Picacho to Salome, Arizona – 9 April 2024

Wagon West RV park where we stayed was close to Quartzsite, Arizona, which is known for its beautiful gems and minerals. We drove into town and went for a walk around the area.

There were several shops with outside areas that had tables and metal baskets containing huge rocks, sprinkled throughout the town. The main street had many gift stores selling beautiful jewellery made from all the gem stores. Beside holding a massive, very well attended swap meet every week, Quartzsite also hold several Gem shows a year.

The area is also known as the RV Boondocking Capital of the World. Hundreds of Thousands of Snowbirds flock here in the Winter and can stay on BLM land for about $180 for seven months.

One of the main attractions in Quartzsite is the Hi Jolly grave. The grave has a pyramid headstone with an inscription about Hi Jolly and a metal camel positioned at the top. Hi Jolly was a Greek born in Syria, also known as Philip Tedro and Hadji Ali. He was hired in 1857 by the U.S. Army to lead camels across the desert as part of the historic Camel Corps. In 1861 the Civil War commenced, ending the day of the Camel Corps.

Hi Jolly returned to Quartzsite, trying his hand at mining, packing, scouting, delivering the Jackass Mail”, and selling water to travelers. The Quartzite Cemetery is named in Hi Jolly’s honor and there are several Camel sculptures around town.