2019-21
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| Arizona Sunsets |
End of the Year Wrap
up.
Time frame OCTOBER,
NOVEMBER 2019
The following report
is a bit of a wrap up of the travel season. I had planned on touring
for at least a month or more in New Mexico, but still having concerns
over my eye pressures (glaucoma) I ended up cutting my travels short
by almost two months.
Heading to my winter
location, Tucson, I was able to have a few pre-eye exams. I say it
that way, as the main doctor wasn’t available, most likely he was
on an extended vacation. So after a few preliminary tests, I was
sent up to Mesa AZ a half hour journey, where I would have the more
extensive test done. Along with finally having the good Dr actually
do an eye pressure test. This was all done by Mid October, having to
wait a couple weeks just to get into the office up in Mesa.
Good news is that my
eye pressures are back to a stable lower eye pressure, but with my
left eye continuing to deteriorate, I am requesting a more aggressive
stance to insure little or at least less damage be the byword.
So with that out of
the way for now, (additional surgeries and exams scheduled in
Dec/Jan), I was able to concentrate on getting additional repairs
done on the camper. Thought I might be able to do it myself or with
help from my Rv buddies but since they are not around this early in
the season, I ended up calling and getting the RV Doctor to come out
and repair the damage done to the slide out. Long story short, he
was able to fix the “pan slide” with a solid piece of aluminum
sheeting as well as improve the jerking that was occurring when the
slide was pulled in. Come to find out lubricating the slide Teflon
rollers did the job.
Wrapping up the
repairs on the last day before once again heading out, was to say the
least cutting it short. Since my scheduled stay at Desert Trails is
for the 1st of December, I have most of a month to explore
Arizona.
Ajo AZ
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| Mural in Ajo, AZ |
Which direction to
head out first. Having a few options, I really didn’t know which
direction I’d take until the morning I exited Desert Trails.
Deciding to take the slower, back roads heading to Yuma, took Old
Ajo (hwy 86 to hwy 85) going through Tohono O’Odham nation
reservation land. Passing through Sells, Why and staying a few days
in Ajo.
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| Sells Az, Indian Reservation land |
RV tip: hwy 85 and
86, though being a two lane road is good for Rv travelers especially
on weekends. I drove the route on Sunday and there was little to no
traffic. Making for a very pleasant trip.
The town of Ajo is
surrounded by huge mounds of mining tailings. The mines are not
active today after depleting the ore. The town has reinvented itself
mostly as a retirement community and somewhat of a small arts
community. There are some nice murals around town and the large
school is now an arts incubator.
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| Center of Train Station plaza |
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| restored shops along the Train Station plaza |
I’m here, just to
experience a small remote community and to visit the Organ Pipe
National Monument. A unique desert community and it sits right on
the Mexican boarder. The Organ Pipe cactus being the highlight of
this desert landscape. All the roads in the park are dirt roads,
many requiring high clearance vehicles, all except hwy 86 which is
paved through the park leading into Mexico. Of course I had to drive
a section of the dirt road along the boarder to see the new boarder
wall going up. It was a bit of a tight squeeze occasionally what
with huge flat bed trailers and construction vehicles traveling the
same park visitor tour route along the boarder. The see thru wall is
going up of course, providing a narrow view of Mexico on the other
side.
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| Organ Pipe cactus on the right. |
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| newly completed boarder wall |
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| sections of the new boarder wall ready to go up |
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| they have already discovered that the sections can easily be cut with common electric metal cutters |
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| view of Mexico, will of course stop people and natural migration of animals as well |
My stay in Ajo, at
the golf course was uneventful, opting to pay the $5 a night fee (no
hookups) even though could have stayed almost across the street on
free BLM land, but the golf course had some eucalyptus shade trees
making for a nice temporary campsite. This small community golf
course appears to be run by all volunteers and is used mainly in the
winter months.
Yuma AZ.
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| Yuma Date farms and irrigated vegetable farms surround the area |
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| BLM land next to a VFW |
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| art exhibit by grade school to high school at their main Art Museum did not appear that they had any permanent exhibits or art collections |
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| downtown art shop next to Art Museum |
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| historic downtown, was mostly deserted except for a couple of restaurants |
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| school age art |
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| impressive art museum space currently dedicated to school age art exhibits |
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| some exceptional line art drawings |
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| downtown, historic district lots of big box stores on edge of town |
The next day and two
hours later and I arrive in Yuma Az. A huge snowbird/rver mecca.
I’m staying on BLM land, 14 day limit/free camping. Close to town
and next door to a VFW. The camping area sits next to hwy 95 and
railroad tracks. Trains come and go all day long and into the night,
but it’s not overly noisy or at least it’s easy to get used to.
Later in the evening after dark crop duster planes fly and buzz
overhead. Wash those vegetables as they are covered with pesticides.
Stayed only a couple
of day as I just wasn’t feeling Yuma all that much. Now it is a
mecca for Winter Rv-ers and there are tons of places to land and
enjoy the sun all winter long. But for some reason, it just felt odd
to me. Like the sun was too bright, the sky was washed out blue and
the town seemed to be the end things, like the great Colorado river
as it’s many irrigation canals stretched out in all directions
feeding thirsty farms on the Arizona and California sides. Now the
Colorado actually travels further on down the Mexican and U.S.
boarder, but as I understand it, barely a drop of water ends up in
Mexico these days and no longer empties out into the Gulf of
California (Mexico).
So on up the road I
go following the Colorado River.
Quartzsite AZ.
Spending a few days
at a Passport America park ($15.00 a night +.50 cents a day for
water). This of course is another winter Rv-mecca, mainly for
boonedockers though in-town there are plenty of cheap Rv sites to be
had with full-hookups for cheap monthly rates. Average around $350 a
month.
I met a number of
locals, mostly retirees that have migrated here because it’s cheap
living on a Social Security budget. Oh and the naked bookseller
passed away this year. I’m sure he’s shaking his very tan touche
up in heaven somewhere.
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| Pass Port America Campground, $14.50 a night lots of BLM sites but nice to have electric |
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| perfect timing and got to go on a history tour of town |
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| Mayor,, plays the part of Buck Conner for the festival |
I arrived in time to
enjoy the George “Buck” Conner’s days. A festival honoring the
local legend who had quite the storied career in both silent films
and talkies as well as a military carrier, pilot, and working for and
friend of legendary Wild Bill Cody. I joined a historical tour of
town, learning about how it got it’s start on the site of Tyson’s
Wells. It was like being on an extended local gossip “grape vine”
learning about the small one room jail that was rarely used because
it was too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. Judge Lacy
would often take the prisoner to his house after sentencing him.
Judge Hagely was the marrying Judge as he married lots of folks in
town, having arrived from over the California boarder. You had to
wait three days to get married in California and only one day to get
married in Arizona. And anyone having traveled through Quartzsite
will know the story of Hi Jolly aka Hadji Ali who was a camel master
employed by the Arm during the late 1850’s as a trial use of camels
in the desert SW.
It was fun going
around to many of the historic sites, many in major disrepair or only
containing a concrete foundation. Still the stories were terrific
and really appreciate the sincere enthusiasm of the historic society
for putting it on.
The next site after
getting excellent directions ended up headed a short distance out
into the desert on the south side of Quartzsite to see another
Intaglio, this one of a large arrow and a humanoid figure. They say
the arrow points to the fisherman, another intaglio on the north side
of town which I had seen the last time I was in the area. Intaglio’s
are images that have been draw in the hard baked desert surface,
scraping away the rocks/peddles creating very large images that are
best seen from the air. These and others just over the California
boarder were first discovered years ago when a pilot flying over the
area first saw them.
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| created by Native Indians over 1,000 years ago |
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| heading to Intaglio site just on the edge of Quartszite AZ |
Parker AZ
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| casino, Indian reservation land above casino they charged a couple folks to stay here |
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| casino parking lot which is paved and below this site is free parking but parking lot in not level I stayed a few days and did not have to pay |
Planned on staying
at a great BLM site along the Colorado River, but after reading that
they charged for the sites, some having Electric and water, which I
would have gladly paid for, I called for reservations but never got a
call back. So I’ve ended up on Casino Indian reservation property
for a couple of days. Similar to a BLM boonedockers site, ie free.
Enjoyed a couple of
days driving along the Colorado River both on the California and
Arizona side. With many small communities of homes, cottages and Rv
parks lining the river. I even drove up to Lake Havasu checking out
Rv dealers as I am starting to search for a small Class B+ or Class C
Rv to travel in during the summers. It must be small enough as it
will be my only means of transportation as well as living
accommodations. I’ll keep my current 5th wheel camper
and truck and most likely leave them in AZ while traveling during the
summer months and most likely will bring the 5th wheel and
truck back to Florida/ Shelter Cove in a year or two.
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| BLM campground, no hookups cheap and on the Colorado River |
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| located on the California side of river north of Parker AZ |
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| many small communities of Mobile Homes and Rv sites along the Colorado River (high season is summer for boating) |
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| heading to Lake Havasu |
I enjoy traveling
with my truck and 5th wheel, but figure with age, it would
be nice to continue my travels using a smaller Rv. We’ll see what
I can find and give it a go.
Tucson.
I’ve arrived back
in Tucson, having bypassed my last destination which was to be the
Empire Ranch. A BLM site (dry camping) as the weather for my last
week of travels before returning to Tucson is expected to be rainy,
cold and well just not very conducive to camping. Imagine, dirt
roads and dispersed campsites again of dirt, after a bit of rain.
Though surrounded by magnificent landscapes of tall prairie grass and
an old restored ranch, it will have to wait until another time.
So I’ve arrived at
Desert Trails, surrounded by some of the best Rv community I could
imagine and some of my dearest friends for the winter. I’ll be
leading a RV Travel Club, discussing each state, places to see,
things to do,, roads to take or avoid and of course helpful tips.
The Desert Trail
community has a ton of activities and lots of new one being added.
Today, I’m joining a Socrates Club. I’ll be checking out the
Photography Club, a Book Club and many others throughout the season,
along with the numerous entertainment options scheduled in the
eveing.
Wishing you all an
active and productive Winter Season where ever you settle in.
Till next years
Travels,
Your Roving
Reporter, Doug P
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