Clifford and I went to spend a few day with Gerald and Bonnie Good at QUARTZSITE, AZ. It is amazing the change that happens here during the winter when all the "Snowbird" older people come. The above picture is what it looks like in the summer and most of the time and the trailer town below is what happens in the winter. Our visit in November, the population is just starting to come by January it is huge.Quartzsite is west of Phoenix at the junction of Interstate 10 and US 95, near the Colorado River. The community has a Sonoran Desert setting. The nearby Kofa, New Water and Plomosa Mountains provide topographic relief while the Colorado River lies only 17 miles to the west. Quartzsite was established in 1867 on the site of old Fort Tyson, a privately built structure constructed in 1856 by Charles Tyson for protection against Indian raids. Named Quartzsite because quartz was occasionally found in the area, the name evolved to Quartzsite through an error in spelling. The Town is currently is 130 sq. miles.
A rock hunter's paradise surrounds Quartzsite with agates, limonite cubes, gold and quartz being just a few. In town, the Hi Jolly Monument honors the Greek & Syrian camel driver Hadji Ali, who took part in an unsuccessful 1850's U.S. War Department attempt to use camels as beasts of burden in the desert. To the south rise the Kofa Mountains.
Tourism is the major contributor to Quartzsite's economy. The retail trade and services sectors benefit from the visitors who reside at the numerous mobile home parks in the vicinity between October and March. Nine major gem, mineral, and 15 general swap-meeting shows are popular tourist attractions, attracting approximately 1.5 million people annually.
There are definitely a lot of cactus around and some quit amazing. Also, beautiful sunsets.
On Thanksgiving Day we went to Phenix, Arizona to Tracy Frakes' home and met Carolyn and Charles Frakes. It was nice to see them again. We have not seen them for many years. Hope the rest of the family had a great Thanksgiving. It is definitely for family and friends sharing love, faith, and great food.
