I suppose I should count the half day we were here, Sunday on arrival, so will call this one as shown in the title. Yesterday was a lay-low day with not much going on. The winds crept up to 30 mph gusts, which whipped up the dust like a fog in the area. Most stayed in their rigs and read or napped ... we did the same.
Today was a beautiful day, clear and light breeze, so the plan was to head to the big tent, drop off our towbar for safety inspection, and walk through a few RV's. So, we left camp about 9:30am and headed for that first driveway you see in the bottom of the picture above, but actually parked in the dirt area just before it, and walked in.
After finding out that parking was free and first-come-first-served (remember, we're newbies at this), I moved the car into the parking area, closer to drop off the towbar, and had no problem finding a place to park. We headed into the tent ... Wow! The place was like a county fair tent but, times 10! There was everything RV-related you could possibly imagine, some new inventions, and batteries, solar panels, beds and bedding, cookware, cleaning and waxing products, jewelry, clothing, LED lighting, and yes, fudge ... I could go on for three paragraphs, but just have a look at the next picture instead.
I think this was about half way down one of the four rows of vendors of every flavor, 400+ in all. While Louise and Christie started shopping, I headed to the Roadmaster booth to check-in and see where to drop-off the towbar. I found the booth and the sales guys directed me outside, to a 40-foot trailer and repair area just behind the big tent.
Locating Todd, the tech I had talked to a couple weeks ago by phone, I found he had been with Roadmaster from the beginning, starting at age 18. Now a 40-year employee, he knew, and had seen, rebuilt or repaired just about everything Roadmaster ever sold. Well ... he took one look at my towbar and told me that they had been out of production for over 20 years, and thought there were none left on the road ... his goal being to make sure they were all pulled by now.
Todd told me that mine was actually in "good but questionable shape" for the age, and to service it might cause issues, like needed parts no longer available? So, he offered a trade-in deal on the new version ... And, confiscated my antique to the scrap heap! The new one is simple and effective, and I don't have to worry about the Jeep passing me on the freeway while towing. Ha!
Okay, enough boring stuff ... Now the problem was finding parking ... again ... and catching up to the girls. I found a spot that only a 4-wheel vehicle would choose, on a mound of sand between two bushes, and walked back to the tent. There were vendors along both sides of the outside, and we visited those as well. We spent time looking at RV furniture from the vendor in Oregon we had planned to visit during the Vancouver trip ... but didn't, thinking that "show discounts" might be available ... Yes, we were dreaming! Prices had gone up 50 to 75% ... thank you!
Anyway, after 4 hours of walking around, it was time to head back. But wait! We hadn't looked at the RV's yet! After all, the show is billed as the Great American RV Road Show, ya know!
Okay, RV touring will have to wait to another day then ... I found the car, almost getting stuck in 1-foot deep gravel while leaving, but a switch to 4-wheel drive got me going again. Back at camp we freshened up and made plans to go out with the group for Mexican dinner in Quartzite, only 6 miles away.
After dinner with our friends, some new, and a pretty good meal, we headed back to camp to relax a bit around a propane fire pit, Sid and Carol brought from Laveen, AZ. And, that was about it for today ... Tomorrow it's back to the Blue-OX towbar people to drop my Cousin Frank's towbar off for a safety check and service.
Oh, before we left the restaurant, we had a surprise visit from a special guest show up, shake everyone's hand, and pay our check! What a guy!
Maybe, another cruise through the tent? In any case, stay tuned for more from Quartzsite, AZ 2025.
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