Winter 2026

 We left you last in January while we were boondocking off Plomosa Road north of Quartzsite.

Having arrived early, our friends from all over slowly filtered in over the next week or so and as the opening date of the big RV show arrived, the desert around us filled in with hundreds of RV's.

This year we decided to move a bit further out and while we were not right next to most of our friends, it was only a 10 minute walk to visit back and forth.   The tradeoff was having a more peaceful location with less traffic (and dust)

Absent for the past few years, The Alpine Motorcoach Group once again assumed their location right next to where our group (The Montana Gang) has been meeting for almost 20 years.    This is about our 14th year.

The Alpine group really does it up big-time!   They have about 40 coaches all lined up with a big white air-conditioned tent and catered dinners and a big band.

The Alpine Group tent

Right next to the Alpine Group is where the Montana Owners Club (MOC) set up their circle.  It used to be a big planned event with all sorts of activities, but over the years it has now evolved into a more informal get together.   Lots of the group have moved into different types of RVs (including coaches) but the gang still gets together.   Many of the old guard have moved on or passed away over the years.   One year there were about 75 rigs in attendance!   This year it looked like there were about 25-30 ish

Walking away from the Alpine Group toward the MOC circle.

We came across a rare sight..  A group of Prevosts in a circle.   We usually dont see these premium rigs out here in the dirt as the prices of these rigs are in the $2+ million range!

A group of Prevosts

Morgan & Chris were having issues with their solar not producing up to specs.   After some troubleshooting it turned out that a couple of connections on the roof had come undone.  Morgan got up there, cleaned and reconnected them and all was back in operation.

Some of the gang came over for a pizza night for Maxines Birthday.

Our more secluded spot in the desert.

The big draw at Q is the RV show that takes place for a week in mid January.   Once that is over, most of the people move off to parts far and wide leaving the desert much quieter.

A new happening that seems to have appeared since Covid has been the arrival of this traveling band of "hippies" that appear about a week after the big show ends.   They take up residence in the area that was previously occupied by the Alpine and MOC groups.  

A diverse group of nomads living a counter culture lifestyle.   They seem to operate as a small town.    Some are helping others with repairs or improvements to their rigs.  Others are selling crafts and artwork.  At night they had a band and tribal drumming.   We were about half a mile away from there, but could hear the party clearly.    They were courteous however and shut down around 10pm.    It adds to the overall charm that is the RV lifestyle.

The nomad group.

Taking a stroll one day we had this cool looking "Mackerel Sky".   Usually indicating that rain or storms are expected soon.    We only had a few drops...  this is desert after all.

After about 6 weeks there, we moved onward to Boulder City, Nv.   Our destination was the Boulder Beach NF Campground on the shore of Lake Mead.

US93 - the main route between Phoenix and Las Vegas used to go over the dam.   After 911, and also in response to traffic jams when the highway went down to one-lane either direction, a bypass bridge named Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge was built just downstream from the dam.

Approaching the new bridge from the south

We arrived at our campground - The Boulder Beach Campground - located on the shore of Lake Mead.

A treed oasis in the Nevada desert.   White barked Eucalyptus trees grow throughout the campground.

Our site was nice and private with a good view of the lake.

Eucalyptus Tree

Morning sunrise

While there, we took a trip to Ikea in Las Vegas.  We needed to replace our 2 seats at the dining room table.   Kate loves the store and could spend all day there.    I - on the other hand - like to get in and out.

To keep things moving along, after our purchase was made, I kept pointing to the exit arrows that are projected on the floor. 

"Please keep the feet moving in this direction madam"

We made reservations at the CG for 18 days.   I made 11 days in one site, and then a week in another.   Just so that we'd have a change of scenery.

Our new site had a nice lake and mountain view out of the front window.

The history of Boulder City is quite unique.   

The town was built specifically for the construction of the dam.   Built during the depression, the construction of the dam attracted workers from all over the country.   Originally living in tent cities, it was soon realized that due to the harsh climate and lack of sanitation that a more permanent solution was needed.

Downtown Boulder City

The "Six Companies" built an entire city.   Besides the administration complex, there were a couple of "grades" of homes.    Better built homes for the management and professionals were located up on the hill near the administration building.    Further down the hill were the Dingbat Houses.  

Temporary housing was built in Boulder City for those who would work on the dam.

The homes – 658 of them – were called “dingbat” houses because of the quick and shoddy way they were constructed. The boxy homes had a living room, a bedroom and a bathroom.

Two men could throw one together in about 12 hours.  So many could be built in a shift that when workers came back to town, they would not recognize where to find their home.

They looked so much alike that it wasn’t uncommon to wake up and find a stranger sleeping on the couch. When he was awakened, he’d look around bewildered, get up and head for home.

An original dingbat home

Heading back to the CG on the Boulder Highway

One day we took a tour of the dam.   An hour in length, it takes you deep into this engineering marvel.  Almost 800' from top to bottom and 660' wide at the bottom, almost 100 years old and the cement is still curing!

One of the 30' diameter penstocks that deliver water to the electric generator turbines.

Inside the powerhouse.  In a past life, working at a generating station,  I used to operate a crane just like the one the flag is hanging from.

When the bid requests were laid out - one of the requirements was "to make it attractive if possible".

Throughout the dam, the use of art deco elements, prevalent at the time, assured the dams attractiveness. 

Art deco doorway

Art deco tiles throughout many passagways

The dam is a labyrinth of inspection tunnels and passageways.   Many are finished in art deco style, but most are not.   In the inspection tunnels you can see marks where the engineers note cracks (expected)

From one of the ventilation shafts about 1/2-way down the face of the dam, we were able to take a picture of the Tillman Bridge.

The art deco doors of an elevator.

The art deco lobby where you exit the dam interior.

From the top of the dam looking at the bridge

One of the disappointing aspects of the tour was the complete whitewashing of any mention of the impact that climate change is having on the dam and surrounding environment.   God forbid that we actually talk about science and facts!  That is too inconvenient and might require real choices in government policy.

The picture below shows just how far the lake has dropped since it was full.   It took the dam about 3 years to fill.   Since 1983 the lake level has dropped 150 feet!   Due to the lower levels, the dam can only produce about 50% of its rated output.   Another 10' drop will reduce power output to 30%

150' of further drop will result in "dead pool" where no water will be able to flow downstream.

It's important to realize that the lake has filled in a deep canyon.   Its steep V-shape means that less and less of the water volume is at deeper levels so the water levels continue to drop faster and faster.

Currently,  Lake Mead is around 35% of its capacity.

View of the dam from the Tillman Bridge.

No visit to "Lost Wages" would be complete without a tour thru the Casinos.   During my working life, our financial software was developed by a company based in Las Vegas, and I would often go and attend the yearly seminars on the new changes and updates.    Accordingly,  I'm pretty well acquainted with the place.

We're not gamblers at all, but the casinos are just so fun to see and walk thru.   Two of my favorites are Caesar's Palace and the Venetian.   Both are a virtual tour thru Italy.   The ceilings are painted with clouds and the lighting slowly changes on about an hourly cycle at the lighting goes from night to day and back again.

Our first stop was Caesars.

Caesars Palace

Followed by a trip to Venice

The first picture shows it as daytime.

The Venetian

Later, nightime is approaching.

 

Outside the Venetian is St Marks Square.

St Marks Square outside the Venetian

Our last stop was the fountains of Belagio.    Timed to music, they put on a show every 30 minutes.

By the end of the night we had over 6 miles for the day on our tired old paws.

Bellagio

Our time winding down, and in prep for our return to the house, we took our dogs to a self serve dog wash to clean the desert off of their scroungy bods.

Phoebe waits her turn

Kate gives Annie a blow-dry

The dogs being all fluffed up and soft as cotton, it was time to head back to Tucson.

We left on Jan 7 and got back on Feb 25 so it was a quick 7-week trip.

Back to our backyard sunsets.

Mid-April we are on the road for the summer and fall.   Up to the North Country.   The Yukon and points north.   One of the highlights this summer will be a trip up The Dempster Highway.    

500 miles each way, a dirt/gravel road thru the Yukon and Northwest Territories wilderness to the Arctic Ocean.

Some of you might recall our trip a few years back up the Dalton Highway in Alaska to Prudhoe Bay and the Arctic Ocean.  One of our most epic trips and this promises to be the same or even more.

Next week I'm off to Red Bay Alabama for a quick 3,200mi solo round-trip in the bus.   

I'll be getting some punch list items taken care of plus a new refrigerator installed.   Our current fridge is 12 years old.   Other than running more than normal, it seems to be operating ok but I'm getting worried about it giving up the ghost when we are somewhere remote...  like the Yukon.   So I'm being proactive and trying to fix it before it breaks.   A bit more energy efficiency wont hurt when we are boondocking either!

See you down the road.