The Sports, Vacation & RV show in the Kenny King tent is over. Next will be the Tyson Wells Arts & Craft Show and then The Rock & Roll Classic Car Show. Along with that comes the change over in the people who stay here and those who come.
At Rice Ranch there was an influx of travelers who used the site for their full hook up facilities as they stayed for their short period of time. Now, what was an almost full camping site is now back to it's open spaces. Over night the campers have moved on to other destinations.
Left behind are the vendors of Rice Ranch. For most it has been a nightmare. The expected crowds never arrived. Many did not even make their expenses. I've been told this is nothing new. Vendors come here on a dream of making big bucks. Enough to get them through the year. This year because of the high cost of gas, the economy and the weather it didn't happen. There are those who wonder how they are going to get back home because of their lack of sufficient funds. In reality the gold rush is not over and the results for many of these prospectors is the same.
Looking around at the hills I know there is gold in them thar hills. I've even had the chance to sit with one of the vendors and pan for gold at his motorhome. He brought a couple of buckets of dirt from the hills and did the paning at home. It was a good learning experience and we even found some flower gold during our paning. No nuggets. But the sparkle is just as bright.
There is another vendor here who sells gold nuggets and jewlery. Has a big dog at his back and a bigger pistol on his hip. Here in the wild west of Arizona you can pack a gun as long as it it visible. He does his digging in Utah where he has a claim and some of his selling here. He said that in past years the crowds have been larger and even for him it is an off year.
There are people who have been coming here for years, even decades and there are many first timers here both vendors and visitors. It is a trip worth the time for the varied experiences offered. One being the cheap medication across the border in Mexico. Inexpensive dental and eyecare. These items save people on a limited income a lot of money and is worth the trip alone. Of course our medical system here does not approve of this but they don't pay my retirement.
Even though we, as vendors, only found fools gold in those hills we are considering returning next year. There's something about those hills that grab you.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
More than meets the eye
That's Quartzsite. A whole in the desert where people have been coming for years to what is called a swap meet. It was originally where rock hounds would come to sell their rocks of many types, color and value. To trade for equipment to dig for more rocks. Some of those rocks were gold. Today the trade and sales still go on but the rock hounds have moved on to another area.
The swap meet has remained but the traders are different now. There are buyers who look for bargains at the countries largest flea market. They come to buy, to look, to camp and many just to travel through. Most dry camp on BLM land. Naturally, in the desert. Still there are many who stay at motorhome parks within the area. The place is loaded with travelers. Mostly from west of the Mississippi in the northern reaches of the country and Canada. Snowbirds.
The traffic is terrific. It jams the approaches to Kuehn Rd and US 95. The big draw being the Kenny King RV Show, The hobby, craft and gem show and the rock & roll classic car show. But all that is only a little of what Quartzsite is about and I only know a smidgen of it.
This is considered the valley. When it rains in the mountains that surround us you could find yourself in a world of trouble if you are camping in or near the many washes they have around here. One being in what we joke as Lake Quartzsite. There ain't no lake in Quartzsite. Only a parking lot that was built by the owners of Rice Ranch. We've seen it fill with water once and are waiting for the rains to repeat the event. Much of the dirt they dug out of that site they used to build up the vendor and motorhome sites they now use. That's where we are participating as vendors.
As more people arrived on BLM land the coyotes have moved futher up into the hills. That makes the little dogs that many of the people have here a lot safer. You don't leave your mini-dogs out at night. And while speaking of dogs it just amazes me how many people have these dogs who have become their new babies. And how much time they must spend cattering to the needs of the animals. I remember when my kids were small we would carry them on back packs so our hands would be free. We never had a carriage and when they started walking we put a leash on them so they wouldn't run away. Those little buggers were always faster than we were. Here I see the same thing for pets. Pets who will never get to the stage of independence that we are so happy to see our kids reach.
There is a sound of Quartzsite that is a regular sound many times a day. The sound of ambulances. When you realize that most motorhomers are over sixty and some even pass that by a decade or two, you also realize that health problems and death are your neighbor. I guess you can say as long as you can hear the sirens you are lucky.
I hate to sound like a bearer of gloom especially since I'm one of those septuagenarians but I have to look at my opinion of the reality of what I see. This lifestyle is one that people have chosen after, for most, many years of labor. We've paid our dues and wish to enjoy our remaining years and see those things that we were unable to see and enjoy during the years of labor. This is what we have worked for.
Now you spend your time hob nobbing with the wealthy and not so wealthy. The got it made and the just making it. Age and health puts all on the same level playing field. And you talk about places you've been and plan to go.You listen to the advice of those that have traveled the roads before you. You laugh a lot about the different experiences you've had. You all enjoy the grandure of this big country. And you help each other as best you can when there is a need.
Quartzsite is going though a change. Over the years it has gone from a two lane road on main street and US 95 to a four lane highway both ways with an extra lane for left turns. It has at least two traffic lights. And there is a button you can push as a pedestrian to allow you to cross the street. I think the person who timed the lights must have just come out of college and was a member of the track team. The light allows you to get to the middle of the street before you become an open target for vehicles. Someone didn't take into account the lack of ability of most pedestrians to even walk must less run across the street. Then when you think of this town being a mecca for only about five months and then it's just another desert town that dosen't have much traffic. Well what do you expect form a college kid with a summer job.
Another change that Quartzsite is going through is the rumor, I call it that because I have no proof, that the town council no longer wants the "trailer trash" in their town. The want to turn it into condiminums and make it a desert oasis. It seems that don't appreciate the monies that the "trailer trash" brings into the town. It's what runs the place for a year. But developers have the ear of the power structure in town and money talks.
I can't see this place being an oasis. The people that live here don't drink the water. They also say Arizona water is a bummer so I can't see why anyone would consider this an oasis. Unless you are selling water. What makes it even worst is it's city water and it taste bad, bad, bad. It's also bad for you with all it salts. We've had to get a reverse osmosis filter for our kitchen faucet. We have a triple filter for the input into the unit and have had to replace a couple of them. I watched the first filter turn from white to brown in two month of Quartzsite water. They usually last for six months. I also notice the collection of salts around the pipes before the water gets into the motorhome. When we leave here we'll give it a good flushing.
Last, but not least, Quartzsite is not as big this year as it was last year and the past few years. There is no million and a half people here this year. The crowds crossing the street aren't really crowds. The only traffic jam I've seen is early morning when people are heading for what is know as the big tent. That heavy traffic last until about noon. We are at Rice Ranch. We've been to Tyson Wells across 95. We've been to the Kenny King big tent. The crowds are not there and about 2:00pm you can walk without any congestion anywhere.
There are people walking around, mostly looking for and buying what I would call junk or needs to subliment what the need or want for their motorhome. Yet there are the large majority of people that walk around just looking. Not purchasing anything. It has become a financial lost for most vendors who depend on Q to make their income for the year. It's like the department stores waiting for xmas buying to put them in the black.
Quartzsite tells the story of the economy and high gas prices and their effect. Less people. Much less spending. Still if one were to come here they would still see more motorhomes than they could imagine. It is still a sight to see, a visit to make. BLM is the place to stay and the desert is the place to explore. It's beautiful. But I really wouldn't want to live here.
The swap meet has remained but the traders are different now. There are buyers who look for bargains at the countries largest flea market. They come to buy, to look, to camp and many just to travel through. Most dry camp on BLM land. Naturally, in the desert. Still there are many who stay at motorhome parks within the area. The place is loaded with travelers. Mostly from west of the Mississippi in the northern reaches of the country and Canada. Snowbirds.
The traffic is terrific. It jams the approaches to Kuehn Rd and US 95. The big draw being the Kenny King RV Show, The hobby, craft and gem show and the rock & roll classic car show. But all that is only a little of what Quartzsite is about and I only know a smidgen of it.
This is considered the valley. When it rains in the mountains that surround us you could find yourself in a world of trouble if you are camping in or near the many washes they have around here. One being in what we joke as Lake Quartzsite. There ain't no lake in Quartzsite. Only a parking lot that was built by the owners of Rice Ranch. We've seen it fill with water once and are waiting for the rains to repeat the event. Much of the dirt they dug out of that site they used to build up the vendor and motorhome sites they now use. That's where we are participating as vendors.
As more people arrived on BLM land the coyotes have moved futher up into the hills. That makes the little dogs that many of the people have here a lot safer. You don't leave your mini-dogs out at night. And while speaking of dogs it just amazes me how many people have these dogs who have become their new babies. And how much time they must spend cattering to the needs of the animals. I remember when my kids were small we would carry them on back packs so our hands would be free. We never had a carriage and when they started walking we put a leash on them so they wouldn't run away. Those little buggers were always faster than we were. Here I see the same thing for pets. Pets who will never get to the stage of independence that we are so happy to see our kids reach.
There is a sound of Quartzsite that is a regular sound many times a day. The sound of ambulances. When you realize that most motorhomers are over sixty and some even pass that by a decade or two, you also realize that health problems and death are your neighbor. I guess you can say as long as you can hear the sirens you are lucky.
I hate to sound like a bearer of gloom especially since I'm one of those septuagenarians but I have to look at my opinion of the reality of what I see. This lifestyle is one that people have chosen after, for most, many years of labor. We've paid our dues and wish to enjoy our remaining years and see those things that we were unable to see and enjoy during the years of labor. This is what we have worked for.
Now you spend your time hob nobbing with the wealthy and not so wealthy. The got it made and the just making it. Age and health puts all on the same level playing field. And you talk about places you've been and plan to go.You listen to the advice of those that have traveled the roads before you. You laugh a lot about the different experiences you've had. You all enjoy the grandure of this big country. And you help each other as best you can when there is a need.
Quartzsite is going though a change. Over the years it has gone from a two lane road on main street and US 95 to a four lane highway both ways with an extra lane for left turns. It has at least two traffic lights. And there is a button you can push as a pedestrian to allow you to cross the street. I think the person who timed the lights must have just come out of college and was a member of the track team. The light allows you to get to the middle of the street before you become an open target for vehicles. Someone didn't take into account the lack of ability of most pedestrians to even walk must less run across the street. Then when you think of this town being a mecca for only about five months and then it's just another desert town that dosen't have much traffic. Well what do you expect form a college kid with a summer job.
Another change that Quartzsite is going through is the rumor, I call it that because I have no proof, that the town council no longer wants the "trailer trash" in their town. The want to turn it into condiminums and make it a desert oasis. It seems that don't appreciate the monies that the "trailer trash" brings into the town. It's what runs the place for a year. But developers have the ear of the power structure in town and money talks.
I can't see this place being an oasis. The people that live here don't drink the water. They also say Arizona water is a bummer so I can't see why anyone would consider this an oasis. Unless you are selling water. What makes it even worst is it's city water and it taste bad, bad, bad. It's also bad for you with all it salts. We've had to get a reverse osmosis filter for our kitchen faucet. We have a triple filter for the input into the unit and have had to replace a couple of them. I watched the first filter turn from white to brown in two month of Quartzsite water. They usually last for six months. I also notice the collection of salts around the pipes before the water gets into the motorhome. When we leave here we'll give it a good flushing.
Last, but not least, Quartzsite is not as big this year as it was last year and the past few years. There is no million and a half people here this year. The crowds crossing the street aren't really crowds. The only traffic jam I've seen is early morning when people are heading for what is know as the big tent. That heavy traffic last until about noon. We are at Rice Ranch. We've been to Tyson Wells across 95. We've been to the Kenny King big tent. The crowds are not there and about 2:00pm you can walk without any congestion anywhere.
There are people walking around, mostly looking for and buying what I would call junk or needs to subliment what the need or want for their motorhome. Yet there are the large majority of people that walk around just looking. Not purchasing anything. It has become a financial lost for most vendors who depend on Q to make their income for the year. It's like the department stores waiting for xmas buying to put them in the black.
Quartzsite tells the story of the economy and high gas prices and their effect. Less people. Much less spending. Still if one were to come here they would still see more motorhomes than they could imagine. It is still a sight to see, a visit to make. BLM is the place to stay and the desert is the place to explore. It's beautiful. But I really wouldn't want to live here.
Friday, January 4, 2008
A different view
I have read many articles about Quartzsite and other places of interest to Motorhomers. Looking back on them most are the type of stuff you would see in a travel brochure that entice one to want to go to certain places. At Quartzsite I see a different view.
Here, as in Gillette, WY there is the issue of the sand. It is a find dust that permeates through everything. In Gillette it stuck on the screens and came through every crack it could find. In Quartzsite it is a finer type of dust that seems to be part of the air itself. Allergies seem to be worsened. Many people complain about that. There seems to be a thin coating of dust on everything and it is a dust that if not constantly removed becomes stuck to the surface. There are clean keys on this laptop. The ones that are used the most. The others, at the top of the keyboard, are loaded with grey matter.
If you smack the bed sheets you can see the fine dust floating in the air. there is that constant need for changing of vacuuming then. This is what you breath in at night and hack up in the morning.
Quartzsite also has more than is share of drop outs. The recluse. The drifter. The homeless. the prospector looking for the mother load. They are all over the BLM land. Some are in older motorhomes and look like they stay here all year. Some have staked a claim on digs they have. And there are those that carry the living quarters on their backs. There are some who are from the left over hippie generation and some that are the new hippies. Through the beards and dirt and grim that covers their weather beaten faces are their hidden age. Out here I think they are called Rainbow People. I'll have to find out more about that term.
And then there is the land. Sparse vegetation. Mostly cactus and I would guess sagebrush's. In time I'll find out more about it. There is a bush out here that looks like a dying stump with some frilly stuff on top. When you see areas that have a lot it looks as if the desert is about to bloom. Sorry I don't have any pictures of this yet and your imagination will not work if you have not seen it.
I remember on our journey to this place seeing all the houses and developments with walls around them. I figured it was Spanish building in nature. Yes but no. It's protection from the wind driven sand and flash floods. Sorry no pictures, yet. It didn't matter your financial status, you still had the wall. The towns near here are small. They remind me of dying western ghost town. Boarded up buildings. Businesses that cater to the motorhome trade with out much trade to cater to. These are not the pictures you see in the RV/Motorhome mags. They would more likely be in National Geographic.
All that said I still like what I see. It is different and has its own sense of beauty. The mountains, the sky, the sunsets, The desert itself. So when you pick up a mag on these types of places just don't believe the hype. go see it for yourself
Here, as in Gillette, WY there is the issue of the sand. It is a find dust that permeates through everything. In Gillette it stuck on the screens and came through every crack it could find. In Quartzsite it is a finer type of dust that seems to be part of the air itself. Allergies seem to be worsened. Many people complain about that. There seems to be a thin coating of dust on everything and it is a dust that if not constantly removed becomes stuck to the surface. There are clean keys on this laptop. The ones that are used the most. The others, at the top of the keyboard, are loaded with grey matter.
If you smack the bed sheets you can see the fine dust floating in the air. there is that constant need for changing of vacuuming then. This is what you breath in at night and hack up in the morning.
Quartzsite also has more than is share of drop outs. The recluse. The drifter. The homeless. the prospector looking for the mother load. They are all over the BLM land. Some are in older motorhomes and look like they stay here all year. Some have staked a claim on digs they have. And there are those that carry the living quarters on their backs. There are some who are from the left over hippie generation and some that are the new hippies. Through the beards and dirt and grim that covers their weather beaten faces are their hidden age. Out here I think they are called Rainbow People. I'll have to find out more about that term.
And then there is the land. Sparse vegetation. Mostly cactus and I would guess sagebrush's. In time I'll find out more about it. There is a bush out here that looks like a dying stump with some frilly stuff on top. When you see areas that have a lot it looks as if the desert is about to bloom. Sorry I don't have any pictures of this yet and your imagination will not work if you have not seen it.
I remember on our journey to this place seeing all the houses and developments with walls around them. I figured it was Spanish building in nature. Yes but no. It's protection from the wind driven sand and flash floods. Sorry no pictures, yet. It didn't matter your financial status, you still had the wall. The towns near here are small. They remind me of dying western ghost town. Boarded up buildings. Businesses that cater to the motorhome trade with out much trade to cater to. These are not the pictures you see in the RV/Motorhome mags. They would more likely be in National Geographic.
All that said I still like what I see. It is different and has its own sense of beauty. The mountains, the sky, the sunsets, The desert itself. So when you pick up a mag on these types of places just don't believe the hype. go see it for yourself
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Happy New Year
My wish to all.
Every hour, every day, every week, every month, every year is a new beginning. The happiness comes out of how you handle it. We wish all to be able to bring joy into their life on a daily basis. That way you will have a happy year.
Now back to the journey . I think I stopped with wind. It didn't. On Christmas day we were greated with another blast of desert winter. We had put up out tent again a couple of days earlier and found ourselves revisiting the take down phase. If we didn't the wind would have taken it down and away.
Man does this wind roar. Again other vendors came to our assistance and helped us take it down. You don't ask for help. It just shows up. After getting mine settled I helped another vendor make changes in his set up. then you look around and see if others are in need. All was well after that and then it was a day inside.
The followiing day was calm. With this we changed our tent design. Top, no sides. Quick product packing and putting it away and the wind can have the rest. So far it's working. Since then we haven't had another windy day.
New Years Eve. Football time again. Plus there has been invites given by vendors to participate in a pot luck evening meal. Pat and I had to take a trip for provisions and since we don't have a toad we use our bikes. Great exercise for ol' folk. Especially when there is a steep bridge to travers, both ways, in the two mile plus one way journey. Huff and Puff ain't no stranger to me. But it's great for the legs and thighs and I feel the benefit when I just walk.
We had no idea of how many people were going to be there plus there were at least two other pot luck functions going on in our conclave. We brough rice pudding. Enough for about ten people figuring that would be the max there. Well it was about thirty. Hotdogs and hamburgers, good food, along with home made salads, BBQ and bread. there was a Mexician Pizza which I didn't taste because I thought it was just another pizza. Wrong. Fried chicken, beans, ice cream, cake and more. And a blazing fire to keep us warm. The company was warming enough with a little coffee to help. Oh yea there was wine and beer but not too many people took part of that. It was a suprising way to end the year and a very pleasant gathereing of people with the same interest in mind.
We no longer depend on the Weather Channel for our forecast but we do look at the weather channel and intellicast, keyed in for the Quartzsite forcast and that has really helped us get correct weather. At least so far.
Every hour, every day, every week, every month, every year is a new beginning. The happiness comes out of how you handle it. We wish all to be able to bring joy into their life on a daily basis. That way you will have a happy year.
Now back to the journey . I think I stopped with wind. It didn't. On Christmas day we were greated with another blast of desert winter. We had put up out tent again a couple of days earlier and found ourselves revisiting the take down phase. If we didn't the wind would have taken it down and away.
Man does this wind roar. Again other vendors came to our assistance and helped us take it down. You don't ask for help. It just shows up. After getting mine settled I helped another vendor make changes in his set up. then you look around and see if others are in need. All was well after that and then it was a day inside.
The followiing day was calm. With this we changed our tent design. Top, no sides. Quick product packing and putting it away and the wind can have the rest. So far it's working. Since then we haven't had another windy day.
New Years Eve. Football time again. Plus there has been invites given by vendors to participate in a pot luck evening meal. Pat and I had to take a trip for provisions and since we don't have a toad we use our bikes. Great exercise for ol' folk. Especially when there is a steep bridge to travers, both ways, in the two mile plus one way journey. Huff and Puff ain't no stranger to me. But it's great for the legs and thighs and I feel the benefit when I just walk.
We had no idea of how many people were going to be there plus there were at least two other pot luck functions going on in our conclave. We brough rice pudding. Enough for about ten people figuring that would be the max there. Well it was about thirty. Hotdogs and hamburgers, good food, along with home made salads, BBQ and bread. there was a Mexician Pizza which I didn't taste because I thought it was just another pizza. Wrong. Fried chicken, beans, ice cream, cake and more. And a blazing fire to keep us warm. The company was warming enough with a little coffee to help. Oh yea there was wine and beer but not too many people took part of that. It was a suprising way to end the year and a very pleasant gathereing of people with the same interest in mind.
We no longer depend on the Weather Channel for our forecast but we do look at the weather channel and intellicast, keyed in for the Quartzsite forcast and that has really helped us get correct weather. At least so far.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)