Visiting Quartzsite Arizona

Last year while traveling in Arizona I ran into this couple who said I should go to Quartzsite in January. They said there is a big flea market and everyone camps in the desert. I didn't think much of it at the time. I'm not a “flea market” kind of person.

There is a user group on the internet for my make and model motor-home. I look at the website often for ideas on how to improve or fix problems I might be having. A few months back I was reading some posts and someone mentioned that some from the group were going to meet in Quartzsite for the RV show in January. OK, so there's a flea market and an RV show. And where is the Quartzsite? My interest was peaked, maybe I should go and check this out. I could use some warmth in January.

One of my hobbies is amateur radio. I've been a “ham” since high school (a long long time ago, not really, mid 60's). Anyway, I'm chatting with this guy on the radio. He said he has an RV and has been going to Quartzsite for several years. Turns out there's a large group of amateurs who meet there every year. They have seminars and presentations for a week, the same time as the RV show and flea market.

OK, I decided to go. I couldn't get up and down my road anyway as it has been solid ice the last few days (see previous blogs).

And... here I am, camped in the middle of a desert in west Arizona near the small town of Quartzsite.

You would think that there wouldn't be many people camped in the middle of a desert. NO SO... There are thousands, that's right, thousands, of RVs camped here. All self contained as there are no hookups. In chatting with some folks, I've learned that this small town of 3,000 swells to over 600,000 in January. A couple of years ago the BLM figured there was over 1.5 million people camped in the desert around Quartzsite! I believe it. In the last few days, people have been pouring in. The RV show starts tomorrow, Saturday.

The hams figure there will be over a hundred RVs for their gathering. They have presentations and seminars planned for the entire week. Two at a time! Shoot, their schedule is 9 pages long!

My neighbors are from BC Canada. They said the flea market is the largest in the world. I can believe that too. Yesterday I spent maybe 6 hours wondering through it and I didn't see quarter of it! My neighbors called this “The New Woodstock”.

This is one of the side streets of the flea market. It doesn't really show all the people too well.

This is one of the "booths".

I did meet this couple from Lumhi Island who were selling smoked salmon and things. They come down every year and figured selling northwest seafood was something to do.

I met another guy who was there selling binoculars. I bought a tripod from him for my scope at home. He off-hand said his wife passed away a couple of years ago. I told him mine had too and that I don't think I'll ever get over it. He started crying. Funny how things can hit you when you least expect it.

I could go on and on, and will some with later posts. This is enough for now. I'm heading to see another quarter of the flea market today. I think tomorrow I'll hit the RV Show.

LATER

I did make it to another flea market area. I will say it was mostly junk although I did purchase a tire pressure monitoring system for the motor-home and trailer, so it wasn't a complete waste of time.

THE NEXT DAY

This is the RV show. Sort of a cross between the Pike Place Market on a busy summer weekend for the crowds and The Seattle Boat Show for size.

Interestingly, almost all the people were my age and older. Didn't see any kids at all. There were several strollers being pushed around but they all had little dogs in them. And some baby carriers with dogs in them as well. SICK!!! Especially the folks with strollers trying to get through this crowd! Someone shoot me if I ever get like that, Please....

I was on the top of the motor-home this evening remounting the two solar panels I have up there. I wanted to be able to tilt them some so I got new mounts from the ham who owns a solar power store in Quartzsite. While I was up there I took this picture at sunset looking out over the desert. RV's for as far as you can see.

OH, and it was 75 degrees today. NICE