2025-26 Trip to the Southwest, Day 108

Day 108, Tuesday, February 3, 2026 - Dome Rock BLM, Quartzsite, AZ, Day 3 - 0 Miles, 3,500 Miles for the Trip

50°F overnight, 65°F for my morning walk, 77°F by noon and the high for the day was 80°F.

I met and chatted with a bunch of folks on my morning walk. After breakfast and a bit of internet reading I called the Lake Havasu City Walgreens to phone in some prescription refills. After convincing their AI phone voice that I neede3d to talk with the pharmacy, I was put on hold for 15 minutes before an announcement that they were having difficulties, told me to call back, & hung up on me. It sure has become difficult to talk with a real person. I called again a half hour later and got through to a very nice person after only waiting 6 minutes. I hope all the scripts will be ready when I hit Lake Havasu City.

I sat outside in my shaded chair. Nice & quiet - the generator across the way isn't running & the dog & owner are gone for the day. One generator running on the hill, but far away enough that it is not all that noticeable.

I got a call back from Stony Creek and am booked so I now have reservations for all the places that take them for the trip back to Oswego. 

I took some hummingbird photos (of course) as well as made a round of some of the trailers.

More photos at today's LakeshoreImages page.

After that it was sitting outside reading..

Dinner was a Marie Callender's Roasted Turkey Breast & Stuffing plate.

Until Next Time -

2025-26 Trip to the Southwest, Day 107

Day 107, Monday, February 2, 2026 - Dome Rock BLM, Quartzsite, AZ, Day 2 - 0 Miles, 3,500 Miles for the Trip

47°F overnight, 59°F for my morning walk, and at Quartzsite, °83F by noon which was the high for the day since the clouds moved in. At 1:00 it was down to 77°F.

While it cooled off in the early morning, overnight wasn't too bad. The furnace, set at 60°F didn't come on except for a couple of short runs around 6:00AM. I made a loop of the area for my morning walk. Lots of fiberglass trailers here, although there are also many sun blockers of all types scattered amongst us. After breakfast the batteries were at 88%. 

I still have one more reservation to make for my trip home. A new campground, Stony Creek has the strangest reservation system I've run into. When I called a couple of months ago they told me they don't take reservations until February 2nd. When I called today & was told to "Press 1" for reservations it switched me to someone that put me on a reservation call back list. They said they wouldn't get to me until Wednesday because they were still doing callbacks from yesterday. Since they told me that reservations started today I'm confused. Anyhow, I hope to hear from them since the choices in the area are slim.

I finished Brian W. Aldiss's Space, Time & Nathaniel, and started a collection of Joyce Carol Oates - Night, Neon.

I decided to tilt the solar panels. I might have gotten away without tilting them, but around 11:00 I was only seeing 56 watts from the pair of 160 watt panels. It took around 20 minutes to tilt both panels & it went up to 190 watts. When there was a clear section of southern sky they peaked at 250 watts, and eventually switched out of the bulk mode, balanced the battery cells during the absorption stage, then switched to float.

The Tilted Panels

If you look closely, you may notice a 20 pound tank running the grill. I don't know what is up with my 5 pound tank, but it stops producing propane when it is around 1/2 empty. So, it is back in the truck. I'm glad I had room for my extra 20 pound tank; I usually don't carry it unless I bring my propane generator.

While I do like my location, two things I don't like is a generator running all day behind me, and the same trailer & the one next to it have dogs that bark at anything that moves. 

I made a run to town for my bag of kettle corn. It is quite different here in the southwest than at home. I don't know how they get the kernels to be as large as they are, but it makes better kettle corn. I also stopped at the Coyote Market for some deli ribs, green beans & mac & cheese. I've had better, but that was linter (combined lunch & dinner).

Dinner was the afternoon ribs.

Until Next Time -

2025-26 Trip to the Southwest, Day 106

Day 106, Sunday, February 1, 2026 - Dome Rock BLM, Quartzsite, AZ - 50.3 Miles, 3,500 Miles for the Trip

52°F overnight, 56°F for my morning walk, and at Quartzsite, 70°F by noon with the high for the day at 77°F. Now that I'm away from the Colorado River I thought the humidity would get even lower, but it is about the same as Parker - 19% humidity indoors & 27% outside.

Last night I finished Joyce Carol Oates Fox. A gutsy book, although a bit too long. Started a collection of SiFi short stories written by Brian W. Aldiss - Space, Time & Nathaniel.

After my walk & breakfast I tried to remember how to pack the trailer for a move & headed to the dump station. While there are two double stations, one was locked up. A long wait, mostly on a camper van that took forever.

Eventually I hit the road and arrived at Dome Rock around12:15. Picked out a spot that was within1/2" side to side & required dropping the tongue 3 1/2", and put the back end of the trailer to the south so if needed, I can tip my solar panels. I set the stabilizers, raked off the larger chunks of rock & nailed down my outdoor rug, set up the folding table & grill. 

Dome Rock, Quartzsite, AZ

I set up the hummingbird feeder wand by using a tent stake to make a path for the wand. The rock/gravel here is so tough that foot pressure doesn't work when setting the feeder post. 

Checked out the internet - AT&T shows 56.86Mbps down & 5.46 up. While I still have some data left until Tuesday on the January 100GB allotment on the Starlink Mini, as long as AT&T is fast enough, I'll stick with it.

I chatted with some of the early arrivals but didn't take the camera. I'll start doing some photos tomorrow. There are lots of fiberglass trailers already here as well as some sun blockers. I did stop to taler an iPhone photo of some of the wild flowers in the area.

Wild Flowers

I talked with my son in Oswego who is worried about the amount of snow on the roof; I hope it melts soon. My grandkids have been home from school all week and they announced it will be closed on Monday. It was fun for awhile, now they are ready to get back in the swing of things.

Dinner was a Bubba Chicken Burger & a salad.

Until Next Time -

2025-26 Trip to the Southwest, Day 105

 Day 105, Saturday, January 31, 2026 - La Paz County Park, Parker, AZ, Day 63 - 0 Miles, 3,449.7 Miles for the Trip

50°F overnight, 56°F for my morning walk, 73°F by noon; the high for the day was 82°F. 

Another shirt only morning for my walk. I had my last breakfast at the Black Pearl bacon, eggs, hash browns & coffee for $14.58 before tip.

Back at the trailer I pulled up and packed the mat, took down my welcome sign & hummingbird lights. I started to put away the empty hummingbird feeder, but the bees felt I should leave it on the picnic table so I didn't argue with them. At least the stand is back in the trailer. 

While I wasn't planning a trip to town, I changed my mind and drove to the Food City for a box of Marias cookies. That is the only place I've seen them. While they are a product of Frito-Lay, they are made in Mexico. An interesting taste. I also checked to see if they have grape Zero Gatorade in the large bottles since they were the only place that had it in town, but unfortunately, none to be had.

Back at the trailer I sat outside in the shade and read. Still very low humidity at 19% in the trailer & 23% outside. 

Dinner was an Amy's Enchilada Bowl.

Until Next Time -

2025-26 Trip to the Southwest, Day 104

Day 104, Friday, January 30, 2026 - La Paz County Park, Parker, AZ, Day 62 - 0 Miles, 3,449.7 Miles for the Trip

48°F overnight, 56°F for my morning walk, 74°F by noon; the high for the day was 80°F. 

The wind died down overnight, although the humidity is still low at 26% outside & 19% in the trailer. 

During my walk I finished listening to The Jester by James Patterson & Andrew Gross and started Stephen King's The Long Walk. 

I made a trip to Parker for gas at Running Man ($2.61) & bread at Safeway. 

While not as windy as yesterday during the morning, it has picked up during the day and is just a bit too much to comfortably sit outside. 

I was going to head for building 9 for a shower, but the showers are closed & being rebuilt. It seems a hole developed in the floor of the first shower so a major overall is underway. So, it was off to building 6 & trying to find a place for my stuff.

Dinner was a chicken & Apple Brat & Mac & Cheese.

Until Next Time -