RV | mymostrecentobsession

We have definitely stayed at some extremely cool spots thus far. I have been trying to take pictures of each of the places.

This was actually in a park, but no services, Valley of fire state park. wonderful red rock formations. Indian writing on wall. Just outside of Vegas.

This was next to where we had camped. WAY up a road in Nevada where a blue quartz mine was. We walked all the way up to the mine and looked all over to find that we really did not LIKE blue quartz. Funny how that works, but the view was worth the climb.

This was on the ROUTE 66, a very old little shop called Cold springs. We camped further out in the desert the night before, but the lady who ran the shop told us to stay there the next night, as the guy who usually did security was gone. Really a cool little museum. Here is link for more info http://azrt66.com/cool-springs/

To get any further on this road to Oatman was too risky for a long vehicle, so we stayed at cool springs.

We have to date managed 5 days in a row with no services, and have found that if you google RV dumps, you can find places where you just pay a fee of 10-20 bucks to sani dump and add fresh water.

Not all days have been totally perfect. Days like yesterday, the rockhounding book said that the “area” was 10.3 miles down a dirt road, and that all vehicles could make it. Said that there were soft areas, but that you should just keep moving. Well we have some to learn that “all vehicles” does not necessarily mean a 35 foot Motorhome. There are a few questions that go through our minds as we move one down these roads. One is….. I wonder if there will be a place to turn this rig around? Another is “I wonder if the AAA has limits to where they will go to haul out a motorhome? yet another question we wondered a few days ago was…. ” I wonder if Chains would work as well in sand as they do in snow”

WE are not at all sure if we are being as kind to our motorhome as it has been to us . After the bind we got into yesterday, we have vowed that we WILL Look closer on Google earth.

This was just outside Parker Arizona, … actually closer to Earp California. Not the greatest picture, but definitely a spot we will go back to. 6 miles from town and sitting above looking out a mountains all around.

also one of the most dramatic sunsets I believe I have ever seen. Oh and sunrise as well.

We are now on the California side of Lake Havasu. Total wilderness, looking across the lake at a large city. After my last blog several people encouraged us NOT to head home too soon, as it is much colder. We WILL however slowly wind our way north now, and hope for better weather for those north of us.

I have to say we are having the time of our lives down here. I had always questioned the whole snowbird thing, go south, somewhere hot, play golf and hang around a swimming pool. Besides, I really hate the heat anyways. This year to avoid the dreadful storms along the Oregon coast that we experienced last year, we decided to go inland a bit, then a bit more and suddenly found ourselves down in Arizona. Last year we stuck to the coast to avoid the freezing temps, our RV is older and not set up for really cold temps. This year the weather was good in early November, so we cautiously went down through Nevada, closely watching temperatures and elevations. We took 95, which runs down a long valley with mountains on both sides. Essentially high desert. We did not spend as much time as we would have liked to, as we were trying to stay ahead of a storm that was bringing colder weather. (Perhaps next year we will hit this area earlier). Arizona is lower in elevation, and further south, and so warmer. Even where we are (near Quartzite) it gets down close to freezing at night.

We have also been staying out in the desert on BLM land. It is free and the views cannot be beat. Most of Nevada and Arizona are public land, and we have an APP, that shows is where BLM land is. Also signage usually indicates where private land is. We are self sustained, with 3 solar panels and an inverter to convert the power to ac power. SO if our water tank is full, we can actually spend several days out in the desert quite comfortably.

I had never really understood the beauty of the desert, but I realize it is more than something a picture can take. I am not even sure I can describe it in words. I guess it is one of those “you had to be there” things. I would have to say “solitude” would enter into the descriptive terms.

What has led us out here, has been the search of rocks, but we still love the days even when we find nothing. We have “THE BOOKS”, rockhounding in _______. You can get one for each state (and province by the way). They give descriptions of places to find certain “gems”. Then they describe how to get there. Usually they are at best vague, and at worst misleading. HOWEVER that just adds to the fun. I am up every morning studying the books, and have 3 different map types on my iPad. Oddly enough, often the RV camping app has the best maps. Oh and google earth as well.

So I start with a place that is interesting, then I have to figure out if we can get there. Our RV is not a 4 wheel drive, although we do get as far away from the main roads as we can. THEN WE WALK, or cycle to get to the designated places that most people take ATVs or 4 wheel drives. WE GET MORE EXERCISE, and find more rocks on the way TO the designated places.

We likely also see more of the wild burros when walking. They were apparently let loose by prospectors who had run into bad times or other issues….and they have multiplied out in the desert over the many years. I wish I could get a better picture of them.

There is so much about all of this type of travel that I have found hard to find the info I wanted, so thought I would write a bit about it.

The sun has just come over the nearest hill, so I had better get to the books and plan today out.

mymostrecentobsession

RV

Through the desert in a house with no name

BLM camping in Arizona, and cool rocks.