Wednesday, June 7
Before leaving Rexburg, I stop at a propane place to have the empty tank filled and the other one topped off. We head west on Route 33, board Interstate-15, and shoot north.
This camp move is short, only about 65 miles.
We get off the interstate a little north of Spencer. A mile or so up the road is Stoddard Creek Campground. That’s the campground from which Spike, Bridget, and I became lost in the forest in July 2013.
Well, to be honest, I got us lost. The crew just happened to be with me at the time.
You can read about that “adventure” in my post: “Babes in the woods of Targhee National Forest, Idaho.”
Back in 2013 we camped in the upper loop of the campground.
It’s nice and woodsy. This visit we find the upper loop is closed for construction and only the bottom row of campsites, lined up along a straight road, are open. All the sites are occupied.
I don’t care. Every single camper has an off-road vehicle. I imagine morning sounds like the start of a NASCAR race . . .
Instead of the campground, I look for a camp in Van Noy Canyon.
This campsite is pleasant and there is a somewhat level area in front of the fire ring. I could make it work but today I don’t feel like fooling with an unlevel situation, so I keep looking.
Instead I choose this easy pull-off that is more level.
The day is warm and the tall evergreens of Targhee National Forest throw a pleasant shade on this campsite.
We don’t do much this first day at our new camp.
I picked up a paperback while at the RV park and most of the day I’m in the lounger reading. It’s a real page-turner, “Before I Go to Sleep: A Novel
I do take the crew on a few short walks. Dogs like to know their territory so I always make sure they have the opportunity to scout the perimeter of our camp in the hours after we arrive.
Thursday, June 8
In the morning, Reggie, Roger, and I set out on a hike through the forest.
Although this a mixed forest with a variety of plants (not as uniform as the one in which I got lost), I play it safe and keep us on a track.
Nothing quite like a forest in early morning!
The birds are rejoicing in song, of course. We startle three deer. They bound away before I can capture them with my camera. The crew is very alert. Reg and Rog love this!
Funny thing about Roger . . . .
He likes to smell the flowers! Maybe it’s coincidence, maybe not, but it does seem that he’s attracted to flowers. When I stoop to take a close-up of a bloom, there’s Roger’s nose popping into the frame!
The landscape is like a rug pushed into ridges.
We move from piney woodland to a sagebrush and grass meadow where bunches of purple lupines are made super-lovely by the morning light.
“Roger, you’re like a cat. You know the prettiest places to hold a pose.”
One of the reasons I choose to camp in the area near Spencer is the increased altitude and forest coolness. It’s not much higher than Rexburg but enough to make a difference during this hot spell.
Living in a home-on-wheels makes it easy to extend spring.
For me spring began with the desert lilies in March in southeastern California all the way to the lupines in June in Idaho.
The track we’re on becomes narrower and rockier until it’s difficult to follow.
“We’ve gone far enough. Let’s head for home.”
By the time we return to our campsite I feel like it’s lunchtime.
Gee, it’s only 10:30! We were up so early this morning that it feels like we’ve put in half a day already.
Later we walk to the start of the forest road.
We find horses have come in from the field to a little corral.
Maybe they’re waiting for someone to come by with grain.
At first the crew looks over the situation benignly.
Hmm . . . so far, so good.
Being chihuahuas they have to throw their weight around.
They insist upon going into the corral.
“What do you think you are? Rodeo clowns?”
The horses are not impressed.
When Reg and Rog have barked themselves into a tizzy, I take them around the other side and hold them back while I take a photo of these two beauties.
“Well, that was a little excitement for you. I think you two will sleep well tonight!”
rvsue
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Could I be first? I don’t see comments!
Long time reader, only comment occasionally. Just lucked out today! Love the flower sniffer Roger!
YOUR LUCKY DAY, SUSAN! CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING FIRST!
Blogorinos: I can’t participate in comments, although I’d like to very much. Thank you for carrying on without me!
Sue
Welcome, Susan! By commenting, you are now officially a blogorino! 🙂
congrats… we tied… lovely place Sue found. And I love the horses…
Great location… lovely place…
OOPS! SORRY, CARLENE… CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, TOO! FIRST TODAY!
I love your camp sites and really looking forward to next summer, yes 2018… I’ve booked myself into 2 volunteer spots. New Jersey for July and august then back to Bosque in New Mexico mid October to February. After that I’m off again to boondocks out west. ..
I’m making notes as to where you go so we wont bump into each other but also that I’ll have some ideas…
Have a great week… And hugs to those boys of yours…
I love the pics of Rog sniffing flowers. What a sweetly.
Yay, horses. Cows can’t be far behind! Love watching your furry boys exploring.
Love the pic of Rog and the flowers!
Targhee hmmm wonder if my new Keen hiking boots Targhee II were name for that place. So funny to see Roger smelling flowers!
🙂
Definition of Targhee:
“an American breed of sheep developed by intercrossing Lincolns and Rambouillets to produce a hardy range sheep with good mutton conformation and a heavy fleece of moderately fine wool”
I tried to post before but got an error message. Might have made a mistake on the math problem as I have trouble telling a division sign from the addition one. Or it could have been my math skills! Love the beautiful country you are in and the horses were stunning. Looks like your boys are really enjoying their time together.
I set it so you only face addition and subtraction. 🙂
Love the flower smelling Rog…so cute. And, I love your new camp.
Paul Reservoir north of Stoddard is nice and has fewer ATVs. Kilgore is east of there and has many boondocking spots. You’re in my old neighborhood and I miss it. We sprinkled Dad’s ashes near Kilgore as it was his favorite spot. I promised myself to make a trip over there this summer and visit that spot again.
Beautiful scenery….Roger photo bombing you! Hah. Ears back smelling the flowers…too cute.
The crew looks very happy! Love the white and brown horse…sorry City girl doesn’t know the type….paint maybe? Reminds me of the artist Bev Doolittle.
Thank heaven you didn’t get lost… that was a doozie last time around.
Have a great peaceful evening.
Oh, BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP is one of my favorite psychological thrillers ever. The follow-up wasn’t nearly as good, though.
Beautiful country!
Love that Roger smells the flowers, so cute.
They look great together, the two brothers, a match made in heaven.
Love the flowers and that Roger sniffs them.
Close to first????
Thanks to your recommendation, we ate breakfast at Rogerson Service this morning. Anita says hi to you, Roger & Reggie. Her phone broke so she hasn’t been able to get online. Hubby and I travel in a 20′ R-pod trailer with our mini Aussie. I always enjoy your postings, and we did enjoy the Rogerson stop very much, thanks! We traveled today from Wells NV to Rexburg ID. Are camped at the Legacy Flight Museum as part of Harvest Hosts. We’re headed east on a 6-month cross-country trip but hope to run into you some time when we’re back in the west.
note the privacy request at the bottom …
So glad the two boys do so well together !!! Thanks for the horse pix !!! Did you ever get that propane hose fixed??
So cute! Posey puppies! I think that is so cool that Roger likes to smell flowers. He’s so curious, probably never smelled so many different scents.
Beautiful horses too.
Looks like y’all are were having a great time in your camp spot.
Take care❤️
How lovely, Sue. Such color! Rog hit the jackpot with you two on this journey of life. He can explore everyday with Reg by his side. Oh! What a surprise to me too with your posting. Several years back we were going to take this way en route Yellowstone and looked up Stoddard Creek CG, but took a different route for some reason. Thanks for the adventure. Take care and enjoy!
So glad that Reggie has a canine companion and brother and that you are all a happy family. Look at Roger taking time to smell the flowers….so sweet.
My Golden slipped his leash when we were parked at a campground bordering a pasture with a horse and mule. It was dark and I’d taken her out to pee, she saw horses for what I presume was the first time, and insisted on getting in there. She slipped the leash and belly-crawled under the fence. Well, long story short, she got the scare of her life…chased and very nearly kicked by the mule. She was whimpering and crying, trying to find a way out of her “prison”….I called her to the edge of the pasture and pulled her out. We made our way home to the RV; she was quite contrite and knew she’d done something she shouldn’t have. Next morning she wanted to go in the opposite direction from the pasture and kept looking behind her to see if anything was following her! A good lesson not to mess with horses on their own turf.
Beautiful country you are in! Lush greens, TALL trees, and pretty flowers just inviting sniffers! The horses are gorgeous! Looks like a great place to spend some time! The boys seem to be enjoying each others company. Has Roger become a better traveler, less whining??? I hope so. DoogieBowser was also a whiner…he was not happy watching scenery flow by! He always enjoyed arriving at a new camp though! This is a beautiful spot, hope you had a few happy days here.
What a lovely spot! I love lupines and Indian paintbrush. Looks like the boys enjoyed their walks. Horses for excitement, too!
I hope you’ll share how Roger is doing and how you’re all becoming a family.
I see the math is back. Lol.
Stay cool, Sue!
Lovely country there…looks like a good spot to sit a spell…or camp a spell as the case may be!! Be watchful for the hungry bears this time of year, Sue!!
Hi Sue! Long time follower, first time poster. Such a lovely place with beautiful scenery with the delightful crew! Your photography is so amazing! This has got to be my favorite post so far. Thank you so much for sharing your adventures!
Welcome Marcia! You are now officially a blogorino!
Thanks Dawn!
I know right where you are camped having scouted around the area a couple years ago. Good choice! Roger is looking much more relaxed and comfortable. That’s a good thing.
Long time reader and still love your blog!
Lovely country! I can see why the boys are enjoying it!
Hi, Sue,
Love the pictures of the zoom-zoom brothers! Too cute! 🙂
Sending you and the Crew love and hugs from me and Gracie pup! 🙂
G’morning Sue and crew. Loved the flowers and Roger poses. And of course the horsies. Such a nice day, ‘eh?
I’m almost caught up in your life, as we are turning the page into 2017 in your blog as of last night. I’ve read every post from the beginning. Since I live a state away from where you are now, I’m relating to the flowers you are seeing, and all the lush green before the heat of summer kicks in and all the grasses and flowers turn brown. We had our first 90* day, but it doesn’t last thankfully. It’s back in the high 70s today, thankfully. Summer solstice is just arriving, so tonight is the shortest night of the year. Enjoy the extra daylight and all your walks in the woods with the boys. Sending hugs your way-
Suzicruzi 🌻
Blogorinos – FYI rawhide recall
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Green grass, trees, beautiful flowers, fantastic doggies, birds, deer, horses……this would be a perfect place if there was a river, creek or stream!!! LOL! Always love your pictues and Roger is becoming quite photogenic. I love this duo ..Reggie and Roger.
Love you too!!!!
What nice discoveries-a quiet beautiful camp and Roger finds flowers appealing. I imagine the three of you becoming better acquainted with each other is precious in many other ways, too. Thank you for sharing this delightful one with us 🙂
Fabulous post! I can just smell the air! And those flowers! How I’d love to be walking among them with *my* pup. What a lucky girl you are.
Zoom zoom brothers. Cute
Thanks for the recall heads up Cinandjules!