What?! You’re Still in Quartzsite?

First there was 4, then there was 2

Paul and taggart lounge outside the rig

So I admit we’ve been lazy….very, very lazy. We had the best of intentions to move ourselves out of our boondocking spot at least 5 days ago. I swear we did. I’d even mapped out our route, scoped out the next 2 boondocking locations and geared myself mentally for the big move. Then, the big RV show ended and other people starting leaving. First our caravan buddies left (sniff, sniff), then the other rigs in the desert started leaving (hmmm…quite nice really), and then suddenly we were practically alone (well, tickle me silly I do declare I like this).

And then there was one…

Hmmm…yes, I think I like this

So there we were all by our lonesome and we just couldn’t see any reason to leave. In fact it was at this point that our travel plans took a bit of a turn, as RV jello plans tend to do. Paul found out he needs to make another emergency trip home, I managed (by some ridiculous stroke of luck) to book the last (the only?) RV site remaining in all of Maricopa County and we decided we were going to stay here until he needs to fly from Phoenix. A whole slew of random RV plans magically fall into place and there you have it.

Ruth relaxes by her truck in some early AM warmth

Ruth and doggie Jade (you can just see our rig in the background)

So we’ve been spending our last few days laaaaazing around and (of course) being a bit social as we tend to be. I made friends with a fascinating lady who was truck-camping just down the hill from us. Ruth is a vivacious 75-year old gal who travels with her doggie Jade. She lives in Redding, CA but loves the desert and is passionate about rocks so she decided, the gumptious lady that she is that she’d just take her truck over to Quartzsite and camp by herself in the boonies…no RV, no fancy get-up…just her and her dog rock-hunting by day and sleeping in the bed of the truck by night. I’m always interested in folks like this so I got into the habit of wondering down for a doggie-play and chat everyday. Not only did I meet a lovely lady, but she taught me a ton of stuff (which I admit I would be hard-pressed to remember) about rock-types and gems in Quartzsite. How cool is that?

Morning coffee at Beluga w/ Dave & Sue

Polly plays with her BEST PAL Lewis

We also had a wonderful visit from Luke (one of the folks from the Monaco iRV2 group), lovely and vivacious Ingrid & her doggie Bear (from LiveLaughRV) and…believe it or not…the big white Beluga with Sue, Dave, Lewis & Sasha rolled back through town for another overnight stay and play with us at the site.

Don’t worry about us baby, we ain’t gonna be lonely.

So now we finally have a plan. We are staying here until the 3rd at which point we’ll roll into Usery Mountain Regional Park in Phoenix where Paul will (once again) dump me unceremoniously so I can get into trouble by myself for the next few weeks. I’ve got a few social engagements lined up, an interesting move (I’ll need to move the rig while he’s gone) and who knows what other mayhem I’ll get up to? Either way it’s all part of the great unplanned journey of life. It’s not always rosy, it’s not always what you expected, so the best thing you can do is go with the flow and enjoy the scenery while you’re at it…I sure plan to.

High altitude ice rainbow

Taggart enjoys some afternoon sun

Throw the ball, throw the ball!

A very pink sunset

8 Tips For Shopping & Boondocking At Quartzsite, AZ

Hanging at our boondocking spot

So, we’re still hanging at Q. The “big RV show” officially ended yesterday, and 2 of the rigs in our group have gone (sniff, sniff…Polly’s BEST PAL Lewis is sorely missed), but we decided to hang out for a few more days of free camping while we figure out our next move. Alot of the big RV social groups are gone, but there are still a bunch of vendors in the streets and a fair few rigs in the desert gearing up for the massive Gem & Crafts Show that starts this week.

Afternoon view of our site

As for us? We’ve been hanging at our lovely site, shopping the rummage sales, and socializing, and all this despite a few days of rain (thankfully gone now). On the $$ side we ended up spending ~$240 at the show (which was rather reserved of us, I thought) most of which was stuff we never knew we needed (isn’t that always the case?). Being a rather dedicated rummage shopper and having spent a solid week in the trenches I can say there are things worth buying at Q and things I would stay away from. I figured it would be interesting to share my perspective on it:

1/ LED Lights -> Worth it IF You’re Picky!

TONS of spots selling LEDs here. You can try and compare before you buy.

LED lights were a HUGE draw this year and the most busy booths. I love the power-savings from LED,  but I’m very particular about light quality and LED’s can vary ALOT (color/brightness etc.) between vendors even with exactly the same specs. They’re not the cheapest in Q (the cheapest LED lights you can get are on eBay directly from China), but here you can see a massive selection and try out the different kinds/colors in your rig before you finalize your buy. After looking at many, many LEDs we finally found the perfect mood light for one of our decorative fittings, and our neighbors (Alex&Ellen) were able to get a bulk deal to re-do their entire rig.

2/ Rummage Sales -> Worth it!

The key to rummage sales is patience..and a keen eye.

Just a sampling of our Q swag!

If you’re patient enough to rummage around the big boxes of stuff and diligently compare prices you can definitely find something that’s worth your while. We got a new 9′x18′ RV matt for $59 (at least $10-$30 cheaper than anywhere else I’ve seen, including online) and a brand new aluminum step for the same price (again, at least $10-$30 cheaper than the general market). We also snagged a mallet for $2, an adjustable/collapsable rake for $6 and some electrical fittings for $0.20 a piece. Most of the stores sell similar stuff, but prices can vary alot so looking around will save you money.

3/ Inexpensive Hats, Gloves & Microfiber Cloths -> Worth It!

This kind of leads on from #2, but there’s something particular about hats, gloves and microfiber/cleaning/dishwasher cloths in Q. For some reason the vendors love them and there are simply NO END of stores selling these things at the big show. You won’t find any high-end stuff here, but if you’re looking for an inexpensive buy and you want to see/feel/try/compare then you’ve got it all right here.

4/ Special Deals on Suspension Upgrades -> Worth it!

Many of the big vendors (Hendersons Line-Up, Brazel’s RV Performance, Redlands Truck etc.) will do special “show only” deals on suspension or specific RV upgrades. Often these will be many hundreds less than what the vendors would offer in their shop. We haven’t done any ourselves, but several of the folks in the Monaco iRV2 group have taken advantage of these deals in the past and rave about them. If you’re in the market for a suspension upgrade these are most definitely worth it!

5/ Solar Installation -> No….not, my choice

There were several vendors selling solar at Q this year, and although I’m sure many of them are fine, it would not be my choice to do an installation here. I feel you can get better prices elsewhere by selecting your own components and, given how many poor solar installations are on the market, it’s worth finding the best-qualified installers to do it.

6/ Novelty Kitchen & Home Gadgets -> Mostly no

Window glove? No, not my thing

You’ll see a ton of shops selling novelty kitchen & home gadgets (the “wonder whisk”, the “grill topper”, the “magic salsa maker”) which are more marketing than function in my mind. Most of these things are something you’ll buy and then use maybe once. We don’t have space for excess stuff like this in our rig and try not to get suckered into the buy.

7/ WiFi & Electrical -> Mostly No

Surprisingly there’s very poor selection of WiFi/amplifier/antenna or electrical stuff in Quartzsite. We only saw one WiFi booth and a few small boxes of electrical knick-knacks in some of the rummage shops (mostly connectors, although we did find one nifty 1 to 3-plug 12V strip), but otherwise nothing that caught our eye. If you’re in the market for electrical stuff this ain’t the place.

8/ Boondocking -> Definitely Worth It!

Panoramic view out of our RV window. Not toooo many RV’s here.

If you come to Q, you just gotta go boondocking! Not only is it part of the whole experience, but there are massive areas for any-sized rig and you’ll have no problem finding a site. I’ve mentioned our fav location (Dome Rock) before, but there are actually 9 separate areas you can boondock around Q for the big show. Five of these (Plomosa Road, Dome Rock, Hi Jolly, Scadden Wash, Road Runner) are free 14-day camping spots with no facilities. The other four (La Posa North, La Posa West, La Posa South, and La Posa Tyson Wash) are paid Long Term Visitor Areas ($40 for 2 weeks or $180 for 7 months) with limited facilities (trash, dump, vault toilets). You can get as close or as far from the main show as you’d like. Some of the closest boondocking sites are literally walking distance from the big tent, but they are also very crowded. The further you get from the show the more space you’ll have.

Map of Quartzsite BLM areas

On social side we’ve had a bunch of visits from various blog readers (so fun!) and been around seeing friends at their various boondocking spots around town. We’ll probably hang for another couple of days before moving on to some (as yet) undisclosed location).

So, for those of you who’ve been here…what do YOU think is worth buying?

Cool cloud reflections on our rig

The turban? No, I don’t think so…

Sunsets -> WORTH IT!

Cooking demo at the big tent

ANY kind of hat you want here!

Home-made ice cream -> yeah!

The Biggest RV Gathering On Earth! Quartzsite, AZ

Calm before the big show…sunrise at Quartzsite!

Once a year, beyond the bounds of reason, thousands of RVs all converge in the same place. The spot is a small, dusty nondescript desert town of ~3,000 people in the SW of Arizona. Under normal circumstances you might drive by without even noticing it’s there, but come January the transformation of a desert phoenix occurs.  The RV’s come, and not just a few of them either…but in the hundreds and thousands! They pack and populate the desert boonies like a giant ant colony, creating a massive sprawl of boondocking RV’s as far as the eye can see.

The biggest RV gathering on EARTH! This fabulous pic was taken by IVAN who graciously allowed me to post it on the blog.

Vendors aisles outside the big tent

The town is Quartzsite, AZ and it’s the biggest RV gathering on earth! What follows is a feast of sellers, flea-markets, rummage-sales, gem shows, artists, professionals and every knick-knack shack you can possibly imagine. Although there are people here for many weeks before and after, the ”big show” officially runs around the last 2 weeks of January. During this time a giant tent (creatively known as the “big tent”) is raised in the very center of town, the desert becomes a massive ad-hoc parking lot and vendors cram the streets.

Shop in the day, and sunset at night…yeah, I like!

Now, I’ve heard alot of people say they can’t stand Quartzsite and I can certainly understand that viewpoint. There are people and cars everywhere, enough shopping to overwhelm even the most dedicated rummage-lover, and the whole thing is rather staged and crazy. But if you take your time to find a decent boondocking spot and embrace the show for it for what it is, it is SO MUCH FUN!

I mean, for starters here’s just a few of the things you can do during the show:

Checking out the rummage sales

Alex gets new awning toppers at our boondocking site

This unique rig is run on veggie oil and part of a roaming artist’s colony

Panning for gold demo…cool!

1/ Rummage Sales Galore - there are masses of large “shops” selling buckets of knick knacks all around town. Looking for that special drill bit? Or perhaps an RV switch? Or some kind of collapsible kitchen or outdoor equipment? Or that weird RV dohickey thing you can’t find anywhere else? You WILL find it here…somewhere.

2/ Art, Crafts & Gems – even before the official Gem Fest at the end of Jan there are massive slews of stores selling individual arts, wood carvings, rocks, gems, fossils, jewelry, unique pieces…you name it. Some are nomadic ”communities” that come in and sell their stuff together, others are commercial ventures, or tribal shops. It’s ALL here.

3/ RV Repairs & Upgrades - Looking to upgrade your suspension? Get that windshield replaced? New awnings? Solar? Satellite TV? Not only can you find the shop here, but they will come out into the desert boonies to your site to do the work. Pretty nifty!

4/ People Watching & Activities – Perhaps you’d like to learn how to pan for gold? Or hang and listen to some music at the Belly Bar? Meet an author? Eat some BBQ?  Get your teeth whitened (I’m not kidding)? Somewhere around here all of that is happening.

5/ Social Get-Togethers - No matter who you are, or what kind of group you would like to be part of they are ALL here. I went over to the Monaco iRV2 group for an AM get-together (even met some fellow Danes there!), had our buddies Jil&Tom from the Escapees boomers come over yesterday (in fact, these were folks we met our first few months of RVing in Utah in 2010 and just saw again for the first time since then!), had Ivan&kittyHailey come over for a visit (we met his kitty, yeah!), and are planning to see some other folks later this week. No matter if you’re single, alternative, young, old, LGBT, or even nudist there is a group for you!

Happy Hour at the Wheelingit site!

We’ve actually been to Quartzsite several times before, but this is the first year we’ve hit the “big show” right at its peak. There are multiple RV parks in town, but most RVers chose to boondock in the massive swarfs of BLM land around Quartzsite, and our fav spot is one of the (relatively) lesser-visited 14-day free areas called Dome Rock just west of town. We set-up shop here on Tuesday and in the past few days we’ve been joined by several friends creating a mini-gathering of nomads in our little spot as well as some excellent happy hour’s and sunset-watching moments.

Our mini-gathering of rigs. That’s Alex&Ellen on the right, Sue&Dave on the left and us plus Suzie&Gary in the background.

We’ll be staying here until (at least) the beginning of next week, so if anyone is in the area you’re welcome to come by. In the meantime I will be SHOPPING…and sipping

Just another great desert sunset

Laundry today or naked tomorrow…I can relate

Polly plays with her BEST pal Lewis

Hats anyone?

African carvings?!

LED bulbs are VERY popular

My new COOL shades!!

And another sunset!

Boondocking Site Review – Dome Rock, Quartzsite, AZ

Lovely desert views at Dome Rock

A very easy and natural boondocking spot ~6 miles west of Quartzsite in east-central AZ

Location: Dome Rock, Quartzsite, AZ (info on camping HERE)
Coordinates: 33.64203N, -114.31374W. Link to map location HERE 
Cost: FREE (2 week stay limit -> free pass provided by camp-host)
How We Found It: I initially heard about Quartzsite several years ago on the RV forums and found more detailed info on the individual camping areas from the web (links at bottom).
Nearest Dump/Water: Water and dump are all available in nearby Quartzsite.

1. Access – 4.5/5
   Very easy access here although a little extra effort is needed to access the best spots. The Dome Rock BLM area is a large, open spot on the south side of Hwy 10 just west of Quartzsite. You enter the BLM from either side of Dome Rock Road which parallels Hwy 10 (west entrance is at exit 11, east entrance exit 17). Dome Rock is paved and easily drivable and you can boondock anywhere off the pavement on either side. Towards the Quartzsite side (east) the boonocking area is large and flat with super-easy sites even for a large group of rigs. Towards the back (west) it gets more hilly with many dirt roads leading off in various directions towards the hills. If you want to stay in the hills, which I would consider the prettiest, be prepared to scope out the area before you bring in your big-rig. All dirt roads/spots are super-firm with space and support for any sized-rig and lots of choices of spots. Only minor ding is that if you want to get really back and remote in the hills the dirt roads can become rather narrow and uneven/bumpy. 
2. Nature – 5/5
   Lovely nature here. Up on the west end by the hills you have sweeping vistas of Quartzsite in the valley together with pretty views of the surrounding hills. Days worth of hiking and exploring in the hills as well as the prospecting mines hidden therein.
3. Isolation – 4/5
   Very good isolation with a few minor dings. The hills provide lots of open knolls and “hidden” boondocking spots so you can easily find a site with good privacy and no neighbours in sight. The BLM area also seems one of the lesser-used in Quartzsite so generally very few rigs around. The only minor ding is that you are ~1-1.5 miles from Hwy 10 so unless you are well back in the hills you will hear some noise from the freeway. Plus you will occasionally get locals coming to do some ATVing in the area. We found neither to be bothersome, but if you’re looking for perfect quiet this may not be the spot.
4. Pet Friendliness – 5/5 
   Fabulous pet spot. You have days-worth of hiking and exploring in the surrounding hills, plus lots of space to hang out in camp. Also this is mostly “scrub” desert so not too much cactus around which is a big positive for paws on the ground.

Overall Rating = 4.6

Summary: Dome Rock is one of 5 “designated” limited-stay boondocking sites around Quartzsite (see below for info on the others) and is probably our favorite in the area. It’s super-easy to access off paved Dome Rock Road (which parallels highway 10 for ~6 miles west of town) and has the attraction of being somewhat higher than the town and right “in the hills” giving lovely sweeping views of both Quartzsite and the surrounding area. Free Boondocking is allowed on either side of the paved road and accessed by firm, dirt roads that run back in all directions into the hills. The far east side of the BLM is flat and open, but the far prettier section is towards the west side in the hills. Lots of knolls and gently hilly sites with good privacy, yet enough areas firm and flat enough for small multi-rig groups. It’s easy to find a site and you’ll see plenty of fire-rings from previously used locations all around the area.  The only dings we can give this place are that it does get some noise from Hwy 10, plus it is sometimes used by ATVers. However neither bothered us and if you’re adventurous you can drive far enough back into the hills that neither will be a problem. A lovely spot and we will most definitely come back.

Extra Info: No water or facilities (nearest facilities in Quartzsite). There is an on-site camphost (near exit 17) where you can check-in and get your free 14-day pass. FULL Verizon 3G signal so great data & voice access.

Extra, Extra Info – OTHER BOONDOCKING? There are 4 other “designated” limited-stay boondocking sites in and around Quartzsite (Hi Jolly, Plomosa Rd, Scaddon Wash and Roadrunner) as well as long-term (LVTA) sites in La Posa. Dispersed camping is also allows on BLM land outside these areas unless otherwise posted. Detailed info and directions to all sites in these links:

• Quartzsite Camping – from TGIF – let’s RV (pictures and description)
• Quartzsite Camping – from RV Camping (detailed maps & location)
• Quartzsite Camping – from Your RV Lifestyle (description)

Our spot in Dome Rock

Another view of our spot from up the hill. You can (just barely) see cars on Hwy 10 in the far background.

Front view of our site

Our spacious "sitting area". Not another rig in sight.

Typical "site" view. You'll see home-made fire-pits and flat spots all over the landscape.

Another RVer tucked into a spot. The dirt road in front leading to the rig is typical of the roads in the area. Quartzsite valley is in the background.

Walking with Polly along some of the more uneven dirt roads further back in the hills. There's a lone truck camper in the back left.

An RVer camped in the very flat section of the BLM near the east entrance.

Driving down Dome Rock Road from exit 11. Camping is on either side of this paved road

Map showing general Dome Rock boondocking area. We parked on the hilly side.

Boondocking Mecca – Quartzsite, AZ

The beast relaxes at her free spot in Dome Rock

For the past several days we’ve been boondocking in one of my favorite spots, next to one of my favorite stories. ”The beast” is most happily parked in our own little wilderness next to one of the biggest and oddest crowd convergences in the country. We’re in Quartzsite, AZ and being here in winter is to become part of a living phenomenon.

Views to the horizon

Quartzsite is your typical lonely ad-hoc desert town. A wild, dry plot of desert with a mere 3,000 or so inhabitants it distinguishes itself mostly by being a “hot-spot” of gem-hunters and backs that up with a slew of odd-ball desert lovers and  no less than 9 major mineral shows each year.

Quartzsite is a mineral hot-spot

But once a year in winter something extraordinary happens. Drawn by a unique crowd psychology that would puzzle even Sigmund Freud, hundreds of thousands of RVers converge onto Quartzsite BLM land and create a living, breathing, pulsating community of snowbirds. It’s a boondocking Mecca and likely the biggest collection of dry-camping rigs in the world.

Early build-up of RVers on the LaPosa LVTA

Quartzsite has adapted to the influx and offers several huge LTVA (long-term) boondocking areas for a mere $180 for the season (7 months). It’s one of the best winter deals around!

One of hundreds of temporary shops that set-up in the area during winter

But that’s not the end of it. With the coming of the wheelers’ begins a madness of enterprise. Out of the blank canvas of the desert there arises  a mish-mash of colorful activities with craft shows, line-dancing groups, pot-luck dinners, rallies, group meetings and music jams. You’ll have RVers selling knick-knacks from their rigs and endless rows of “rummage” shops offering every part, bit and parcel you could imagine. Even the major RV dealerships get in on the deal hosting a massive show in early Jan each year. It’s a crazy rush of spontaneous free-livin’ society at its’ best!

Gorgeous desert sunrise at Dome Rock

But it’s still early days yet. Here in mid-November the collection of RVers is only just starting and we’ve still got plenty of space to ourselves. We’re parked outside the “main drag” in one of 5 designated free 14-day limit parking areas (Dome Rock) with our next neighbour well out of sight. Here we recreate our very first boondocking experience , including our most wonderful loo escapades, albeit with 2 years more on the road and a far better toolbox. And to top it all off we’re part of the phenomenon, baby!

Paul exchanges books at the free book-swap in the local laundromat

Knick-knacks on sale. Snowboard in the desert anyone?