Saturday, September 16 (continued)
For me the drive from Sinks Canyon near Lander, Wyoming, to the boondock I like in Ashley National Forest at Flaming Gorge is too long for one day’s journey.
Reggie, Roger, and I are sitting in the parking lot of the ice cream place in Farson, Wyoming, when I examine my Wyoming Benchmark, looking for a night camp.
Hmm . . . This has possibilities! I wouldn’t have to drive to Rock Springs and neither would I have to twist through Flaming Gorge when tired.
(What you see at left is a tiny portion of the map.)
The crew and I finish our milkshake and take Route 191 south. We cross over the White Mountains and soon arrive at the place I found on the map.
I’m thrilled with what I see!
This is great!
Truck pull-out looking south toward Reliance and Rock Springs
“Huh?” you respond incredulously. “RVSue! You’re thrilled over a truck pull-out?”
Yes, I am and I’ll tell you why.
Truck pull-out looking back at Route 191 toward Farson
In the past I chopped off some of those miles on this route from Sinks Canyon to Ashley National Forest (south of Rock Springs and Flaming Gorge, and north of Vernal, UT) by camping in a boondock along Slate Creek off of Louis Lake Road.
You can read about and see photos of this boondock and the road to it from Lander at my post of September 13, 2014. . .
“The trek south begins and how I find Slate Creek Camp.”
Slate Creek for tonight is out of the question because the overnight lows are too cold at that elevation this September.
Instead of cutting off miles near the start from Lander, we could cut off miles before reaching Rock Springs.
One very long drive for one day becomes two easy drives across two days.
Much better! That’s how I like to travel!
One of the first things I notice is the snow fence and the natural bench beyond which serve as a windbreak for the truck parking pull-out. That’s an important feature in this area, much more important than having a spectacular view.
Actually there are two pull-outs here, on either side of Route 191. Both are paved and very long, providing room for several tractor trailers.
From early afternoon until dark, only three vehicles stop here.
Two cars and a semi pull in and park, but do not stay.
Sure, we can hear vehicles on the road. They aren’t shifting or braking so they become white noise.
I walk the crew a few times, go online, eat supper, and sit in bed and read while Reg and Rog nap beside me.
I’m tickled to have found this camp.
You may wonder why I’m making such a big deal out it, with maps and such. It’s because this route, north and south . . . Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona/Nevada . . . . is the chosen route for many travelers, including me, when making the snowbird flight through these states.
This camp is so darn handy!
Just pull off the road, park in a level spot on the pavement, and you’re set for the night. Next morning you’re back on the road in no time at all.
Some camps are noted for charm and beauty; others are for expediency.
Okay, RVSue, so how did you sleep?
The boys and I go to bed early. I read for a while. When I turn off my Paperwhite there is one tractor trailer parked behind us. We fall asleep, no problem, and we sleep well.
Around four in the morning I get up for a bathroom break. Peeking out the window I count six tractor-trailers in the pull-out on the other side of the highway. Ha!
The truck that was behind us has left and another sits in its place.
I’ve camped in Wal-Mart parking lots and in “travel centers” like Pilot and Love’s. This is better than those.
Looking out the window, I can’t help but giggle.
All this going on during the night and we sleep right through it.
This post is getting long, but before I go I want to mention something more.
This comes to me during that early morning hour.
I reflect on our experiences at the RV park in Thermopolis (cold shower!), in Popo Agie Campground at Sinks Canyon (cold fog and rain!) and here in the truck pull-out.
There’s a lesson in these three camp experiences.
I resolve to judge a camp by what it IS, not by what it ISN’T.
That RV park provided us with electricity and heat on a damp, cold afternoon, night, and morning. We were comfy-cozy in our home. I was able do internet stuff, including this blog, in comfort and without concern for electronics running out of charge. It was a convenient place to rest.
Sinks Canyon was cold, yes, but it provided a secure place in a lovely setting where we could stage the next part of our journey to avoid bad driving conditions.
As for the truck pull-out . . .
It ISN’T pretty, cute, charming, spectacular, awe-inspiring, and so forth. What it IS is an easy, well-located camp, right when and where we need it.
And when you’re ready to get off the road, that makes for a beautiful camp.
Oh yeah . . . and it’s free!
rvsue
THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY BLOG!
Coming up: Ashley National Forest boondock, between Flaming Gorge and Vernal, Utah
