In Quartzite we are amazed at the continuous parade of campers, travel trailers, RVs and coaches. They are everywhere, on the roads and highways, in the parks, and temporary campgrounds, vacant lots, and BLM permit areas. The small town atmosphere of Quartzite remains despite overcrowding on two lane blacktop roads. It's Fiesta on wheels and most everyone is smiling and happy. The RV show in the big tent opened on Sunday the 17th and will run till the next Sunday. Some of the vendors stay through the next week for the Car show and longer for the Rock and Gem show after that.In addition to the big tent, the adjacent Tyson Wells market area hosts rows of vendors and booths. More line the streets in and around Quartzite. All for just a few months in the winter, by the end of March most will pack up and move on. The weather is good this week until Thursday evening. Storms have moved on through California and cross into Arizona. High winds and torrential rain batter the vendors and campers alike. 70 mph gusts damage those vendors who weren't prepared. Even some who tried to 
tie down their exposed booths were blown down. The main tent, (at least 160x500) had some water leaks and flooded the center isle. As the wind increased on Thursday afternoon the management asked that the main tent be evacuated. It rained hard that night. The Locals on Friday morning remarked how strong the storm was and most of the annual rainfall was met already in January. Linda and I make plans to move to the BLM area north of town.
tie down their exposed booths were blown down. The main tent, (at least 160x500) had some water leaks and flooded the center isle. As the wind increased on Thursday afternoon the management asked that the main tent be evacuated. It rained hard that night. The Locals on Friday morning remarked how strong the storm was and most of the annual rainfall was met already in January. Linda and I make plans to move to the BLM area north of town. The Bureau of Land Management overseas millions of acres of public lands with unlimited recreational opportunities. These wilderness areas, scenic rivers and high deserts have been set aside to conserve and protect their resources for public use and enjoyment. And the areas in southern Arizona are especially enjoyed in the winter. Every year in January, February, and March a gathering of snowbirds, vacationers, and retirees fill Quartzite and spill out to the surrounding desert,
here for the warm weather, shows, camping and camaraderie.
In about a week our friends from Tucson and their friends from California have to leave. We'll see the Dettmann's in about a month when we go back to Tucson. Linda and I move out to the Plomosa road BLM area and camp with 
the Escapees Boondocker group. Our first experience on BLM land, and its great. Thousands of acres of high desert and mountains. Dry air, clean prairies and mesas, warm days and cool nights. We reacquaint ourselves with others we met in the past who were also Escapees members. Each evening there is happy hour at the campfire ring and an occasional pot luck dinner. At 7am (dawn) they burn cowboy coffee. A loose description of boiling water and coffee grounds in a one gallon pot over an open fire.
the Escapees Boondocker group. Our first experience on BLM land, and its great. Thousands of acres of high desert and mountains. Dry air, clean prairies and mesas, warm days and cool nights. We reacquaint ourselves with others we met in the past who were also Escapees members. Each evening there is happy hour at the campfire ring and an occasional pot luck dinner. At 7am (dawn) they burn cowboy coffee. A loose description of boiling water and coffee grounds in a one gallon pot over an open fire.We're learning to conserve and "dry" camp longer. These hard core boondockers go for weeks self contained with no hookups. Some haul water in tanks or bladders to replenish fresh water supplies, and most have "pony" bottles of propane for heat and 
cooking when the main tank runs low. Solar panels or wind power supplement generators for electric. There are no hookups on most BLM lands. A honeydew truck from town makes daily rounds to pump out sewage when necessary. There are 60 to 80 "rigs" in our boondocker group and thousands of rigs in the surrounding BLM lands. Our interest in solar power is growing, and I'm trying to learn more about it. Lots of solar vendors in this area and a few names are starting to be repeated.
cooking when the main tank runs low. Solar panels or wind power supplement generators for electric. There are no hookups on most BLM lands. A honeydew truck from town makes daily rounds to pump out sewage when necessary. There are 60 to 80 "rigs" in our boondocker group and thousands of rigs in the surrounding BLM lands. Our interest in solar power is growing, and I'm trying to learn more about it. Lots of solar vendors in this area and a few names are starting to be repeated. Solar Bill, Handy Bob, and Solar Mike are recommended more and more. Checking blogs and websites will bring us to southern California, but that's another story. More later....Skip and Linda.
