Chatting Around the Campfire

"Imagination and fiction make up more than three quarters of our real life." Simone Well

The folks are starting to roll in. Many of them we haven't met yet but we will. We have a huge area marked off for about 17 motorhomes, 5th wheels or travel trailers. Right now there are five of us and by Tuesday of next week we might be up to an even dozen.

Thursday, Lee (of IYQ fame) rolled in and then on Friday a couple "newbies" joined us. Don and Joyce are from the little state of New Hampshire and just started full-timing in December of 2009. Then, on Saturday Eric and Karla arrived. We sat around the campfire learning all about each other. It's amazing what you can learn about (and from) others by chatting around a campfire. We also discussed a few of the oddities in Quartzsite including our stroll last year through the nudist camp, a short distance from us, and the local bookstore where 3 Socks works. Last year it was more the curiosity of checking those spots out. This year we don't need to go back ... been there, done that.

Yes .. we had our first campfire Friday night. At first we were going to nix the idea because it had turned cool and windy but by the time the sun was getting ready to disappear behind the mountains, so did the wind. Wood for the campfire is hard to find in this part of Arizona. The few vendors in town selling it have brought it in from northern Arizona or California. And, as you might guess it is very expensive. Last year there seemed to be more wood available ... or, maybe it was all sold out by the time we got here. Anyway, Jim and Sandie paid for the first bunch and then we had a second bunch delivered. The cost ... a screaming $100 a load!! However, the campfires are a big part of the gathering and we're just hoping the other folks chip in enough to cover a bit of our cost.

We've already visited two of the restaurants in town (plus the bakery). The first night out was at one of the local Mexican restaurants and then we stopped at Silly Al's, an Italian food/pizza place. There are quite a few more around and with a couple more weeks in town, I'm sure the others will get our business too.

One place we did discover this year that we hadn't tried last year was Mister Lemonade!! He makes the original home made, hand cut french fries ... cut while you wait and cooks them in lard. There is that word again, lard. We know how bad it is for us but it certainly makes french fries taste out-of-this-world! His corn dogs are the extra long ones and he even has fresh squeezed lemonade. Entertainment is offered as several country western singers alternate serenading while you eat. We've already been there twice!!

We haven't spent as much time visiting the vendors this time as we did last year. Perhaps, that's because we went through all the stuff previously. The Big Tent opens on the 15th (or is it the 16th) and we're looking forward to seeing all the latest and greatest items on the market for the RV'ers.

There were the normal must buys. One was a motion detector for the RV. Jim and Sandie had one and the rest of us wanted one. They are now out of stock so hopefully a new supply will arrive shortly.

The sunrises and sunsets are still gorgeous.

Things are good.