Once my 14-days were exhausted at Holly Jolly I decided to leave Quartzsite AZ for Why AZ because the thrill of traveling to this area every year has deemed for me due to recent experiences of theft of personal properties, as well as crowded public and camping spaces caused by foot and vehicle traffic.
It used to be refreshing to arrive in Quartzsite ahead of rock and gem show collectors or people looking to sell rocks, gems, and jewelry he/she created to visiting buyers and store owners.
During this time, I enjoyed walking in the forest seeing wildlife and smelling fresh air. Sitting in a chair near my RV surveying mountains at a distance, listening to the birds, watching night stars, sunset, sunrise, and the moon. I worked on new novels, wrote an array of reviews, performed workout routines in the gym and visited with returning friends. At this point I doubt I will return to Quartzsite anytime soon.
In January 2018, while visiting Saddle Mountain, a landmark peak in Tonopah AZ. One morning, I was sitting in my motorhome, drinking a cup of coffee, and looking out my window. I saw a woman walking up the dirt road towards my motorhome. She would take a few steps; bend down to retrieve something from the ground and drop it in a pouch hanging from her shoulder. The fact, she kept bending and picking up something piqued my interest and the fact she wasn’t making too much progress as a walker. I walked outside and said, “Good morning my name is Edith Eveon Brown, what are you doing?”
She stood up, laughed, and said, “Good morning, Edith my name is Rose. I collect rocks and cactus to create unique jewelry designs which I sell to jewelry owners and customers at trade stores and flea markets.”
Wow Rose, it’s nice to meet you and I am impressed. Rose showed me her rock collection, and told me how she clean, cut, polish/spray her rocks or cactus to create jewelry.
Rose also told me about Coyote Howls Rv Park in Why AZ which is where she lived. The area was in the middle of nowhere and was home to many friendly artist (i.e., sculptor, novelist, jeweler, poet etc.). In fact, when I decided to come to Quartzsite to collect rocks; I had been in Why for two days and was concerned about leaving my small bus which I am renovating and can’t be secured to prevent theft. Upon mentioning my design, a guy working on an easel nearby said, “My name is Leroy. I’ll watch your place until you return”. I turned around and said, “Leroy my name is Rose, I’ll be gone for five days here are the keys to my place. Thank you. I packed a few things and drove here, she said.
Now, you know why I showed up at Why AZ in August 2019, and again this year after leaving Holly Jolly Campground on January 21, 2022, stopping other places prior to arriving at Coyote Howls Rv Park East on January 28, 2022, where I remained until March 29 when I left to return to South Dakota.
