Thursday, September 4
Bridget and I roll into Lander and turn onto Route 131. It’s only a few miles to high-walled Sinks Canyon. There are three types of camping from which to choose: the state park campground ($11 non-resident/$6 resident), the Shosone National Forest campground ($15 regular/$7.50 with senior pass), or boondocking (free).
The road takes us first to Sinks Canyon State Park. We pass the state park’s Sawmill Campground upon seeing it has a playground (no explanation needed). Not much further we arrive at Popo Agie Campground, named after the river that flows from the Wind River Mountains through the canyon to Lander Valley. Might as well take a look, as long as we’re here . . .
As you know, I’m a die-hard boondocker.
I love private, I love natural, and I love free. As I drive through Popo Agie Campground I notice the following: No one is here except the camp host, there are water pumps and trash bins, the parking pads are short, and the sites are charming, right next to the river.
“Let’s stay here, Bridge. I think you’ll like on-leash walks around the campground.”
I find a site where the PTV and BLT will fit nicely and it’s one of the prettiest!
I fill out a pay envelope for 3 days — Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights — and insert a check for $33.00. After perusing our site and the river view, I set up the lounger and Bridget’s bed. Pretty nice, eh, Bridge?
Our relaxation room at Popo Agie State Park, Lander, Wyoming
When sitting in the lounger, I can see the river churning over boulders below. The sound is very soothing!
The view from my lounger
Bridget and I take several walks around the campground, on the nature trail, and up and down the bank of the river.
We check the view from every site. Each tent site is at the end of a winding path that leads to an enchanting woodland setting with the river nearby. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such beautiful campsites before. Almost makes me wish I had a tent! (Well, almost.)
If you don’t have a tent or camper, you can rent a furnished yurt with deck.
Okay, enough about our new camp for now!
I want to show you my new tooter!
If you’re a regular reader of my blog, surely you remember the post of June 16, “Who’s That Knockin’ At My Door,” which told the story of the bear trying to break into the Best Little Trailer one moonlit night while we were camped in Ashley National Forest near Flaming Gorge, Utah.
That post stirred the imagination of readers, including one very inventive and skillful engineer friend, Mick. He set to work designing an anti-intruder, dual air-horn device, which I dubbed “the tooter,” because I like technical terms.
Mick sent it to me a few weeks ago, but due to the circumstances during that time, I delayed opening the box until today. I wanted to be in a good frame of mind, one where it would be like Christmas, opening up a present containing a shiny new toy.
And it was!
Following Mick’s hand-printed instructions, I set up the tooter on the PVC pipe that supports the Wilson internet antenna.
The air tubing and antenna cable are secured together with plastic ties.
In the next photo, if you look closely, you can see how the device is tightened onto the pole (the silver knob, barely visible, between the pole and the BLT), and also how the horns can be rotated to other positions than downward (the silver knob at the front.) Pretty cool!
The air tubing goes in the side window and runs across the top of the back window by the curtain rod to reach the compressor. You can see the black tubing in the upper right of the next photo. Then it is concealed behind the curtain as it runs down to the compressor box.
The white power cable has a cigarette-type plug that inserts into one of the BLT’s 12-volt sockets next to the connection for cable tv.
The close-up view above shows the yikes-there’s a bear-at-my-window button, otherwise known as the go-away-clingers button. The black air hose connects at that tab sticking out on the right side, halfway down the compressor box.
Well, we may be in a state park campground and all, but I have to test my new toy, right?
I turn on the compressor and insert the air hose……….WOW! WHAT A BLAST!
Thank you, Mick, for this generous and useful gift! I almost wish a bear would show up so I could try it on him . . .
Speaking of reader and friend, Mick . . .
Today, September 6th, is his birthday, as well as the birthday of my sister Pauline.
To two of my favorite people . . . Happy Birthday!
rvsue
NOTE: For those of you who are not receiving emails notifying you of new posts, I hope to have that rectified soon.
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you! The photos in this post were taken with my new Panasonic LUMIX camera!
THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING AMAZON FROM MY BLOG!
Here are a few of the items recently purchased:
Weider Ultimate Body Works
Best Walleye Bait for Your Tackle Box
Char-Broil Infrared Grill2Go X200 Grill
Dometic 1.9 Cubic Feet 3-Way Refrigerator
Cuisinart 17 by 12-Inch Roaster with Removable Rack
Basily 4 heart shaped stainless steel reusable chilling stones
