FORT TYSON & HI JOLLY MONUMENT~Quartzsite-AZ

Holland's Bucket List: the remains of Fort Tyson; Quartzsite-AZ

Last night, Holland said that he wanted to drive into town and visit the Hi Jolly Monument - and get a closer look at what is left of the Fort/Stagecoach Station.

But … Holland did not get to sleep until the wee hours of the early morning; so, until we could hear Holland stirring on the upper level, Blue and I enjoyed some early morning 1-on-1 and I drank two cups of Hazelnut coffee while checking out some of this week's Blog Hop posts on various Blogs: I saw that two of my handmade projects had been featured on two Blogs :-)

Our Bleu boy …

My 'MOD Cactus Christmas Tree' was featured on last week's 'Your A Star' Blog Hop.

My 'MOD Big Man Slipper Socks' were featured on 'A Pinch Of Joy' Blog Hop.

When Holland was up and actively getting around the house, we locked our home up and drove 5 minutes in town ;-)

I had posted about the roof-covered-ruins last Saturday, and we see them every time we drive down main street in Quartzsite; but Holland wanted a closer view of them today … so, that's what we did this afternoon.

I like my husband's curls; I'll miss them when he cuts his hair. As soon as the weather warms enough, they will be history - his hair is thick, and traps head heat.

Remnants of Fort Tyson; Quartzsite-AZ

Fort Tyson-AZ: 

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

The open-sided-pole building roof something new; we are thinking that the recent surge of 2023 December rainstorms caused concern the ruins might be washed away.

Something else new, is the metal camels alongside the covered ruins: these were not here last Saturday, when we had gone into town to get some things from the Road Runner Grocery Store …

These metal camel models are also new - added a recent as a few days ago.

US Camel Corps Remembered In Quartzsite-AZ:

 (https://www.rvtravel.com/camels933/)

The live camels, it has been reported & documented, outlived the President that had signed off on their 1856 import and US Cavalry deploy, their trainer & handler - Hi Jolly … and even the laying of the plaque in their honor: the last reported sighting of the imported-and-released into the wild-desert camels, was in 1942.

Then, we drove about a block down main street to the Monument Holland wanted to visit, as well.

After Hi Jolly and his camels were released from their military contract, Hi Jolly remained in Quartzsite-AZ, living into his seventies. Neil Morrison, director of the 11th Armored Calvary Museum at Fort Irwin, California, said that Hi Jolly had two wives - at the same time: there is no recorded record known of either wife.

The locals were so fond of Hi Jolly, that after he died, they spent several weeks building Hi Jolly a special pyramid tomb, made of multicolored petrified wood and quartz. It was dedicated on Jan. 4, 1903. Thirty-three years later the Arizona Highway Department came along and cemented a bronze plaque to the tomb, telling Hi Jolly's story, and topped the pyramid with a metal camel silhouette.

Hi Jolly Cemetery, at #245 Kofa Ave., Quartzsite, Arizona.

Hi Jolly; muslim Cowboy of Quartzsite, with 1 of his 2 wives. Pic, Tucson-AZ, 1880.

Hi Jolly Monument - front & back views; Quartzsite-AZHi Jolly Cemetery Monument: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hi_Jolly_Monument)

==PIC: #18 - This cemetery is by and large a military cemetery, dating from civil war era to current dates; and an interesting headstone design …

Hi Jolly Monument Cemetery; Quartzsite-AZ

This is an pretty expansive cemetery …

The Fort ruins, and the Cemetery Monument, were all that was on Holland's Bucket List today.

Back home, we had a meatloaf sandwich for Supper, and enjoyed another of Holland's original fruit juices :-)

A frothy Holland Original Juice; pineapple, ginger, garlic, lemon, pear, apple, & carrot. YUM!

Then, I got my exercise stepper in working order (it will be seriously employed tomorrow morning ;-))

Holland set the cable in place, on my stepper exerciser :-)

I like the digital monitor feature …

I've burned 5 calories, so far; hahaha

And Holland cut his curls off - obviously he feels the temperature has warmed up enough to keep his hair closer to the head, again :-(

Bleu is wondering what that buzzing sound, is.

We both know what the vacuuming sound means; daddy's curls are no more :-(

He's feeling happier …

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

SHABBAT EVE~Quartzsite-AZ

The day dawned beautifully; warm and peaceful.

We basked in the soothing morning temperature as we drank our morning coffees, looked over an informative brochure, and talked about driving into Blythe-CA to grocery shop later, when the sun's rays weren't so intense.

Around noon, we drove the length and width of Quartzsite to get the feel of our new surroundings.

Town Mascot - camels are e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e.

Camels Are Part of Arizona History:

(https://kjzz.org/content/3185/camels-are-part-arizona-history)

As we drove northside, I saw what looked like a trading post, and asked Holland to "please pull over, so I can check it out."

WOW - the prices were staggering: lowest pricing was $40 … highest was $1,000.00: and this was not a Neiman Marcus setting. This was also not a trading post environment even though the storefront proclaimed such; it was a financial fleecing :-(

I love turquoise, and was hoping to buy a bit.

The jewelry was beautiful - most was chunky and heavy with silver adornment (not my taste at all), but there were some simple pieces too. Sadly, all of the eye candy was seriously out of monetary reach for the working class folk. So, I exited the luring establishment with nothing more than pictures.

Very SPENDY trinket Shop; about $100 just to walk thru the door!

HUGE hunk of raw turquoise.

Pretty … it's simplicity appealed to me, but rich or poor I couldn't mentally justify the price tag.

Payday Wednesday Date treat; something to look forward to …

We were driving the La Posa LTVA site towards our new digs (https://www.blm.gov/visit/midland-long-term-visitor-area#:~:text=LTVA%20permits%20are%20required%20from,days%20from%20date%20of%20purchase.), when I got a text from my granddaughter. I miss my grandchildren - it's complicated, so I always enjoy hearing from them when I do; and it's balm to my heart knowing at least one of them is "keeping tabs" on my whereabouts :-)

Granddaughter text ;-)

We waited until 7 P.M. to drive across the AZ-CA border to grocery shop; the sun was setting, and the evening was cooler … not that much cooler, but there was a nice warm breeze on the cooler side of the day's temperatures blowing across the desert region. I had not been to Blythe before, but Holland and his relative have. It was a nice drive, and another peek into my new husband's lifescape.

When we got back home, the males in my small family circle relaxed by watching TV (so typically male ;-)); and I settled in to enjoy a relaxing Shabbat.

7:30 PM; Street music at Albertson's in Blythe-CA

Bleu watching TV with Daddy. LOL

The Lord Bless You And Keep You - Aaronic Blessing: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-eHCxMM3PI)

Today was a good day in every way :-)