Alternate venue to QZ anyone?

[Tom]

The following was split off from the original QZ 2006 rally discussion to float an idea.

(LOL Wendy. We miss the people too, but not the QZ dust. I haven't got rid of all last year's dust yet)

Would there be any interest in a different (less dusty) venue next year  ???

 

[Wendy]

Isn't the dust part of the 'ambience' of Quartzsite? 

I really didn't notice it so much while I was there as I did after we left...in the carpets, on the coach, on the dog, in the clothes, up my nose......

Wendy

 

[BernieD]

Maybe there would be interest in a different venue next year  ???

Quick Tom, bite your tongue then say 25 mea culpas.

 

[Tom]

LOL Bernie. Maybe we could rent one of those water trucks that spray water to keep the dust down in construction areas.

 

[Ron]

The Quartzsite Rally has become a RV Forum tradition.  Wouldn't be the same anywhere else.

 

[Tom]

The Quartzsite Rally has become a RV Forum tradition.  Wouldn't be the same anywhere else.

Surely you'd agree it's the people who make the rally, not the location. Other "Traditional" forum rallies (e.g. Centermost/Moab) have changed locations. But, as always, it will be the wishes of all participants that will decide the location. Just thought I'd float the idea to see if there's any interest in an alternate venue.

I've split this off into its own topic so as not to muddy the QZ 2006 discussion.

 

[Ned]

During those winters where there is rain in southern AZ, QZ is not as dusty as this year.  This has been one of the driest years on record for the SW.  Last year was one of the wettest and we had water in the washes and some mud, but no dust.

Any venue in the desert will have the same conditions but none will have the ambience that is Quartzsite.  I thought this was one of the best years we've seen in the past 10 as the temperatures were very mild.  We've had some cold years and I'll take warm and dust any time

 

[Tom]

For sure there was less dust last year, thanks to some rainy days/nights, although it wasn't dust-free.

 

[Ron from Big D]

We could have the rally along the Gulf Coast of Texas from Rockport to places south.  Others could make the long trek then.

Ron

 

[Jim Johnson]

I doubt that I can get Tarry to return to Quartzsite.  Her allergy's bothered her so much, always but this year especially, that I told her I would not ask her to return.  True, Quartzsite has become a tradition, but I agree with Tom;  take the same people and put them someplace else and who would know the difference. 

 

[Shayne]

I'm not an oldtimer at the rally's, however I know my lovely wife would definitely be inclined to attend at a different venue.  Not sure I can get her back to the Q due to the dust and wind. She's apt to use a pool Q on my noggin should I suggest it.  All I know is I had a blast meeting everyone.

 

[Tom]

We'd gladly make the trek to TX (or elsewhere) Ron.

I'm in a similar position to Jim; Chris just loves the people but, after our first QZ visit last year, she said she wasn't coming back. I had to use some psychology to get her to come this year.

Our friends came for the first time this year, after a lot of coaxing, but won't come back. I'm sure they'll also disuade other friends I've been working on.

 

[Wendy]

Why not Quartzsite in January, Moab in May and somewhere else in between the two or in the fall?

Personally, we're a little strange....we liked Quartzsite, dust and all. But then, we lived in Death Valley for four years.

Speaking of Death Valley, that's where we'll be this Christmas. Also in Pahrump for Pah-rump-pah-pum-pum Days. Hey, how about Pahrump for a rally?

Wendy

 

[Tom]

I heard/read that Pahrump is a neat place. Is it dusty/dirty there?  ;D

 

[Wendy]

Well, Pahrump is in the desert sooooooooo...........

However, I can't remember ever being bothered by the dust there. Now, the smoke in the casinos is another whole story....

 

[Tom]

the smoke in the casinos is another whole story

Smoke would definitely be an issue for me, but we don't gamble anyway. What else is in Pahrump?

 

[Bob Buchanan]

Quartzsite is not for everyone. I have found that there is ususally not much middle ground. It is either loved or hated. For those that do not like the dust and wind aspect, then another venue would be fine -- but would suggest picking some other time of the year (or winter) to hold it. For example, I will probably go from here (QZ) to Texas in a few weeks and would love to do the Gulf Coast for a Rally.

However, come early to mid January, 2007, I will join a million plus others (many like myself that love the desert) and return to Quartzsite. If my fire ring is not there, I will take morning walks again gathering rocks to build another one. I will get up early when I can and watch those incredible sunrises, and if I see a few clouds gathering as they did a few nights ago -- I will be ready with tripod and camera to capture another of those incredible AZ sunsets. I will dirve and or hike to the hillsides and enjoy the multitude of flowers that cover the ground -- especially in wetter years, I will four wheel the challange of finding my way downtown to see the many shows and people from all over the world. And by arriving early when I can, and staying on when I can, I will continue to get to know some of the local folk -- plus get to enjoy some of the beautiful solitude of the desert.

To me, there is little to compare to building a fire in the desert and inviting your friends to join you to just -- share. I want that to be part of my full time RVing experience always. Various amounts of dust and a bit of wind will never out weigh the good news about a few weeks in the desert each year. The fact that 50,000 plus other RV's are here during the two weeks of the show plus over 1,000,000 RVers just makes it that much more exciting to me.

 

[Karl]

Whatever you do, don't tell BOB BUCHANAN this, but we burned the last of the pallets this evening in (on) his fire ring.

Being a relative newcomer to the Framily and a long term temporary resident of QZ, I have mixed emotions. It's great to have a huge area to congregate with all the people and with few restrictions, but can understand the problems some people have with the dust and wind, and  lack of facilities and decent grocery stores, etc. We have, however, had the same problems with Alamo Lake; maybe not the dust, but cold temp's, high winds, and other various and sundry concerns. Would I come back? Of course, but as Tom said, it's not the location that matters; it's the people. Logistically, some place other than the far Southwest would be better for many people, but the things that make the Quartzsite rally what it is (both good and bad) could not be duplictaed elsewhere. Maybe it could be BETTER somewhere else, but I'm not well enough travelled to make a suggestion as to where that may be.   

 

[Ron]

IMHO Quartzsite is a one of a kind place and I would not want to see the Quartzsite rally moved or discontinued.  I am highly disappointed the subject of a change in venue has even come up.  This year we had the largest turnout ever at the QZ rally.  Why oh Why would we want to even consider tampering with success and tradition??



Now would we make any effort to attend a rally in TX or Ca or any other location during the RV show week at QZ??? NO.  I for one think the QZ rally should be continued. 

 

[Bob Buchanan]

Whatever you do, don't tell BOB BUCHANAN this, but we burned the last of the pallets this evening in (on) his fire ring.

Hmmmmm. I can recall mentioning to you last year on one of our jaunts to a rock and mineral show how impressed I was at the wealth of knowledges you possessed about such a wide variety of subjects. So when you attempted to burn a 4 ft. square pallet in a 3 ft. round fire ring, I got confused.  ??? ;D

The important thing is that it sounds like you had fun trying to fit the other 4 or 5 pallets into such a small circle. Let's see, how was it you explained the theory -- something about they would burn in the center and then you would push the sides in a little at a time?