Thursday, June 5 (continued)
In the last episode of “RVSue and her canine crew,” we leave a lovely alpine meadow to climb further up Badger Mountain.
We travel about a quarter-mile to find that a small avalanche has partially blocked the road.
Oh, this does not bode well. The snow on the vertical banks where the road was cut through originally is melting fast in the sunshine. When these large chunks of snow and ice give way and fall, they carry rocks and dead wood to the road below. The road we’re on.
We pass under a few potential avalanches.
The accumulation of snow increases until we are snaking our way between snowbanks.
I haven’t see snow like this since 1975.
And with good reason. I don’t like snow. Where snow is, I don’t go. So what are we doing on this road! We could be watching aspens flutter in the sunshine a thousand feet lower on this mountain.
My curiosity says, “Let’s go all the way up to Skyline Drive!”
The tingling in my arms and legs says “To hell with THIS!” As happened last year, the altitude affects me. I feel a headache coming on. At the first chance to turn around, I take it.
Down the mountain we go . . .
Soon we’re crossing Cottonwood Creek at our Bluebell Camp.
The crew and I disembark from the Perfect Tow Vehicle.
I unlock the Best Little Trailer and we step inside.
You know how, when you return home, you look with “fresh eyes” at the condition of the place?
Gosh, this place looks bad. The rug is dirty. The quilt is dingy. After lunch, we’d better make a trip to the laundromat. The mud is almost all dried up. We’ll have a fresh start.
Around three in the afternoon, we roll down the mountain to Ephraim.
First we stop at the post office to pick up mail and then we go south about ten miles to the town of Manti. (I know from our visit last year that Ephraim doesn’t have a laundromat.) Boy, it’s getting warm. The crew doesn’t need a walk-around. They’re worn out from this morning.
I leave Bridget and Spike in the PTV with the windows open.
No one is in the laundromat. I fill up an extra-large washer with a comforter, quilt, and a couple of towels. I pour in the laundry detergent, choose the water temperature, slide ten quarters into the slots, and push the mechanism that deposits the $2.50 in the machine. Nothing happens.
“Son of a gun!” Nobody around to refund the money. Oh well, that’s part of the cost of living on the road . . .
I empty the washer and move the items to one that works. Later I tape an out-of-order note on the big washer to warn others.
By the time I put the wet laundry into the dryers, the laundromat is stifling hot.
It’s hot outside, too. I check on Bridget and Spike. They’re okay but they’re panting. When the bedding is dry, I pull everything out — some things still damp, load up the PTV, and away we go with the air conditioner on high. Gee, a few hours ago we were between snow drifts!
We return to our camp on Badger Mountain.
I drape the damp clothes (mostly socks) on the antenna wire and the spare tire cover at the back of the Best Little Trailer. I don’t want laundry to be seen by someone passing by on the road.
I drop into my camp chair. Ahhh. . . That cool breeze feels good. The weather is perfect at this elevation.
Friday, June 6
A stay-at-home day. Our long walk for the day is up the road and across a clearing and back. Our short walk is up and down the slope behind camp. I read a lot throughout the day. While I’m reading, a deer walks past the window by my bed on its way to the creek.
Saturday, June 7
It’s the weekend! Here come the weekenders!
This bunch (above photo) drives right past my window, within six feet of the side of the BLT. Traffic up and down the mountain continues all day.
I stay inside most of the time, which is unusual for me. I’m in the middle of a reading marathon. That’s the way I am. Either I don’t read at all or I’m reading all the time.
Spike tried out his new light last night!
A thoughtful and generous reader (Thanks, Cinandjules!) sent the crew two night lights that clip on or hang from a collar. The primary purpose is to prevent Spike from disappearing during his midnight potty run, like he did for several hours recently, much to my horror.
Since Bridget never leaves my sight, I put one of the lights on a collar for Spike and the other one I’m saving for future use.
It’s funny to watch Spike wandering in the dark with the bright red light in a halo around him. It’s even funnier with the light set on strobe function, but I don’t do that to him. I took the photo below without a flash to show how the light looks in action.
Here’s Spike choosing a bush upon which to do his business in the middle of the night.
Now I ask you . . .
Where else are you going to see such fascinating material as this?
rvsue
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