We picked up the boat today. If the weather calms we may still get it into the water. The forecast isn’t very good, lots of wind. No worries though, we are moving on up the Colorado and can put it in Lake Mohave if it doesn’t work out here.
It was a repeat hike for us but still a fun one. The trail wanders through a wash with the highlight being clambering through a slick-sided, narrow, slot canyon that includes an erosion smoothed pour-off that creates a steep slicky slide. It is only about 9 feet high but as I was setting at the top steeling my nerves for my descent it seemed more like 15 feet.
Kent had a bit of trepidation as well but both found the actual plunge great fun and a nice addition to the hike. Wild flowers dotted crevices and ledges 
and the brilliant blue waters of
the lake created a wonderful contrast with the red cliff shores.
Looks like we will be staying on dry land for a couple days. Winds are strong and the lake so choppy that launching would be a nightmare and kayaking exhausting. We will need to do a lot of hiking to work off the tasty treats from The Donut Post; a local bakery that we found last time we were in this area.
North on 95. Next stop is Lake Havasu City. Plans include some boat motor maintenance. First thing tomorrow the boat goes into the shop to have the carburetors rebuilt. Once that is done, the plan is for a bit of kayaking in the Wildlife Refuge and maybe a spin around this end of the lake to try out the repairs.
The day starts out sunny and comfortably cool. We take one last walk around this desert wash we have called home for about two weeks then pack it up to move on. April is a pretty quiet time to be here since the swap meets and rock shows have pretty much shut down and some of the restaurants sport signs declaring “See you Oct. 1”. We got lots of chores done and enjoyed plenty of sunshine. If there is a next time, we will probably try it here a bit earlier or maybe even go for a Nov/Dec stint. We’ll see.
Normally dry washes that cut through camp have a pretty good stream flowing today. It has rained off and on for the past 4 hours. The air is crisp and clear with smell of freshly washed desert. Wonderful. I am hoping it clears off in time for an afternoon stroll.
Silly Al’s pizza is one of the few year round, non-fast-food places in Quartzsite. It’s equal parts tavern and pizza joint and pretty popular with the locals. We were too early for karaoke but enjoyed the pizza. There is live music and dancing Saturday night, maybe we will have to check it out.
We have found our way back to Quartzsite, AZ, home of the mega desert sanctuary for 1000s of snow birds. It is late enough in the season that many have already headed back north (some regret it I suspect since weather underground has shown quite a bit of Spring snow for points north). We are just hanging out enjoying the solitude and sunshine. We have sought a bit of mid day shade too as temperatures have pushed into the mid and upper 90s. It is, as they say, a dry heat but even at 5% humidity 96F is hot.
Not that kind of terminal. Turns out the issue with the Motorhome was related to a couple of overworked and poorly located wiring terminals. When International built the chassis they ran independent circuits for both the Engine and Transmission Control modules all the way to the battery. This gets them the “cleanest” power for the computers. In this location it is subject to the corrosive gas emitted by the batteries and the dirt, road grime, road salt and water that splatters the underside of the motorhome for 6 years now. The issue presented itself when the motorhome would unexpectedly quit as if you turned the key off. Turns out it was exactly as if you interrupted power to the computer when the connector failed to transmit the power it needed. Though some helpful and knowledgeable folks at the Escapees RV park we were directed to a very good mechanic. Took him about 20 minutes to diagnose the problem and after a few wires splices sealed with heat shrink material we are again “on the road again”.
The Yuma County fair is quite the affair. Budweiser Clydesdales, Dalmatian and all made a showing. There are classic livestock exhibits, cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens and rabbits. Have you ever seen a lions head rabbit? It looks a lot like a cat or a lhasa apso dog, weird. One very creepy livestock display, carcasses. Yeah, behind glass in a refrigerated case hang the actual dressed carcasses of animals the 4-H kids raised. Educational I suppose but, ick.
Speaking of animals that somebody raised, we shared a yummy dinner of tri-tip and smoked sausage from the Yuma Rotary. Couldn’t pass up the funnel cake for dessert.
Then there was demolition derby.
On a muddy/slick dirt track, in front of a packed house, 24 “cars” started and hammered it out until there was only one. Fun.
Final 2 running