Not sure what this has to do with Ferris, but I always liked that movie and that's the kind of mood I'm in right now. I've finished off 5 of the 6 beers that have been in the refrigerator for several months, ate my 16 oz. Porterhouse steak and baked potato with Texas toast (only slightly burnt), and am feeling fairly satisfied at the moment. I've really mastered the art of baking a potato on the grille -- you just start about an hour early with about 8 bricquets, then let it stay on the grille with the steak -- turns out great! I've also mastered the art of Cajun cooking, having fixed blackened French toast, blackened pancakes, blackened pork chops -- well, you get the picture. I don't burn everything, but it sure seems like things cook faster out here in the desert -- or else I'm just not paying close enough attention ... hoho.
When I was baking my potato, the scene was so serene I thought I'd get a picture. Too bad I had the exposure set on close-up -- kind of blurry, but you get the idea. Fire burning, beer in my hand, cacti and mountains in the distance, beautiful sky, etc. Notice the big rocks on the ground close to the chair? Those are my "holding rocks" -- wind is so strong here sometimes, I've found it's a good idea to put a rock in the chair, one on the grille, etc.
When I finished eating, I noticed the red mountains that I mentioned in an earlier chapter. This happens in the East almost every night at sunset. I think the picture captures them fairly well. Positively beautiful! Click the sunset photo for a larger view.
Well, enough with the scenery! What's been happening here in Quartzsite the last week or so? Many exciting things!
The "Hi Jolly Daze Kickoff Parade", some mountain climbing, a trip to Bouse, a trip to Lake Havasu City -- Gee, where to start?
11. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
My Travel Log
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Apparently, this guy Thorstenson (above on the buffalo, I think) puts on some kind of show with the buffalo, riding it up a ramp on top of the trailer or something. Will find out later. That name Thorstenson sounds familiar -- has he been on 60 Minutes or something?
Go check it out at www.buffaloexpress.com. The quote on the trailer says "It Doesn't Get More Western Than This!" I agree.
This float caught my eye -- going by, it looks like a simple "come see the camels race" float. Then, as it went by, I noticed the 2 aliens on the back -- what's that about? ... hmmm
Guy wearing a breather and driving a little remote-controlled car -- huh?
The parade was just the beginning -- they had a whole day (hence, Ferris Bueller's Day Off) of camel-related activities. Look below for the full schedule and a couple of shots of the race (click the schedule to see a larger version of it). I lasted as far as the first heat of the camel race -- it turned out that the winner was the one who could convince their camel to go the right direction -- cute, but not worth standing around hours waiting for it. Also missed the dung-throwing at 4:00 -- oh, well.
On Sunday, I decided to climb Q mountain and take some pictures. If you'll recall, the discovery of Q mountain was included in one of the earlier chapters. But, before I continue, let me mention another thought -- I feel like Abraham Lincoln, typing away at my laptop by candle light -- hoho. I still don't have this electricity thing completely solved, so I'm able to use my laptop but still am trying to conserve by not burning lights. Every day, the solar panel raises the voltage up and every night I run the batteries down -- don't know if I need more batteries or more solar panels.
Anyway, I climbed to the top of Q mountain this time. The previous time, I was on the wrong path or got tired or something. Anyway, I got some fairly nice pictures, first from Q mountain looking down, then from the red-and-white tents looking up.
The Hi Jolly Daze Kickoff Parade
Seems there was a Syrian camel-driver here back about 100 years ago named Hadji Ali -- Americanized to Hi Jolly. He became somewhat of a celebrity in Quartzsite, dying here in 1906, having his gravesite declared a monument by the Governor in 1935, and having all these January festivities named after him. The parade Saturday was much like many small-town parades I've seen, with the Queen of La Paz County, the Teen Queen, some 3-foot cheer-leaders, a bunch of antique cars, some local celebrities, etc. To me, the high points of the parade were the camels, the guy riding a buffalo, the float with the extra-terrestrials on the back, and the guy with the remote-controlled car. Scroll down to see these parade highlights.
Above, camels (center of picture) readying for the big race. Below, the herd of 3 comes thundering by. Spectators shown are those who sat outside the fence to avoid the $7 entrance fee.
Right, moving to the right, the dark horizontal line just above center is I-10; beyond that is Main Street and much of Quartzsite.
Looking NE, the circled blob is the Big Tent where many of January's activities happen. To the right of that are RVs.
Right picture moves eastward to show slightly fewer RVs in the desert.
Had to show my truck looking up to show how far I had to hike. Q mountain is the tallest one. Picture to the right is looking down at upside-down Q. Took a later shot looking up at the Q, but Q was too far away so I trashed the picture.
Below left, looking NW, that's my truck in the center below the trail; above that is an RV village; then Dome Rock Road and the town.
Sign at Big Tent:
Car Show 1/15,
Hobby Show the week of 1/12, &
Sports Show week of 1/22.
Right picture shows RVs at RV Supercenter as far as the eye can see. They've got 200 now and 100 more coming this week.
Monday, I decided to wander over to Bouse to see the Swansea Ghost Town and the place where Patton trained his tank-drivers for the African campaign. Got side-tracked to another ghost town called Old Brayton.
Tuesday, I drove over to Lake Havasu City (where London Bridge is) to visit Walmart, but I didn't take any pictures! ... How about that? Would you believe I took over 40 pictures on Saturday and about that same number Sunday/Monday? This from a guy who seldom takes 40 pictures in a year ... I have learned something else about digital cameras, however -- they eat batteries. Late Monday, my battery indicator showed that I was about out of juice. I guess you buy batteries instead of film ... lol.
Well, I'll tell you what -- it's late and I'm tired and the electricity is going down, so I'll just continue with Bouse, etc. in Chapter 12 later.
From here downward,
Click any photo for a larger view
