Making “Firsts” At Quartzsite, AZ (& Announcing a Meet-Up On 23rd!)
Well we’ve made it to Quartzsite, the biggest RV gathering on earth. Every year around the last two weeks of January hundreds of thousands of RVers come from all over and converge on a teeny little dusty town in the Arizona desert to gather, socialize, show-off and shop. Almost everyone boondocks and every type of rig is here from million dollar Prevosts to classic Bluebirds (just down the road from us) to vans & car-campers. It’s crazy, it’s busy & it is so….much…fun!
We dropped by last year to enjoy the show and this year we decided to come back and do something we’ve never EVER done. We joined a group!!! I’ve been an active part of iRV2 forums for many years and have benefited from no end of help on our rig from the members of that group. The Monaco/Holiday Rambler group are particularly supportive and that’s the team we decided to join. As of yesterday morning we had 32 rigs in the group circled around a massive fire-pit and drills (i.e. tools) were already out with folks helping other folks. It’s a totally new (and unusual) experience for relative loners like us, but it’s also incredibly interesting. We can putz around and see other people’s mods….ask about common problems…exchange info on places to get service. Plus we make a ton of new friends and put faces to the names of the folks that have advised us on the forums over the years. We even have an exact twin of “the beast” here!
But we are not alone…..
There are around 100,000 of our closest friends all camped out here and word has been getting out amongst blog readers. We’ve had a number of folks asking if they could meet us, and I’ve been trying to figure out how to make that happen without running around like mad chickens. So, we’re going to do a second thing we’ve never EVER done -> I’m arranging a casual “meet and greet” for anyone who wants to meet us at 3PM on Thursday 23rd at the Beer Belly Bar (the outdoor bar near the main road on the NE side of the “big tent”). I figure 3PM would be early enough that the bar won’t be too full and hopefully we can find enough space to hang? So, if you’re one of the blog readers that reached out to us and want to say “hi”, come see us there!
LOTS more on Quartzsite coming on the blog, but wanted to get that announcement out now….maybe we’ll see some of ya later this week?
Post Blog Edit -> Did You See My Blog Go Down On Sunday?
Some of you might have noticed my blog went down Sunday evening. Actually it was a complete and utter panic situation. I started having weird little issues with my plug-ins, then I couldn’t write/change anything in my side-bars and then (finally) the entire blog went dark. Aaaarrrghhhh! Turns out I was saved by a fellow RVer just down the road! We’d met the lovely couple of Cheddar Yeti just a few weeks back in Borrego Springs and when I put out the panic call on Sunday night, Dennis answered right away and told me to just “come on over”. Within an hour I was sitting in their fabulous 1978 Wanderlodge Bus with a cat purring on my lap and my blog was back on-line. Talk about RV serendipity! If any of you are looking to develop a WordPress blog, or having WordPress blog issues or just want to spiff up your site I highly recommend these guys. Not only are they fellow RVers who own a super-cool bus, but they are a great couple who can work some serious WordPress magic. Check them out…Motorhome Office Of Design & Technology
Nina- Saw you bike by while we were in line to dump yesterday, after passing your group on the main road in! We just finished our weekend rally with the View/Navion owners in La Posa North. Might be going way south in your area tomorrow. We are currently a half mile walk from the “action”. Might see you at the meet up unless we decide we are tired of crowds by then. This new for us too! We tend to like our quiet, but checking out all the booths has been fun. And checking out all the people and fun dog carriers. Can’t imagine yours would want to be in a stroller or baby carrier! Have fun!!!
How funny…we’ve been passing a lot of folks out here. I even met some blog readers (and a blog I follow) this AM on my hike up Q mountain. Enjoy the show! Maybe we’ll see ya on Thursday.
Nina
Wow, it sounds like you are the star and celebrity of the biggest gathering on earth. I sure wished we are there so we can join the fun. Steve would also love to meet the faces behind the iRV2s forums who has helped him with his projects.
Oh goodness no…didn’t mean it to sound like we’re celebrities or anything like that. This is just such a “hot” place to be right now that many of us are here, including blog readers. It’s one of the few places you can go during the year as an RVer where you’re almost guaranteed to meet someone you know 🙂
It is really nice to put faces to names.
Nina
Once again yall have passed on some great info. I am headed to check out iRV2 right now. I think its great that you r having a blogg followers meet n greet. Wish I were there!
I really think the iRV2 forum is the nicest out there. They’ve given me a lot of support over the years.
Nina
It was great that we had that chance meeting this morning! Not sure if we’ll make it over to Beer Belly’s but it sounds like fun.
After the Q mountain hike we went to Palm Canyon down the road in Kofa. Beautiful area and a nice short hike to view the palms, then we did some rock scrambling to get farther down the canyon. Definitely worth the drive and looked like some great places to boondock.
So happy we had that chance meeting, especially since we followed your tracks (and blog) all the way down the Eastern Sierras this past fall and missed you the whole way by about a week. Great to finally meet!!
Cheers for the info on KOFA. It’s one of the stops we haven’t been.
Nina
Nina, the fact that you’re having a meet & greet means you’re a bit of a celeb. At least to some of us. Enjoy your 15 minutes. Wish we could be there to compare Beer Bellys.
We belong to a group called the South Western Bus Nuts. Their a chapter of FMCA (Family Motor Coach Assoc). We joined because they are such a great group of people. We’re only able to get together with them a few times a year but totally enjoy their company each and every time.
Keep us posted on all the cool stuff at the Q
Michael-
Sometimes being part of a group can be really fun, even for relative loners like us. We’ve been enjoying our time here at the iRV2 gathering. Everyone is very friendly and relaxed and there are no fixed schedules which we really like. Plus people don’t seem to mind if you head off to your rig to just hang out.
There are quite a few bus nuts out here too. The Bluebird gathering just down the road is huge! Some amazing (and very pretty) buses down there.
Nina
Sorry to miss the meet and greet! We are heading out tomorrow for a family wedding in Phoenix….sounds like a great idea and a very good time!
No worries! Enjoy your wedding. Should be fabulous weather for t!
Nina
Oh, my, you guys did jump in with both feet–enjoy, enjoy, enjoy your stay in Quartzsite.
Yeah…this is going “all out” for us!
Nina
Nina and Paul we almost met up in Oregon 2yrs ago but Paul’s back went out and you had to cancel. Last summer while you were hosting we went to Europe for 6 weeks. Now we are all in -Q- hope to say HOWDY on Thursday….. Love your blog and your writings
Oh excellent! Glad we’ll finally get a chance meet-up. See you tomorrow!
Nina
Hey, that’s my birthday! 🙂 Pity I’ll be nowhere nearby for the occasion, but good to add the Quartzite gathering onto my “list of places I’d really like to spend my birthday someday.”
How cool! Well Happy Birthday to you then!
There are all kind of group gatherings here, and also lots of space to be “alone” for those that want it. It’s the perfect spot to people watch….and celebrate a BDay!
Nina
Good to see you are enjoying your visit to Q! There are SO many people. We just drove in and then out last year. We aren’t shoppers or crowd people.
It is fun to catch up with those who own the same rig. You learn and see so much from these gatherings.
The Discovery Forum has saved us several times. There are some great minds out there.
Hope all goes well with your meet and great:)
You mean all those rock shops didn’t tempt you? Of course it’s the hiking of the rocks you enjoy, not the buying 🙂
Nina
Well, I must admit that I do have a rock collection from every hike we’ve been on. There are just so many beautiful rocks. Of course, they are underneath waiting for some creative way to share them. A tough task in a vehicle that shifts and rocks as it moves. John is always making fun of me and my “collections.” I have a sea shell one, also.
I don’t dare stop at a rock store. I might end up with one of those gigantic beauties!!!
Oh dear me…that is just sooooo “Long, long Trailer” LOL! Rocks in an RV!
Nina
That’s funny. Other than some movies we own to watch around the holidays (“Die Hard”, “Bad Santa”….you know, the classics) “The Long, Long Trailer” is the only DVD we own.
We’ll miss the gathering since we’re heading down to Yuma, but we’ll fill you in on what Mittry Lake and Fortuna Pond look like.
Hey My girlfriend says I am addicted to rocks! I do amatuer lapidary and rockhounding. Thats one reason I want to get to Quartzite in March, they have a very active lapidary club that has great equipment and lessons! I am self taught and want to get some real education! Plus that area is supposed to have some good rockhounding!
I’ve met quite a few “Rock hounds” out here. Last year we met an elderly lady solo in a truck camper who was Rock hounding with the local Q group. She had collected some gorgeous specimens!! She also told me the annual Gem Show in Tuscon, AZ is one of the biggest and best in the country. It starts Feb 1st and many folks drive directly from here to there:
http://www.visittucson.org/events/gem-show/
Nina
Can we still come even though we’ve already met you :)Tim’s trying to get out of work early one day this week so we can go back to show one more time. If Thursday is the day we’ll definitely stop by the meet and greet!
Of course! We’d love to see ya there! Probably quite a few of the blog readers will be readers of your blog too so it’d be double bonus for the folks coming.
Nina
We are here at Q also. Where is the IRV2 group located?
We’re at La Posa South, just about 1/2 mile down in a big circle.
Nina
We are at Hi Jolly and will come to the “meet and greet” at 3 PM Thursday the 23rd. Hubby wants to know if Polly will be there?
Polly gets nervous in large groups of people so we won’t bring her. She’s a good girl, but a bit skittish and takes time to warm up to folks. It’d be too stressful for her. See ya there!
Nina
Had it not been for us having company we just might have taken a drive on over to Quartzsite for the get together Thursday. Maybe another time:))
Aw shucks….thanks for thinking of it. It might be a good thing tho’. If word got out you were coming we might have shut down the bar with Bayfield Bunch fans 🙂 ! We may swing by your area sometime this winter too, so might get to see ya yet.
Nina
Sounds like a great time. Have fun with your meet-up! 🙂
Thank Lu. Will do. Sounds like you’re having quite the fine time over on the other coast too 🙂 enjoy that FL weather!
Nina
Hi..looks like fun……brings back good memories! ! I love the Q.!!
Keep haven’ fun…! 🙂
It’s always fun at Quartzsite. This place is what you make of it & there’s something for everyone 🙂
Nina
Is the beast a Monaco or Holiday Rambler??
…..both very nice coaches!
She’s a Holiday Rambler. All made by the same folks these days.
Nina
Sorry we missed it….a bit too far for us…maybe next time…:)
HA….I think I might have dropped over in shock if you’d turned up. Enjoy your last few weeks in Mexico!
Nina
Bummer we missed seeing you today.. We had to leave -Q- early. Shelia’s Brother passed away unexpectedly and we have to hurry home to Modesto… Perhaps we will meet up with you guys in Oregon……..
Lee and Shelia……
Oh so very sorry to hear that. My condolences!
Nina
We just missed you. We pulled out of Quartzsite Wednesday morning. I didn’t know you and Paul were there, I thought you were in Yuma.
I just stumbled on your blog while googling for boondocking sites near Yuma. We left Quartzsite yesterday to come and check out Yuma. Sounds like Ogliby road is the best uncrowded spot. (We don’t like to camp with everyone else)
Me and the hubs have been full timing for a year and a half now. We are in our early 50’s, so young for the crowd like you guys. We make our living making and selling our art. I blog about our adventure with our two dogs, at Roxy the traveling dog. By looking at your map, our paths must have crossed this past summer. We have been in Utah,Idaho,Oregon, South Dakota, Wyoming, and now Arizona since the middle of December. I think we will find a place here in Yuma for a 14 day stay, then back to Quartzsite.
Glad I found your blog, it’s always fun to find and follow some like minded people. Have a great day!
Hi Nina, Erin, Zephyr and I are heading out to Quartzsite later today. We are selling our rig and were curious if you had any ideas where a great spot to set up the rig would be to try and get a few buyers interested?
I put a blog post up on our rig here:
http://zephyrsunrise.com/2013/09/11/itasca-sunrise-32h-2008-for-sale-our-beauty-is-for-sale/
Hmmm…not sure. I would probably recommend one of the BLM sites closest to town so you get as many passer-bys as possible. There are also lots of dealers taking consignment in the area. Good luck with the sale!
Nina
Thanks. We want to meet up with you guys as well. Any chance of that?
We’re actually just about to move on. Got a few days left (mostly booked with stuff) and then will be heading south again. Sorry! If you make it over to La Posa South you can always stop by the iRV2 Monaco group. We will be hanging intermittently with them until we leave.
Nina
Thx for the reply. We had a blowout on our way out and ended up spending all day at the tire shop and then making our way back to San Clemente. argh! Hopefully we’ll catch up with you guys down the road.
Bummer! Sorry to hear that.
Nina
Nice meeting you guys on the Palms trail today. Love your blog keep up the great work. We’ve learned lots. Thanks again, John and Maria
It was fun to meet you too…plus your lovely doggie!!
Nina
Deano’s mommy is Robin the lady we were with. She and Deano are quit a pair winning competitions all over the west. We laughed at dinner as we felt like we really know you guys by reading your blog and you have no idea who we are. To share a little bit about ourselves all three of us were and are cops. Robin and my wife retired after 30 years and as I said I will retire at the end of this year after 34 years. We live on the Central Coast of Calif (San Luis Obispo County). If your ever near us send us a email and we’d love buy you guys lunch. We look forward to seeing you guys on the road again.
John, Maria, Robin and Deano
Lovely to get to know a little more about you! We actually have other good friends in SLO and love that area. We’ll probably drive through there at some point.
Nina
I am a single woman of 65 and RVNG has always been on my bucket list. I do not own one but would be interested in sharing this cost of someone that is driving alone and would like some companionship for the drive. If you know of anyone please don’t hesitate to contact me As I am extremely interested in joining this group. I love the outdoors and all the beautiful sights of nature to see. I am down to earth and have a great sense of humor. I am interested in meeting like minded people. Maybe you can hook me up with someone that has an RV that has always been on my bucket list. But at this time that is not in my budget to own one. I thank you for your time and hope that this will work out. Blessings, Patricia
There are actually groups you can join to do just this! Here is the one I recommend:
Wondering Individual’s Network
Contact them and I’m sure you’ll be on your way in no time.
Nina