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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