January 30 - Oh Sh** Run near Quartzsite

I spent a few days with online camping friends near Quartzsite dry camping in the desert.  We had people from Connecticut, Texas, Oregon, Arizona, California, Idaho and Washington!  As people moved on, LeRoy brought the RZR so we could explore the area for a few days.

We knew this trail would be fun when we saw this sign......

 

The rocky trail up

 

 

Guess someone liked the view well enough to create a sign

 

 

Those vehicles are on I-10 behind Dome Rock

 

 

There was the extra added attraction of an old mine

Some copper

Time to head back down - here is a short video to give you an idea of the ride.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd3tEyWZDc0

 

 

April 2 and 3–Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

What a glorious place and a couple wonderful days!  All the rock formations are due to shifting sand dunes millions of years ago.  My photos do not due the area justice.
 Early sun reflection and the view from my back door.

As much as I have enjoyed everything I have seen in the desert while riding in the RZR, this evening I am enjoying a sense of accomplishment after hiking today.  I have missed that.

 White Dome was a great hike.  We started out on a trail of fine sand – that is a workout!  Then it was fine sand on smooth rock – slick as ice!  I didn’t take a spill on this trail but on a later one – I was standing still and my foot just shot straight out from under me!
We are going down….

 Love the colored stones they used to build the steps.

We started at the bottom of that ‘V’ way up there.

Starting the trail out - and this was a much easier trail.  We expected a hard climb out.

 

 

Sights along the way

 

 Petroglyph Canyon Trail

 

I can't seem to get enough photos of Chuckwallas.  This one went from here, up a boulder, across and back down into the bush to eat.

 

 

January 9 - Dripping Springs

We trailered the quads west, almost to Quartzsite for this ride.  We have been here before.  This cabin is usually our first stop.  People leave all sorts of things behind - the decor does change.

 

 

Someone has set a shooting range up here as well.

 

 

And here is what is left of the outhouse....

 





For some reason, I had never noticed this pointed rock before

Petroglyphs

 

Enjoying the view

 



 

The springs are tucked back in there

 



 

Not very impressive at this time of year with no water, just one steady drip. 

 



Pilot Knob, California desert

This is a leftover from early December 2012.  We stayed at Pilot Knob near Winterhaven, California while visiting friends.

This is a portion of the border fence between the U.S. and Mexico.



A look at the parking lot where we park when we go to Los Algodones, Mexico.

We went into old Yuma for a quick bit of shopping and a drink.  Ran into this 'criminal' - LeRoy really doesn't have four arms, but I missed the fact the standup already had two.

 

Our friend Leo led us out into the sand dunes.  What fun but a bit more of a thrill than I expected with the 'tilt' on the sides.

The first tarantula I have seen in California.

We took a third ride out to see an area where people have written in the desert with rocks.  The area was huge.  One writing had a few solar lights.

 A nice rock formation and then into a little canyon.

 

And another tarantula!