Off-Grid-Yuma-BLM-Bob Davis Podcast 1157

Off-Grid-Yuma-BLM-Bob Davis Podcast 1157

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,

And National Parks.

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.

Certainly my listeners and subscribers have followed my tribulations through the LTVA experience in Quartzsite, Arizona.

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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Nomad-Winter-Escape-Adventure-Bob Davis Podcast-1156

Nomad-Winter-Escape-Adventure-Bob Davis Podcast-1156

Nomad Winter Escape Adventure

Firstly time for a Nomad Winter Escape Adventure. Details in Nomad-Winter-Escape-Adventure-Bob Davis Podcast-1156.

Winter Break Up North

Secondly right about now just about everyone in North America is looking for a winter break.

Polar Vortex

Certainly the arrival of the Polar Vortex and Winter Storms are key.

Cold In The West Too

In addition even out west it’s cold in the higher elevations.

Nomads

Equally important is the need for nomads for warm days and nights.

Challenged

Accordingly the adventure here is the often challenged nomad migration from the higher altitudes to the lower.

Life On The Road

Of course because life on the road requires multiple stops in transit it becomes an adventure.

Eastern Sierra

Thirdly I love the Eastern Sierras.

Spring and Fall

However this locale is a lot more palatable in the Spring and Fall.

Lone Pine To Organ Pipe

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.

San Diego

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.

Rest 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!

Campground

Finally found a great campground a little farther east.

Santa Ana Winds

At length I found the nights still too cold with the Santa Ana winds and headed for Arizona.

Mundane Adventure

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.

Organ Pipe Dream

And Organ Pipe National Monument is a dream.

Sponsored by 36 LYN

Nomad-Winter-Escape-Adventure-Bob Davis Podcast-1156

 

 

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Poor-Man's-Paradise-Bob Davis Podcast 1120

Poor-Man’s-Paradise-Bob Davis Podcast 1120

Poor Man’s Paradise

Firstly as city life continues to deteriorate many Americans are searching for a Poor Man’s Paradise. Secondly Quartzsite Arizona might be the best of all. Details in Poor-Man’s-Paradise-Bob Davis Podcast 1120.

Cultural Crossroads

A friend and I were discussing this point recently as an illustration of different cultural crossroads.

Q-Town

Certainly Q-Town is a cultural crossroads.

Back In The Day

But these days are not like the bad old days of the late seventies, early eighties and nineties when hundreds of thousands of RV people crowded into the campgrounds around this southwestern town back in the day.

Think Jersey Shore

Accordingly in those days the streets were as crowded in winter as the Jersey Shore in summer.

In light of that kind of traffic these days it’s tame.

No Insult

In Poor-Man’s-Paradise-Bob Davis Podcast 1120 I’ll explain the most compelling evidence why it’s no insult to refer to Quartzsite as a poor man’s paradise.

Life Is More Expensive

Certainly as everything gets more expensive only the top one percent can afford the resorts.

For one thing the perks and extras in those places would fuel steaks and wood for campfires for all of us out here for weeks.

Snow Birds and Nomads

In addition snow birds and nomads would not be able to experience the true cultural crossroads this place is.

History

Another key point is there is a history to this place.

As a matter of fact there’s a museum in town that tells the story very nicely going back to the frontier days.

Enthralled

But in the same fashion I am enthralled by the people who run the businesses here in town…

And the new friends we meet along the way.

Questions

Finally I get a lot of questions from listeners and subscribers about Quartzsite.

For one thing they want to know what it’s like.

And they want to know how to prepare for it if they come down here.

Although helpful I am not going to provide that kind of content.

Because I think people should jump in and see what it’s all about for themselves.

Experiences May Vary

To put it differently your experiences might vary.

Dark Side

Certainly some see the dark side.

Thriving Temporary Town

However I see a thriving town thrown up every year to serve campers…

And to have fun too.

Isn’t that what it’s all about?

Sponsored by Garden Gurus MN

Poor-Man’s-Paradise-Bob Davis Podcast 1120

 

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