Got Sand? Free Camping in California's Ocotillo Wells

If you like the thrill of roaring up and down dunes in your hopped-up off-roader, and want to mix it with FREE boondocking, then you'll surely want to check out Ocotillo Wells. An 80,000 acre off-roader's paradise, it's a California State Parks managed area south of Indio, California.

There are no fees charged for riding, nor for camping. However, there is a limit to camping--30 days per calendar year. While there are several "developed" camping areas that include vault toilets, shade ramadas, picnic tables, and fire rings, you won't find a single drop of potable water anywhere in the recreation area.

What's the attraction? Better make it plural: Off roaders have hills, slides, and dunes to trundle over, and a host of other scenic attractions to explore. The park's web site also mentions haunted mines--use your own judgment on those.

For more information, check out the official website here.
Photo: olvegrn on flickr.com

Walmart Bans Overnight Parking?

If you think that Quartzsite is the only place where rumors spread like wildfire, you only need to visit a computer forum of just about any stripe. The latest one runs something like this: 'A campground membership salesman told us that Walmart has a new policy--that soon you won't be able to stay on any Walmart lot anywhere in the U.S.'

Coming from a resort club salesman, it almost sounds a little too pat, huh? Well, it did start a flurry of comments, from folks who almost bought the story, hook to sinker, to those who simply attributed it to the usual puff passed around by salesmen. Finally, cooler heads prevailed, and a forum member picked up his telephone and phoned a Walmart corporate office. Have things changed? Nope, not really. Walmart still has no "official" welcoming policy on RVers overnighting on their lots--it's a decision largely made by local management and of course, prevailing government ordinances.

Where does that leave us? The same place we always are--some Walmarts (and other big parking lot holders) will say you're welcome, others will send you packing. Of course, it never hurts to restate the obvious: Make yourselves welcome by your conduct--don't trash the lot, dump your holding tanks down the storm drain, or set up a 'long term' camping territory. Do show your gratitude by patronizing the store, pick up some inconsiderate visitor's trash . . . the usual Golden Rule policy that thankfully, the majority of RVers seem to instinctively know and do.

Photo: Dr. Warner on flickr.com

Boondock the Mysterious Joshua Trees--For Little, or for Free

It's a little-known jewel in the National Park system. It attracts the likes of rock climbers, star gazers, and those who have a penchant for the mysterious. Joshua Tree National Park in southern California is all of these, and it offers some great boondocking opportunities on top of it all.

East of Palm Springs on the I-10 corridor, most folks simply "miss" the park as the blast on by, no matter the direction they're headed. That might explain the low visitation rates--less than 1,300,000 folks visited the park in the last recorded year (2006). While that may sound like a lot, in terms of other national parks, those numbers are small--Grand Canyon entertains more than 5 million in an average year.

So what's to see at Joshua Tree? Well, our bet is on (believe it or not) the Joshua trees. A park biologist comments that these oddball trees (a member of the lily family) look like something out of a Dr. Suess book. Indeed, they bear a creepy profile, are well known for poking rock climbers, and bear a huge, white blossom in springtime. These characters are slow growers, the tallest Joshua tree in the park is but 40 feet tall, and estimated to have lived 300 years to make it to that height. Other desert plant dwellers are on display, including stands of ocotillo (oak-oh-tee-0h) bushes, jumping cacti, and other plants with points.

As we said, rock climbers delight in the park, but they aren't the only ones who love the park. Surrounded by little in the way of "civilization" the park is also an excellent place to get in the dark and see the night sky. With less "light pollution" than many places, you'll see stars you've never even imagined existed.

OK, what about boondocking? There are several established campgrounds about the park, most all of which could meet the designation of a "boondocking spot." We stayed up in the park's north center end in the "Belle" campground. Plenty of Joshua trees to gawk at, and lots of big rocks. While the park specifically warns against bringing big rigs into Hidden Valley campground and group camps, our experience suggests larger RVs will be happier in Black Rock and Cottonwood campgrounds. These latter two charge $15 per night (water available and a dump station) while the others are $10 per night.

Too pricey? Clever boondockers have found a free spot just south of the park's boundary. On both sides of the access road leading up from Interstate 10 there are flat and fairly level areas where even big rigs can roll in comfortably. Still, you'll be in sight (and hearing range) of the Interstate, so be warned.

Visit the park's website here.

Chinese Generators: Who You Gonna Ask?

A new-to-boondocking RVer "confessed" to me that he'd recently bought "a Chinese generator." Well, he can't be alone. The market is seemingly flooded with these Asian imports, and all jokes about "Will it run on unleaded gas" aside, it appears they're here to stay.

If you wind up in Quartzsite during the show season, no doubt you'll run into plenty of these little watt-makers, both in the field, and along vendor row. But how do you know which to buy, which to avoid, and once you have one, how to keep it up and get the most out of it?

The "last word" in RV forums on this subject is probably the one run over on the Open Roads Forum. As of last September there were over 400 pages of information on the Chinese generator subject--over 4,000 postings. As the moderator warns, set yourself up with snacks, drinks, and plenty of no-doze if you plan on reading it all. Or check out the moderator's tips on how to narrow down the search. In any event, be sure to check back here when you're done--we'll have probably posted plenty more things to read by the time you've finished up.

How much solar power do you need?

If you are unable to go "boondocking" in order to determine how many amp-hours you consume on the average day, then the following "Rules of Thumb" from the folks at AM Solar works fairly well:

1. Use a minimum 65 watt solar panel for basic battery maintenance on trailers and fifth wheels

2. Use a minimum 100 watt solar panel for basic battery maintenance on motorhomes.

3. For the more conservative consumers of electricity: Allow 200 amp-hours of battery storage capacity and 150 to 250 watts of solar panels.

4. For the more liberal consumers of electricity: Allow 400 amp-hours of battery storage capacity and 300 to 500 watts of solar panels.

5. For "hard core" boondockers with mobile offices: Allow 600 amp-hours of battery storage capacity and 500 to 800 watts of solar panels. We also encourage the use of an M.P.P.T. Current Boosting Controller.

Bear in mind that you can start with one or two solar panels and add more later if needed.

The RVers Solar Primer Learn how to use solar energy to generate electricity for your RV. Solar power experts Greg and Deb Holder explain the basics of solar power and solar battery charging systems.

Solar Maintenance

Those new to RV solar sometimes wonder: What kind of maintenance routine do I need to perform? Happily, maintaining the RV solar system is easier than taking care of a goldfish. Much easier!

The panels themselves need to be kept clean. How often? That depends largely on your environment. If you're in an area where there's a lot of wind-blown dust, you'll be looking after those panels more often. The main trick is this: Anything that blocks the sun--even a little--can have a large impact on solar panel output. Cleaning your common "crystalline" panels is a simply job: A soft cloth and plenty of water work well. Unless your panel maker suggests otherwise, some find that glass cleaner works well. The problem sometimes encountered in an alkali dust environment is that glass cleaner doesn't always "cut it." You may find that a straight vinegar does the trick of cutting the muck.

The next bit of maintenance? Keep an eye on the system batteries. Check them at least once a month to ensure the electrolyte level hasn't dropped below level. If it has refill with DISTILLED water. Keep the battery connections clean to prevent power loss.

Kofa Wildlife Refuge: Getting Away From Quartzsite Crowds

Going to Quartzsite this season? Sometimes the crowds are just plain oppressive. Need a little break? Not far south on Highway 95--the road to Yuma, is the Kofa Wildlife Refuge. A favorable boondocking spot is at Crystal Hill.

Crystal Hill was pretty popular among the rock hound set, as you could (and with persistence still can) find small crystal formations you can carry off. But more importantly, it's a relatively quiet place off the road, yet not too far from civilization. The refuge is home to desert bighorn sheep and the only place in Arizona where you can find native palm trees--the California fan palm.

The former have a tendency to roam around wherever it is that a sheep's fancy takes them; the latter are found in Palm Canyon--a short hike from the Palm Canyon trail head (clearly marked by signage on Highway 95). We've also been fascinated by rock formations like the one pictured here. This fellow surely reminds us of a bobcat getting ready to set about a little luncheon. Now some will tell you he's quite natural, but a local friend of ours tells us he results from the artistic efforts of Spanish explorers who carved him (and other formations) to point the way to gold mines and other hot spots.

You'll find the road to Crystal Hill between mileposts 95 and 96. Palm Canyon road is 18 miles south of Quartzsite, follow the dirt road to the trail head and thence hike from there--about a half mile. Best light is found around high noon.