Xscapers Quartzsite Convergence (January 13-27, 2017)

Yesterday, we came to the end of an amazing two weeks with the Xscapers group of the Escapees RV Club.

We gathered in the Arizona desert on Bureau of Land Management land west of Quartzsite, Arizona. There were about 65 RVs in our group at its peak size (just a few of the hundreds of thousands that flock to Quartzsite every year in January). There are no water, sewer or electric hookups in the desert–just beautiful, wide-open spaces. The good news is that dry camping (or “boondocking”) is free for up to 14 days.

If there’s anything that could debunk the most common image of RVers–elderly retired folk living in old and seldom-moved trailers–it’s the Xscapers. They are “a new generation of RVers who have not yet retired and who have already, or are aspiring to, hit the road pursuing a full-time or part-time nomadic lifestyle.” In other words, they’re like us: mostly in their 20s to 50s, working at least part time, and enjoying all the adventures of life on the road. They live and travel in everything from tiny teardrop trailers, to well-appointed fifth wheels and “toy haulers” with garages for their ATVs and motorcycles, to multi-hundred-thousand-dollar motorhomes. They are smart, self-reliant, outgoing and adventuresome. And, they’re a heck of a lot of fun to be around.

Another beautiful desert sunset

Learning about solar power

Our prize for winning the Margarita Throwdown? More margaritas! 🙂

Movie night with new friends

The view of the Arizona desert from the desk in our rig. Not bad to look at while you work.

Another couple hosted a wine tasting one afternoon

In the Kokopelli Spiral Labyrinth, on the road to Palm Canyon

Hiking Palm Canyon

Potluck brunch on a cold and windy morning

Over the course of the event, which Xscapers calls a Convergence, we:

• Discovered that we could boondock for more than a couple of days at a time (it helped that David modified our rig’s plumbing to be able to refill our fresh water tank from an external water bladder)
• Learned about RV solar power systems
• Learned the ins and outs of creating video content for YouTube
• Attended a demonstration of and conversation about drones
• Participated in a demonstration of cooking with an Instant Pot
• Entered (and won!) a margarita throwdown with David’s Prickly Pear Margarita recipe, as well as getting to taste all the other entries–a very good way to spend an evening 🙂
• Entered (and won again!) a guacamole contest with this delicious Pineapple Guac
• Tasted some delicious wines at a tasting hosted by one of the other couples
• Enjoyed incredible food at a pot luck dinner and brunch (these guys can cook!)
• Went to the funky, remote Desert Bar near Parker, AZ for lunch
• Saw the Kokopelli Spiral Labyrinth and hiked Palm Canyon
• Enjoyed many conversations with new friends around the campfire
• Watched a movie in our rig on a cold, rainy and windy night with two other couples…

…and much more. This was our first Convergence, but we’re already talking about coming back to Quartzsite for next year’s event!