Monday, March 30 (continued)
A cold night is expected for Ely in eastern Nevada and for nearby Ward Mountain.
This is the first night at Ward Mountain Campground for me and the crew. I make preparations for temperatures dropping into the twenties.
I fold a quilt to fit the floor space and put that down. I bring in the doggie bed from the Perfect Tow Vehicle and place it also on the floor. These items, along with the scatter rugs, cover the vinyl flooring completely. There, that should help hold the heat.
Around 5 o’clock I close up the Best Little Trailer.
I open the bathroom window about three inches and also the ceiling vent around two inches. I turn on the Wave 3 catalytic heater and set it on high. When the interior of our home is almost too warm to bear, I turn the heat down to low and keep it that way until a half-hour before I’m ready to go to sleep. Then I turn it up to high again for a last blast of heat before turning it off for the night.
Bridget, Reggie and I sleep comfortably under a comforter and quilt. I don’t think the overnight temperature dropped below 25 degrees.
Tuesday, March 31
Today we go to Cave Lake State Park! The crew and I board the PTV and roll down the mountain. At Ely we head southeast on Desert Basin Highway and enter the wide and windy Steptoe Valley.
Remember Dave Deacon Campground? That’s on the western side of the Egan Range. The photo above shows the mountains on the eastern side.
We enter Steptoe Valley Wildlife Management Area.
I pull off the highway to take this photo of Comins Lake. A few people are on the beach on the opposite shore.
At a kiosk I read that the trout population of the lake has been reduced by the illegal introduction of pike. Pike eat trout. When they run out of trout and other fish, they cannibalize.
This wind is strong. Maybe when we come back this way, it will have died down.
Bridget and Reggie look up at me from between the front seats.
I pat their heads.
“You don’t want to walk around in all this wind. I’ll let you out when we’re at the state park.”
I’m glad I didn’t change my mind and skip Nevada. It’s been an interesting journey so far and we found our Reggie Man.
Nevada is not the Nevada I thought it was.
The road into the state park winds around massive rock and past slopes of juniper trees and rabbitbrush.
We arrive at the entrance to the park.
I pull up to a self-pay station. The sign says the day use permit for one day is $7 and if you’re caught riding around inside the park without the day use permit, you pay an additional $10 so don’t even think about it.
The fee to camp in the park is $17 and that includes the entrance fee. Nevada residents get a $2 discount, for which I’m sure they are relieved and most grateful.
I fill out the payment envelope, insert seven bucks, and drop it in the payment cylinder.
“Look, Reggie! A lake!”
I look for a place to park where the crew and I can walk. We pass a woman with her dog (the figures in the photo below).
The day is cool. I’m grateful that the canyon walls cut the wind.
I park the PTV and meet the woman with her dog.
“I’m from New Mexico,” she remarks. “I didn’t realize how much I love sunshine until I moved to Oregon.”
She expresses her concern over the lack of birds in the area. “I’m up at the campground and there are no birds! A few sparrows. I expect to wake up in the morning to the sound of birds. It’s quiet. No blue jays. And where are all the geese? They should be flying through here. This is their stopping place when going across the desert.”
We talk about cell towers and how they affect migratory birds.
Bridget and Reggie want to explore!
We say goodbye to the woman and her dog (I never learned their names) and head off to walk the day use area.
Bridget is happy. Reggie has his nose to the ground until . . .
. . . he notices the lake!
“Isn’t it pretty, Reggie?”
We walk down to the shoreline.
Reggie goes near the water, but he doesn’t want to step into it. I don’t blame him. It’s too chilly today for that.
“That was fun, wasn’t it, guys!”
Before leaving, I drive through the park’s Lake View Campground.
The sites are on a slope and close together. I’m happy with my decision to camp at Ward Mountain. We can see this lake in a short drive and then go home to a free camp!
We return to Comins Lake and the wind is whipping dust around. I drive the dirt road to the far end of the lake and back again.
The crew is sleepy.
I don’t want to make them excited again. I park so I can take this photo of Comins Lake from my seat in the PTV, and then we head for home.
It was a very good day!
rvsue
THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING AMAZON FROM MY BLOG!
Every purchase, large or small, is appreciated. Click the links to see a few of the items readers ordered recently.
Sani-Mate Plug-In Ionic Air Purifier
Clothes Hamper with Lid, Coffee Linen
Hitch-Mounted Tray-Style Bike Rack
Harry & David Relish Pepper and Onion — 10 oz
Men’s Slip On Indoor/Outdoor Fluff Footwear/Slipper
Handheld Portable Shower – Turns Water From Bucket/Basin/ Into Steady, Gentle Stream
Go where you’ve never gone before
Holy moly–first?
Gee willikers, yes! Congratulations, Dawn!
Maybe 2nd? 😉
Some really nice mountain views and places to visit there, thanks for posting your adventure today. Keep warm! Cheers.
You’re welcome, K & B in CO. . . Thanks for stopping by. You have a good night!
I’m hoping I’m at least 2nd today?
Well, close….
Bridget seems more animated since Reggie has taken membership as a crew, her eyes are bright & she smiles more often. Nice crew U got !
My regards: Lucy.
Thank, Lucy. I think Bridget has been grieving for several months. Maybe not consciously. She’s been depressed, as have I to a degree. Reggie is just what we both needed!
Maybe not. I am so enjoying following along and traveling around with you and the crew. I am not as courageous as you are as far as getting away from populated places. I do boondock comfortably but my Roadtrek probably won’t be happy with me taking it on some of the roads you take. Give the crew a snuggle from me and a sniff from Muffin, Murphy, Molly and Midgy.
Hi, Linda Rose & the 4 M’s,
Roadtreks are nice vehicles. If I had one I probably wouldn’t drive it on some of the roads I put the PTV on.
I’m glad you’re enjoying our travels. Snuggles to the 4 M’s!
Wonderful Sue! I visited a holistic rancher in Lund, near Ely for my research on range management in October, after staying in Ruby Valley. There has got to be something really wrong with my Wave 3. When it drops down into the low 30’s I can’t get my Casita any warmer than 55 degrees after many, many hours and then the inside is dripping with condensation. I do open the bathroom window but would not consider losing the little heat I get through the vent. Dang. I am not loving my Casita for cold weather at all.
Do you drain your water tanks when it’s that cold? What about the water pump? Mine is so hard to get to (have to disconnect the battery and pull that out first) that I just sacrificed my hot water bottle to keep her warm when it got down into the 20s. I’m seriously considering ditching the Casita.
Kerry
Hi, Kerry,
First, I want to say …. Welcome to my blog! It’s great to hear from you.
Not so great to hear you’re not happy with your Casita. I’m not sure why you’re having problems warming it up with the Wave 3. I can only suggest what you probably already know….
1) Turn the heater on before the air turns cold. That may mean turning it on in the middle of the afternoon.
2) If the middle of the afternoon temps are in the 30s, you will have a tough time bringing the interior temperature up to where you want it.
3) After the heater has started, keep it on “high” until the surfaces are warmed.
4) Open that vent! I know it seems counter to what you want to accomplish. However, having two openings allows for air flow which will draw the heat away from the heater and circulate it throughout the Casita.
5) I don’t have a big problem with condensation. At least I don’t think so, but you aren’t the only one to complain about it. Maybe, again, better air circulation would help.
No, I don’t drain the water tanks when it’s cold. I don’t because I never camp in sustained cold weather. For instance, the overnight low for tonight may go down as low as 19 degrees. I’m banking on it not being that low for very long and thus not causing problems. Check back tomorrow! Ha! Where we are now, the days are warm. Today it went into the 80s on the sunny side of the BLT. You asked about the water pump… I don’t do anything about it either.
Do you camp where it is very cold for several days in a row, cold around the clock? I avoid that kind of situation. I hope what I’ve written here helps. You’ve probably asked your questions on the Casita forums. If not, do so. There’s a lot of experience there.
Also…. Readers with Casitas… Anything you’d like to add in response to Kerry’s questions?
I don’t have a Casita now, but I do have a Wave 3. The first time I used it I thought geez, even on high this isn’t doing much. Then I realized that the knob (at least for me) is not very intuitive, and I only had it on the middle setting. So that’s something to check.
I still don’t think it’s a powerhouse, but on medium it’s even less so.
I agree with RV Sue on the vent, both for proper oxygen replenishment, and condensation discouragement. You can’t change the “warm air on a cool surface” without really re-building (re-insulating) the interior, but moving air will help a lot without having to change anything.
Also, and you may already completely know this, the Wave is radiant heat. That means it does not heat the air as much as it does objects. So try to make one of those “objects” be you. Eventually the other objects will warm up and will then also help heat the room, but having the heater aimed at you should make a big difference (if you don’t already).
I sometimes think I would have preferred a Wave 6, but then that’s a lot more space to take up when I actually don’t use the heater at all a fair bit of the time.
Thanks both you guys. Yes I will try to crack the vent. I like putting the quilt on the floor too. I have a kids sleeping bag for the munchkins that will fit perfectly. They usually live under the table. The condensation thing is still a stickler, but I think replacing a lot of the rivets that had lost their caps may help with that. I think a lot of unnoticeable moisture might have crept in there. I realize they put drains in the window tracks for a reason.
Also, I had wanted to camp up in those mountains outside Ely. Nice little town. Good wifi in the library!
OTOH, my house just fell out of escrow, so I’m jamming to get everything rented and hit the road again. Broke but free!
When I was (for the first time) in an RV park in FL and temps dipped into the 20’s I had the luxury of a small ceramic heater which worked WAY better than the Wave 3, but also had a lot of condensation and it took a very long time to warm up to semi-comfortable temps. I think that although they look very much the same, the newer Casitas may have had some changes that help. Mine is a 1994.
And of course I’ve been all over the Casita Forum for the past several years.
Another questions Sue, When your Wave 3 is all cranked up, does then entire panel glow? Mine never lights up more than 1/3 to 1/2 way up. The upper part never seems to be “lit.”
“Go where you’ve never gone before”. Absolutely perfect & quintessentially you, Sue. Reg looks happy & busy (Jim says that Ari goes out every morning “to read the newspaper”). Bridget continues to appear more animated & happy. I haven’t seen any stink-eye photos for quite some time. It’s fun getting all nestled in for a cold night, isn’t it? I think we slept better on cold nights than on warm/hot ones. Thank you for introducing us to Nevada, Sue. It’s lovely there.
You’re welcome, Dawn. Bridget has her moments. Less stink-eye, more moving behind me so I can’t get her in the frame! That’s why you see more Reggie photos than Bridget photos. I think Reggie is influencing her to cut back on the hysteria when left in the PTV while I shop.
Yes, it’s cozy with the heater on, two warm canines under the comforter, reading my Paperwhite, camped in the piney forest, wind blowing through the tree tops…
When we crossed Nevada on the “loneliest highway” I was amazed at the beauty. It definitely wasn’t just a flat Sandy desert that I had imagined. It was remote but with beautiful mountain ranges and valleys. Nevada is full of surprises!
Yes, it is, Marilu! Thanks for mentioning the “loneliest highway.” I wondered if it is dreary and monotonous. People make it sound so bad. You’re the first person I’ve heard tell something positive about it!
The lakes are so pretty! I never knew Nevada had so many lakes!!
The puppies are so cute!
Thanks, Lynn. I think they’re cute, too. Obviously… I’ve posted enough pics of them!
Yes, aren’t the Nevada lakes a surprise…
Hi Sue,
Nice pictures as always. Enjoy the cool weather as it is also very chilly here in San Diego. Only 68 degrees right now and time to turn on the heat. We are so spoiled in Paradise.
Hi, Norman,
What’s this? 68 degrees and falling in San Diego? That’s not right! Thanks for complimenting me on my photos. Bundle up and keep warm!
I agree,Nevada is a wonderful state!Your crew is so sweet and precious…hugs to U 3!!
Thanks, Betty Shea, for the short and sweet message. Hugs to you, too!
Sue, I cannot get over just how perfectly Reggie is fitting in! It is as if he has been part of the crew forever! You obviously have a real talent for picking just the right crew members.
I remember my first night on my RV – I FROZE!!! I just wasn’t prepared for how much outdoor weather influenced the inside environment. What temperature do you think it is inside the Casita in the morning on a cold night like you are experiencing? I think I’ll be better prepared for the next cold morning!
Hi, Deborah,
Oh, no… You froze on your first night. 🙁 I’ve had nights like that, too. Mostly because the cold snuck up on me and I didn’t turn the heater on soon enough. I’ve learned to dress very warmly for bed if there’s any chance of a cold night.
I admit I tolerate a cool house. It probably is barely 60 inside the BLT some mornings. That’s why warm clothes, including socks(sometimes two pairs) to bed are necessary. I turn on the heater in the morning, make coffee and breakfast on the stove, and it warms up the place. I look at it this way… I’m camping. I’m not going to have a home at 75 degrees when it’s cold outside. Usually the crew needs to be walked soon after breakfast and that warms us.
Yes, Reggie is fitting in nicely!
Yep, first night I froze. Second night I sweated! I’m getting it down now. I now own heavy slipper socks and a few sweaters that I didn’t own before. I’ve got a couple of extra heaters – electric at this point since I’m plugged in. I also have a fan to keep me cooler. Yep, I’m figuring it out as I go! Is there any other way? Lol
Nope. And that’s the best way!
Hi, Sue,
Thank you for taking us with you on this tour. The blue of the lake looks inviting despite the chilly wind. Glad you all were cozy, comfortable and warm in your little egg. Good thinking, lining the floor with the doggie bed and quilt for extra insulation from the cold. Smart!
I absolutely love the picture of the happy, happy pups after a day of exploration. Sounds like Reg was curious about the water….time will tell if he is a soaker!
Have a good night, stay warm with your little furry heatalators! Hugs from me and Gracie pup. Happy 1st day of April! “Go where you’ve never gone before.” Love it!! 🙂
Hi, Denise,
About the pups… I’ve noticed that after a day of exploring and exercise that they are more bonded… Somehow they seem more like a team, a pair of pals, a canine crew! If we don’t do much, lie about the house a lot, then little territorial squabbles erupt. Like who gets to sit closest to me.. just like kids!
Happy April Fools Day to you and Gracie pup, now that it’s almost over… Sleep well.
“Somehow they seem more like a team, a pair of pals, a canine crew!”
OK, that will keep me smiling all day!
Words just can’t express the joy I feel in you having your crew complete again. Spike will of course always be a part of you (and us) but it’s as if I can sense the joy and contentment in your words, even when you are talking about something completely mundane. Once again your family is complete and you are doing what you were meant to be doing.
You are a very caring man, Rick. Your words are warm hugs (when they aren’t making me double up in laughter!)
Sue and Crew – I so love your life and how you’re enjoying it. Thanks to you, I now know of so many places I’d otherwise not know about and have learned of some places I, too, would like to visit and camp. And I’m especially glad you and Bridget found Reggie to round out your family! 🙂
Hi, Sheila,
I do love my life and part of the enjoyment comes from receiving comments like yours. It’s a pleasure to share the places we find with receptive, enthusiastic readers. I hope you do camp in our camps someday.
Have a good night. Thanks for writing me a note.
hi Sue
Looks like you had a beautiful day. The lake looked great so blue. Love how happy your pups look. I bought a printer on Amazon directly from your blog so I hope you see that. Next I’m buying a Gopro camera so let me know if my printer is listed.
stay warm and happy
Yes, I saw the printer! Nice! Thank you for remembering to go to Amazon from here. I appreciate that commission . . . .
You stay warm and happy, too, Deb, and have a good evening.
Hi sue and crew.
Look out your window.. I snuck in and parked next to you. I hope you don’t mind. I will wake you in the morning for coffee. I hope Asia’s constant barking don’t wake you all.
😉 happy April fools. I’m in my warm bed in the hills of north eastern Kentucky 🙂
Reg is adorable. And bridge looks so happy. Congrats to you and the family
As usual your new chosen home front is awesome!!
Mert and Asia Mae.
Hi, Mert!
Great to hear from you again with word that you and Asia Mae are keeping warm in those Kentucky hills. I’ve worried about you. I know you’ve had some tough times this winter. Love the cheerful note!
Same same here. Just wanted to say hello. Finally warming up some here. My folks are still the same. I’m doing my best to take care of them and myself. I’m still having issues with this dang shunt tubing. My stomach does not appreciate it one bit being in there 😉
Other news, it’s Kentucky. Final four undefeated ( hope it stays that way) 🙂
I wanted to ask about your parents. Thanks for letting us know. Sorry to hear you’re still having problems with the shunt, Mert.
Deb,
So neat that you are soon to get a GoPro. They are really fun cameras and have so many fun features on them. I really enjoy mine far more than I thought I would. At first I mainly used it as a cam mounted on my Vespa scooter but lately I have taken to using it as a grab-n-go camera. BTW, when I first got mine I had some learning curves about the use of the small buttons. It took a while to get the tapping of them down so that they did what they were suppose to do when I needed them to do it. Others have had the same learning curve too, so you might want to really practice with it before heading out and maybe missing that one shot you had hoped to capture. I swear it took me a good week of use to get the tapping thing down just so. Thought I would share than with you. They are really great, fun cams!
Cave Creek – we actually paid the $17 and camped there with our dogs on our way to CA last fall. Yes, it did get cold at night, but it was quiet and beautiful. And they have the most wonderful shower houses! (Better believe I used my $17 worth).
Hi, Mary in CO,
Ha! I was going to use the showers there, but I didn’t feel comfortable doing so. Online it says you can use the showers if you pay the day use fee. Then when you go to enter the campground where the shower house is, it says only people camping there may enter. I didn’t want to get in trouble with my clothes off!
It is a beautiful place and I imagine it is very quiet. I think the $17 camp fee is reasonable. That’s what I paid for camping with showers at Green River SP, Utah, and also at Washoe Lake SP, Nevada.
Have always loved the open expanses of the high desert. Nevada is an interesting and diverse state. My dad was interested in minerals/mining as a hobby so I grew up in many out of the way places in Nevada, Arizona and Oregon.
Don’t be in a great hurry to head north, I’m a couple hours northwest of Boise, Id and have the wood stove going again tonight. It feels colder tonight than in January! Days are nice tho.
I appreciate the advice and report from Idaho. I do plan to stay here in this quiet campground through Easter weekend and beyond. It’s convenient with Ely only 10 miles away.
It’s interesting to hear the different places where people grew up. You must be very familiar with this part of the country.
Always enjoy seeing you here, CheryLyn. Keep the wood stove fired up!
Hi Sue, I just left the comments’ on your prevised post and went back to see your answer and low and behold , here’s a another post. Have a great day n’ evening to you and the pups,,,,,,,, me
Hi, Rusty,
I went back and read your comment and replied. Always nice to hear from you.
You know how hard we worked to put the television back up? Well, jouncing around on the road out of Dave Deacon Campground must have loosened the bolt. I found the tv on the floor when we arrived at this camp! I’ll see tonight whether it’s still working okay, as I bought a few movie DVDs, which I’ll probably give to you the next time we’re camping neighbors.
You have a great evening, too. Happy, safe travels to your springtime camps!
I am heading that way this fall. Is it true that boondocking is not allowed along Comins Lake?
That’s correct, Dave. It isn’t allowed. When researching this area I came across old information that gave the impression you could. However, there is a sign at the entrance that says No Camping.
Even though it’s nice to camp near water, it’s very windy there, so I’m not disappointed.
It is so beautiful! Thanks for sharing, probably the only way I will see that area..and it was a free trip!
I’m with you on sleeping,warm. I’ll tell you a story, we were coming home from Oregon with the Casita and decided we needed a motel break, you know, plenty of hot shower water, eating food I didn’t have to cook…watching the news with my feet up…so we got a room in Red Bluff, nice national chain motel, dog friendly..right….
Paid our fee with the additional money for the two small dogs, Silky Terriers, house broke, quiet, good citizens… Went to,our room…and then we read the small,print…the dogs were not allowed anywhere but in a crate…we were not told this in advance mind you. Plus the dog walk was on the way far side of the parking lot, it was cold and windy…so this involved a hike…
I finally solved the problem by taking the dogs with me to the Casita to sleep, Casita was parked by the dog walk… Dear husband stayed in the rented room.
It probably dropped below twenty during the night. Flannel jammas, two,dogs and a down comforter did the trick…then I made a small pot of coffee when I got up and like magic the Casita was warm,
So..prepare, sleep,with the dog heaters and you will be warm!
Next trip to Oregon that we stayed in a motel, we stayed at the Comfort Inn in Red Bluff, totally dog friendly, lovely staff and reasonable rates.
It is such a,good idea to ask questions first..before you give them your credit card..lesson learned!
Don’t give up on the Casita, just prepare a bit..plus Sue, you are totally right, two vents open for circulation, heat rises and will carry away the humidity too.. And it is safe to turn on a stove burner for a brief heat up as long as the vents are open.
Hi, Lee J.,
Casita to the rescue! Ha! Your story with a motel and dogs teaches us all. Yes, ask questions first. I bet a lot of folks ignore the dogs-in-crates rule. You were valiant to choose to ditch the motel and snug up in the Casita. I’m happy to give out the information here which motel is the better place.
Thanks for telling us your tale. I enjoyed it very much. It’s fun for me, too, to have a glimpse into another person’s travel days and their experiences on the road. 🙂
I hope Kerry sees your message — “Don’t give up on the Casita.”
Another delightful post, Sue! Your writings are like tiny, shiny jeweled excerpts from a novel–but they are not fiction at all…they are real! You are living a life that you script for yourself (by the minute) which you generously share so that we can all come along for the ride. How wonderful is that?!
I believe in magic carpets. I believe that they fly and hover above each and every one of us. All we have to do is float up a bit, grab a tasseled edge and climb aboard to travel through the portal of our dreams. Your writings came to me a few months ago and very quickly I realized you were that portal that offered me a view into travel and adventure beyond my doorstep.
As time went on I came to know that I wanted to be able to make my dreams reality. I knew I had to have my own Best Little Trailer! And so, two weeks ago, I brought home my new-to-me 15′ ParkLiner travel trailer! While I don’t yet fancy myself traveling through Nevada or Idaho or even to Roosevelt Lake, I know now that I can go where I can go! And my first trip is charted for next week! My magic carpet is real and it has wheels!
Thank you, Sue. Thank you for helping me to dream and helping me to understand that dreams can, indeed, become reality. I am all aboard! 🙂
Very cool, Rhonda. Happy “rides” on your new carpet 🙂
Sooooo awesome Rhonda……you go girl!
Thanks, Sharron…Sue said it best: “Go where you’ve never gone before.” What a wonderful way to view life and the short time we have to enjoy it…
Thank you, Sidewinder Pen…I sort of sheepishly admit that my first ride with my magic carpet on wheels is only to a state park about an hour from home and just for three days. But it is a new beginning, none the less! 🙂
Congrats on the purchase of your trailer! A long weekend at a state park is the perfect first trip to get acquainted with it…I hope that you enjoy it, and it is the first of many!
I agree with cc, Rhonda. A state park nearby will give you a short tow and a camp with people around to assist you.
Never be afraid to try something new! Remember, the ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic was built by professionals!
I read that today and thought it might encourage you even more! You are going to love your magic carpet ride in your new to you Park Liner! Happy Dance!
I agree – great plan for your first outing. And more to come I’m sure!
I always seem to plunge in (like buy something and immediately tow cross-country – now who is sheepish!) – and that can work – but the shake-down cruise is a fabulous (better) idea.
I now have this image of your new “ride” purring up (like the magic carpets in cartoons) and waiting there – with its fringes undulating slightly – for you to hop aboard and sit regally in the center 😀
Oh, Rhonda… What a lovely message about finding a dream and making it reality!
Thank you for the beautifully written words of appreciation to me. I am sure, by writing about your transformation, that you will, in turn, transform the thinking of others about what is possible in their lives.
Congratulations on the Parkliner! It’s exciting to make a purchase like that, knowing that you now possess the “magic carpet” to “go where you’ve never gone before.”
You may surprise yourself, in time, with the places you visit that at first you didn’t think you could manage. New experiences are addictive. I wish you many magical days and nights in your own and best little trailer!
You go girl!!!!!
Rhonda,
Good for you for grabbing onto your magic carpet. A good incentive for those of us who may be holding back. Hope you make many happy memories in your new to you get away. Keep us posted.
Jazz Lover
Rhonda,
My heart filled up reading your delightful post!
Hearing of how you dreamed of travels and then reached out to make that dream happen! Enjoy all the freedoms that your wonderful little trailer will offer to you. Like most of us, I’m sure you will be hooked on all those traveling adventures!
~May THE ROAD be good to you always!~
I thought highway 93 was a lonely road..I have a picture of me with my arms spread wide open in the middle of nowhere. Along the highway we came across boulders that looked like tables…really flat and pretty wide…enough to where we scrambled up and laid on them to take a snooze. No cars going thru but we did have a desert tortoise visit us. It is a pretty drive I thought. I love the photos of snow on mountains. The crew looks happy especially Bridget with her bright eyes looking at the camera instead of shying away from it. For cold camping, I sleep in sweat pants and sweat shirt with wool socks….with a light wool sleeping bag liner. The wool liner come in different sizes and zip up…it’s pretty comfy zipped up or unzipped. It keeps the body warmth in yet don’t get over heated. The liners also roll up fairly small….I take them on long flights to sleep in too.
Hi, Rita,
You have a special gift for feeling the essence of places you’re in… Lying on the flat rocks for a nap is an example of how you seek a closeness with nature, rather than only drive by. . . . And you saw a desert tortoise! I’ve looked and looked and haven’t seen one… yet.
I sleep in sweat pants and sweat shirt, too… or the thermal, men’s top I bought recently, and socks. That “light wool sleeping bag liner” intrigues me. My only hesitation would be keeping it clean, it being wool, as I’m sure Reggie would dig at it to be let inside…
Thanks, Rita, for writing another interesting comment!
Lack of sunlight in Oregon, I agree with the camp woman. I liked Florence and remember you being there. So, if you were wont to stay in one spot for many weeks, would the charm of Florence be enough to balance off lack of sun?
Reggie Man: Potential Soaker
Hi, Gayle,
Florence is a charming town. I’d love to go there again. For sun in Oregon one can also go to the east side of the mountains.
I don’t expect Reggie to be a soaker. He’s more likely to be a splasher. That’s his style. 🙂
Just remembered, a great movie, Murphy’s Romance, 1985, with James Garner and Sally Field was filmed in and around Florence. Pretty country.
I remember that movie…
Reggie was such a good choice and is so cute (those ears!!) that, hey, splashing is good!
“I’m glad I didn’t change my mind and skip..Nevada isn’t the Nevada I thought it was.”
Once again you beautifully demonstrate what places and life can really offer, enrich your life and ours by doing it.Thanks,Sue,great post!It brought to mind how much we’d have missed if we’d based decisions on hearsay without personal examination.”There’s nothing there but—,He’s—-,it’s too— ” the list is endless and so are the rewards of exploring anyway.I’m glad you three took the day to do just that.Your “Look Reggie a lake ” photo -full of those because you tried gifts…
Good morning, weather,
Your comment makes me realize a big lesson that Nevada teaches me. …. Go and see for yourself what can be found!
Before I went to Utah (“nothing but red rock!”), I didn’t think of it as a place where I’d play in a field of wildflowers photographing butterflies. Before I went to New Mexico (“too hot!”), I didn’t think I’d wake up to a winter wonderland. Coming to Nevada (dusty and boring!”), I didn’t expect lakes and pines, and beautiful snow-topped mountains.
Thank you for reminding us to approach new places and experiences with childlike wonder, eyes wide open to what is really there, rather than dragging around preconceived and false notions.
Reggie had a big, new experience this morning…. It will be fun to share it with you in the next post!
Woo-hoo! a big ,new experience,what a happy life that little guy now has!I’m off to meet a friend for lunch at one of those surprisingly great discoveries.A restaurant a ways from here looks outside quite plain and dull.From the windows at the back of it one sees eagles flying,nesting,catching fish for themselves and each other…incredible.Catch you later,have a wonder-ful day!
Fantastic! Have fun!
Wait for me, I want to see Eagles flying, nesting and catching fish!
Speaking of Eagles, Shirlene, have you seen Echoes of Creation & Sacred Earth on KOCE? All filmed in southwest. Gorgeous! There’s a Go-Pro camera on the eagle. Enough to make you wish you were a bird!
Hi Gayle, only bits and pieces, seems like I just catch the end….I will keep an eye out….Eagles are one of my favorites and I feel very BLESSED everytime I see one. Some so magical don’t you think?
P.S. I do not know where you are in So. Cal, but they have been seeing an Eagle in San Pedro…drifted over from Catalina hatchery. Will be looking for it this weekend.
Just wanted to say thanks for sharing your adventures. I look forward to reading your posts every day and seeing the cute crew pictures.
You’re welcome, Jody,
Your short and sweet message is appreciated. I’m pleased to see you here! Thank you.
Is Bridget smiling?
Nevada is surprising state and I’m so pleased you decided to spend a little more time there. So many of us think of this state and Las Vegas always comes to mind. Well, there is so much more to it and now you’re showing it. When I went the first time to Great Basin NP I loved hiking on many trails there, checking out on bristlecone pines and enjoy silence around lakes and on trails . It used to be not very popular park. The last time in September 2014 it surprised me how many people tried to hike to Wheeler Peak. I had to turn around since crowds on hiking trails makes me not so happy hiker. Well, it was a weekend.
Enjoy your journey as you heading somewhere north and maybe west?
I’ll be in OR and WA sometime in July/August. OR is for hiking on PCT and WA for famous delicious, juicy cherries.
Keep warm. Right now I’m on the way to see migrating birds and camp at high elevation. It could be cold at night as well.
Hi, R.,
When at our last camp, the young man and woman I met at the dam asked if we were going to Desert Basin NP. I told them I was saving it for another one of our annual cross-state trips. Your comment tells me I should avoid the weekends. . Of course, the crew and I don’t really hike. We take walks.
Yes, we are heading north and then west. I have a hankerin’ for some juicy cherries, too . . . .
Good luck sighting the migratory birds and keeping warm!
Glad you are happy in this spot, Sue…a good day is a good thing, eh? Yesterday parts of ours were not so good, but some good friends took us out for a wonderful dinner and a good chat and plans for more such times while we are here…that was a nice ending to our day and much appreciated!!
Never spent a great deal of time in Nevada either…usually just trekking through as fast as we could between the Boise Valley and parts in California where our kin were. But you have shown us some places that indeed would be worth spending some time in. Thank you!!
You’re welcome, Elizabeth, and good morning!
How wonderful that you found friends who can turn a not-so-great day into a fun and pleasant evening. I’m glad you and your husband had an enjoyable time.
These have been our friends since about 2005 or so….long time. We are glad they are here…thanks for your words.
re: the picture under the heading,”Nevada is not the Nevada I thought it was.”, and reading on your paperwhite . Saw the mesa in the picture and immediately remembered my reading of The Haunted Mesa by Louis L’Amour (available for Kindle). The mesa in the book is not the same as the one in your picture but close enough to stir the imagination.
re: cold nights. We love silk long underwear for pj’s – not too hot or cold.
Hi, JW,
Thanks for the mention of L’Amour and the mesa book. I haven’t read one of his books in a while and I think I’m in the mood for another one.
The Haunted Mesa
Silk underwear? Sounds lovely but I question whether it would be warm enough for the way I live. Sometimes I wear several layers in order to keep warm on cold nights without the heater on. Whatever works for you! 🙂
Well I also like silk long underwear. Surprisingly warm and can do double duty, under your daytime clothes. Every trip I’ve taken to Europe I have my silk long underwear with me. Perfect pajamas, and if weather turns chilly I wear them all day too!
This is blasphemy to say this, I know . . . I don’t like silk. Never have. I don’t like the way it feels. The first silk blouse was given to me and I re-gifted it. There. I’ve said it. Be kind.
Haha!! I think we’ve all done the re-gifting once or twice 🙂 What else are you supposed to do with all those Secret Santa gifts you are forced to buy/give & receive at work? Re-gift!
Here’s a gift for all of you…a big Happy Easter hug for Sue & Crew and all the blogorinos! Thank you for filling my days with so many wonderful stories!
You’re welcome, Marla… Easter blessings to you, too!
I would think silk underwear would be very comfy for both hot and cold temps.
If my memory serves me correctly, silk is the tightest of all the woven textiles. China has some real extreme temps and they wear it 24/7 year round. Silk is such a beautiful textile too, as well as comfy 🙂
Good morning on April 2nd! I am wondering how you fared last night in the cold! I am hoping you awoke to warmer than expected weather full of sunbeams and bird songs! I have made one quick trip to Nevada to Los Vegas and out again! You have made it sound like a good go to area! But we are home now, in Eastpoint and will be here for at least 6 months! Days are in the 80’s with the gentle Gulf breezes all day long! We are loving it!
That scamp Reggie is so darned cute! Truly less stink eye from Bridget but too bad she is still trying to hide from the camera! Tummy rubs to both!! I cant wait to see what this day brings!
Hi, Geri,
Welcome home to you and Chuck and your crew! You are experiencing the kind of weather that made Florida famous. Thanks for the wish for our morning. The sun is shining!
Wonderful post. I must think of some more original comments!
Three pics that I absolutely love:
The view of the mountains with the cabin below – what I dream of seeing soon.
The picture of the pups in front of the fence with the lake in the background – so happy and nicely framed.
The picture of the National Park sign – I always love it when you post those. They remind me of “Ranger Rick” magazine from when I was younger. I attribute those types of things from my youth to my love of camping and the mountains.
Another great day’s journey with you, Sue and your crew.
Thanks, Applegirl,
Always fun to find out what my photos evoke…
I remember those magazines. From the National Wildlife Fed if I remember correctly. Probably not too hard to believe but when I was a kid my Mom used to call me “Ranger Rick”.
And for the record it is complete coincidence the Ranger Rick’s sidekick was Boomer Badger……….. Or maybe not, perhaps that little Mag was foreshadowing my whole life. Who knew. 🙂
That’s right! How cool. Sounds like you’re following the path you were meant to take.
Oh my gosh, that picture of Bridget and Reggie in the PTV makes me want to jump in there and kiss their faces like crazy!! Soooo cute!!!
I love that Reggie has fit in so well with you girls, happy happy family!
Enjoy your day ahead!!
Hi, Marla,
Bridget and Reggie after a fun day together… They seem to glow!
Hi Sue, I went back to your post in 2013 and you past thru Cords on the way to Junerfer Flats where we met up. We’re camped ’bout 4 miles north of Bumble Bee which is south of Cords. It’s windy here and 72 degrees, no Chola , but lots of Messceat and some cattle, we can’t see em, but hear em once in a while. Have a great day up there and give Bridget n’ Reggie a big hug from us,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, me
Hi, Rusty,
Now I know where you are. . . . southeast of Prescott. You have it a lot warmer today than we do! 🙂
Hi Sue, what a great place you have found once again! I cannot wait to travel those roads when I visit my daughter in Idaho…I am guessing it will take me longer now that I see all the great stops I can make….Come on retirement!….13 months and counting! Have a great day, as usual….sleep warm tonight.
Hi, Shirlene,
“Great places” are scattered all over. All it takes is slowing down to find them. Only 13 more months to freedom!
After making our way out of Las Vegas via Boulder Hwy to Las Vegas Blvd to I-15 East, we happily headed N on 93. Pahranagat Campground the goal today. Yep, RV Sue is right! This is beautiful! We arrived at 12:30 & got the only available site left-#13. Very windy & cold for us but snug in the Casita with a great view. Supposed to get warmer tomorrow. We are eager to follow Sue’s “finds”.
Yay! You’re there! I’m trying to remember what site #13 is like. Is it a double site? The people arrive in waves and leave in waves. In a day or two the place may be less crowded. So glad you were able to find a site. Every one of them has a great view of the lake. Enjoy! I see a report that says it will be in the mid-70s the day after tomorrow.
#13 is at the end next to the ADA site. Very nice. The host came out when we arrived & really whet Gil’s desire to fish. Too windy now but hopefully it will calm over the next few days. Very nice start to our other favorite kind of camping. It’s so nice to have our own personal guide ahead of us pointing out the good places to camp. 🙂
I thought you might be at the end. Gil can fish off the dam not far from your site!
Gale, the camp host, is very helpful. I’m assuming that’s whom you spoke with, unless the man has replaced her. I didn’t meet him. Gale was soon to leave to go home to Montana.
Make sure you go to the Visitors Center. It’s one of the best I’ve ever seen.
Mike is the host now. Just saw a coot swim by + 3 Canadian geese flying overhead. Dug out the down comforter for tonight. No longer needing to run ac. 🙂 This is fun.
It’s fun for me to hear from you, and how you’re experiencing a place we camped at a short while ago. You have some beautiful days ahead.
Sue, I had items in my shopping cart from various places at Amazon but wanted to help you. So I closed the tab and came here and clicked Amazon. My items showed so I then completed the transaction. I bought moth traps and canned salmon. If you notice them in a day or two please let me know so I can be sure that works for you. Thanks
Thank you, Velda. I’ll look for those items. If I forget to let you know, please remind me.
Am I first? 😉
What a beautiful lake! Love the photo of Reggie looking toward it! For a minute there…I thought he was going for a soak!
Love Bridgee babee’s smile….
Stay warm!
That hand held portable shower looks very clever…..I’d be interested to hear first hand from whomever purchased it….how it well it works. I watched the video…but a Blogorinos review would be appreciated.
It made it to 60 degrees today…..gave AO a much needed bath. Snow in the forecast for the weekend. The Canadian geese are returning…so spring is close.
Enjoy your evening.
Oh my, it’s warmer where you are than it is here! Our high today is only 46 degrees.
You’re not the first to say they changed their mind about Nevada after spending a little time traveling back roads. We’re heading to Carson City and Elko in June and looking forward to taking our time 🙂 You three are really finding your rhythm now……
Hi, Jodee,
The cold changed our rhythm from fox trot to waltz… . We’re still dancing though!
Update on the Ee-lee VS Ee-lie:
I did some quick fact checking this morning and both towns, Ely, Nevada and Ely, Minnesota are pronounced Ee-lee. Yep, sure enough. Both in Wiki are that way and the mayors of each of those cities pronounce their city’s name Ee-lee. I just watched a few videos about both towns.
Guess the whole ~Ee-lee thang~ is not that weird after all 🙂
Interesting Pamela K. I wanted to know what was the correct way to say it. Thanks.
Pam
I cure cast iron skillet with Lye……and I dont pronounce it Lee….
HA!
🙂
Do you really use Lye on your Cast Iron?
Never heard of that before. I always used lard and baked it on. What does the Lye do that is different or better? I just bought a small 1.5 qt round dutch oven and need to season it some more. It’s a pre-seasoned Lodge but could use some added seasoning before baking pudding cake/muffins in it.
when I find a skillet that is nasty and scrungy and rusted there are three ways to get it clean…..vinegar, lye and electrosis……
once cleaned I season it with lard and heat it up then let it cool….
hope I explained it in easy terms…
chuck
Yes and make sure you pronounce Nevada as Neva-duh ( a like sound in at not as Nuv-ahh duh). Having lived in the West ( 8 years in Nevada) all but 3 of my 66 years, I have only a few things that irritate me and one is mispronouncing Nevada. Sort of like people who cant figure out how to pronounce San Jose and say San Josie instead of San Hosee).
Sue we are turning you into a left coaster! LOL
lol, I hear ya. People, the old ones, would sometimes call Ohio, O-Hi-Ah…drove me plumb nuts 😉
46 degrees!!!! Yikes…..turn up that heater! I hope for warmer days tomorrow, but the weather forecast is pretty gloomy….stay warm.
The heater is on high and sunshine is streaming through the window… We’re warm. Not much warmer predicted for tomorrow… That’s okay. The change is nice after a balmy winter.
them pictures you posted looks like your in Heaven….if your not your mighty close!
Ive read about your BBQ chicken in a crock pot….can you elaborate? I fix ribs in
my crockpot but would like to try some chicken….
thanks for taking us along with you on your travels….
I look forward to all your posts..
chuck
Hi, Chuck,
My BBQ chicken in a crockpot is a very complicated recipe. Put boneless, skinless chicken in the crockpot. Pour bottled BBQ sauce of your choice to cover the chicken. Leave it in the crockpot until you can’t resist the aroma any longer and it’s done!
Thanks for the words of appreciation. 🙂
Nice spot. I see Reggie has a thirst for knowledge. Most all his pictures shows him at the end of his leash and pullin…He sure is a little doll boy. Worth the wait for sure. Be safe Missy…
Hi, Jim . . . Reggie wants to go everywhere, see everything, which makes him a great vagabond. As soon as I can buy a harness for him, the pulling will be corrected.
I know this reply is a bit late, but I just wanted to suggest what we did in our camper to keep warm when it was needed. We had an old ’68 Shasta, 17′ travel trailer. It had linoleum flooring. One summer we were at my Family reunion up in Northern MI and one of the little towns were having their festival & sidewalk sales. The carpet store had sample carpet squares on sale 5 for a buck! The big spenders that we are, we bought 5 of them, spread them on the floor of the trailer and had “Wall-to-Wall” carpet! Winter camping became much warmer from then on. Cleaning was super simple; toss them outside, sweep the flooring, get our aggressions out by hitting the squares against a tree, put them back in. Made a BIG difference, I guarantee!! Sorry this was long…I tend to be a blabber-fingers once I get started :)! Take care everyone!
That’s an excellent suggestion, Cheryl! While in town the other day I looked for a carpet runner for the BLT and couldn’t find one at a price I wanted to pay. Your carpet squares idea is better because the squares are easy to shake out, easy to store, and easy to arrange on the floor…. Oh yeah, and cheap!
Thanks for sharing this tip here…
I see you’re in the neighborhood of Great Basin National Park. I hope you go and give us pics. I can’t see it being too crowded this time of year.
Hi, Stan,
A reader was at the park recently and it was crowded. But that’s not the reason we’re not going to Great Basin NP. A lot of the park is high elevation and I’d rather visit it in more comfortable temperatures. The other reason is the reason I gave the young couple at Dave Deacon who suggested we go there— I plan to make several bi-annual trips to and from Arizona. I’m saving Great Basin for another year.
Have to say, the photos with Reggie and his curled tail are really cute…makes it look like he is very interested in what he is doing. So glad the dogs are working out good together…very important when you have little space I think. We never have had dogs who did not get along ok however (at one time that was 4 whenever my in-laws came with their dog)…seems they are better at that than people in general. 🙂
Dogs are better than people in many ways!
Yep sure are!!
oHere is a good crockpot recipe. Chicken pieces, cream of mushroom soup, and about 3/4 can of white wine. Cook for 6-8 hours then stir in sour cream. You can also add a can of mushrooms. Very tasty. Very humid here in Texas between Houston and San Antonio. I would rather be at a much
higher elevation!
higher ellevation!
Ooh, that recipe sounds wonderful, Terri. I know exactly how it tastes because I’m almost tasting it right now…. Thanks for sharing the recipe here.
Good Morning Sue, recipe talk made me hungry, so I fixed a bagel with peanut butter on it and had it with my coffee…and so I share my morning coffee with you and the blogorinos. Good Morning to all, and happy weekend and Easter to all! I continue to go back and look at the pictures where you are staying and try to put myself in them…but not too close!…I know how you get…ha! On the way to work this morning, there was a surprise in the sky…..coming up vertically from the other side of the mountain were two cloud trails…..right next to each other and spreading out…It looked like the Easter Bunny was hiding behind the hill and only his ears were sticking out…another special day that has been created for us…I took a picture but alas, it did not show the real beauty of it..I hope everyone on the drive to work saw it and appreciated from where it came.
P.S. And the ears were “pink”, as the sun was rising….No other clouds in the sky…beautiful.
Good morning, Shirlene…. and everyone!
Your day is off to a great start… bagels with peanut butter and an awe-inspiring cloud display…. Too bad the photo didn’t capture it. I’ve had that happen many times. People ooh and aah over places I show on this blog and I think, gee, if only they could see it the way I saw it! The real thing is always much better.
Thanks for the Easter weekend wish! Same to you, loyal blogorino! (I hesitate to use the word “follower” for obvious reason)… 🙂
Shirlene,
Did you see the moon this morning at all?? I work in Costa Mesa and came in super early this morning, when I left Corona at around 5:15 it was high in the sky, full and super bright…then as I was driving on the 405 around 6 that moon was low and smokey looking…surreal. Love what you can see when your up before most everyone else!
Have a great Easter! 🙂
Good Morning Marla, you know, I was so busy looking at the bunny ears that I did not see the moon…I should have as it was twilight when I left my house in Huntington…but then again I was driving East..the moon would have been behind me…Have a great day, and great Easter, it is supposed to be a warm weekend. Enjoy whatever you do.
Well, I was going west so I missed the bunny ears!
Enjoy your Easter as well!!
Sailing on air currents,gliding as one,the snow geese swept through the air.Below them in swirls of brown, canadian ones did the same,though circling in the other direction.Both flocks in unison swept upward and descended, their songs rose and fell in similar rhythm.Apart and alone one seagull filled in high notes,from a distance the a train rumbled, added the low ones.Stage full,show complete.Ballet with orchestra,for lighting effects- the lake’s dress of ice changing colors,clouds in the shape of an angel in flight-and we had the best seat in the house!
My friend’s and my own expectations were eagles,reality-better.Here,watching balds and goldens is no longer rare,we know we’ll get another chance.This morning I stepped into the white cloud covering the cliff- expecting the air to be full again.It was empty,every tree was full.The birds were settled on branches everywhere,singing as they waited for fog to blow away ,letting them see their food.I waited,too,enjoying their company, didn’t notice time pass- the bow on His package of gifts.
Good morning,Sue.As beautiful as both those events were,I cut both short to be with my troupe.They win on the precious scale every time.It’s obvious,and delightful to me, that you feel the same warm way about your crew.I hope you get enough heat outside, as well,to enjoy the rest of today.
🙂
Another glorious morning at your home overlooking the lake… I could hear trumpets and cymbals and violins between bird songs and train rumbles… You have such a wonderful setting in which to greet the morning.
Not that I have anything to complain about! My crew is somewhere under a mound of covers. I’ll join them later with something to read. Lazy days here… Thank you for warming our mornings, weather!
ooo weee Quite a temp difference overnight compared Laughlin! 🙂 We are still converting to real camping. We were very snug & cozy in the Casita. This morning cold but beautiful & sunny. Gil setting up solar for first time this trip. Going to check out Alamo hoping to get a Nevada fishing license. Think we are going to be here awhile. Hope you are warm & enjoying the day.
Yeah, it was cold overnight! And it is cold now on this mountain at 7,400 feet!
Good luck obtaining the fishing license… and finding The Grocery Store That Will Not Reveal Itself. Ha!
Hi Sue,
I have a question for you. With 200w of solar power could you power a crockpot all day?
It would be neat if you could! Although, a crockpot can be alot of cleanup.
Cheers!
I’ve been advised I could probably do it, but I haven’t tried it.
We spent a week last June in Wells, NV. Interesting areas around there — Angel Lake Scenic Byway (there are a couple campgrounds on the way up the mountain from Wells; the one at the lake itself was pretty busy, but there’s another one maybe halfway up — Angel Creek Campground — that had very few people in there). Ruins of the old school & some other old buildings, plus an old cemetery, outside Wells — the town was called Metropolis). We also ran up to Elko where they have the Northeastern Nevada Museum & a very cool visitor center complex (we were too late to go inside the visitor center). We also took the Lamouille Scenic Byway — if you’re anywhere around Elko, it’s a must-see. Numerous waterfalls, rushing creek, beaver dams — I had no idea Nevada had places like this, either!
Thanks, Renee!