Sunday January 14
by
Terry
We
were told once that it gets cold in Arizona in the winter, and they were
right about that,
last
night the temperature dropped to a low of 20 deg F. At least there
was no freezing rain
or
snow to further remind us of winters long past.
Currently
at 1:30 pm it is still only 43 deg. But there is no wind so it does
not look too bad outside.
I
had to get up early and trudge up to the ranger station to get the Sunday
paper—you know
the
old line walking up hill five miles uphill through waist deep snow And
subzero temperatures
both
ways to get the mail, while Ron waited in the comfort of the trailer, it
was a character building moment.
(haven’t
been out since)
Called
Iowa this afternoon, my parents are well, but homebound for the day,
it
is snowing a bit and the roads a less then ideal for them to travel.
At least they did not
get
the ice that hit Kansas and Missouri.
We
have just about finished up with the paper, and will later this afternoon
drive to Blythe
for
a little recreational shopping at the local K-mart. We have to be
really desperate to look
forward
to that as a high point of the day. Will also do a bit of grocery
shopping at Albertson’s
and
hope to get out of there for less then a hundred dollars, but probably
won’t.
Yesterday
the trailers rolled in all day, it’s looking like the crowds are starting
to gather for the big shows.
To
further add to the excitement the Big tent is now up, the work crews raised
it over the last couple days
in
the wind and it now is a prominent feature in our view from the north window
of the trailer.
Soon
we will have to contend with 5 mile long traffic jambs on Hwy 95, and of
course all the traffic
and
parking problems that come with the shows. I had heard that the Quartzsite
cops had been
working
Kuehn St hard in front of Rice ranch, Prospectors Panorama, and Tyson Wells
writing parking tickets.
I
assume they will also be posting the no parking signs on Hwy 95 going south
out of town in preparation for the shows.
Do
not park on the shoulder of hwy 95 to go to the Rv Show, it will cost you
a $40 parking ticket—
the
police will start at one end of the road and walk it to the ranger station
and back writing tickets.
It
happens every year.
by
Ron
This
from the Weather Watcher Alert:
(It
comes out in CAPS... not me, and I'm not about to retype it.)
THE
COLDEST WEATHER IN MORE THAN 16 YEARS OCCURRED EARLY SUNDAY MORNING BEHIND
THE VERY COLD LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM THAT MOVED EAST ACROSS THE AREA SATURDAY.
THERE WERE REPORTS FROM THE GREATER PHOENIX AREA OF PIPES BURSTING DUE
TO THE EXPANSION OF WATER FREEZING IN THE PIPES.
LOW
TEMPERATURES EARLY SUNDAY MORNING WERE IN THE TEENS AND 20S INCLUDING 17
AT TACNA...20 IN EAST MESA...22 AT DEER VALLEY AIRPORT AND PINNACLE PEAK...25
AT YUMA...BLYTHE...SCOTTSDALE AND COOLIDGE... AND 29 AT SKY HARBOR
IN PHOENIX. THIS WAS THE COLDEST READING AT SKY HARBOR IN MORE THAN 16
YEARS SINCE THE 26 DEGREE READING ON THE 23RD OF DECEMBER 1990.
IT
IS FORECAST TO BE EVEN COLDER AGAIN IN SOUTH-CENTRAL ARIZONA INCLUDING
THE GREATER PHOENIX AREA LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY MONDAY MORNING...AND ONLY
SLIGHTLY HIGHER IN SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND ALONG THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER
VALLEY INCLUDING THE YUMA AREA.
Monday January 15
The
big show runs from Jan. 20 to the 28th.
We
had the link for the big show on last weeks post... here it is again if
you are just tuning in..
http://www.quartzsitervshow.com/index.htm
See a whole group of aerial
photos of the tent and the event.
Terry stopped by today to
see how they were doing getting things set up.
A venders booth runs about
$1200 and they must be making money as this thing has been going
on for
many years and seems to
be growing. Last year the tent was enlarged by about a third.
I spent time this afternoon
working on NEW listings to the Hitchitch.com
Travel Adventure Site section.
Do stop by and see the new
listings. I had been putting it off. How dare me.
I love to email people with
new listings and get back nice e-mails saying how happy they are to be
listed.
People love sharing their
lives and adventures in this lifestyle.
That's why they build web
sites and blogs. To Share! With Hitchitch.com they get exposure.
What could be better!
I see a lot of sites that
do a great job of showing their vacation camping stories.
We try to stick with fulltime
RVers or at least snowbirds.
Terry is making spaghetti
with meat balls, steamed broccoli with butter and balsamic vinegar.
A side salad with french
bread. Watching the Golden Globe Awards as he cooks.
And I do do this post. I
like doing our blog at this time of day, during happy hour, as Terry cooks.
Seems to work for us. After
supper Terry takes over the computer to go through his favorite sites.
I might watch more TV or
go back to a current book I'm reading.
Another cold , cold night...
we are getting used to it. Now time to stop it, and warm back up.
We hope you have power up
NORTH. if you are reading this you do. We know many are still in the
grips of ice on the power
lines and now having high winds. Another wish to stay warm out there!
Tuesday January 16
Busy
is the only word that can describe the town of Quartzsite.
We
had forgotten how backed up the streets can get. And the big show
doesn't even opren till Saturday.
It
has been coled but the Pit Stop ran out of propane. That caused a rush
on the other dealers in town with long lines.
Just
how could the Pit Stop run out is not something I would want to do, on
the busiest week of the year.
Just
think of the lost revenue they suffered. And you only have a few weeks
a year to make it in this town.
The
other outlets were more than happy to fill everyones tanks. It runs $14.84
for 7 gallons. Not bad. We are happy to pay
that
to keep warm. We do turn the temp down to 55 at night and it stays around
45 in the 5er basement.
The
water pipes at the BLM La Posa South (the only fresh water station for
this BLM area) on the south side of the
main
road froze and burst. The ones on the noth side were ok but it caused another
traffic backup.
Now
they are asking RVers to leave them drip and not shut them off completely.
Nothing
around here is set up to handle temps such as we have been having.
We
are all having to cope with the weather in our own little ways. Not like
the unfortunate folks up north,
many
still without power.
Stopped
at the RoadRunner Grocery store and we could also see a run on booze.
The
shelves were getting a little bare of some brands. As of last week I wasn't
sure if it was a grocery or a liquor store.
So
I also had to buy a little extra, so as not to run out, don't Ya Know.
Wednesday January 17
The
gridlock is starting at exit 17 on W Main St on Q. This will only get worse.
Time
to start using the back streets in Q.
In the Desert Gardens show
grounds on the south side of I-10 is Rock Our World.
There is vender after vender
selling this stuff.
Camping World is setting
up right in the middle of Baudry RV grounds on the north side of Kuehn
St.
on the south side of
I-10. Bet the RV supply venders, and the local RV dealer are not happy
to see them move in.
They had a booth at the
big RV show last year but didn't have much to sell. Was more jsut PR.
But NOW..
Looks like several semi's
full of stuff to sell. Wonder if they will reduce the price on any of their
items.
We shall see. No dought
people will flock to see what they have to offer, that is for sure.
Since they are locted right
next to the big RV seller (Baudry RV) it will generate traffic to view
the RVs for sale.
Sandy sent us a couple more
pictures.
A couple of cold feathered
friends.
Terry is going to a night
class at the rock club so having a pre made store pizza later. How could
we!
Thursday January 18
About town today, taking
advantage of the last few days before the traffic becomes unbearable.
Gridlock is starting in
a few of the bottlenecks, The Interstate exchange on the West end
of town,
and the traffic light at
Kuehn and hwy 95. Saturday the lines will really back up ad a bicycle
will be
the best option to get around
town.
Couldn't resist the statue
at the entrance to Hardee's Beads, one of the long time businesses in Quartzsite.
This year they are in a
different building, having moved to the old ponderosa building, saving
the building from
the wrecking ball.
Kuehn Street looking West
from the Baudry RV lot and Camping World.
As you can see the crowds
have picked up.
A couple of weeks ago you
could have landed a small airplane on this street.
Local color, We like
to think it,s the statue of the unknown RV Salesman.
Baudry Rv is hosting Camping
World's retail tent. They had lots of lookers and a good basic
selection of RV supplies
in stock. BUT it was just like their regular store even with the shelves
with the in store price
tags. Reg. price and club price. Now if you have been to a Camping World
store
you know they are not the
low cost leader. But if you want it they have it. And much high end stuff
you
don't need, but soon can't
live without. And you have to walk clear through the Baudry RV lot to get
to the tent.
Right past the RVs for sale,
how original.
Just inside the BLM La Posa
North long term camping area, the signs are growing in the desert.
Popping up to let friends
know where everyone is located.
Picture taken from the main
BLM raod.
A (old) shot of our little
campground area on what is behind the above picture.
Right inside the La Posa
north LTVA. next to the main paved road. (no blowing dust in this area)
We on the other hand are
right past those signs just off to the right (south) with a great spot.
We do have a HitchItch sign
pointing to us. We got here in late Oct. so got a pick of the sites.
People are moving in all
around us and we are happy to see them all arrive, and will be even more
happy to see them all leave
after the big show tent season is over. This is like a state fair site,
once
a year for 10 days it blooms
and the rest of the year is just exists.
I do like working at the
computer and watching (in the slide window above) all the interesting rigs
go by.
The windows are mirrored
so I can see out you and you can't see in. (In the daytime) We found many
features we love
after we bought this
unit that we didn't know we were getting.. Happy realizing the quality
in the unit we bought.
And we did try to investigate
5ers. The next one will be a refinement of what we have learned living
fulltime in a
NuWa or should say the (Quality
Coaches) HHII brand unit.
Anything and everything
goes by on that road in January. People and RV watching at its BEST.
You know how when a new
RV comes into a campground, we all like to check them out.
Well here it is a never
ending event.
It really is a ... Woodstock
for RVers. We all love it, and we all get along.
Because
it is the lifestyle. Not what you do it in! Later
Dude...
Friday January 19
by Terry
So
here we are the day before the big show and it rains (for Q big time)
Yes
that is our little sign on the left. Who says it never rains in California,
(or Arizona for
that
matter.) With a few more rains there may be spring blooms in a few
weeks.
Tomorrow
the RV show will start, and with it all the traffic. In past years
the traffic has backed
up
al the way to La Posa South on Hwy 95 northbound. The state fair
atmosphere is kicking in.
Yesterday
there was a plane circling Q towing a large banner advertising one of the
numerous
Rv
dealers.
The
rallies have also started. La Mesa Rv is hosting a large group in
their parking lots, and the
dry
camping in town has filled. It will be interesting to see how long they
stick around.
Our
neighbors who have been volunteering for the BLM report that they had over
60 units come in yesterday.
A very nice rainbow, good luck for tomrrow perhaps
a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow
At
sunset time after an all day rain event, the clouds parted , we got a burst
of sun for a nice glow.
Saturday January 20
OH..
MY a big day with the opening of the big tent show and nice weather.
Not just nice but great...
If
you would have been here (with the sunrise) you would have heard a big
SUCKING
sound with the thousands of solar panels
sucking
up the suns rays, as yesterday there was none. Complete overcast
and rain most of the day.
If
you just come here just for the weekend you might be saddened that it rained
but for the rest of us full-time
winter
boondockers, we just might have loved it as it killed the dust.
We
had some readers stop by. We were having a campfire and listening to
(You
know It ... A Prairie Home Companion streaming on the internet)
We
turned it down a bit and enjoyed the conversation and company, as
these folks (amazing to us) wanted to stop by
and
say hello to US.
You
know I am a bit embarrassed when readers show up (or send emails) and express
statements about
how
they like our personal web site, or the main Hitchitch.com site,
and our stories and what we find to report.
We
loved seeing them and encouraged them to get a blog going so we can list
it. What nice people we encounter.
After
the radio show was done (45 min later) we were in a great mood so we went
off to go out for supper
(a
midwest term for dinner) at Janet's Kitchen right next to the main post
office for their Sat. night prime rib dinner.
Most
of the time in Q the restaurants close early. Around 7 PM. But we find
in the big event week they are more busy and open later.
We
were seated right away (soon many were in line) at about 6:30 PM. To make
a long story short. The meal was real good.
If
I can say, it was MUCH better then the Christmas dinner across the street
at the other no name cafe. (Palo Verde) and at half the price.
They
were busy and we heard one complaint from the next table, but we were mellow
and the owner's sister waited on us.
She
was just helping out to get the cafe off to a good start. Some
people just don't understand this is Q and not the Ritz.
The
food was very good and we will go back.
We
even met some people waiting in line for service. We got to talking and
I handed them my card with the web site address on it.
They
were big MH people and us telling them about us living in the BLM with
solar power and not needing to be on the electric grid for big time power
was a topic they were curious about. They were friendly and I think
we educated them on a lifestyle they might not have thought about.
Now
if they go to www.hitchitch.com
from my card address they might learn more about this lifestyle. Never
can tell when you might meet nice people if you jsut say HI and smile.
We
like to just tell it like it is, and not fluff it up, as we are just a
couple of guys, living life as it happens, and
what
we see and how we deal with real life. Terry, likes to stop at tourist
traps and most of the time I,
in
the drivers seat go right on by.
Today
in Q it was a great late afternoon and sunset. It was just what was needed
for thousands,
for
a Sat. night of a happy hour, campfires, and cookouts. Many of the people
here are a part of
a
group that gather for fun in the desert. This was a perfect day for people
who come here for this.
The
numbers are as we can see, and others have said are way up this year, as
the RVs are everywhere.
It
may be Q is a state fair event but for a week or two it IS A BIG deal
right here in river city as they say.
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