Stopping in Quartzsite

 We moved on to Quartzsite after our pleasant stay at Oxbow Camping Area.

Here the weather is cooler and bug free, compared to our winter camp in the desert of California.

Entrance sign to BLM land

Here also is a BLM LTVA area. (Bureau of Landmanagement, Longterm Visitors Area),

A former camper left a sign 

which is very crowded during the end of January when the big RVShow is held. It was somewhat less populated now and we found a nice spot not far from where we parked last year. 

Saguaro Cactus

We parked near the northern wash on BLM land called "La Posa South". 

The flat landscape is covered with sedimentary rocks, as Basalt, Quartz and Rhyolite, originating from ancient mountains which were worn down over the millennials.  

Creosote bush, Saguaro Cactus, Iron Wood tree, Palo Verde tree grow in the very dry climate.

View from our spot towards southwest

Why we choose to hang out here for a while instead of driving home right away: 

In the coming days there are several cold weather systems moving across the US. They will bring a significant amount of rain, snow and high winds into the area, and we don't want to get caught in that. We will be waiting for more favourable weather.

The "wash" behind our spot.

Yesterday, I walked the wash (dry stream bed) where flash floods occur when the summer monsoon months bring rain showers to this area.  The moisture gives plants the boost they need to survive and now is the time were a lot of flowers are in bloom. 

 With the help of  the"Google search function" I tried to identify the most of them.

Desert Lavender
Hyptis Emoryi

Brittlebush
Encelia farinosa

Chuparosa
Justicia california

Notch-leaf Scorpionweed
Phacelia crenulata

Purple Mat
Nama demissum

Desert Coulter's Lupine
Lupinus sparsiflorus

Desert Fairy Duster
Calliandra eriophylla

I found several more, but could not identify them properly.

As last year there also was an Ash-throated Flycatcher around.

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Saguaro Cacti

Goodby Hot Springs - Hello Quartzsite

Tuesday, March 8

Our last afternoon. 

We spent the time with our German friends Petra and Gerd. 

It was so nice to having them around.

Maybe we will see them again in Arizona, just before they 

have to fly back to Germany.

Later, while the sun was setting, we took a walk with Dixie

along the canal, that is called

 "Orita Drain" on the map.

Tomorrow morning we will start on our long journey towards home. 

*****

Wednesday, March 9

The morning was spent with packing the camper trailer and hitching up. 

On our very last morning walk we spotted 

a Merlin perched high up in a tree. 

Was he saying goodbye?

Several neighbours stopped by to say farewell. They all plan to stay a few more weeks, because it is still very cold 

and there is lots of snow up in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Crossing the Colorado River in Blythe, CA

Farewell California!

Hello Arizona 

Along the road towards east

small yellow flowers (Brittle Bush) showed us that spring is near.

Later in the afternoon we reached our new destination:

Quartzsite, AZ. 

Quickly we found our "old" spot from years ago and sat up camp.

There still were lots of campers around.

I climbed on top of our roof to get a better view.

Then there was Dixie's necessary walk. 

We went a couple of hundred yards along a wash and up an ATV trail.

The vegetation is very different here. 

Some Saguaro Cacti could be seen around.

Just before I arrived back at our site a little bird landed

in a tree near our path.

Ash-throated Flycatcher (Kalifornian-Schopftyrann)

I read that they are very adapted to the dry arid conditions in the semi desert. 

They don't need to drink water at all, because they get enough

moisture from eating lots of insects.

Amazing.

Or recent route:

Holtville CA to Quartzsite AZ

Translation

_______________________________________

Dienstag, 8. März

Unseren letztern Nachmittag verbrachten wir mit unseren deutschen Freunden 

Petra und Gerd. Bald müssen sie wieder nach Hause, 

aber vielleicht treffen wir uns noch einmal in Arizona. 

Ein Abendspaziergang entlang des Kanals zusammen mit Dixie.

Morgen früh geht es los in Richtung Norden.

Mittwoch, 9 März

Nach dem Frühstück wurde alles gepackt und der Campingwagen angehängt.

Einige Nachbarn kamen vorbei um uns eine "Gute Fahrt" zu wünschen.

Sie selbst werden noch ein paar Wochen länger aushalten müssen. 

In Albert und Saskatchewan ist es noch immer sehr kalt und schneereich.

Ein Merlin saß hoch oben in einem Baum während wir

ein letztes Mal mit Dixie Gassie gingen.

Als wir den Colorado River überquerten hieß es

Auf Wiedersehen Kalifornia!

Hallo Arizona!

Entlang der Straße blühten schon ein paar Brittlebüsche.

Zeichen daß der Frühling nicht mehr weit sein kann.

Nachmittags erreichten wir unsere heutiges Ziel:

Quartzsite, Arizona

Schnell fanden wir unseren "alten Platz", auf dem wir schon vor Jahren

geparkt hatten. Vom Dach aus konnte man sehen daß noch immer

recht viele Winterurlauber anwesend sind.

Ein kurzer Spaziergang mit Dixie durch ein Trockenbett, vorbei an

Saguaro Kakteen. 

Auf dem Rückweg landete ein kleiner Vogel in einem Baum am Wegesrand.

Ein Kalifornia-Schopftyrann hieß uns "Willkommen"!

Diese Vogel ist erstaunlich gut an die sehr trockene Gegend angepaßt und braucht nie

Wasser zu trinken. Er bekommt genügend Feuchtigkeit durch den Verzehr

von Insekten.

Erstaunlich!