Stampede through Quartzsite’s Big Tent

Wear short sleeves! Support your right to bare arms!

 

The Big Tent is really the big event in Quartzsite.  This is the time hoards of RVs and people swarm this little town in the middle of nowhere.  Just about everyone with an RV shows up to check it out.  How do we know just about everyone with an RV shows up?  All you have to do is look around and see all the RVs.  We’re sure every RV owner in three states is somewhere around here.  The place is packed.  Obviously, we are no exception because we are here too.

Sunday was our turn to go.  Well, I could rephrase that.  People don’t really take turns.  They show up at the same time and push each other through the walkways.  It’s big.  It’s really big.  It’s open for nine whole days and during that time herds of people stampede through.  The vendors are competing for  wallets filled with cash.  It’s like a migration.  Those that don’t move, get trampled.

 

Now walking through the tent can be extremely frustrating.  You always have those who walk four abreast making it almost next to impossible to get around them and on your way.  If these same four walked at a decent pace it wouldn’t be so bad but they don’t.  They meander along making sure to block everything you want to see.  They also stop right in the middle of the walkways just to talk.  Then, there are others who push and shove so you just go sailing by the little booths you actually came to check out.  It can be rough in there.  Everyone is on their own.  All the little strollers that block the booths aren’t really baby carriers.  Some might even be empty but others are dog carriers.  Some of the more aggressive shoppers use the strollers.  Occasionally you’ll feel them on your heels and in your back.   Maybe next year maybe we’ll take a stroller with us just as a defense tool.  Dress for it and be prepared.  It’s a dog eat dog world and the Big Tent is evidence of just that.

All this commotion, all the pushing, shoving and crowds just means more people are shopping and hopefully, spending.  It’s a great time.  It’s something we certainly don’t want to miss ….. but neither do all the others.  Tomorrow I’ll try to give you a little view of what’s actually there that causes all this fluff.  For now ... we're getting ready to head and check it out ourselves.

‘Tis life on the road.