Hot temperatures, a dry climate, and cactus are the things someone might say about a desert. That’s true, but there is also a lot more! So much more! Arizona actually has four different desert regions, and it’s the only state that can say that! We could take months and months and only scratch the surface of what’s here. Currently we’re in the Sonoran Desert region seeing Arizona’s most famous cactus, the the saguaro cactus. We have seen California’s native palm here and learned that this is as far East as it grows. We’ve discovered how much people love finding gems, minerals, and metals here. There’s too many things to do, see, and learn in this desert, but this is what is happening to us so far here.
La Fortuna BLM land
The pond was a pleasure to look at, at anytime of the day. It was a source of life offering its self as a place for plants to grow and as a home for animals. The leaves of the cotton woods growing along the banks would make beautiful sounds. One like a soft flapping but at a fast pace and the other resembling a soft rain.
In the morning when I should have been outside but too cozy and warm in my blankets, I would listen to the sounds of the birds. I like to think of it as the morning hour where they would welcome the new day. And so I too should have been out there doing the same; rejoicing at the sun as it shown on all to say “a new day is here”!
It was during this special hour that I heard so many bird sounds, some of them, a lot of them, I wouldn’t hear again until the following morning. The sounds were beautiful and so diverse. I can’t remember if ever I have been so pleased to hear birds talk.
To the East sits beautiful mountains. Sometimes blue, sometimes purple, sometimes brown, but never boring to look at. In fact my eye loves tracing the peaks and curves; and it makes me happy thinking we truly have the best mountains out here in the West.
Sometimes, ok a lot of times, the best of life can be taken in while you just chill out with nothing on the itinerary. That was La Fortuna for us. A place to just enjoy for a few days.
Quartzite
We experienced Quartzite for the first time in our lives. Being from SoCal, one would think we would have been to a close destination like this one before. One can make it a fun weekend getaway from a place like that. It’s also currently winter and so there are lots of “snowbirds” here. In fact the normal population of 2,500 explodes to around 1million in winter! We were blown away when coming into this town!
People come to obviously escape the cold and snowy areas up in the North, but also for the thrills of riding their toys through the sand and across the desert. They come to rock hunt and go to RV shows. They come like us to do new things while hanging out with friends and making new ones.
Going to the flea market was new for us, and it was fun seeing the “buzz” surrounding the area as everyone was hunting for their treasures. We had a great time doing the same and chatting with vendors. We found the beekeeper and owner of a honey company from Montana. The special thing about running into him was that we had actually purchased his honey when we were back in Montana a few months ago. What a small world! (It’s like the time we were at a restaurant in Greece and after asking for some hot sauce, which is not heavily used in the Greek cuisine, the waitress brought out a bottle that had come from Trader Joes right here in the U.S. of A!)
Quartzsite Memories
The desert scenery is gorgeous. Learning about new plants was wonderful. Shopping was new and intriguing. Riding in razors was thrilling. But it wasn’t those things that are making this Arizona desert memorable. It’s the people we have been with! We were invited to camp with a wonderfully caring couple and their group of friends. We didn’t know anyone except them, but we were welcomed with so much warmth and sincerity; that it made our hearts supper happy.
Things to note:
Quartzsite offers campers a place to stay seasonal on BLM land called LTVA where they don’t have to move after 14 days. There is a reasonable fee with a dump station, pit toilets, and water on site. Many snow birds do this option.
Quartzsite’s flea market runs November through April with different weeks/weekends bringing in different events.
Winter in the Sonoran Desert means cold nights. Also it’s not uncommon for wind gust to suddenly kick up. So be prepared.