Rambling RV Rat

We visit the Phoenix area at least once during our Quartzsite stay each year. We kept our tradition in 2025 by attending our third DRV Mobile Suites Owners group luncheon. We saw some fellow owners we met in prior years, we were introduced to some new folks, and we were able to put a face to the name of one with whom we have been Facebook friends but never met in person. Good food, good service, and fun times.

Those who read this blog somewhat regularly (and we know my Aunt Laurie ain't one of them!) may remember we are admirers of the architectural works of Frank Lloyd Wright, having toured 7 of his structures throughout the Country. So, we were excited to add Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona, as our 8th F. L. Wright design.

Wright’s main home was in Wisconsin and was known as “Taliesin.” After coming to Scottsdale in 1927 to consult on a project, he decided to become a “snowbird”. In 1937, he acquired these lands in Scottsdale and subsequently built his winter home and studio, which he named “Taliesin West.” He, along with his wife and his apprentices, wintered here each year until his death in 1959 at age 91. “Taliesin” is a Welsh word that means “brow”, and Wright integrated the “brow” concept into his design. He built Taliesin West on the brow of the land so that the desert landscape framed the building like our eyebrows frame our faces. Wright’s trademark cantilever roofing and compress/release architectural elements are very evident in this design. His usage of local, natural building materials facilitated his philosophy of "organic architecture". All the buildings are positioned at a 15-degree angle. This was to maximize morning light and enable passive heating.

But Taliesin West took some time to evolve into what we see today. Originally, Wright and his wife stayed at a nearby inn, and the apprentices camped out in tents on the property. There was no running water, no phone service, no heat. Most of the structures were temporary and rudimentary. Wright had a “hands on” approach with his apprentices. He believed that knowledge of construction was as important as design. Together they built this masterpiece, rising like a phoenix from barren desert lands.

Today Taliesin West serves as the headquarters of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and still offers educational programs.

With the majestic McDowell Mountains in the background, Taliesin West is truly magnificent and my personal favorite thus far of the 8 F. L. Wright structures we have seen. It is most deserving of its designations as a National Historic Landmark and UNESCO World Heritage Site. And it receives the highest honor and achievement of them all: A coveted Rambling RV Rat 5-cheese award!

These stones at Taliesin West contain petroglyphs attributed to the Hohokam tribe that once inhabited these lands.

The blueprint on the table is the original schematic of the first floor of the Guggenheim Museum.

Citrus orchards were planted on the grounds.

The majestic McDowell Mountains in the background.

Old photos of Wright and his apprentices designing and building Taliesin West.

A pond outside the kiva room.

The large tree placed outside of the kiva room contrasts with the room's low entryway.

Wright incorporated cantilever roofing into the design.

Wright's designs usually included some Japanese elements.

The entry of the garden sitting room is an example of the compress and release architectural style.

Originally, the garden sitting room was an open-air design. The windows were added years later.

Another view of the garden sitting room.

The courtyard view from the garden sitting room.

The sunset terrace.

The entertainment room, where movies were viewed and lively discussions took place. Wright believed strongly in the importance of democratic freedoms, including freedom of speech.

Another view of the entertainment room.

Entryway into the design studio, often referred to as the "desert laboratory".

Educational programs still take place at the studio.

Another view of the studio.

Taliesin West earns one of my coveted Rambling RV Rat 5-cheese awards!

While boondocking for an extended period in Quartzsite, Arizona, it is our tradition to visit Yuma, Parker, and Bouse, as well as some areas of California, for fun activities and events, always ensuring we maximize our time and mileage to include errands we need to make. This season was no exception.

Yuma provided several days this season of live music, food, vendors, and dancing. First, we took part in its “Howling at the Moon” events in January and February. This is where a fun-loving group congregates on Telegraph Road for 2 evenings each month (October-April), starting at 4 p.m., to celebrate the full moon. The party finale is a resounding chorus of wolf howls as the moon rises above the mountains.

Wolfie and yours truly, Rambling RV Rat, have become well acquainted through the years.

My "Howling" peeps.

Lots of canines join their humans for "Howling".

The moon was a little shy on this particular "Howling" evening.

We were also thrilled to see the Kelly Hughes Band performance in late February at the Naked Date Farm in Yuma. Kelly is a talented musician and singer. He is also always good for a laugh and very successful in engaging his audience. (Yuma has other fun places to visit like the Territorial Prison, Old Town Yuma, Castle Dome, Colorado River State Historic Park, Mittry Lake, and Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, all of which we have done as day trips over the course of our 9 prior years in Quartzsite.)

Kelly Hughes Band always attracts a large crowd.

Deb/Dennis joined us for their first Kelly Hughes Band performance. Like us, they enjoyed it so much, they can't wait for another one.

Kelly Hughes and his bandmate leading the audience (Mom's in there, too) in a line dance.

Some gorgeous views along...

...Dome Valley Road in Yuma.

Accompanied by glorious weather and friend Melana on a Saturday in January, we took our Jeep to the Desert Bar/Nellie E. Saloon in Parker. Hidden within the Buckskin Mountains on an old mining claim, the Bar is completely off-grid, operating solely by solar energy and gravity-fed well water. We noticed that the 5-mile narrow and rocky Cienega Springs Road that climbs up to the Bar/Saloon was in better condition for access by HIGH CLEARANCE vehicles than the last time we visited with friends several years ago. And it seemed to us that new areas have been added to the “floor plan”. For a remote eatery with limited cooking options, we were surprised the food was so tasty. And the live music provides great entertainment. Open only on weekends from October through March, opportunities to visit are limited. And bring your good old greenbacks, because cash is the only payment option. But it is worth a visit to transport you back to the days of the Wild West.

That same day, we stopped at nearby Poston, the site of an internment camp used during World War II. Sadly, under the orders of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, thousands of American citizens and legals residents of Japanese heritage were uprooted from their homes and forced to move here until the War was over. Poston was the largest of the 10 internment camps operated by the U.S. government. Even more disturbing is the fact that Poston was built on lands within the Colorado River Indian Tribal (CRIT) Reservation, despite the adamant objections of the CRIT Council, who wanted no part of inflicting injustice on the Japanese like the U.S. Government had done to the American Indians.

Lots of cotton fields near Poston.

Monument on the site of the Japanese internment Camp in Poston.

In mid-January friends Herb and Ginger (a.k.a. the2spices) were kind enough to take us on our inaugural off-roading tour. We met up in Yuma and proceeded across to California via the Ocean-to-Ocean and American Canal Bridges to the Valley of Names. Started by World War II military men stationed nearby, the Valley of Names is miles and miles of desert rock art. Being a rock artist myself, I was compelled to leave one of my own self-portraits in the Valley. We then visited a nearby slot canyon, which was very cool to walk through. As we returned to our Jeeps, the wind really kicked up, causing the desert sand to blow around and hit my face. I felt like I was getting a micro-derm abrasion treatment! (It also required Dad to use caution when peeing into the wind).

American Canal.

Valley of Names.

Me directing my assistants (a.k.a. Mom and Dad) during the creation of my rock art.

My completed masterpiece--a self portrait, of course!

Slot canyon.

We topped off our day with a late lunch at A&W, a burger joint in Yuma that Herb indicated was known for delicious burgers grilled to perfection to your own liking. Just our luck, a new cook was on duty. So, the medium rare burgers the whole gang ordered came back well-done, resembling the color and texture of shoe leather. Very disappointing. But having such good company and a fun day off-roading made it more tolerable.

In late January, we drove to the University of California campus in Holtsville, California, to participate in a Farm Smart U-Pick produce program. We picked our own broccoli, cauliflower, and romaine lettuce from the fields, grabbing enough to share with our desert friends.

Who will harvest the crops? Look at all of us who have answered the call!

That same day we popped over to the Imperial Sand Dunes in Niland for a short time, followed by an extensive visit to the Geographical Center of the World/The Museum of History in Granite within Felicity, California. What an engaging, unique place. We spent 2+ hours (and could have stayed longer if Dad hadn’t gotten hungry) exploring and learning, making the $10/adult admission fee a bargain. Inscribed on the blocks of granite were all sorts of educational facts, historical recounts, and neat trivia: from the origins of Islam to the discovery of aviation, from linguistics to zoology, from the seas to the galaxies. There are many blank granite slabs remaining for inscription. Maybe I will pay to inscribe my biography: how I was rescued from a dark corner of a toy store to become the one and only Rambling RV Rat. Or perhaps I will pay some cheddar for a plaque in the Maze of Honor on the premises. Regardless, I highly recommend a visit to this museum/art exhibit.

We are all just a speck of sand...

...within the enormity of the universe.

My parents standing in the Geographical Center of the World.

Interior of the Chapel.

Rear view of the complex taken from the steps of the Chapel.

The information imparted on these slabs of granite is fascinating and reminds me of the contents found in the publication "Uncle John's Bathroom Reader". (Mom would receive the latest edition as a Christmas gift each year from Aunt Laurie.)

If my brethren, the edible doramouse, is commemorated on a granite slab, surely Rambling RV Rat deserves to be exalted, too.

The saguaro didn’t see its shadow on February 2. So, Mother Nature flicked her switch to warmer weather (for a brief period) during the Arizona Drag Boat Races held along the Colorado River at Pirate’s Den Resort in Parker. Like car dragsters, these boats race at high speeds and run on different types of fuel. We enjoyed watching the races, both as we sat alongside the River and while dining at Pirate’s Den.

While most were watching the NFL Super Bowl on February 8, we were 1 of 25 machines (only 3 of which were Jeeps) participating in a guided off-road tour of Camp Bouse sponsored by the Bouse Chamber of Commerce. Camp Bouse was a U.S. army test/training encampment located in the desert lands of Mohave County, Arizona. Occupied from August 1943 to April 1944, it was the testing site selected by General Patton for the top-secret Canal Defense Light (CDL) to be used on U.S. tanks in Africa. The project was so top secret, a hospital was built on-site to treat any soldiers who incurred sickness/injury, just so no one would leave the premises and leak out any information. The CDL was to produce a light so intense (13 million candlepower), it would blind/confuse the enemy—or at least that was the intent. But, the CDL did not live up to expectations and the plan to use it in battle in Africa was abandoned. The Chamber of Commerce asked for a $10/person donation for the tour. In return, we were provided with a delicious, hearty breakfast, chances to receive door prizes, and an informative, interesting, and sometimes humorous narrative by our guide. He had wonderful stories to impart, many received firsthand from those stationed at Camp Bouse.

Sunrise at the Bouse Community Park, where our breakfast was served and the tour began.

Our guide presenting the history of Camp Bouse at the site of the Hospital (and a geocache!)

The dark mound front and center of the mountains was the Black Knoll Target Range.

Site of the Camp Bouse Chapel.

Although General Patton was instrumental in selecting these desert lands as the training site, he never stepped foot in Camp Bouse.

The old assay office acts as the Bouse Museum, which we re-visited after the tour...

...to see the replica of the CDL.

A tribute to 8-ball the Burro, a mascot at Camp Bouse. 8-Ball met his demise when 1 of the nurses stationed at the Hospital reported to the commanding officer (who was also her supposed lover) that 8-Ball was stealing the nurses' undergarments from the clothes line. The commanding officer ordered 8-Ball be killed with no respectful burial for a comrade. The soldiers didn't follow their orders fully. They killed 8-Ball, but gave him an honorable burial.

Some video highlighting off-roading to Camp Bouse and Valley of Names.

On a glorious Sunday morning in late February, we rode Dad’s Maximus the Trike and Mom’s Yellow Jacket motorcycle across the border of California and rode along the Colorado River in Earp. Our annual mission: to do some hiking in search of wild burros. Well, we hit the jackpot! Our 2025 Burropalooza consisted of 15 sightings! We came back over to Arizona via Parker Dam and celebrated our successful mission with a tasty meal at Pirate’s Den.