Xscapers Annual Bash, Kofa NWR Hike, Naked Man Book Store, and Bash Part 2

On Tuesday the Xscapers went on a hike to the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge.  The refuge is an enormous area south of Quartzsite which provides an undisturbed habitat for mainly pronhorn antelope.   The area also has the only stand of native palm trees in Arizona.  The palms grow in a cleft in the hills which by happenstance has the correct moisture and temperature for the palms.

Also on the way to the Palm Canyon, we stopped at the feature known as the Spiral Labyrinth.  No one seems to know who constructed the labyrinth.  Many people (not me) seem to ascribe some kind of spiritual power to walking the spiral.

Many of the group took their pets on the hike.  Here is Sofie, the Yorky, belonging to Gary and Stacy Quimby (Pau Hana Travels) .

Parking at the Palm Canyon trailhead.

 It was a short hike - with only a mile so of moderate climbing (about 300 ft).

 The palms, however, were another several hundred feet up a very steep slot in the hill.  Only a few Xscapers tried this final climb.

After returning to Quartzsite, the next day Ina and I went exploring down town.  The town is packed with hundreds of vendors selling all manner of gem and mineral items (geodes, calcite, onyx, quartz, agates, etc.); flea market dollar stores; and of course RV supplies.

 The highlight of our visit was the Reader's Oasis Bookstore (aka the Naked Man Bookstore). Paul Winer, the bookstore owner does not like wearing clothes and typically wears only what could be called a codpiece.  Mr Winer is also a talented blues piano man and a local celebrity who performs at many venues around quartzsite.  When we visited Mr Winer was wearing a coat because the weather was somewhat cool (but no pants). Last year our friend Julie Bennett interviewed Mr. Winer.

 We concluded the evening of our last day at Quartzsite with some Kalbi (Korean rib) BBQ.

The next day it was on to a less populated area near Yuma known as American Girl Mine.