Wednesday, September 13 (continued)
Smoky mountains in northern Wyoming
Reggie, Roger, and I roll out of Lovell on our way to our next camp.
This is a fly-by-the-seat-of-one’s-pants sort of travel day.
I don’t know where we will spend tonight. We’ll keep rolling until I’m ready to quit driving . . . .
Route 310 takes us south, followed by Route 14 east, and we reach Greybull. We turn south again on Route 20. We pass through Basin and Worland. This is flat country, lots of dry grass.
We come to the town of Thermopolis.
Even though it’s only about 115 miles from where we started at Bighorn Canyon, I’ve had enough of driving.
Gosh, I’m tired. Must be that late start. Hmmm . . . After Thermopolis is Wind River Canyon. I want to be fresh and alert for that. We could stop now and go through the canyon in the morning. Let’s see . . . Here’s an RV park. This’ll work . . .
I turn in and park at the office.
As I hand the park lady my credit card to pay the $41.31 for one night (water and electric, no Wifi) including tax, she points out that the pool is being cleaned.
“That’s okay,” I respond.
I’m not interested in the pool. I want a hot shower, a place to do laundry, and electric for powering the laptop and air card. It’s supposed to rain tonight. We can run the electric heater in the morning. That’ll be nice.
As I drive around looking over the sites, I notice the strong odor of sulphur at one end of the park. I pull into a site at the other end and run the Best Little Trailer’s cord for 30 amps at the power post.
I tether the crew to the handle next to the front door.
Reg and Rog busy themselves sniffing around our “yard.” I set up my camp chair to relax for a few minutes. I know the crew will want to walk around the park soon.
Workmen come and go from the pool area.
The pool is mostly blocked from viewing from the RV part of the park. I don’t think much about it as I wouldn’t feel like swimming anyway on a cool day like this, one with the feel of rain in the air.
I walk the crew around the park.
Roger barks at every dog and person as we pass. I do my best to prevent this behavior, picking him up and talking softly in his ear before he’s triggered to bark. I’m not very successful.
Oh well, the guy’s been cooped up in the PTV and he’s been good all morning.
After a late lunch, I sort laundry.
With a laundry basket stacked high, I leave the crew in the BLT and head over to the laundry room. Inside is an elderly couple, the woman in a wheelchair. She’s giving instructions to her husband who is fussing around with the knobs on the washers.
He’s tall and lanky and none too happy. Glancing at me he reports, “This washer doesn’t work. Those two washers don’t have hot water.”
That leaves one washer which he commences to fill.
Hope springs eternal.
Then he adds, pointing to the four dryers, “Three are out of order and that one has somebody’s clothes in it.”
The clothes lie forlornly at the bottom of the motionless dryer.
I smell defeat.
I go out the door and trudge back to the BLT, toting my basket of dirty laundry.
Oh well.
I let the crew outside for a while and then . . .
I dive into my laptop.
Blogging, reading comments, reading and answering emails, catching up on the news, checking for Amazon orders, having a grand time being online again in the comfort of my little home.
Another walk-around for the crew. I decide to postpone the hot shower until morning.
I don’t want to sleep with wet hair. (I don’t own a blow-dryer.)
Thursday, September 14
The BLT is warm and cozy with the heater on. The first potty-run of the day is a quick one. Rain fell during the night and it’s still coming down lightly, on and off. The crew and I are not used to this damp cold.
After breakfast and a cup of hot coffee, I’m ready for the hot shower.
The rain has stopped. The sun is warming a new day.
I sing to myself a little ditty of my own creation . . .
“A shower for me, a shower for me, oh how lov-a-leeee it will beeeeee . . . “
I grab my shower tote out of the PTV. In it are my shower shoes, shampoo, detangler comb, soap, back brush, etc. I add a towel, wash cloth, and clothes, and hustle on over to the bank of shower rooms with quarters in my pocket.
There are five (if I remember correctly) in a row, each with its own exterior door. The first two doors have signs on them: “Out of order.” The third door has a sign: “Employees only.”
The fourth and fifth doors have no signs.
Great! I’m in!
Oh, boy. This is gonna’ be soooo nice.
Cheerily I set up the shower stall with the items I need, hang the towel within reach, strip naked, and, then, poised to jump in, I drop quarters into the machine.
Plunk, plunk, plunk, plunk, plunk.
Five of ’em.
I want to be sure to have enough of the delicious hot water . . . .
By now, dear reader, you probably have figured out what’s next.
Immediately the water comes on.
I stick my hand in. Lots of water pressure and it’s cold, of course.
But it doesn’t warm up. Noooo. In fact, to becomes colder. And colder.
“Sonuva –” I groan.
Dammit, I have to wash my hair at least!
I stick my head into the icy stream, keeping my butt out of the stall. I shampoo like mad, rinse like a maniac, plop on some creme rinse, frantically rinse again . . . .
“OH DEAR SWEET JESUS! MY HEAD IS FROZEN!”
I am so fed up I don’t even consider trying the fifth door.
I dress and trot back to the BLT. I open the door and Roger bolts out like he’s shot from a cannon. Where does he go? Over to the pool area where a big sign says “No Dogs In Pool Area.”
I don’t go after him. I step inside and shut the door.
I can’t deal with him right now. He can go jump in the pool for all I care.
(Yes, he came back on his own and no management or residents complained.)
Later, I walk Reg and Rog up the doggie trail.
We can see the pool from this vantage point. It’s gigantic and it’s full of water and it’s steaming (although it doesn’t show in the photos).
Okay, this is really stupid.
I’ll share it with you anyhow. Why? I don’t know. I guess I lack self esteem or something.
It isn’t until this moment that I connect Thermopolis + Pool = Hot Springs. I read the sign at the entrance (see second photo) and never gave it a thought that the “fountain of youth” would be hot springs.
I know. Where was my head?
Well, I don’t have a bathing suit and wouldn’t have gone in anyway. Nice pool though.
I can almost hear the groans across the planet from all my readers who love hot springs.
“You didn’t even go in!” you holler in exasperation.
If you could, you’d probably throw a shoe at me. Yes, you would.
Moving right along . . . .
Here’s the fountain for which Fountain of Youth RV Park is named.
Shortly after our walk, Reggie, Roger, and I board the PTV and we pull out of the RV park to head south toward Riverton. We wind through majestic Wind River Canyon.
I’ll show you the canyon in the next post!
~ ~ ~
As for our Thermopolis experience . . .
Well, most folks associate the town of Thermopolis with soothing hot water.
I don’t.
Maybe someday we’ll be back to change that.
rvsue
NOTE: This post is about my experience at the RV park. I do not want it to deter anyone from patronizing this establishment. I imagine managing and maintaining an RV park with a huge pool and all the rest is very labor intensive. It probably wouldn’t take much — life happens and things do break down all at once — to put maintenance behind temporarily. I encourage you to stop at Fountain of Youth RV Park and enjoy a soak in that beautiful pool of hot water. If I go that way again, I might do so myself. — Sue
THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY BLOG!
FLASHBACK!
“Meeting a man of the road at North Fork” — Olympic National Park, Washington, August 2013
1st???
CONGRATULATIONS, PAT! 🙂
Oh my, I haven’t been 1st in a coon’s age! Now I’ll go back and read. We sure appreciate you Sue. I know you are a bright spot in my day!
I’m glad, Pat.
I have to go offline now.
Wow I haven’t seen a post to see single digits in comments in a long time
😃thx
Love the new header…those two are just so cute!
I might have asked for some of that 41.31 be refunded due to the lack of hot water, broken washer/dryers et al even not wanting to take advantage of the pool 😉
You read my mind Jan NH. I would not have been happy. I would maybe give them another chance another time but I think a partial refund would have been in order.
As I would have really b*_ uhoh! I mean complained and asked for a partial refund. Having been camp hosts and workamped in 20+ campgrounds, 3 of their amenities nonfunctional deserved a 1/2 refund!!! Sorry for the rant Sue but that was really terrible. Blogorinos please forgive the rant too!
I was thinking the same thing Chuck! Rant on!
Hmmph! I think I’d ask for at least a partial refund. With a hot springs, they can’t run hot water to the washers and, more importantly, to the showers? That sounds like a very poorly run campground! Pictues are lovely as always.
LOL This is the story of the WA State Park experience! You put in your tokens and get–cold water! A lot of the time… not all the time.
I didn’t get it — the Therma stuff… But I have never been to a hot springs. I dunno. I think if stuff is just not working, either take it OFF the reader board or give a discount… That is one heck of a big pool though! I bet it gets busy at times!
Hugs from Hoquiam,
Barb
Steaming pool and icy showers! I would certainly be Grumpy Girl!
You’re much nicer, much more patient than I. You deserved a break and lots of hot water. So sorry you didn’t get that.
Things can only go up from here! 🙂
Hi, Sue and crew!
I’m sorry you had a less than stellar experience there. Hope you get that hot shower soon. I would love to soak in that pool though. It looks very relaxing! Wishing you and the boys safe travels!
Chaunte and the Chihuahuas
Well what a waste of money! Nothing worked! And it wasn’t cheap. We’ll just all have to not go there when we’re out that way!
Sorry the park was in such disrepair. That pool would have been nice warmth in lieu of the shower. I think I would have asked for a refund, since you told her you wanted to do laundry take a shower. What I rip! Hope the next stop is much better.
I love hot springs and hate cold showers! Sounds like this park needs some major improvements. Hope you find better facilities down the road.
We spent Fourth of July in Thermopolis two years ago. The best dinosaur museum of anywhere we’ve been, including the Smithsonian. Bummer you had such a chilly experience there. But I know you loved Wind River Canyon with all that amazing geology! That Roger is such a scamp!!
You needn’t criticize this park, Sue. Your readers are smart enough to do that. Poor customer service for your 40+ dollars. No hair washing always puts me in a bad mood.
My experience with Thermopolis was in 1980. I was taking my two sons up to see their Granny and Grandpa in Seattle WA . for a three week visit. We left from Denver and drove until I go tired so we pulled into Thermopolis for the night. The first thing my six year old said was “It stinks here”! My eleven year old didn’t say anything, he was in disbelief. The motel we stayed at was vintage 1940’s and they said we’re not sleeping here. We stayed and got up at 5 am and left!
I forgot to say thanks for the link from the past. I went back in your blog when I first started reading but guess I didn’t go far enough to read that post. I think if you do that again it would be great. It reminded me of the reruns on tv. Sorry your experience with that RV park wasn’t what you paid for. I guess that’s the life of the RV’er. Down the road another camp will smooth it over.
I agree it was a fun “rerun”. And back then I wasn’t reading comments, missed the reference to the big slugs. If you had fallen off that cliff maybe you could have slid down on the big slugs like a slip-n-slid. Just kidding, of course, narrow cliff trails are tricky business. My heart rate goes up when passing hikers with a 37lb backpack, I take the mountain side whenever possible. Or at least used to, I haven’t been backpacking in about 4 years or so 😞. I still have all my gear. It’s at risk of being donated. One of my hiking partners and I made a pact to go next summer or donate our gear to someone who will. (She hasn’t been in 4 yrs either) We’ll have to go somewhere easy, and the trouble is there’s usually some summit I want to get to.
Safe and happy hiking to all, whether it’s out in nature or here in Sue’s blog. It’s certainly plenty safe and happy here in Sue’s blog.😃
No apologies for Thermop, Sue. You got what you got. Seriously, that was as good as it could possibly get.
When you left Montana, I worried about your next few camps through Wyoming. Bighorn Canyon was truly a find.
From your comments in the previous blog, it sounds like you have landed safely. Best wishes. Keep going forward and discovering great places for us. Thanks.
That park has had very negative remarks for years….You should have hit the State Park pools..FREE!..And even if you didn’t want to soak in the fantastic pools.You could have had the best…FREE!…shower…..
David
My thoughts exactly! I loved the free pools, not wild about the time limit though. I like a nice LONG soak.
And no Sue, this hot pool loving gal would never throw shoes at you. To each their own and even I am sometimes not in the mood for a soak. Take tonight, I was going to stop at my fav RV park in Ely, but I’m just not feeling it even though the casino is great and they have a nice indoor pool and spa. I’m HEADED SOUTH, it is just too &$@! Cold😎
you had plans….sometimes things change but you adapt to change very well! Laundry another day…that’s not so bad!
Hanging your butt out of the shower…and a cold water shampoo! Oh if we could have been a fly on the wall! Door number 3 was probably free for the employees…I would have used it to rinse the shampoo and conditioner off. Brain freeze is not fun!
I was going to say that pool is huge! Turns out to be a hot spring…never been in a hot spring. A bathing suit? Heh heh…board shorts and a sports bra type top! Who cares? Not like you’ll ever see them again (pool patrons) right?
Scheduled maintenance and out of order machines are inevitable…..just happened to be on your visit.
The positive about this whole thing is….just another day in the life of your journey!
Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend!
Another note on the State Park..When you sign in they state you can only soak for 15 min unless you have a doctor’s note..I said to myself..WTQ?….All the way from Seattle for 15 min. I’m sure the pay-to-soak pools with the barking kids and the screaming dogs have something to do with that.
So I figured..Let them throw me out, I probably will never be here again. I soaked for an hour visiting with folks following the rules….It was swell!…And no-one told me to hit the bricks…
Just a warning..The other RV park in the area has not-so good reviews either..Sad..
David
Good news David! I think I will ignore it next time too🤗
You are a kind and forgiving lass. I would have been mad about the washers/dryers and hot water issues. That’s a hefty fee to go without.
It’s a little worrisome that Roger is getting more independent.
A friend of mine got stuck in Thermopolis for months when her RV broke down. It ended up being a good experience for her.
I’m eager to see the Wind River pics. Such a gorgeous area.
Hey Sue, if you’re still in the area check out Sinks Canyon State Park South of Lander. The Popo Agie river disappears into a limestone cave and then reappears about a quarter mile downstream in a pool that’s loaded with migrating salmon. The state has built a viewing platform over the pool and there’s also a forest service campground nearby if I remember correctly.
I broke down in Lander several years ago and the welder who fixed my motorhome (Forrest Phillips) insisted on taking me out there after the repairs were finished.
Hi, Lou,
See my post of September 10, 2014: “Trout, rabbits, a new friend, an old friend”
What a fun time, experiencing your adventures at Sinks Canyon. We stayed there last month while having battery problems. A kind local from Lander was so helpful. We just loved that town! You must know about all the free, dispersed camping around there. Thousands of acres. All you have to do is close the gate it you enter. Lots of free range cows everywhere. Amazing how they can get them rounded up, but that’s the great thing about them staying in herds. Thanks for a reminder of a wonderful place! We love your choices.
Good Grief, Sue…that was lousy…I guess it might have been worse…at least apparently the electric worked!! Hope tomorrow is better!!
Hi, RVSue,
That’s a bummer. RV life is not like a box of chocolates. 🙂
As is always, I’m incredibly impressed with your visual writing.
Have a nice weekend!
Darn, I’m in the wrong seat.
Sorry, Elizabeth,
RVSue — Never ever sleep with wet hair! It causes Bell’s palsy, a sometimes severe drooping of one side of the face or both sides. Sometimes it partially goes away, sometimes not!!
I’ve slept with wet hair all my life, but my daughter got the Bell’s palsy. I set my hair, put a cap on it and crawl into bed.
Sorry your stay wasn’t all it could have been. Not a good value for your $$. We have been twice to Thermopolis but never stayed at that park. I believe the one we stayed at was Eagle RV. I remember it was OK and the showers were hot 😊 We soaked at the State Park hot spring which was very nice and we did overstay the 20 minute limit both times without getting thrown out. It was a nice experience.
It’s a shame you had to pay so much money for a park with so many problems!!!
Good morning, Sue!
Glad that you had power for the BLT…at least one amenity worked! You have more patience than me!
I hope you are now in a convenient location so you can get all of your chores done and even relax a bit. Roger…you were a naughty boy!
Sending you, Reggie, and Roger love and hugs from me and Gracie pup! Have a good weekend! 🙂
We’ve been to the Fountain of Youth park twice. The second time we had friends with us. A two week stay in the summer when we left we were all scrambling like kids. No Arthritic pain. We hit the pool in the morning and evening and it felt great.
That pool is totally drained every two day, cleaned and refilled within four hours. There is a Laundromat in Thermopolis that is well maintained and probably cheaper. Didn’t have a bathing suit, a T-shirt and shorts would have worked.
Be Safe and Enjoy!
It’s about time.
Ha! It may be okay for you to be in public in a wet t-shirt. Not something I want to do! 🙂
LOL! Not an attractive look for me either hehehehe
Thinking I saw a Fountain of Youth in Florida…St Augustine I think. Cool there is more than one, we all need a little Youth! 🙂
Well, things may not have turned out as well as you would have liked…but at least you got to wash your hair. Stay safe out there.
Looks like they’ve richly earned their poor Yelp reviews. You’d think for over $40 one would at least get a hot shower without the need to pay even more.
What a perfect comedy of errors! Sue, I’ve read this post several times and laughed more with each one. If you intended it to be funny, you succeeded, oh my, it’s just hilarious, start to finish! If you didn’t, I’m sorry if I’m being insensitive to your hopes being dashed at every turn, but, I just can’t stop chuckling. Your wild child, Roger, cracks me up.
Hi, weather,
Yes, this was supposed to be a post with a comic twist. I’m glad it gave you some laughs. Unfortunately the problem with the shower and laundry room overshadowed my attempts at “lightness.”
I wondered if I should remove this post. The internet is a powerful force and I don’t want to hurt their business.
Roger IS a “wild child.” A sweetheart though, underneath his brutish behavior.
I wouldn’t worry. They (new owners) are in the process of renovating the park and that isn’t an overnight process! As with any business it has good and bad reviews (which is basically an opinion)..but ya can’t please everyone.
We always look at the reviews when searching for a place to stay, restaurant or whathaveyou. Some of the sketchy reviewed establishments have been the best enjoyment for us!
By telling readers that the owners-
A) let you know use of the pool(their primary attraction) would not be available before you paid
B) put out of order signs on showers so folks don’t plug quarters into the ones without running water
– you made it obvious that they don’t deliberately take unfair advantage of their guests.
You were nice enough to mention how easily maintenance problems can crop up all at once. I’m guessing the place was run down when they bought it. Likely they plan to continue cleaning, repair what needs to be, repaint the picnic tables, and plant fresh grass . I’d stay there, as is, just to use that pool!
You wrote an honest and humorous piece about your experience there, encouraged readers to go there and said you might again. I doubt that will hurt their business, it’s widely read free advertising.
Thank you, weather. I’ve been bothered about this.
Hi, Sue, by now hopefully you’ve let this whole affair go and are thinking about nicer things 🙂 . I’m only mentioning it to point out why I think some blogorinos may have reacted as they did. It does seem that some commenting focused on the problem, not the comic twist. Perhaps some confusion was involved.
Barbara(Nashville) thought you told the park lady that you wanted to do laundry and take a shower. I know you used italics to indicate that those were your thoughts , not spoken aloud, it seems not everyone understood that.
If that had been part of your conversation with the lady she would probably have told you not to expect to use those OR the pool, given you the chance to decide to go elsewhere, and perhaps offered a lower rate. Most folks use the shower in their RV. And few are full- timers, so most launder their clothes when they get back home. Again, the pool is the primary attraction there, so that’s what she warns people about before taking their money.
On to lovelier things now-I’m meeting a friend for lunch soon and will comment on the new post later in the day. I hope yours is wonderful.
My name is David. I have read your blog for two or three years.
Most of the time I do not comment on things .
But I like Thermopolis and have been to the state park many times. I was there in July to visit friends and had a wonderful time.
So hope you will try it again sometime.
I also live in a Casita so I know when you go to a new place it is sometimes hard to find a good place. But there in Thermopolis I think you could park on a side street overnight. Or until you could find something better.
At least I did a few years ago.
Thank you, David, for the suggestions. When we arrived at Thermopolis I wanted to stop right then and there, not look for something better, and the RV park was the first place we came to. Most of all I wanted electric hook-ups so I could blog inside the BLT. Good to know about the state park.
I’m glad you had a wonderful time in Thermopolis. I don’t like that this post and many of the subsequent comments give a negative view. Thanks for sharing the better side!
I googled Thermopolis and looked around. Looks like a lovely little town and the state park is beautiful. I saw more than one RV parked along street curbs as David said. Apparently there are lots of things to see and do in the area. I loved the post including reader comments. I learned so much about Thermopolis, a dinosaur museum, hot springs, and hiking trails. I also didn’t know that you could get bells palsy from sleeping with wet hair..wow!
It’s a shame we couldn’t have stayed longer to enjoy all there is to do in the area. At the time we were rushing toward warmer weather and had many miles to go (remember my propane heater isn’t working). Freezing temperatures, even snow, were in our path and I wanted to get beyond that, rather than risk being trapped with no heat.
I don’t believe you can get Bell’s Palsy from wet hair. The Mayo clinic says: “Although the exact reason Bell’s palsy occurs isn’t clear, it’s often linked to exposure to a viral infection.” They have a list of possible contributing factors, but do not include wet hair.
We went to an inside pool when we visited Thermopolis. Signs were posted to spend no longer than 10 minutes in the mineral water. I spent about five minutes in the pool and I was zapped. I’ve known people through the years who go to Thermopolis for therapeutic reasons.
Man, what an experience. Guess we need to be more appreciative of the RV park Amazon stuck us in, huh? At least we have hot showers and can do laundry! Hope you get a hot shower soon!
I see Roger is still testing you, the little stinker 🙂
Amazon?
I think he’s referring to working at the Amazon warehouses that so many people do seasonally.
Thanks, Sue.
Hi, Mostlylost,
I feel the same. If we are appreciative of something, we are grateful for it.
Might be better not to take it for granted. 🙂
Refund? Can not be expected in most cases from my experiences on the road in the US.
Near Death Valley, my sisters and I found hot springs. We stopped and instructions said to shower first (bio-friendly soap was available) and no swimming suits or clothing allowed. The men and women’s bath were separated. The bath was huge and only about six women in the bath. After about 20 minutes, the heat got to us and we climbed out. The hot springs flow through the pools so standing water to empty and the pools were in their natural state except they built a platform to sun bathe and steps into the pool itself. I don’t remember the sulfur smell.
The cold water washer wouldn’t have stopped me. With good detergent, clothes don’t need hot water. But I certainly would have gone to the office and asked for my quarters back on the shower. Actually, I never would have paid $41 for an RV park as unattractive as this one.
I wasn’t stopped by cold water washers. I let the couple who were there first have them.
Usually I’m a discriminating shopper. However, being I’m the only driver and I was feeling tired, I took my chances. Sometimes I just don’t feel like shopping around.
I did put a sign on the shower room door: No Hot Water
I’m with Weather – I laughed so hard I spilled some coffee on my keyboard. When you said, “Sweet Jesus – my head is frozen” I immediately thought of that 70’s drug song “One toke over the line sweet Jesus, one toke over the line, sittin downtown in a railway station, one toke over the line” and that got me singing “One toke over the line sweet Jesus, one toke over the line, freezin my head in a nice cold shower, one toke over the line.” And I have not been able to get that damn tune or the visual of you naked with your head stuck under the water out of my mind!!!
I’m relieved to know the little escapee returned on his own:) You are a much kinder person than I am, because I would have been down to the office demanding a partial refund.
Sue, my rings came from Amazon, so you can check them off your list, they are beautiful. Thanks for the link!
Thanks again, Ruthie. I don’t see them on any reports going back a week. Something isn’t right with Amazon these days. 🙁
The price of the campground seems pretty high. No hookups for sewer either? I think I would of showered in the casita. Can’t do cold water showers.
It’s good that you got some rest, and hopefully your next stop will make up for it.
The RV park has a dump station.
Sorry Missy for your misadventure. I would have been in that office demanding some satisfaction. No bathing suit? With all the neat water spots you go to I would think that would be a top priority. Here’s hoping the next stop is a winner.
Hi Jim,
I swim or soak in my clothes in natural bodies of water. Rarely is a man-made pool available to me and I don’t swim in public so I don’t own a swimsuit. I don’t like wearing them.
Well I think that I’d complain about the the laundry room and the showers and try to get my money back, Hawsh, 42 bucks and the addmendies don’t work and no warning , Elvis has left the RV Park,, lol, ,,, we been sleeping in alot, don’t need to be anywhere in a hurry or move to another camp, just been watching Cable TV and going for walks and Bar Be Qs,, Piper says hi too and she is happy to have a permanent home to live in as I do too,, soon to license the truck and me for to be a official Kentuckian,, sorry I’ve hadn’t been commenting, been reading your posts though,,, Rusty n Piper
It’s so good to hear from you Rusty. I’m glad you like where you are in Kentucky and that Piper likes it too. My mother and father were both from Paducah, KY – I don’t know if that’s anywhere near where you are.
That is almost or across the Mississippi from Arkansas near Land between the Lakes which is way west of us, we are bout 11 miles East of Mudfordville Hwy 65 off 569 east of 31E, Powder Mills Road , in Hart County, Kentuck,,,, 👣👣🐾
I thought Padukah was across the Ohio River from Brookport, Illinois. . , still west of where you are though. My husband and I spent time cruising the inland rivers when we retired in Arkansas, across the Mississippi River from Tennessee. 😉
We miss you Rusty.Its always good to hear what you and Piper are up to.
Ah shucks, thank you Velda,,,👣👣🐾
Hi Sue, We did that trip but in reverse in 2015. We started from our house in Meridian, Idaho, stayed over at Falls CG of Togwotee Pass, then on to Dubois, Riverton, up through Wind River Canyon, Thermopolis, Graybull and the KOA there, Lovell, Cody, Buffalo Bill SP, through Yellowstone, Baker’s Hole CG, Three Island Crossing State Park, then home. Lovely trip. I remember seeing the park you stayed at when we drove through Thermopolis. Seems to be run down. In such a busy place and tourist area, they should have everything in top condition all the time. I sure hope you got your money back from that cold shower. Ugh! That would make me mad too! Glad to hear that Roger came back on his own. He probably did this with someone else and didn’t return so they left him.
Hi Well, I have been to Thermopolis twice once in 1980 with my folks and once with my hubby in 2007. There is an indoor pool owned by the town I think. No limits on being in there and was pretty cheap-but does smell of sulphur. I remember my mom had a bad toenail. After she soaked in that water it never bothered her again! They had added a water slide when we were there in 2007. I wish I had known of the dinosaur museum. Well, another reason to return! Sorry your experience was less stellar, rvsue. But, you usually have such good luck with your campsites if you didn’t have a bad one every now and then we might start to think you were just making this whole adventure up! Ha!
Did you ever hear back from George about the NPR mention? Looking forward to the canyon pics! Travel on and take care.
No, George hasn’t explained. I guess this is what I get for posting cliff hangers. Now I’m left hanging!
O Sue, thanks for the laugh! You are a great story teller!
Update on our Amtrak adventure…. No WiFi on the train, but we’re at the station in Portland, OR now. It was a wonderful train ride with some excellent scenery. It made even more excited for when we hit the road with our RV in 3 years.
I will say that the sleeper bedroom was tiny! And we got the bedroom, not the smaller roomette. The wet bath was also – umm – space-saving. I’ve got my own shower story. I couldn’t get the water much more than lukewarm and I washed my hair the same way you did. Thank heavens the shower head was removable because there was zero room to “hide” from it in the space provided. Hubby took the second shower and had nice hot water. I told him, “You’re welcome.” LOL
We slept well. We ate VERY well. It was great! Looking forward to family time and then the train – California Zephyr this time – on the way home.
Oh yeah, as we passed through Montana, I thought of your adventures this summer. And this morning, as the tracks ran beside the Columbia River, I found myself looking for boondocking spots. 🙂
Bret won a trip a few years ago and we picked Chicago to travel to. We upgraded to a sleeper. The positives were good food, wonderful scenery, great people to talk to. The negatives were a tiny room we could barely fit in and the horrible tracks between Tx and Illinois. Amtrak doesnt own their tracks and they are not responsible for maintenance. I literally had to strap myself into the top bunk to
keep from being thrown out. On the way back my stomach couldnt take it so my husband had to cram himself up in the top (he is 6′ 2) The top bunk was a couple of inches shorter! We have traveled the rails in Europe and there is no comparison! Very sad this country took its focus off rail travel-it could be made wonderful again. We did have a great time in Chicago and traveled all over the place by subway and the bus! It was interesting hearing another story about Amtrak. We met people who only travel by rail!
As for travel by rail,
Special train journey has been popular in recent years in Japan. A few luxury and gorgeous sleeper trains debuted. Japan’s railways have something for travelers from Japan and abroad who want to move about in style. The fees for the latest 4-day trip range from $3,000 to $8,700 per person when two people share a room and includ some excursions.
While I know you don’t favor RV parks much, you are forced to stay in some once in a while. Sometimes for warmth sometimes for AC sometimes just laundry and a shower. Passport America is only $44 a year for half price and more and more parks are joining. Sure beats $41.50 for a place like that even if you only use it a few times. Just a thought. I sure got my moneys worth all over the country with them. Just a thought meant in good spirits.
We so love our Liberty Shower. I know you store a lot of stuff in your bathroom but I think if you tried it you would like it. It takes a little time to figure out how to enjoy it but fill the sink with pure hot shower head water for use in washing, moderate the temperature and stick the shower head in the holder and enjoy. If we have water and are on our way to a dump station and a refill you can luxuriate with that unused water.
I’ve had the BLT since 2011 and you think I haven’t tried the shower? 🙂
I never liked it.
Oh, I am sure you have or you wouldn’t know you don’t like it. It certainly takes a while to learn how to make it work well. It’s for minimalists for sure.
wow, what a day you had. I know it got better from there. It couldn’t get any worse. I guess we have to take the bad as well as the good sometimes. After all, you don’t have to ever go back there again unless you want to. It seems to be getting colder earlier this year than it has in a few years. It is already feeling like fall here. It has been awhile since September and early October were cool. For the last several years we have been burning up and getting eat up with mosquitoes still at Halloween. But I think this year will be different. So glad to see your post. Stay well and be safe.
Wow! Seems like Fall has the people feeling frisky! I would give the F. of Y. RV Park a chance myself cause that pool looks great! And, sometimes you need to forgive an experience that sucks because because that’s just how life goes! I like knowing the dinosaur museum in that area gets high marks…want to get over there some day. Wrote it down in my calendar/memory book! Roger right have a lot of Gypsy in him…I understand him bolting from excitement at what’s out there! Gotta watch those kind! Happy trails to you and crew!
MmmmKay..Since I was one of the 1st to comment about the unpleasant RV parks in Thermopolis…I should elaborate…My wife and I were on our last road trip since she was close to passing…We were on a 3 week trip and stayed at the campground before the tunnels to Thermopolis..Got up in the A.M. to head to the State Park springs. After soaking with plenty of time to head to the R.V. parks. I drove to them and said no-way.
This was 5 yrs ago..I had not checked reviews but did so after getting home. Obviously things have not gotten better for them. You have no other choice if you have an R.V.
Motels/hotels sure but parking for a 50′ rig on the street to soak in the state park was there. Don’t know if they allow overnight parking, I doubt it.
So don’t worry about damaging them with your story. They have such an option to improve their businesses but have chosen not to…
We headed towards Cody and it being the 4th of July weekend things were packed. We then hit the road towards Yellowstone and found 2 NFS campgrounds with electricity!
What a find!.Stayed there over the holiday weekend.
This info is for folks who have never visited this part of the country…Sometimes the jewels are out there…Especially with an old phart pass…
David
I also thought this post was a hoot. Not the cold head washing for sure but your comments had me smiling. It is what it is and in the course of your travels you seldom have experiences like this one. I’m sure no harm was done to the campground owners from your experience, so please don’t beat yourself up over it. Be well.