Crazy Quartzite, Part 1

Quartzite, AZ
La Posa South, LTVA

So what is Quartzite all about?  We've heard stories about "Q", as it's called, for years.  It's a tiny town in the desert in Arizona just over the boarder of CA off I-10.  It's a very popular place to winter for RVers as the temperatures are about as warm as you can find besides South Texas or the Keys in Florida.  January is especially popular as there is one of the largest RV Shows held at this time.  We've heard you can find great deals on all things RV.  Our main reason to stay here for most of January was to check out the area for future stays and the RV Show, but mainly to meet back up with our RV friends we've met over the past 2 years.  Many of us will come and go during January with some staying until March.

 

Not everyone stays in RVs!  This is a crazy place, kind of like Burning Man for RVers.  Parties, clubs and all kinds of get-togethers.  There are everything from vans to tents to the fanciest RVs out here. In the Long Term Visitor Area, you can boondock but with access to dump, water and trash.  A Long Term Visitor Area Permit is required from September 15th through April 15th each season. The cost is $180.00 and is valid for up to 7 months. A Short Term Permit for a 14-day stay is $40.00.

 

 

You just find a spot and park.  There aren't many roads, and at first it can be a little confusing getting around as well as finding your rig once you've parked!  People just spread out everywhere or park in large group circles.

 

All settled in our spot for the month.

Our friends Lee and Trace have a nice solar set up.  Having solar as well as a way to store extra water is a big plus out here unless you want to move your rig to and from the dump every few days.  Many have nice solar set ups of some kind that will keep them powered up.  We just have one portable panel for now that keeps our laptops and electronics charged.  Most of us all have generators too to replenish our batteries as needed.  We have a 50 gallon collapsible drum to refill our water tank and a portable blue boy to empty our black tank. 

Greg and Cory's rig.  They own a mobile RV solar company, called RV Solar Solutions.

 

About that huge RV Show?  Well, it was big, but not what I expected.  I had heard you could find all kinds of things for your RV here:  kitchen gadgets, chairs, tools, awnings, etc.  There were some, but it mostly resembled a flea market with repetitive items.  Sure, there were some cool things and some good deals, but nowhere near what I expected.  I've also heard it's gone a bit downhill over the past couple of years.

Parking outside the big tent.

 

Crowds of people and little dogs everywhere.  They were in strollers and backpacks.

 

How about a nice Jacuzzi for your RV?

 

We'd had enough of the show and crowds and were looking for some other entertainment.  We went out with friends Mario and Ellen who are parttimers (they still live in Florida) and some friends of theirs and decided to go shooting.  We had quite the little arsenal between us all. 

 

It was very windy and I couldn't resist this picture of Ellen all covered up!  She

was quite the shot too!

Mario & Steve

 

Back at camp, we usually all shared dinner or a campfire or cocktails.  We all come from different parts of the US and Canada.  Most of us are between 45 and 70, some retired, some self employed and some still working their corporate jobs on the road, like Steve.  What we all have in common though, is a desire to see more of the country, simplify our lives and just have more FUN!

Lee, Allen and Red.

Dianne, Ellen, Barb & Trace.

Dave, Steve, Jim & Steve.

Just playing around with the camera and getting a picture of the rocks with the sunset glowing on them.

Dave & Dianes's rig pulling their jeep.

 

Something you just can't miss if you're in the area is a drive to the Desert Bar.  It's a unique old mining camp turned into a bar and restaurant with music, run entirely on solar.  It is located 5 miles off the Cienega Springs Rd exit on Hwy-95, approximately 5 miles north of Parker, Arizona.  It's a windy dirt road that'll take about a 1/2 hour to get down.  Incredible place!  More info HERE

Driving to the Desert Bar.

 

There was also some fun photo ops along the way!

Mario and Steve

 

It's a long drive.

 

I took a little hike up the hillside and you get a good view of the place (above & below).

 

It's actually quite impressive!  They repurposed much of the old iron from the mine and used it to make just about everything.

That's our group in the lower center.

 

Here they are!

 

 It's hard to tell, but I took a picture of what was the original bar as seen from a hole in a rock high above.

Trace, Cori and Steve.

 

 

 

My Guy

Lots of old relics and the church in the background where they hold actual weddings.

A popular way to get here is by ATVs.

Nice moonrise over an old car.

 

 

You sure get some of the best sunsets out here in the desert!