Sunday, October 2 – Thursday, October 13

So much time has passed during the break in my blog posts that’s it’s difficult to know where to begin.

I receive advice from Reggie aka The Reginator aka The Zoominator . . .

“Jump right in, RVSue.  That’s what I do!”

“You mean just start writing and . . . .”

“Yeah!  First thing ya’ know, you’ll be like me . . . zooming!  I don’t let anything slow ME down!  I live like I mean it!”

“Okay, Reg.  I’ll give it a try.  Thanks, buddy.”

~ ~ ~

Reggie and I are camped at Ponderosa Grove Rec Site.

This little, BLM campground of nine campsites sits along Hancock Road, off Route 89, between Zion National Park and Kanab in southern Utah.   You can see more photos and obtain more details about Ponderosa Grove Campground in the post I wrote when Bridget and I camped here in October of 2014.

The campground is rustic (vault toilet, picnic tables, fire rings, no water).  Situated at 6,300 feet elevation in a uniquely beautiful area of coral-pink sand dunes, one can use it as a base for day trips or as a wonderful destination in itself.

Supplies can be purchased in Kanab, a 15-mile drive to the east, and water can be obtained at the state park just up the road a few miles.

Camping fee is $5 regular and $2.50 for seniors with an Interagency Senior Pass (Golden Age).

I park the Perfect Tow Vehicle to separate us from a neighboring campsite. 

Once again the long extension cord between the PTV and the Best Little Trailer makes it possible for me to do this.

No Verizon phone signal here. 

Fellow campers tell me they can’t use their phone here either.

However . . .

With my handy-dandy Wilson antenna attached to my Verizon jetpack, internet signal of 1G/1 bar is boosted to 3G (sometimes 4G!) and 2 bars.  That’s been strong and steady enough for me to work my way through the recent “blog maintenance” fiasco and for us to be here with you now.  *smile*

A cold front moves through!

The first couple of mornings at this camp the temperatures dip into the mid-30s.  As you may recall, I can’t turn on the Wave 3 heater due to a propane leak.

Reggie and I are able to stay warm enough.

He wears his green jacket to bed and we snuggle together under the comforter all night.  In the morning I do something you are never supposed to do!  Never, ever!

I turn on both burners of the propane stove to heat up our home.

You know the saying — “Do not try this at home!”

Our home is so small that within a few minutes the two flames take the chill out.  Soon the sunshine hits the back side of the BLT and we’re cozy again!

For a week since then, the weather is perfect.

Reggie and I are on a new exercise program. 

Every day we visit the dunes.  Ever climb a dune?  If you have, you know what a work-out you get!

Almost 1,000 acres around Coral Pink Sand Dune State Park is set aside for ATVers and other motorized, off-road vehicles.

Reg and I appreciate that there are some dunes along Hancock Road, within walking distance of Ponderosa Grove Campground, that are reserved for people and their pets (no ATVs).

To get to the dunes, all you have to do is walk across the road from the campground entrance.  A path takes you to a piney area and the dunes are beyond that.

In the photo above the dunes beyond the trees are pale, more tan than coral pink.  

You’ll see in my photos how the sand changes color depending upon time of day, light and shadow, angle of the sun, moisture, sand content . . . whatever.

I mention this just so you know it’s not me playing with the color or my camera being untrue to the conditions at the time.  The variety of color makes for fun surprises for photography!

To illustrate . . .

This next photo shows dunes between our campground and the state park.  Knock your eyes out color.

An eighth of a mile or so further along the road and only a couple minutes later, I take this shot.  See the difference?  Soft, subdued, pastel.  Lovely (even with vehicle tracks).

Well, gee, I was going to talk about the new exercise program for Reggie and me and got carried away with photography and the dunes . . . I have so much to talk about!

Besides visiting the dunes, every day we go on a long morning walk and a long, late afternoon walk.  In between we walk around the campground.

Our walks often lead to more dune exploration and play. 

Really, how can you pass by the beckoning path shown in the photo below?

Lots of sagebrush (above). . . .   Is this is a century plant (below)?

Besides dune-zooming (yes, I had to try it!) and appreciating the variety of plants, I like to examine the tracks left by wildlife.

The volume of night-time traffic on the dunes is astounding!

The best time to do this is the morning after a breezy night.  The sand is swept smooth for tiny feet to draw upon . . . . rodents, birds, lizards, coyotes.

I think I see a snake track until I realize . . . . Oh, for heaven’s sake, that was made by Reggie’s tether!

Coming up . . .

Reggie meets and plays with canine-campers and I break out into some rare, major socializing with fellow people-campers.

Yep.  It’s true.  Talking with other people.  Me.  Can you believe it?

rvsue

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