We drove from Bakersfield, California for eight hours with three rest stops to arrive at Quartzsite, Arizona. We plan to stay at Quartzsite for two days to learn a little more about the area.

As we were approaching Quartzsite, Lisa looked online for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land where we can "Boondock." Boondocking means that you simply pull off the paved road and drive out into the desert to find a campsite and rely on your tanks for water and waste control. You also have to use your generator for power (to run air conditioners). For many (especially Don and Diana Denault), driving on a back road way out into the wilderness to camp with no sign of civilization within 20-30 miles is fun and exciting. With a 46-foot long trailer, it can be downright scary driving on dirt roads where the roads can get smaller and rougher and sometimes even washed out. You also need to be able to turn the rig around somewhere and drive it out; this could become a challenge. I have had a couple of situations where I have had to back up on a paved road; backing up for miles on a dirt road would not be fun.

So, in comes Quartzsite. Quartzsite is a town of about 4,000 year-round residents (it does get hot here) who provide service to travelers or support the annual influx of desert dwellers and RVers. From October until April 1st, Quartzsite expands in population to nearly a million inhabitants (larger than Tucson, Arizona) who come to spend the winter (snowbirds) or to join the annual January RV Festival. Each year there are over two million visitors who come to Quartzsite. There are huge flea markets, gem shows and opportunities to have your RV maintained by local businesses. There is also a January gathering of RVers who travel to Quartzsite to visit and socialize. It is an "event."

Since we arrived on May 3rd, we drove into a "ghost town." The desert around Quartzsite has been leveled in many places with access roads for thousands of RV campers to park, but there is no one here. It is extremely desolate and beautiful. We are parked in the Dome Rock camping area and there is only one other RV parked in the area besides ourselves, and I think it is broken down. If they could leave, they would not be here either. Today's temperatures will reach 100 degrees and there is no wind. If you do not like heat, you will not like it here. So we are, essentially, the only crazy RVers choosing to "boondock" in the area when it is hot. It does give us a chance to see what it is like in the southwest during the summer months. We now know why most RVers head north. It is pretty easy to get a camp space in and around Quartzsite this time of year. Luckily, our rig is working flawlessly and we are extremely comfortable in the RV during the mid-day (this is the time that I am working on this blog). In the morning and evening, we can sit outside on the deck since it is cool during these times. It is very beautiful and fun to boondock with no other campers around us at all. It is also somewhat disconcerting from a security point of view. We are out here by ourselves. We may be a little paranoid, since many reviews of the area have addressed the safety issues of camping in the area. They say it is very safe. So far, they have been right.

We went into town to fill up with diesel and explore. Diesel was .80 cents per gallon cheaper than in California. It paid us to wait until entering Arizona to refuel; we saved $80 on a full tank. We then drove through the town to check out the housing. Most have small homes and all desert landscaping (makes sense); not one piece of grass anywhere. We then went to the The Readers Oasis book store and found it to be closed for the season. It was kind of a special store since the original owner, Mr. Paul Winer, (who has since passed away) was a nudist and you might be entirely surprised by his lack of attire when helping you in the store. They also have occasional live music and Paul Winer was the pianist who plays the blues piano in the movie, Nomadland. He apparently only wore a "strategically placed sock" when in the book store. We also drove to The Yacht Club Motel and restaurant. During the busy season, it provides entertainment for RVers. It is also the place where Fern and Dave danced in the movie, Nomadland. We then drove to the "Hi Jolly Cemetery" to see where the person who handled the camels employed by the US Army in the mid-1800s is buried. There is a pyramid constructed there in his honor. The Army tried to employ camels on the trails from Texas to California, but gave up on the idea when the Civil War started. Another interesting fact is that the army Lieutenant who worked on this camel project was named Lieutenant Edward Fitzgerald Beale; Beale AFB was named after him.

We then drove back to the RV and went for a walk in the 90 degree heat. We did fine, but were glad to stop at about 2.5 miles. We then returned to the RV and turned on the AC units to cool things down.

Tomorrow, we will drive to Phoenix, Arizona where we have a reserved two-night stay at Luke AFB. They have a brand new RV park, so we will get to check it out. We plan to park the RV and take a drive to the Prescott area where we will stay in a hotel as we explore that area.