Friday, September 26 (continued)
The road from Field of Flowers camp near Flaming Gorge to the switchbacks to Vernal, Utah, rolls out before us in gentle curves across hill and dale. Swaths of resplendent aspens are draped on hillsides as if laid out for the king’s approval.
I pull into Steinaker State Park.
I park next to the dumpster. Bridget thinks we’re at our next camp and goes into her typical frenzy. I put her in her harness and let her out the side door. A quick walk around the dumpster area shows her what the deal is and she’s happy to return to her place in the PTV.
Okay. Now I can get things done!
I toss bags of trash into the dumpster and proceed to an empty campsite that has a water spigot. I fill up seven one-gallon jugs. I get out the fresh water hose from the back of the PTV, attach it to the spigot, and fill the BLT’s tank.
From there we wheel around to the dump station.
Tasks completed, I place $4 in a pay envelope, drop it in the collection cylinder, and we continue on our way.
The Perfect Tow Vehicle hauls Bridget and me and the Best Little Trailer down the hairpin turns and across the valley to Vernal and . . . drumroll please . . .
Wal-mart!
My list is long. Good ol’ Wal-Mart, pretty much the same wherever you go. I grab two bath towels, two pairs of sweat pants (to sleep in), a pack of toothbrushes, and a bag of “natural enzyme deodorizer and waste digester” for the black tank. On to the food section!
As I stand in the condiment aisle, who should appear? — Kathy!
She and Gil left Loon Lagoon earlier than planned. The fish weren’t biting, hordes of flies moved in on them, and they had a Wal-mart-purchased router that wasn’t working. We hug, we talk, we say goodbye again. I don’t bump into Gil.
As you may have noticed, I don’t drive long distances between camps.
True to form, I toodle on over to Pelican Lake which isn’t far from Vernal. This is one of the shortest moves ever. One big reason for that is the load of dirty dishes in the BLT. I don’t want to arrive at our next camp exhausted from a long drive and face dirty dishes!
As expected, Pelican Lake Campground is empty.
No one is over at the boat ramp. Fishing isn’t good this time of year.
The level of the lake is low. This reservoir supplies neighboring farms and it’s the end of the growing season.
I choose an easy, level, pull-through site.
Pelican Lake Campground is administered by the Bureau of Land Management. It has very effective, neat, shade structures. It has vault toilets. A few sites, not all, have a picnic table. Fire rings are absent as are rocks big enough to make a fire ring.
All that being said, it’s a handy stop and it’s free.
Plus the lack of amenities and what some would call boring scenery translates into a campground all to ourselves. I prefer an empty campground!
I wash the dishes in a basin at the picnic table. I set up my lounger and read my Paperwhite. Bridget, as is her nature, stays close.
Before sunset we walk to the boat ramp and back.
Bridget still has chubbiness to lose, even though she’s done a great job so far in exercising the fat off her rear end!
As usual, I open up all the curtains prior to going to bed. Bridget and I cuddle in the covers for a good night’s sleep. I look up at the stars. Tomorrow morning we’ll get up early and hit the road!
Saturday, September 27
I sit up in bed and look out the big, back window. Uh-oh. We aren’t going anywhere today!
I can see for several miles across this flat, desert basin.
Lightning bolts shoot out of dark clouds on the north side, west side, and south side of our little home. Yikes! That storm is going to be upon us in no time at all! I slip into my sandals and run outside.
I remove the antenna/tooter pole and slide it under the BLT just as big raindrops begin to fall.
Put this on your bucket list:
Sit inside a little fiberglass “egg” trailer with a good, clear view out all the windows. Do this in a major electrical storm. Watch lightning flash on three sides and in close proximity as rain pounds the roof and powerful winds rock you to and fro and small objects fly by a few feet from your face. Definitely an exciting, must-do experience!
Sunday, September 28
Good heavens, it rained all last night and it’s still raining?
After coffee, breakfast, and blog talk, the rain stops. I seize the opportunity for a few photos.
This is westward toward Duchesne, the direction of the first part of the next leg of our journey south.
This is what it looks like to the south toward Price, where we eventually will go.
Hmm . . . There’s something very unpredictable about that sky. I don’t like driving in rain. I don’t have to drive in rain. And what about the dirt road out of here. It was in great shape coming in, but what is it like now?
I take this photo of the campground road that runs alongside our pull-through site.
That’s water you see.
Before going back inside the BLT, I call Bridget.
“You’d better go while you can, honey. We might get hit with more rain.” She dutifully hops down the step and takes care of business.
It isn’t ten more minutes and another deluge hits!
In situations such as this I automatically take inventory.
Well, let’s see . . . . We have plenty of food and drinking water. One propane tank is full and the other is near-full. The fresh water tank is full and the waste tanks were emptied recently. I have internet connection and a good book to read. My new sweat pants fit and are warm and comfortable. Our home has no leaks. Bridget and I are cozy.
We’re in great shape! Let the rain fall and the wind blow!
rvsue
THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING AMAZON FROM MY BLOG!
UPDATE: Sunday, September 28, 1:30 p.m.
Blue sky! (No color enhancement)
