For us as vendors Quartzsite has been a disaster. But we are not alone. There is the old saying in merchandising of location, location, location. It still holds true. But one must add to that the economy, the economy, the economy and a bunch of other factors that have to be considered. Of course among the top of the list is product. We have discovered that we have a product that people like but may not understand, want or need at this particular function. We discovered that we have to improve on our display and marketing abilities. At our age it's a job. But if Col. Sanders could do it why not me.
That's the most positive part of the trip. Discovery. I had the opportunity to take a trip to Mexico to a tourist trap called called Algodones. It was a short trip, about 84 miles one way, with another vendor and I didn't want to spend his day sight seeing for me. His main purpose was medication. One of hundreds of people who cross that border ever day to get medicine cheaper. There was some that I could have picked up for myself but when I did the quick calculations it was not cheaper for me.
I now realize how many people do not have health insurance and some form of prescription package. These people have to pay for their medications out of pocket and the older one gets the more meds the doctors seem to ply on them. It's a finanical burden that steals from the supposed golden years. The pharmacy legislated government prescription package is not a relief for the lower income and many of the retirees. But you don't know that until you are part of it or see it.
I spent the journey traveling south on US 95 looking out the window like an excited child. Watching the desert fly by with all its empty beauty. Cacti of different type dotting the carpet of sand and rocks. Hills that are made by nature. Hill that have ben made by mankind as they reaped the wealth under the ground. A wealth of metal and minerals that are still being mined today.
When we left Rice Ranch and turned onto 95 I noticed both sides of the highway packed with RVs. This was the beginning of the crowd of buyers all of us were expecting. We belived there would be more than 100,000 people attending the big show. All of a sudden the crowd of units stopped. Back to open BLM land. Every now and then there were small conclaves of RVs. Circled like the old conostoga wagons as groups of friends meet at one spot to enjoy the company and stories of others. They too come from all over but mostly the North West. The snowbirds who aren't into skiing. It is estimated the turn out this year was down 40 to 60 percent.
There are no towns along this highway until you reach Yuma but the desert springs up some weird sights. Midway there is a store with fast food gas and some provisions. Replinish some minor necessities for your RV. Futher down the road is a VFW camp sight. It's was loaded with RVs. My guess is that a lot of veterans spend time there. Since we didn't stop there isn't much more that I can tell you about it.
As the journey continued it was back to the sights of the open desert. I noticed areas where there were dried up rivers of water. I think they call them washes. Along the road are signs that say don't drive when the road is flooded. And these floods came fast during the rainy season. We came upon the Yuma Proving Grounds. A huge military complex for big weapons. Same old beautiful desert until you reach the end of the grounds. Then it burst into a surprising mass of greenery. The first was an orange grove then came garden crops of lettuce, brussel sprouts, and other leafy vegies that are grown here during the winter. It's too hot during the summer to grow them.
The water comes from wells and the famous Colorado River that has turned into a stream about fifty feet wide where we crossed. Not your usual picture of the Mighty Colorado. The green remains as we pass Yuma AZ on the way to the border via I-8. Along that highway there are RVs parked helter skelter on outcroups of the highway. Free camping in most cases. Some of it is on Native American territory and there may be fees applied. But it's cheap.
Onward ever onward until we reach the border. Well the parking lot before the border but I'll leave that for Part II of the story.
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