October 27th, 2017. Deciding to move on we leave Lordsburg, NM and cross into Arizona. A search on freecampsites.net showed a BLM recreation site near Bowie and that’s where I point Freedom’s nose; westward on I-10.
Exiting the freeway at Bowie we pass through the north side of town and travel through pistachio orchards heading toward the Ft. Bowie Historical Site.
Following the directions given on Freecampsites.net we take a right onto Happy Camp Road. It’s dirt and a bit rough, washboard style. I drive slow. A small motor home passes us heading in the opposite direction and they wave and smile so I know if they can make it so can we, and we travel on. Seems like a long ways out but in reality it’s only a couple of miles.
There is no one at the picnic area and no signs saying no camping so, liking the idea of a table and shade (only shade around!!) I set up camp: Swing away hitch tray moved to the side, solar panel taken out of the back of the van and plugged in, reflectix window covers set up as it looks like the afternoon sun will shine directly onto us despite the large shade tree.
No sooner am I set up and ready to do a walkabout with the boys than a couple from North Carolina pulling a small camp trailer come up asking if we are staying for the day or …. They want my campsite! When I tell them we are staying the man looks a teeny bit put out, but the woman is chatty and we introduce ourselves, discovering they, like me and the boys, are full-timing. Full-timing meaning we live and travel full-time.
We chat a bit more, learning they are heading to Q for the winter also. They decide to set up camp a little farther north.
The area has some terrific topography.
As interesting as the area is, being hot and tired and sick of stewing in my own sweat for days on end I consider moving on tomorrow, but the night cools down into the 40s and I sleep like a log. I can deal with the day’s heat if it cools down at night, so we will stay until we are forced to leave when our water runs out.
Saturday, October 28, 2017. The morning is crisp and cool and after the boys are fed and do their potty thing, they want back inside to snuggle under the covers. Too cold for The Chiweenie Brothers! These boys like heat! Charlie sticks his head out every once in a while to check the temperature,
but Fries is just a lump under the covers. He DOES NOT like to be cold–ever! When I pull back the covers this is the look I get! 
Today I will research where to go next,. I am thinking north instead of west since higher altitude sounds better than still-hot summer on the route I originally planned. I don’t want to arrive in Quartzsite (Q for short) before the lovely winter temps settle in.
I am having a hard time adjusting to the “I-don’t-have-to-be-anywhere-at-a-certain-time” routine now that I am officially retired, but I’ll get there! Learning to slow down has been hard.
The soft light of early morning gives a warm glow to the rocks surrounding the area.
As I sit writing this, Burger, sleeping in the front and The Chiweenie Brothers snug under the covers, these little guys visit camp.
October 30, 2017. A planned hike into the Ft Bowie Historical Site is nixed as it’s farther than I thought and I don’t think Burger could make the three mile round trip. Off we go to the next camp, and on the way out the boys spy these guys along the road. Biggest dogs they’ve ever seen! LOL!
Thanks for stopping by 2Dogs! Hugs, Shawna
CAMP AMENITIES
Water: No Garbage: Yes, there’s a can in the picnic area
Bathrooms: Yes, vault toilet Electricity: No
Tables: In picnic area only Shower: No
Fire Pit: Rock rings BBQ: In picnic area
# of Sites: At least 6 close to picnic area, others farther away Fee: None
Other: Small trailers easily fit, larger ones may be hard to turn around. Watch for big holes and dips in some of the camping spots. The road in is very dusty.
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