Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Quartzsite, Arizona 2011 and 2012

 

Every year in January Quartzsite, Arizona turns from a sleepy little town of 4000 to an estimated 1,000,000.  That would be all us RV’ers going there for the RV show, the Gem and Mineral Show, or just to shop the huge flea market.  http://www.quartzsitervshow.com/

We go to see old friends and meet new ones.  This a group from an online forum we belong to, irv2.com.  It’s a wonderful time with potluck dinners, campfires and lots of guys fixing things and comparing notes on improvements to their coaches.  2011 was our first time there and we just knew we would go back every year as long as we were able.  We stayed in La Posa South, which is BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land outside of town in the desert.  There are no hookups and only one dump station so conservation of water and energy are the name of the game.

 

2011

IMG_5226Quartzsite ahead.  All those little white dots are not homes, they are RV’s!!!

 

IMG_5234We came in the wrong way and ended up on one of the roads that is flea market stalls as far as the eye can see.

 

IMG_5281Inside the RV tent, it’s wall to wall people!!!!

 

231Relaxing in the sun!!  That’s our friends Mick, Rick in the lounge chair, Sharon, Mike and Ken with his back turned.

 

IMG_5261Frankie and Duffy watching for new arrivals.

 

236Part of our “circle”.  We had a total of about 18 to 20 coaches over the two weeks.

 

246Enjoying our pot luck.  We went behind the coaches to avoid the wind.  it worked great.  Lots of good food!!

 

265Me and Sharon cleaning up stuff from the pot luck.  Frankie was helping.

IMG_5300Several coach were having trouble with the stitching on their awnings over the slides.  Out came a commercial sewing machine and the re-stitching began.

 

IMG_5316Our stitching was fine but the awning was loose….no problem……these guys really know their stuff.  And they work for cookies!!!!!

 

IMG_5352After we left Quartzsite, we stopped in Palm Springs to visit our friends Bev and Herb (on the right).  We went to Dink’s for fabulous hamburgers and home made potato chips.  Here we all are with some of the entertainment.

 

2012

We had 23 coaches in our circle so lots more people.  That made for a really wonderful 2 weeks!

 

IMG_7561More people meant more food at the potluck….there sure are some good cooks in this group.

 

IMG_0055 Our rig, before the circle filled up.

 

IMG_0066 Everybody brought wood so we had lots of wonderful campfires.

 

IMG_0076 Dave and I at the fire.

 

Duffy, Shrader and Frankie checking the new girlWe had more pets than we had coaches.

 

IMG_7626Yes, that is a pig!  Duffy was fascinated. I think it was because he knows the smell of bacon.

 

 

IMG_7598It rained one day so Boston got a raincoat and boots.  He looks so humiliated.  The things we do to our furbabies.

 

IMG_7549There were 3 Boston terriers there.

 

IMG_7507And of course the big guys and gals.

 

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We had to go to the Quartzsite Yacht Club for fish and chips.  Our friends, Ken, Ruthie, Mike, Sharon, Mick, Rick, myself and Dave.  It sure was good eats and good company!!

 

IMG_7639And then it was time to say good night to Quartzsite and head for home.

 

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 We got home just in time for my mom’s 90th Birthday Party.  We had a wonderful day with her.

 

I think that catches us up to present on our travels.  We can’t wait to pack up and move along again.  We hope you will join us next time……

IT AIN’T EXACTLY CAMPING!!!!

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Our Big Trip of 2011 Westbound

 

The original plan for when we left Michigan was to continue east.  Because the weather was getting hot and sticky in the direction we were going to head, we did an about face and went west.  We hoped to get back the time in Yellowstone we had to cancel because of the cold and snow.  We don’t like to be on the road holiday weekends so where better for the 4th of July then to be with family----we headed for my hometown, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

 

IMG_6313A dam on the Mississippi River near La Crosse, Wisconsin on I 90.  There was water, water everywhere.

IMG_6322Still on I 90 notice that there is water on both sides of the trees.  This was taken on June 30 so the worst was almost over.

 

IMG_6333We were lucky or rather unlucky enough to drive thru Minnesota on July 1, the first day of the Government Shutdown of 2011.  All the Rest Areas were closed for approximately 275 miles!!!  We were forced, along with lots of other motorists, to wait until we crossed the border into South Dakota before stopping to relieve whatever we had to relieve.  Boy was that a crowded place that day!

 

IMG_6371We spent the 4th of July weekend with family in Baltic, South Dakota, near Sioux Falls.  On the day we had our family potluck we were able to gather up 5 of the 7 Hawks family cousins, in back, Shirlene, myself, and sitting Lynette, Judie, and Jody.  The two missing are my cousins Ron and Mark.  You don’t have any idea of what good food is until you taste Midwestern home cooking.

 

IMG_6401“Knee high by the 4th of July”  Measures up on me but Duffy’s knees are closer to the ground.  We spent the 4th on my 1st cousin once removed, Mitch and Patti Oien’s farm.  This gave Duffy a chance to get upfront and personal with some animals.

 

IMG_6407One of the Oien’s horses, Magic, and that’s Paige down in the corner.

 

IMG_6411…Antonio and Duffy getting acquainted.  We had tons of food, fun and fireworks.  And I was introduced to Red Beer, a mixture of tomato juice and beer.  It is always wonderful to go home again and visit with your roots.

 

IMG_6419We crossed the Missouri at Chamberlain, South Dakota and renamed it the Extra Wide Missouri.  We had stopped at a rest area before the bridge and were greeted with this beautiful sight

 

IMG_6432 I was too scared to take pictures during, but this was just after we passed through a horrible rain and wind event.  The rain was blowing sideways (60 to 70 mph) and we were in a construction zone where there was only one narrow lane and no where to pull over!  Thanks to the Man upstairs and Dave’s driving skill we made it.

 

IMG_6511We took a drive through Spearfish Canyon in the Black Hills, near Sturgis, South Dakota.  This canyon is sacred to Native American Peoples who to this day collect red bark willow for use in sacred pipes. For more information go to http://www.northamericanparks.com/blackhills_badlands.asp

IMG_6546We were camped at a beautiful site in the Rush-No-More Campground outside of Sturgis. 

 

IMG_6555Duffy met a new friend at the edge of the campground.

IMG_6556They heard the horses across the road.

 

IMG_6568Deadwood, the burial place of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane, was a fun side trip.  We didn’t win any money from the one armed bandits but it was a great experience.

 

IMG_6584On the 9th of July in Wyoming there is still lots of snow.

 

IMG_6595And lots of flooding.

 

Duffy by the Madison River in MontanaDuffy loves the rivers.  This is the Madison River along Highway 191 between Bozeman, Montana and West Yellowstone, Montana,

 

IMG_6647On that same stretch of highway we followed these guys for miles, and miles, and miles…….

 

Grizzley campsite in West YellowstoneGrizzly Campground in West Yellowstone, Montana is fantastic!!  Great sites, grounds and staff.  It was a pleasure and we will return!!!

 

IMG_6701The Yellowstone River did not escape the high water.  It was a beautiful sight.

 

IMG_6715David and Duffy at a scenic turnout.  Wonderful photo op.  The water was high and running fast.

 

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Always exciting to see by the side of the road…….

IMG_6832Not so much up close and personal.  This guy did try to charge the car.  Luckily the car was able to back up and get out of the way.

 

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Explanation for the picture below.

IMG_6744I for one am certainly glad that the wooden bridge was replaced!!!!

 

IMG_6776We had never been to the Terraces so we decided to tour the area.  This is taken from the overlook at the Main Terrace.  The Terraces, one of Yellowstone's fastest-changing hydrothermal areas, are one of the world's few active travertine (limestone) terraces. Building for thousands of years, the terraces at Yellowstone are still growing and their hot springs can deposit up to two tons of travertine daily.  For more information about the Terraces go to http://www.nps.gov/yell/naturescience/mamterr.htm

 

IMG_2308Duffy and I stopped for a photo op at the Orange Spring Mound.  

 

IMG_6820We came upon lots of pleasant surprises along the way.  This was the most beautiful, serene and quiet little lake.  The wildflowers were beautiful.

 

 

IMG_6851Another few miles and we were in this gorgeous meadow.  All in all it was a glorious day!!!

 

IMG_6880Ever hopeful of spotting a bear, this is as close as we came.  The bear is the brown one!!

 

IMG_6883We did however happen upon a waggle of Westies.  These are senior Westies,  at 14, 16, Duffy at 7, and 16.  I hope our Duffers lives as long and happily as these 3.

 

IMG_6891I couldn’t resist sharing the beauty of Idaho.

 

IMG_6919The drive past the Great Salt Lake to the Bonneville Salt Flats on I 80 is long, flat, straight and boring.  On either side of the road where there is water are normally dry salt flats.

 

IMG_6922On that same stretch of I 80 we had a chance to observe some highway oddities…..yes, I would say that is an oversize load…….

IMG_6931As we passed the rest area, we could see just how “oversize” it was!!!!  I don’t know how the front of the truck stayed on the ground.

 

IMG_6923Can you even imagine the vehicle that needs these tires?

 

IMG_6945Who knew you could get to Beverly Hills from a turn off in Nevada?

 

IMG_6988While in Grass Valley, California having some work done on the coach, we took a side trip to Nevada City.  It is a really quaint town with all the little shops and eateries we love. We stopped into the Gray Goose to meet Reggie, the resident Westie.  He was asleep under one of the racks.  After all he is 14 and needs his rest.

 

IMG_7003Since we had some time on our hands we drove on Highway 49 from Grass Valley to Downieville, California.  It was a fantastic drive through the Gold Country and we followed this stream for a long way.

 

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Round about noon, we were hungry but there was not a restaurant or cafĂ© to be found open in Downieville.  They are only open on weekends it seems.  A very nice lady told us that the gas station at the edge of town has really good sandwiches.  We got some and headed to this place we had seen on the way in.  The sandwiches were delicious and the view was even better!!!

 

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Duffy met a new friend at the RV dealership where we were having the coach work done.  Her name is TK (short for the kid).  She sure was little and she’s full grown!!!!

 

What a great trip we had.  And the best part of any journey is a safe and uneventful return to your home base.  We did it!!!  Be sure and check in for our next adventure.