Wednesday, October 1
Today Bridget and I return to a favorite camp located in Round Valley between Salina and Scipio, Utah.
This will be our third camp alongside Ivie Creek.
We break camp at Huntington State Park and proceed southward on Route 10. The town of Huntington is only two miles from the park. I stop at the Maverick station for gas @ $3.65 a gallon, a cup of hot coffee (I like Maverick’s “Bodacious Blend”), and something for breakfast. I choose a warmed, chicken-filled croissant. I share a few of the chicken chunks with Bridget before pulling out of the parking lot
I love an early start on the open road through never-seen-before territory.
I enjoy the drive so much that I neglect to take photos! Shortly past Huntington we’re detoured by a police officer. A section of the road is closed.
“I need you to turn onto that road and drive through Lawrence. It’ll take you back to 10.”
Previously I’ve remarked on this blog about the tidiness of Utah towns.
I was impressed by the manicured lawns, immaculate streets, and trimmed fields and roadways. The detour through Lawrence reveals a different Utah. People struggle here. Junk and rusty vehicles surround dilapidated mobile homes, grass and weeds hip high, broken fences . . . .
Back on Route 10 we pass through Castle Dale, Clawson, and Ferron. At Emery I stop to give Bridget a potty run and to check the blog.
A few more miles and we’re climbing westward on Interstate 70 through Fishlake National Forest.
The interstate cuts between mountains topped with snow. One particular sight will stay with me a long time. Imagine this . . . A mountain covered with aspens and evergreens. The aspens are illuminated by the morning sunshine to a vivid yellow and the evergreens are white with snow.
A yellow and white mountain against a brilliant blue sky! Spectacular! Of course, being on the interstate, I can’t pull over for a photo.
We exit at Salina and drive Route 50 to Round Valley (first photo).
I turn onto the road that goes to Maple Grove Campground. You may remember similar photos taken upon our arrival here in June 2013 and May 2014.
In the next photo you can see the yellow aspens and patches of snow on the mountaintops.
I don’t take us to the campground.
Instead I pull into the creek-side campsite we occupied last May.
Oh, this is no good. The ground is still soft from all the rain. Lots of ruts from people driving in the mud. No, this won’t do at all.
Further up the road I choose another campsite, also next to the creek.
It’s a pretty spot from any angle.
The neighborhood senses our arrival.
First a small herd of five cows check us out. They pretend to be here for a drink out of the creek, but I know better. There’s more staring going on than drinking.
Shortly thereafter Bridget and I are in the Best Little Trailer. I’m at the laptop when I hear a familiar sound.
“It’s the turkeys!”
Quickly I grab the camera and set it on “through glass” and take these photos.
I count nine altogether.
They’re moving hither and thither and I’m unable to catch all of them within the frame at the same time. The photo isn’t that great. I post it to show how close the turkeys are to the BLT.
They pretend to be intent on pecking the ground.
Sure . . . Out of all the acres and acres of ground available for pecking, you just happen to stroll through our campsite to peck here.
You’re not foolin’ me! I see your sneaky glances!
A cold night is predicted for central Utah.
I turn on the Wave 3 catalytic heater at four o’clock. That way the interior will be well-warmed in the hours before bedtime when I’ll turn it off and close up the BLT for the night.
“Ready for a walk before we go in for the night, Bridge?”
We walk the road to the other campsites and find them empty. A few RVs have gone past our campsite on the way to the campground.
I like this kind of camping better . . . .
Plenty of elbow room!
rvsue
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“C’mon, Bridgie-baby!”
