Part 3 Day 13 to Day 20

Day 13 Wednesday March 23 We left Desert Gardens RV park and drove about 3 miles out of town onto some BLM land and set up the motor home. Goldie had a slow leak in the right rear tire probably from some the rough roads we had been on.. I took her to the tire repair shop and dropped Judy off at a bead store. Well, the tire had a bruise so it will have to be replaced. It was fixed an is now the temporary spare. In Tucson I will replace the two back tires with ones with more plies. Picked up Judy after looking at this huge bead/rock store. We got a few things for the motor home--new cabinet latches, light bulbs for floor night lights, new pan for around the gas burners, and some rubber grommets for holding down the stove top grills. Judy and I then hit a few store which are loaded with “stuff”. Judy got some nice beads and summer dresses and I got three logo tee shirts. Most stuff is cheap as it is the end of the season since most touristy stores close at the end of this month. Drove 3 miles today

Day 14 Thursday March 24 Left the boondocking BLM land and got on I-10 in Quartzsite. Drove to highway 85 and headed south to Gila Bend. Stayed at Augie’s Quail Trial RV Park space 107. After setting up and lunch we went into town to the Museum with had lots of stuff from early man, native American and later settlement. Went to the local grocery store and found the prices were very high. Judy did some knitting on her hat and I boxed up some rocks and straightened out the back of Goldie. Drove 137 miles today.

Day 15 Friday March 25 We drove to Painted Rocks Park about 30 miles Northwest of Gila Bend. On the way Judy saw her first road runner and was thrilled. At the park, an outcrop of rocks had many many pictographs on them. Some of the stones were covered. We went across the road to find some agates. The road to the Rowley mine was closed and all the roads into the rock hounding site were block off to traffic. We did find a few agates but did not venture too far from the road. We came back home for lunch. There is a shrimp farm here which we drove to and it was closed. We did drive around to look at the ponds which were dry. The operation looked pretty big. We had pork stir fry for dinner.

Day 16 Saturday March 26 We got up early and drove south on hwy 85 to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. After checking out the visitor’s center where native Americans were demonstrating basket and pottery making, we took the 21 mile Ajo mountain drive. The drive took us through the mountains were the places was loaded with all types of cactus and shrubs. Saw some birds but no cardinals. Judy wants to see cardinals. It was a beautiful drive. Came back late and had a nice steak dinner.

Day 17 Sunday March 27 Left Gila Bend and had a leasurely drive to Tucson. Took exit 254 off of I-10 to Prince of Tucson RV park space 107. After setting up, went to Craig and Wanda’s to visit and had a very nice dinner. It was great to see them again and for them to meet Judy. Judy was delighted when a cardinal landed in a tree in their back yard. Drove 115 miles today.

Day 18 Monday March 28 We went over to Craig and Wanda’s who took us to the Desert Museum. It is like a zoo, museum, and hike in the desert all in one. One of the neatest things were the free bird flights. Ravens, owls and hawks were let free to fly around the crowd while the announcer talked about each one. They all returned to their perches. We saw all kinds of desert animals and plants. In the hummingbird exhibit we saw hummingbirds feeding their teeny babies. We had a nice lunch in the restaurant there. Judy and I went back to the motor home and had dinner. After which, we did some shopping. It got hot this afternoon by our standards. Tomorrow it is suppose to be in the high 80’s.

Day 19 Tuesday March 29 Got two new tires in the morning for Goldie. She is very happy and thankful for new treads. We then drove to Craig and Wanda’s. All of us went to lunch at a Mexican restaurant then headed to a glass blowing shop to watch the glass blowing of a vase. Very pretty stuff in the store. Then headed to the local artsie village to look around. Some nice stuff and some junk in my opinion. Invited Craig and Wanda over for dinner of pork chops, rice, salad, broccoli and fruit. After dinner we went to the University to hear a talk on the Japan earthquake, what happened and why, and consequences for health of Japanese and us.

Day 20 Wednesday March 30 Went to McDonalds to check email. We then headed off to a RV store to bay a few things, door catches and sewer pipes. After we went to Craig and Wanda’s, then to the Arizona History Museum. They had a great display of local, that is, Sonoran desert tribes, showing their history past and present with artifacts. They also have 20,000 native pots. Had Greek food for lunch. We then went to the San Xavier dal Bac mission on the Indian reservation which was started by Jesuit priests in 1680. The present church was built starting in the 1780’s and has beautifully been restored.

Part 2 Day 7-12

Day 7 Thursday March 17
We drove the 73 miles to Lake Havasau City to see the London bridge. The last time I saw it the bridge was in pieces laying across the desert floor. Now it is a tourist trap. We ate lunch along the waterway created after they erected the bridge. Well the town was crowded because it was full of college kids on spring break. We drove across the bridge and went to the other end of the new island and had a nice view of the Colorado river. Found a few agates in the parking area. Got back to Quartzsite just in time for friends to invite us to their park’s St. Patrick’s Day dinner of corned beef and cabbage. After dinner we went over to some other peoples house and talked rocks. Fun time today.

Day 8 Friday March 18
We went rockhounding today in California at a place called the Hauser geode beds. The site was about 20 miles east of the Arizona border then about 20 miles south west on dirt roads. We drove first to an area called the potato patch and did not find anything exciting so we then went to the main beds. All we found were some some geodes, and suspect most will be solid inside. There was another place about 3 miles further west called Black Mountain. We found some good thundereggs there. No one else was around and the temperature was below 75. A very fun day out in the desert wilderness.

Day 9 Saturday March 19
We went to breakfast at the local rock club. Sausage, scrambled eggs and pancakes. They had a tailgate rock sale and a silent auction. Judy and I then went to some bead shops and looked around. After lunch we went over to the neighbors and spent some time looking at her beaded cabochons and Judy’s handmade jewelry. I got out my rock drill and started making some petrified wood beads for Judy. Judy did some beading, trying her hand at cabochon beading. Steak for dinner with lots of veggies.

Day 10 Sunday March 20
We went rock hounding about 5 miles SE of Quartzsite, off I-10. Visited some mines and looked for pretty rocks. Met a young family and they told us about a mine off Tom Wells Rd west of here. Green quartz. Stopped by the BLM guest host to see what we needed to do to boondock on BLM land. We got a permit which was good for two weeks and will think about it after Tuesday. He also said there was this mine with green quartz. So, after lunch we went looking. Drove Tom Wells south of I-10 and went to the end. No mine. Went North of the freeway and took a lot of roads. We stopped at a mine site and talked to the owner, a native American whose grandfather started the mine. He knew nothing of the mine we were looking for. He nicely showed us around part of his mine and gave us some rocks while explaining how he was mining for gold. So after a fun day we had dinner of soft chicken tacos.

Day 11 Monday March 21
We went out looking for copper minerals. On the way out of town, stopped at the Chamber of Commerce to see what they had. We went East on I-10 to US 60 exit and drove to Salome, where we took the Harquahala Mine road about 8 miles to some mines. We saw a nice herd of deer along the way. At the first mine, we got some nice rocks with copper ores in them. Very pretty. We then went a little further to the Harquahala Mine. Lots of copper rocks available here. This was at one time a big operation. Ate lunch and headed home. We decided to look for some agates just North of the little town of Brenda. It was a bust probably because many of the 100,000 Quartzsite visitors go there every year and have taken all the rocks. When we got home, I could not find the cell phone. Judy and I looked all over and to no avail. We will back track tomorrow in a faint hope of finding it. Double rats!
A note from Judy…
We are so very blessed to be able to have this opportunity to explore the US in this way. I just have to note the beautiful warm sunshine, blue sky, majestic cacti everywhere. I am not so enamored with the Cholla cactus. It has inch long barbs that reach out and grab you. Cholla means jumping. Wish I could jump like that! We are having a wonderful time. J

Day 12 Tuesday March 22
Well we went back to all the places I got out of the car yesterday. Of course, we did not find the phone. While we were in the mining area, we went to another mine. This one was a hole in the ground with tailing piled all over. Got some more copper minerals, possibly some silver, but no visible gold. Back in Quartzsite Judy wanted to stop at a discount clothing store, Bealls, and get some more summer clothes. We then went to check out what spot we want to go boondocking in tomorrow. Had nice corned beef dinner.

Spring Trip 2011

Well Judy and I are on the road again. We are traveling South to Arizona and New Mexico, up to Colorado and then home.

Day 1 Friday March 11

Well we got up early and finished packing the motor home. Poor Japan with the tsunami. Started up the motor home and headed up the driveway. Made the turn onto Lakeway (whew, Judy said I was close to the rock wall and the street sign). We headed to Les Schwab to have them check the air in the tires. Well, a few blocks from the store, the “low air” warning light came on. Went in to ask about getting the tire air checked. Tried to move the motor home and the air pressure was not enough to release the brakes. Rats!!! Called the truck repair place, they came and hit the control valve and it was fixed. I decided to replace it as it was probably the 13 year old original. Off we went finally, an hour and a half late start. Went I-5 south. We stopped for the night near Eugene at Shamrock RV park next to the Willamette River space C-2. Nice warm 66 degrees with mostly sunny. Daffys and crocus blooming. Drove 269 miles today.

Day 2 Saturday March 12

We left Eugene and headed South again on I-5. The Siskiyou Pass did not have any snow and the weather was on and off rain with temperature in the mid-40s. Mt Shasta was out in the sun except for the top which was cloudy. No snow next to the freeway anywhere along the route. We spent the night at Red Bluff RV park space 6. Drove 340 miles today.

Day 3 Sunday March 13

We had a nice drive today from Red Bluff to Kingsburg. Took I-5 through Sacramento, then cutting East over to US 99 South just past Stockton. Road was really rough in places and in others the surface had been redone. We spent the night in Riverland RV Resort which is along the King River space A16. The place has a nice big pond with about a half mile trail around it which we walked after dinner. Drove 331 miles today

Day 4 Monday March 14

Left the RV park and headed south on 99. Not as much traffic as Sunday which was nice. Drove through Bakersfield then went on to highway 58. In Barstow, we stopped at the Diamond Pacific Lapidary Company factory. We got a nice tour of the plant which was fun. Drove to the Shady Lane RV park to spend the night. A couple of strange brothers ran the place. After setting up we went East of town to do a little rock hounding, Lots of agate and chert, but most of it was fractured or full of holes. It felt good to get out walking in the bush again. Temperature in the 70’s, ahhh. Drove 220 miles today.

Day 5, Tuesday March 15 (Happy Ides)

We left Barstow, heading North on I-15 for a few exits, then took a cut off road to I-40. Road to Needles was sometimes good and sometimes bad. Not too much traffic. From Needles, took 95 south to Blythe, CA. The first half of the road of the 93 mile road was bad with lots of trucks on a single lane each way with very few places to pull off or pass. At Blythe, we took I-10 East to Quartzite, AZ were we went to Desert Gardens (?) RV park. Not many trees, lots of gravel camping spots, and no list of rules. I guess they must think the people coming here are very good or maybe they know the will not follow the rules. Met Tom Pearson , wife, mother-in-law and Joe who had a place about 100 yards from our spot. Agreed to meet in the morning to go to a gold claim site and look for rocks. Drove 261 miles today.

Day 6 Wednesday March 16

We left the motorhome at 7 am with Tom et al, and headed out East about 7 miles taking the exit and heading south. We searched around the area we thought was the claim. We found some interesting rocks. Most of the stuff there was fractured white quartz, quartzite, and sandstone. Further up the road we went to an abandoned gold mine. We walked around the shafts and diggings and picked up a few rocks. It was getting hot so we drove back to town and went to the local rock club. They have lots of members and were teaching a faceting class. Left there and stopped by the grocery store to pick up a few things. Cooled down from 90’s after dinner with a light breeze.