Getting Ready For "Q"

"The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat." Lily Tomlin

Again, the time has come for us to start working our way to "Q". We'll be arriving there on exactly the same day we put down camp on the LaPosa BLM land one year earlier. We were there in 2009 outside of "Q" from January 5th to January 23rd. Actually I didn't remember the exact date. I had to go back and read my blog of one year ago to figure out when we arrived and when we pulled out.

We were actually in an RV park (Sunsetters) from about the middle of December but when others we knew were arriving, we figured it would be much more fun to be with them. And, it was. There was seldom a boring moment. Being there early we watched the little town grow as vendors arrived, RV lots expanded and winter visitors arrived.

It was exciting and entertainment was not lacking. The coyotes even sang us to sleep at night..... which reminds me -- coyotes are definitely there. We saw them and heard them. They aren't just out at night but also an occasional one will wander through during the daytime. We were told that some folks fed them!! Can you believe that? We also heard that every year a few RV'ers lose their pets because they leave them outside unattended. Can you believe that also?


During the day we spent much of our time visiting with our RV neighbors, checking out the vendor wares and doing exactly as we pleased. Many of our dinner meals were spent as a group visiting the local restaurants or as a potluck affair. As evening approached we almost always had a blazing campfire and sat in our circle enjoying the gorgeous sunsets, companionship and discovering what IYQ meant when discussing cranberry juice.


We watched the BLM land expand from just a handful of RVs to thousands and thousands. It definitely grew. The Chamber of Commerce indicates population of the town is about 2500 except for the month of January when it expands to about a million!! It's an exciting place to be. You'll be surprised at what all this little town can handle. The laundry facilities are huge, a local bakery makes rhubarb pie that actually melts in your mouth, a group of nudists occupy one end of the BLM, and a bookstore in town has the notorious 3-socks working there. Not far is the solar-run Desert Bar which is only open on weekends and absolutely packed!


From our experience last year, we have learned a few things in getting ready to go. This time we know we will be boondocking (existing without full hookups at an RV park). Last year we fought this. I had no intention of roughing it. Some of the folks parking in the desert for the winter spend close to six months in the same location. You'll see all types of setups and many have gone to quite an expense to install solar panels and additional batteries. Our thought is that it would take years to recoup the investment to equip ourselves to do this and we would never benefit. But, the big thing is ... we don't want to. When we boondock, we'll run one of our generators and when we're not, we'll be in a full-fledged RV park with electricity, water and sewer. However, for about 3 weeks in January ... we're willing to rough it but that's because we're not really roughing it. We have everything we need including satellite, microwave, internet .... get the picture?


The grocery stores in "Q" are expensive so stocking up on items we can is something we intend to do before we head that direction. We also discovered the food isn't always as fresh as we would like so be sure to check expiration dates. We do have a small freezer in our "basement" but this is an electric only freezer so we won't be filling it as it doesn't run on propane. We've been eating everything out of it. However, shopping at Costco doesn't work as we discovered yesterday. A lot of food items there are in large quantities and we have no place to put large quantities of anything. Stocking up with wood for the campfires is another thing. Last year we were able to collect wood but ran our supply low then so we know we certainly won't have it as easy this year.


We were amazed at the RVs that occupied the BLM land. They ranged from million dollar motor homes to tents. Everyone appeared to live in peace. Some folks had marked off their "space" by piling rocks around what they wanted to claim. Other folks merged in together claiming an area their group could fit into. The cost is attractive and northerners converge on the area mainly because of the sun but partially because of the cost. Last year the permit fee was $40 for two weeks or $180 for six months. However, there are areas that are absolutely free as long as you move every 14 days.

<-------- Desert Bar

Sometimes the line to the dump at LaPosa South was extremely long. We were parked in an area we could not see the dump and it was off of a side road. This year we're hoping we can visually see the line at the dumps and not be close to a main route others use to ride their ATVs on kicking up the dirt as they go to and from.

Line to the dump ---------->

It'll be fun and we're certainly getting ready to pack up and head that direction... only two more days. In the meantime, keep the sun shining!