Archive for February, 2014

2014-01-22 Group move from Quartzsite,AZ to Ehrenberg,AZ

2014-01-22 Group move from Quartzsite,AZ to Ehrenberg,AZ
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2014-02-12_AZEhrenberg-NewStoneBraceletMadeForMe

2014-02-12_AZEhrenberg-NewStoneBraceletMadeForMe

About the top picture: A member of the group specializes in Shamanic Astrology, Tarot, and Sabian Symbols. She also makes bracelets and necklaces based on your birthdate and birthplace that contain symbolic meaning. On the morning that I left Ehrenberg, she made me a special bracelet.
Each attendee of the RTR was required to register their vehicle with the BLM Ranger and the maximum stay allowed was 14 days. At the end of the two weeks, Bob invited anyone who would like to stay in the desert with hm to Ehrenberg. It was about 30 miles away and we moved on 1/22. The desert around Ehrenberg is very similar to the desert in Quartzsite area with the exception of the Seguaro Cactus. In Ehrenberg, I only saw one plant from my camping spot, whereas in Quartzsite, there were many. On my exit from the camping location, I took pictures of several plants that had bloomed.
The Quartzsite camping area was about 5 miles away from town. The Ehrenberg camping area is only a couple of miles away from Ehrenberg, but there are not as many services available in the small town. However, Blythe, California is only 8 miles away from the Ehrenberg exit and has many services and shopping. We found that the nearby laundromat had a small selection of groceries, mailboxes, washing and drying for clothes and a shower.
In Ehrenberg, the group was smaller and, as before, campers arrived and departed depending on different schedules. I really enjoyed everyone and appreciate the opportunity to make new friends in the desert. On the day of the Olympics Opening Ceremony (in Sochi, Russia), a camper trailer with a ‘famous’ TIKI BAR arrived. He provided us with a TV that allowed us to have a desert party and celebrate the ceremony. It was OUTSTANDING.
A friend in Ehrenberg knew that I wanted get my teeth cleaned in Mexico and invited me to follow to Yuma. She showed me the casino near the border to Algodones and we enjoyed an afternoon exploring the casino. I returned to Ehrenberg, and my friend left to explore more of the world.
When I first arrived in the desert, I was thirsty all of the time. I drank a lot of water and didn’t notice being thirsty as much afterward. We had 2 nights when there was some rain. It only lasted a few minutes and my folding chair had gotten dry by morning. The sunrises and sunsets were absolutely incredible – my camera did not do justice to many of the pictures as the orange colors became washed out.
The mileage, one-way from Atlanta to Quartzsite was 1,985 miles and Google Maps calculates that it will take 28 hours of driving. I stopped at night because I can’t see as well when it is dark. I spent the first night in Lordsberg,NM and the second night in Weatherford,TX. As I drove closer to Atlanta, the radio announcers cautioned against the incoming large ice storm. I returned home about 10:30 on Monday night and the ice storm came during the night and closed the city for several days.

 

The bottom pictures are created using a ‘gallery’ feature of wordpress. 

Here is a picture of Vanna White in Atlanta after the first storm of ice and the second storm of snow:

2014-02-13_GAAtl,-VannaWhiteAfterSnowLastNight(OnTopOfIce)

2014-02-13_GAAtl,-VannaWhiteAfterSnowLastNight(OnTopOfIce)

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2014-01-10 Quartzsite, Arizona

2014-01-10 Trip to Quartzsite, Arizona (and becoming a ‘Snowbird’)

2014-01-08_AZQuartzsite-InterstatePics(OnTripHome) (6)
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The bottom pictures are created using a ‘gallery’ feature of wordpress. >>
While surfing the internet a long time ago, I found a website called “Cheap RV Living”. The owner is Bob and he hosts a gathering of people in Quartzsite for the last five years on BLM (Bureau of Land Management “free parking”). His RTR (Rubber-Tramp-Rendevous) is intentionally scheduled at the time of Quartzsite hosting many vendors inside “The Big Tent”. Attendees may find others who enjoy camping and go to the tent for products as well as learn about and apply for camp-hosting jobs. Bob encourages campers to learn from each other and presented several seminars on work-camping, where to park your vehicle (with little or no cost), favorite gadgets, travel to Mexico. Other attendees presented seminars on tire-plugging, lithium batteries, and outdoor cooking.  There wasn’t a scheduled seminar on solar-cooking, but a camper demonstrated how to cook brownies and provided a taste sample. 

When I parked in the lot to attend the “Big Tent” show, I was totally unaware about parking in the desert. When I tried to leave, I got stuck in the sand. I was told that I wasn’t the only one who tried to park near the “Big Tent” and became stuck in the area. Fortunately, for me,  an incoming driver in a Jeep came to my rescue. With his help, and the help of his friend, I was rescued. Thanks for pulling me out of the sand – I forgot to ask their so that I could add it to the story. 

I have to tell that the RTR is known to many who web-surf and that one lady from Chicago didn’t have a van, but wanted to learn about camping in one. So, she rented a U-Haul van and attended in order to learn what she needed to change her lifestyle. I thought that her idea was outstanding!


Another lady, a long-haul trucker, brought her tractor trailer cab and let us look inside.

A vandweller who had modified a Ford Transit for camping showed his rig. There was much discussion about his excellent use of space and great gas consumption.

Bob hosted a chili dinner on Saturday where everyone helps bring food and cook. Any item that can be included with cooking chili is appropriate. A week later on Saturday, Bob hosted a soup dinner with the same idea of including any items that would be appropriate for soup. Both were well-attended and very enjoyable. On another night, a couple who attended the RTR, hosted a baked-potato supper where they cooked the potatoes and others brought toppings. When there wasn’t a ‘food event’, each camper provided his/her own meal. People were warned to bring everything with them that they would need. Note: Quartzsite is expensive.
I was told that the weather during the RTR was the best in the five years. Every day, there was sunshine and mild temperatures. We didn’t have much wind and during each day, there was time to talk to others as well as an opportunity to walk a labyrinth. We viewed inside each others vans, tents, campers, motorhomes and talked about the anything. A really ‘hot’ topic was solar energy. Some people had roof-top panels, and others liked the briefcase, suitcase panels. My van doesn’t have an installed solar-panel because in Georgia, we often have clouds and rain and there is no opportunity to charge batteries. I am seriously considering purchasing a briefcase panel as a result of talking with others about their systems.


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2014-01-07 Marfa, Texas

2013-01-07 TXMarfa – Unknown Lights (in Mountains) Viewing Platform

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2014-01-07_TXMarfa-SunsetAtTheViewingPlatform (3)

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On my trip to Quartzsite, I visited Marfa, Texas. I didn’t stay to see if there were any unknown lights on the mountains because the location was desolate and I didn’t want to stay overnight by myself in the parking lot. Author of “Shunpiker’s Guide” Marianne Edwards recommended stopping to see if the lights were viewable. By the way, further down the road on the trip, I DID see the Prada store but didn’t stop to take a picture.


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