North by Southwest

We begrudgingly, but excitedly, (oxymoron?) departed Boulder City, Nevada on Tuesday morning, April 15th, for Mt. Hood, Oregon, ready for new adventures and exploration.  We had set our alarm and gotten up at midnight to observe the astounding lunar eclipse, and so very happy that we did.  It was AWESOME!    A spectacular sunrise greeted us the next morning when we got up again, and as we were preparing to leave, as if to say Good- bye, see you in November, when you return for the Winter.

It was so incredibly FUN when we were able to take US 95 South out of Boulder City, instead of heading direct North.

 We had decided to head 200 miles south to Quartzsite, Arizona for a couple days of boondocking, so we could test out 3 new solar panels that Chris had recently installed, and have an amazing night sky to witness the Full Moon on the eve of April 15th.  What better place to test solar than the southern Arizona desert in mid-April?  Besides, we had become enamored with the desert around Quartzsite, a small quirky town,  65 miles north of Yuma, Arizona, when we had visited in January for the BIG annual  RV show.   Quite different back then with HUGH crowds, but not now, as we headed to our favorite spot off West Dome Rock Road, which was BLM, (Bureau of Land Management), and 14 days of Free camping.  Remember, "This Land is your land, this land is my land, from California to the New York Island, from the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters, this land was made for you and me."
Boondocking for those of you who don't know, is dry camping, or no hook-ups.  No water available, no sewer, and no electricity.  You use what you bring or have or generate yourself.  We love the freedom of being out in some magnificent locations with no neighbors, just us and the wind and wildlife and wide open spaces with gorgeous scenery.  We can open all our blinds and windows and not see or hear anyone else.  It's an amazing feeling, and we LOVE it!  We kinda feel like modern day pioneers.  Of course we are no comparison to the original pioneers and settlers who crossed the country in covered wagons pulled by oxen, without many set roads, enduring the endless, numerous hardships they did.  We know we have it so much easier in most aspects, but I think we share the same common feelings of adventure, and exploring that the original pioneers and nomads felt.  We do have the utmost respect, admiration and total awe for these mighty and brave souls, and thank them for paving the way for us modern pioneers or nomads. (Fellow boondockers or wanna be boondockers, check out the new, very cool and helpful app from Technomadia, appropriately named, "US Public Lands")
So when we did arrive at Dome Rock Mountain, we had the place to ourselves.  SWEET!

So after 2 days of bliss in the desert, and a thumbs up with the new solar panels, we next headed West on I-10.  We stopped and stayed 2 nights in Desert Hot Springs, California, a place we had heard many good things about, and were anxious to soak in the natural mineral hot spring pools and visit nearby Joshua Tree National Park.  So we did, and it was Great.

Joshua Tree National Park, www.nps.gov/jotr    encompasses 794,000 acres, where the Mojave and Colorado deserts converge.  A very cool place to visit if you ever get the chance.  Surprisingly, numerous cool rock formations here, besides the giant Joshua Trees,  supposedly named by the Mormons.  We found this to be a Good place to be on Good Friday.

                                                                          We found some Spring color in the desert!

We now plan to meander up scenic Hwy 395, and see what we can see.  Next stop is Lone Pine, California where we plan to boondock another few days at historical Alabama Hills BLM, and cook our Easter ham and deviled eggs and etc.  (with propane of course, and no, not green eggs and ham)  Our plan is to arrive at Mt. Hood, Oregon May 1st, and have a few days to settle in and visit family, before starting our workamping positions with the BLM on May 4th, for the summer.
Everyday, we are continuously grateful for the opportunity to live this nomadic lifestyle we have embraced and fallen in love with, for now, while we can.
And so we continue, again, North by Southwest  and  Westward Ho, Oregon or Bust!

Cheers!