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Post by johnjsgems on Jun 19, 2012 15:44:54 GMT -5
Most cost effective would be to fly to Phoenix, rent a car, stay in a motel. Hitch a ride with someone else on the field trip. I don't know how much the rental of a small RV is as an option for the motel but if you don't RV you will like the motel better. The weather can be hot, cold, rainy, windy. Sometimes all on the same day.
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Post by NatureNut on Jun 19, 2012 15:52:28 GMT -5
And... don't forget the dust.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jun 19, 2012 16:37:37 GMT -5
I don't think the car rental folks would look kindly on you, if you returned their vehicle looking like this: These are the aforementioned "desert pinstripes" Jo was talking about. A couple hundred bucks at the body shop, and we had them buffed out (mostly) - until the next time... I imagine Hertz/Avis/Budget/whoever would charge you a bit more than that. Rent an RV, or something you can sleep/stay warm/cook/eat/get out of the wind in, and ride off-road with someone else. Jean
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Jun 19, 2012 16:39:28 GMT -5
Yeah, my vehicle has those! Pesky creosote bushes keep growing across the road! (And Willows too).
Cool truck, Jean!
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jun 19, 2012 16:49:04 GMT -5
Thanks, Susan! We got those scratches at Alamo Lake, searching NE of the lake for petrified palm, following one of those dang AZ Gem Trails books. Never did find any, lol! The stick bushes (I think they might have been tamarisk) had stems about an inch think, and they were as tall as our truck, encroaching on the trail - I should've taken a picture, but at that point, all I was thinking about was getting through it. Then once it opened up and we could turn around, we had to run the gauntlet a second time. Yikes!
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Post by NatureNut on Jun 19, 2012 17:24:23 GMT -5
On the RTH trip to Brenda from two years ago, Garry Mossyrockhound had the foresight to bring a pair of loppers and took out the big branches to save as much paint as possible. It was a real fun trip. Here's the video (about 5 mins):
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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 19, 2012 19:04:17 GMT -5
We prefer to go places where motorhomes can't go! Bush scratches are the least of our worries. This 84 Jeep was new right off the showroom floor, still had the paper plates on it. On this trip in Anza Borrego Desert, I did $2k in damage. Front fender, bumper, tore off a shock, split open a tire, bent a rim and smashed in the side. Kept this Jeep for 12 more years. LarryS
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Post by catmandewe on Jun 19, 2012 20:06:04 GMT -5
Oh heck Larry, I can get a motorhome through there. (But the salt and pepper shakers will probably fall out of the cupboard.)
Was good looking at the video again, good memories.
You guys plan the rock trip for whenever you want, I will be there, so it doesn't matter to me.
Tony
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Post by Roller on Jun 19, 2012 20:25:57 GMT -5
when i was there this year i looked into hotel prices around that time they were 100$ to 200 a night .. keep in mind .. i think i could of hooked one for 125 a night ..
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Jun 20, 2012 0:33:52 GMT -5
Motel 6 is $59 I think, for reference. I hope it's an OK motel 6! Some are actually quite nice/clean/quiet, if basic.
Geez Larry! Please tell me those pics were from back when you were young and crazy!
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Post by johnjsgems on Jun 20, 2012 8:09:33 GMT -5
Are you implying he is old and crazy now? He isn't that old really. Just crazy. We all are at least a little. We play with 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 20, 2012 9:26:52 GMT -5
On more than one occasion I've had women tell me I'm out of my fricking mind and get out and walk. Then I married Diane. She polished my rough edges and controls how I play with our current Jeep. I'm a foot taller and weigh 100 lbs more than her, so there. She's the alpha female and Goober is the alpha male in our pack. I'm just the provider for both.
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Post by Rockhobbit on Jun 20, 2012 10:10:35 GMT -5
I am so looking foward to another Quartzite! I leave a ton of my money there and end up with a ton of rock at my house! I LOVE Quartzite. I usually go 6 - 8 times in Jan!
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Post by johnjsgems on Jun 20, 2012 14:14:57 GMT -5
A benefit of living fairly close Sherry. A lot of the really serious SO CAL people will come early in Jan. to get first pick of rough and then return for Pow Wow week.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2012 15:59:12 GMT -5
Here is what you do. Find an old Jeep that runs like a top but is banged up enough so you do not care if you bang it up. Cost $800 with new tires. They you buy an old self contained camper that is like new inside and has roof air and heat, gas or electric frig, gas furnace, room to sleep six, bath tub(why???) and all dishes and pots and pans. Cost $400 including equalizer hitch. Attach first to second and away you go. Total investment with new battery and one water leak repair plus or minus $1400. With an added generator I could stay cool and run some toys anywhere. QUARTZITE HERE I COME.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Jun 20, 2012 16:15:24 GMT -5
Hey y'all stop teasing! Some people (not me, thank gawd) don't even have 4wd! And yes, Larry is still crazy. Whether or not he is old, I'll leave that one to you. ;-)
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Post by Rockhobbit on Jun 20, 2012 18:23:29 GMT -5
I only live 1 1/2 hour away from Quartzite so if you need any help, please pm me and we will see what I can do.
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Post by christopherl1234 on Jun 20, 2012 22:09:54 GMT -5
That video is really cool. I had a lot of fun on that trip. I wish we would have found a huge gem silica deposit out by that old zinc mine!!! Oh and the Motel 6 in Blythe was okay...just no hot breakfast and smaller rooms. It was clean though and had hot showers!!
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,634
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Post by QuailRiver on Aug 12, 2012 2:46:49 GMT -5
Great thread! I just found it tonight. I'm on the east coast and haven't been to quartzite before but hope to make it this year. Are there any RV sites that double as shows, but aren't too expensive, where campers display their goods for sale? I'm thinking about bringing a load of slabs, and maybe some faceting rough.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Aug 12, 2012 6:36:31 GMT -5
Hi Quailriver. That would be the Desert Oasis, I think (forgot the exact name, they all sound the same to me).
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