rvsue and her canine crew

I’m ready to do some serious shopping. 

Chuck and Geri are with me.  Right as we enter the vendor area from the parking lot, I spy some nice-looking folding chairs with attached tables, exactly the kind I have in mind. 

The price is $55 each and I want two.  The vendor has some for $45, and while comparison shopping I see some for $40, but none look as well made as the $55 chairs.  These chairs are higher than some, and they have handy pockets on one side. 

After some hesitation and fretting about choice of color, I hand over $110 for two blue chairs.

It’s morning and there isn’t a crowd at any of the booths.

Next I find a man selling hats. 

He has more people around his booth than his neighboring vendors.  I look for a hat in the style I already have.  I want one in a dark color, and it doesn’t take me long to find it.  As I go to try it on, the man says, “No, that’s too big for you.  You’re a medium.  I’ve done this so long, I can tell your hat size just by looking at your head.”  Sure enough, the medium fits.  He shows me how to tighten the cord at the back to keep the hat from blowing off in wind.  “How much?” I ask.  “Forty dollars,” he replies.  A guy nearby tries to barter.  No luck.  The hat man is sticking to his price.

Geri and I walk away, but the hat is still on my mind.

And soon it’s on my head!  I walk away happy with my purchase.  I know the price is right.  I’ve seen these hats online.  Forty dollars is what you have to pay, and buying it at Quartzsite I don’t have the hassle of arranging a place for it to be mailed.  Besides, this hat feels right.

We look at rocks and crystals.

Lots of rocks and crystals.  Big rocks, little rocks, polished rocks, rough rocks, all different colors of rocks.  Crystals as big as a washing machine and crystals that fit in your pocket.  Geri loves looking at rocks and crystals.  She makes jewelry so we cruise through several bead shops, too.

"Um, may I have one pink bead please?"

 Chuck says, “You gotta take a picture of this place.”

Geri and I meet Chuck back at his favorite booth. 

No more trying to read a jumping needle on a cheap gauge!

It’s a big place with lots of tools and rv stuff.  I look for something to insert in the holes of my stabilizer jacks.  I can’t find the rod for this purpose that came with my Casita.  Voila!  A piece of steel that looks like rebar for $1.59.  

Next I pick up a telescoping campfire fork for $4.99, a pair of wheel chocks for $4.50 each, needle-nosed pliers for $3.50, and a Slime brand digital tire pressure gauge for $15.00.  That last item stings.  Chuck tells me, “Go ahead and get it.  It’s worth the money.”

On the way back to the car, we pass the homemade ice cream booth.

Uh-oh.  I’m a sucker for raspberry ice cream.  One large scoop on a regular cone . . . $5.00.  Ouch!  But, boy, is it good.

rvsue

Before leaving Quartzite I buy six. natural white, LED bulbs at an rv supply store.  Total cost:  $74.85 plus $7.58 tax.  Super ouch!