Is It Sidewalk Roll-up Time in Quartzsite?

The lines at the post office, instead of going around the corner in the lobby are barely three deep. Janet’s restaurant now open from 7 to 2. LaMesa RV’s “lot” (the old “Silver Buckle”) looks to be about empty. The vendors at Rice Ranch have mostly ‘adiosed.’ Yep, it’s spring time in Quartzsite.

Does this mean it’s time for all the snowbirds to go? With two inches of snow just south of Seattle, how far north do you want to go? Quartzsite’s “shoulder season” is just getting underway, and this is actually an excellent time for sticking around. The days are warm, maybe bordering on hot for some–expect 90 degrees for a day or two this week–but the evenings are cool, and the stars are just as bright as ever. And with the moisture we got this winter, the desert bloom this year should prove to be a wildflower delight.

While K&B Tools will be pulling out soon, there are still a few vendors left, and many of them are happy to shake loose with some bargains rather than pack their stock and carry it with them. The locals are putting on the last-of-the-season garage sales. Between bargain hunting and sunset watching, March and into April are some good times in Quartzsite–and no more fighting the crowds. So if you’ve got no need to hurry back to “civilization,” then set a spell yet.

photos: R&T DeMaris

Tags: Shoulder Season