Quartzsite, Arizona......

Our Location:  BLM Plomosa Road, Quartzsite, AZ

Last night the wind picked up again until about midnight. It once again shook us, rattled us and possibly we hovered off the ground for a minute or two before coming back to rest on all fours. Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration but you get the idea. After about midnight it just dropped right off and we heard nothing more until just before daylight when it kicked up again but not nearly as bad. We were half packed up and I can tell you we quickly packed up the other half and hit the road.
 

Heading East along I-10 just after leaving Joshua Tree National Park south entrance.

More desert like here with less greens than we've been seeing.

 We were heading down the hill toward I-10 East at 7:30 AM California Time. A bit of wind as we  travelled along but nothing worrisome and before long we were out of the wind and just enjoying our drive. We stopped a couple of times at the rest areas just because we could and we still made it to Quartzsite around 11 AM Mountain Time. It was much busier than I expected to see along Dome Rock Road with a lot of rigs there, packed in pretty tightly. Not a problem, we were not heading for Dome Rock anyway.
 

Would you advertise really BAD OLD jerky?

 

As you can see we are almost to Quartzsite.

 

As we approached town it was nice to see something familiar this time as we’d been here last year and so we had a good idea of where we were going. We enjoyed our drive through part of town, nice to see things that we remembered and nice to see some new things too. We are looking forward to getting into town tomorrow and visiting some friends and maybe checking out a vendor or two. We shall see how tomorrow goes. 

 

 

We are leaving California and entering Arizona.

 

 We hung a left onto 95 North and headed out of town for Plomosa Road. We passed by the Waste Transfer station I am happy to say that numerous people were coming and going. It looks like some folks have figured out they can just easily take their garbage there as put it in an already full dumpster.

Fuel prices just across the Arizona state line from Blythe, California.

 

As we passed by Hi Jolly I can say it was extremely busy and very full. Lots and lots of rigs in there still. We kept going on to Plomosa Road. We checked in with the camp host and headed out with our two week paper for the window. Can you say very busy? Can you say busier than very busy? I was absolutely amazed at the number of rigs here. Groups, bunches, singles, couples and just about every kind of rig you can imagine. We found a road and managed to squeeze off and drift back out of the way a bit before finding a place to park.

You can see Q way over there in the distance, all those little white dots are buildings.

 

I called Dad but got his machine and so left message saying we’d arrived safely. After that we finished a partial set up and having some lunch, all cooked inside today though, we haven’t set up the Weber yet. Tomorrow we will finish setting up the outside area. A cool breeze had us keeping the big door closed but the windows open on the sunny side of the Igloo. A nice day for sure.  Another call to Dad earlier this evening to touch base and a quick chat. Sister Jan and her partner Rick are both down with the flu but Rick was admitted to the hospital today with breathing issues and dizzy spells. Rick is also a diabetic and with being sick everything is out of whack and so I think that also lead to the hospitalization. We wish them both a speedy recovery.
 

A few of the rigs at Dome Rock. Hard to take clear photos while whizzing by, isn't it?

 

I spent the rest of the evening finishing up a James Patterson book, The People vs Alex Cross. I’m pretty sure I’ve read it before, parts seemed familiar and yet I didn’t remember reading it. Oh well, it was a good read anyway. I’ll start a new book sometime tomorrow.

 

We parked back in there some where last year.

 

So that was our day. We have moved to the state of Arizona again and are looking forward to spending the next many weeks in the state in various locations. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed your visit.

 

The familiar sites of Quartzsite, AZ.

 

Until next time… take care, be safe,
 

We are glad to be back in the land of the  many armed cacti.

 

 

Deb

Very windy, change of plans, birthday wishes....

Our Location: BLM South Entrance, Joshua Tree National Park, 

California

 

A very, windy night from early evening, all through the night until well into the afternoon today. We ended up pulling in all the slides and Riley slept with me for over half the night. The wind was rocking us and even with the toppers tied down they were still flapping fiercely. Better in than ripped. We ratchet strapped ourselves to a couple of Palo Verde trees, added some big rocks to the back of the Dogsled and hung on for dear life. All of this we did in the extremely bright wee hours of the morning as the moon was bright and showed us everything we needed to see. 

Just a few of the many grapefruit I picked off the ground yesterday at Janet's. The wind had knocked them down overnight.

 

Today we were planning on leaving this area and moving to Quartzsite, AZ but with the high sustained winds and heavy gusts we opted to stay put and wait for tomorrow. Even the traffic on I-10 seemed much lighter than usual until this afternoon when the winds started to noticeably diminish.

Gives you an idea of size.

 

We stayed inside out of the wind and flying sand but enjoyed the views outside. A few folks coming and going but mostly just everyone hunkered down and stayed put. As the afternoon progressed the rigs started moving around on the interstate and began coming up the long grade to the BLM area, but only two rigs left. 

The view out our door. That is the road into the park.

 

A call to my dad to inform him of our change of plans, the rest of the afternoon was spent reading, napping and just gazing out the window. As I write this at 4:50 PM California time the winds have diminished to a slight breeze with a few little gusts but nothing to shake or rattle the Igloo. We’ve even taken away the ratchet straps and stones. Tomorrow we will be up and on the road heading east to new scenery for us this year. 

 

Looking north west from our door.

 

A special note today. Happy Birthday Courtney. My oldest daughter turns 31 today. Courtney is a true delight, bubbly, excitable, enthusiastic and just a very nice person. Courtney is with the Toronto School Board for the last couple of years after her return from Switzerland with hubby Matt who had a 2 year research grant there. Courtney and Matt live in Toronto and love the feel and atmosphere of the big city. So obviously a call will be placed to Courtney a bit later. Happy Birthday Sweetheart. 

 

Stuck in a rock outside the door.

 

So that’s it, our windy, stay inside day here at Joshua Tree National Park in California. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed your stay.  

 

I think this person may have spent the night in a motel. The car was gone early this morning.

 

 

Until next time… take care, be safe, 

That is toward the Coachella Valley. A few rigs that weathered the wind with us.

 

Deb

A very nice visit today....

Our Location: BLM South Entrance, Joshua Tree National Park

 California

 

Surprisingly we had a very quiet night. I didn’t hear any wind until around 5:30 AM and even then it wasn’t terribly strong sustained winds, just gusts. As daylight came on of course the wind picked but not nearly what it was predicting. It was cool here though, only 49 F / 9.4 C and while the temps rose to about 64 F/ 18 C the wind kept it from being a truly warm day. 

 

Driving along I-10 West toward Indio. Yep, snow on the mountain ahead.

I left this picture as it came from the camera. As you can see it's very hazy over the valley. Still the same snow.

 

We were of course were ready to go early but then again being early isn’t a bad thing and is our norm. Before we left we did however pull in the slides and put HRH Miss Kitty in my bedroom so we didn’t have to worry about the wind while we were away. 

Again, I left the photo as it was. You can see the haze over the whole Coachella Valley area and of course that is snow on a different mountain top. That would be Big Bear you can see in this picture.

Part of the long 10 mile grade down from the Chiriaco Summit to the valley floor.

 

Out the door around 9:25 AM we took the leisurely drive down I-10 West to Indio and from there we made our way to Janet & Dennis’ place off of Manitou Drive. A very lovely gated community with flowers blooming and lots of fruit on the trees, oranges, grapefruit, lemons and probably a few others that I couldn’t recognize. Palm lined streets with a beautiful greens and fairways, amazingly manicured front yards and of course flowering shrubs and bougainvillea peeking out at us from time to time. Indian Wells received a lot of wind last night and was still receiving much more than we were. There was debris from the palms and various other trees visible on the usually pristine  lawns and public areas. 

Not sure if this is a standard feature or a carnival in town. Off on a side street and we didn't get a good look.

 

Cute name don't you think?

 

We arrived at Janet’s at 10:30 AM to find a sea of grapefruit on the ground from the wind. Of course on our way out we picked up a few dozen to eat over the next number of weeks. It was wonderful to visit with Janet ( we didn’t see Dennis, he was on the golf course). We chatted for a while before heading off to Mexicali’s for lunch. We enjoyed Mexicali’s again this year with Janet and ironically we were just down the street from Pacific Brake and Alignment. We parted company around 2 pm  with Janet heading home and us heading back to the Igloo. A nice quick visit but enough for this time. We managed to catch them on an in-between day. Dennis arrived home on Saturday, Janet arrived home yesterday and tomorrow they head off for some medical appointments for Dennis a few hours north of Indian Wells. Busy folks. 

Lots of debris that normally isn't around.

  

We fueled up the Big Dog at $3.59 per US gallon but I didn’t fill him. I’ll find cheaper fuel when we arrive in Arizona I am certain. We took a little drive around the area checking out the dry camping area behind Patton’s Museum but it wasn’t our type of camping. There are designated places to park, all are back in and there is very little space between them. There is some definite traffic noise from the interstate but it wasn’t much more than white noise at the time we were there. Also I think it would be noisy due to the museum and the little store, coffee stop, gas station, etc. You have to really pay attention to see the sign designating the camping area. It is JUST PAST the museum before you get to the busier part of the stop. It is easy to miss the sign. 

 

Nothing like a water fall in the desert surrounded by green, green, green grass.

 

Back home I once again used my new magnet on a stick to clear up some nails that I noticed laying around the edges of the fire pits in our location. A few had scattered out a bit from the pits and so I made sure they ended up back inside the fire pits once again. These pits are right up against some big rocks and so I doubt anyone would drive there even if the pits are removed. Too close to the rocks.  

 

It doesn't look much like desert does it?

 Spent some time reading and resting before doing this blog post. The wind seems to have calmed down from the gusts earlier but it’s still gusty at times. Things are quiet here in our little spot and we’re happy to report that it’s been a very nice day. Always nice to see family. 

Sorry for the reflection from the window.

 

Tomorrow is a short travel day. We anticipate getting an early start and therefore an early arrival time. We are of course heading to Quartzsite for a little while. Some good friends from our Magic River camping days in Long Beach, Mississippi are in Q for a few days and we are looking forward to seeing them. They will only be in town a few more days and so we’re in a hurry to get a visit or two in with them before they head out. 

 

A very typical street in their community. Lots of maintenance workers around.

 

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed your visit.

 

A very old BMW.

 

Until next time…take care, be safe,

Deb

We moved today......

Our Location: Joshua Tree National Park, South Entrance, CA

 

We packed up and headed off this morning around 7:30 AM California time and an uneventful trip we had. We like those kinds of trips. Except for a little mishap, not ours but someone else's at the rest area on I-8 West just past Ogilby Road the roads were accident free. A semi had some how managed to jack knife himself while coming out of the rest area onto the I-8 West bound lanes but was still in the rest area. It appeared that he thought he wouldn't make the turn and backed up which jack knifed him and his right rear tractor wheels were hanging in the air over the side of the road. A big tow was on route. Enough room for us to slip past him and be on our way though. 

 

Just before the rest area on I-8 West. Lots of weekend warriors here.

 

We made our first stop at the rest area of course, water, and garbage. From there our next stop was a little over an hour away at Brawley's Walmart on Wildcat Drive. We took our time getting a few things that we hadn't been able to find in Yuma. After that it was on the road again until we turned in at the Red Earth Casino on CA 86 N where we used their dump station. We waited for about 20 minutes until it was our turn and within a half hour we were on our way once again. 

 

The border inspection station on CA 86 was backed up and stop and go for a while but suddenly they just started waving everyone through and not asking any questions. It appeared they had two cars pulled over and the K-9 unit was inspecting both.

Back in Ontario, Canada we never think of a Palm Forest.

 

We continued right along taking the Dillon Road Exit to merge onto I-10 EAST bound. From this point on our towing travels will take us east bound, with perhaps some southward movement as well but mostly east until we finally head north to the land we call home. We climbed onto I-10 E and continued on our way. We reached Joshua Tree National Park and set ourselves up by 2 pm California time. A quick call to Dad had me informed that it was too cold for folks to be outside there today and so he was inside doing some net surfing. 

 

Along the way, hay under those tarps, tons and tons of it. A very empty I-8 West bound. Two trees have formed an arch in this field. Very cute.

 

A nice lunch and then Riley and I caught up with our blogging friends and I checked the weather for tomorrow. Ho hum, I wished I'd have checked it last night instead. We wouldn't be staying here at JTNP tonight if I had. Wind warnings posted for here tonight, 25-30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. Starting around midnight and continuing through the night and into the afternoon tomorrow. I checked the Salton Sea area, no wind warnings of any kind. I was tempted to move but instead we stayed put. Hopefully tomorrow we can still make it into town to see Janet and have a visit. 

 

Welcome to Brawley, CA. Fuel prices are a bit high I think.

 

Can you see the snow on the mountain peaks in these pictures?

 

So there you have it, our travel day which wasn't long and wasn't difficult. We enjoyed seeing the sights again and are looking forward to tomorrow and some time with Janet.  We will be here only two nights and be moving on Tuesday morning. 

We begin the long climb to the Chiriaco  Summit.

Thanks for stopping in, I hope you enjoyed your visit. 

 

As we climbed we noticed this helo. He appeared to be hovering at first, then moved off and swung around to come back. We could see the long line trailing and couldn't imagine what he was doing. As we watched he approached one of the towers and stopped, hovering again. It was then I realized there are workers on this towers and he's picking them up. Now that folks is a definite high risk ride to and from work.

 Until next time... take care, be safe, 

 

Deb

 

 

 

No wind, sunny, blue skies, getting repaired.....

Our Location: Indio Blvd, Indio California

 

The wind died down completely Wednesday night. Thursday morning dawned with still no wind, sunny blue skies and promise of a warmer day. We had an quasi appointment at a shop on Indio Blvd. First come, first served. We arrived about 8:20 AM. 

 

Snow on that mountain top over there as we start down the 10 mile drop into Indio from Joshua Tree National Park.

Big Bear Mountain also has snow. We are still doing downward.

 

We are parked up beside the Pacific II Brake and Alignment shop on Indio Blvd here in Indio, California. We are having the bushings replaced in the springs, wheels checked, greased, etc and an alignment on the Igloo. Tire wear on the rear tires only is the reason. Instead of going into a big long explanation I'll leave it there. Hopefully we are out of here this afternoon (Friday, Jan 4, 2019) all of the parts are due this morning. 

 

Driving toward the area known as Palm Springs.

Some more snow as you can see.

 

A chat with Janet last night leaves us with a tentative date for lunch today at Mexicali's. A very authentic Mexican Restaurant just up the street from our current location. We visited with this place last year with her as well and loved the food.

 

We are in the La Quinta area.

 Janet's a very busy lady and this year has her even busier than usual due to some unexpected happenings. When we left in the fall we agreed on a visit at approximately this time as the calendar was wide open for her.  So we're going to have only a very quick visit but may come back this way later in the winter for another, we'll have to see. 

 

Some very pretty flowers around this area.

 

We have power, Danny the owner has us plugged in, we spent a somewhat restless night due to the industrial area we are in but as I said, we're hoping to be out of here today. We shall see how things go. 

 

Not something we see back home in Ontario, Canada.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you've had a wonderful day. 

 

They have some very pretty landscaping in the southwest.

 

Until next time... take care, be safe, 

 

Deb 

 

A nicer day here but still windy....

Our Location:  South Entrance BLM, Joshua Tree National Park

Another very windy day here in the neighbourhood. We will be happy to leave here and get somewhere that we can open up the slides and feel like we are back on land instead of on a ship. Hopefully tomorrow will be that day. We shall see what it holds in store.
 

That white stuff is traces of snow on the mountains over there.

 

The same far blue mountains.

 The sun is shining, bonus!! The sky is blue, bonus!! The temperatures are a wee bit warmer, bonus!! So you see there are many good things here in the neighbourhood as well. The temperature as I start this post shortly after 1 PM California time is 52F/ 11.1 C. I do not know what the wind speed is but I can tell you it is coming from the North, North East again. 

That is looking from the door of the Igloo over top of I-10 to the area known as Box Canyon Road.

 

That is looking the opposite direction toward Joshua Tree National Forest.

 Riley and I both headed out for a walk toward the other side of the roadway which enters into the park. The park is open, folks are going in and out all day long but probably like last year there are no rangers to assist with questions, take money, etc. A friend of mine showed a post on Facebook that private citizens were cleaning the toilets and dumping the garbage in the park. I can neither vouch for nor deny such a thing is happening. I can tell you that I am not doing either of those things. 

 

Various shades of purple.

 

Bright yellows.

 

The many colours of the desert here at Joshua Tree National Park.

 

Our walk past the road walk had us stop for a chat with a fella in an older motor home from Pennsylvania. The gent’s name is Mike and he is a rock hound of sorts. His son is travelling with him, but we never met the son. The son apparently is a carver of stone. Mike came from Montana way where he said hail stones the size of his fist pounded down on the motor home for at least an hour. It broke or spidered most of the windows on the rig, except the windshield. He says all of the lights on the front have been either cracked or broken again due to the hail. Dents on the roof, fenders, and hood seem to be large and numerous. Glad we weren’t in Montana. 

Getting ready to drop seed in the desert.

I don't care how you hang it, it's still garbage and should be removed by the person that left it there.

 

We continued on down the trail for a bit, covering about a half mile in each direction. We noticed in many areas the levee between the park and the BLM land has been breached or is just missing. The big rains they had in October which closed Box Canyon Road, also washed out these levees in numerous places. It appears in one they’ve built something of cement at the opening, back filled with very course gravel and topped with sand all the way back to the road. I wonder if the cement is to be some kind of barrier for the road way to maybe divert the biggest force by splitting it around the cement abutment? One can see they have repaired the road in numerous places.

 

Mesquite bush flowering and with bean pods. 

 

The desert is alive with colour here in Joshua Tree National Park. Yellows, purples, greens, reds, and various shades of browns. The mountain tops across the way which we have not seen with snow have a light dusting that will melt in today’s sun I think. It is truly not a brown, forsaken sand pit, but filled with living colour and various shadows and shades that keep the palette alive and vibrant. If you are like me, something in this magically land draws me, holds me, and keeps me wanting to return again. I can not describe it, I can not tell you why I feel this pull, I can not explain the hold, I can only tell you, it is, it does and it will continue to draw me for many, many years. Will I heed it’s call? I don’t know but I know I will feel it’s pull, it’s soft whisper, it’s beckoning finger, of this I have no doubt. 

This Palo Verde tree managed to withstand the water that broke the levee right beside it.

To steal a line: The view out our window today.

 

 A birthday wish for my nephew Jason, he turns a whopping 29 today. On this day 29 years ago I was in Myrtle Beach, SC with hubby Richard, daughters Courtney (20 days before her 2 nd birthday), daughter Bradey, (5 months old), and my Dad and Mom. Happy Birthday Jason. I hope you and Leah are enjoying your holiday in BC, Canada. 

 

Behind the levee is a new road that was used to fix the BLM road. The desert is now cracking and drying out.

 

The first picture is the course gravel used to fix the road, you can see the depth of the wash by the cut of the sand bank.  The breach in the levee is pretty plain isn't it? That is the Park behind the levee.

 

As I finish writing this post at 5:20 PM California time, the temperature is at 45F/7.2C. The wind has suddenly stopped dead, not a breath, but who knows for how long that will last. The place is filling up with about 15 rigs coming in between 3-4, then about 10 more dribbled in from 4- 4:30 pm. They seemed to have dried up now. 

 

Another of the many breaks in the levee. The gravel used to fix it and of course the cut in the bank behind the gravel is the path in which the water took as it washed the road out.

The cement piece they placed in front of this hole. I wonder what it is for?

 

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed your visit.

 

Very colourful, it would be hard to lose in a parking lot.

 

Until next time…. take care, be safe,

 

Deb