Sunday, July 27 (continued)
In the last episode . . . . The crew and I break camp this morning and make our way northward along the west side of Flaming Gorge Reservoir to Green River, Wyoming, continuing to Rock Springs, then crossing the Little Colorado Desert/Great Divide Basin to the Wind River Range and Boulder Lake. It’s a hot drive and we’re ready to settle into a camp and relax.
Having decided that Boulder Lake Campground is not for us, I leave the way we came. (The lake road dead-ends at the campground.) As we backtrack, my eyes scan the landscape between the road and the lake to our right looking for a place to camp.
We pass a few dispersed campsites with campers in them.
There aren’t many ways to get down to the lake. Campsites are few. Well, at this point I’m ready to accept a less-than-desirable camp for one night. Sometimes the primary goal is simply a place to spend the night. We can search more tomorrow.
The road we’re on is higher than the lake.
A treeless plain of rabbit brush in deep-yellow bloom and clumps of pale green sage slopes toward the lake’s shore. A camper is parked at the end of a spur road. People swim in the cove in front of thee camper.
Gee, what a nice spot. I trace the spur road back toward where it starts at the road we’re on. It has another branch! And it goes toward the lake!
I park the Perfect Tow Vehicle at the spur road, leaving the windows down.
“I know it’s hot, guys. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
A few swigs from my water bottle and I walk the road, checking its condition as I go. A few sections are deeply rutted. Oh man, look at those big rocks. Well, this IS Boulder Lake.
The road goes over a rise.
Yes! A campsite! It’s nothing more than a area cleared of sagebrush with a fire ring.
However . . . .
A short distance from the campsite the road drops down to the lake! In spite of the heat, I hurry to have a look.
Oh, my. This is lovely. This is very nice.
I happily stride back to the crew, planning as I go how I’ll navigate the PTV over and around the boulders in the road.
Here’s our new home.
The campsite isn’t much.
It is surprising though how putting out the awning and the patio mat (which now is two mats), a chair, and a pallet for the crew transforms a plain piece of ground into a pleasant home.
What makes this campsite special is its lakefront!
Bridget, Spike, and I hurry to see what it’s like under the aspen trees by the lake.
A private beach! Dappled light through the aspen branches. Soft sand. Rocks to sit on. Clear water. Willows and green grass. Another fire ring with a stack of wood nearby. No one, absolutely no one, around.
I love it!
Spike knows what he wants to do . . .
“Isn’t this great, Spike! This is why we drove all those miles.”
I wade out into the clear, cool water.
Ooh, that feels good after driving with no air conditioning. Bridget is excited. What a cutie.
She marches back and forth in water halfway up her legs, sniffs around the beach, returns to the water to parade some more, proudly making splashes with each step.
“You like it here, don’t you, Bridge.”
She answers me with bright eyes.
Monday, July 28
The first morning in a new camp is a special time. I make a fresh pot of coffee and sit down at my laptop table by the big window at the rear of the Best Little Trailer. In secluded campsites I like to push the curtains on all three windows out of the way to bring the outside in.
As I respond to comments, movement catches my eye.
“Omigosh! Sage Grouse!” I whisper in wonder.
I watch as the birds soundlessly peck the ground and pull at sagebrush leaves. Three of them are right under the window like chickens contentedly pecking around their coop. I want to take a photo, of course, but I’m sure any movement will scare them off.
I sit and enjoy until the flock makes its way over the rise. Seven sage grouse! What a great start for the day!
Later, when the day has warmed, we go to the beach.
I bring the blue camp chair, a bottle of water, my Paperwhite, and, of course, my camera.
After water-play-and-soak, the crew relaxes and I read in the shade of the massive aspen. The air is cooler next to the water and in the shade. There’s a gentle breeze coming off the lake.
When we head for the campsite, I leave my camp chair behind.
It’s a short distance back to the campsite from the beach.
I stop to let Spike catch up.
Together we reach the crest in the lane and our home comes into view.
The seven sage grouse are back!
Look at ’em. They’re all over the campsite, under the PTV . . . There’s one walking across the blue mat like she owns the place.
I laugh out loud. Immediately, they scuttle away like proper ladies caught gossiping in the town square.
They sure do like hanging around our camp!
Bridget and Spike watch them go.
“You know? You two would make pretty sorry hunting dogs,” I remark.
rvsue
THANK YOU FOR BEING AN RVSUE SHOPPER!
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Strictly Ballroom
Guide to Free Campgrounds
Ninja Master Prep Professional
Zojirushi Home Bakery 1-Pound-Loaf Programmable Mini Breadmaker
Swann Multi-Purpose 600 TVL Day/Night Security Camera (2-PACK)
Coghlan’s Camp Stove Toaster
