Los Algadones Report: Prepare for Long Lines

Your roving reporters returned yesterday night (late) from a Mexi-Trip to Los Algadones, the favorite Mexico stopping spot for Quartzsite visitors. If there was a question as to whether the seeming low-turnout of snowbirds would have an impact on Mexico visitation, here's the short answer: Nope!

A couple of days after Christmas and Los Algadones crawls with touristas and gringo dollars. And getting back out has become a bit of a nightmare. We're used to the little frontier town looking like a ghost town at 4:30 in the afternoon. When we walked up to the border crossing at a 5:00, the pedestrian crossing line was would around the corner and out of sight. We took refuge in a nearby cantina to "wait it out," and finally gave in at about 6:00. Our crossing took nearly an hour and a half.

To say this was uncomfortable is high comedy. Norte Americanos wearing shorts a t-shirts stood shivering like huddled masses yearning to be free. Mexican blanket vendors did a bang-up business with folks in the long line until the tourist police came and ran them all back to the town center--apparently it's illegal to "vend" too close to the frontier.

At the end of January it could get worse. At that time, U.S. Homeland Security reminds border crossers that returnees will need to show proof of citizenship. That is, bring a passport, or a birth certificate and government issued photo ID. If the border guards scrutinize birth certs, you can bet the wait will get much longer. Bring your long-johns, folding chairs, maybe a pillow would be in order.

Oh, and by the way, when President Bush signed the budget bill earlier this week, he also signed off on yet another extension of passport (or passcard) requirements for Mexico/Canada/Caribbean travel. It appears you'll have until the summer of 2009 before you'll need the latter to make crossings back into the US from these areas.

Haves and the Don't Have So Muches--All Meet on the Desert

It was one of the things that most amazed us when we first came to the Quartzsite desert. No matter how much money you have--or don't have--the desert is big attraction. Million dollar rigs can--and as you can see--do park right next to the neighbor who has a whole lot less.

One thing we found too. There is a great equalizer between the humble 1980s trailer and the brand-spankin-new Prevost coach: Each of us has got to go down to the dumpstation every once in a while and take care of business.

Happy trails.

Mexi Bound? Bring Papers!

It's inevitable: If you come to Quartzsite, sooner or later you've got to go to Mexico. Whether it's the lure of the low-cost prescription drugs, the twang of a sore tooth, or the growling of a stomach thinking of fish tacos off the cart, there's a certain draw of Los Algadones.

Traveler beware: The US Border Patrol folks will be happy to see you when you return. But at the end of December, they'll want documentation: No, you don't need a passport or a passcard--not until summer--but you will need documentation of your US citizenship. What passes? A birth certificate or certificate of naturalization. And you'll need valid, government-issued, photo identification. For most of us a driver license will meet that requirement.

Vat vill happen if you turn up vithout zee pay-pairs? Expect that it will take you a while longer to get back across into the U.S. while you'll be flooded with questions and thoroughly run the computer. And oh yes, they will probably ask you about your prescriptions and your liquor. It may not be such a bad idea to carry a U.S. doctor's prescription for what you bring home. They don't often ask to see one, but if they do and you don't have those papers, your drugs go back to Mexico.

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Quartzsite Vending Wonders: Keep Your Ion the Salt Lamp

Without a doubt the axiom: 'If an RVer wants it, he'll find it in Quartzsite' is certainly true. You'll also find a lot of things you didn't know you wanted, but in the end, maybe you will.

Case in point: How about a "natural air purifying salt crystal lamp." A what? Plenty of RV folks have found the air inside their rigs is better served by having some kind of air purifier. There are plenty of those on the market--and they're usually pretty expensive, require plenty of maintenance, and ain't much to look at. Where else but in Quartzsite can you walk down the street and buy a low cost, nearly maintenance free, and actually somewhat artistic air purifier?

Dave and Shirley Shook of Earthwise Enterprises have a tent down at Rice Ranch. In the quiet, and darkened back corner there live (OK, maybe they don't live, but they'll out last you and me) strange lumps of salt crystals, over 250-million years ago. With varying shapes, sizes, and colors (our favorites are deep peachy-orange) these little (and not so little) chunks of hardened salt have been formed into lamps. Turn the lamp on, a soft gentle glow emanates visible to the human eye. But what emanates that's invisible to the human eye, a flow of negative ions that cling to particulates in the air, make 'em heavy, and knock 'em down to the ground so those naughty little particulates (like dust, soot, pollen, et al) can't float up your nose.

We've got one of these lamps, and sure as shootin' they do seem to work. The light is a nice touch, and it adds just enough heat to the crystal to make convection currents carry the negative ions off and away into the surrounding air. Other than wiping the dust off the lamp, and changing out a bulb now and then, these air purifiers are maintenance free. And costs? They start out at around $12.

Earthwise Enterprises, on the south row along Kuhen Street, east of The Gambler.