SEVENTEEN

Our trip back to the plant in Tennessee was highlighted by a flat and a blowout on Friday. The flat was in Deming Nm and the blowout was near Van Horn Tx. As we were refueling in Deming, Betty checked the tires and found a low tire on the trailer. There was a tire shop just up the street and we were soon on the road again.

Here we are at “Big O” tire shop in Deming, Nm.

Later that evening, just before dark, we had a blowout. Though we immediately pulled over, we still had some damage. Here is a look.

The tire that blew was a good looking tire that was three years old. I had been checking the temperature of the sidewall and tread at each stop with no hint of a pending problem. Go figure  .  .  .  .

We keep a jumper pack and a 12 volt impact wrench handy for such occasions.

We pulled the good tire up on a block and soon we had the tire changed out. Now, we were out of spare tires and we eased into a tire shop in a old service station. Being next to the border and at night, the border patrol was constantly active as we got a new tire and our spare checked out.

Here is the service truck that got us back on the road.

We waved good by to the tire guys, and put on a few more miles to make sure that things were working well. Overnighting in Van Horn Texas, we were still ahead of Winter storm Titan. It was time for a few hours of sleep. Up early the next morning, we put in seventeen hours behind the wheel to beat the storm into our docking port in Norman.

ROAD

Hours behind the wheel put us into the docking port just ahead of Winter Storm Titan, soon we were iced in.

There wasn’t much snow but instead it was mostly sleet and freezing rain all wrapped up in a thunder storm !

Poco was hidden under the comforter on the bed between Betty and I. Around six AM he had to go outside and we discovered that the ice had the door sealed shut !

Non the less it is good to be back in these Ouachita Mountains !

CLOSING

The Oliver 2014 Quartzsite Arizona Show Site is closing for the season. It has been such a wonderful thing to re connect with friends from all over the molded fiberglass community ! Here is a short 18 second video showing the show site as it is ready to be moved.

Show site closed and ready to roll !

Our evening visits to the Molded Fiberglass Gathering were such fun, and the sunsets were spectacular out there on Dome Rock Road.

We were excited about all of the cool stuff to see here and I suspect that we worried our subscriber’s a bit with all of the photos.

So many in the molded fiberglass community are knowledgeable about the industry, that we had lots of good in depth chat’s from our lawn chair visits.

We hope we get to see everyone again next year !

DIRT

The DIRT TRIBE swept five classes at the off road races in Parker Arizona and then many of them moved down to Quartzsite for the ATV/UTV Rally. The Desert Bloom Rally is an annual event. They are camped all around us and we have had a good time visiting with these Dirt Tribe folks.

Here is a quick “roll By” video of the Dirt Tribe’s campsite.

2014 Desert Bloom ATV/UTV Rally

Here is a still photo look at the campsite.

Ya’ just have to love folks that ain’t afraid to fly “OLD GLORY !”

Here is a look at one “flight” leaving out for a six hour desert ride.

2014 Desert Bloom ATV/UTV Rally

Some mornings there are more than one flight that heads out for the deep Desert.

Many of these folks have came by to visit our Oliver Show site and it’s always a great visit with them. We just have so much in common that there is a lot to talk about !

DOME

No, not like the TV series, but the rock domed mountain located just West of Quartzsite Arizona. The recent Molded Fiberglass Travel Trailer Gathering, on Dome Rock Road, suddenly and almost magically, appeared. Then just as suddenly, it disappeared. The good campers that the are, these MFGer’s, left hardly a trace. There were so many that, it no doubt took a conscious effort to leave so little of a trace.

Here is a look at the gathering in progress.

UNDER THE DOME

Molded Fiberglass Travel Trailers of all sizes, shapes and makes, as well as other friends gather in the shadow of Dome Rock Mountain. It was our pleasure to be able to make evening trips to the encampment to visit with friends. And, then one day, it was suddenly and completely gone. Here is that look.

VIEW FROM UNDER THE DOME @ THE ROCK GARDEN

The shadows were getting longer and longer and the evening was so still that Betty and I were pretty sure we could hear a pack rat chewing on something in the distance. That evening’s sunset was spectacular, as usual, as we talked quietly about things like, “ I wonder if we will be able to make it again next year ?”

MFG Friends, we hope to see you under the dome again next year !

FIBERGLASS

 

The Dome Rock Road camping area is always cool. However, when many sizes, types and makes of shining white molded fiberglass campers are there, it becomes very cool ! Here is a sunset photo from Jeff and Glenda’s campsite.

As you drive up the frontage road from Quartzsite,  you will find the area welcome sign.

And the area campground Host site. You can tell by first glance that they are boondockers !

Here is a quick roll by video that gives a pretty good overview.

2014 Quartzsite Molded Fiberglass Gathering

 

Both Jeff and Glenda are Veterans and they always fly “OLD GLORY” at their molded fiberglass campsite.

We are enjoying our evening visits at the Molded Fiberglass Gathering in Quartzsite out on Dome Rock Road !

SHOWING

Our time here in Quartzsite has been ever so rewarding ! We have seen many long time friends and met folks that we have known via the internet for years. Showing the Oliver Legacy Elite II has been quite a friend magnet. Here is the way we look at the show site.

We are in a great location beside the frontage road, right on the corner. There is lots of parking and some friends have stopped by while pulling or driving a RV. The molded fiberglass gathering near  here on Dome Rock Road makes it convenient for forums friends to come to see Oliver’s new offering. The dessert at night is ablaze with thousands of campfires and RV’s lights.

Today is the last day of the BIG Tent show, so the crowds will change their touring pattern no doubt. We stopped by the AL&L booth at the BIG Tent. We have worked for AL&L for the past five Summers. They are great folks and we just had to stop by and say Hi.

Just up the road from our show site is a local landmark for the Dessert Gardens Show Grounds. The walk under water tank arch way.

Friends from the Napa Valley in California flew into Phoenix for a visit, fell in love with the new Elite II and placed an order. Congratulations to the Leighton’s on their impending delivery !

Jeff and Glenda drove up from KofA where they are camped near other Casitan’s. We hadn’t seen them since we fished together at Lake Ouachita in Arkansas. We had a great visit and caught up on lots of molded fiberglass happenings.

We will be here until around the middle of February, so if nearby, stop in and say hi !