Sometimes Ya Just Gotta Wonder. 

They're trying BUT... Now when you look closer...

Do ya think they could spell the name Quartzsite correctly. And BTW even if spelled correctly that Domain Name does not work.
We remember last year we stopped by (they were just opening, brand new) and asked what their monthly rate was as we were at that time thinking about coming off the BLM and they didn't know what that ment. Just quoted us the daily rate times 30 days. I said you're kidding and he looked back with a blank stare. Like my thread lead... Sometimes Ya Just Gotta Wonder. 

The vender across from the Post Office and next to the Produce Stand. Wonder who they had paint their main store sign.
Think it's time to ask for their money back. 

Now for a little observation and gripe... The General Store in Q has for years been the place to go to. But things change. From our viewpoint they are going down hill very fast. We know it is for sale and the lack of stock is obvious.  With a store this small every inch should be packed with items for sale. Could be some are going to Parker more and more for groceries. Or we also notice the Roadrunner Big Market has improved their offerings (no blank shelves) might be drawing it's customers. We like the General Store but the Roadrunner seems trying to be competitive. Now for the gripe... whenever we go to the General Store for meat etc. we get a welcome like... Where have you guys been, we've missed you.  Saying to us, you're not supporting us. The checkout clerk even called us the bopsey twins... and how they like giving us grief... My reply was I can get grief anywhere... Not sue if she got the point. Seems to me thay should be gald we stopped by, instead of asking where have you guys been, we have missed you.  Now I don't even want to stop unless we have to.
 

Now thoughts again back at our BLM campsite. 

The weather is going to warm up to the mid 70s by the weekend. 
WOW this place called Quartzsite is Gunna Rock. Did I say rock... 

But for right now it's the BCS football game.
 

Monday  Jan. 10 

It's January and the season for Quartzsite to be the mecca for fun in the sun for so many.

A couple more sites around town. 

Now you don't think these are rip offs do you . We didn't stop by so don't know but if it has a name brand on it and is well below normal price be aware. 

And yes there is food everywhere... A big seller after people get tired of walking the vender areas. 
They get hungry for carnival food. Q is one big state fair for food venders. A money maker for sure. 
Now if they would just get over the fact that this is not a state or county fair and lower their prices for the winter market 
they are serving. 

Now there is a Gyros stand in Prospectors Panorma show grounds that I will be getting lunch at one of these days. Hang the price. 

Now a recurring thread... back at the ranch at our BLM campsite. 

Saturday was a gem of a day in Q... The venders were happy as people were out and about and the weather was just perfect. 
We knew we had to fire up the hot tub. As it was heating we started a fire. Later after dark (for a reason) we hopped into our 106° hot tub for another OMG how great is this... again. 
 
 

Friday  Jan. 7 

This vendor is a money maker for sure... Why... they sell the flags. 

Where ever you look around Q the vendors have flags like these to showcase their site. 

Me thinks the best idea is to just supply the venders with the things they need 
instead of trying to sell to the general public.

It's all here in Q...  Amethyst Crystals from Briazil   AND

Junk from your favorite garage sale. 

No need to rush it's not going anywhere soon.  See the semi in the back, they bring this stuff in by the truckload. 
Us fulltime RVers say when we buy something we then have to throw something else out so to make room for it. 

A close up in case you saw something you liked
 

Thursday  Jan. 6 

Looking around Q as the season heats up... now if the weather would also. 
(Forecast sez a warming trend for the weekend and next week)

Hardies Beads & Jewelry is open year round and the palce to go for quality items. 
You may have driven by this many times... but did you ever look UP.

This used to be a restaurant a couple of seasons ago but Hardies took it over and made it their new headquarters.
They moved from the building next door to this bigger one. 

Now it is the season to see all kinds of people movers.  If you like people watching Quartzsite is the palce to be. 
We saw this one on West Main. 

Look at all the sutff piled on top. Just think what it took to build the supports and top rack to hold all this. A labor of love comes to mind. Bet they would love to have a diesel pusher but they don't, but they are still moving on with what they have.

If you look at the top it looks like a canoe is center top and who knows what else.
The sign on the side sez Fat Kids Kitchen. But Ya know what I would guess...  they are Happy Campers... 
They did bring along their conoe after all. Living just how they want.  Free Spirits... We should be more like them, me thinks. Wonder what msyesmeans?

Moving on... the winter season is beginning... The venders are setting up big time... 
Need to get out this weekend and do some serious walking with my camera. 

BTW... we had a great hot tub soak last night.  The water temp was at 56° at the start of the heating proccess (not bad as we have been at freezing temps the last few nights) since we had it all bundled up due to the cold weather. But now we were longing for a good soak so we got the on demand gas water heater out and got it going. I took awhile, but it came up to 106°. in about an hour. (Today after refilling the bottle we find out it only took 1/2 gallon of propane.)  Getting in to very hot tub can be discomforting, even a little scarry, (Am I going to be a lobster... screaming as they cook me)  but once in with bullbles blowing, looking at the night sky... we expounded on what a great idea this was. Not just a whim idea but the best idea we have had in some time. This hot tub is making our winter season here in Q. Oh and bathing suits are optional. Cotton fibers from bathing suits tend to clog the filters you understand. Ya that's my story and I'm sticking to it...   No pictures for just that reason... Aren't you glad...  I even try not to look at the bathroom mirror when I step in the shower...  But in our hot tub floating, it all seams so right. 
 
 

Sunday  Jan. 2 

We discovered we were colder than we thought this morning when we woke up here in Q.

It was 32° outside and 48° inside and we were only getting cold air blowing from our gas furnace. 
First thoughts were WTF do we do now.  Terry go up and checked the propane. We had gas to the stove and the gas hot water would come on, so that was not it.  He went out to check it all out, took the cover off and it looked ok so he pounded on it a bit. That can't hurt can it.   IT was about time to call the local RV mobile service. As he was getting more frustrated, I was still hiding under the covers keeping warm. At last I got up and looked a the Atwood control panel and noticed a M button on it.  Looking at the user manual Terry had found it stated it was a mode control button. When I pressed it a couple of times it changed from blower only to auto heat. Now with it set to AU (auto) the furnace went from only cold blowing air to heat fortified blowing air. Eureka...

The yelling and blame game, subsided as the temperature rose. Someone must have bumped the little M button on the way to bed last night. I do remember turning down the temp setting for the night. BUT that's it. We have yet to decided which one hit this button. It's still under discussion. To think the geek in me never looked up what this button was for. Why would I. This unit never looked high tech enough to worry about.  It was always just turn it on and hit the up and down temp buttons. The window doesn't even light up. You have to turn on the hall light to see the temp. window readout. It doesn't even run the A/C, that's with another unit heat pump control unit above it. So as you can now see it turned out to be a FRED gottcha... Can you imagine if we had called a mobile RV rapier and he came out and just had to press the Mode button to make it fire up.  Talk about yelling. So in the end we lucked out big time. 

We decided to go for a Ladder Truck Pizza tonight. 

They are in Rice Ranch (SE corner of Kuehn & Hwy 95) here in Quartzsite and offer a 16" pizza for $13 with a $2 off coupon. 
With tax it came to $14.85. 

All toppings included.  So we loaded up with pepperoni, sausage, onions, black olives, mushrooms, and tomatoes with thin crust. They also offer sweet pepper, jalapeno, and pineapple toppings.

Now for our review... We did like it very much... with a few caveats... we should not have ordered the whole garden on it. It was a thick as it looks. It had too much stuff on it and not enough cheese. I think they were trying to empress us with all the toppings. But less sometimes is better as we found out. Next time, and there will be a next time, we will go for the regular crust and less toppings, without the sausage, and ask for extra cheese..  You can too, by calling ahead at 702 727 9267 or just stop by. They deliver after 5 PM. 
 

Update:  A reader sent an update to us about that old Stuckey's building on the west side of town that we posted about yesterday.  It's reported, say told us, a local real estate agent is rehabbing the building to make a new upscale restaurant. As they said to us... Go figure.
 
 
 

Saturday  Jan. 1  2011

Finishing off the Champagne watching the Rose Bowl and posting about more happenings we found in Q. 

Cheap Champagne one of the things done right for the masses. The about $5 stuff.  We are about to have New Years night dinner.  Some good looking New York Strip steaks, baked potato, and salad with Bernstein's Restaurant Recipe Italian dressing.

The label sez "Where others Skimp... We Splurge!". Friends (Jim and Nancy) in Q turned us onto this one. You can get it at Walmart (but not at the Parker store) and the big chain food stores.  This stuff is soooo good. We got it at Albertsons in Blythe for the record. 
I originally wanted prime rib but Terry refused to cook it. He didn't want to screw it up. He said if you want that we go out for it. I think good NY Strips will do just fine.

We hope this is a good omen for the New Year. 
Sure I posted this picture on Dec. 31 but it seemed even better now.  This was quite the sight.

The rain and wind hit us mid week and after a bright sun came out and gave us this perfect rainbow. 
 

If you have been to Q you have seen this broken building on the west side next to McDonalds.

Many are saying Quartzsite is going down hill, but someone must differ with that.  We have been following the remodeling of the old Stuckey's building on the west side of town. Broken windows and holes in the roof. Now someone has gone in there and is rehabbing it. It had been falling apart for years. 

That's Gem World in the background.  We wonder what they are planning for it. As you can see it now has a new roof. 
Whoever is doing this must have great vision or never got over the heat of summer. 
Crazy does come to mind. In any case we wish them well. Just another aspect of the changing business climate here in Q.

I did a big post on Dec. 31.  If you missed it just hit BACK below.
 
 

Go  BACK       Go to  INDEX  Page     Go FORWARD

See where we are at right now. DataStormUsers map ID 98 Have question or comment about our blog life... We love email.   Just email rbunge@hitchitch.com