Friday, June 14
Before taking off this morning to search for our next camp, I take a look under the PTV’s hood. Hmm . . . oil looks good, one of the air cleaner’s clamps isn’t clamped, coolant looks okay . . .
Once everything’s in order, the crew settles on the bench seat and off we go!
Round Valley comes into view. See the ranch house in the center? Sometimes their horses run and jump as I drive by. I’d love to grab a photo of that, but no luck so far.
Once on Highway 50 it’s a short trip to Salina past fields being mowed. I can’t resist taking this picture of a horse grazing.
I pause again to photograph a “gingerbread” house that sits proudly on Salina’s main street.
I turn at the four-way stop and park at the NAPA auto parts store. I run in and purchase a container of pre-mixed coolant. I feel better having this on board in case I need it. The NAPA guy says it keeps indefinitely.
Back on the road we head out of town on Highway 89 North.
The first place I want to check in my search for a good boondock is Willow Creek Road which runs eastward from the highway at Redmond.
I make the turn and as I drive toward Manti – La Sal National Forest we cross landscape too barren and unappealing for camping.
Another mile and Utah’s red rock appears.
Apparently these low hills were popular with off-road enthusiasts. Most are scarred. Now signs prohibit driving vehicles off the roads in this area.
Spur roads offer camping possibilities, but I’m not interested in a dusty camp next to rock.
According to my Utah Benchmark Atlas (page 67), Willow Creek Reservoir is an “intermittent lake” located a few miles further up the road. Patches of green encourage me to continue.
When the tops of cottonwood trees come into view beyond a rise, I know the reservoir is close. “Gulls!” Great! There’s water!
I park the PTV and the crew and I walk a side road that goes up a knoll. I’m anxious to see what’s on the other side!
Oh, this is lovely. So peaceful. I’d love to camp here and watch the birds.
We walk through the cottonwoods. The ground is marked with cow tracks and cow pies.
Once again Spike immediately knows what he wants to do!
As much as I’d like to make this our home for a few days, I can’t find a suitable campsite! Next to those trees on the opposite bank would be great but there’s no way to get over there.
Access to the reservoir is only on this one side. We’d have to camp in full sun. The cottonwood area, the only shady and level site, is not accessible and is too poopy anyway.
Darn! There’s internet signal here! Oh well . . . Sometimes you have to accept realities and move on.
Bridget, Spike, and I enjoy a walk along the shore and then go back to the PTV.
On the return to Highway 89 a flash of yellow against the brown, dried-up grass has me applying the brakes. Can’t resist cactus blooms! As I get out of the PTV a guy in a pick-up truck stops. He’s the first person I’ve seen out this way. He asks if I’m okay. “Oh I’m fine! I’m one of those fools who can’t pass up taking a picture of a cactus in bloom.”
Our next stop is the field of burros you saw in the previous post. What? You missed it?
YOU MUST GO BACK! You’ll see more varieties of burros than you can possibly imagine!
At the town of Gunnison, we turn eastward. It’s a beautiful drive past farms and colorful rock.
Maybe when we re-enter Manti – La Sal National Forest beyond the village of Mayfield, I’ll find our next camp.
By the time we arrive at Mayfield, I want lunch! Well, this looks interesting. Looks like it’s the only restaurant in town . . .
I leave the crew in the PTV (It’s not hot), go inside, and order “Sanpete Marinated Turkey Sandwich” with a side order of potato salad and a glass of iced raspberry tea.
The sandwich is great! The potato salad, not so much. I should never order potato salad in a restaurant.
Nobody makes potato salad as good as mine!
Well, I promised I’d tell you about the rest of this fun-filled day in today’s post. Look how long this post is already and there’s still much more!
I’ll close with a photo of the interior of Lishey Lou’s.
Gee, all these photos and not one of the Bridge!
Will RVSue find the camp she seeks? Find out in the next episode of rvsue and her canine crew!
rvsue
Canine Corner: “I’m prettier than Spike” by Bridget
I don’t know why everybody fusses over Spike. “Oh, look at Spike in the water!” “Spike is soaking again!” “Look at Spike bark at cows!” “Oh, Spikey! You’re a dirty mess!” On and on it goes, every post. Spike this. Spike that. C’mon! He’s not THAT great.
Do I have to flatten my ears and bug my eyes out of my head in order to get a little attention? I don’t get it. I’m prettier than Spike. Just to prove it, here’s a photo of ME!
Happy Fathers Day!
