South to Yuma

An Arizona sunrise.

An Arizona sunrise.

I moved down to Imperial Dam LTVA, twenty miles north of Yuma. This has always been one of my favorites places to stay during the winter months. I can usually depend on good weather through February, it’s close to the city and Mexico for anything I need, and this LTVA has enough resources to keep me comfortable. I’ll probably be here until after the New Year.

When I first arrived at the LTVA, I found out that Barbara Dewell was camped nearby, so we met up with for a visit. We hadn’t seen each other for several months and it was nice to catch up on our travels over the summer. Barb needed to visit her dentist in Los Algodones and I needed to pick up some meds there, so we decided to go together to save on parking fees. We were done with our chores before noon and left Mexico before the long lines formed at the border. After our visit to Algodones, Barb headed back to Quartzsite and I drove west into California to see what the boondocking on Ogilby Rd looked like.

I heard different stories about the BLM area near the Algodones Sand Dunes now designated off-limits because of the desert tortoise. One person told me the only place legal to camp was near signed roads, and the rangers had removed all the road signs. Some others said that no one had said anything to them. The fact that there were only about four rigs camped in the area where there used to be hundreds, leads me to believe that they are enforcing the no camping rule. There are no signs saying no camping and the 14-day limit signs have been replaced by limited-use signs.

I drove over to the area along the Sidewinder Road to discover many rigs parked in that boondocking area. I have talked with some that say places along the Sidewinder Road belong to the American Girl Mine and are not enforced by the BLM. Some full-time RVers stay out there all winter.

I drove back through Yuma the next day, picked up more supplies, and laundered some clothes. I’m now back at the Imperial Dam LTVA, enjoying the weather and holding down the fort until Richard and Dianna make their way to Arizona after the holidays.

5 Responses to “South to Yuma”

  1. Donna says:

    Is the LTVA pass the same, or do you have to buy a separate one for Yuma and Quartzsite? I’ll probably make my way there in January or February to see the dentist (my annual check up). My Minnie should be out of the shop by then!

  2. Dale says:

    The LTVA pass is good for any of the 7 locations. Even the two week pass can be used at any location. Looking forward to your visit.

  3. Barbara says:

    It was good to see you again, Dale, and nice to have company going across the border. Dental work done for another year! See you soon, in Quartzsite if not here at Imperial Dam. 🙂

  4. Daryl says:

    The picture with this posting is much easier on the eyes than the one in your previous posting!

  5. Don says:

    Done any clothing optional hiking done there? 😉

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