How was Quartzsite?

Well,
This was our 7th year, I think. And, well, Quartzsite is, Quartzsite. It's a big "Happening" as they used to say in the hippie days. Pretty much the same from last year, and the year before and, the year be.....

It's one of those things that, to me, if you've experienced it as many times as we have, it pretty much gets to be just sort of routine. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty to do and see. We've jeeped in quite a few of the surrounding areas, visited just about every vendor there, several times and, well, we've pretty much covered all there is. And, we're not into rocks so, that's out.

But, lots of folks having good times, including us, visiting with friends we've not seen since last year at this time. Will we go again, most likely. The really good part for us is, the last time we were at the Q, we had to drive from our home then, in San Diego. This time, is was a hop-skip-and-jump, from our new home in, Lake Havasu City, about 1 hour and 10 minutes.

And, while we too used to camp for "FREE" for several of the years we'd been going, there's something to be said for residing a lot closer, as in Rice Ranch. Yep, we too paid only $7.00 a night but, our toad, sat there for three days. The main reason was because we simply walked across 95 into the back side of the big tent to see if there was anything new there. Then, we strolled over into Tyson Wells to check out more Chinese screw driver bits.

Since we were camped directly behind Gamblers RV supplies, we had to go in there for the zillionth time and see what, if anything was new.

So, yep, you can camp for free but, depending on your outlook and, frequency of visits to any part of the big event, you have to deal with the drive from where ever you were parked and, the deal with traffic the closer you get to any part of it, then, you have to deal with the parking. And forget "Handicapped" parking, it's out the window at Quartzsite.

So, after we tried Rice Ranch last year, we knew we'd not go back to the free camping. It's just too darn convenient and, it's not bad at night and, the folks camped near us were all very cordial.

Then, for us, it was a hop-skip-and jump back home.
Scott

P.S. We didn't even do the Main Event because the last few years, the vendors have been slowly dying out due what we hear as, "Being taxed out and over charged for spaces etc." There are still some things to see and some vendors left on that side of I-10 but, it wasn't worth driving over to, for us.

Based on the above descriptions the crowds are down. I can remember 15 years ago not being able to move in the Big Tent unless the person in front of you moved. Even the outside vendor areas at the different sales areas (Tyler Wells, Main Event & others...Rice Ranch didn't exist) on the weekends you had to pretty much flow with the crowds. Parking spots were hard to find and you would end up walking a mile just to get from the car to the sales area.

Traffic on the roads looked like rush hour in LA...bumper to bumper, stop and go.

This was our 4th time going there in a 10 year span. We think the crowds were down a little bit, which was good(for us). The show was pretty busy, but we could get around in the big tent and purchase various items without the crowded aisles and long lines. It was the same at the outside vendors too. We were able to browse most everything without having to squeeze between lots of people.

We had a good time and as was previously mentioned, Silly Al's is a fun place with the BEST pizza! We even joined the Quartzsite Yacht Club. Got a T-shirt and membership card and will go to other clubs that reciprocate:)

The crowds are down everywhere in the SW this year. Algodones is seeing a very large decline in visitors, the Yuma area has thousands of RV sites and lots for either sale or rent and this is very unusual for here. Friends that live year round in Q say that the actual numbers are down by over 20% from last year and over 50% from just 5 years ago. The Boomers are not embracing the RV lifestyle of old and are flocking to the upscale resorts and cruise industry.

This was our tenth year and we always have a good time. The first few years there were more vendors and lots more flea market vendors around town. Since the recession, many tent vendors disappeared and the local area flea market vendors slowed way down. We still have fun. We usually walk the tent and exterior vendors a few times or a three or four day stay and make some small purchases after checking around.

This time we took the RZR out to the two golf courses north of town (all desert, actual hole markers and seats at most holes). Just north of the that is a desert shooting range.

The hot item this year in the big tent was the rubber headed broom/scrub brush. You got two for $20.00.

"For $7 a night did they have a dump station & trash bin there? Hundreds of square miles down the road are free. "


Yes they had a huge dumpster, flush toilets and if you wanted to dump your tanks there were lots of full hook up sites available. Saw lots of folks just pull up to an empty FHU site, drop and go. The best thing Rice Ranch has going for it is its location. It is located on the southeast corner of 95 and Kuehn which is directly across 95 from the big show.

We've done Scadden Wash which is nice and free (no trash, water or dump station), but it is a couple of miles into the show and parking is always problematic. For $7 at RR we buy the convenience of just walking everywhere. The FHU sites go for $35.
Works for me.

:B

Desert Captain wrote:
This was our fourth year in a row and we had a blast. We always arrive midday on the Monday after the show opens. Spent two days and nights (at Rice Ranch RV Park across 95 from the show - $7 a night to dry camp), and then headed on down the road.

Some disagree but we found the crowds to be pleasantly down from previous years. The big tent was easy to negotiate and traffic seemed lighter as well. Everyone was friendly and seemed tone having too much fun.

Can't wait to go back next year.

:B

For $7 a night did they have a dump station & trash bin there? Hundreds of square miles down the road are free.

Second year for us and we also had a great time. Stayed out in Salome(about 30 miles out), the drive was easy. If you go....you have to do Silly Al's Pizza...we went several times and learned some of the in and outs of ordering.

This was our fourth year in a row and we had a blast. We always arrive midday on the Monday after the show opens. Spent two days and nights (at Rice Ranch RV Park across 95 from the show - $7 a night to dry camp), and then headed on down the road.

Some disagree but we found the crowds to be pleasantly down from previous years. The big tent was easy to negotiate and traffic seemed lighter as well. Everyone was friendly and seemed tone having too much fun.

Can't wait to go back next year.

:B