Tapping Kofa

We made it out of California, and then through the desert town of Quartszite, Arizona just in time. It was a week before the huge annual tent-show and things were going to get extremely hectic around this area soon. The usually small town – only a few blocks in size – grows in size by ten-fold, if not more, with tens of thousands parked in the desert surrounding the town. It is a spectacle to see, for sure, but I want no part of it. Unfortunately, we had to pass through the area to get to our work-week destination – Kofa National Wildlife Refuge.

Only 5 miles away from Q, things go back to a calm a serene cactus filled desert. Travel another ten or twenty miles and you have the horizon to yourself. Well, mostly. You do have to share it with some beautiful mountain ranges to the east and west, but they are quite neighbors.

It was here that a dirt road led to a spot awaiting our arrival. Only one other trailer parked nearby; Susan, a fellow solo woman traveler – someone Kerri knew from social media. The Banks pulled in the following day and we had a night of the five of us catching up and getting to know each other over a soggy campfire. It rained for one and a half days straight – an outrage, but the desert plants sure loved it. The work week passed with all of us hunkered in our own rigs. Only on Thursday night did the rain let up enough that we all got back together for a night out at the movies – projected right on the side of Susan’s fifth-wheel.

If you have never seen one first hand, let me tell you, desert sunsets are easily the best there is. I still believe New Mexico owns the world record best sunsets, but Arizona comes close and it made sure to remind me of that fact right away.