Hoisted up a spanking new yellow happy face flag in hopes that St Nick will be able to find us in the boonies of Arizona. No chimney on the RV, so hoping he can use some Christmas magic to get the presents inside. :)

Your travels are what full timers envision. You two have nailed it. It‘s good to be able to handle any breakdown that may or will happen too.

Very beautiful and relaxing

December 2022 Update

Video showing where we camped in December 2022 with information about each place.  Our travels continue deeper into the southwest desert, from the Dove Springs OHV area to Mojave, the Salton Sea State Park, Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, Saddle Mountain BLM, then down to the Ajo region of southern Arizona.

For more information on each camping spot, see the links below. We love these camping areas for their scenic beauty and hiking opportunities. Also, free or cheap camping fees don't hurt the snowbird trip budget. The video ends with a slide show of my favorite photos taken. Enjoy!



Camping Info Videos:
Dove Springs, OHV Area - https://www.loveyourrv.com/boondocking-at-dove-springs-ohv-area-in-california/
Red Rock Canyon State Park - https://www.loveyourrv.com/red-rock-canyon-state-park-california/
Salton Sea Camping - https://www.loveyourrv.com/?s=salton+sea
Kofa NWR Camping - https://www.loveyourrv.com/camping-in-the-kofa-national-wildlife-refuge-arizona/
Saddle Mountain BLM - https://www.loveyourrv.com/?s=saddle
Ajo Scenic Drive:
https://www.loveyourrv.com/boondocking-near-ajo-az-hunting-super-bloody-blue-moon/
https://www.loveyourrv.com/arizona-boondocking-ajo-scenic-loop-drive/
Organ Pipe Cactus NM - https://www.loveyourrv.com/sunset-photography-hike-in-organ-pipe/

We had some rain yesterday Dec 28th in Ajo AZ, but it cleared up late in the day. The wetted-down desert colors popped in the late-day sun, and could see clearly for many miles! Made for some nice photos.

Help! A crazy cactus is trying to devour our RV! :)

Took this on a hike late yesterday afternoon. Looking back at our camp. Air was still clear, and clouds lingered after early morning rain. Supposed to get a bit of rain and wind overnight and tomorrow to start the New Year. The desert is really greening up!

Rainy Day Camping in the Sonoran Desert Time Lapse. Footage from a few days ago as the desert got a good wet down.



Shot with my Akaso Brave 8 action cam https://www.loveyourrv.com/akaso-brave-8-waterproof-action-camera-review/

It was a beautiful day for a hike in the Arizona desert. Skies are clearing, and temps are rising. Here is Anne scouting out her next photography subject amongst the cactus.

She looks like a Happy Camper.

Decided to move camp and get a different view. This one isn't too bad.

Emerged from the desert boonies to spend a week at an RV park near Why, AZ. A few days of cloudy, windy weather is rolling through, so I figured it's a good time to do a big batch of laundry, recharge all our batteries and flush out the holding tanks. I also have a new gas stove/oven to install.
The RV park is kinda run down but the price is right at $150 per week full hookups tax included. monthly is $400
Hickiwan Trails RV Park https://hickiwantrails.wordpress.com/
Pretty mellow, mostly longer term snowbirds, and others using it as a base station to explore the area.

Hi Ray and Anne,

I drove by that park on the way to Yuma. The Observatory (Kitt's Peak) was closed at the time. Coyote Howls is also in the area. I'm spending two more weeks here before going to the central coast region of California and then head back south after that.

The storms closed several highways and some facilities got water damage; the drought isn't over yet, but overall it's good news for the region.

Photo is of the Picacho BLM on the other side of the mountains at Olgilby Road BLM.

Cheers,
Steve

Safe travels. I imagine there will be a lot of highway under-construction signs over that way. :)

Today we moseyed down the road about 30 miles (50km) from Why, Arizona, to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Twin Peaks Campground is a favorite! This will be our 4th visit. Snagged a great site on the edge of the campground.
https://www.loveyourrv.com/tag/organ-pipe/

A taste of the scenery from my dash cam. Ajo Mountain Drive in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona. A beautiful example of a lush Sonoran desert.

We didn't get our fill of the gorgeous scenery around Ajo, AZ, so we set up for a second boondocking stint on the free BLM land after being away a while. First, an RV park and then Organ Pipe National Monument down the road 30 miles. Different spot this time, but still stunning!

Anne and I think this rock we are camped near looks like Snoopy lying down napping, so we call it Snoopy rock.

In this video, I briefly update you via Google satellite maps on where we have been camping this month. Then some on-the-ground footage of our boondocking camp along the Ajo Scenic Loop, followed by wildlife & dash cam clips, plus still photo slide show.



Related Posts & Videos:
Ajo and Organ Pipe - https://www.loveyourrv.com/tag/organ-pipe/
Snowbird Trip Videos - https://www.loveyourrv.com/tag/snowbirds/
National Parks - https://www.loveyourrv.com/tag/national-parks/
Boondocking Archive - https://www.loveyourrv.com/boondocking-related-post-archive/

Hi Ray
When you camp the 14 days at Ajo or places like that, do you have to "register" somewhere? You mentioned in your video that some people have overstayed the 14 days. How does it work to camp in places like that? Just show up & camp?
Thanks & keep up the fantastic footage.

I have found that it's the honor system in most places, and as you say, just show up and camp. Occasionally a ranger will show up and enforce the rules, but that is generally few and far between a happening.
Rangers are responsible for vast land areas and don't have time to check on campers. Usually, if they do, it means there have been problems with people squatting on the land and getting complaints about it.
Some busier places, like Quartzsite, for example, will have volunteers that manage a camping area. One called Plomosa Road BLM comes to mind. Volunteers usually manage check-in locations in January and hand out 2-week permits. They get posted in the camper window for a drive-by ranger to see.

A wet day in the desert today. I took the opportunity between the rain to fill my sewer tote for tomorrow's trip to the dump station.
If curious, this is how I handle the water and waste while boondocking in these gorgeous locations. https://www.loveyourrv.com/how-i-handle-our-rv-boondocking-fresh-water-and-waste/ It's not always fun and games. :)

IHi Ray and Anne,

I see things are going well down there. I tried staying at a State Recreational Vehicle campground close to Anza Borrego Desert State Park. The amenities here were amazing. Very clean and maintained. They have coin operated showers! Such luxury. ATVs were starting to be annoying so I moved over to the Joshua Tree south entrance BLM camping ... I actually found a level site here. I'll be here for a week and then move all the way to Paso Robles to meet a friend ... then all the way back to the Quartzsite area and Saddle Mountain.

Take care and safe travels,

Steve Shaw

Headed back west to the AZ/CA border along the Colorado River. Very peaceful free boondocking campsite across from the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge. Gonna spend some time hanging with the birds. :) https://www.fws.gov/refuge/cibola

The wind blew 40 KM all day with gusts of 60. All the dust in the air made for an eerie sunset. Looking towards the Cibola NWR visitor center towards California from the AZ side of the Colorado River.

Back at the Salton Sea for a few days waiting for some nasty weather at the higher elevations to pass through. The back end of the latest cold front in SoCal has left some crisp, clear air in the desert, blue skies, and snowcapped peaks. Feb 26th

Took advantage of a weather window to get up to Death Valley yesterday Feb 28th with an overnight stay at Amboy Crater.

March 19 2023 This west coast BC boy is feeling at home in Death Valley this afternoon, with clouds, rain, cool temps, sea level, and even a little rainbow!

Happy Spring! March 21 Another fast-moving frontal system today near Death Valley. Socked in and rain this AM, then clearing in the early afternoon, and now brilliant blue skies but very breezy.

This video includes an overview of the location and a collection of video clips and still photos from our March 2023 visit.



While visiting Death Valley National Park, California, in the late winter of 2023, we took a little side trip to check out the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. Ash Meadows NWR is located just over the border in Nevada, about an hour's drive from Furnace Creek in Death Valley.

I was impressed with the modern visitor center, wooden boardwalks, numerous information plaques, and sculpted metal bridges. Surprising for such an off-the-beaten-path wildlife refuge. For more information, check out the official Ash Meadows NWR website.

While wildlife viewing this time of year was limited, the many aquamarine-colored springs and pools were beautiful! Quite the contrast to the barren desert surroundings. We enjoyed the short peaceful hikes to view the springs and ponds scattered around the refuge. I even saw some of the rare blue pupfish only found here.