I spent most of my first winter as a full timer at Quartzsite, AZ. This is likely the most famous winter boondocking spot in the world. According to Wikipedia the town has a population of 3,354. During the winter months this number explodes to over 1.5 million.

My first stay at Quartzsite was three years earlier when I was enroute from Rice Texas to California with my new Casita. I had read that Casita owners gathered here so I decided to check it out on my trip home. I immediately felt a connection to the place, the clear night skies full of stars, the dancing lights of traffic far off in the distance and wide open spaces of the desert.

There are numerous RV shows, swap meets and gem shows during the winter months but the real draw is the thousands of acres of BLM land nearby that offer plenty of places to set up camp. There are lots of websites that break down all the various area’s and where they are located. Suffice to say, its fairly spread out and caters to a pretty diverse crowd.

It doesn’t take long to settle into a groove and soon the warm desert afternoons begin to blur together. Before you realize it a few weeks have passed.

I was fortunate to have some great neighbors. I met Brian earlier that year at the Salton Sea. Brian was a long time professional musician plying his craft on the seven seas. Lonnie was already onsite when I rolled onto the ridge in November. Lonnie was an over the road trucker before settling down to a life of ease. Over the next couple of months the three of us held court, watched each others back and enjoyed life on Dome Rock. Suffice to say its advantageous to be aligned with a small group for security and sense of community.

As a full timer you are often alone and in the middle of no where so having a sense of community no matter how small was a nice change.

Dome Rock Rd after a rare late night rain storm. The air is fresh with the smell of sage and wet dirt.

Christmas Cactus.

On most days I would head out into the mountains on my bike. You only have to ride around fifteen minutes before you get a sense of being in the middle of nowhere, the threat of a Mountain Lion looming large over the next ridge. (Note, their are no Mountain Lions in Quartzsite but the imagination is a powerful copilot)

Off of Plomosa Rd. This is north of Quartzsite off of Hwy 95 heading towards the small town of Bouse. Its a lot quieter over on this side of the hills. I think my closest neighbor was a half a mile away. Nice change of pace if the crowds start to weigh on you.