Into the Desert

As soon as we rolled into Quartzsite I remembered it. We’d stayed there for more than a week two years ago and spent hours exploring the desert at Scaddan Wash where we camped. It was our first real experience of boondocking and I loved it. Coming from a farm on the big flat of Alberta, it’s tough to be sandwiched into an RV park and restricted to peeing on one small patch of earth designated for that purpose. The plethora of canine odour that rises out of the sand is pretty enticing, at first, but even I have to admit the place rather stinks. That was life in Las Vegas.

Walking at Plomosa Road BLM

Our first night in Quartzsite we stayed in an RV park right in town and I was a little concerned. What about the desert camping? But, after only one night, and a day of having the trailer at Solar Bill’s, we were out at Plomosa Road BLM – room to breathe, freedom to pee on any bush or rock I chose, and even some off-leash time around camp. When we arrived there were some other trailers and motorhomes in the area but as the week progressed there were hundreds, maybe even a thousand – something to do with a big RV show in a monstrous tent. Didn’t get to see it – didn’t really want to.

Palm Canyon

Hiking at Buckskin Mountain

I was quite content with the things we dogs did get in on – a hike to Palm Canyon, another hike at Buckskin Mountain, and daily walking around the Plomosa Road camping area which is more than two miles long and at least half a mile wide. There was one thing about the desert I had forgotten about though, and it wasn’t a happy remembrance…sore feet. Quartzsite is a rocky place, and the rocks are not smooth like the stones we have at home. I’d try to follow vehicle tracks where it was slightly more dusty and less rocky, but after day two I didn’t want to go for walks much anymore. It was then they put my boots on me. They’re made for snow but also provide some protection from the rocks. A bit embarrassing to have to wear them, yes, but I couldn’t help skipping along just a little that morning, my feet much happier. Not sure what Chico’s feet are made of, but obviously tougher stuff than mine.

Cooling our feet in the Colorado River after a hike.

On Wednesday night I heard Teresa and Nollind discussing a day to leave Plomosa and they decided on Friday the 24^th of January. The next morning, as soon as they were up, there was talk and activity uncharacteristic of relaxing mornings in camp. Something about the black water tank being full?

Leaving Plomosa

So, with the sun barely cresting the hills to the east we were hitched up, legs up, packed up and on our way, with a pit stop at the aptly named “Pit Stop” in Quartzsite to dump the waste water tanks and fill with fresh. California here we come…one day early.

Las Vegas!

We stayed in Vegas for five days and went to the 12-acre Dog Fanciers Park every morning. I didn’t expect to have a good time, was kind of dreading it to be honest, but it felt different this trip. Two years ago all those big, rambunctious dogs were intimidating, but they don’t bother me much anymore. And I don’t feel jealous now when Logan makes new friends—I just go make some of my own. T and Nollind said I’ve grown up, but I think I’m about the same size. In fact, T put me on a diet last spring, so I’d say I’m actually a bit smaller.

Making new friends at Dog Fanciers Park

Vegas was more of a time for house cleaning and sorting than it was for sightseeing this trip, although they did go out a couple of nights when we weren’t invited. We always miss out on a certain amount of “people only” stuff. They try to tell us we wouldn’t enjoy it anyway but I doubt that. If there’s a place where people are gathering, I’m going to have a good time, period. Logan is more of a stay at home type. I’d go EVERYWHERE…if they’d let me.

Trailer cleaning day.

During the day T and Nollind cleaned all the travel muck off the trailer (we helped as you can see in the photo), filled the water tanks (which they couldn’t do at home for some reason), and got stocked up with groceries and other supplies (including dog treats!). They went out a couple of times at night for music and theatre stuff leaving us to guard the trailer against all of the marauding dogs in the RV park. Okay, they were on leashes, and most were tiny, but still, we did have an important job to do. Logan took the task very seriously, as is typical, I mostly slept, but don’t tell my people.

We set out on Monday morning, one week after leaving home. I’d tell you about what it was like between Las Vegas and Quartzsite but…well…I was sleeping.