OUT IN THE DESERT BY KOFA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

29 January 2020:  We left our camp on the shores of Lake Mead and headed further south.  Stopped at Echo Bay campground on Lake Mead and spent the night.  Also took advantage of filling up with fresh water and dumping the holding tanks.  Forecast weather was for some very windy conditions coming so we only spent one night there.  This used to be one of our favorite launch points to kayak Lake Mead.  Left the Lake Mead area and drove down to the Quartzsite area where we filled our propane tanks and headed out into the desert on the boundary of KOFA National Wildlife area.  We like camping out there as there are no people around like near the town of Quartzsite.  

 

An eagle by our camp.

These old dead trees have been here for a long time.

Connie and Zeph by an ocotilla with blossoms on it.

Hiking along a game trail.

 

The view from the top.

This area has a lot of these red fishhook (?) barrel cactus.

A close up of the top.

26 JANUARY 2020 UPDATE

25 January 2020:  Did a town sortie yesterday and picked up a few things at the grocery store, filled the jeep with gas, and mailed some cards.  The rest of the day was spent doing a better job of organizing my things.  Just never seem to get that done right when we are packing up to leave.  Today, the 25^th we did a drive out to the east trying to get to the Valley of Fire road which was suppose to be 20 some miles from this one intersection.   Well we were probably 6 or 8 miles short of that as the road got way to rough.  In fact, the only tracks further up the wash we were following were motorcycle ones.  All the other vehicles turned around.  Some further back but it was just to gnarly to go any further for other vehicles.  We had a good time though.  Explored a couple of old mine shafts along the way and other areas of interest.  

Road up the wash looked pretty good at the start.

Stopped and explored a few places along the way.

These rocks are like cement with all the little rocks stuck in place.

Here is the sign we came upon while driving from the north shore road.  We decided to try and get to the Valley of Fire Road and then just drive it through the park to the highway by where we were camped.  Didn't work out that way!

 

This is Connie's stick snake.  She was sure it was a snake on the road!

Still a good road.  I can't believe I did not take any pictures when the road turned bad.  Was just to busy trying to find a way around some of the wash outs.

On our way back we stopped at some old mines and checked them out.

Found these by one of the mines.  Pretty sure they are not dynamite, but did not touch them.

Love how the red rocks just poke up once in awhile.

LAKE MEAD 2

The weather down here at Lake Mead is great.  Sunny and warm with hardly any wind which we think is unusual for this area. Ran into the town of Overton today to get a few groceries and fill the jeep up with gas.  Spent quite a bit of time reading my book sitting in the sun today.  Not a bad day at all.  And hardly anyone around here which is nice.

Sunrise this morning.

No wind makes Lake Meade look pretty nice.

A grebe passing by our camp.

Across the lake.

DOWN AT LAKE MEAD

23 Jan 20:  Left home on the 21^st and headed south for warmer temperatures.  A bit earlier than we usually go, but the desert was calling, very strongly to Connie I might add.  She was craving sunshine and warm temperatures!  We drove to Jackpot, NV the first day.  Roads were good as was the weather.  Took a different route this year.  Drove over to I-15 then down to the Pocatello area and hit I-84 to Twin Falls, ID and got back on Hwy 93.  Longer distance traveled but shorter in time as 93 is a very slow driving road south of Salmon, ID.  Not that much though.  And not NEARLY as scenic!!  Left Jackpot and drove all the way to Overton, NV where we are camped out on Stuart’s Point on Lake Mead.  Not very many people here as the temperatures are only in the high 60’s but warmer than where we started!  Will stay here for a few days and then continue further south.  

Roads and weather was good south of Jackpot.

Some snow out in the desert but the roads were very good.

Having a beer after getting all set up.  Zeph just loves sitting in chairs.

Nice sunset tonight.

Not much for beach area in this area.