We left Quartzsite on a gorgeous Spring day, dumped our waste tanks, put in fresh water, and headed onto I-10. I marveled at the wildflower blooms that adorned both sides of the highway lanes. Traffic was heavy, but thankfully, we didn’t need to take I-10 through Phoenix. Outside of Buckeye, we turned on to AZ-85, passing through Gila Bend. Once a stop on the Butterfield Stagecoach route, Gila Bend is home to the Space Age Lodge and Restaurant, a Roadside America attraction. We continued through Ajo, an old copper mining town. The now defunct New Cornelia Open Pit Copper Mine can be seen from the highway, and boy it is HUGE!
A Spanish-styled church in Ajo
The open pit mine from afar...
...and a close-up. A wide array of colors in that earth!
As we approached the entrance to Organ Pipe Cactus National
Monument, I spotted the crested saguaro that friend Ruth told us about. Some pretty scenery around here.
A birdie sits on the top of the saguaro in background.
The crested saguaro friend Ruth told us about.
Some funny-shaped saguaro--they've got lots of arms.
We proceeded to Twin Peaks Campground, which has no hookups. There is, however, a
dump station, and water spickets are located throughout the campground.Though fairly large (200+ sites), it is well
designed.Sites are designated for
specifically-sized rigs, tents, and even generator usage.They
are all beautifully and naturally landscaped, providing privacy and desert
ambiance.We were fortunate to land 1 of
only 4 sites to fit extra big set-ups (45+ feet).All campground roads are one-way, making
entry and exit into the sites a piece of cake.
After setting up and partaking of lunch, we hiked the Palo
Verde Trail over to the Visitor Center.Much to Mom’s dismay, the Park offers no film, but they do have a Junior
Ranger Program for me!We perused the
Center and walked along the nature trail.
One of the hundreds of Organ Pipe Cacti for which the Monument is named.
You're looking at a newly-deputized Jr. Ranger of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
Returning home to the campground just as sun was setting.
We attended 2 interesting interpretive programs presented
by park volunteers.
The first program was about the restoration of Quitobaquito
Springs.Used as a water source along a
prehistoric trade route, it represents the second largest year-round oasis in
the Sonoran Desert.During its first
10,000+ years, it was all marshland, used by many indigenous tribes.In the 1860s, local merchant Andrew Dorsey
created a clay-based pond and dam for watering the fig and pomegranate trees he
planted.Since then, there were further
changes and much degradation, threatening the lives of 3 endangered species who
call the Springs home.Therefore, a
coalition of stakeholders—land managers, policy makers, scientists, and
representatives from the Tohono O’odham Nation—came up with a plan.To benefit the endangered species, they
decided to bring the Springs back to the 1860s pond.They were successful in their endeavor and
completed the project in 2022, though
for the life of me, I can’t believe they used a giant PLASTIC LINER to replace
the pond’s clay base!It’s now like a
freaking swimming pool!But, alas, what
do I know—I am just a cotton-brained stuffed rat.
Now, the second interpretive program was of major interest
to me.You see, it was dedicated to my
distant cousins:pack rats!
I learned that they live in middens,
chambered fortresses built in cacti, under rocks, etc.They reside under cover because they are
terrified of the open sky and what predator may be lurking! (This fear is why you
should always leave the hood of your vehicles open overnight in areas where
pack rats are prevalent.Failure to do
so may result in these rodentia feeling safe enough under the darkness of your hood to enjoy a smorgasbord on your vehicle
wires!).
Replica of a pack rat's midden.
The female pack rat is the
midden Matriarch.She lives alone,
passing her “real estate” down to her daughter.The Matriarch is an avid collector. She builds and decorates her digs
with things found in her travels (twigs, shells, feathers, rocks,
garbage, leaves, scraps of cloth, etc. She has rather eclectic taste in decor).She adheres her treasures to her walls with her unique version of 3M Command Strips:her urine! Scorpions and brown recluse spiders will often “rent” space
in the pack rat midden.Pack rats do
not drink water, but rather hydrate through eating succulents.What a fascinating program!And I realize more each day how this world is
entwined and woven together so intricately.It is easy to understand why Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is
names by the United Nationals Educational, Scientific, and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) as a biosphere reserve.
During our visit to the Monument, we also hiked the Victoria Mine Trail, from
which you can view the border wall between the U.S.A. and Mexico.
Sign along the Victoria Mine Trail since we were within 5 miles of the international border.
Can you see the U.S.A./Mexico Border Wall in the background?
I wonder if this lizard is an illegal border crosser?
Sadly, if the border wall existed in 2002, perhaps Ranger Kris Eggle would still be alive. Instead, Ranger Eggle was slain in the line of duty by illegal border crossers smuggling drugs into the U.S.A. The National Park Service erected this monument at the Visitor Center in memory of Ranger Eggle.
This stone cabin and a few sealed mineshafts are all that remains of the Victoria Mine, where gold and silver were mined commencing in the 1890s.
The ocotillo are starting to bloom.
We also did several laps around the Campground Perimeter
Trail.
I spotted a pack rat midden hidden in the center of this cacti!
Such beauty, tranquility, and
biodiversity we have enjoyed!So glad we
were able to visit this National treasure!
We had spectacular weather, so we hopped on Maximus and Yellowjacket for a ride along the Colorado River. We traveled first on the CA side, taking in the scenery in towns like Blue Water and Earp.
We disembarked the bikes at the Crossroads Back Country Byway to do some hiking and to search out the wild burros who reside in the area. Our efforts were rewarded with several sightings, and the burros were quite accommodating for a photo shoot.
The birds were quite calculating, stealing food after the dinner guests left, but before the staff came to clean the table.
We traveled to Yuma one final time.
Little chapel on AZ 95 in Yuma that I always like to visit. Usually, there is farm equipment and/or hay bales surrounding it, so conditions for good photos are not optimal, but this time was a winner.
We went to visit the Territorial Prison, something we have wanted to do many times, but never got around to it. We learned from Smokey, the interpretive guide, that the penitentiary opened in 1876.
Locating the territorial prison in Yuma came about through the slyness of Territorial Legislator Jose Maria Redondo. You see, Phoenix was named as the location when the prison bill was originally proposed. Legislators discussed the bill as proposed and agreed to take the vote to pass the proposal after their lunch break. But while other legislators were dining, Redondo stayed behind, crossed out “Phoenix” and inserted “Yuma” as the location within the proposed legislation. Anxious to move on to other business, the legislators returned from lunch and voted to approve the bill for a territorial prison. None of them realized until AFTER the vote that the proposed location had been changed to Yuma.
The Prison was in operation until 1909, and it housed about 3,000 criminals (including 29 women) through its history. Inmates referred to the prison as “The Hell Hole” since they were packed 6 to a cell and only got to bathe once/week. But the local citizens residing in this dusty, desert town referred to it as “The Country Club on the Colorado” because the Prison had more modern amenities than anywhere else in the area: electricity, running water, and even a library containing the most books within the entire Territory! What an interesting tour! So glad we finally visited the Yuma Territorial Prison.
Due to encroachment by the railroad, the prison grounds today are a fraction of what they were.
Dad looks like he would fit right in with this crowd!
The Yuma Territorial Prison Museum grounds overlook the Colorado River State Historic Park. Interestingly, this Park contains a section of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. We would have liked to hike a bit of this trail since we traversed different sections of it during our visits to Tubac in prior years. Unfortunately, our schedule did not afford us this luxury.
Instead, we were off to enjoy another Howling at the Moon. Also known as “Senior Kegger”, Howling is a fun-filled day of food, music, and dancing that culminates with the rising of the moon. The Cassandra Long Band played pure country her first set, lending us to do several line dances. She then segued into 80s (my Mom’s preferred genre), with new wave hits like “Love Shack” by B-52s and “Rock This Town” by Stray Cats. We had a blast going back to the past. After break, she dived into a disco medley, which we didn’t enjoy as much (after all, Mom was never a disco queen and Dad never had any fever on Saturday night.) The moon played hide and seek, and all the howling in the world was not bringing it out from behind the cloud cover. It was not until ½ hour later as we were driving home that the moon peeked out for a few minutes.
2023 was the first time in 8 years that we didn’t get together with friends Bob/Marie, with whom we work-camped in 2015 at Crazy Horse Memorial in SD. Dad’s heart surgery in 2023 precluded us from traveling to AZ, and sadly, Bob passed away in May from a very short battle with aggressive pancreatic cancer. So, it was important for us to resume our tradition with Marie. Over lunch, we chatted about old times, recent happenings in our lives, and Marie’s future plans. As always, it was a wonderful visit, and we all felt Bob was with us in spirit.
After attending 2 hours/day of line dance lessons twice/week and evening dances 2-3 times weekly at various venues the past 8 weeks, our dogs were barking!
Class is always so much more fun when Lisa, our Dancing Unicorn, joins us!
We are so fortunate that our instructor joins us all for fun at the evening dances.
Members of the Skyhawk Band who played each Friday at the Senior Center
Smokin Joe, L.D. (not pictured), and Millie are the musical talent at JR's RV Park dances.
But it was all in preparation for March Madness, Quartzsite’s full-day line dance extravaganza hosted by our instructor, Vernine. What a blast to see 100+ line dancers converge in Quartzsite for an unparalleled day of fun for our feet!
Our Quartzsite Line Dancing Group grows larger each year! Notice I am front and center!
Check out my video of the Dance Madness:
I hosted another Rambling RV Rat Desert Party for all our dance buddies. Mom brought out her full blown Italian, putting out a nice spread: beef nacho skillet, sausage/peppers/onions, Mediterranean pasta salad, sesame chicken/rice, and a well-received couscous salad, plus special entrees for guests like Dad who subscribe to plant-based diets. She topped it off with 4 home-baked desserts. Everyone had an awesome time, enjoyed the eats, and Mom has maintained her record as a mediocre cook: she still has not poisoned anyone!
Me (can you find me?) with my peeps!
We enjoyed sharing good food and fellowship with Pastor Randy and several congregants of the Cowboy Desert Church, where we have been attending services during our time in Quartzsite.
The Quartzsite Improvement Association held a memorial for Paul Winer, prominent Quartzsite resident. Known to most as the “Naked Bookseller”, Paul was also a gifted musician who played boogie-woogie on the piano keys like few others (particularly since he did it naked!). Since we were unable to attend the memorial, we found participating in the clean-up at Celia’s Rainbow Gardens a fitting alternative to remembering Paul. You see, Celia was Paul’s daughter. She was born prematurely, weighing only 1.25 lbs. But miraculously, she survived and thrived. Sadly, she died in her 8th year from a viral infection that attacked her heart. The gardens were established by Paul, wife Joanne, and the town of Quartzsite in loving memory of Celia.
Me, Dad, and the Naked Bookseller, circa 2016. Mom knitted me a "hot dog bun" to match the one Paul wore!
Dad busy cleaning up while Mom's goofing off taking photos (which is ironic, since Mom handled all the landscaping/gardening at our home)
One of the memorials within Celia's Rainbow Gardens.
We visited the General Patton Memorial Museum in Chiriaco Summit, CA in 2016 (which I highly recommend), but just recently got around to visiting the Museum and Array Office in Bouse. Though small in size, this museum is fascinating, and it even has an informative film! Spanning 18,000 square miles within the Mohave Desert was the Desert Training Center used by General Patton to train troops for battle in the North African sector of World War II. Camp Bouse was 1 of 12 camps established within the Desert Training Center. Though enduring stark living conditions and long hours of training, the troops at each camp would do their best to make their camp like “home”. Thus, they would adorn the camps with rock art (much of which you can still see today in various areas.)
While at the Museum, we logged a geocache (the only one this season since we sold Rat Patrol II, our Polaris RZR side by side and our swivel wheel), and then we visited the Farmer’s market. Afterwards, we headed to Parker to complete errands, partake of another great lunch at the Pirates’ Den, and enjoy another Kelly Hughes Desert Pop Up Party out on Shea Road.
We attended the 5th Annual Buck Connors Western Days at the Quartzsite Municipal Park on Friday and Saturday, March 15-16. George W. Connor or "Buck" as he became known, was born in 1880 and was one of Quartzsite's colorful pioneers. He was a jack of all trades: from military service to acting career, from airstrip builder to ordained minister. The weather gods were not kind on Friday, causing most of the Festival's musical entertainment to get canceled. Saturday offered much better skies, and a good time was had by all of us there.
Soon it was time to depart Quartzsite to resume our travels. Goodbye to you: our pickleball playmates, our dance instructor, the band members who entertain us each week at each venue, the friends who frequent the evening dances with us, Melania (thanks for saving a spot for us), and all our Tyson Wash neighbors, especially my buddy, the pokey little puppy Blue. God willing, we will see y’all next year!
Blue, our desert neighbor Dave's pokey little puppy. Dave says Blue suffers from ADHD. When Dave isn't looking, Blue wanders over to all our campsites in search of new entertainment.
Blue was bummed out when he realized we were leaving!
I bid adieu to you, too. Enjoy these last photos of my beautiful Quartzsite desert!
