Boondocking in Quartzsite, DRV Mobile Suites Style

Wow!  Can’t believe March is here already!  It seems it was just yesterday that we celebrated New Year’s Eve with a party with the Rainbow’s End Community at the Park’s Clubhouse.  It was so nice to see folks of all ages, including youngsters, join together for an evening of fun and fellowship!  We watched as the ball dropped in Time Square to herald in 2020 on the East Coast.  Then we came home to welcome the new year in Central Time with Dad’s tradition of a shot of Petron Silver and Mom’s annual partaking of liquor with a shot of Jagermeister.  (Mom rarely drinks, stating liquor is all empty calories.  She is emphatic that EATING something tasty is better than wasting caloric intake on alcohol.  Food is Mom's kryptonite).

January was not just the start of a new year, but the beginning of our travel itinerary.  Early on January 2, we had Big Boomer (our medium duty truck) and our motorcycles inspected and re-registered, loaded Rat Patrol II (our side by side buggy) onto our Swivel Wheel, and hitched our Suite Retreat to begin our westward trek.

This was really our maiden voyage with Suite Retreat since bringing her home upon purchase from Bennett’s Camping Center in Granbury, TX in late September.  We spent our first travel night at the Escapees Lone Star Co-op in Hondo, TX.  This is a small but-nicely maintained park available only to Escapees members.  After visiting last year, we put our name on the waiting list for a future lot purchase ($30 for 3 years on the list plus $500 refundable deposit).   We arrived after dark, something we try to avoid as much as possible.  But an accident on Route 59 near Cleveland and the typical heavy volume near Houston, compounded by very heavy rains, resulted in delays.  Fortunately, we know the lay of the land at Hondo and got settled into a boondocking spot easily and economically at $5/night.

We left Hondo and traversed US-90 through Armistad National Recreation Area, where we stopped for a picnic lunch.  I shared my cheese sandwich with my new side-kick Nezumi, a gift sent to me from Japan from Escapees friends Matt/Sherry (“Nezumi” means “rat” or “mouse” in Japanese).

While Mom ate her Black Forest Ham Subway, Poor Dad got a Subway Veggie Delight, which is basically a freaking salad on a roll.  (Some Subway eateries have veggie patties, but they are hard to be found in the carnivore land of Texas.  Ironically, they charge more for Dad’s salad-on-a-roll than for Mom’s meat-filled sandwich.)  Traveling through these parts of Southwest Texas offers little scenery.  There is nothing for miles but pipeline warning signs, electric poles, and an array of antennae.    We continued on TX 118, past McDonald Observatory, which provided some terrific views of God’s magnificent Davis Mountains.  And despite the heavy load and elevation gain, Big Boomer handled it like a champ.  We spent our second travel evening at Madera Canyon Roadside Park.  What a boondocking gem!  It is right off TX 118, but shielded with trees and foliage.  We were the only ones within the Park, which consisted of about 8 sites.  We went for an early evening hike on the nearby Madera Canyon Trail.  We saw evidence of foraging on the trail, but we spotted no wildlife.  At 29F degrees, it was a wee bit chilly outside overnight, but we were quite snug and comfy inside the rig.

Day 3 put us on TX 118 for just 30 miles before we picked up I-10, which was an easy commute to Deming, NM.  As former Escapees volunteers, we earned certificates for use at Escapees Corporate Parks, so a free night’s stay at Dreamcatcher RV Park was in order.  While Dad did some rig cleaning and operation checks, Mom and I walked the 4.2 miles R/T to Wal-Mart to pick up a few items.  We never realized how many RV parks are located within Deming.  Yet there are few tourist attractions (we saw a winery and a golf course).  We experienced temperatures of low to mid 20s, so we were not surprised to see snow on the distant mountaintops.

Day 4 brought us to Congress, AZ, where we used another certificate for a night’s stay at Escapees North Ranch.  We came here specifically to get our set-up weighed.  I don’t know details, but I suspect Big Boomer, Suite Retreat, and Rat Patrol II will be constantly calorie counting to ensure they don’t gain any weight in the future!  It is always wonderful to see Amazon friends and North Ranch lot owners Deb and Randy whenever we stop at Congress.

We arrived at our winter retreat—Quartzsite, AZ!  This is our sixth visit to Southwest AZ.  Quartzsite is a small, quirky, desert town that transforms from a population of under 2,000 year-round residents to more than half of million when the snowbirds arrive.  For its small size, Quartzsite is home to dozens of RV Parks with full hookups.  But we prefer not to have neighbors right on top of us in parking-lot fashion.   Instead, we enjoy a lifestyle "off the grid" in the midst of nature.  So we “boondock”, making our home for 8 weeks on the thousands of public lands operated by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).  Now I know there are boatloads of folks who abhor the thought of boondocking.  The term comes sometimes with a negative connotation.  But trust this stuffed rat, there are different levels of boondocking. While we may not be hooked up to water, sewer, or electric, we have purchased all the equipment necessary to lead our lives comfortably and hygienically.  For example, the solar system Dad installed on our 2020 DRV 40KSSB4 Suite Retreat, see Freedom from the Grid, consisting of 3200 watts of panels and 15.8 kw of lithium batteries at 24 volts, can run our full-size residential fridge/freezer and our standalone 5 cubic-foot chest freezer.  Mom, who cooks up a storm, can use the convection/microwave while I watch TV, DVDs, or play my Xbox.  And thanks to the Soft Starts Dad installed, we can even run one of the air conditioners.  All of this can be done simultaneously.  We also have twin Honda generators for those times when you get multiple solid days of rain and cloud cover (which we did not encounter this season).  We have an extra 150-gallon water bladder that folds into the size of a Tupperware container when not in use.   And once we remove the motorcycles from the garage of our truck, it converts into a double-decker Blue Boy Condominium.  So, although there are some boondockers who poop in a hole in the ground and may shower with less frequency, we are not among them!

Of course, all this equipment costs a lot of cheese money, for which we may never reap a return on our investment. (We barely reached the break even point on the costs associated with our original solar system, which Dad installed on our 2011 Montana and transferred to our 2015 Montana that we traded in for our DRV.  But our personal comfort levels are high.  (Mom, the polar bear, insisted the new set up be capable of running an air conditioner.  Our prior set-up could not handle this task and required use of the generators). For us, investing in boondocking equipment is not about return on investment or long-term savings on RV Park fees, it is about a lifestyle choice.  Again, different strokes for different folks.


Paying a fee ($40/2 weeks or $180 for up to 7 months) at the BLM Long-Term Visitor Areas (LTVAs) in Quartzsite gives access to fresh water, dump station, trash receptacles, and pit toilets if you are so inclined.


Normally, we go to the outer limits of LaPosa South LTVA, but Dad warned Mom last year he was not subjecting our new Suite Retreat to the rough roads/washes and possible scratches from the mesquite bushes to get to our usual spot.  So, this year we unloaded Rat Patrol II, our new Polaris RZR 570, to scout out possible sites within Tyson Wash LTVA.    We found a spot that offered a clear view of the mountains.  Though there were “neighbors” behind us, they were all respectable distances from where we were going to set up camp.  As we were chatting amongst ourselves, a man emerged from his Prevost bus and walked over to us with the greeting, “What, there are no more spots anywhere else?  If you park here, you will ruin my view of sunset!”  Well, that’s a fine howdy-do!  I may be just a stuffed rat, but I know it is not what we say, but the way we say it that causes conflict.  He certainly could have been more diplomatic.  Mom, curbing her Jersey attitude, said nicely that someone was in our usual spot, her way of letting him know none of these lands are reserved specifically for us--it is first come, first served.   We decided we didn’t want someone like that as a neighbor for the next 8 weeks, so we found an alternate place to call home.  Karma won out in the end—just days later, another RV parked themselves in that very same spot.  They probably told Mr. Prevost to go pound sand!

We all got busy setting up our site.  Dad removed the motorcycles and set up the Blue Boy Condominium, Mom set up the bird feeders, and I created my signature rock art!  You can find my self-portraits throughout these desert lands.  One day, I am going to chronicle all their locations.  Finding/tracking my rock art self portraits could be the next big geocaching craze!

While last year we encountered a very rainy, overcast, cold season, the weather this season has been exceptionally pleasant.  The average temperatures in January were mid 60s to 70s.  It got a bit chillier in February despite the fact that Mohave Maxine (a Desert Tortoise who is California’s weather predictor like Pennsylvania’s favorite groundhog, Punxutawney Phil) called for an early Spring.  We had only two big rainstorms during our 8-week visit.  The power of water in these arid lands is incredible, transforming the dry desert washes into flowing rivers.  

Last year’s rains brought an abundance of desert wildflowers very early in the season.  Now that March is here, the desert flora are blooming, but foliage is not as prolific as last year. 

Being a desert town, it gets quite windy in Quartzsite, and therefore VERY dusty.  It is one of the attributes of the area that people dislike immensely.  But me, I take the good with the bad.


Though we love being one with nature, we don’t just hang in the desert.  The town of Quartzsite offers a multitude of activities.  You can learn to speak Spanish, play pickle ball, take painting classes, or learn line dancing (like we do), at the Quartzsite Improvement Association for nominal fees.   There are concerts, dances, dinners, and karaoke at various venues.  Are you a shopper?  There are vendors throughout the town, from jewelry, to clothing, from rocks, to tools.

For us, Quartzsite is symbolic of reunions, and we make every effort to reunite with friends we have met during our years of traveling.  Throughout the season, we were invited to several happy hours/pot lucks by friends Steve/Dianne.  They were one of the very first folks we met out here in Quartzsite, having followed their travel blog Living the Dream. 




Through our common interest of ATVing, we became acquainted with Steve/Dianne's Canadian chums.  We also enjoyed catching up with more fellow RV Dreamers like Pam/Red, Susan/Guy, Harry/Vicki and the Fergs, to name just a few.  Each year, our circle of acquaintances/friends grows!




Always ready and willing to reciprocate in the hospitality department, we hosted a get together at our desert abode.  Mom, being of Italian descent, immersed herself into a cooking frenzy, providing all the eats and treats for 25 guests.    Anyone who is of Italian heritage understands entertaining a party of 25 really means cooking for 50.  It is a chronic, hereditary disease.  But now that Dad eats only plant-based, Mom is crazier than ever.  Now she ensures she offers two sets of entrees and dessert selections, one suitable for carnivores and another set for plant-based eaters.     The get together went well but ended too early.  As a host, Mom rarely sits down the first 2 hours, ensuring her guests’ needs are met.  But because most folks traveled to our site from other LTVAs/boondocking areas and it got chilly quickly once the sun went down, she barely got to enjoy their company.  Well at least she has retained her claim to fame:  She is not the best cook, but she has never poisoned anyone.

Though we traded in our Montana fifth wheel for our DRV Mobile Suites, we still visit with Curtis/Stephanie, Pierre/Lesa and my favorite canine Manny, some of the wonderful folks we have met over the years through the Montana Owners Club, who holds a regional rally in January on Plomosa Road, a BLM 14-day free area.

A visit to Quartzsite in January is never complete without participating in Escapees events.  So, attending the National Happy Hour resulted in our reconnecting with Sue/Jack, full-time newbies that we met at Rainbow’s End Park when we all volunteered at Octoberfest.  They have a very cool tiny house that they built themselves which runs completely off 12-volt.

See those moving hands in the foreground--Mom chatting with Sue and Jack at Escapees National Happy Hour.

We also had a blast hiking with a group of Escapees Boomers to “The Bathtub” off the BLM lands on Kuehn Road, finding several geocaches along the way.

January in Quartzsite is also synonymous with the Big Tent RV Show.  Good thing we like to walk/hike and tackled the 5 miles round trip by foot, because driving to the Show wasn’t even an option--traffic on 95 was backed up for miles!  Other than stopping at the Escapees booth to say hi to the gang, the show left much to be desired.  It is amazing that dealers put spanking new rigs on display with broken windows, molding hanging off walls, etc.  It certainly doesn’t send a good message to potential customers.  After going in several models, Mom was secretly relieved that she found no other manufacturer's layout/setup she preferred over our new DRV 40KSSB4.  I was particularly perturbed to have struggled to put on booties (this stuffed rat has no fingers!) to enter the Montana of the Flipping Nomad.  It was the ultimate party venue on wheels, complete with wet bar, bathtub, three funky fireplaces, and full wall projection screen.  I can see it being great for glamping for a weekend.  Cortni, the designer/owner, claims she full-times in the rig.  But other than a wet bar for booze, there were literally no cupboards inside for dishes, towels, cutlery, or even a place for me to stash a bag of cheese doodles!  But that is the beauty of our lifestyle—to each his/her own.  There is no one-size-fits-all.  There are trade-offs, and each person must decide what is important to have and have not.

My parents and Lesa/Pierre went out to dinner one night at Silly Al’s.  After enjoying a vegan pizza to the best of Mom’s ability (all veggies, no real cheese--Dad smuggles in his non-dairy, tapioca cheese), the foursome returned to Pierre/Lesa’s rig at the Montana Owners circle, where Manny, Nezumi and I were hanging out.  They walked thereafter to Escapees Boomerville for a video/music party, complete with desert dance floor under the star-studded skies. The four had a grand time dancing the night away, but alas all good things must come to an end.  So, they headed back to the nearby Montana Owners Club circle—or so they thought.  Apparently, Dad and Pierre got a bit disoriented.  They became totally engrossed in finding the path back to the rig using their flashlights as beacons and the stars as guides.  Meanwhile Mom/Lesa were chatting and lollygagging, falling well behind Dad, the fearless navigator who was still in their sight.  Realizing there was too much distance between them, especially since Mom/Lesa had no flashlight of their own, Mom yelled out to Dad to wait up.  Of course, Dad didn’t respond.  What else is new.  He was either ignoring her or he didn’t hear her, both excuses with good Vegas odds of being true.  But as Mom/Lesa got closer, they learned the real reason for Dad's non-response.  The guy Mom/Lesa were following with the flashlight WASN’T Dad at all, but a man who was heading to his car!   Of course, the ladies thought this was hysterical, giggling like two schoolgirls.  Manny, Nezumi, and I sure were glad we weren't part of the spectacle.

Me, Nezumi (on my shoulder), and Manny

Miracles do happen!  After 5 prior years of being in Level 1 Beginners Line Dancing Class (2 of which they also participated in Level 2), my parents finally graduated!  They miss their Level 1 classmates and friends from prior years (yes, they are not the only ones to take Level 1 Beginners multiple years, but they probably hold the record).  This year, they set their goals high (a little too high, me thinks), taking Levels 2 AND 3 classes!  Holy, moley, what a challenge Level 3 is for them!  Lots of turns, fast-paced, and so many more steps per dance to remember!  Not to mention, this is a much more serious group of dancers than my parents and their friends from the lower levels!  I knew my parents were in way over their heads when I saw all the other Level 3 students had special dance shoes!  But having Vernine, the most patient, wonderful instructor, eased some of their growing pains.  We have met so many wonderful folks through line dancing, and we get together with several of them like Deb and her husband Jerry, Catherine, Carol and Bob, at area dances to sharpen our skills (my parents are even trying to learn the two-step).  But the friendships we make through line dancing have extended well beyond Quartzsite, and we stay connected to many throughout the course of the year.  Our dancing lessons are over now that March is here.  But we had a blast celebrating another fun-filled year with a luncheon at Silly Al’s and our annual March Madness, wherein 100+ line dancers from throughout the region, including Southeast California, Salome, Brenda, and even as far away as Deming, New Mexico, converge for almost 6 hours of dancing our little hearts out!  I love attending and watching the various skill levels come together to share their common interest.

Our favorite Teach, Vernine and hubby Jim.

Quartzsite is also known for its vast ATV trails. Our prior side X side buggy (Rat Patrol I) left much to be desired when it came to riding the rougher trails.  It worked well for getting us to new areas for geocaching and hiking, but it couldn’t do what the big boys did.  However, it was the best we could do with the size/weight/height restrictions we had carrying it on Big Boomer's roof.  Having IT was better than having NOTHING.

Dad hoisting Rat Patrol I onto the roof of Big Boomer via a Spitzlift Mini Crane.

So when we purchased Suite Retreat, we bought a new Polaris RZR 570, which we transport via a Swivel Wheel on the back of our fifth wheel.  Because the Swivel Wheel has no independent articulation and is attached via a double receiver directly to the fifth wheel, it is not double-towing and therefore is not illegal/prohibited (other than in Canada).  


Wow, what fun we had this year!  With our ATVing buddies, we visited Diablo Pass, Teddy Bear Pass, Apache Cabin, Gold Nugget Mine, The Footprint, and the petroglyphs, just to name a few.  We even made it out to Dripping Springs (something we attempted last year on our own.  Read about that experience here Side X Side, Stride X Stride).

A view of some trails from our spot in Tyson Wash LTVA.

One of many abandoned mines we visited.

Luckily, the distant rain did not hinder our ride...

...and we were rewarded with a cool looking sky.

Petroglyphs on rock wall.

Erdman Mine, still active.

Lichen and petroglyphs. - Dripping Springs.

One of many old mining cabins.

Diablo Pass.

We would end our adventures many times with a visit to town for liquid refreshments at Beer Bellies.  I often was the sitter at this adult day care center, ensuring my posse of peeps stayed well behaved.

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Bear Bellies Official Bouncer.

We explored on our own, too, including night riding, which gives a completely different perspective of the terrain.  It just amazes me the sheer number of trails and desert lands out here.  It is amusing and sometimes sad what you find tucked away in the desert, from funky skeletons, to lingerie trees, to pet grave sites. Visiting various mines makes me think of the obstacles miners encountered, then AND now:  the sheer physicality, withstanding the winds and dust, the remote and solitary areas they traverse.  With our increased level of geocaching from prior years, we were intrigued by the unique vessels people use to house their treasures.

Yet another deserted mine.

A desert golf course near Rainbow Acres, a desert housing community.

A unique desert tree species:  It blooms lingerie!

One of the many graves within the desert pet cemetery.

Our time in Quartzsite did not come without trials and tribulations.   We all loaded into Big Boomer to go to dance one day.  Dad turned the key, but nada--Big Boomer’s batteries were dead as a doornail.  We weren’t going anywhere--or so Big Boomer thought.  But I hopped on the back of Mom’s Honda Rebel, and she and I motored together to dance class.  By the time we got home, Dad had removed the old batteries, used Rat Patrol II to bring them to the truck stop, purchased new batteries, and came home to install them himself.  Having more than one means of transportation has saved us on many occasions.

On Super Bowl Sunday, my family had a super time doing a solo ride to Cibola National Wildlife Refuge.  When you ATV, you are truly one with nature.  Miles and miles of wilderness abound.  Despite the thousands of ATVers in the area, not a soul did we encounter in the day-long round trip trek.  We took portions of the Peace Trail, which extends for 600+ miles throughout Arizona, from Yuma to Bullhead City.  Based upon the screaming and arguing going on among my family, I think it would be more appropriate to name it War Trail.  You see, the roads we traversed were SO rough, I nearly bounced right out of the buggy!  And it is nothing short of a miracle that Mom did not end up with two black eyes from all the jolting!  As I was topsy turvy, my mind wandered and I envisioned the early settlers who traversed rugged lands like these in wooden wagons, their success attributed to their determination, perseverance, and unconditional faith in a Supreme Being.  Many of the trails we took went through the Yuma Proving Grounds.  It is astounding just how much real estate these government lands encompass.  God only knows what REALLY goes on there (I personally think Jimmy Hoffa is buried there).  We saw piles of poop, but none of the perpetrators.  We noticed immediately just how dry a year it has been when we did the auto tour at the Refuge.  The leaves were all off the cottonwood trees.  There was considerably less water volume in the ponds and lake, not to mention far less bird species.  We saw one blue heron and a large presence of sandhill cranes lounging in the shade of distant trees.  By far, the most prevalent species was the Canada Goose (They are EVERYWHERE!  I truly believe none are left in Canada).  We spotted one burrowing owl through the binoculars.  We acted with stealth and sleekness to get a photo, crawling along in the buggy.  Shutting off the engine.  Pulling out our phone camera.  Ready, steady, aim—and the owl flew away!  We traveled along Levee Road to view Cibola Lake and Hart Mine Marsh on one side and the Colorado River on the other.  The Colorado is always a unique green-blue color.  A roadrunner lived up to his name and zipped right across the trail in front of us.  I look around and am amazed at man’s ingenuity.  Through the Reclamation Act, mankind was able to bring water to these arid, barren lands.  We enjoyed a late picnic lunch and were joined by a local lizard.  Shortly thereafter, we met one of the volunteers with whom we chatted about each of our experiences volunteering at a National Wildlife Refuge.  It was a LONG, but wonderful day, and we saw so many new areas.  In fact, we traversed a different route going home from the Refuge.  This alternate route proved useful in learning more about the trails in Ehrenburg and Tom Wells Road, where we would be visiting with Curtis/Stephanie the very next day.  Tom Wells Road is another BLM 14-day free area with no services or amenities.  What it does offer is solitude--very few rigs were in this area during our visit.

View of KOFA Mountain from Cibola Road.

Old watering hole.

Not many birds and water levels are low at the Refuge.

One species is ALWAYS present--Canada Goose.

Lunch buddy Lizard.

Bees quenching their thirst while resting on these fountain rocks.

Get out your telescope if you want to actually see the sandhill cranes in the background of this pic.

Hart Mine Marsh

Colorado River.

Tom Wells Road BLM.

Dad hit the links several times this year with Curtis, both at the Blythe Municipal Course and at Emerald Canyon, the latter being am especially bad golf day for Dad. During their golfing antics at Emerald Cove, Mom, Stephanie and I explored Crossroads.  Located across the Colorado River from Parker, the BLM manages a small campground there, consisting of under 30 sites, all with no hookups.  You can reserve sites on-line for a $10 fee.  Sites are $5/night, but senior citizens get them at half price. There is no water or dump station, just a trash bin and pit toilet.  The town of Crossroads hit its peak during the 1930s with 3,000 residents, most of whom were workers on the Parker Dam project.  No evidence of the town is left except for the outer walls of the general store that operated from 1933 to 1973.  Now the main residents of Crossroads are burros.  

Emerald Cove is a gorgeous course setting in the middle of the desert.

An ibis surveying the land.

Remains of the Crossroads General Store.

Trails near Crossroads Byway

View from Stephanie/Curtis's riverfront site at Crossroads.

Current residents of Crossroads.

In general, we did not encounter much wildlife this year.  We saw a group of burros and sheep in the distance during our ATVing.   We had only 3 coyotes sightings during our entire stay.   A lonely hummingbird visited our feeder quite irregularly, and no woodpeckers or mourning doves partook of our RV seed feeder.  A couple of jackrabbits, a ground squirrel, some very young lizards scurrying across the desert floor, and one tiny scorpion that I found with my blacklight sum up my sightings.  This Rambling RV Rat did not encounter any snakes this season, but for that I am grateful.

Though Mom and I tend to sleep in, Dad captured some lovely sunrises, and we all witnessed some magnificent sunsets.  In fact, we have never seen such spectacular sunsets as we have seen here in Arizona through 
the years.

   

We went to Holtsville, the Carrot Capital of the World, which required us to pass through a California Agricultural Checkpoint.  Big Boomer got frisked and inspected.  Now I know my head is just filled with stuffing, but there is something very wrong with California:   It is perfectly fine to smuggle aliens/undocumented immigrants into the State, but entering the State with a piece of fruit is a punishable crime.  What?  We entered the State, something Dad likes to do as infrequently as possible, to participate in the University of California FarmSmart Agricultural Tour.  We came home with a bounty of freshly-harvested veggies and a boatload of knowledge.  Like did you know there are over 200 varieties of carrots?  Imperial Valley Research Center consists of as much land as 255 football fields.  112 years of research have been conducted here.  Birds are becoming increasingly problematic in Imperial Valley, so new deterrent techniques are being used like predator bird calls and the sounds of gunshots.  I found the gunshots quite distracting, though the birds didn’t seem to mind.  I guess they figure it is good old Elmer Fudd!  Cattle is the #1 commodity of the region.  The Colorado River is the sole source of water, and farmers must calculate their water needs and order their water 24 hours in advance!  I didn’t get a picture of the burrowing owl at Cibola Wildlife Refuge, but I sure captured lots here in the fields.  In fact, 70% of all burrowing owl communities live right in the Imperial Valley!  It was an intriguing, interesting, informative, and entertaining experience, and this Rambling RV Rat highly recommends you take a tour yourself. For $25/person, you get snacks, door prizes, a wealth of knowledge, and all the veggies you wish to harvest!

A pair of burrowing owls.

After the tour, we met up with buddies Gloria/Rick.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the best thing about ever working Amazon is the wonderful folks you meet there!

We had a visit from friends from the Grand Canyon Conservancy, Kathy, Allen and my canine friend Mitch Miller!  The Millers (even Mitch, who LUVS vegetables) were instrumental is turning Dad onto a plant-based diet.  So Mom figured on who better to test out some new plant-based recipes?  Once again, Mom’s claim to fame of never poisoning anyone remains intact!

Homemade black bean burgers, Mediterranean Pasta Salad, Broccoli/Apple Salad

Mom turns everything into Italian Cuisine.  This mushroom/spinach recipe was to be in a pastry shell served with a plant-based gravy, a Vegan alternative to Beef Wellington.  Mom adapted the recipe accordingly to turn it into a Spinach/Mushroom Stromboli.

Homemade Pizzas to go into the convection oven!  The world would be perfect for this Rambling RV Rat if only I could get my hands on REAL cheese!  (This is a plant-based "fake" cheese).

Recently, we had a 2-hour video chat with Debra/Raymond, more friends from the Grand Canyon Conservancy.  It was so great to catch up with them “in person” rather than just through texts!

We reunited with friends from Crazy Horse Memorial at Roberts’ Pueblo El Mirage Resort.  It was so much fun seeing Marie, Bob, and Joe for an annual visit.  The conversation is always lively, stimulating, and full of laughs!  Thanks, Marie, for the hospitality!  Afterwards, we popped in to see Barbara, one of our Escapees buddies.  Barbara is such a talented woman—just look at this quilt she made for charity!

We find our friends in the RV Community come from a variety of groups.  While we first met Dale/Ruth through RV Dreams, we are now fellow DRV Owners Group (DOG) and Suite Owners International Travel Club (SOITC) members, too!  So we enjoyed a wonderful night of food, fun, and fellowship.

An example of Mom cooking two ways.  She made a chicken/spinach dish topped with sauce and mozzarella for our guests, and "converted" it for Dad with tempah and plant-based (A.K.A. fake) cheese.
 

Speaking of SOITC, we attended our first official function as DRV owners.  Mom, more of a loner by nature, was apprehensive of going to a luncheon 3 hours away in Casa Grande with 50 people we did not know—or so we thought.  Instead, we caught up with Don and his wife Marsha, who like us are former Montana owners and members of Escapees.  We once worked with Don at Amazon, and Don sold us our TST tire pressure monitoring system.  Another fine example of how it is a small world in the RVing community!  Additionally, we met some terrific new folks who were quite welcoming and who made us feel like old friends.

Always ones to multi-task, we visited Casa Grande Ruins National Monument after the luncheon.  We arrived just in time for a tour.  And what a tour it was!  VIP (Volunteer in Park) George Frey has to be one of the most entertaining yet informative program presenters EVER!  Though little is known definitively about “The Great House”, we know it dates back more than 6 centuries!  The ancestral Sonoran desert people who inhabited these lands were farmers.  Evidence suggests that they developed irrigation techniques that made their trade profitable for at least a thousand years!  But we don’t know why specifically they abandoned these lands.  It was a thought-provoking presentation, and it certainly helped me to earn my latest Junior Ranger badge!  We ran some errands after our visit to the Ruins, and enjoyed dinner at Golden Corral, which has plenty of steamed vegetable and plant-based options for Dad while satisfying Mom’s carnivore tastes.

Volunteer in Park (VIP) George Frey, my nominee for best interpretative program presenter EVER!

Casa Grande, The Big House.

We made a visit to Lake Havasu for our tabbycat’s annual exam at Novak Animal Center.  We have used their services for three years now, and we have always been very satisfied.  They are punctual, pleasant, and efficient.  The vet is knowledgeable and caring.  Needless to say, the positive experience outweighs the long drive from Quartzsite.  And once again, we multi-tasked, visiting the Bill Williams National Wildlife Refuge.  Though we have stopped at various view points in the past, this is the first time we actually went into the Visitor Center.  Though my visit was brief, I learned much in a short period of time.  For example, creosote bushes can live 2 years without getting one drop of rain!  The palo verde is actually a legume; its bean pod provides a nutritious feast to desert wildlife like Kangaroo Rats and Pocket Mice, some of my rodentia relatives who live underneath the desert floor.  The Refuge has a desert tortoise compound, but the tortoises were quite elusive.  At least the flowers were in full bloom here in Lake Havasu.

Friends Jim/Brenda popped in to see us as they migrate West to Washington, and Stephanie/Curtis visited so we can share our final farewell for the season.

And just like that, our time here in Quartzsite has come to an end.  It was a terrific season, but it sure went by much too quickly!  We hit the road tomorrow for new adventures!  Talk to you again real soon!

We would like to thank the following organizations for all the great service and support they offer to the RVing community:

Escapees RV Club

RVillage

RV Dreams