Winter Trip 2022-2023
Map of the Arizona
Qurartzsite
Quartzsite - Scadden Wash
Blog
I started out in Quartzsite before the crowds arrived, during the women's RTR. I camped in Scadden Wash. I moved north to Plomosa Rd. that several large group gatherings, LOW, Boomers, two Christian groups and others. The area was large enough that I was away from other campers. I spent three or four nights at this location, 3 or 4 miles in so I could be away from the groups of big rigs, RV's. I'll send pics at the end.
I attended 3.5 days of the RTR from this area. RTR ended on Friday and Skooliepalooza started in Monday so I went to Erenberg BLM to get a decent spot but I had to return to Quartzsite to pick up mail, to Parker for groceries, and back to Quartzsite for laundry and a shower.
The 1st night of Skooliepalooza was loud well into the night but I was far enough away with my van lined with Rattletrap sound deadening that the drumming didn't rob me of sleep. The second day saw a lot of Skoolies leaving. I thought maybe they were being shut down, like last year, but not so. I left early because of the relentless wind blowing gritty sand into everything. Also, the young people were a different type. Not sure how to describe them except they were no longer young hippie types.
I attended the Big Tent Event and bought an electric bike and had it shipped to Florida. Then I headed east.
Big Bend is big and beautiful. All the campgrounds were booked up (for thenextseveral months) but I was able to stay at one of 3 campsites at the Gravel Pit location. I explored a few of the turnoff, including the historical Hot Springs. I left BiBe after three days, hoping to stay ahead of the ice storm that was getting a lot of attention. I didn't get ahead of it but I stayed 40-50 south of the nasty parts. One morning I woke up to 19-22 degree cold but it warmed up to 29-31 degrees with only lite rain. Getting gas in San Antonio early found the trees covered with ice from the overnight rain but the roads were relatively clear.
Erenberg, location of Skooliepalooza. Nice sunsets. Away from the late-night partying.I started out in Quartzsite before the crowds arrived, during the women's RTR. I camped in Scadden Wash. I moved north to Plomosa Rd. that several large group gatherings, LOW, Boomers, two Christian groups and others. The area was large enough that I was away from other campers. I spent three or four nights at this location, 3 or 4 miles in so I could be away from the groups of big rigs, RV's. I'll send pics at the end.
I attended 3.5 days of the RTR from this area. RTR ended on Friday and Skooliepalooza started in Monday so I went to Erenberg BLM to get a decent spot but I had to return to Quartzsite to pick up mail, to Parker for groceries, and back to Quartzsite for laundry and a shower.
The 1st night of Skooliepalooza was loud well into the night but I was far enough away with my van lined with Rattletrap sound deadening that the drumming didn't rob me of sleep. The second day saw a lot of Skoolies leaving. I thought maybe they were being shut down, like last year, but not so. I left early because of the relentless wind blowing gritty sand into everything. Also, the young people were a different type. Not sure how to describe them except they were no longer young hippie types.
I attended the Big Tent Event and bought an electric bike and had it shipped to Florida. Then I headed east.
Big Bend is big and beautiful. All the campgrounds were booked up (for thenextseveral months) but I was able to stay at one of 3 campsites at the Gravel Pit location. I explored a few of the turnoff, including the historical Hot Springs. I left BiBe after three days, hoping to stay ahead of the ice storm that was getting a lot of attention. I didn't get ahead of it but I stayed 40-50 south of the nasty parts. One morning I woke up to 19-22 degree cold but it warmed up to 29-31 degrees with only lite rain. Getting gas in San Antonio early found the trees covered with ice from the overnight rain but the roads were relatively clear.
One of the presentations at the RTR at Quartzsite
Bob Wells between handshakes at the meet-and-greet.
When the crowds arrived at Quartzsite (specifically Hi Jolly dispersed camping area north of town) it was time to leave, right after visiting The Big Tent Event.
Big Bend
The day I left Big Bend I woke to lite drizzling rain. With just a touch of rain the desert became a field of green.
and purple.
A missed turn took me to the hot springs. The road (?) was restricted to high clearance, 4 wheel drive vehicles only.
Gravel Pit
On the road to the gravel pit, my campsite for 2 nights.
The hill beside the gravel pit with hikers...
And riders.
San Antonio Texas
Two mornings earlier at an early morning fuel stop in San Antonio Texas at 29⁰.
As the story is told, every morning Mexicans cross the river, seen in the background, in canoes and set up their display of goods for sale to park visitors on the honor system. They then return in the evening take the goods and cash back to Mexico and do it again the next morning. The produ t consistency suggest they might have a nice manufacturing plant nearby. I don't believe, as a fellow tourist suggested, they spend all day with primitive tools scrapping the "made in China" labels off the bottom each piece by hand. Either way its nice stuff for $10, $15 or $20,or free depending...
Florida
My soggy but beautiful campsite in northern Florida at 65ﾟ.
