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

NEW DIGS~La Posa Tyson Wash; Quartzsite-AZ

We pulled stakes at Del Pueblo RV Resort this morning - it's under new management, and we just got tired of the nonsense … yesterday was the limit: I was taking an afternoon siesta and Holland was researching something on the internet when he told me later, "I heard this knocking on the back door, and wondered who was knocking on the door; I opened the door, and this upset guy tells me, 'You're in my space - you have to move'." Holland told him, "I think you're mistaken; we have this spot until tomorrow afternoon." The guy get angry and says, "Well, I paid for this space starting now; I'm going to call the Office." Holland says, "Be my guest. I just talked to the girl the other day and she told me we have this space until January 1st, so you're just going to have to wait until tomorrow to move in." When I woke up and heard that, I wasn't surprised: no one at Del Pueblo knows what is going on 99% of the time since new ownership took possession. They double-booked our space once before, and they tried to bilk us for additional charges. One of the Park monitors stopped by while we were pulling stakes and queried us on our stay … and got an earful. He said, "I'm sorry to hear that, but we are under new management and experiencing some growing pains. I hope you decide to come back next year." We just looked at him - what we experienced at Del Pueblo was not simple growing pains, it was greedy incompetency: we won't rent space from them again, when we come back this way.

We like Yuma, and we'd like to settle there at some point - but we don't want to be engaging in a sword dance.

So we hooked up and headed out, not sure where we would be spending the night, tonight.

My earlier 'Road Gypsies On The Move' Post: https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2024/01/road-gypsies-on-move2024.html

Semi-planned route.

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers - King's Highway: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdqDeBzqlP0)

We ended up in Quartzsite-AZ again; a different area, but a good site to set up.

New Digs …

We are boondocking at Quartzsite-AZ, for the time being.

I like the wide-open spaces.

Bleu likes the freedom.

And Holland is learning to use me in Team Work - he comes from that kind of southern good-'ole-boy environment of rough-n-tough male testosterone, head of the family, protector of womanhood (aka; females are gentle creatures who should not be pressed to do any laborious activities) background. I admit I do like the manly Prince Valiant side of his character …

… but I also admit it can be frustrating at times; it's a different male personality than I am used to. I come from a hippy-dippy gender equality background where pitching in (even in strenuous, blood-sweating situations) is taken for granted, and kinda expected when necessary. Holland has certain ideas of what masculinity is - what's appropriate behavior for a mature, virile, male. He has equally strong opinions about femininity. And it frustrates him when the behaviors get muddled. It frustrates me that he is so behaviorally rigid.

We are both learning to bend - and today, the bending did not generate fireworks.

We had to use the Beast Generator tonight and it had to be shifted and turned -  I said, "I'm not useless; I can help." Holland said, "We need that generator lifted, shifted, and turned - do you really think you can do that?" I said, "Of course - I have super power when it's needed ;-)" And he was amazed while he watched me lift, slide/shift, and turn that Beast in the 4x bed. It did take some Sheerah strength (1 Chronicles 7:24), but it got done.

And I switched it on, too :-)

I'm glad he's utilizing my additional help. It will take some of the pressure off him, if he lets me help when, and where, I can … I need to have my strengths tapped - I'll let him know when an activity is too much for me to do ;-)

A propane heater; bought in Long Beach-WA, months ago: IT'S COLD here!

2024's kickoff is looking good, so far ;-)

Sunset~Quartzsite-AZ