Tuesday, November 1 (continued)
From our camp at Cedar Pocket Campground, Reggie and I float through Virgin River Gorge on Interstate 15 to reach the flat desert on the other end. We pass Desert Springs and at Littlefield-Beaverdam we roll down the exit ramp. A quick stop at the post office and we resume our journey.
We enter Nevada at Mesquite.
I dump tanks and buy supplies. We leave the interstate via Exit 93, and take Route 169 toward Logandale, Overton, and Lake Mead. This is a familiar route and memories flash frequently.
About a mile or two past Overton . . .
We turn left into Overton Wildlife Management Area.
I stop to read and photograph the sign about camping.
We continue on and discover six campsites side-by-side along a straight and wide, gravel-dirt road. Two sites are occupied. The sites have a picnic table and shelter and some have a grill. The vault toilet is too far from the campground to be a camping feature. There are trash bins.
Separation is good between sites due to dense vegetation. At the back of the sites, a break in the desert brush and trees reveals a view of a large, brown mesa beyond a green wetland.
Okay, so the view isn’t that great. Sites are fine. They’re clean and level. We can stay for a night or two. Maybe we’ll see a lot of birds . . . .
I find the check-in station at the end of the road.
Camping at Overton WMA is free. All that is required is registration. No one is manning the station. I lift up the lid of the box containing registration slips and find it empty.
I choose site 4 and set up a pleasant camp.
To learn more about Overton Wildlife Area, the campground, and the hiking, biking, abd birding opportunities, read “Birding Around the Overton Wildlife Management Area.” You birders can read a bird list there. (For information about shooting, do your own search.)
Lots of photos at the birding site, including ones that show where Reggie and I take our last walk of the day. (Do keep in mind that the photos are old. Improvements have been made.)
While on our walk, Reggie and I see a large covey of quail in the trail ahead of us.
Canada geese fly in formation. Flocks of birds erupt from thickets, too suddenly for identification. I think they’re doves. Reggie stops to sniff coyote scat. A rabbit hops for cover.
We cross an open space of lush grass to a picnic table under an enormous cottonwood tree. I sit, imagining the wild turkeys that probably roam through here. Reggie sniffs the ground.
I’ll take photos tomorrow morning when the light is better.
On the return walk to our camp, I meet an employee entering the check-in station.
I ask about hunting.
“Hunts are on even days. Tomorrow’s the 2nd so we’ll have hunters here.”
I ask how many and where they will shoot. He tells me there will probably be around 30 hunters and some of them will be shooting from an area near the campsites.
“Oh no, my dog won’t like that. That’s a lot of shooting!”
I don’t ask what will be hunted. Doves, quail, turkeys? I don’t want to know.
We enjoy the rest of the day at our camp.
I look at our campsite. “Reggie? We’re like two rabbits hiding in the bushes.”
Later we snuggle into our bed for a good night’s rest.
Ha! Not going to happen with a cement plant (or whatever the heck it is) in full operation under lights throughout the night. . . Loading railway cars right across the road!
I can’t see what is happening. I can hear a lot though and guess what is going on. The beep-beep-beep of trucks backing up. Boulders crashing down a metal chute. Clang-clang-clang! Men in hard hats pick up a piece of corrugated aluminum and make it go whomp-whomp for the fun of it. (Well, that’s what it sounds like!) Oh, yeah, and then a horn blows at regular intervals, maybe to indicate the cement is done? The noise continues all night long.
Around three o’clock in the morning . . . .
It’s so bad, so very, unbelievably bad, that I burst out laughing. Reggie pummels me in the side with rapid-fire kicks. He can’t sleep either.
Wow, RVSue . . . You sure know how to find great campsites!
Wednesday, November 2
I pop Reggie into the Perfect Tow Vehicle. In a cloud of dust and a hail of gunfire, we haul ourselves and our home out of Overton Wildlife Management Area to find a better camp.
rvsue
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Great post Sue,,,😎🐾
CONGRATULATIONS, RUSTY! YOU DID IT AGAIN! FIRST!
We’ve were going to camp there this last Spring and got warned bout the festivities of the area, Noise, and moved up to the last exit just before the Utah Boarder off I-15,,, sorry you didn’t get the full information from the host or who was in charge,,, have a pleasant weekend and hug Reggie for us, okay,,,,,, Rusty n Piper 😎🐾
Hi Rusty! Any more news about your new house?
Hi Rusty!!!
Hi to you Dawn of NC and Dawn of Michigan, we are still waiting for the Voucher from AZHUD to rent a home when the Vash-Hud office at the VA shows us what is available,, we or I will be paying around $322 a month with Utilities included and be close to the VAMC hopefully soon, cause Winter is coming and I need another thyroid test where I’ll be lightly Radiated to see what’s wrong with it and from what I was told, I need to be driven to and from the procedure, and my Doctor dosen’t want to wait until after we get a home,,,, so I’m kind of trying not to get the test which would be close to Lake Havasu City where I don’t want to be right now incase we get the Call to get a home,, I’m trying to save my funds and I explained that to my Doctor,,, I just don’t know what to do and I can’t be in 2 places at once,, so pray for us will you,,,, we are camped a mile north of Cordes just off the Old Black Canyon Road, ’bout 25 miles from the V right now waiting for the Call and it’s raining,,,, love to you all,,,,,😂🐾
Rusty…. Can you explain the situation to the person who is in charge of arranging the home for you? Maybe that person will help you figure out how to have the thyroid test near Lake Havasu City and how to get a home, too.
Well I found out that I would be going to Lost Wages, NEVADA or Phenix, AZ. And if I was in a home the Vash-Hud of the VA would be taking me to the Choice Program Apointment, so I must wait, also Piper would be in our home and I wouldn’t be paying the price for putting Piper in a doggy hotel for 2 days,,,, 😨
It will all work out.
The free housing for Piper is only in case I need to be hospitalized for more than a week or more by the VAMC and where would I park the truck camper to be safe , who would be driving me to and back,,, my Rep is explaining my situation to the doctor as I am typing this comment, he told me not to worry in a phone call a few minutes ago and I ain’t dying yet,,, I know it’s a little slow because of the elections that are soon to be over, then all will fall together,,,, I’m staying the course 😁so don’t worry, okay,,,,,, Rusty n Piper 😎🐾
Rusty, we are not far from the VA hospital in Prescott. My husband can take you to the doctor there, if that will work. If you ever driveway camp we have room here for you to park with power and water. Gloria
The appointment has been canceled for now, til we get our home, thank you Gloria in Prescott for your offer,,,, Rusty n Piper 🐾😎
You are Welcome. Are you looking in Prescott Valley for a house? Let us know if you need help. Sue should have my e-mail address. Guess what? I am a day older then you. Hope you get your health back. Gloria
Hi Gloria, I’m looking at P.V.,C.V.,and anywhere within a 25 miles radius of the VAMC and I might have to give up Piper to get in a home, Piper isn’t a assistance animal or trained to be one,,,😱but I’m praying that we may get one for the both of us,,,, it would tear me up to lose my best friend Piper over getting a home,, ,,,,,,,,
A day older,, the 16th,,,,, Gloria,,,, this is my # 928 846 5622,,,,, call me any time, okay,,,,,,😎🐾
Oh gosh. Out of how many campsites have you had duds? OOPS.
Not too many!!!
Hugs from Hoquiam,
Barb
Hi, Barb…. SECOND PLACE TODAY! Hugs to you, too!
So glad you were able to find humor in that situation….!!!! No wonder they don’t charge for camping!
Hi, Dawn…. THIRD PLACE! Maybe camping would be fine there when it’s not hunting season (after Feb.) and when the cement plant isn’t operating (weekends maybe?).
Oh my Good gracious! Wow, not your best site! Lol. So glad you scooted! Oh well. That experience will make you appreciate your next site all the more!
Hi, Rachel…. Yes! I love our new camp! Nothing at all like the one in this post.
Well, poor Reggie hasn’t had a walk yet today and he’s very unhappy. Gotta’ go… Be back later…
Wait…What?!?! Am I first??? I’ve never come to the end of a post and not seen a bunch of replies!
Hi, Sydney! Good to see you here again! I thought maybe we’d lost you…
I lived in Florida for several years, yet I don’t recall the location of Hobe Sound.
You can’t win them all. Sorry there was so much noise and so little sleep. And then hunters? Sounded like a good place at the beginning. Hope your new camp is better.
Thanks, Lisa. It is much better at our new camp. In fact, once I had chosen a site I liked it so much that I enjoyed a twirling moment, like the intro to that old Mary Tyler Moore show, where she spins around with delight and throws her hat in the air….
Top 10?
Yep. 🙂
Oh man. I’m remiss in having my email window open so I can race to be among the first responders!
🙂
Lori, I have a Bird tweet tweet when RV SUE sends out a new post, that it’s in my mailbox and the only way I miss being 1st is that I’m out with Piper or looking for our new home or at the VAMC,,,,, sorry , have a great week,,,,😎🐾
Rusty, stupid job interferes with my blog reading. 🙁
Same here!
I guess that explains why the campsites are free. On to better sites down the road!
Thanks, Kristi. We did move to a better place.
Some free campsites are yucky and some are wonderful. Maybe you remember the photos I took at Pahranaghat Wildlife Refuge, also in Nevada…. free, with sites next to the water.
Oh my gosh! This campsite sounds as bad as some Walmarts we’ve camped in! Your next home is going to be a blessing after this! Happy trails!
Hi, Dawn… At least at this camp we were able to enjoy the sound and sight of many birds, much better than shopping carts, rows of carts, and the nighttime pavement-sweeper machine. 🙂
Yes, our new camp is perfect for us…
It’s good you got out before the shooting started! I moved to a highrise while home renovations are going on and we have 180 trains a day passing by – I try to think of them as ocean waves…
Hi, eliza…..Trains as ocean waves… That’s a lotta’ trains! Sounds like it’s a temporary situation for you. It’ll be good to return to your renovated home.
Part of picking good campsites is knowing which ones are not so good. You have chosen so many seriously awesome camp sites over the past few years that one or two duds only serve to remind us that the crappy ones are still out there. 😀
Craig
Hi, Craig,
So true… The contrast makes our present camp all the more wonderful. Our experience at Overton WMA wasn’t great. For people who go birding, it could be an excellent camp at the right time of year, when the plant is closed and the hunters are gone.
BTW, I think you’re the one who got a chuckle out of me wanting batteries for my toothbrush… I tried a battery toothbrush after recently seeing a woman use one at Ponderosa Grove in Utah. Wow! What a difference! I feel like I’ve had a professional cleaning…. Try one! 🙂
Worst camp ever! So horrible. Well I guess it will make you appreciate the next camp even more. Hope you found a good one. Still hot here and no rain. Going to be interesting this winter.
Hi, Jean,
Still in summer, eh Well, it can’t last forever…. I wish you rain…
Awwwww darn! It looked so peaceful with your blue rug out by the shelter! We have all had at least one experience like this! Onward and looking forward to where you land next!
Hi, Geri… If it weren’t for the hunting and the noise at night, we would’ve stayed a couple of days, walking the trails. Birds singing everywhere, migrating birds overhead, doves and quails abound.
Glad you are leaving I would too. Can’t wait to see where you guys end up. Happy camping!
Thanks, Karen… We are happy campers!
Thanks for the heads up on the night noise at Overton. One thing we have noticed in the southwest is, no matter where we camp, we hear trains!!!
You’re right, lots of trains in the southwest… although at our new camp I haven’t heard any yet. I like the sound of trains in the night. :))
Morning, Sue
Morning, Cat Lady…
Now that I’ve read through the post my sympathy goes out. But damn, Sue…you always handle everything with a touch of humor which I find so inspiring! I hope I’ll be the same way. I guess when you know you can pick up and leave, it’s easier to handle.
I’m down to 212 days and only 141 of those are work days! Woot!
Hi, Lori,
Funny thing about noise… If people keep me awake with their talking and laughing, I lose my sense of humor. Noise from a plant in operation, I can laugh it off as my bad choice to camp there. I heard the noise when I set up camp but I figured it would stop at quitting time, not realizing there is no quitting time!
Before you know it, Lori, you’ll be counting single-digit numbers…. and you’ll be super excited! 🙂
That makes a lot of sense. People being noisy when they know they should be considerate of others is different from work getting done when work needs to get done. For some reason the grounds crew at my place likes to get started at around 6:30 a.m. with the lawn mowers. But oddly, once the noise wakes me up, it’s one of those types of noise that I can be lulled back to sleep by — lawn mowers are a “lazy” noise to me…so long as I’m not the one doing the mowing!
Hey, I’m already excited!! And the lists…oh, the lists! 🙂
You know that makes perfect sense to me. If you make a poor choice, that’s on you. But when you choose a place that should be quiet but isn’t because you have neighbors who aren’t concerned with people around them, that’s more annoying.
Sometimes free isn’t that good…. Still nice daytime there!
My timing was off…. Another time of year, a time when the plant isn’t operating and it isn’t hunting season… Lots of trails for hiking and biking and birding there…
Well Missy, they can’t all be winners! You usually find great sites to camp. The next one will be a winner. Truck on!!
Our new camp definitely IS a winner, Jim!
Are you considering Snowbird Mesa/Poverty Flats as your next stop?
I like to keep the “next camp” a secret until I post about it…. 🙂
Hi, Sue,
No wonder there were no registration forms in the box! The “free” charge should have an asterisk noting that for no extra charge you get manufacturing noise all night and no sleep to boot! Glad that you and Reggie were able to make tracks in the morning before the hunters arrived!
I hope you have landed in a better spot and can catch up on your beauty sleep! 🙂 Not to make you sad, but I still look for Miss Bridget hiding under the BLT or picnic table…I miss our little girl! I then think of Bridge and Spike frolicking together – happy, healthy, and whole and all is well again. ❤️
Have a good day, Sue! Sending you and Reggie love and hugs from me and Gracie pup! xxxooo 🙂
Hi, Denise,
Do you see Bridget under the BLT in the flashback pic? She was quite a gal. Different in many ways from any dog I’ve ever had the pleasure to share my life. No, you don’t make me sad by mentioning her. Looking at old photos of the Bridge is still difficult at times, as it still is with Spike’s pics. I do hope they are together.
Thanks for the love, hugs, and wish for a good day. Sending the same to you and Gracie pup!
I guess ya win some; ya loose some; LOL. I go camping quite a lot with a VW van group. There is a beautiful campground overlooking the Susquehanna River here in PA. I’m talking, beautiful! The down side is that 100 car freight trains run right through the back of the campground, every hour or so. Not only are they long, but they like to toot that horn rather loudly all day & night as well. Sleep?? forget about it. I put ear plugs in and feel like my head will explode at some point. What can I say, this is where the rest of the group likes to camp, so I go along. So I don’t sleep too great (if at all) for a weekend, but again, I don’t have my dogs with me either. They would not appreciate any of it; dachshunds are like that.
Hi, Sandy,
Hmm… I like trains but that does seem to be a bit much, if you need earplugs. I wonder why your group likes to go there. It must be so gorgeous, it balances out the noise.
I have a vague memory of the Susquehanna from many, many years ago and it was beautiful….
LOL. These experiences certainly make us appreciate when things are going our way! The wisdom of not unhitching your first night or two really pays off. Looking forward to seeing your next camp.
Hi, Applegirl,
Not only did I keep the BLT hitched, I also didn’t drive any stakes into the ground to hold down the blue mat. We were able to make a quick get-away in the early morning….
Our Amazon package arrived today. Has to be assembled. 😐. You’d think for that $$ they’d help out. Lol. Eager to see where y’all land next.
Maybe it would make the shipping too costly? I don’t know. Good luck with the assembly!
Wow, Sue, you sure know how to pick them! Hope your next spot is much better!
Sharon in MO
Every hundred camps or so, I pick a doozy. Our present camp is much better, thank you!
Some days are diamonds; some days are stones…Literally in your case of that site!! I had to laugh at the all night noise thing as that would be my luck. It’s really a shame because your photos of the site makes it look really nice and peaceful. Glad to know you and Reggie have found a nicer place to call home for a while. Be well and happy. Belly rubs, hugs, and prayers!
Sometimes I pick a camp for more than Reggie and me. I also want to share what I find with my readers. This one looked fine, at first, for a free camp, and I did enjoy seeing and hearing the many birds. Oh well. . . . .
Thanks for the kind words, rcl!
Well, I’m glad you had one good walk before it all went downhill. And don’t be upset, but by the end I was laughing…with you of course….am glad you skeedaddled. Looking forward to hearing about the next new place.
I’m happy you were laughing, Dawn! It struck me as hilarious …. after reading several comments that morning about how I always find great camps. Haha!
For the first time ever….and probably the last time…..Susan, you didn’t do so good with this campsite. LOL….It was bound to happen at least once. I know your next place will be spectacular.
We will all be waiting for pictures.
Love and Hugs to you and Reggie.
Awww…. I’m so glad I have a big sister who encourages me… 🙂
Love and Hugs to you, your crew, and the entire family!
Good morning Miss Sue! Isn’t it interesting the way you show photos and caption the photos …looks like a wonderful camp..then you drop the other shoe and show a cement plant! What a tease, love it!
I like how Reggie kicks when he is unhappy…my Maggie does the same thing…funny doggies!
I would really really appreciate it if the person that purchased the Eco Worthy solar suitcase would let us know how satisfied with their purchase. I have a similar item on my wishlist and I like this one as it has 120 instead of 100 watts. Thanks in advance!
Good afternoon, Lee J!
I have an idea! I’ll put a note to the person who bought the Eco Worthy solar suitcase at the bottom of this post. Of course, it may be a while before that person can evaluate the item.
I’m glad you enjoyed this post. Sometimes when Reggie is really frustrated that I don’t get out of bed the moment he wakes up, he will do the rapid-fire kicking and make little grunts and groans… Makes me laugh. I bet your Maggie has her own way of getting you out of bed. 🙂
If you go to the amazon site you can read a number of opinions about the product from those who have purchased it.
Don’t know if this helps, but we have the Go Power! GP-PSK-120 120W Portable Folding Solar Kit and we like it for our occasional boondocking that we do. Cost twice as much as this kit bought through Sue’s link.
No wonder it was free…and no registration cards stocked in the box.
In my quiet Ozarks they’ve decided to move a hill on one side of me and the county put in a firing range for the officers on the other side. I never minded the gun fire because I grew up with that but the earth movers and blasting is something else.
I haven’t posted on your blog before but I’ve been lurking for about a year. Really enjoy your travels. Thanks for sharing your journey.
Another brand-new blogorino! Welcome, Julie! A night listening to racket at the cement plant is worth it because it brought you out of lurkdom. 🙂
Earth movers and blasting — That can’t be fun to hear! I’m sorry you have that in your life now.
I hope you will write again. When you do, add something to your name, like Julie in the Ozarks or something indicating your location to help us remember you among the Julies that comment here.
Wow. What an experience! I just love your attitude, really. It’s so bad that you burst out laughing, but really, what else can you do, right? Reggie pummeling your side with kicks – maybe he was saying, “I know, right?!” Off you go in a hail of bullets! Quite the vision! Looking forward to your next peaceful site. Take care.
Hi, Renee,
Well, it is easier to laugh when one doesn’t have to get up at 5:30 the next morning, like I did for many years and like many of this blog’s readers still do. Retirement is the best time of all!
I think Reggie’s kicks were his way of demanding I make the noise stop. In his eyes I can do anything! 🙂
Ah yes, retirement. That will be for me in less than six years. I know what you mean about your little loved ones thinking you can do anything. We get those gestures too.
That place was sounding nice enough to begin with. By the time I finished reading everything at the birding link you provided it was sounding quite idyllic. I felt a lot less enthusiastic when you mentioned the conversation about thirty hunters. I was laughing out loud with you at what nighttime brought! Your description of that and your leaving was great and so-o funny 🙂 ! After a sleepless episode I try to think good thoughts, one that fits is how resilient a person still is that can just go forward to better times ahead. Another is that I imagine you’ve managed to rest well since that happened, at least that sometimes feels like a bonus for enduring whatever… I await with anticipation hearing how much nicer your new campsite is.
Yes, we slept well last night and today the weather is balmy and our new camp peaceful. It’s fun making a camp into home. We probably will stay here several days.
I hope you have your lakeside home ready for winter. Like the little creatures in the woods, you’ve probably been busy with preparations for colder days ahead. Soon your lake will glisten with a covering of ice. Seen the eagle lately?
Gosh it’s nice to hear what your first paragraph pictures. I’m glad I checked back and found your reply. I’m always happier and more settled knowing that you are, too. Thanks for letting me know, and for your hope that my lakeside home is ready for winter.
It is, though like the other little creatures in the woods( 🙂 ) collecting a few last minute supplies and final preparations always seems to take all of autumn. The half dozen nights so far that hovered near the freezing mark were good reminders that these gorgeous days in a harvest colored world will pass.
The lake usually dons it’s glistening ice covers in January. You’re right, that’s soon. We get through the holidays and then that show begins, sigh… it really is a glorious world we’ve been given, isn’t it? The eagle has visited here recently, too. Watching him in his magnificent flight still takes my breath away. Catching his eye when he pauses to allow that is among my most treasured connections. Sweet dreams, n’nite
Hi Sue
I am camped at Stewart’s Point. My favorite on Lake Mead. Boondocking with a vault toilet and trash near by. Free water and dump is about 10 miles away. Overton is about 10 miles east of here. I have walked my dog several times at Overton Wildlife. Never stayed there because of reports similar to your post. Great blog.
Hi Sue- After reading your posts for so long, I know that you do know how to pick em:))
Sometimes things just don’t work and you don’t know until you get there. Another day of a traveler, as you well know. I enjoy reading about the good, the bad and the downright ugly as it is all a learning experience. Just don’t let Reggie pick or you will be at Burger King. I know that is where Maggie would take me if I let her be the navigator. I am waiting for the next one!
I can totally understand the laughter in the middle of the night – and the hasty exit the next morning! Last July 4 we were camped across the river from a quarry. They started work every morning at 6 AM. Even on Saturday which was the holiday!! It was such a pretty setting and so sad that they were allowed to destroy it. We got out as soon as we could find another spot.
Heck! One slightly disappointing site doesn’t even compare to the many gorgeous sites you have under your belt!
Have a great evening
Well, it was an adventure. Now on to better things,better places.
How is Reggie adjusting to being top dog? I imagine he likes it.
I’m just finishing all my chores before I leave for NY, and I’ll be spending a view days volunteering during the election. But I leave next Wednesday. Very excited.but I still have a whole chore list! Not easy to be gone for a month!
LOL
You camped next to a…**sand mine!**
J.R. Simplot’s silica sand mine in Overton, Nevada, produces the high-quality standard glass sand that industry demands. While we can’t control what nature produces, we can take care to gather the highest quality silica available and deliver it to you in a timely manner.
LOL, Sue. I’m sorry to laugh at your misfortune, but you made me do it. We don’t often hear about bad camping spots. You made up for lost time with this one! Glad you got out of there before the hunting frenzy. Can’t wait to hear about where you “landed.”
Oh, Intrepid Sue! You just crack me! I am sorry this camp did not work out, but hey, you’ve settled the decision for many a traveler here. Thanks for scouting for all of us. Your parting comment about the blaze of gunfire reminded me of a great scene out of a novel I just finished: News of the World by Paulette Jiles. If any of you have read it, you know what I mean. What a tender, sweet tale of courage and “intrepidness” set in post Civil War Texas. Excellent read!
Don’t forget that Standard Time comes back to us early Sunday morning. But, then, when you don’t live by the clock, who cares, right?
Have a glorious desert day, Sue.