Quartzsite toYuma to Anza Borrego

Weather was a mixed bag when we were at Lake Havasu, and Bailey wasn't very enthused with our spot there, so we moved down to Quartzsite.  One of our favourite spots was wide open, so we moved in and set up, and Bailey was much happier, having a wash and lots of bushes to explore and sand to dig in!

We had enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast before leaving home, but with the US holiday being much later, we got to do it again.  Normally, I would be alone, but some new friends from Lake Havasu invited me to attend their pot luck celebration in one of the nearby LTVA's  I went over, and ate way too much.  But I was thankful!

I went back over to join the group a few days later at a musical jam session they have evey week.  They had a lot of 'performers', most of whom came with their own microphones and amps!

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My camp was close to a mile from the nearest neighbours by choice.  Despite this, one day, a couple of guys came by and started setting up camp barely 100yds away.  They erected a huge wall tent, so I knew they were planning to stay awhile :-(  I didn't even wait to see if they were noisy, or how many others showed up to join them, they were just too close.  We packed up, and moved to another spot a half mile away that we had previously enjoyed.

 

Bailey liked the spot just as well, and soon had his favourite bushes and stumps to search for lizards or voles.  Being his supervisor and bodyguard, I also keep him in sight at all times, and sometimes bring a chair along if the hunt drags on.  Then, if my chair was vacant, he would jump in, and seemed to expect that I would then carry him back homeward.  So it became the routine! 

Bailey, giving me the evil eye when I got back from a trip to town without him!

The usual night time shot of camp.

Evenings were mostly calm and clear, so there was time to enjoy a campfire or two.

Hummingbirds showed up for the first time this trip, so out came the feeder.  Only one or two individuals discovered the feeder, so the fights were not too intense.

 

Bailey caught something small one day, but all I could see was a tiny tail sticking out of his mouth as he proudly brought it back toward camp.  But then, he set it down, looked around and it was - gone!  Whatever it was, it was still quite mobile!  He couldn't figure out what had happened!

I did some good bike rides in the area, both on desert trails and also in the town of Quartzsite, where the vendors were already starting to get set up for the busy season and big Rv show in January.  It was nice to be able to drive around, get propane, and eat without the crowds that will soon be saturating the area.

Then, it was time to leave, and one of my favourite spots in southern Amza Borrego Desert State Park won the whim battle!  The closest route was through Yuma, so that was an obvious place to stock up on fuel and food.  After the quick stops in Yuma we continued on west back into Caifornia.  There is an RV dump with water at the rest area just west of El Centro, so we took advantage of that.  I never like to pass up a free dump and fill!

South, just across the border fence in Mexico, a big column of smoke was rising.  They often burn garbage dumps down there, so I assume that's what this was?

When we arrived at the selected spot in Anza Borrego, there was already a rig set up there - dang it!  It was later in the day, so we just parked, as far away as possible, and had some supper and a beverage or two, without unhooking or anything.

  

In the morning, it was time to consider the options.  But while out on a cat walk with morning coffee, the decision was made for us.  The rig that had been in our spot pulled out.  Within 5 minutes the move was made, and paradise was ours.

The same tree Bailey fell out of when he was a kitten!  His climbing still could use some practice - and a safety net!

There are lots of places to bike around here.  One of the first ones this year was over to Mtn Palm Springs campground, and a hike up to the Palm Spring.

One year while here, there were hundreds of 'drunk' robins flying around squawking and feeding on the apparently fermented fruit on these palm trees.  But this year, it was all quiet.  No robins or other hikers.

View of camp from a nearby ridge hike.

I did several great loop bike rides down trails and desert washes, up to 15km long.  

 I also did a tour up Indian Gorge canyon.  Biking conditions are better than I recall from last year.  As the sand dries out, it becomes looser and harder to bike (or drive) through.  But there have been some recent rains this year, and I find the conditions overall much improved.  On this canyon route, I biked a couple miles through the canyon till it opens up again.  It was fairly easy going with the e-bike only assisting a little.  The slope of the terrain is very deceiving here.  After a relatively easy pedal of over two miles on the way in, when I turned around, I didn't have to pedal even once all the way out.  Instead, I was on the brakes constantly, but enjoying the refreshing breeze, especially in the shaded sections!  The truck was patiently awaiting my return!And, any battery use on the bike is quickly topped off again by my solar system back in camp.

 

Almost never seen in daylight, the little desert foxes nevertheless almost always come by at night to check things out.

On a sunny Sunday, the idea of a bike ride along the waterfront in San Diego was not to be denied.  On the way there, it was the winding, scenic route 94, down through Campo, near the border at Tecate.  At Mission Beach there was a cool breeze off the ocean, but the ride along the beach was very enjoyable, and not at all like Alberta in December! On the way back to camp in late afternoon I-8 was the route of choice.

Beach scenes ...

Brush fire just over yonder range.  Not sure if it was a wildfire or a controlled burn?

Chances are, we'll still be here at Christmas time.  But that could change at any time due to weather, or the arrival of any undesirable neighbours!  Stay tuned ...