Tuesday, January 10, 2012

QUARTZSITE, AZ

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The above is a picture when the RV big tent is set up.

We are back in Apache Junction getting ready for a series of doctor appointments for Jim.

I do want to share some pictures of Quartzsite with you, especially for those of you who have never been there. The problem is, no matter what words I use or what pictures I post, you still can’t truly understand what Q is like until you experience it for yourself.

Quartzsite

(Peter, your picture turned out so much better than mine, I hope you don’t mind if I used yours.)

IMG_3951 In 1856, Fort Tyson was built at the present site of Quartzsite to protect the water supply from attacks by Native Americans. It had become known as Tyson's Wells by the time the stage stopped running and the town was abandoned.

IMG_3953 Mining resurrected the small town for several years until it was discovered by RVers who now arrived 1 million strong during the months of January and February each year.

 

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Jim did some shopping at the vendors. Picked up some LED lights and a post for his windchime. That was about it for us. Oh, we also got some water filters. Just not shoppers. But there is definitely something for everyone and you could spend days wandering through all the vendors.

The big RV tent show doesn’t start until January 20 this year so we won’t be there for that. Currently there is a huge rock and gem show happening.

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                        Tomb of Hi Jolly in Quartzsite.

One of Quartzsite’s most famous citizen is surrounded by an air of mystery. Nobody knows for certain where he was born, when he was born and what he was named after he was born. He was a dreamer, an adventurer and an entrepreneur but never achieved great success in any of his undertakings. He died almost 97 years ago, but his name is still immediately recognized here. His tombstone is the largest monument in the city.

IMG_3960 He came to this country as Hadji Ali but came to be known as Hi Jolly. He was one of the first camel drivers ever to be employed by the U. S. Army in 1856. Jefferson Davis, then the U.S. secretary of war, believed camels could solve the Army's transport problems in the arid Southwest, so he imported more than 60 animals and a full complement of drivers from the Middle East. Ali was one of the drivers.

IMG_3958 Although the camels could carry up to 600 pounds of goods and travel more than 60 miles a day without water, the operation failed. In his final years, the old camel driver lived in a cabin near Quartzsite.

He died on Dec. 16, 1902. According to the legends that survive him, Ali perished when he went out into the desert to find a wild camel. And when they found his body, he had one arm wrapped around a dead beast of burden.

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A very unique place – Quartzsite, Arizona

Our last night out on the desert we had a pot luck. Small group but lots of good food. And even better company.

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18 comments:

  1. thanks for the history lesson on Quartzsite!..good luck to Jim!!

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  2. Liked the story about Hi Jolly. Not sure I would like Quartzsite. Just too many people there for our liking. Glad you had fun and found a few good buys.

    Kevin and Ruth
    www.travelwithkevinandruth.com

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  3. Where is the picture of the bookstore owner?
    Good luck with the doctor appointments, Jim.

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  4. Donna was asking about Quartszite the other day, I told her one of these days we might get out that way and stay at one of those B.L.M. sites, We don't have the capacity to boondock much, just two batteries and a generator.Be safe out there, Looks like your all having fun. Sam & Donna...

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  5. Yes. Quartzsite is a very unique little place. Everyone needs to visit at least once in the middle of January.

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  6. Enjoyed your post On Quartzsite, certainly did't know much about the towns history. We hope to be able to visit Q in the next couple of weeks. Appreciated your comment and thoughts you shared on our blog yesterday. Give Jim our best.

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  7. Boondocking to us is too much like camping, in fact 30A electrical is too much like camping, so we probably won't ever experience Q in that manner. We do plan to have a day trip to Q during the RV Show later this month.

    http://bobandjotravelblog.blogspot.com/

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  8. Not the same without you guys. <3

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  9. The Q is a unique place that's for sure. Every time we visit, we always say never again but by the next year we always relent and say 'well, maybe just one more time'.

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  10. I'm not much of a shopper either, so being there in November gave me a chance to visit more vendors than I needed to, and I didn't have to suffer the huge crowds. Even out on the BLM land there was plenty of space between groups of campers. It IS an experience though.

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  11. Thanks for the information and the pictures about Quartzsite!

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  12. I guess I am still planning on experiencing Q next month, but for how long I don't know. Thanks for the history lesson, very interesting where names come from.

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  13. I'm not sure we will get back in time to go to the Q show this year but maybe if we go the last weekend. We end up day tripping it usually from Mesa. Park out West of the big tent in the desert and walk around till my legs give out.

    Nice job on the history of Q and Hi Jolly. Can't ya just hear some ole hillbilly butcher his name into Hi Jolly? Word had it that the army just abandoned those camels out in the desert, when they were done with them... Talk about cruel!

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  14. We stopped in Quartzsite but it was in late March, long after everyone left. Would like to stop and see it in full swing, but still boondock out of town.

    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    Karen and Steve
    (Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/

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  15. Don't need to convince me - I LOVE Quartzsite. All the peace and quiet you could want - yet, all the activities and people watching you could want also.

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  16. Cool History note. I've been through the "Q" many times when truckin' and have always said, I do need to stop and check this out. Well, now I finally get that time to check it out. Glenda & I will be there the 2nd or 3rd of Feb. I can't get there sooner due to a hearing test at VA so let's have some fun when we arrive. So, you all know, I have some hand tools(power and not) to sell as I don't need them and My cooking skills are always available. Hope to meet you all there in Feb.

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  17. Thank you so much for the info of Q. I'd love to go someday. Wow, it surely is an RV community!!

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Thanks for visiting today. I look forward to reading your comments. Have a beautiful day.