In the last exciting episode of “RVSue and her canine crew,”
RVSue discovers to her dismay that she and the crew must leave their mountain camp in the Manti-La Sal National Forest in search of a dairy product.
“Dang! We’re outta’ milk!”
Wednesday, July 3
Not only do we need milk, it’s been a month or more since we’ve graced the interior of a laundromat. After breakfast, blog, and bath, I gather and sort dirty clothes, towels and quilts and dump it all on the PTV’s passenger seat, creating a heap as high as the headrest.
On the way down the mountain, we stop at Lake Hill Campground.
The place is empty. I park next to the water spigot and open the door for the crew. Bridget and Spike are excited to jump out and explore while I fill up seven jugs.
When we were here last it was the hottest part of the day and very unappealing. This morning the air is fresh with a woodsy smell. Birds sing their merry chorus from the spruce trees.
Further down the mountain we pass a camp with horses.
What fun it must be to explore the forest on horseback!
When Sanpete Valley appears, I have to stop and take another photo. I can’t resist!
Hmm . . . Bridget and Spike have been quiet all the way down the mountain. I guess they’re mountain dogs now. I’m feeling great, too. Ha! The Desert Woman has become Mountain Woman.
What a difference in temperature!
I should’ve come down here first thing this morning. I can’t leave the crew for long in the PTV in this heat. We’d better do laundry first. They’ll probably be allowed inside. Then we’ll go to Wal-Mart, get groceries, and head back up the mountain.
I cruise Ephraim from one end to the other and back again.
And again. No laundromat. I pull over to the curb and ask the first person to come along — a young woman, “Is there a laundromat in this town?”
She pauses to think for a moment.
“I don’t think there is. This is a college town. It must have a laundromat.”
Another thoughtful pause. “Sorry. If there is one, I don’t know where it is.”
Instead of going to Wal-Mart, I drive to the other end of town.
It takes too long to walk the Wal-Mart parking lot, shop, and get back to the PTV. Darn! So much for my shopping list! I was going to buy a memory card to store my photos. And I wanted to look for a quilt set to freshen up the BLT and . . . Oh well. Another day .
I park at a small grocery and race inside.
I speed-shop, grabbing milk and a few other items.
I ask the cashier about a laundromat.
“You have to drive to Manti,” she says. Manti? Another ten miles just to do laundry.
Living full-time on the road requires extra effort to accomplish ordinary tasks.
When I lived in a regular house, I turned the tap for all the water I wanted. Now I have to drive to a place to fill up the BLT’s tank and fool around filling jugs at a spigot.
At my former home, I had a large Maytag washer and a large Maytag dryer a few steps away from the clothes hamper. Now I have to drive down a mountain and another ten miles, lug the laundry inside, drop a handful of quarters, and wait.
But you know what?
When I turned the tap I didn’t listen to birds sing or breathe in fresh, heavenly scented, mountain air. When I did the wash, it was a chore that I performed automatically.
Now doing laundry is an adventure!
What we could do is go to Manti, get the laundry done, and then take the Manti Canyon Road along Manti Ridge. We could look for streams and wildflowers. There’s a campground up that way, too.
It’ll be a fun outing!
Will RVSue get her laundry done? Will she drive the PTV off a cliff? Will Spike hide out in Manti Canyon?
Tune in next time for another exciting adventure of “RVSue and her canine crew!”
rvsue
THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING AMAZON THROUGH MY LINKS!
I appreciate every purchase, large or small. Here’s a sample of what readers bought:
New Balance Men’s Walking Shoe
Police Magnum Pepper Spray with UV Dye
Portable External USB 3.0 Hard Drive Storage
Sunny Health & Fitness Twister Stepper
Stainless Steel 14-inch Skewers, Set of 6
21-1/2-Quart Pressure Cooker/Canner
I always loved soap operas!
Happy Independence Day, DeAnne!
I’ve been practicing turning the water off as we gear up. Today we staged the truck…thank goodness it’s ALL going to fit. So stressful yesterday de-cluttering the clothes…figure I will be donating half of them a month in. Next we sell the washer and dryer…but I still have my 5 gallon bucket! :O) Twelve days and counting! Happy Independence Day SUE!! Kiss them kids for me!
Cozygirl:
Are you pulling a RVSue? Are you selling everything to go Rving?
Less than 2 weeks to go! You’ll find the last few days go by at warp speed and then it’s . . . lift off! Happy 4th of July, cozygirl.
Great post & pics ….Look forward to the next episode of “The days of Your life” LOL
L
Thanks, Val… Hope you had a happy Canada Day!
Hi Sue,, I say no, I think you will retreat up the mountain and call it a day,,,
you got milk & water,, no sense overdoing.. and now becoming a mountain woman, I was told they can always get 4 days out of 1 pair of underpants,, front, back, insideout front, back, I think you will head to Manti on another day with a fast stop in walmart, on to the washer and than up to the ridge… one nice full day…
Safe travels Sue
You’re right… “no sense overdoing” when it’s 100 degrees in the valley and cool and breezy on the mountain…. Laundry can wait, although I think a better method is to own a LOT of underwear. Happy 4th of July, John!
Hi Sue!,,, I think I’m with John Fossildreamer on this one. (You love to keep us guessing!) You live such a “POSITIVE” life–Love that. Beautiful pix and descriptions. Happy 4th of July!!! Hugs to the pups,Dixie
Happy Independence Day to you, Dixie! Fossildreamer almost got it right… Tune in tomorrow!
Only RV Sue could turn laundry into a cliff hanger.
That’s what I was thinking, but didn’t know how to say it.
Sue, you gave me so much joy/laughter thru your blog.
Love the crew!
I agree
I know! I can’t wait for the next installment!
You people make me laugh!
Happy Independence Day, Dedra, Pauline, and Dawn!
Hi Sue! I like that you view laundry as an adventure. It’s still a chore for me (doing it as I type this) but at least I get to look at your pictures of the awesome scenery and sweet dogs. Looking forward to tuning in to see what happens next. Happy 4th to you and your pups!
Happy 4th of July to you, too, Glenda! When you live the simple life, a trip to the laundromat is exciting. 🙂
Darn, I should have told you about the laundry mat being in Manti, I guess Ephraim wants every one to do their washing the old fashion way, by hand and hang dry. Sorry Sue, I have my mind on other things. Have a great Independence Day ,,,,,,,Timber n’ Rusty
Business opportunity in Ephraim. “Suds ‘n dry Laundry” . Happy Independence day Sue and crew (you tell ’em for me Sue).
Same to you, Jim, from me and the crew!
That’s okay, Rusty. Part of the fun is finding your own way. Happy 4th of July!
Beautiful pictures of the crew and flowers.
I take SaraAnn’s bedding 17 miles one way. Golden’s shed and her hair isn’t good for our septic. She alternates between two sets of blankets.
Isn’t it funny…how “city life” can give you a sense of “it’s always there”.
You’ll have to read RVliving Bob’s older blog about his tidee whitees. Let’s just say…Men are sure different when it comes to their undies.
It’s pouring rain here…….have a Happy and safe 4th.
Hope your holiday was a good one, even with the rain! The crew and I woke up this morning to the sound of raindrops, just enough to wash the dust off.
I bet your SaraAnn is a love bug. Goldens are a wonderful breed.
“Regular” houses can be so overrated…
That’s the truth!
Work, work, work, just to keep them up.
Happy 4th of July, Brian!
Here is a little video dedicated to Spike and Bridget. It is also a confirmation of why Sue feels such love for them.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/27/god-made-a-dog_n_3511892.html
To AZ Jim, Your So God Made a Dog video. was absolutely a beautiful clip. And got my eyes all misty. It’s a keeper for sure. Thanks for sharing it..
So true. I loved that video, as Max (my Chihuahua dachund mix) sleeps with his head on my knee enjoying the rainy 4th of July, while I read Sue’s installments and enjoy her pics. She seems to know the nicest people.
AZ Jim, a big thank you for the video!
Aww, Jim. Thank you for sharing that video with us. Now I’m teary-eyed.
Just beautiful…thanks, Jim, for sharing it.
Eileen in Phoenix
Can’t wait for the next installment.
In the meantime you can only wonder if RVSue has clean laundry . . . 🙂
Happy 4th of July, Ruth!
Wow, the photographs are so beautiful–I especially love the one of Bridget & Spike where Bridget is looking at the camera. I vote with John fossildreamer–you call it a day after Wal-Mart! I’m betting Lucky a slice of lunch meat.
You guys have me pegged… I don’t like to overdo it! Haha!
I love Bridget’s look in that photo, too. Happy Independence Day!
My vote is that Sue went back to camp on the 3rd (yesterday) and left early this morning to do her shopping and laundry. Notice she has not responded to anyone’s post as is her habit while enjoying her morning coffee. I hope it was cooler for the pups while she did chores.
RVSue Analysis… very good! Today has been cooler. Last night’s rain and clouds blocking the sun have helped. Hope you’re keeping cool, too. Happy 4th!
If she drove to Manti today to do laundry, I hope it wasn’t closed for the 4th! Sue, I’m sure you had a great day whatever you did.
Hi Reine! I hope you and Paul had a great 4th!
On the underwear issue, you could always go commando and save
The clean ones! Oops!
Happy 4th!
Happy 4th to you, too, Ruth!
The condition of my panties is becoming a national concern.
international concern 🙂
Oh my . . .
Sue, I can’t WAIT to hear if you got your laundry done! (…just kidding…) Have a safe and happy Fourth of July! Isn’t Utah beautiful? I’m trying to talk hubby into driving out to St. George for a break mid-July.
~~Cheryl Ann~~
I hope your Independence Day was a good one!
As you can tell from my blog, I think Utah is a gorgeous state . . . lots of variety in the landscape . . . friendly, polite people . . . immaculate homes with flower and vegetable gardens. I haven’t seen a “slum” since I entered the state!
Hope you get your trip to St. George . . .
P.S. I remember my grandmother having an old wringer washer. I used to help her do the laundry. Her dryer? The clothesline! Do you remember those days? Oh, and she ALWAYS wore an apron! And…SHOCK…I used to drink water out of a hose!
Cheers!~
~~Cheryl Ann~~
I remember ALL those things, Cheryl Ann. And that water from the hose tasted so good!
that was a solor dryer. ha ha
I love using my “solar dryer.”
The suspense of it all 🙂
Awesome scenery and wildflower pictures never tire of your pictures including sweet Bridget and curious Spike…
Enjoy that quiet coolness of the high mountains Sue….
We are hunkered in the basement with 2 pups that we gave herbal calm meds to and have the tv cranked up to try and drown out the bombs bursting in air, unfortunately in this beautiful state of Utah the fireworks go on for the whole month with the Mormon Pioneer Holiday on the 24 th…
Thanks for the video AZ Jim that is soo great!!
Happy Independence day, “Let Freedom Reign”
T~
Hi Tawanda…
Oh, your poor pups… Fireworks must be scary when you don’t know what they are.
The people at the forestry office warned me about Utah’s holiday on the 24th. They said it’s as big as the 4th of July.
Hope you, yours, and your pups have a wonderful weekend!
Well, Sue …. looks like you may have to resort to your good, old Amazon.com to solve your laundry woes: Family Size Washboard
LOL!!!! Happy 4th of July!
I hope you are enjoying the holiday weekend, Sherry!
I’m like you, Sue …. take pleasure in the little things.
for our 4th celebration we just hung around & BBQ’d @ home, took a long walk near dark & sat at the ball field on the hill near the high school & watched fireworks.
Unfortunately, unlike your situation, it’s pretty tough to avoid constant “personal” fireworks/Howitzer-quality explosions (illegal in this state, I might add) in our neck of the woods. It gets worse every year. I feel really sorry for all the dogs I heard barking & whining all day ….
Fireworks are stupid… the personal ones. They are so . . . 5th grade!
The campground in Montana, along the Madison River, comes to mind. Some guy playing with fireworks burnt the hills, a home, and part of the campground.
What a great day this Independence Day has been here in S.E. New Mexico! Sounds
like it has been wonderful in Utah with you and the crew too Su! Guess you either
took a break from your blog last night or I did not get a copy?
This afternoon at our daily Happy Hour, which is just a get together of everyone who
wants to come socialize for about 1.5 hrs, I played all the Military anthems, God Bless
America, You’re a Grand Old Flag, The National Anthem and a few other Marches and
patriotic pieces. My Arranger keyboard is awesome…. has about every instrument, every rhythm, and lots of storage for the registrations I put together and store on those
little SD cards that so many of you store pictures that you take. It is so much fun to share my music every day….gives me something to look forward to. Once in awhile we
have a visiting musician come to stay with us a bit. That is when the real fun happens
for me!
Get your laundry done girl and buy a bunch more panties! That is the easiest way to
handle the challenge!
Hugs from S.E. NM…. we actually had a bit of rain early this week and weather in the
80’s and low 90’s instead of the mid 100’s all week…. Going back up over the weekend!
Elizabeth aka E2/etwo
Elizabeth… You are definitely the life of the party! You share your music with others, bringing a happy time to them, and your music makes you happy, too! That’s a win-win situation!
Um… Let me make my personal hygiene clear (as inquiring minds want to know!)… I own about 40 pairs of underwear! Just want the world to know . . . 🙂
If I were to write a book about full-timing, I would emphasize the importance of owning LOTS of underwear so you never have to rush to the laundromat.
When I post a new blog entry in the morning, I won’t post again until the next day. Some days I skip because life gets in the way or I need a break. I’m glad you enjoy my blog, E2.
The last two nights it has rained here and it does help cool things off. I hope you get some more in NM. Enjoy the holiday weekend!
Geesh! I have three weeks worth of underwear and thought that was a lot! The longer I can go between laundry time the better and I have my own washer and dryer. I just really don’t like house work of any kind. 🙂
I don’t like housework either. That’s why I love my little BLT. It’s like cleaning a doll house.
We tent camped at Arcadia NP in Maine and drove down the coast camping and sightseeing but found no laundromat. While in NY City, I had to wear my pj bottoms (pretty floral print with a t-shirt). Went to see the statue of liberty in my pjs! No one notice. What a fun road trip that was but exhausting…by the time we hit New Mexico we were fighting who’s going to drive next between the three of us. I’d love to go back to New England some day and gorge on lobster, shell fish…yummy.
I didn’t let the heat keep me indoors…walked the Tanger Outlet Mall today. What a way to spend 4th of July….NOT! I was dreaming of your camp, the creeks and streams, the cool mtn air…Happy Independence Day!
Hi Rita!
Oh, it’s been decades since I’ve eaten Maine lobster but I can still recall how divine it is….
So YOU’re the one who started the fashion trend of wearing PJ bottoms in public!
Have a wonderful, cool, holiday weekend!
You have me on the edge of my seat 😉
Quite a cliffhanger, huh? Enjoy the weekend, Marcia!
Hi Sue!
I was told of your website blog by a fellow workcamper here in Durango, Colorado and enjoy following you! I found two laundry solutions through MayJanesFarm which is using a Dry bag (to keep items dry in canoes or kayaks), add water and soap and roll it around then fill with clean water to rinse and hang to dry. Another is a small hand crank washer that sits on your counter and washes up to 7 lbs. Both should be available on Amazon or the tinyhouselistings.com site. May save you $ too!!
Keep on keep’in on!
Thanks, Maureen, for the suggestions.
I have, on occasion, done some hand-washing. In general it’s not a good idea to hang clothes outside when camping on public land. Any behavior that makes your camp look like you’re homesteading can get you in trouble with the National Forest or BLM rangers.
There’s no way I would be able to wash all my laundry (I have two quilts with shams to be washed) by hand or by other simplified washing methods. If I have to go to the laundromat anyway, I might as well do all my laundry there.
Sue, Are ya gonna have to change the name of your blog to “Commando Sue and the Canine Crew”? Inquiring minds have to know!
Um . . . There’s such a thing as too much information . . . I think I’ve crossed that line. 🙂
Nobody is talking about but I’m going to bring it up anyway. It’s been a long long time since you’ve dumped your black water tanks. Should we be worried?
Phyllis from Oklahoma
Hi Phyllis!
You don’t need to worry, but I do! You’re right… It’s been more than 2 weeks and I feel like I’m playing a dangerous game of Russian roulette with the toilet. LOL
I’m hoping to make it through this holiday weekend, because once I tow the BLT off this mountain, we won’t be coming back up again.
What a wonderful story teller you are, Sue, and keeping us in suspense about the state of your undies is hysterical! Who would have thought that so many people would be interested in doing laundry LOL I can see where it would be a challenge not having a machine right in the next room.
I’m noticing that the lovely Miss Bridget is showing up in more of your photos – I’m glad she has gotten over her fear of the camera or whatever it was that made her run for cover.