Two years Ago in mid January, 2020, I came to the Quartzsite area of southwest Arizona for the first time.
Over the previous two years of 2018-19 I have been watching a YouTube channel titled CheapRVliving by a fellow named Bob Wells. It’s been a very interesting series of interviews of folks who would done their own DYI designs or modifications of vans, old RVs, U-Haul trucks and even ambulances. Many 100s of interviews With each conversation and tour of the vehicle or trailer, there was some sort of backstory about the person who ended up living a nomadic life. These stories and the little homes on wheels were very interesting to me.
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| Bob Well's Youtube Channel |
Why Quartzsite? The main draw is the weather during the depths of winter. In the southwestern desert, it is relatively warm and stable and offers an economical alternative to the average experience of winter up north. Also, it has seemingly unlimited federal land on which people could Linger in their portable homes.
I parked my minivan north of Quartzsite on Plomosa Road BLM (Bureau of Land Management) area and then spent the next 10 days exploring the area. I discovered a specific RV group called The Escapees which is very interesting because it has many many tens of thousands of members and within the organization are scores of different interest groups. These people self organize and gather based on these interests and affiliations. When I visited at the height of the season in mid January, there were many large circles and groups of these types of folks out in the desert. Various presentations and programs were being put on. Also breakfasts, etc.These groupings may be centered around such things as astronomy, religious affiliations, activity such as bicycling, rockhounds. I had never realized! had never thought about people getting together like this. It reminds me of migratory birds whether they be geese swans or starlings. Periodically migratory birds will gather into large flocks.
Using cell phones, and email these groups migrate about the United States and Canada, and periodically gather in various locations depending on the weather. In January, they might be in Quartzsite. As the seasons change, they may relocate further north and meet on other BLM or Forest Service lands. Or they go north of the border into Canada. In 2020 I saw many Canadian license plates. They want to escape the long winters!
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| Average Temperatures in January (Note Southwest Arizona!) |
I developed the impression that large groups of people accumulated in this vicinity and that it became a sort of scene for January February and March. So, besides my typical Texas trip, I thought I would add an additional 600 mile jump from my usual Fredericksburg, Texas destination and continue on to explore Arizona.
When I arrived back in 2020 January, I was amazed by the large number of people scattered across the desert floor. I am told that in January Quartzsite can easily attract up to 200,000 people, living in their various vehicles and RVs . So, I wanted to see it and I was most impressed. Almost aghast.
When I arrived back in 2020 January, I was amazed by the large number of people scattered across the desert floor. I am told that in January Quartzsite can easily attract up to 200,000 people, living in their various vehicles and RVs . So, I wanted to see it and I was most impressed. Almost aghast.
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| One Escapee Group's Announcement Board |
I parked my minivan north of Quartzsite on Plomosa Road BLM (Bureau of Land Management) area and then spent the next 10 days exploring the area. I discovered a specific RV group called The Escapees which is very interesting because it has many many tens of thousands of members and within the organization are scores of different interest groups. These people self organize and gather based on these interests and affiliations. When I visited at the height of the season in mid January, there were many large circles and groups of these types of folks out in the desert. Various presentations and programs were being put on. Also breakfasts, etc.These groupings may be centered around such things as astronomy, religious affiliations, activity such as bicycling, rockhounds. I had never realized! had never thought about people getting together like this. It reminds me of migratory birds whether they be geese swans or starlings. Periodically migratory birds will gather into large flocks.
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| January in the Desert.... |
Using cell phones, and email these groups migrate about the United States and Canada, and periodically gather in various locations depending on the weather. In January, they might be in Quartzsite. As the seasons change, they may relocate further north and meet on other BLM or Forest Service lands. Or they go north of the border into Canada. In 2020 I saw many Canadian license plates. They want to escape the long winters!
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| Plomosa BLM Camping Area in Quieter Times |
From all the time I spent watching a DYI channels about RV tight camping, along with Bob Wells, and all the different types of equipment that I saw when out in the Quartzsite area, I came to the conclusion that I would probably want to go with the pop-up type camper that sits on a half-ton pickup truck. In the Autumn of 2020 I purchased my Silverado (V8 4x4) and then my camper and spent another two months integrating them together. I upgraded the truck to stiffer 10-ply tires and beefed up the suspension with adjustable air-shocks. This to handle the extra load of the camper and all my 'stuff'. I also added about 2" of "lift" to the frame so that I have a little more clearance. I definitely have to climb up into the truck!
My main idea was to have a vehicle that I could take up rougher gravel roads such as on BLM land as well as US Forest Service logging roads. The lower center of gravity of the pop-up lends itself to this sort of sketchier exploration. This is definitely NOT an "Off-Roader" rig. Those are way too much for my needs. But I'd like to be able to get deeper into back country. T
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| Exploring High and Desolate Country |
In February 2021 I came back into the Quartzsite and Salome area of southwest Arizona and put this combination Truck/Camper to the test. Below are a couple photos from a drive up a long, steep and challenging mountain road. This turned out OK and I learned that the truck was capable although I alternately found that I had overstressed the water pump and soul back on the highways the truck started to overheat and ultimately I was towed back to the Phoenix area and had a water pump installed. But all in all, I found the experiment very interesting and look forward to using this combination periodically over the next 3 to 4 years. I also concluded that the January volume of campers was too much for me. After a big RV show in January, the numbers diminish some. And I found that numbers were also much less in a subsequent visit in 2021 during the height of the COVID epidemic.
Anyway, the above puts in context my current February 2022 visit.
After leaving Tucson, I stopped in Gilbert, Arizona, Southeast of Phoenix. There is located a firm named Santan Solar where I purchased a solar panel to complement one that I had bought the previous year. After making that transaction that I continued West on I-10 and arrived at Quartzsite around sunset. As of this writing (March 3rd) I have now been out on the same BLM spot off Plomosa Road for the last 8 1/2 days.
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| February2022 Plomosa Campsite |
From here, I have gone out on 40 mile rides from my camp to the town of Bouse, and back each day. The road is paved and the traffic is light and lower speeds. I wear my yellow vest, helmet and rear view mirror mounted on my sun glasses. I apply sunblock prior to each days departure.
There is a small range (Plomosa Mountains) and I go over Quinn Pass at just under 900' of elevation. Plenty of long, gradual climbing. My goal has been to continue to build up my cycling capacity for the anticipated cross-country trip which I expect to start from the Boston area in early May. My thoughts are that if I can do 40 miles each day here, and strengthen my legs, heart. lungs and toughen up my butt, I should be in good shape for the big bike tour. From October through early January I spent too much time sitting in the La-Z-Boy, so it’s always good to get back in the saddle, shake off the cobwebs, and re-introduce my body to gradually increasing physical stress. Aclimate back to day-to-day work.
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| Climbing Over the Plomosa 'Mountains' |
When I started bike riding here eight days ago, the temperature high for the day was only 60°. But generally the temperatures have been increasing, climaxing today at 91°. As a result I’ve been getting up and bicycling a little earlier each day as the sun and heat have become more intense. Tomorrow, the temperatures are supposed to drop dramatically, and the winds to increase. As I’ve done before, weather changes usually trigger my getting back in the truck and moving on. So this evening I disassembled my bike and camp. In the morning I'll get up, have breakfast, do my final packing and then lower the camper and clamp it down and then spend the next three days driving back to Wisconsin.
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| Anticipated Routing Home |
I expect to be home by around 8 March. I will not be pausing to explore the countryside. Just put down around 600+ miles/day and get my butt home. This timing is over two weeks earlier that I would normally return. But I want to be back in Wisconsin earlier since I have to arrange to ship my touring bike out east as well as book flights and make arrangements for taking care of my home while I am away on the tour, etc.
Arriving back in Wisconsin I will experience an abrupt change in temperatures of close to a 50° ! Yikes! But hopefully I will be able to get on the bike (with studded tires) through the balance of March and most of April and maintain my level of fitness so that when I start the bicycle tour in early May, I’ll be in good shape. Anyway that’s my goal . In the meantime, I’ll keep you posted….
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