Quartzsite Blogger-Fest Observations

I had read on several other blogs the last couple of weeks that there was going to be a gathering of RV/travel bloggers in the desert around Quartzsite today.  After a rather emotional week for me, I decided it would be a good idea to make a trip up to Quartzsite for this gathering of like minded people and get the heck off of the refuge.  I’m sure glad I did.

I had some problems with an uncooperative GPS, so I had to just follow the written directions to the location of the gathering.  Sounded like a piece of cake; just follow US 95 to Plomosa Road and turn right.  It was about a 70 mile one way day trip for me so I left more than two hours before the meeting time of 1:30 just in case.  Good thing.  I followed US 95 and almost ended up in Blythe, CA.  I was lost.  Headed back to Quartzsite, and stopped at a LUV’s gas station to ask for directions.  It turned out that I should have taken AZ 95 in Q rather than US 95.  Oh well, I eventually got there and was only about 15 minutes late after close to 100 miles.

There was quite a crowd of bloggers gathered in the middle of the desert around some yellow balloons.  Paul Weaver counted 52 of us.  I wish I had been able to get photos of everyone that attended, but that just wasn’t possible.  There were lots of folks I had met in the past, and lots of folks I had never met in person.  What a great idea this was.  It’s always nice to actually meet and put a face/faces to the blogs we read.

After getting everyone to sit down in a circle for introductions (kind of like herding cats), introductions began.  We each took turns telling our names and what blogs we wrote.  I didn’t know everyone, but in this collage are Kevin and Ruth, Jerry, Nan, Betty, Marsha, and Barbara.  Sorry Marsha, I couldn’t figure out how to get your link in here.  As it was my time to get up, my glasses fell apart!  Nothing like going to a gathering where your vision isn’t 100%.

I especially found it interesting to compare preconceived conceptions of people with actually meeting them in person.  In the bottom right photo above, is Gayle.  She is much taller than I expected.  Barbara also came without her dog which surprised me.  John (Heyduke) came to my rescue and fixed my glasses.  Thanks John!

Sandie Dixon also surprised me by being one of the leaders of this get together.  I had the wrong impression that she was a shy and retiring IRS tax person.    Yah know, I kind of thought it was like what a high school reunion would be like, but without all the comparisons of how well people had done.  Everyone was their selves, and that was so refreshing.

And then there was Bayfield Al, and Kelly and Pheebes.  My observation?  I wasn’t sure he would show up for this gathering with his and Kelly’s aversion to crowds, but I’m glad they did.  I love listening to people’s accents, and Al surprised me with his Canadian ‘twang’.  There will be a different voice now in my head as I read his postings, eh? 

Wish I could have spent more time chatting with him about his recent musings on solo travelers, but too little time, and too many folks to interact with.  Shortly after this photo, he asked someone if that was really my hair standing up, or did I have on one of those visors with stand up hair attached.  Thanks a lot Al!    I did take my visor off to prove it really was my ‘stand at attention’ locks after a hair cut.

This gathering was the boost I needed this week, and I also didn’t get lost on the way home.  With such a great bunch of folks, it wasn’t hard to persuade them to pose for this greatest of shots…Thank you all!

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Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy