-08:00

Sunday 11/23/2008, Quartzsite, AZ -- There's a lot of collective breath holding here in the little big town on the desert. How will this season work out for snowbirds, vendors, and the town? If the past is the predictor, this week will tell us a lot. What happens right after the Thanksgiving holiday is usually the tell-tale for the rest of the season.

At this moment: Short term visitor areas around the edges of the town have LOADS of space for more RVers. Of course, these are the less-desirable places in terms of traffic noise and what some would say are a "lack of conveniences." However, if you don't mind hauling in your water and hauling out your waste, the short-term areas are still FREE for a 14-day stay. The Long Term Visitor Areas (LTVAs) still have plenty of desirable places to park your rig and hang your hat. The pay-for-it permit still grants access to water, a dump station, and trash dumpsters.

How about vendors? Well, that's a different story. The "Main Event" is still looking like an old Hollywood ghost town set. Rice Ranch is slowly building up steam, but not near as much as you might expect for late November. Tyson Wells has a few of the old regulars. Town officials tell us the number of "new" vendor permits is way up--but don't say anything about returning vendors. Last year was a bit of anomally, most everyone agrees, with vendors arriving late, selling briskly in January, and heading out early. Perhaps this year will be the same.

At this point it doesn't seem that any of the local RV parks (which provide literally hundreds and hundreds of RV spaces) have hung out the "No Vacancy" signs yet. For those of you who recall Hasslers RV park (and what some said was an unsavory reputation), Hasslers is no more, but has been replaced with new owners with a new philosophy.

Our unofficial viewpoint is this: There are certainly fewer winter visitors for this time of year. Will more come? That depends on how shook up the snowbirds are by the economy. If fuel prices worried you last year, that should be the last thing on your head now. Prices for gasoline are dropping like a rock. In the last week prices for regular unleaded at the local truck stops dropped three cents, then another couple of cents, then a cent, and as of last night stood at $1.999 a gallon. Diesel has been falling too, you can fill your tank for $2.209 a gallon and who knows where the bottom is.

If you're a vendor, this could be a tough year. If you're a snowbird looking for warm temperatures (right now in the 70s by day) and beautiful sunsets, this is your year to come to Quartzsite. We'll update you after Thanksgiving with the lastest information.

Sour Economy Shelves Beaudry's Quartzsite Sales Lot

2008-11-19T05:04:00.000-08:00

A couple of years ago Quartzsite show shoppers (and Looky-Lews alike) had a collective fit when half of the famed Rice Ranch vendor venue was turned over to Beaudry RV as a satellite sales lot. Rice Ranch, at that time, sat astride Kuhen Road, the Interstate 10 frontage road to the south of the big concrete slab. For two years, Beaudry ran a large operation on the north side of the street, softening the blow of taking over so many vendor spots by operating an occasional free-eats-and-music show.

Throw away your bibs, kids, Beaudry has dropped the other shoe.

When the metro papers announced this morning that Beaudry RV has filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition, the hopes and dreams of free barbeque pork sandwiches and country music went down the scuppers. To quote a Beaudry official in the Tucson office, "We had a miserable year last year, and we're not going to open in Quartzsite this year."

Beaudry's decision caught Quartzsite off guard. Rice Ranch told us that in their most recent talks with Beaudry, the RV firm had indicated they were ready to sign another year's lease. The spokesman said they had sent a contract off to Beaudry and, "They just haven't sent back the contract yet."

Town Manager, Dan Field, too was taken aback at the news. Field told us, "It's surprising to me . . . I don't know why [Beaudry isn't returning], the other dealers did well last year." While Field cited confidentiality restrictions, he indicated that there would be some impact of the loss of Beaudry's potential sales. Field put a positive spin on the news by indicating that things were looking up for the town's vendor related income: "We have a heck of a lot of new vendors coming in."

Just what will happen to the "vacant" Beaudry space remains to be seen. The Rice Ranch spokesman was at a loss for words. Meanwhile, a billboard on the south side of I-10 beckons RV buyers to check out their Kuehn Road sales lot. Those who pull off at the exit will be hard pressed to find what they're looking for.

Quartzsite Restaurant Review: Chicken at the Quail

2008-11-16T12:09:00.000-08:00

One of the few year-around restaurants in Quartzsite--aside from the "fast feeders"k--is the Mountain Quail, north on Moon Mountain road from the B-10. It's not a fancy place, folks come here dressed as they are, and the ambiance is somewhat like sitting in a field kitchen where workers are coming and going. But the food, and the prices, make for a busy trade.

The menu is short, but there's a bit of something for pretty near everybody's taste. We rolled in on a Saturday night, and the family carnivore valiantly resisted the "prime rib special," and opted instead for the "Four pieces of chicken," while the fairer one ordered up the shrimp basket.

If you're worried that you might not get enough to eat, be sure to order the chicken. We've a feeling form the size of the pieces they must've run down and slaughtered Foghorn Leghorn. Trouble with old Foghorn is that you'd expect he'd be pretty tough: Not so with the chicken from the Quail. The meat was tender, moist, and not a greasy mess. The sides included a biscuit, your choice of soup or salad, and of course, the to-be-expected steam table veggie. All's well with sides, save that the veggie was a bit worn around the edges.

Meanwhile, back at the shrimp basket, four fair sized butterfly shrimp, a set of fries, and a side of coleslaw. Ringing in at $7.29 it works, and the chicken dinner (which sent one piece home in a doggy box) ran a little over $9.00.

Stick around for desert and get the "Fruits of the Forest" pie. No, it's not home made, but it was deeelicious. Apples, strawberries, a touch of rhubarb, cherries and raspberries all perform a wonderful medley together. Yeah, we splurged and a-la-moded it. Absolutely scrumptious!

The Mountain Quail is a must stop for QZ diners.

Foghorn Leghorn courtesy sashafatcat on flickr.com

Pop Shopping Begins to ReOpen in QZ

2008-11-10T08:31:00.000-08:00

Some of the popular vendors have already set up shop again for the season in Quartzsite. Although the big rush won't be until January, there's still plenty already going on. One of the big draws down on Kuhen Road is K&B Tools. From hand tools to small power tools and lots of mechanical stuff, K&B carries it. They also have a great line of supplies do-it-yourself RVers are looking for. We skate in there every year and restock our supply of electrical crimp connectors from their bulk supply boxes. It's just great! There are also rows of RV "household supplies," and oddments. And if you're into building a shade house, a wind screen, or just about anything else that requires those neat building blocks of temporary encampments based on electrical conduit, K&B has everything you need from the "connectors" to the tarps and bungee cords.

A number of vendors have set up across the street from K&B at Tyson Wells. As a result, traffic on Kuhen Road is doing it's usual crawl--skip any ideas you have of using it as a "shortcut" down to Love's Truck Stop.

And on the shopping front, several have asked about how the Walmart project is going up in Parker. One local told us they were afraid maybe Walmart had "bagged" the idea, as she hadn't seen any action in a couple of weeks. Well, we have it from the proverbial horse's mouth: Walmart spokesmouth Betty Garcia tells us that the Parker project is alive and progressing. Ground breaking is history now, and the contractor is grouping up for the actual construction process. Target opening date is set for the summer of 2009. The new "Wally World" will be a 105,000 square feet of Super Center, so grocery runs to Yuma won't be a necessity for some. While groceries will be a big part of the Parker store, there won't be a tire and lube shop, and nursery items will be limited to "in store" stuff lawn and garden. The local CVS people will have competition from the store's pharmacy.

Interested in bagging a job with Wally? Garcia says they'll open a hiring center about three months prior to store opening. The company figures they'll be employing between 250 and 300 folks.

What About Television Watching in Quartzsite?

2008-10-27T07:06:00.000-07:00

With the dire warnings about "your television signal could disappear" some have wondered what the story is in Quartzsite. If you drag your TV signal in via a satellite, you probably already know that you have nothing to worry about--the switch to digital from analog early next year won't affect you at all.

For those coming to Quartzsite who want to get the "free stuff" off the air with a TV antenna, the situation is a bit more complicated. There are two "off air" signals floating in the Quartzsite TV heavens. The first come out of Yuma, directly from television broadcast stations. There are up to three accessible signals from Yuma, KECY 9, the Fox affiliate; KSWT 13 with CBS; and KYMA 11, the NBC network. At one point a Spanish language station drifted in and out, but it appears to be gone at this point. Of the three, our informal survey revealed most receive NBC with the best clarity, CBS fuzzily, and many said, "Fox? What Fox?"

Come February 17, all Yuma signals will switch out to digital. If you have a TV or converter box that receives digital signal, you MIGHT continue to receive Yuma stations. We say "might" as it's pretty likely that any station you currently receive that's "fuzzy" will completely vanish under the digital standard. Digital signals will either come in clearly, or won't come in at all. Our RV roof top antenna probably will leave us stranded--with NBC a definite "maybe" with the digital switchover.

What if your television is the old analog variety and you don't have a converter box? You're not dead yet. Most folks in Quartzsite pull their television off a translator--either east of town on Guadalupe Mountain, or from the west on the hills overlooking Blythe. In either case, those translators will continue to transmit signals in good old-fashioned analog. If you can receive UHF (channels 14 and above) now, you should continue to get them after the swtich in February. That's because the federal government has decreed that only high power broadcast stations have to change to digital, allowing tv translators and other low power local stations to stick with analog.

Of course, Quartzsite is a horse of a different color. The translators on Guadalupe whom most Quartzsiters tune into is "officially" operated by the Quartzsite Improvement Association--at least according to the Federal Communications Commission. When we phoned the QIA to ask about the operation of the translators, they told us they no longer operated them, that the assignment had been passed on to the Town of Quartzsite. A quick call to town hall revealed that they had no connection with the transmitters. The usual finger pointing for the area. We'll hope SOMEBODY really is owning up to the care and feeding of the translators, or when the power bill runs overdue, television in Quartzsite just could go black.

Editor's note: Since the original publication of this piece, it was finally determined that the former translator stations on Guadalupe Mountain east of Quartzsite have been shut down. Neither the QIA nor town government have any responsibility for translator signals received in Quartzsite. Rather, the translators which beam signals into Quartzsite are on the hills west of town, and are operated by the Palo Verde Valley TV Club, a non-profit organization based in Blythe, California. For more information, see more recent posts on the topic "television" on this web site. 2/2009.

The RVers are Coming! The RVers are Coming!

2008-10-21T01:23:00.000-07:00

Like springtime in the Rockies, life is returning to Quartzsite.

According to local legend, a few days after the October social security checks are issued, the wave into the little town on the Sonora begins. It flushes in, the the RV park owners beginning to look a bit less stressed out. Out on the desert, the hosts at the Long Term Visitor Centers have something to do. But then the mad inrush slows. The merchants all know that right after November "pay day," it will start all over again.

Don't worry if you haven't left yet. There's still plenty of room down here. And the folks at the QIA will be ready for you. Tomorrow marks the the opening of the weekly QIA Pancake Supper program, where hungry RVers of all stripe run, walk, or in some other way manage to make their way in the door of the big auditorium and wait in line to buy a cheap supper.

Cheap? Well, don't get it wrong, the food's good if you're the kind of folk that like pancakes, bacon, eggs, ham, biscuits and gravy, et al. When we say, "cheap," perhaps we'd be better off saying "inexpensive." It's not uncommon for a couple to walk out of the QIA feeling happily full and having spent five or six bucks between the two of them. It's a great fund raiser for the public service group, and a good place to get filled up once a week. But don't mess around, serving stops at 6:00 pm, so you can work off your pancakes on the dance floor.

Rumors, News, Arrive From Parker

2008-10-16T02:25:00.000-07:00

As we mentioned last spring, Walmart's Blythe project went down the drain, leaving plenty of sighs from distressed Quartzsite RVers in its undertow.

In the consolation prize episode, ground breaking has started up at the Parker, Arizona store location, just across the highway from the Safeway store. In a long-term lease with the local Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT), Walmart says it's building a 100,000 square foot store, which boasts groceries, a pharmacy, deli, garden center, and of course, those 'gotta have' classes of regular Walmart merchandise.

So how big is a 100,000 square feet? If you've shopped at the "old" Walmart in Lake Havasu City, you've shopped a 100,000 square foot store. Since the old Havasu store had but a very limited "grocery" section, it'll be interesting to see just what gets left out in the new Parker incarnation. The doors are slated to roll open for customers in early summer of next year.

Meantime, CRIT is fighting down a rumor that's been rolling around: The tribal casino, the Blue Water just north of Parker, is said to be "going bankrupt." That rumor may stem in part from the fact that casino management laid off 70 employees last May because of what it called, "The declining economy and reduced patron counts."

CRIT's attorney told the Parker Pioneer newspaper that the rumor ain't so, and the casino is staying put and staying open. No telling if the quality of food in the casino restaurant will change due to the edgy economy.

Walmart Start, Casino Rumors, All Part of Parker Update

2008-10-15T13:31:00.000-07:00

Quartzsite Bookstore Beats Fire, But Pizza Man Passes

2008-10-08T09:44:00.000-07:00

A couple of prominent Quartzsite business folk are in the news:

Paul Winer of the local bookstore is known all about as the infamous guy who shows more skin in public than anybody else in the history of the town. That bit of exposure may have been more than he wanted when a fire broke out at the bookstore in early September.

Paul had an "office" in a travel trailer out behind the store and one afternoon a motorist roared into the lot announcing that smoke was billowing out of the office trailer. Fearful that the two business cats were inside, Paul tossed open the door and headed in for a rescue. One of the cats shot out of the smoke like a ball from the circus cannon, but other was nowhere to be found. In the ensuing search, Paul took burns over this bare legs.

Local smoke-eaters responded in record time, driving one a new Quartzsite fire aparatus, and eventually the fire was put out before any serious damage could be done to the store. Happily, the other missing feline turned up without much damage. It did give fodder for one of Paul's recent cartoons.

On a sadder note, we mentioned in a recent blog that Otis' pizza wagon looked as though it was getting ready for the winter clientel. Unfortunately, when Otis went back east last spring he met up with that old enemy, death. The famous pizza guy that made those rare local delieveries is no longer among us. We extend condolences to his family and friends.

Dates set for 2009 Quartzsite RV Show

2008-10-06T09:42:00.000-07:00

RVers are marking their calendars for the big 2009 RV show in Quartzsite, January 17 to 25. This tiny desert hamlet bursts at the seams each January when tens of thousands of RVers converge on the popular snowbird area for its famous rock & mineral shows, swap meets, flea markets and annual RV show.

One of the largest and most popular venues is the Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show, now in its 26th year. The huge show is held in the "Big Tent," a half-mile south of Interstate 10 on State Highway 95. The show is billed as "The Largest Consumer Attended RV Show in the United States." Many RVers who stay each winter in the government's Long Term Visitor Areas (LTVAs) can walk or ride bicycles to the show.

The attendance for the 2008 show topped 100,000 with more than 400 exhibits in and around the 80,000-square-foot fully carpeted structure. There will be several hundred new and used RVs on display at the 2009 show. More than a dozen service bays will offer immediate installation, repairs & service on items purchased by show goers.

Admission and parking is free.

Learn where RVs can
stay overnight at Wal-Marts
Save $3.59 by purchasing these popular directories together. Most Wal-Mart stores permit a free overnight stay in RVs. The 2008 Wal-Mart Atlas provides driving directions to more than 4,000 Wal-Marts and Sam's Clubs. It lists which stores sell diesel, have pharmacies -- and provides store GPS coordinates. The "No Park" Directory lists more than 350 stores that DO NOT allow stays! Learn more or order.

QZ Police Get New Ticketing Tools

2008-09-28T09:48:00.000-07:00

Ask anyone who's tried to park next to Highway 95 during the time of the big RV show and they'll tell you: Don't even try it! 'Quartzsite's finest' have a reputation for being quick with the pen and parking ticket book. And fines aren't cheap. Rumors have it that if the sales tax revenue doesn't support the town, then surely ticket revenues will keep the place going. But Quartzsite's police aren't in the stone age. This summer the town came into the "e-age" if you will, with the addition of a sooper-dooper electronic traffic ticketing system.

The Palo Verde Valley and Quartzsite Times hales the innovation as something akin to the advances made when Eli brought forth the miracle of the cotton gin. Quoting QZ's chief of police, Jeff Gilbert, the Times story said, "The electronic ticketing software and hardware will allow officers to issue citations more efficiently, effectively and safely, with fewer mistakes."

The business end of the equipment is a handheld box, somewhat like a PDA, which wirelessly fires off the data to a printer in the patrol car. With a few clicks, viola! The offender receives a completely legible citation, ready for signature. What a difference that makes--the male side of this editorial enterprise once worked for a driver license administration, and as we were fond of saying, "What a police officer can do with a pen is far worse than what he can do with a gun!" The data from offender tickets is not just printed out but also shot down the electronic pipeline to the court system for easier handling.

How does all this affect the average scofflaw who ignores "No Parking" signs? We gave a call to the locals, and they promised to put us in touch with the agency guru in charge of the new system. He must be busy in the field, as several days have passed and he still hasn't returned our call.

Photo courtesy APS Mobile Solutions

Inferme in Quartzsite? Where You Gonna Go?

2008-04-02T16:40:00.000-07:00

Quartzsite sits on the crossroads. Interstate 10 and Highway 95 more or less bisect the town, and force the age old decision: If I get really sick do I go west on I-10 to Blythe or north on 95 to Parker? Is it an eenee-meenee-minee-mo issue? Clutch no longer at your chest in indecision, one of these two is now in the top 100 list for the nation's best "small" hospitals.

If you've spent much time around Quartzsite you probably already know the vox populi: Avoid Blythe at all costs. So should it surprise you that Thomson Healthcare, a sort of "Guinness Book" of health care organizations says Parker's La Paz Regional Hospital ranks highly on the national scale of good places to be sick.

The criteria used for selecting hospitals for the list was four-fold: Clinical process and outcomes; patient safety; operational efficiency; and financial stability. Apparently the quality of food isn't measured.

Photo: Ma1974 on flickr.com

More Eagles on the Sonora?

2008-03-22T11:36:00.000-07:00

In an off-again, on-again move, the US Fish and Wildlife Service has once again relisted the Bald Eagle as an endangered species on Arizona's Sonora Desert.

Back in 1978, the bird species was listed as endangered throughout 43 states, including Arizona. With protection and management, in 2007 agency determined the protection order could be lifted. But a group filed a petition with the Fish and Wildlife folks that indicated their concern that the population on Arizona's Sonora Desert was a distinct and isolated population of birds, hence in need of special protection.

After reviewing the petition, the government agency said it couldn't agree with the findings, and overruled the request. What followed was a court battle, and to make the bird's story short, earlier this month the U.S. District Court for Arizona ordered that wildlife agency review the matter, and for now, central Arizona bald eagles are back on the list.

Does that mean you'll soon see these majestic raptors hanging out around Quartzsite? Since Arizona has only about 50 nesting pairs of these birds, don't imagine one will pop up in a Saguaro next to your fifth wheel--but then, you can always hope.

Photo: US Fish and Wildlife Service

Walmart Serving Quartzsite Down the Tubes (Editorial)

2008-03-18T14:25:00.001-07:00

Back in 2004 when Walmart stores announced its intention of building a super center in Blythe, California, it met with mixed reviews. Many regular and snowbird Quartzsite folks rejoiced--no long drives to Yuma or Lake Havasu City to buy groceries and other necessities. No longer would some suffer would they described as the "highway robbery" of some notable Blythe merchants.

At the same time, not everyone rejoiced. This scribe was in line at the local Albertson's store when the man ahead of me in line told the clerk he was looking forward to the time when old Joe's store would have some competition from Sam's folks. The immediate red-faced reaction of the clerk was plainly obvious--he would have tossed the customer out on his ear, had he the chance.

Blythe town fathers soon found themselves the target of two lawsuits from organizations whose members were kept anonymous. Both groups were determined to keep "Wally" from coming to town. Walmart agreed to handle the cost of litigation, and kept moving forward on its plans to build. One local government employee kept us posted on progress, and assurances were given that despite the opposition, Walmart was determined to be a part of the Blythe community. That is, until last month.

In February word was out that Walmart management had decided to pull the plug on the Blythe project. We were able do interview Walmart spokesman John Mendez to ask about the corporation's decision to wipe the Blythe project off the slate. How did management feel about the work of local government officials in helping Walmart get a foothold? What about the "opposition" that manifested itself so vigorously?

Regarding Blythe town officials, Mendez had nothing but praise. "Blythe has been a very good city to work with," he told us. "The staff has been very professional and helpful though the process." Lest any think that somehow the town was 'down on Walmart,' he added, "No way is our decision based on what the city has done."

So what was the problem? "The fact is, the economy is changing--the whole landscape is changing. It just doesn't make sense for us--at this time--to go forward with a new store there." Mendez said the company had not ruled out Blythe for a store in the future.

And as to opposition--both known and 'cloaked in the anonymity of a lawsuit--Mendez had this to say, "[Walmart's] focus is on finding where it makes sense that we can better serve our customers. What happens out of our sphere of influence we don't spend much time worrying about."

Net result? Walmart continues to work on a new project--this one in nearby Parker, Arizona. While it may be an additional 15 mile drive for Quartzsiters to get to Parker than to Blythe, you can be sure the money will flow there. If the "big city merchants" of Blythe figure they've 'cut a fat hog' by saying "Adios" to Walmart, then their calculators need new batteries. When the Parker Walmart opens its doors, its a sure bet that hundreds of folks from Quartzsite will make the trip to Parker. While Walmart may have "stolen" business from some merchants in Blythe, others who fill a niche that Walmart doesn't serve will likely see their business head north, too. Walmart's pullout is a loss for Blythe all the way around.

Photo: In part, Brave New Films on flickr.com

A High Center at Hi Jolly

2008-03-05T10:01:00.000-08:00

Here's one of those things that'll ruin your whole RV day. This motorhomer decided he needed to make a U-turn just north of Quartzsite on Highway 95. We can almost hear the conversation:

Him: "No problem, we'll just pull off on the shoulder here . . . "

Her: "Are you sure there's enough room to turn around though?"

Him: "Room? Room? I can turn this thing on a dime!"

Motorhome: "Crunch!"

Him: "Now, where was that tow insurance card?

Photo courtesy Shirley Shook

"Off Season" at Quartzsite May Be A Good Bet

2008-02-28T07:34:00.000-08:00

The vendor tents are coming down. The long lines at the post office are non existent. Yep, it must be the end of February in Quartzsite--the longest lines are the RVs rolling north. Is it time to go elsewhere?

Late "winter" in Quartzsite is actually an ideal time to RV. The weather is typically in the 70s (and occasionally the lower 80s) by day, and the nights don't even get close to the freeze point. And with the rain that fell earlier this season, you can anticipate a profusion of desert flowers. Already the verbena is carpeting portions of the desert floor with a riot of purple fit to make a king envious.

Need elbow room? Now's the time to find it. The huge "show crowds" have passed along, and the die-hard desert lovers are here, but there's lots of space on the desert. The sunsets are just as "purty" as any time of the year. Yeah, to us, this is the Quartzsite time of year.

Mexico Travel? Passport Card Cheaper Than Passport

2008-02-06T14:41:00.000-08:00

The US government announces they've finally made less expensive "Passport Cards" available to the American public. Check out the full story on our sister blog, RVing Mexico.

Snow? At Quartzsite?

2008-02-06T08:54:00.001-08:00

Ah, well, viewable from Quartzsite anyway.

Those who awoke Monday morning and gazed out toward the Kofa Mountains may have had a bit of a start. Yes, Sir, that is snow in them thar hills.

While temperatures on the desert camping areas like LaPosa South LTVA (where this photo was taken) were in the 40's, in the nearby "mountains" the overnight temps had evidently been a wee bit cooler. That rain you heard pattering on the overhead at the Quartzsite level must have been quieter in the higher ups.

Hope you looked quick, for while this is not an unheard of phenomena, it's one that never lasts too long. Just another Quirk of Quartzsite.

How Big Was the Big RV Show?

2008-02-01T12:46:00.000-08:00

According to published reports, this year's Quartzsite "Sports, Vacation, and RV Show" was better than many expected. Promoter Kenny King says somewhere between 100,000 and 125,000 folks tooled through the show's 69,000 square feet of tented exhibited space.

If you "never done" the show, you may wonder what the draw is. Well, it's one of those, "If you need it for your RV and it ain't here, it just don't exist." In addition to products and wares for your RV, quite a number of RV "head hunters" were on site, looking to hire RVers to fill temporary "workamper" positions from theme parks to national parks and beyond.

The big tent is still up, hosting other shows. Running on through the 3rd of February you can catch the Rock & Roll Classic Car Show Big Tent Event or the Hobby, Gem, & Craft Show Big Tent Event.

Wanta Get Away? Try Joshua

2008-01-30T14:39:00.001-08:00

Been shuffling along with the Quartzsite crowds? A long about this time of year, some RVers who like a bit of solitude have just had about enough of the big flocks.

Here's a hint: A little over an hour west of Quartzsite is a mysterious place that begs to be visited--and this time of year, it's pretty well crowd free. Make a day trip or take the rig with you, either way you'll be glad you visited Joshua Tree National Park. Visit our sister blog, RV Boondocking for more information.

By the way, if you see this guy on your visit, give our regards.

Parking: Cause and Effect

2008-01-30T12:19:00.000-08:00

Every year Quartzsite town revenue is increased, not just by the endearing quality of a high local sales tax rate, but by the 'Highway 95 Cause and Effect" principle. To sum it up, we'll quote from the official town website:

"This problem crops up every year and everyone who receives a parking ticket is extremely upset. You need to remember there is no parking in the right-of-ways along Main Street (B-10) and Central Blvd. (Hwy 95). The state closed these right-of-ways to parking to eliminate the congestion and chance of an injury along these roads. Because these areas are in the limits of the Town, the Police Department is responsible for enforcement. These "No Parking" areas and other "No Parking" areas in the Town are enforced so that people will comply with the law and it will make it safer for all."

"Extremely upset" is an official understatement. But hey, let's be fair. Our story photo says it all. If you can't read a "no parking" sign, then best you shouldn't park at all. The statement, "But everybody else was parking there," doesn't hold any weight with the local court magistrate, and your ticket stickets.

Support you local town government! Park on the shoulder of Highway 95!

Buzzed by a Copter? Now You Know Why

2008-01-28T11:11:00.000-08:00

If you were camped out on BLM land near Quartzsite on Saturday the 19th, you may have noticed a low flying helicopter circling the area. In fact, you may have been with your buddies around the campfire and had an opportunity to wave at the chopper. Maybe you wondered what was up.

Turns out a French photographer wanted to get some special shots of Quartzsite at the high season. Over a month ago he contacted an Arizona helicopter pilot to negotiate the flight--and finally, last Saturday, out of the blue, he made final contact, asking to go up.

Planning a helicopter flight over Quartzsite isn't the easiest thing to do, especially if you come in from some distance away. Maria Langer, the pilot who took the Phrench Photog up for his odyssey reflects on the matter in her blog, An Eclectic Mind. It makes for an interesting read.

How Do You Move the Wheels of Government? Embarrassment!

2008-01-23T13:31:00.000-08:00

Quartzsite town government is a lot like government elsewhere (well, depends on who you ask), it's a s-l-o-w process. Glacier watchers, this may be just the place to set a spell.

A local business owner operates on the corner of Plymouth and Main Street ("The B-10"), and not far from his place are the homes of the local magistrate court and the county district court. Invariably, his business days are broken up--not with sales--but with folks looking to pay a call on one of the courts.

Asking town fathers to put up a sign pointing the way to the courts just seemed to fall on ears in need of Belltones. Finally, inspiration hit: If you can't get them to do it nicely, must embarrass the daylights out of them. A cardboard sign soon appeared on the businessman's property:

One of your intrepid reporters stopped in the other week, asking to purchase a map to the courthouse. He was met with an incredulous look, a bit of a 'hem and a haw,' and finally informed that if he simply continued north on Plymouth Street three blocks he could save himself a buck. 'After all,' he was told, 'we were simply trying to make a point with the town.'

Making a point finally worked. The other day the advert for courthouse maps came down, just after local government put up a new sign on the B-10, pointing lost souls in the proper direction.

RVer Alert: Border Crossings Tougher By Month's End

2008-01-23T10:41:00.000-08:00

Despite Congressional action last month, it appears tightened restrictions on US land border crossings will go into effect by month's end. Don't get caught without the proper documentation, see the full story on our sister blog, RVing Canada.

Police Blunder Frightens Snowbirds

2008-01-23T09:29:00.000-08:00

A large explosion north of Quartzsite last Friday reportedly sent some war veterans scrambling for cover, visions of "Incoming!" dancing in their heads. But according to the Palo Verde Times the explosion was not a Kamikaze throwback, but rather an apparent blunder on the part of local law enforcement.

Your local reporters joined the ranks of many on Friday by scrambling out his RV to determine just who'd blown up a propane tank. The noise of the explosion was indeed a major surprise. But one can only imagine the surprise of the responsible party. A local sheriff's deputy had found a bit of dynamite in the desert north of town. Rather than call in demolitions experts, in a Barney Fife move, the deputy decided it would be somehow safer to detonate himself. A little bit of TNT makes a big noise, Deputy.