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Life at an Off Grid BLM Camp near Yuma is an acquired taste. Details in Off-Grid-Yuma-BLM-Bob Davis Podcast 1157 .
Firstly I have been traveling and camping at some spectacular National Forest campgrounds,
Even more at some amazing Bureau Of Land Management campgrounds which are well maintained and fantastic.
But the so called Long Term Visitor Areas are a different story.
Above all Yuma isn’t much better.
By the same token the vibe in at Yuma is a little more chill than a hundred miles to the North in Quartzsite.
Basically I ran into some first time RV people; the other day and they expressed their displeasure with these LTVA’s run by the Department of The Interior.
Overall this is a great place to wait out the final few weeks of what we call cold weather down here.
In fact with temperatures in the 80’s as I write…
It won’t be long until I start spring travel into the higher elevations.
Undoubtedly first time RV people have their concerns.
It’s important to realize that these places have no power or water hook ups.
Nevertheless there is garbage service and fresh water.
In the same fashion bathrooms are provided.
Unfortunately sometimes they don’t work.
Another point overlooked is the BLM isn’t very good at fixing things…
Or cleaning things up.
In contrast to nearby military bases with five bars of 5G…the US Department of the Interior cannot seem to figure out how to get cell service into these LTVA’s.
On the other hand once you accept all those drawbacks life can be pleasant here.
Secondly one of the things about this environment is it tends to be more social.
All things considered I am changing my requirements when it comes to camping.
In fact these days I prefer more solitude and emptiness.
For that reason I will generally avoid these kinds of places.
For the time being though this is a good place to wait out the final few cold nights and plan for future travel.
On this occasion one takes the good with the bad.
Sponsored by 36 LYN
Off-Grid-Yuma-BLM-Bob Davis Podcast 1157
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Firstly time for a Nomad Winter Escape Adventure. Details in Nomad-Winter-Escape-Adventure-Bob Davis Podcast-1156.
Secondly right about now just about everyone in North America is looking for a winter break.
Certainly the arrival of the Polar Vortex and Winter Storms are key.
In addition even out west it’s cold in the higher elevations.
Equally important is the need for nomads for warm days and nights.
Accordingly the adventure here is the often challenged nomad migration from the higher altitudes to the lower.
Of course because life on the road requires multiple stops in transit it becomes an adventure.
Thirdly I love the Eastern Sierras.
However this locale is a lot more palatable in the Spring and Fall.
Since I just made the trip from Lone Pine California to Organ Pipe National Monument in Arizona I can tell the story.
All things considered I was warmer in the below sea level reaches of Death Valley.
But I don’t like to back track.
It’s for this reason that I headed toward San Diego.
Owing to the fact that I had video to upload I was in search of a Starbucks and a place to hole up for a night while I uploaded.
In reality apparently San Diego doesn’t like Truck Stops or National Forests.
And, like Florida, this part of the California frowns on stays in Walmart parking lots, Cracker Barrel’s, or Denny’s.
All things considered any nomad out there is nodding their head.
In the final analysis I do not blame the San Diego area.
At the same time the best I could do was a rest area about forty miles east of the city.
At length let the downloading begin!
Finally found a great campground a little farther east.
At length I found the nights still too cold with the Santa Ana winds and headed for Arizona.
With this in mind Nomad-Winter-Escape-Adventure-Bob Davis Podcast-1156 is all about the little errands and things we have to do that makes nomad life an adventure sometimes.
In any case any refugee from the current Polar Vortex will find California and Arizona quite pleasant despite slightly cool evenings.
And Organ Pipe National Monument is a dream.
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Adventure, Freedom and History in Death Valley and The Eastern Sierras.There’s so much to see and so many thoughts! Details in Adventure-Freedom-History-Bob Davis Podcast 1155.
Firstly my last podcast dealt with the Eastern part of Death Valley. Podcast 1155 deals with the Western Part of Death Valley and the Eastern Sierras.
Secondly I am doing this podcast as I exit the freezing northern reaches of Lone Pine California and head for warmer parts of Southern California.
Most importantly heavy winds and near freezing temperatures make it pretty cold up in the mountains.
That is to say given the elements I don’t know how the pioneers even considered trekking up the Sierras with their belongings and animals.
Certainly the Donner Party experience led to later western emigrants to seek a southern route.
This literally led through Death Valley.
Altogether I love the history in the west.
But the Death Valley Sierra area is jam packed with all kinds of historical stories.
Even more every view is packed with beauty.
With this in mind while I retreat to warmer climes I am doing this podcast in Mobile Podcast Command as I head south.
Above all this is a great time to discuss issues of freedom.
At the present time I am struck by the number of people I know who feel deeply constrained in their jobs,
Even more life seems also to be exerting a tremendous weight on shoulders ‘back in the world’.
All things considered I think this is one of the reasons people are so interested in nomad life.
Sponsored by 36LYN
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It’s time for a higher vibe to ring in the New Year and Death Valley is the place to do it. Details in 2025-High-Vibe-Death-Valley-Bob Davis Podcast 1154.
I came here to stay one or two nights and ended up extending to the maximum time.
As a matter of fact I could live here if they let me.
What a contrast to the Truck Stops of Las Vegas.
Especially the stars.
Of course this is the largest National Park in the Lower 48.
But at the holiday time of year I was surprised by the number of people camping up here.
Certainly it’s true that our end of year rituals rooted in primitive man.
So it’s fair to suggest Christmas and New Year’s celebrations precede the Christian Era.
And our commercial hustle and bustle suggests a return to pagan roots for some.
But I am still surprised at the number of people camping here for Christmas and New Years.
Accordingly this place has a lot of primitive history.
With this in mind the ghosts of Ancients, American Indians and Pioneers have a certain currency.
As well as the miners and entrepreneurs that built some of the best attractions in the Park as well as in the region around it.
Up to the present time this place has a lot of history.
Furthermore as a nomad I am grateful for the ability to enjoy places like this at length.
The first thing to remember is the vibe in the campgrounds is high.
Crush Of Holiday Activities Back Home
Secondly and chiefly a huge relief and respite from the shopping and food and family intensity of Thanksgiving through the New Year.
Meanwhile the Winter Solstice is supposed to be for resting and refitting.
In addition for preparing our seeds to be planted in Spring.
In summary Death Valley is a special place with a lot of life!
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It’s a Hella Truck Stop Nation. In this case “Hella” is used in the negative sense. Get the full scoop in Hella-Truck-Stop-Nation-Bob Davis Podcast 1153.
Firstly I am supposed to be enjoying a perfect Southwestern sunset in front of a warm campfire.
Instead I am in Las Vegas waiting for a heater I’ve ordered to arrive at Camping World.
And dealing with a strange noise and potential mechanical problem with Mobile Podcast Command.
Therefore I am rotating around Las Vegas.
From time to time visiting various truck stops both in the city and in surrounding areas along the freeway.
More importantly I have been doing this for a long time.
That is to say traveling around the country visiting towns and cities.
Certainly spending most of my time on the back roads and avoiding the major cities.
All things considered when most people come to Las Vegas they come to the shining hotels.
In essence to gamble, enjoy an expensive and delicious dinner and see a show.
Under those circumstances visitors never see the back streets of this city.
In particular the in town truck stops.
At the present time I don’t think I have seen this many desperate people.
And not just here in Las Vegas.
But all over the Southwest.
To explain we’re talking about people sleeping in cars and converted vans and utility trucks that fool no one.
Or the free campgrounds in the desert.
Therefore I certainly could have recorded a breezy and fun podcasts about how much I love truck stops.
On the other hand I decided to dig a little deeper and push a little harder.
There’s nothing like a trip to Vegas to emphasize the gap between the haves and the have nots,
As well as the unfortunates who have fallen off the last rung of the economic ladder…into the abyss. And sure there’s jobs for those with certain skills.
And of course there are those who I describe as useless.
Thirdly about 90 years ago hundreds of thousands of Oklahoma Sharecroppers headed west.
Finally the difference between today’s desperate and the Okies is a plan.
In conclusion there is no plan.
In fact if you’re a nomad or want to be one you have to be able to identify this situation and the places you don’t want to stay.
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