Annual Quartzsite, AZ Gathering, January 2018

      We met early at the Blythe Bluegrass Festival before QZ.  Rich helped us a few months earlier to make our own reservations and we were supposed to go in as a group so we could park in the same area.  The meeting place was a truck stop west of Blythe.  Some of us were on the way but didn't make it at the appointed meeting time.  However, our fearless leader (Rich) made arrangements for spaces for the latecomers.

      The music, bands, atmosphere and weather were good.  We participated in the community's benefit meals - breakfast, steak dinner and bake sale.  The evening happy hours were good, even if we had to locate our winter clothes.  Members in attendance were Rich and Linda Strobel, Dennis and Paulette Kotan, Bernie and Carol Juliar, Bob and Teddie Obteyndt, Escamilla's friends, Tony and Sharon Balanca and Rich's friend, Dave joined us also.

      Some of the group left on Sunday and the rest left on Monday to meet up at our previous camping spot in the middle of the desert, just outside QZ.  Other members to join us in QZ were Gerry and Linda Chetelat.  Two couples Dave and Linda Veysey.and Burton and Jennifer Cain from Miramichi, New Brunswick Canada joined our camping group and also became our newest members!  They are spending 2 months in Arizona this year and have plans to return next year. The Murrells, Escamillas and Smiths first met them in 2014 in Alaska.  The Murrells later met up with them again in Moncton, New Brunswick in 2015.  One more rig with the Murrells son and family joined the group, Jake, Tiffany, Cooper, Hudson, Violett and Maverick.

      Since this was an informal rally/gathering there was no meeting.  Members and guests were busy during the RV Show at the Big Tent, shopping at the many vendors around town, going out off-roading, taking photographs and of course sitting around the campfire every night.  Linda Chetelat also led a craft to make handmade greeting cards.  A few purchases were made:  satellite dish, tire monitoring system, repair and/or replacement of windows, rocks, fossils, jewelry, etc.  We ate out for one breakfast and dinner, had one potluck and a few happy hours. Everyone scattered after the week of dry camping.  Some went to Yuma, some went midway home or all the way home, some to another rally, some scattered around other parts of Arizona and both Murrell rigs went to Utah.

      The next rally will be the celebration of Rockwood West's 30th anniversary at Santee Lakes March 15-18!