Meet Donna and Doug . . . .

It’s early evening as Reggie and I stroll through Ponderosa Grove Campground in the coral-pink sand dunes area of southern Utah.

At the last campsite, Reggie darts forward, pulling on his tether.

“Okay, okay.  Take it easy, Reg.  I know what you want to do.”

A young man sees us and immediately brings his dog out.  The man tells me his name is Doug and the dog’s name is Sadie.  The woman standing at the picnic table is Donna. She doesn’t come over because she’s in the middle of making supper.

Sadie is part Labrador and part Blue Heeler (if I remember correctly!).  Sadie is a beauty, all 70 pounds of her!

Donna and Doug are from northern Washington, close to the border with Canada. 

They have a way to go before retirement age.  I glance at their campsite and see a tent, two hammocks strung between trees, a propane stove (in use) and camp chairs.

These two are experienced campers.  In fact, Donna looks up from her cooking and calls out to me, “I remember you when we were here last time!”

Doug tells me the dinner menu includes grilled pork chops and baked potatoes.

Doug and I talk for quite a while.  He’s a relaxed sort of guy.  I dare to tease him.

“So.  Donna does the cooking and you do the gabbing.  I see how that goes.”

He smiles and comes back with a quick reply.

“Well, I do the clean up . . . . and it’s a mess!”

~ ~ ~

Meet Susan and Curt . . . .

“Your dog looks like a smaller version of our dog!” Susan exclaims as we approach the campsite she shares with Curt and their Jack Russell Terrier named Jackson.

Reggie sprints over to make Jackson his friend, which he accomplishes in an instant.  Reg is so excited he goes airborne!

After complimenting the couple on their handsome dog, I add, “Gosh, he seems very tall for a Jack Russell.”

“Oh, he’s the long-legged variety.  You’re thinking of the short ones.”

We watch the two canines play and I note their resemblance to each other, “Reggie is Minnie-Me!”

The next morning Reg and I pass their campsite again. 

Curt and Susan are outside their tent, sitting at the campfire sipping coffee.  We exchange good mornings and a conversation starts.  I notice they aren’t as perky as yesterday, but, of course, I don’t say anything.  No need to.  Curt soon explains.

“Our air mattress went flat in the middle of the night.”

“That’s okay,” pipes up Susan.  Curt smiles.   The sun is up.  It’s a new day!

~ ~ ~

More Ponderosa Grove campers in a future post!

Reggie and I plan to leave Ponderosa Grove on Sunday, October 16th.  That morning I decide we will stay one more day.  It’s windy and gusts are predicted to increase in velocity as the day progresses.

I write and publish the previous post.  Reggie and I enjoy a last day at this special camp. It’s a peaceful time.

Monday, October 17

I break camp, hitch up, and move us out.  Reggie snuggles in his doggie bed next to me as I drive us to Kanab, then turn south to Fredonia, across the Utah border into Arizona. From there we take Route 389 across the Kaibab Paiute Indian Reservation.

I’m glad I waited a day.  Very little wind, a perfect day for travel . . . . It’s great to be on the move again!

“You know, Reg?  This is a pretty good life.”

rvsue

 THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING AMAZON FROM MY BLOG!

Follow any of the links or ads you see on my blog and your Amazon purchases will send a commission to “RVSue and her canine crew.”  These are a few of the items recently ordered by readers:

Inflatable Solar Light
No Insect Bumper Cap – Pack of 2
Men’s Big & Tall Cotton Jersey Robe
Nutribullet Blender/Mixer (15 Piece Set)
Red Gold (A Gabe McKenna Mystery Book 1)
Amazon eGift Card – Woofy Birthday (Animated)

FLASHBACK!

Reggie waits outside the laundromat, Bluff, Utah — May 2016

CLICK LINK TO SHOP AMAZON NOW!