Boondocking in the Desert and Loving It

For those Canadians who haven't tried it, the thought of parking a shiny new RV in the dirt of the desert probably ranks close to insanity. Yet, this winter, thousands of campers will happily pull onto an empty piece of desert and proceed to enjoy themselves. How can this be? Well, for starters, the desert isn't just a patch of empty dirt and sand. Beauty may be said to be in the eye of the beholder, but the truth is, there is beauty in the desert. You don't believe it? Then visit the desert when the shadows lengthen, and the sky reddens as the sinking sun flames the eastern mountains. The clouds,everchanging, take on a brilliant glow with colours that range from a brilliant rose to a salmon pink. Sunsets and sunrises are usually extremely colourful.

You may picture the desert as a piece of barren sand, but the desert isn't bare. It sports a wide variety of plants, intriguing and vastly different from those most Canadians are accustomed to seeing. How very different it is to camp near the giant saguaro and watch the sharp needles glow as the morning sun reflects upon them. Hear the cactus wren as it sits among the spikes of the giant saguaro, singing its heart out. How fascinating it is to walk among the chain fruit cholla, or the mischievous jumping cholla, whose barbed appendages seem to leap from a state of rest to grab onto the unsuspecting passerby.

There are plenty of wild creatures in the desert. The cry of the coyote may awaken you with its eerie howling, or it might be the sound of a desert owl. Depending upon the season, and the rains, you also might be lucky enough to find the desert covered in beautiful flowers. A couple of years ago we drove along roads totally flanked by blue lupins, and in some places carpets of yellow and purple flowers blanketed the desert.

If you haven't boondocked in the desert, yet, give it a sample trial. Visit a place, like the short term visitor areas at Quartzsite in Arizona, or by the Imperial Dam. Find a place of desert that someone else isn't claiming, and set up camp. Put down your dust mat, bring out the lawn chairs, and sit down and relax. Listen to the sounds of the desert. Look at the distant purple mountains, and enjoy yourself. You can do worse!

Happy RVing!

For more than four decades James Stoness has travelled the roads of North America, photographing and writing about what he has seen. His travel articles and beautiful pictures have been published in several magazines and newspapers. He is also the author of five western novels.

In the “Touring North America” scenic tour series, James brings a new concept in Scenic Travel Books. The premise that several Minitours can be created so they interlink, makes it possible for the potential traveller to chain several Minitours together to make a longer trip. The maps, coloured photographs, and descriptions help you plan your trip, and enjoy your progress along the route.

Visit James at www.stonesstravelguides.com.