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Post by rockpickerforever on May 31, 2012 11:56:59 GMT -5
I wanted to add some pics to Lowell's post (Rock Hunting Places - Images), but, unfortunately, I am terrible about carrying a camera to hell and gone, then getting so busy with rockhounding that I don't take any pictures!
Quartzsite is one of my favorite rock hunting places. But with so many photos (and this is just a small percentage of what I have  ) I thought I'd just start a new thread. These pics were taken over a period of 11 seasons, January 2002 to January 2012. Amazing the changes that have happened in just that amount of time. I hate to think how much has changed for some of you that have been going there forever!
1. Six new signs along SR-95, and both north and south access roads.
2. This pic was taken in 2004. I think it was the last year these guys were there. They were a kick, and the old car was something to see - right out of the "Beverly Hillbillies!" If I recall, they drove that thing from Missouri!
3. I believe this sign is still there, but the Main Event is much smaller than it was, maybe only a few rows deep.
4. Rocks, rocks everywhere! WARNING: if you have Agoraphobia (a fear of crowds), don't go to Quartzsite - at least not on the weekends.
5. This camel has been moved out to the street, in front of a tire store, and is all painted up! A gaudy yellow, if I recall.
6. How Spunky toured Quartzsite the last couple years of her life (bad hips and arthritis). She still made it to almost 17. Someday, someone will have to pull me!
7. Whimsical woodcarvings. I believe this is the Hardee building.
8. Used to be 55 gallon drums full of rocks everywhere. After the January Quartzsite shows, many of the vendors would pack up and head to Tucson. Forklifts were in abundance.
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11. My kinda place!
12. An abundance of amethyst cathedrals over at Prospector's Panorama.
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14. How Spunky toured before we made her wagon...
15. Over at Desert Gardens.
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17. Metal sculptures from found/scrap metal. The guy that did these was amazing! Don't know what this sold for, but you can bet it wasn't enough.
18. Not your average cow skull.
19. Meteorite! You can't really see the price tag - it says $1800. 
20. A couple of shots at the Pow Wow.
21. Get there the first day of the show for best selection, and go early. It will take you all day to see everything at the Pow Wow.
22. A prickly desert denizen, some kind of cholla.
23. Field trip for birds-eye rhyolite with the Quartzsite Roadrunners, about 25 miles south of town. For anyone going to Quartzsite, plan on going the week of the Pow Wow. A little over eight months left to make your plans for 2013! In addition to all the other events going on in town, you can choose from about ten different field trips. You can join their club, or pay $2 per person (for insurance purposes) for each trip. In the week we were there this January, this was the only day that the wind blew hard. A good day for a field trip, as a lot of the vendors closed up - who can blame them?
24. This is the other thing you have to look for when out in the field! Actually, you usually see the cactus, it's the pieces that have fallen off that you have to watch for.
25. The kangaroo rats put on a nightly show for us. They liked Doritos (Nacho Cheese flavor) and Cheerios!
26. Have to have at least one sunset shot!
27. And these are the crystals that were growing when we got home. Directions: Put a rock covered with caliche in a small container, add plain vinegar to cover. Leave it for a week or two. The vinegar dissolves the caliche, then as it evaporates, you get the crystal growth on top! Fun!
I know it was long, but hope you enjoyed the show! Jean
edited to correct a caption!
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Post by Pat on May 31, 2012 12:44:32 GMT -5
Your photos bring back lots of memories. Do not stay at the Quartzite Yacht Club! Bedbugs!!! Thanks for posting.
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cardiobill
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 881
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Post by cardiobill on May 31, 2012 13:19:35 GMT -5
Yowza. I have never seen so many rocks in one place in my life. Those purple geodes are incredible. I guess I need to get around more:)
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Post by rockpickerforever on May 31, 2012 13:33:37 GMT -5
Okay, I accidentally posted before I was finished - DOH. Now take a look, things will make more sense.
Pat, actually we pull our Weekend Warrior out there, and camp in one of the free areas. All it costs us is the extra however many gallons of gas (eight miles per gallon, instead of ten - haha!)
If you have never been, you really do need to go. Tucson may be the mecca of the rock world, but think of Quartzsite as the "budget" mecca.
Thanks for looking! Jean
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Post by helens on May 31, 2012 14:09:33 GMT -5
Wow... those are phenomenal pictures. You conveyed the actual feel of the place and even some of the excitement you felt in your choice of photo subjects. Definitely made me want to go see it. No wonder so many people talk about Quartzite with such excitement! Thanks for the show!!
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Post by johnjsgems on May 31, 2012 14:20:33 GMT -5
I went for the first time in '95 and took my mother along. She had not been able to go for ten years. I was amazed at the crowds (no traffic lights and police directing traffic at the one main intersection) but mom said it was empty compared to the "old days". Now the streets have two lanes on each side, traffic signals, a lot more permanent buildings. The big RV dealers pushed out a lot of rock shows and some of the former rock shows are flea markets. Still a lot of fun. I remember the doggie wagon from the l;ast few years. Be sure to stop and see us at Desert Gardens.
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Post by Pat on May 31, 2012 16:38:53 GMT -5
We hit Quartzite on the way to Tucson. Both are must-sees for the rockhound.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2012 18:20:57 GMT -5
I LOVE that old car!!! Thanks for sharing your pictures. For those unable to make it to the winter shows in Quartsite and Tucson, many of those very same materials make it to the local rounds of rock and gem shows. Take a peek at the list at Rock and Gems Magazine for something nearby. |
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Post by rockpickerforever on May 31, 2012 21:41:15 GMT -5
Will do, John. Since I've only been an RTH member since last July, I did not feel comfortable partaking in your get together at Quartzsite last January. I did meet Ralph and Mary Ann (stonesthatrock), actually on the day of the dinner. They pointed out Tony (catmandewe), and told me to be sure to say hi to him. He was tied up with customers at the time, so I missed out on that opportunity. However, there's always next year! I had no idea until the dinner plans were being made, how many members actually had booths at Desert Gardens. Jean
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Post by NatureNut on May 31, 2012 22:07:13 GMT -5
The dust storm really put a damper on the BBQ this year, but it still was good to see everyone. Wish you had stayed for it.
Jo
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jun 1, 2012 10:41:40 GMT -5
Jo, I'll try to make it next year.
If anyone has any Quartzsite photos, I welcome you to post them. We all know how everyone loves photos! A story or two would be nice, too. I'd really love to see some old photos from the heyday of Quartzsite... Lowell, you got any of those? Jean
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unclestu
Cave Dweller 
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Jun 1, 2012 13:41:24 GMT -5
Wow Jean,
Your Quartzite presentation was fantastic. I felt as if I was actually there. It really captured the flavor of the place as opposed to just seeing the greta amount of rocks on display. I can tell Spunky really liked and appreciated being there as well. WHat a covered wagon he had. !7 years is an indication of the wonderful loving care which you provided.
Those crystals you showed at the end. You say you grew them with someting called caliche and vinegar.
It sounds like a perfect project to do with some of the children that I work with.
Where can I buy caliche? I never heard of it. The thought of seeing the crystals fprm so fast is so intriging.
Jean thanks so much for posting this. I am going to Google caliche right now. I know children will be so excited to see the crystals form:)
Stu
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Post by NatureNut on Jun 1, 2012 16:14:16 GMT -5
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jun 2, 2012 16:43:38 GMT -5
Thanks, Stu. I enjoyed putting it together, I'm glad you liked it. Did you find out what "caliche" is? Out here, in the arid southwest, a lot of the rocks that you find will have a hard, calcium carbonate layer covering them. The best way to remove it is by soaking in a mild acid, such as vinegar. I'm sure you could use something stronger (ie., oxalic acid), but vinegar is just fine for me. Not to mention that it is much safer to use. I'm sure "making crystals" would make a great project for kids. Of course, they will just crumble when you touch them, but they are fun to look at. Jo, those pics are great, thanks for the add! Why are so many of your photos of places to eat?! LOL! Just kidding... As I scrolled through, I was thinking about Paul Winer, owner of the Reader's Oasis Book store. AND THERE HE WAS! You caught him from a tasteful perspective... There's a great article on him at www.aolnews.com/2011/03/16/naked-pianist-paul-winer-proud-of-his-organ/ We saw him there at his bookstore in January. My husband had gone in looking for some paperbacks, and their was Mr. Winer, standing on a stool to reach some books in his store - putting his, um - package - right at eye level. Oops! Years ago, some friends had gone with us, and one of them said, Hey, did you see the guy in the leather pants? And we had to tell her, Those weren't pants, that was his skin!!! And it was cold out, too. I guess they call him the "Naked Bookseller." We always call him the "Leatherman" now - lol! I noticed that the camel is red - I liked it how and where it used to be, back by the entrance to the Main Event. Guess I just don't like change very much... My husband took some photos with his cell phone this year, I'll see if any of them are worth putting up. Anybody else want to share? Jean |
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jockstrap
having dreams about rocks
Member since December 2011
Posts: 56
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Post by jockstrap on Jun 2, 2012 17:51:05 GMT -5
Just watched a show called American Nomads. Lots of film covering Quartzite RV Meeting. Talking about the "Boondockers" . They say there are about 3 Million Americans traveling around, 90% of whom are over the age of 55. Sadly no mention of rocks.
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LarryS
freely admits to licking rocks
SoCal desert rats
Member since August 2010
Posts: 781
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Post by LarryS on Jun 2, 2012 22:53:14 GMT -5
Only took one picture this year. Our favorite vendor, John & Susana Wease of JSGems.  If you ever get the chance, check out Kofa Wilderness which is south east of Quartzsite. Breath taking scenery. Reminds me of Hawaii minus all the green. LarryS |
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Post by Roller on Jun 2, 2012 23:35:48 GMT -5
looks like fun ... maybe next time !!!
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Post by NatureNut on Jun 3, 2012 7:00:59 GMT -5
Yeah, Greg was stuck out in Tucson with his 2 tons of rock this year! LOL. Larry, that is my favorite picture! Jean, LOL. The first time I met Paul I was kneeling on the floor looking through the books on the bottom shelf when he come over to ask if I needed help. Well, when I looked up I was right at eye level, ROTFL. The pic I took here was for Bejewelme. I went in this year looking for a book with faceting diagrams for a 64 index. We got to talking about the cat he adopted. He's adopted a few animals and they roam the store and are really nice. There is a park in Q in honor of his daughter Celia who passed away when she was very young. It's called Celia's Rainbow Garden. There is a BBQ fundraiser every year for it. I am told his wife is very nice and runs the thrift store. Jo |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jun 4, 2012 11:38:54 GMT -5
Adding a few more pics. There are still some smaller swaps set up on the north side of W. Main Street, but since they are so spread out, it takes a while to see them all. Cloud's was one of the better rock shows in the past, but they've been gone for years now. I also used to buy cactus from the cactus lady, at the west end of West Main (at exit 17), but she quit selling at Quartzsite several years ago as well. I still have the cactus I bought from her, though! 1. Flags and stuff from this January at Tyson Wells.  2. Also at Tyson Wells, taken by my husband. Blacksmith-type stuff, metal items of art. Loved what they did with the railroad spikes, how creative!  3. Iron "call to dinner" triangle - neat!  4. Interesting business card holder! They also sold and sharpened knives.  5. Still at Tyson Wells.  6. Cricket got to ride this year  7. More amethyst.  8. When I saw this stuff the first year we went, I just kind of went "ewwww." But it's there every year, so there must be a market for it.  9. A lot of pelts and other animal body parts - not PC!  10. Who buys this stuff?  11. Various skulls.  12. More skulls, turtle shell, leather...  13. I'm sure the furs looked better on the original owners!  14. Skulls and antlers. Keep moving, dogs, nothing for you here!  15.  16.  17. More "normal" type stuff for sale.  18. Old glass, cookware and antiques over at Desert Gardens.  19. Big plates of selenite at Desert Gardens. I like his innovative display!  20. New arrivals almost completely blocking our access in and out!!!! Clueless!  21. From 2002. I guess you could say it was a little less organized then.  I hope this wasn't too much for you all, but I know how you like your pictures! Jean |
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,818 
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Post by Mark K on Feb 26, 2016 14:10:57 GMT -5
Awesome furs. I have sold skulls before. I have sold thousands of pelts.
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) I thought I'd just start a new thread. These pics were taken over a period of 11 seasons, January 2002 to January 2012. Amazing the changes that have happened in just that amount of time. I hate to think how much has changed for some of you that have been going there forever!
