MURPHY IS NOT OUR FRIEND

January 3rd: We had spent two nights again in Quartzsite, and woke up to search the internet for warmer weather … it has been bitterly cold here, evenings and mornings: so much so, that last night Bleu was whining about the chill and Holland allowed him to come sleep atop the bed, with us, where his bones weren't so chilled (big concession for Holland ;-)).

As we drank our coffees and was wondering what to do with all this cold weather, morning internet information was telling us that Winterhaven-CA seemed to be 3-degrees warmer; so we packed up Independence, and aimed Betsy's nose for the LTVA land there. It wouldn't be that much warmer, but Holland was coughing and sneezing, and 3-degrees warmer temperature seemed prudent.

The Sonoran Desert is beautiful to me any time of the year, but a trip to ER is not in our Plan at all.

And having my husband around for the foreseeable future means more to me than a cold, secluded, boondocking experience.

Pulling stakes at Quartzsite-AZ to chase the sun.

Off like a herd of turtles ;-)

Pulled out of La Posa Tyson Wash LTVA … headed towards Pilot Knob LTVA.

We drove into town to fill the propane tanks to make sure the 5th Wheel would be well equipped with warmth: more rain is in the forecast - with local evening chill hovering around 35-degrees :-(

First stop - fill the propane tanks.

RV Pit Stop from LTVA Tyson Wash; 5 min (3.3 mi) via US-95 N

Our pesky nemesis, Murphy, strikes again …

The chink in the link … thank God the pin went back in, easy.

A warmer atmosphere is trying to make it's way thru the cold front.

Border watch 'eye in the sky':  (https://www.atec.army.mil/ypg/tenant_ab.html#:~:text=Hovering%2015%2C000%20feet%20in%20the,thing%3A%20low%2Dflying%20airplanes.)

Bleu's creosote bush "pit stop"; Yuma-AZ. Creosote Bush blossoms - out of season, but following an unusual rainy spell of weather.

Creosote Bush: 

(https://www.skysthelimit29.org/creosote-bush.html#:~:text=Yellow%20flowers%20generally%20appear%20during,a%20ring%20of%20single%20plants.)

The frontage back road to Pilot Knob LTVA; Winterhaven-CA

As we neared Winterhaven-CA, our phones alerted us that a 2-hour rainstorm was settling in. We looked at each other, and I said, "I don't want to set up in the rain; you can't afford to get a chest cold, Holland." Holland said, "I don't want to be sitting in the truck for 2 hours, waiting the rain out. Let's go to Phoenix like we planned to before the rain started - the temperatures seem to be consistent across the board: you've never been to Phoenix, and that was The Plan - and there's LTVA land there, too."

So, that's what we did ;-)

We did not want to set up in a rain storm … so, we turned back - and headed towards Phoenix-AZ

Phoenix-AZ from Winterhaven-CA; 2 hr. 49 min (187.2 mi) via I-8 E

Rainstorms everywhere along the border route … no sunshine warmth to be found.

A little white 'ghost cloud' gaslighting a huge gray front ;-)

A dust storm; I-8, near Gila Bend-AZ

As we got to Gila Bend-AZ, Holland said, "How about we go to Tucson (50 miles either way from Gila Bend), instead; you haven't been there, either, and that's really where you'd rather visit - there's more to see there, too."

He turned towards Tucson: (((YAY!)))

Ambrosia - 'Biggest Part of Me' song: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5gOehkLUTk)

Tucson-AZ from Gila Bend-AZ; 1 hr. 45 min (120.7 mi) via I-8 E and I-10 E

Around Marana-AZ, Blue looked like he was praying for a place to sleep tonight … soon. LOL

We were so tired when we passed through Marana-AZ, that we pulled over … parked, slid the bedroom slide out out: and spent the night on a shoulder of freeway on-ramp.

And the night temperature was warm enough for Bleu to sleep in his kennel, instead of in our bed ;-)

We may not be doing our adventures like most people would (big, flashy vacation spots: I prefer backroad rural sights) - but we are having fun and making memories.

Our memories :-)

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