Quartzsite 2025 non-organized rally 18-26 January 2025

[Larry N.]

Nice videos- thanks for taking them in landscape mode and for keeping them nice and steady, with slow pans. It makes for a much nicer viewing experience.

 

[UTTransplant]

Larry, those were taken with my GoPro. I am definitely smoother with it than my iPhone, or maybe it is just the good image stabilization in the GoPro! But i get seasick when people post videos moving too fast so I try to not do that. This was an experiment to see if I could link the videos in the blog. It keeps me from having to upload them twice (YouTube and blog).

 

[garyb1st]

Pam, we did Cibola several years ago. Did you take the unpaved road from Az 95 or the long way via the I10. Even though we have a Wrangler, I'm not fond of unpaved roads so we did it via I10. For those who haven't been to the Cibola area, it's definitely worth the time.

 

[garyb1st]

I am now 284.3 miles from the Forum Area in Q., should take 4 hours and 17 minutes of driving to get there, but I will be an hour later because of the time difference.

We're probably 75 west of Boron. Been raining most of the night. I think your 4 hours and 17 minutes is a bit optimistic unless you're going to ride.

 

[Larry N.]

I am definitely smoother with it than my iPhone, or maybe it is just the good image stabilization in the GoPro! But i get seasick when people post videos moving too fast so I try to not do that.

It's probably some of each, Pam. The GoPro does have superb image stabilization, but you controlled the pan rate and with you trying to hold it steady it was as smooth as the pros do in scenics. Nice job, and very much appreciated- it's pleasant to watch.

 

[UTTransplant]

Pam, we did Cibola several years ago. Did you take the unpaved road from Az 95 or the long way via the I10. Even though we have a Wrangler, I'm not fond of unpaved roads so we did it via I10. For those who haven't been to the Cibola area, it's definitely worth the time.

We took the drive through the Yuma Proving Grounds, the unpaved road. Everyone involved had a truck, and 3/4 had 4WD. We were the only ones who had a problem - a flat tire! It didn’t take long to change it though. We made sure that everyone knew it was a rough road so we had a great trip. We went back on the paved road.

Oh, and it rained here in Quartzsite last night! It had been about six months since the last rain. Wasn’t much, but it should help with the dust for a few days. They really need a couple of 1/2”-1” rains.

 

[ziplock]

I am sure glad I made it over the Tehachapi Mountains. That was the worst part, driving in snow.

my goodness, were you only going downhill or up and down to get over the mountains? What is the situation?

Never been there. I just learned how to PRONOUNCE the word: Tehachapi

I think I will make it to Q. sometime tomorrow afternoon on AZ time (I lose an hour at the state line). If it looks like I will get there too late, I will stop somewhere and be there earlier on Tuesday.

Let us know when you finally get there.

 

[Lou Schneider]

my goodness, were you only going downhill or up and down to get over the mountains? What is the situation?

Never been there. I just learned how to PRONOUNCE the word: Tehachapi

Let us know when you finally get there.

The Tehachapi Mountains aren't a major obstacle, Highway 58 is 4 lane freeway the whole way. There's a climb on each side (starting at Mojave and east of Bakersfield) with a wide valley in the middle containing the town of Tehachapi at about 4000 ft. It can be windy, at the eastern ridgeline is the US's first large scale windfarm with about 3400 turbines at last count. Fortunately the primary wind direction runs parallel to the highway so it usually isn't much of a factor, although one night I was surprised by a tumbleweed passing me in the left hand lane as I ascended the pass from Mojave. If you're a train buff don't miss the Tehachapi Loop where the tracks make a compete circle and the front of a long freight train passes 77 ft above the rear cars. There's a viewing turnoff on a side road bit it's not suitable for large RVs.

 

[ferfer]

DonTom is at the Quartzsite rally site.

 

[Utclmjmpr]

better late than never..>>>Dan

 

[DonTom]

We're probably 75 west of Boron. Been raining most of the night. I think your 4 hours and 17 minutes is a bit optimistic unless you're going to ride.

I got here quite fast today. The biggest delay was the road construction right here in Quartzsite. But there was some rather heavy snow in I-40 for a few minutes. It was sticking to the ground but only for a short while. Nothing like my drive over the Tehachapi Mountains yesterday.

Let us know when you finally get there.

I am here!

DonTom is at the Quartzsite rally site.

It was my pleasure to meet you and Dan!

-Don- Quartzsite, AZ

 

[DonTom]

The Tehachapi Mountains aren't a major obstacle,

I see that you did not drive over them yesterday! But I guess it wasn't too bad, as everybody was driving around 35 to 40 MPH. But one car did slide off the road.

Are you over your bug yet? If so, you now need a new excuse for not being here!

-Don- Quartzsite, AZ

 

[DonTom]

better late than never..>>>Dan

I hear you're still here. I am in the motorhome next to FerFer. The one that says "Vision" and a motorcycle and soon a ham antenna (I have not yet put that up, but I will in a few minutes).

-Don- Quartzsite, AZ

 

[garyb1st]

Took the Pace in for brakes, AC repair, possibly steering stabilizer, shocks and maybe some body work. Find out tomorrow if I need to refinance the house to pay for everything. Other than those minor issues, Pace is gassed, almost loaded and ready to roll. Still waiting for a few non-RV things that are coming via snail mail before we can head out. If anyone is still around KOFA, we'll stop by. Otherwise we'll head to Big Ben via Yuma. Had an inch of rain and while it's a bit chilly, the sun is shining. Hopefully that sun shine is headed to Q if not already there.

 

[DonTom]

Hopefully that sun shine is headed to Q if not already there.

It was nice here today, just a little cool, 55F.

Quartzsite expected weather for the next week:

 

[DonTom]

were you only going downhill or up and down to get over the mountains?

Up over the summit and then down the other side. The summit is only 3771 feet elevation on Hwy 58, but that didn't stop the heavy snow.

There was also some heavy snow on I-40 today, but that only lasted a short time and was not hilly and twisty as is 58 over the Tehachapi Mountains.

-Don- Quartzsite, AZ

 

[ziplock]

I am here!

Glad you are there and you have "friends" around!

Take pics, and teach us about the Quartzite area!

 

[Larry N.]

Take pics, and teach us about the Quartzite area!

You might like this video from 2022:

or
this one:

from 2020.

And this thread from 2016 has links to some additional good info: 2016 RV Forum Quartzsite Rally

 

[DonTom]

Glad you are there and you have "friends" around!

Take pics, and teach us about the Quartzite area!

It costs $40.00 for two weeks to stay here, with this deal, it includes the RV dump and water a mile on the opposite (east side) of US 95. The RV Forum area is 1.5 miles on the west side. So it is 2.5 miles on unpaved roads to get to the RV dump.

AFAIK, only two RV dumps for around a half million or so RVs out here, so there is a line to dump and get water. Miles and miles of spread out RVs in this area, on both sides of US 95. Exact location is here, Spot Messenger on my motorcycle seat in the photo below. Use the "+" to scale in. The map will only show for a month. So if anybody uses that, write down the coordinates ("33°37'29.6"N 114°13'42.2"W". In decimal degrees, it is:

33.624880, -114.228390.

RVs for as far as the eye can see in all directions.

RV Forum area:

IBTripping & Diogi Doggy's RV to the front of mine with his white truck across the small unpaved road:

My Class A, with FerFer's (Jenifer and her husband Dan) behind mine, with the Amercian Flag that looks like it is at half-mask):

Camera date is still on CA time, add one hour for AZ.

-Don- Q., AZ

 

[DonTom]

BTW, PedroDog, who used to be very active in this forum around a year ago, showed up here yesterday.

-Don- Q., AZ