8 - IMPERIAL NATIONAL WILDLIFE RESERVE AND QUARTZSITE

Today our plan was to visit the Imperial National Wildlife Reserve which is south of Quartzsite...we are just not sure how far south. Somewhere this side of Yuma, we know that. 

Neither Google Maps on the computer or the GPS seemed sure of where it was. However, we got better directions from my iPhone. It was Google Maps on my phone, too, so go figure. Why did it work on the phone but not the computer? Anyway, we got there in about an hour and fifteen minutes. 

The scenery going south on Hwy 95 is really beautiful. This valley that Quartzsite sits in has mountains on every side, although all are quite a distance away.

When we arrived at the Wildlife Reserve there was even a very nice Visitor Center which had not been mentioned on any of the info I had from the web.

Near the door was a set of mountain sheep horns that had been found in the area. I heard Don lusting after them. "Wish I could find a big curly set like that!"

There was a desert garden area next to the Visitor Center and a really nice handicap accessible viewing station that looked out across a large marshy area to the river.

From the Visitor station there were several other viewing sites that we drove to. Some had great views of the Colorado River.

Our next stop down the road was the Painted Hills. It is a 1.3 mile hike. When we were at Cibola Wildlife Reserve yesterday, they were giving away walking sticks that some guy makes out of Jack Pines. I was glad I had mine in the car. It came in really handy here.

The path began by leading through a tight rocky passage....

...and then broader areas, some through washes.

I called this one "Lot's Wife."

There were an amazing number of colors in the earth on this hike, thus the name "Painted Desert."

The trail did a lot of winding...

...both around and up and down. Periodically there were steps of timbers. I was glad for both my walking stick and Don there to hold my hand as we navigated the rocky stairways.

Of course what goes up must come down...

...and in this case back up again. 

This was a beautiful hike and we enjoyed it, the colors, the variety in the topography...all of it was amazing and a really all around great trip.

Next we were told there was a couple restaurants in the little town of Martinez Lake. We had a little problem finding them, but finally did. Then we headed back to Quartzsite.

On the way back I was playing with my iPhone and wondered if I could see the Blythe Intaglios that we visited a couple days ago on Google Maps.

I was amazed when I entered "Blythe Intaglios" in Google Maps that it brought them up and they were easily viewed.

This is a picture of my phone on Google Maps. Try it on yours. Put in Blythe Intaglios and see what you get.

It would have helped if I had tried this the other day when we were searching for them. 

I have talked a lot about Quartzsite. If you haven't been here, let me tell you a bit about this place. 

First off, it's in the middle of the desert.  At one time there were camels here but of course, not now. 

From January to March every year it is a hot spot of vendors of every stripe anxiously fleecing RV'ers who seem more or less happy with the arrangement. 

Right now there is a Gem and Mineral Show going on, but in a week or so it is the big RV show where the desert becomes littered with thousands of RV's for miles around. 

The town is full of tents of vendors selling everything you can imagine. The Gem and Mineral folks will still be here so it all expands everywhere...and I do mean everywhere!

Many locations look like a swap meets on steroids.

RV Dealers are moving in and filling their lots in preparation for the RV Show...

RVers, like us, are scattered all over the desert. You can just pull up a piece of dirt and park for up to two weeks at a time at no charge.

There is one grocery store in town and at times we have found moldy bread on the shelves. However, Don was there the other day and said they seemed pretty well stocked. No doubt preparing for the big influx of people for the RV show. At least our bread wasn't moldy this time.

Sales tax in Quartzsite is 10.2 percent. No doubt to get what they can from the thousands of vendors who are here in the early winter.

After that, pretty much no one is here except for a few diehards that seem to thrive on heat and dust. Most permanent residences here are trailer houses or RV's. There are very few actual stick-built homes.

So why do we come here? Well, remember the sunsets I showed you from last night? Well, forget them. Tonight's sunsets were without a doubt the most spectacular I have ever seen.

First off, we always cook hot dogs by the fire at least once, (the fire is behind the green table) and watch the sunsets. Tonight the sunset was brilliant.

What more can I say?

Tomorrow we go to Phoenix for three weeks, but I have found lots of things in the area to go see, so stay tuned.