Our long trip back to Quartzsite details and our Friday back to home dirt in the desert.

Where are we today

Quartzsite Arizona

clic a pic to enlarge it

        After a whirlwind trip back to Ontario, for Ma's funeral and celebration of life, we have been through all the weather climates, from hot to cold, to snow, rain and back to the heat and dry climate again. Arthritis pains has gone away again. lot the desert dry.
        This is how our flight from Toronto went yesterday back to Phoenix and our drive to Quartzsite. Got the free shuttle from our Hotel to the airport at 7:15 am. After fumbling around for bit we made it through security and customs. Had our flight booked on Delta but ended up Westjet.

love the seat back tv's with flight
updates

this what we did

Phoenix

         Waiting at gate A8 in TORONTO and at the last minute gate was changed to A28, a quick long walk and boarded our flight just in time to depart on time at 9:50 am. 5 hours in the air and on time in Phoenix. 2:50 pm.  Made our way to the car (air conditioning on !) and headed west on I-10 to Quartzite should have arrived home 2 hours later. BUT 1-10 westbound was closed at Tonopah exit 94.  We love travelling the wide open spaces in the desert but there is very few main roads.
         This interstate was closed for 13 hours due to the shooting of a state trooper, who stopped at an accident scene of an overturned vehicle, 4:30 am. He was eventually saved by a passing motorist. There is 2 articles I found on line  for one click HERE or another HERE.   The trooper was air lifted to the hospital and was in critical condition for a while but will recover.

            So the only alternative was a very long detour by the time we saw the signs of the closure.

should have been this direct route

         The detour was south on 85 to Gila Bend, west to Yuma, and north to Quartzsite. So instead of a 2 hour drive (131miles) it was over 4 hours (255 miles), arriving back at home dirt 8:15 pm. for us. But local time was 6:15 pm luckily we did not have to drive in the dark. Stopped in Gila Bend for fuel and a Sub to eat on the way.
        Now we do not have a gps and left our internet was in the coach as well as our road map atlas. It was  a very simple drive usually. We did sent texts to some of our friends here that checked alternate routes for us and they came to the same conclusion, the long detour.

this was the route we had to take

     Arriving back home we were greeted first by Tucker, who guarded our coach while we were gone, as well as Gerry and Melinda welcomed us with a later than usual happy hour.

Tucker is glad to see Suzie again

     So nice to back home where we belong and after our long travel day,we called it and early night.

     Friday

       Up before the sunrise as usual and the mild morning air feels wonderful. Got a refreshing one mile walkabout  just a the sun was rising, then a quick trip to town for 5 gallons of reverse osmosis drinking water only $1.. Now to just putter around for the day. Set up our satellite dish, weber q , more walkabouts and some afternoon reading time outside. Yup this is the life.
      After a light lunch I headed down to check out a few new vendors at Tyson Wells. Nothing much new here and a lot less vendors than previous years, maybe more in the next week or so.

not to  many people yet
the crowds will come

love this dog towing the cart

       Back home to putter around for a while, and get some quality reading time done in this very peaceful setting.

love the desert views 

Suzie in her glory

         Now about 3;30 over to Gerry and Melinda's  for a wonderful happy hour. (can't miss that!)

doggie fix for Suzie with Tucker

shared our fun day adventures 

    Then home to whip up supper. enjoying a sunset,

\]

tonight a salmon fillet on the Q
perfect !

not long on our Weber Q

perfect light healthy meal and lotsa leftovers
for lunches

          That was our fun 2 days back in the desert now and enjoying the wonderful warm sunny days that will get better every day now.
        Glad that y'all dropped by and hope you winter weather is as good as our.

When we back to Canada

Where have we been this Winter