Quartzsite, AZ

Wednesday, March 7th was another blue sky, sunshiny day with less wind than yesterday.  We did have to put the long pants and jackets on, however.  After breakfast, we took the walking tour of Quartzsite.  We learned about Charly Tyson who dug the first well  around which  became the town of Quartzsite.  The town was a popular stagecoach stop between Phoenix and Blythe, CA.

These buildings are the Camel Stop Auto Repair.  The last owner was sent to prision for some kind of threat made to or about President Truman's daughter.

Just before the Civil War, the US Army experimented with using camels to cross the Southwest desert. A number of camels were imported and the experiment worked pretty well but the war started and the camels were left to get by on their own. "Hi Jolly", the local camel master, is buried in the Hi Jolly Cemetery under this marker.

Yard art---- giant fishing pole in the dry river bed.

We weren't sure what this machine was for---some kind of rock sifter, perhaps.

Flea market hat

Quartzsite is surrounded by hills and mountains. We drove out to the base of this hill and climbed to the top for the 360* view of the valley. It was an impressive sight though very windy.  I took this picture from the truck.  See the next picture from the top.

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That's our little tiny truck far below us.  I'm guessing we were up at least 500', maybe 1000?  The wind was blowing a gale and the US flag at the top was all twisted up.  Sonny was going to unfurl it but the wind would have blown him back down the path.

RVs dry camping rigs in the desert around Quartzsite.

Celia was an 8 year living in Quartzsite who had wisdom beyond her years.  She was the ultimate volunteer and organizer for her age.  Sadly, she was a preemie and susceptible to illness.              

www.celiasrainbowgarden.com  tells the story of her short life and sudden death.  The desert garden is a work in progress from the outpouring of community spirit on her behalf.

Each garden area is marked with personal symbols.  Some were easy to understand, like the rooster below.  Others, like the chains with washing machine tub, were confusing.  There were several of those around.

What is this??



Surrounding the park was a workout trail. Sonny was pretty good on the balance beam.

We hadn't seem any of these cacti. 

They looked like pinecones on a bush.

Old saguaro



Desert Lilac does actually grow here





After we left the garden we drove north to Parker, AZ for something to eat.  We had dinner at the Blue Water Casino on the Colorado River.  Now, we can say we ate there and we won't need to do that again!  The drive home was at dusk.  Beautiful sunset on our right while the full moon rose on our left.  Sunsets in the desert have been amazing.