 |
| our lot for 12 days off the grid |
It was also a Test:
- To give true boondocking a try and experience what it's all about
- To discover how we would cope living off the grid with no electricity, water or sewer hookups
- To see how well we would manage our alternate energy resources (the generator, batteries, two solar panels and the inverter)
- To test how well we would manage our fresh water and LP gas supplies before filling up the grey and black tanks or running out of LP gas
- To figure out how we would occupy our time parked in the middle of nowhere, unplugged, without life's many conveniences that we rely on daily. In other words, what on earth would we do without computers, sewing machines, and the TV? And would our phones and the new Mi-Fi device work?
- How long I would tolerate all of this before bailing out during the 12 days? (oh, Ye of little faith😏)
There is an Escapees Boondockers Club which gathers along Plomosa Road between Bouse and Quartzsite for a couple of weeks each March. We were heading in that direction from Mesa so it was a good opportunity to test the boondocking waters with them. We left Towerpoint on March 1st and headed west along I-10 to Quartzsite to fill up with diesel (which the generator also uses), LP gas (which powers the fridge, hot water heater, and gas cook top), and fresh water. We spent the next two nights at an RV Park in Bouse. I cleaned house and Michael emptied tanks in preparation for our desert sojourn.
Following the directions of the GPS coordinates, on Saturday morning we drove the twelve miles to the rendezvous site and met the Escapees Boondocking group for the first time. I thought that it would be a good idea to take this Test with a seasoned group of dry-campers and because I still feel uncomfortable being out there on our own, I would feel less nervous camping in the vast beyond if there were others nearby.
Here is where we called home, the red marker on the map between the small towns of Bouse and Quartzsite.
So how did we pass the time in Arizona's sand box dotted with saguaro, barrel cactus, creosote and palo verde?
Let me re-count the ways....
As we discovered, the Boondockers are a laid back, relaxed, independent but friendly group of folks who have chosen and love to camp in remote natural areas. They do on occasion stay at RV parks but their choice is to enjoy nature in its pure state in the wilderness. For free.
Their only expectation is that you park far enough away from a neighbor to give them space and privacy. There is a Cowboy Coffee around the campfire at 7 in the morning, and a Happy Hour gathering at 3 PM. Sometimes there is a fire in the evening. Beyond that, there are no expectations or plans.
If anyone wishes to suggest a specific activity, it is posted on a board at the campfire location. There is no pressure to join in. So for instance, on Monday someone suggested that we have a Dessert Happy Hour. It was well attended. After all: Life is Short, Eat Dessert First!
As we also discovered, this group is so laid back that although the rendezvous was scheduled for 12 days, folks arrived and left when it suited them. There were over 20 RVs when we arrived. A few left after a few days, others joined us, and by the time we left this morning, there were only a handful of RVs left.
We parked Alpine on a slight rise, overlooking the valley. There was one neighbor on the other side.
We found out that being situated higher up on the hill, my Verizon phone had coverage. The AT&T phone had none. The new Mi-Fi device, also Verizon, worked well and we were able to log on and use computers during the day while the solar panels charged the batteries and the inverter provided household current. So we were not completely isolated during our stay in the desert. We were also able to re-charge phones and tablets during daylight hours.
We also discovered that with the TV antenna raised we were able to pull in 33 channels, most with strong signals. That was a surprise because while we were in the great metropolis of Phoenix, we got several channels over the air, but could not get the NBC network to watch the Winter Olympics. Here in the boonies we watched the news for an hour in the evenings during our desert stay. And one evening, our neighbors across from us invited us over to watch a movie with them! We certainly did not feel deprived while boondocking. Life can go on pretty much as it always does.
 |
| Michael made sure the solar panels were clear of dust to be most effective |
Meal preparation was not an issue with the gas cooktop and our little barbecue. The only appliances that remained dormant were the crockpot that we normally use daily, and the microwave/convection oven. I was, however, still able to reheat leftovers a couple of times in the microwave when we ran the generator.
I discovered that a few of the boondockers have solar ovens. What a clever concept. It makes a lot of sense to harness the daily sunshine to cook a meal.
These ovens can bake, roast, and dehydrate. Apparently it's even possible to boil eggs in their carton (without water) in a solar oven!
Several of us went on a 4-wheeling trip into the desert with the Bouse Ghost Riders off-roading club. We headed towards the ghost town of Swansea 25 miles away, which once upon a time was a thriving mine. (It's the green marker on the map above.)
 |
| ready to head out into the wilderness with the Bouse Ghost Riders |
This drive was less of a "duhduhduh" washboard ride and more of a neck-swaying side to side jolting ride. In several places we drove along washes, the Jeep making a swishing sound over the fine gravel.
The scenery was pretty. We stopped at Swansea, or what is left of it today. Mining started around 1862 and by 1908 the Clara Gold and Copper Mining Company set up its headquarters in the mining camp that became Swansea. By 1911 the company was in financial trouble and closed down in 1912.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swansea,_Arizona
We poked about the mining camp and what remains of the old mining enterprise. After lunch we continued to the remains of the pump station, climbing over boulders and stopping at the canyon overlook.
 |
| off we go into the desert |
 |
| in the middle of the desert |
 |
| driving in a wash, glad there is no rain in sight |
 |
| in a flood, an enormous volume of water must rush through here |
 |
| canyon overlook |
 |
| more wash driving |
 |
| heading towards the pump station used to carry water to Swansea |
 |
| returning from the wash where we saw the water pump - an incredible amount of infrastructure was built for the mining enterprise |
 |
| waiting for the last of us to make it through the section of boulders we had to negotiate |
Everyone was having a fine time so we extended the trip and continued through the red rocks to loop back to the main road and home. It was a long but enjoyable day.
 |
| we noticed a rusty pipe alongside the trail which turns out to be a natural gas line! |
 |
| approaching the red rocks up ahead |
 |
| in the wash among the red rocks |
 |
| heading back to the main road home |
A group of us went off to Bouse for all-you-can-eat fish and chips at the Coachman's Cafe. We both got to ride in Loyal's tow car -
 |
| 1959 Ford Galaxy convertible hardtop |
 |
| the huge trunk stores the removable hardtop with only a tiny space for luggage |
 |
| Loyal's cute RV with tow; Alpine on the hill and our neighbors |
On Taco Tuesday several of us headed back to Bouse to the Ocotillo Lodge Restaurant.
Bouse was founded in 1906 and was a thriving mining town until the late 1920's when the mines began to play out. The hills around Bouse are dotted with old, abandoned mines and digs left by these early settlers.
During WWII General Patton established the 18,000 square mile Desert Training Center that trained over a million men during 1942/43 for the North African Campaign. The area covering parts of Arizona, California and Nevada had about a dozen military camps spread over the region. Camp Bouse, about 25 miles from the town, was a top secret facility working on a secret weapon they thought would change the course of the war. It was nicknamed the "gizmo", the Canal Defense Light, a 3-million candle-power strobing searchlight mounted on a tank that would blind the enemy during night battles. The CDL was never used during the war. (Camp Bouse - this link has some information about the camp.)
There is a monument located along highway 72, the main route that runs through Bouse.
Then in the summer of 1964, shortly after the Cuban Missile Crisis, the US military conducted a massive training exercise called Desert Strike simulating a local thermonuclear war. The exercise involved about 100,000 army & air force personnel, 1,000 tanks and 800 aircraft. Bouse was included in the area of operations and the local population catered to the servicemen working in the area for over a month.
Today, Bouse remains a quiet, small town of under 1,000 residents. It proudly boasts having 5 RV parks, 1 motel, 2 restaurants, 1 service station, 1 elementary/middle school, 4 real- estate offices, 4 retail stores and businesses, a post office, church, VFW and American Legion Post hall. And it's conveniently only about 12 miles from our boondocking location.
The days ambled along as we adjusted to the slower pace, the absolute quiet, the pitch dark at night, the raw grandeur of the unpopulated desert.
During WWII General Patton established the 18,000 square mile Desert Training Center that trained over a million men during 1942/43 for the North African Campaign. The area covering parts of Arizona, California and Nevada had about a dozen military camps spread over the region. Camp Bouse, about 25 miles from the town, was a top secret facility working on a secret weapon they thought would change the course of the war. It was nicknamed the "gizmo", the Canal Defense Light, a 3-million candle-power strobing searchlight mounted on a tank that would blind the enemy during night battles. The CDL was never used during the war. (Camp Bouse - this link has some information about the camp.)
There is a monument located along highway 72, the main route that runs through Bouse.
Then in the summer of 1964, shortly after the Cuban Missile Crisis, the US military conducted a massive training exercise called Desert Strike simulating a local thermonuclear war. The exercise involved about 100,000 army & air force personnel, 1,000 tanks and 800 aircraft. Bouse was included in the area of operations and the local population catered to the servicemen working in the area for over a month.
Today, Bouse remains a quiet, small town of under 1,000 residents. It proudly boasts having 5 RV parks, 1 motel, 2 restaurants, 1 service station, 1 elementary/middle school, 4 real- estate offices, 4 retail stores and businesses, a post office, church, VFW and American Legion Post hall. And it's conveniently only about 12 miles from our boondocking location.
Sunrises were beautiful.
Sunsets were glorious.
Walks into the desert were invigorating. We could walk for miles and never see a single soul.
 |
| the clever barrel cactus pointing towards the south |
The terrain here is quite rocky. We crunched our way along the paths and in the washes.
During our stay we got to know the group and learned a lot about boondocking. Most of them are full-timers and like other snowbirds, come to the desert in the south to stay warm. We were amazed to find out that boondocking is a way of life for many full-timers and that they move from one spot to another throughout the year, like gypsies. What is more amazing is that this is possible, on government land, for free.
One morning we ladies got together to address awareness and preparedness in case of an emergency, in particular if your traveling spouse or companion dies while on the road. The chores and responsibilities involved in setting up our RV-ing households are typically shared by the couple and the tasks are jokingly referred to as "blue jobs" and "pink jobs". The men are most often the drivers and do the outside and mechanical jobs like hooking up the utility connections, dumping the tanks, and taking care of the mechanical repair and maintenance. The women tend to do the inside tasks related to the house and hearth. For full timers this becomes a permanent way of life. But in the case of an emergency, an unexpected health crisis or even death, one person has to take over all duties. A few weeks ago, someone in the group died and this prompted the discussion about emergency preparedness, wills, and next steps. The question about being able to drive our home on wheels is pertinent. And particularly for full-timers since our RVs are our homes.
Most of us in the group were couples but I was astonished to find out that of the 17 of us at the meeting, four women are solo travelers, drive their own RVs, hook up their own tow cars, take care of the utility hookups and the dumping, and have been doing this for years. The other astonishing thing is that for one couple, the woman drives their truck pulling a fifth-wheel RV. Her husband is 91 and no longer drives but she, in her 80s(!) now does the driving and setting up. Amazing.
It certainly begs the question of what I would do should my spouse and bus driver die or become ill. Were the opposite to happen, nothing much would change for Michael, he could continue as we are now, and I suspect he would soon learn how to expand his cuisine beyond oatmeal and peanut butter sandwiches. But in my case, I would have a lot more to consider because it would directly affect my life. The biggest question would be whether I would continue this lifestyle.....
The solo ladies have given me a lot to ponder. As does the lady who still enjoys traveling and boondocking with her 91-year-old husband. It certainly is possible. If I choose to.
It certainly begs the question of what I would do should my spouse and bus driver die or become ill. Were the opposite to happen, nothing much would change for Michael, he could continue as we are now, and I suspect he would soon learn how to expand his cuisine beyond oatmeal and peanut butter sandwiches. But in my case, I would have a lot more to consider because it would directly affect my life. The biggest question would be whether I would continue this lifestyle.....
The solo ladies have given me a lot to ponder. As does the lady who still enjoys traveling and boondocking with her 91-year-old husband. It certainly is possible. If I choose to.
One morning we had a flea/craft market in camp. Used books and other items that are no longer useful were set up on the tables outside at the fire ring. That is how I discovered that crafting, sewing, and quilting are pastimes of the Boondockers ladies too. Their handmade jewelry, intricate flowers and butterflies fashioned out of beer and soda cans were on offer.
 |
| view from the sewing nook |
In the evenings, our LED lights that use very little current but are quite bright, provided good light for me to hand stitch the elephant applique wall hanging. I enjoyed the peace and quiet. There was no traffic, plane or train noise, no city noise, just the still calm quiet of the night over us as I stitched one relaxing stitch at a time, the old-fashioned way.
 |
| hand stitching in the evening |
 |
| crazy blocks under construction |
There is something else we were
both able to do while off the grid and that is read a real, old-fashioned book!
I discovered that Loyal (the one with the '59 Galaxy) authored a book. He happened to have one with him and signed it for me. We Poked a Hole in the Wind - The Story of Two Old Codgers fulfilling a Dream describes Loyal McCammond's 27-day horse trek across four states with his buddy.
 |
| laundry day in the desert |
I was fascinated by this appliance that is light enough to carry outside, can fit two queen sheets and spin them so well that they come out just about dry. Of course, anything hung up in the dry desert sunshine dries in no time.
The machine uses very little water which is a consideration because the only water supply is what you carry on board.
The one convenience of parking at an RV park is that it is easy to get rid of garbage because they all have dumpsters. Parked out in the middle of nowhere, garbage disposal is a little more challenging. The towns of Bouse and Quartzsite have transfer stations where we went one day to dispose of our garbage and recycle items. As I added our beer empties, I was struck by the volume of glass bottles already in the huge container. It puts into perspective how much we consume and dispose of even in remote places with fewer people.
 |
| dumpster with glass bottles |
We have a new "addition" on board with us since our desert stay. One of the gals gave us a presentation on food fermentation. She makes her own kefir and kombucha. I was immediately interested because we consume kefir daily. Thanks to Linda who shared the starter with me, I now make our own kefir. The starter looks like a large marshmallow and I call it the Mother Marshmallow. Michael calls it our "pet", the only living creature he will agree to having on board.
 |
| the thicker lump is the Mother Marshmallow kefir starter ready to do its magic in a fresh batch of milk |
And as for the Results of the Test -
The good news is that we passed all the Tests.
The better news is that we stayed the course, enjoyed all 12 days of it, and found that when it was time to leave it had all passed by surprisingly quickly, and we were sorry to see it end.
The best news is that we really enjoyed the quiet, the solitude, the freedom, the stunning scenery enfolding us. And in the process we met some great new people, friendly and welcoming, some interesting if not colorful characters, others inspiring. We learned a lot and experienced a new dimension and appreciation for enjoying the natural outdoors beyond "civilization" and suburbia. Boondocking is not as intimidating as one might imagine. In fact, it is refreshing and liberating to escape the hubbub of town life for a change of pace. And since we are self-contained in the Alpine, we felt no inconvenience or deprivation. We used our on-board resources with more thought and awareness of energy consumption. Alpine took care of the rest. Boondocking gets a thumbs up.
From me too!