August begins at Miller Lake, Oregon!
Miller Lake is west of Chemult, Oregon, in Winema National Forest
Our campsite at Digit Point Campground, Miller Lake
If you’d like to see Bridget’s post about this camp, click here: “Guest Blogger: Digit Point Campground on Oregon’s Miller Lake.”
Smoke!
We’re at Miller Lake when the first indication of forest fires appears. Little do I realize how the fires will influence the rest of our summer travels!
Soon we experience thick smoke all around as we head eastward from Bend on Route 20.
Our next camp is in Great Basin grassland.
Chickahominy Reservoir, Route 20 about 30 miles west of Burns, Oregon
We find Chickahominy Campground empty. Later one other camper pulls in for the night. The reservoir is very low. Fortunately the crew and I are not bothered by smoke at this camp.
We relax for the afternoon and the next day pull out after morning walk.
A short drive and we’re back in forest again — Idylwild Campground!
Idylwild is a Malheur National Forest campground about ten miles north of Burns.
The campground loops are paved which allows Bridget to ride in a manner befitting her royal station.
Her Royal Highness walks only when she wants to!
Reggie has a grand ol’ time meeting the camp host’s pugs and trotting around the campground.
In the photo below he tours the little garden which is dedicated to our veterans.
(Small photos may be enlarged by clicking on them.)
We leave Idylwild and go north on Route 395 and turn for Parish Cabin Campground. The trees are leafless and blackened by a fire. The campground doesn’t appeal to us so we keep going.
Our next camp is a handy stop along Route 395 — Starr Campground.
I avoid driving far in one day — Starr Campground provides a pleasant overnight camp.
The next morning we motor about twelve miles to historic mining town, Canyon City.
The crew and I get out of the Perfect Tow Vehicle and enjoy a stroll around town.
One of several outstanding murals by Larry Gordon Kangas seen around the town park
This next camp is another one of my favorites!
Wetmore Campground is one of three campgrounds near Unity, Oregon
Wetmore Campground is all ours!
No other campers! Besides the quiet atmosphere and natural beauty, there’s also a water spigot at our campsite — a big deal! Only $2.50 a day with senior pass!
Bridget, Reggie, and I enjoy the shady trail. Every dawn and dusk a doe and her fawn graze behind our camp.
August 12th the crew and I journey eastward.
The drive begins comfortably but as the day progress, temperatures climb. The day turns into a scorcher. The PTV doesn’t have air conditioning that works. We make it to Vale, Oregon, about twelve miles before the border with Idaho, and head for Vale Trails RV Park.
With great relief, the crew and I settle into a site with electric and we relax inside the Best Little Trailer with a/c blasting away!
Vale Trails RV Park — Not much for scenery, but a welcome, cool respite on a hot day!
The next day — another scorcher and another run from the smoke of forest fires and an escape from the heat!
We overnight at Mountain Home RV Resort for electric hook-ups for the air conditioner.
Keeping ahead of the smoke, the crew and I make a dash for Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains.
Murdock Campground is in the Sawtooth National Forest near the confluence of Big Wood River and Murdock Creek, north of Ketchum, Idaho. Bridget, Reggie, and I walk along the river and relax at camp. This is where Bridget is attacked by dogs running loose in the campground (no injury).
We move further into the forest to boondock by ourselves.
The Big Wood River as seen from our camp
When the view of the mountains north of our camp disappears in smoke, I scrap my plan to move us through those mountains to Challis and beyond. Fires are popping up all over the West. I envision being stuck in a long line of evacuees on the one main road through the mountains.
Time to move out!
The crew and I zoom southeast on Interstate 84, and shortly after crossing into Utah, we stop for the afternoon and overnight at Lottie-Dell Campground in Snowville.
Lottie-Dell Campground, Snowville, Utah
The next morning, after a good rest, I’m ready to cover lots of miles to stay ahead of the smoke.
In hindsight I wonder what on earth I was thinking when I decide to drive through the metropolitan sprawl of Salt Lake City from Tremonton at the north end all the way to Nephi at the south end.
(NOTE: If I ever mention doing this again, someone please take my keys. Thank you. — Sue)
Like a teeth-bared rottweiler the Perfect Tow Vehicle valiantly charges through the multi-lane, interstate traffic with the Best Little Trailer, like a scared puppy, hanging on behind. It seems like we will NEVER escape!
Nephi at last!
This is one of those times when a familiar camp, no matter how many cow plops have been deposited in the area, is a very welcome sight. I get out my shovel and clean up the campsite. I put out the awning. The crew and I go for a walk. Turkeys gobble on the slope nearby as we relax outside in the early evening.
Nebo Loop boondock in Uinta National Forest east of Nephi, Utah
August 20th we reach our destination — Badger Mountain!
At Ephraim we drive the Ephraim Canyon Road to nearly 9,000 feet and find a pretty campsite among aspens and firs.
Ahhhh!
This is the third year we’ve camped Badger Mountain in Manti-La Sal National Forest
The air is cool and delightfully mountain-fresh!
The crew and I walk the lane which meanders through swaths of wildflowers.
More scenes from Badger Mountain when I resume the review of 2015 after a post for Christmas!
rvsue
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