CAMELS & SHAVUA TOV~Quartzsite-AZ

I woke up before sunrise this morning, to the sound of Bleu's chirpy bark telling me he's hungry … and to the feel of Holland's arm sneaking out and pulling me back for a sleepy cuddle before the morning activities kickstart the day: I like that.

I like that our days are filled with easy companionship, again.

Laughter fills the air we breathe, again.

And our Life is taking root, as we nurture plans to settle and build our Home in Arizona.

A big love is wrapping itself around me: God, husband, Bleu :-)

I am so blessed.

Dog fed. Coffee's enjoyed and quiet hour respected while cobwebs were cleared. And Park balance settled for a month's stay … we drove into town to check two stores out: a hardware store, and a small grocery store. When we were in Quartzsite a few months ago, it was like a ghost town - population was small, stores had bare shelves, and inventory anywhere was sketchy … this time, Quartzsite is hopping, and the "crappy" grocery store in town, has full shelves - and the shelves are holding good things; the meat cooler was loaded with fresh cuts too, at good prices.

Quartzsite: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartzsite,_Arizona

It takes about 10 minutes to drive from one end, to the other, of the shotgun main street. Aside from the RVr's that literally flood into Quartzsite from December to March, there really isn't much to see - or do, here. Quartzsite's economy depends on the RVr's.

We'll still be driving into Parker occasionally for groceries; but it's refreshing to know that the little store in town here, has quality food stuffs, too. At least in the Winter months ;-)

On our way out of town, we caught sight of a fair Ferris wheel being set up … and camels! So, we turned around and back tracked a block or two to gawk at the furry one. There is some kind of festivity happening, but we aren't sure what that would be … and aren't interested in participating, anyway.

But, the camels did interest us.

Dromedary camels; Quartzsite-AZ

Dromedary camel: 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dromedary)

Camels - hairy Bactrian camel & the most recognizable Dromedary camel; Quartzsite-AZ

Wild Bactrian camels (Camelus ferus) are found in the Gobi desert of Northwest China and Mongolia. The Bactrian camel is extremely well adapted to the harsh desert climate: 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bactrian_camel)

Quartzsite's History was founded on it's abundance of quartz, and also the US Camel Corps camels and their handler, High Jolly.

US Camel Corps Remembered In Quartzsite-AZ: https://www.rvtravel.com/camels933/

What happened to the camels in Quartzsite? Historians believe some of the camels were left to roam the desert and were eventually shot by hunters. 

Quartzsite Camel Legend: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/red-ghost-wheel-rim-camel-sculpture#:~:text=The%20Red%20Ghost%20trampled%20a,and%20strands%20of%20red%20hair.

In the Quartzsite town cemetery, a monument to Hadji Ali with a plaque noting the camels, testifies to evidence that camels once existed in Arizona.

We also saw that the remaining walls of Fort Tyson, located on one street corner, has now been covered by an open-sided-pole building roof: that roof is new since the last time we drove through here, a month ago. We are thinking that the recent surge of rainstorms caused concern the ruins might be washed away.

Fort Tyson-AZ: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Tyson

Old Fort Tyson Pictures: http://www.ghosttownaz.info/old-fort-tyson.php

Back at the Park, we relaxed and enjoyed a lazy day of togetherness as a tasty meal was enjoyed, a lovely sunset was viewed, and Havdalah tranquility spread itself over our small corner of the world :-)

Wrap-around sunset beginning around us - front door side of Independence. 5:58 PM; Quartzsite-AZ

Backside; 5:58 PM. Quartzsite-AZ

Havdalah (hahv-DAHL-uh), or “separation” in Hebrew, is Shabbat's closure: when three stars appear on Saturday evening, ending the 24-hour Shabbat: and ushering in the start of the new week as a family - with big love in our hearts :-)

THE SHAVUA TOV SONG - Havdalah Song to end Shabbat:

 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x5_40n6I80)

Shavua Tov (ʃaˈvu.a tov): “shavua tov,” meaning “a good week,” as a wish for the coming week.

Havdalah in full swing; 6:09 PM. Quartzsite-AZ