Friday, December 23, 2022 to Saturday, January 7, 2023 (La Posa South LTVA, Quartzsite, AZ)

Here we are...another couple of weeks have flown by! Here is a recap of our days...

Friday (Dec. 23) morning at 10:00, with cargo boxes packed with lunch, snacks and water, we headed out on a ride. Today Steve will be leading us through Diablo Pass. We have done these rides many times over the years, so the scenery will be familiar...just different folks along on the ride. Today we had Greg and Debbie, Colan and Marilyn, and Jim and his little 4-legged sidekick, Buddy...all in side-x-sides. 

We started by going through La Posa Tyson Wash and crossing the wash, and taking the trails through the hills towards Dome Rock BLM camping area.

Jim and  Buddy...

We crossed under I-10 at the Dome Rock exit and then headed east until we found the trail north through Diablo Pass. A rest stop along the way...

Up at the top of Diablo Pass...along with another group, that included Bob and Sue...

Time to mount up and continue on!

Steve...

Beautiful view...and a great ride through here...

Approaching Dome Basin Mine...

Time for lunch...

Steve took this photo from above the mine...

After our bellies were full we continued on...

Bob and Sue's group are just ahead of us...

I made it!

Jim, followed by Greg/Debbie and Colan/Marilyn...

Steve looking back at his flock......

Final stop was at Scotty's Lead Well which has a large corral...

And our tour ends at Beer Belly's Adult Day Care! Time to wash down the dust after a great ride! Steve, Marilyn, Colan, Jim with Buddy, me, Greg and Debbie...

Check out the route we took on Relive.

Saturday (Dec. 24) was chore day. Debbie and I went into town to do laundry...this time just using the washers. We will hang it up on our clotheslines to dry.

Steve re-caulked some spots on the slides...

And I'm hanging laundry...

Sunday (Dec. 25)...Christmas Day! 

We had video calls with both of our sons and their families...such excited grandsons as we watched them open gifts. So happy we are able to share that with them virtually. Next year we plan on all being together in person...looking forward to it!

We had the best weather we have ever experienced here in Q Christmas Day! Sunny and warm 22C/72F with little wind...fabulous!

Our group of 7 had our Christmas Dinner at 1:00. Colan smoked a turkey and made rolls, Marilyn made pumpkin pie, Debbie prepared broccoli and cauliflower with cheese sauce and I provided the mashed potatoes, gravy and layered salad. It was all absolutely delicious!

Colan carving the turkey...

...while Greg, Debbie and Steve supervise, and Jim plays with Buddy in the background...

Time to eat...(but first Jim takes Buddy home)

Marilyn and Colan...

Debbie and Greg...

Dianne and Steve...

After stuffing ourselves, we moved our chairs out to play Core Crash...

After many games of Core Crash on a beautiful Christmas Day afternoon, we called it a day at about 5:30. When the sun slips behind the mountains, it definitely cools down. What a perfect day!

Monday (Dec. 26) was a pretty chill day. Early afternoon I decided to get out for a long walk and when I got home, Greg and Jim were over chatting with Steve. We were expecting some parcels at Quiet Times, so Debbie and I drove into town...and when we got back the guys hadn't moved. So Debbie grabbed her chair, Colan and Marilyn came over...and we had our happy hour!

After dinner, we went with Greg and Debbie into town to show them the Christmas Light display at the Schroeder property. Last year after seeing the lights with Earl and Allison, I wrote...

"After dinner we went with Earl and Allison into town to check out the Christmas Light display at the Schroeder property. Although her husband, John, the Christmas enthusiast decorator, passed away last August, Celia Schroeder with the help of neighbours still put up a very impressive display. Unfortunately this is probably the last year for this display as the property is for sale."

So Steve and I were surprised to find that there was still a display again this year. However, it was no where near as extensive as it had been in prior years...but the inside miniature display was still as amazing!  

If you would like to see the complete display from when Mr. Schroeder was alive, check out our blog from December 2019  It will also have a couple of pictures from when you could ride into Dripping Springs, but only one petroglyph photo. 😉

Tuesday (Dec. 27) was a windy day...with it coming from the south, which means our sunscreen and awning had to come down! It was fairly warm, though, with temps into the low 20's C/70's F.

We had a gorgeous sunrise...

Debbie and I went into Quiet Times to pick up a parcel and then decided to check out the vendors...still not too many set up yet but still fun poking around.

Once home, we spent the afternoon hunkered down inside watching TV. Debbie and Greg lent us their set of Yellowstone DVD's with the first 4 seasons...so we have started binge watching it. Yup...it didn't take long before we were hooked!

The rain started in the evening and it rained all night...not a pounding downpour but rather a consistent pitter-patter on the roof.

Wednesday (Dec. 28) we had a cloudy but warm start to the day. It was still quite breezy with a south wind again. 

By mid-morning, the clouds had basically disappeared and we had a beautiful but breezy afternoon...a good afternoon to go geocaching!

Found it! That poor old Saguaro doesn't look very healthy...

We found 13 geocaches...but got skunked on 4!

A happy hour gathering...Jim, Colan, Marilyn, Steve, Debbie and Greg...

Buddy!

Thursday (Dec. 29) Steve took his drone up and made a short video of the area before it gets busy for the Quartzsite Sports, Vacation and RV Show...check it out.

Friday (Dec. 30) and another day out on the 4-wheelers! Bob invited us to join them on a ride to Skull Rock. It's a long 32 km/20 mile ride before you get to the trail that heads toward the KOFA.

There were 9 machines altogether...Bob, Sue, Dave and John (both also from BC), Greg/Debbie, Colan/Marilyn, Jim, Steve and I. The day started off quite cloudy and cool but as you will see in the pictures, some blue sky did break out. 

Finally at the turnoff to KOFA and Skull Rock...but still a ways to go yet...

We finally made it to Skull Rock! With the openings at it's base it's a wonder this towering rock still stands... 

A well deserved lunch break...

Dave, Steve, Sue/Bob, Debbie/Greg, Jim/Buddy, Marilyn/Colan. John was missing for the photo...

See how many faces you see in the towering rock in this 3:25 minute video as the drone rises from Skull Rock for a birds eye view of the valleys beyond...

March 2019 Steve took this photo of the valley in bloom from the towering rock ...

It is a long ride to just get there and back, 85 km/53 miles, but it is worth it...the canyon to Skull Rock is amazingly beautiful!

Interesting sunset tonight...

The forecast Saturday (Dec. 31) was for strong winds from the south...not the best for a New Year's Eve campfire and hotdog roast. But Steve fixed up an old firepit and moved Buster into a position that blocked the wind fairly well.

And at 4:00 our little group gathered around the campfire. Jim, Colan/Marilyn, Steve, and Greg and Debbie...

We had a spectacular sunset!

Time to roast hotdogs...

We had a great evening and "rang in the New Year" on Newfoundland time...9:30!

Sunday (Jan. 1)

The new year started off very windy and cool with rain on and off all day. So we hunkered down inside all day. I do believe episodes of Yellowstone were involved, LOL!

Just before 6:00, we went over to Debbie and Greg's for dinner. Debbie cooked an awesome roast beef complete with Yorkshire Pudding and gravy...I brought mashed potatoes and peas and Marilyn provided her yummy brownies. 

Debbie, Greg, Jim, Colan, Marilyn and Steve...yes, all 7 of us managed to squeeze into their trailer...

Dinner time!

Delicious!

Monday (Jan. 2) was a much, much nicer day than yesterday...sunny with a slight breeze. 

Ray and Deb, our friends from Lake Cowichan, arrived mid afternoon. We showed them some spots near us and then left them to decide where they'd like to set up camp. They chose a spot just to the east of us, between Colan/Marilyn and us...perfect! 

The bunch got together for Core Crash at 4:00...nice for the weather to co-operate after the last few days. Deb and Ray joined us a little later after they got themselves settled. They watched us play but didn't join in...after a hectic day, they just wanted to relax. Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures.

Once the sun went down behind the mountains, we all headed inside our trailer...it was our turn to squeeze everyone (9) in! We had re-arranged the furniture a bit to accommodate everyone. 

Debbie, Marilyn and Ray...

Steve, Colan, Deb, Greg, Jim, Debbie, Marilyn...Ray is hidden...

We enjoyed a dinner of Lasagna, Caesar salad and garlic bread...thanks for bringing dessert, Marilyn (see the lemon loaf and cookies on the counter in the above picture? Yum!)

Well, two weeks have gone by since our last grocery shopping expedition to Parker, so Tuesday (Jan. 3) morning Debbie and I headed in to stock up.

While we were gone, Steve 'pumped and dumped'...a fun chore that comes around too often!

We had been talking about giving Chinese food a try here in Q...there are 2 places, Bamboo Chinese Food on Kuehn and Stagecoach Restaurant on Main. We decided to give Bamboo a shot...well, it was a bad decision. As per the reviews we had read, the servers were very friendly and the portions were huge! But quite frankly, I think we would have all preferred "quality" over "quantity"...it was the worst Chinese food we have experienced. Oh well...no one is particularly wanting Chinese food anymore! LOL

Wednesday (Jan. 4) was ride day! With Steve in the lead we headed out at 10:00, going towards Apache Chief Cabin.

This is the worst spot on the trail...

Steve gets to do it twice...taking my quad up and over for me...

Everyone waiting their turn...

Jim...

Greg and Debbie...

Colan and Marilyn...

Short 30 second video of everyone making the climb...

Rest stop at the entrance to Dripping Springs. The BLM blocked off the road to the top a few years ago so you now have to walk it. Not sure how many do considering it's mostly seniors out here and the trail starts off steeply and is probably a good mile in. Besides the Dripping Springs there are lots of Petroglyphs...

A short 1:19 video of us climbing the hill with another group on our tails...

The light coloured area in the distance at the base of the mountain is the old parking area at Dripping Springs...

We stopped for pictures and let the other group pass by us...

The other group ahead of us now...

We stopped at the mine above Apache Chief Cabin...

...where we discovered that Colan had a flat tire...

Unfortunately the sidewall had a slash in it up against the rim. No matter how many plugs Colan inserted the tire wouldn't hold air...

We proceeded to Apache Chief Cabin where we knew there would be other riders but unfortunately nobody had a spare tire to offer...

Jim and Buddy checking out the cabin...

Luckily we had already done the roughest part of the trail. We had to forego the rest of the tour to Gold Nugget Mine, Arizona Girl Mine, and Guadeloupe Mountain. Instead of taking our normal route back Steve got us to the trail that follows the I-10 until we could cut over to La Posa North and link up with the trail back to home in La Posa South. We were all amazed that Colan went 32 km/20 miles plus on a flat tire without breaking the bead! Not exactly the ride we had planned but it was a good one anyway!

A beautiful ending to the day with a happy outcome!

Thursday (Jan. 5) morning we had another spectacular sunrise...

Today was "girls" day...four of us are going to Parker for pedicures. Deb (Kyle) headed out before 10:00 as she had some shopping to do...the rest of us, Debbie, Marilyn and I, left about an hour later. Thanks for driving again, Debbie!

On one side of me...Debbie and Marilyn...

And on the other side, Deb....

While we were gone, Steve and Greg went into Q for propane and gas...and then wandered around checking out the vendors. Lots more have set up now. 

(Steve here.) I could smell the delicious odour of fried onions and asked Greg if he wanted to get some lunch. We both decided on hotdogs which the vendor had a variety of and we both chose the Costco hotdogs. Greg said he'd get it and when he went to pay it was $22 !!! They are only $1.50 with a drink at Costco!  After our expensive lunch we wondered around more vendors. Feeling bad about how much Greg paid for lunch I asked if I could treat him to some ice-cream. He was all for it so we headed to the ice-cream vendor next to Beer Belly's. Shock #2...$17!!! Note to selves...ask how much first next time!

Friday (Jan. 6) morning we noticed that the wind was finally coming from the right direction...north! It was a beautiful sunny day but still a little more breezy than expected.

Debbie and I headed into the laundromat at 9:30, got our stuff washed and were home just over an hour later. Then it was time to hang in on the line to dry.

With such a beautiful day, we decided to start our core crash games at 3:30. Unfortunately Ray and Deb are under the weather, but friends of theirs that they met at Queen Valley, Jerry and Debbie (yes, yet another "Debbie") who arrived a couple of days ago, came over, introduced themselves and joined us. Colan and Marilyn joined the rest of us (Greg, Debbie, Jim, Steve and I) once they returned from Parker. No pictures...sheesh!!

Saturday (Jan. 7) morning, Steve and I joined Greg and Debbie going to the QIA market, which is held the first Saturday of each month. Lots of artsy, crafty stuff, etc. Always interesting to check it all out...it was very busy! We ran into friends Mike/Dawn, and Pam there. They are staying at campgrounds with full hook ups in Brenda. We hope to get together at some point.

After that we went and wandered around the vendors on Kuehn Road. Steve and Greg had done that Thursday but Debbie and I hadn't since more vendors had set up.

We were home just after 12:30...and I spent the rest of the afternoon working on a blog update. At 4:00 we sat outside and were joined by Jerry and Debbie, Jim, Colan and Marilyn...and Ray and Deb even popped over for a bit. They didn't want to get too close but it worked out fine, especially since we were all outside.  Another great hour and a half chit-chatting with everyone!

And that pretty much brings us up-to-date again!