Thursday, August 7
Boulder Lake, Wyoming
The photos in today’s post were taken with the camera I left outside overnight in the rain.
I have to hand it to that SONY Cyber-Shot. She’s doing her best! And she’s doing it without any help from me because the viewer — the LED screen — is completely black.
In other words, I’m pointing and shooting without seeing what it looks like in a frame. I click and hope for the best.
This pic of Bridget was taken with the damaged camera.
Of course, the pissed-off look is not the fault of the Cyber-Shot. Not even heavy editing in Picasa can fix that grumpy face.
I used this “blind” strategy to take a photo of two herons in a field.
The result? A study in tall grass. No herons. Not even their skinny legs. Just lots and lots of grass. This camera may heal itself over time, but I’m not counting on it. I definitely will order another camera!
Excursion to Half Moon Lake . . .
All morning my face is in my laptop. Gee, it’s 2 o’clock already. We need to go somewhere. Do something! Hey, we could go to Half Moon Lake before the late afternoon showers roll in!
I pack the crew into the Perfect Tow Vehicle and we head up to Pinedale.
I haven’t had lunch so I pull into Obo’s Market and Deli. Obo’s is famous for its sandwiches and a sandwich happens to be just what I want.
First I pull into the gas pumps by Obo’s and pump some gas at $3.84 a gallon. Owee. Then I move the PTV over to the door of Obo’s.
What a selection of entrees and salads and desserts!
I order an Alisha sandwich (or something like that). It’s smoked turkey with pesto and dried cranberries on ciabatta bread. $7.69/$8.00 with tax.
Half Moon Lake is only about 8 miles from Pinedale.
It’s near the larger Fremont Lake which I bypass because I know it’s a very recreational lake. That’s what I call a lake that has lots of motor boats, jet skis, water skiers, and people having fun. If there’s one thing I can’t stand is being around people having fun.
Half Moon Lake, Wyoming
Half Moon is another pretty lake. Its shores are undisturbed except for the northern shore which holds a few private residences, the Half Moon Lodge Resort Whatever, a trailhead, and Half Moon Campground, a national forest campground.
I check out the campground.
At the kiosk I see the fee is $7.00 regular/$3.50 with senior discount. The campground lane is narrow with thick vegetation right up to your vehicle. Small sites close together are filled with rigs and camping paraphernalia.
By this time I’m starving so I park in a pull-through site and immediately tear into that sandwich. Oh my, this is good! While I’m eating, the camp host rushes up to my window and asks if I’m staying and I tell her no, I’m eating a sandwich, and I’ll leave soon.
“Oh good,” she replies, “because I have someone who reserved this spot and they’re on their way.”
I would never stay at this campground if I could avoid it.
Campsites close together and too many people. Every other site has a dirt bike or a couple of OHVs. Children dart across the road. Motor boats and jet skis tied up nearby. A woman walks the campground road in a coral, two-piece bathing suit, and, well, she shouldn’t.
Let me outta’ here!
Gripping my half-eaten sandwich in one hand, I drive us out of the campground.
Further up the narrow, dirt road I find a large, boondock site. It has a beautiful view of the lake. I don’t understand why people pay to cram into that campground when this is right up the road.
I let Bridget and Spike out of the PTV. While the crew excitedly snoops around the site, I gaze at the intensely blue lake and finish the absolutely divine sandwich.
This place is beautiful, but I’m not interested in camping here. Too many people. This is great for folks with a boat and kids and the need for speed. Plus Spike can’t get down to the water.
I point the camera at the lake and click the shutter with no idea whatsoever what will be in the frame.
I round up Bridget and Spike.
They’re happy to have had a little adventure.
After they have a drink, I toss them into the PTV and the little doodleheads sleep soundly all the way back to camp.
What am I going to do?
In the previous post I whined about the problems and tasks that have popped up lately.
A plan emerges!
On Monday I’ll go to the vet clinic in Pinedale and find out the results of Spike’s blood work. I’ll talk to the vet about those results and what they mean for a possible treatment (thyroid supplement maybe?). I’ll also ask for recommendations for helping Spike cope with his arthritis. I assume his wound will continue healing nicely.
While I’m in Pinedale I’ll go to the post office to see if the tooter (anti-intruder air horn) has arrived from Mick in Tennessee. I’ll also pick up my mail forwarded by America’s Mailbox in South Dakota. I need to receive the notice for vehicle license renewals for the BLT and PTV.
I’m pretty sure I’m going to delay surgery for Spike.
His hiney bump can wait, and so can the dental cleaning. That would take the pressure off finding another camp in the area around Pinedale. We can explore Wyoming some more and enjoy the summer, and possibly come through Pinedale for his surgery in September.
On Tuesday our 16 allowed days are up. I’ll move camp to a boondock closer to Jackson, Wyoming. On the way through Pinedale, I’ll stop at the post office again if I don’t get the stuff on Monday.
You still with me?
Also in Pinedale I’ll look for a place to fill the empty propane tank and stop at Ridley’s grocery for a few items.
On the way up Highway 191 north of Pinedale in search of our next camp, I’ll stop at Warren Bridge Campground to dump tanks and fill up the fresh water tanks. I’ll also fill the one-gallon water jugs and dump trash.
From the new boondock, which will be much closer to Jackson than where we are now, I’ll drive to Jackson and pick up the new camera and accessories from Amazon at the UPS Customer Center there. (You know? I may order a laptop, too, and bear repellant spray with holster, and a few other things on my list.) Whew!
Now for possible snags in The Plan . . .
The vet might tell me Spike has to come back for whatever reason. I’m sure there are other things that might not go as planned. I’m also notorious for changing plans. At least now I feel like all these little “problems” that popped up all of a sudden can be managed.
As for the PTV, she’s still a mud-splattered mess and has no air conditioning, but, by golly, she runs great!
rvsue
NOTE: A possible gathering of blogorinos is in the early planning stages in the comments section. Now is your opportunity to give your suggestions and to help decide when this event will occur. Click on the title of this post to open comments, then scroll down to the discussion which I assume will continue there.
THANKS FOR SHOPPING AMAZON FROM MY BLOG!
“Oh, Spike, all this fussing about problems has worn me out! I need a nap.”
