My, my, my, what can I say about Quartzsite (aka QZ)? Describing this incredible gathering of like-minds may really be impossible but you know me, I'll give it a go! It is a combination of so many things my thoughts spill over in a jumble with no one thing standing out over any other. First of all, there are many huge, new (and some used) RV sales lots with millions of dollars worth of RVs being displayed. If you wanted to see all makes and models at one time, this is the place to be! Then, there is the much touted, "Main Event" in the monstrous red and white striped tent . It was huge and hot, with a crush of mostly senior shoppers (our group included). Down both sides and the full length of the middle, back to back, vendors were hawking all things RV related. Also, there were a few nontypical booths like the one full of male Asian massage therapists (All of the eight stations were busy ... a full massage was only $12!) for the general public. The show in the tent was a bit of a disappointment because I didn't see anything really new and in my opinion, prices inside the tent were a wee bit high and obviously anyone who was buying hadn't done their homework. However, that said, I wouldn't have missed it!
We camped beside our friends for seven days doing what is called, "boondocking" or "dry camping", (set up and parked without water, electric or sewer hookups). It was our first experience as we settled in on our spot seven miles south of QZ in the desert. Don and Ardella managed fine running their generator when they needed the microwave, made coffee, watched a DVD or turned on their furnace for a few minutes in the evening. We managed VERY well with our new solar system, my satellite internet and only ran the generator off and on to assist the solar panels and bring the batteries back up to fully charged. The capacity of our holding tanks was the determining factor as to how long we could stay and one week was the maximum for us ... we have a lot to learn about water conservation because both our gray and black water tanks were full when we left.
There are thousands of vendors set up in every direction from the middle of town as far as the eye can see selling every and any thing you can possibly imagine. New, used, old, ancient, unique, plain, beautiful, ugly, clean and incredibly dirty wares so numerous as to boggle the mind! Craft items far beyond your imagination, dollar store type items, exotic packaged foods, RV parts and tools, American Indian artifacts and then there were the rocks ... you have never seen so many rocks in your life! Tons of them, some as big as a small person; rough, polished, boxes and trays full; split or broken then strapped into crates exposing the beautifully colored crystals inside. The QZ Rock and Mineral Show, (I think it's the biggest in the world) was earlier in the month and many vendors stayed on (I wouldn't want to pack up those rocks either!) for this final week of January. Also, I think there may be more rock shows in the early and late spring.
Food vendors were scattered throughout and there were many restaurants in the area so finding lunch was never a problem. It was the usual fair/festival type food except Don and Ardella found a booth selling hamburgers on "Indian fry bread" and they said it was unique and delicious. I couldn't help but be amazed at the physical logistics, electricity and water demands being met, not to mention sanitation needs that were pretty good actually except for no place to wash your hands so our "Purell" came in handy. We went to town four days in a row and walked for several hours each day but I can guarantee, we barely scratched the surface. You would need two weeks to see it all! Ardella was a trooper and got along quite well using her walker and sitting down (it has a seat) to rest every so often. We were all amazed and very pleased at how well she did!
Traffic moved farely well all week until Monday when it took an hour to get into town because of an accident. Then on Tuesday, we hit the monster traffic jam; crawling into town (only seven miles remember) in stop and go, bumper to bumper traffic. We kept expecting another accident but the gridlock was completely due to the thousands of people coming into QZ from the desert. It took us 90 minutes to travel that short distance. Then, after several hours of shopping and taking time for lunch we headed home and this time, it took two hours to go that same seven miles! What an experience ... just incredible! Phil's patience behind the wheel was exemplary but I have to admit that Ardella and I complained some when we climbed out of the back of the truck and our behinds were numb!
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