Have you ever seen the movie"Into the Wild"? There is a scene that takes place in a remote desert spot where RV'ers and others hang out. Having spent time at Quartzsite and in organized campgrounds this place just attracted my attention. Onto the web I went to see if it was real...It is more than real! "The last place that is free." An ex Marine base that was active from 1942-1948. Later abandoned ergo "The Slabs". All that is left are the slabs that were the foundations for the administrative infrastructure as the Marines all stayed in tents. The community started arriving in the mid-60's. Not one that everyone would want to be a part of, but one that everyone could be a part of. For more of the history go to www.slabcity.org. It is said that one trip to Slab City and you are addicted. We arrived mid day and drove around looking for a spot to park for the night. The area encompasses in ranch terms a section, 640 acres or 1 mile by 1 mile so you can spend a while hunting if you want. We found a spot that looked ok and stopped. We then went walking around to scope the place out. The Traveling Pals club, a club for single people, The Oasis Club, an place for eating and drinking...and a small library were nearby. These were spots for people to gather to socialize. Alaskan Linda had volunteered to put on a lasagna dinner for the next night. We were soon asked to join a campfire ring by Professor Mike, who rode around on a powered beer cooler. Soon several others joined in..Darcy brought over Cheryls chocolate chip cookies...You would have thought they had died and gone to heaven. Cooking was probably not high on their priorities. Probably beer was number 1.
We saw people from all walks of life from prosperous millionaires to happy go lucky paupers camping side by side. They will mingle for the season and then go on their separate ways. We talked with people in their 80's to people in their teens. It is truly an anthropological experience. There is a current documentary on the fine arts circuit called "Below Sea Level" See it if you can.. Will we return? Sure hope so..
Friday, April 17, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Quartzsite ---Slab City
Our plan was to head for Niland,CA the home of "The Slabs". A plan is only a plan! I take medicine for cholesterol every day. If it wasn't for Darcy I would never remember to take it! Low and behold I had no more to take and the nearest Wal-Mart was in Yuma....a slight detour. Only a hundred miles out of the way.Leaving Yuma on I-8 across the bottom of the Salton Sea always amazes me. We often say" Did you think California was going to look like this?" It is like we were back in Saudi again....The sand dunes are spectular...a little smaller than those in Saudi but still great. Makes me want to have a dune buggy again......Then just a little further on and fields and fields of hay.....not hay like in Maine where it is half weeds just hay....beautiful fields of hay for miles and miles. Can you imagine throwing all that hay into a wagon? One man and a truck....It is a combination tractor and flat bed truck. As the truck goes down the fields it has a pick-up chute off to the rifgt side. After picking up the bale an arm places it on the truck. When a hundred or so bales are neately piled the truck then takes it back to the pile and off loads it. The marvels of technology an corporate farms. I kept wondering where all this hay was going until we came to the largest feed lot I have ever seen. Black and white cows everywhere! We sure love meat! Enough of hay.
Phoenix- Quartzsite
By the time we finished my "honey do list" it was 3:00 in the afternoon. We got as far as Quartzsite. We then we out to dinner with friends. It is amazing how that the same town in January has 100000 rigs in the desert and now has maybe 500.. It is like a ghost town.
Food...Food...Food
As you can see Easter week-end was all about food! Cheryl is a fabulous cook. We spent all morning on Saturday hunting for just the right ingredients at the local farmers markets. We then spent the rest of the day chopping....chopping.....chopping with a little wine on the side..Everything turned out great. Smoked salmon dip, potato soup, leek confit tart, bananna bread, apple-parsnip-orange chutney, green goddess salad dressing on romaine, pecan pie, creamed beets, ham, mimmosa's, not in this order. Also a big batch of chocolate chip cookies. We started diets this morning!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Easter
Only one bonnet......I wonder what that says about the hat industry? They were always so pretty and made one stand straight and tall.
Easter Sunday
A happy Easter morning to you all...Yesterday was raining and cold but as we arise this morning the sun is shining and the day is beautiful here in sunny AZ. Hope it is that way with you as well. Easter is always such a special day. We are off to church in a few minutes. My remembrances as a child are all the Easter bonnets....I wonder if I will see any this morning?
Friday, April 10, 2009
Good Friday
We left Benson this morning. Arrived in Phoenix early afternoon. We will spend the Easter week-end with friend of many years. It is supposed to rain but weather here is always unpredictable...RV ran great other than the a-c. Feels like it needs to be recharged. Will head for Autozone in the morning...We will head for Slab City on Monday. Check it out at www.slabcity.org
Sunday, April 05, 2009
We will try this again!
We are beginning our trip back to the East coast this week. You would think that I could update this blog on a regular basis but for some unknown reason I never seem to have time to do it. That is going to change...I hope. We will be leaving the big rig here in Benson,AZ and will be taking the "riglet" and the motorcycle. Our plan is to travel couple hundred miles in the RV and then ride the motorcycle another couple of hundred miles. I will write about what we do and see on a regular basis as a photo journal of our trip.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
February Journal
Our two-week stay in New England connected us with family members in wonderful ways. Wally and his mother enjoyed quality time together as they worked through mountains of accumulated paper work, eliminating and simplifying for June’s future needs. They enjoyed meals and Bridge games in the evenings with Wally’s sister April. Brother Jason and family hosted them for lunch and a lovely afternoon at their new cottage on our beloved Bottle Lake after a substantial snow fall.
As my Aunt Venessa experienced a once-in-a -lifetime South African safari trip, I assisted my Aunt Chesla as she prepared to return to her home. For 3 months, she has been recuperating from a heart attack with special care from her sister. I especially enjoyed our talks about her “growing up and off to work” years. During this time, Chesla and my mother Carolyn made a train trip from Maine to California together; very daring for those days. Chesla is now home and active in her everyday life.
How many RV’s do we need? Just one more. Ever since Wally earned his Commercial Drivers License in Dec. 2005, he has been looking for the perfect truck on which to build a new motor home. While we were in the New Orleans, LA area in Dec. 2006, we noticed an ad in a trucking magazine describing a 45 foot motor coach shell built on a Peterbilt Cab-Over truck chassis. We discovered that this custom-built Genesis was in nearby Gulf Port, MS. It had been constructed in a RI boatyard of balsa core and fiberglass to meld exactly to Peterbilt’s most aerodynamic truck cab. Crisscrossing the country as an Entertainer’s Coach in the 1990’s, it had received high acclaim for comfort and dependability. After carefully looking it over, we decided that this futuristic beauty would serve our needs well for many years to come. Once we spend time with our new granddaughter and family, we’ll be bringing it back to Maine with us.
Love, Darcy and Wally
As my Aunt Venessa experienced a once-in-a -lifetime South African safari trip, I assisted my Aunt Chesla as she prepared to return to her home. For 3 months, she has been recuperating from a heart attack with special care from her sister. I especially enjoyed our talks about her “growing up and off to work” years. During this time, Chesla and my mother Carolyn made a train trip from Maine to California together; very daring for those days. Chesla is now home and active in her everyday life.
How many RV’s do we need? Just one more. Ever since Wally earned his Commercial Drivers License in Dec. 2005, he has been looking for the perfect truck on which to build a new motor home. While we were in the New Orleans, LA area in Dec. 2006, we noticed an ad in a trucking magazine describing a 45 foot motor coach shell built on a Peterbilt Cab-Over truck chassis. We discovered that this custom-built Genesis was in nearby Gulf Port, MS. It had been constructed in a RI boatyard of balsa core and fiberglass to meld exactly to Peterbilt’s most aerodynamic truck cab. Crisscrossing the country as an Entertainer’s Coach in the 1990’s, it had received high acclaim for comfort and dependability. After carefully looking it over, we decided that this futuristic beauty would serve our needs well for many years to come. Once we spend time with our new granddaughter and family, we’ll be bringing it back to Maine with us.
Love, Darcy and Wally
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
January Journal
Br-r-r-! I know we have it good compared to some parts of the country, but southern Arizona’s January has been noticeably colder and damper than usual. We woke many mornings to find the water line coming into our rig frozen. Here in the SW desert, the day’s lowest temperature occurs at sunrise, about 7:30a.m. The highest temperature is not until late afternoon, about 4:00p.m.; then it plummets when the sun sets.
Despite the weather, we have been able to put 1,000 miles on our Harley. We cruise the winding back roads, enjoying the eroded mountains staked with mining claims, valley vistas stretching on for miles and washes and draws waiting for the rains of the monsoons of July to arrive. We love the range of greens of the mesquite trees, creosote bushes, pinion oaks and alligator juniper. Cactus of all kinds are beginning to display their colorful blooms. The distinctive call of thousands of sand hill cranes native to Alaska and the NW Territories can be heard as they “winter over” on the nearby Wilcox Playa. While we were at the Quartzsite Rally, we cycled north to Lake Havasu City to see the London Bridge and south to Yuma where date shakes are so good!
We are about to fly back to New England for a few weeks. Our beloved Victor died on New Years’ Eve at 92 years young. Wally will spend some time with his mother in the Augusta, Me area as she moves into the next steps of her life. My Aunt Venessa is about to join a group touring South Africa, so will be spending time with my Aunt Chesla, who has been with her sister in the Springfield , MA area recuperating from various health issues. We are both looking forward to these impromptu visits with family. When we return on Feb. 27, we’ll have 11 days to prepare for our driving trip to the East Coast. Baby Girl Ellis is due March 25 and we want to be close by to earn our wings as Grandparent Helpers. Can’t wait!
Love, Darcy and Wally
Despite the weather, we have been able to put 1,000 miles on our Harley. We cruise the winding back roads, enjoying the eroded mountains staked with mining claims, valley vistas stretching on for miles and washes and draws waiting for the rains of the monsoons of July to arrive. We love the range of greens of the mesquite trees, creosote bushes, pinion oaks and alligator juniper. Cactus of all kinds are beginning to display their colorful blooms. The distinctive call of thousands of sand hill cranes native to Alaska and the NW Territories can be heard as they “winter over” on the nearby Wilcox Playa. While we were at the Quartzsite Rally, we cycled north to Lake Havasu City to see the London Bridge and south to Yuma where date shakes are so good!
We are about to fly back to New England for a few weeks. Our beloved Victor died on New Years’ Eve at 92 years young. Wally will spend some time with his mother in the Augusta, Me area as she moves into the next steps of her life. My Aunt Venessa is about to join a group touring South Africa, so will be spending time with my Aunt Chesla, who has been with her sister in the Springfield , MA area recuperating from various health issues. We are both looking forward to these impromptu visits with family. When we return on Feb. 27, we’ll have 11 days to prepare for our driving trip to the East Coast. Baby Girl Ellis is due March 25 and we want to be close by to earn our wings as Grandparent Helpers. Can’t wait!
Love, Darcy and Wally
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Another Adventure-----2007
For all of you who follow our paths the following is our Holiday letter...The year has been busy but you all don't want to hear it all,so this is a summary
2006 Darcy and Wally’s “We can’t be almost 60!?! Year
Jan. Returned to Lot 280 at our SKP Co-op Park in Benson, AZ in our 1958 bus conversion. Smooth trip keeping as far south as possible. Warm welcomes greeted us …activities abound.
Feb. Traveled 6 hours west to join the Quartzsite Gathering of 100,000 rigs dry-parked in SW Arizona’s Mojave Desert. Flea Market heaven. Back in Benson, made forays into the SE Arizona’s Sonoran Desert with 4WD Club. Hiked the Dragoon and Chiricahua Mtns.
Mar. Discovered a smaller rig-let for sale in our park; just right for Mexico and U.S. National Park campgrounds. How many rigs do we need? Just one more.
Apr. As Co-op members, Wally set up a new woodworking shop; Darcy worked on landscaping improvements, enjoying the desert plants as they began to bloom.
May Grand Canyon, South to North Rim…here we come! Then on to Utah’s Bryce Canyon and Zion Nat’l Parks. Our 24 year old nephew joined us from Maine, leading the way on long hikes.
June Warm weather allowed us to return to Maine on the northern route. We enjoyed reunions with friends in CO,WY, SD,IA and OH. We were smitten with the beauty of the SD Black Hills and Badlands.
July Began building workshop with studio/storage space on Maine lake property next to Darcy’s parents cottage. Looked forward to evening card games on Oric and Lois’s front porch.
Aug. Construction project progressing well. Rejoiced at news that our first grandbaby was on the way!
Sept. A surprise invitation found us flying into Anchorage for a 12-day RVing adventure with four friends. The magnificence of Alaska’s wilderness is indescribable.
Oct. Loved being back at the NC Home for Children as volunteers. Four couples from our Heifer Ranch days joined us for a month of “home improvements” and kid care.
Nov. Kicked off the holidays with parents-to-be Erin and Brett getting their baby act together.
Dec. By day we cruised the back roads from NC to AZ on our new Harley motorcycle. Our pick-up truck served as support vehicle as we tented and enjoyed outdoor cooking many nights.
Best wishes for 2007. May the journey for you and yours be memorable. Much love, Darcy and Wally

2006 Darcy and Wally’s “We can’t be almost 60!?! Year
Jan. Returned to Lot 280 at our SKP Co-op Park in Benson, AZ in our 1958 bus conversion. Smooth trip keeping as far south as possible. Warm welcomes greeted us …activities abound.
Feb. Traveled 6 hours west to join the Quartzsite Gathering of 100,000 rigs dry-parked in SW Arizona’s Mojave Desert. Flea Market heaven. Back in Benson, made forays into the SE Arizona’s Sonoran Desert with 4WD Club. Hiked the Dragoon and Chiricahua Mtns.
Mar. Discovered a smaller rig-let for sale in our park; just right for Mexico and U.S. National Park campgrounds. How many rigs do we need? Just one more.
Apr. As Co-op members, Wally set up a new woodworking shop; Darcy worked on landscaping improvements, enjoying the desert plants as they began to bloom.
May Grand Canyon, South to North Rim…here we come! Then on to Utah’s Bryce Canyon and Zion Nat’l Parks. Our 24 year old nephew joined us from Maine, leading the way on long hikes.
June Warm weather allowed us to return to Maine on the northern route. We enjoyed reunions with friends in CO,WY, SD,IA and OH. We were smitten with the beauty of the SD Black Hills and Badlands.
July Began building workshop with studio/storage space on Maine lake property next to Darcy’s parents cottage. Looked forward to evening card games on Oric and Lois’s front porch.
Aug. Construction project progressing well. Rejoiced at news that our first grandbaby was on the way!
Sept. A surprise invitation found us flying into Anchorage for a 12-day RVing adventure with four friends. The magnificence of Alaska’s wilderness is indescribable.
Oct. Loved being back at the NC Home for Children as volunteers. Four couples from our Heifer Ranch days joined us for a month of “home improvements” and kid care.
Nov. Kicked off the holidays with parents-to-be Erin and Brett getting their baby act together.
Dec. By day we cruised the back roads from NC to AZ on our new Harley motorcycle. Our pick-up truck served as support vehicle as we tented and enjoyed outdoor cooking many nights.
Best wishes for 2007. May the journey for you and yours be memorable. Much love, Darcy and Wally

Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Welcoming 2006
It is hard to believe that 2005 is over and another year has started. As many of you know we sold our house this past summer so we are finally "free as little birds as we can be". Since doing so we have been on a dead run...We had 4 weeks to move out so as you can guess they we hectic.
We spent time at the lake property getting ready to build a cottage but neither of us is in any hurry to start. We did get the septic system in and preparations were made for the power to be brought in this spring but who knows what we will do next.
In October we spent 6 weeks at the Presbyterian Home for Children in Black Mountain,NC with three other couples we have volunteered with at the Heifer Ranch in Arkansas. We had a great time and accomplished many projects. If your of the volunteer kind and are looking for a great place to donate your time and talents check out www.presbyterianhomeforchildren.org. It is in a great location, with great staff and of course great kids who need you!
After leaving the Children's home it was my(Wally)most excellent adventure! I went to truck driving school......yes truck driving school ! I had a ball. There were five in my class 3 men and 2 women and we all became family before it ended. I was in school from 7:30 am until often after 8:30 in the evening geting all the classwork and driving in. I graduated on December 30 with Darcy, Erin and Brett, and campgroud friends there to watch the momentous occasion. During my time in class and on the range Darcy has been busy finally getting to do many of the things she has been waiting to have time to do....She transcribed and published a series of stories from the 40's as told by her father. She then refinished and wove shaker style seats ino two old North Carolina chairs she found at a flea market, worked on a stained glass project, did some watercolor painting, and caught up on some sewing. She has enjoyed the time in the campground. The owners and other campers have become like family...
We spent both holidays with Erin and Brett and with Brett's family..A good time was had by all!
We are now,January 3rd, in Sioux Falls, SD finishing up on the transferring of residency. SD has tax advantages over other states, no state income tax. We arrived here on Jan 1st and spent the day in Watertown with friends. We went to the Redlin Arts Center in Watertown to view the over 150 original oil paintings done by native son, Terry Redlin. If you are ever in this area it would be worth your while to stop and see it, and believe it or not it is free! www.redlinart.com
Where are we going from here? Good question? It is nice not to have to be anywhere! Our thoughts at this point are to either head for the gulf coast or to head to AZ. I would like to drive truck and do something to help out the Katrna victims so we probably will head to the coast region to see what we can do and where we could stay. We will keep you posted.
We spent time at the lake property getting ready to build a cottage but neither of us is in any hurry to start. We did get the septic system in and preparations were made for the power to be brought in this spring but who knows what we will do next.
In October we spent 6 weeks at the Presbyterian Home for Children in Black Mountain,NC with three other couples we have volunteered with at the Heifer Ranch in Arkansas. We had a great time and accomplished many projects. If your of the volunteer kind and are looking for a great place to donate your time and talents check out www.presbyterianhomeforchildren.org. It is in a great location, with great staff and of course great kids who need you!
After leaving the Children's home it was my(Wally)most excellent adventure! I went to truck driving school......yes truck driving school ! I had a ball. There were five in my class 3 men and 2 women and we all became family before it ended. I was in school from 7:30 am until often after 8:30 in the evening geting all the classwork and driving in. I graduated on December 30 with Darcy, Erin and Brett, and campgroud friends there to watch the momentous occasion. During my time in class and on the range Darcy has been busy finally getting to do many of the things she has been waiting to have time to do....She transcribed and published a series of stories from the 40's as told by her father. She then refinished and wove shaker style seats ino two old North Carolina chairs she found at a flea market, worked on a stained glass project, did some watercolor painting, and caught up on some sewing. She has enjoyed the time in the campground. The owners and other campers have become like family...
We spent both holidays with Erin and Brett and with Brett's family..A good time was had by all!
We are now,January 3rd, in Sioux Falls, SD finishing up on the transferring of residency. SD has tax advantages over other states, no state income tax. We arrived here on Jan 1st and spent the day in Watertown with friends. We went to the Redlin Arts Center in Watertown to view the over 150 original oil paintings done by native son, Terry Redlin. If you are ever in this area it would be worth your while to stop and see it, and believe it or not it is free! www.redlinart.com
Where are we going from here? Good question? It is nice not to have to be anywhere! Our thoughts at this point are to either head for the gulf coast or to head to AZ. I would like to drive truck and do something to help out the Katrna victims so we probably will head to the coast region to see what we can do and where we could stay. We will keep you posted.
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