A sandstorm blasted through our campsite last night.
All was calm until the sun went down. I had to close all the windows to keep the sand from blowing inside. Fortunately it wasn’t too hot. Before long the BLT was rocking like a hammock. This morning I figured out why. I had extended both stabilizers jacks at the rear of the BLT to rest on blocks. The wind blew away so much sand that the jacks were left hanging above the blocks which were also moved out of place!
Sand was in and on everything.
The patio mat was nearly covered, its stakes at the corners buried. My camp chair was blown down past the PTV. I had some carpet squares scattered about so Bridget can sit down without getting her sizeable butt sizeably dirty (I know, a nutcake). Those were so buried I had to kick around in the sand to find them! And my shoes! I left a pair of slip-ons by the door and they were filled with sand. I’m not even going to talk about the back of the PTV. This sand is so fine it’s like dust and it can get into anything.
View on the way to Gooseberry Mesa near Hurricane, Utah (That’s one heckuva blue sky! Do not adjust your set. Gee, it wasn’t that blue when I edited it! )
We leave Zion Creekside Camp in the morning.
Spike had his last soak in North Creek which is narrower and shallower every day. I really enjoyed our time at this camp. I’ll drive us northward on Interstate 15 past Cedar City. Our eventual destination this summer is South Dakota so I can get a driver’s license to match my registrations and tags. This may take us through Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone. Who knows where the road will take us!
I want to reach the Rapid City area of South Dakota early enough this summer so by the time I’m done being a tourist there, I’ll still have time to meander down through Colorado, Utah, and Arizona before the snow falls in the mountains. I toyed with the idea of visiting another Utah national park before leaving this area, but it’s hot. I’d rather wait until the fall.
Of course, I may not follow this plan at all!
Tomorrow (Monday) the crew and I may camp somewhere with no internet signal or cellphone service. If you don’t hear from us soon, figure that’s the reason!
rvsue
The PTV engine air filter is very important in those dusty conditions. They make a dual element filter that has a foam and paper element. Ask at NAPA. You need to check it often. Congrats on 200K; wow it hasn’t even been a year. Rock on RV Star!
I’m glad I wasn’t driving when that sandstorm hit us! The PTV was parked so the wind was hitting her rear end. That’s why the back has so much sand in it!
When having the tire repaired, I asked the NAPA guy to put in an air filter suitable for these conditions. It may not be the one you’re talking about. The crew and I waited quite a bit for the tire repair, so I was okay with using the air filter the owner recommended and had on hand. What I probably should do is find that particular air filter you’re talking about (in whatever auto supply store) and keep it until it’s time to replace the one in it now.
. . . or maybe RV on Rock Star! LOL Thanks, Mick.
In the words of my favorite cowboy Roy Rogers…. “Happy Trails to you until we meet again………..” It was so much fun having you here these past few weeks! Have fun girl!
You and Chuck made this camp very special. First of all, you found it for me! And then you both made it possible for me to ride the Zion shuttle which I loved and walk the Riverside Walk which was out of this world! You gave me a tour of the area, dined with me at Wildcat Willie’s, and fed me that scrumptious casserole at your place. What a pleasure to sit with you both out on your lawn, drinking sun tea, talking, and watching the hummingbirds. Thank you! If the crew could type, you’d have a canine thanking you here, too! (Spike wants to tell the Hound Herd that HE is in charge of the water dish.)
It seems like the wind gave you a send off to the north. Safe journey and keep the rubber down.
Thanks, Gaelyn. Maybe I’ll see you again on my return trip to AZ. I know we will meet again. Stay safe and tow happy!
Hi Sue,
Enjoy your travels and thanks for sharing. I’m getting a better understanding of what it’s like to full time in the south west.
All the best,
Barrie
All the best to you, too, Barrie.
Travel safely, Dear Susan. Congratulations on the milestones you have accomplished!!
Thanks, Pauline. My milestones are baby steps compared to what you have accomplished this past year. Love you!
You will probably be shaking sand out of stuff for quite a while. Glad the stakes held your outside mat in place. The Tetons are not to be missed. Being from Kansas, Colorado was always a vacation destination, so we are quite use to the Rockies there. We visited the Tetons and Glacier National Park one year. Could not believe the difference in the mountain ranges. They are all amazing. Yellowstone was just too crowded and busy. It is something you have to see, but we were glad to get out of there.
Hope you aren’t still spitting sand!
Reading your comment has built my anticipation even more! Bye for now . . . got to get going!
rvSue,
When you visit the Tetons try to plan your route to see the west side on your way. The Park is on the east side but their ‘back side’ is just a scenic. I also think the valley on the west is more scenic with 2-3 small towns that are worth going through or a stop. The east side has Jackson which is a very touristy town the west side does not get nearly as much tourist traffic.
Oh, that sand gets in everywhere & everything! Here in the west with the big winds we get, sand is a frequent issue.
You mentioned Bridget’s ample posterior, is she on the green bean diet? Or did she decide to keep her girlish figure as is?! 🙂
Hi ct,
Bridget doesn’t like green beans. I tried. So she’s on a modified Dukan diet with me! She and Spike get sliced, lean chicken and turkey from the deli and less kibble. I think I see Bridget losing some of her baggage.
Too bad she didn’t go for the green beans, but hopefully the lean meat will work for her. I’m doing Weight Watchers right now, as I discovered that when you’re living FT in an RV, an ample posterior is not an advantage!
It’s amazing how dropping a few pounds can make you feel so much better. Good luck with WW!
We lived once in the desert area of Washington state (yes, in the middle of the state it is a desert). We sometimes had sand storms that lasted 3 days and nights. Once around Thanksgiving, it came that long. My mother-in-law about went nuts with the sound of the whining winds (kind of like a blizzard sounds). We could basically barely see across the street. Fortunately the grocery store was only 4 blocks away but I am not sure we went anywhere during that time (fortunately hubby had a few days off work). It could get really nasty. And yes, there was really no way to keep the dust out of the house entirely.
The pioneers living on the prairie would go nuts with the wind. This was temporary, thank God. A small price for living in a beautiful place!
Cedar Breaks National Monument has the most beautiful mountain meadows and rock formations. I like it more than Bryce. If you’re heading toward City Cedar, you might want to check it out. Happy Travels!
I love mountain meadows! As usual, I’ll make my decision on the road today . . .
rvSue,
The mountain meadows in Cedar Breaks are probably still covered with snow. Also check on the road conditions for UT14 as you do your planning.
If you change your mind about seeing another national park in Utah. It is in the low 30’s where we are right now, just outside of Bryce Canyon. Amazing what a difference elevation makes. I am pretty sure that the elevation is similar at Capitol Reef.
Hi Roger,
We’re at our new camp and it is beautiful and cool. I’m not going to reveal where we are until the next post!
Safe travels your sweetie pie…and thx for my morning read to remind me of why I’m on this journey to hit the road next year! You’re my inspiration!
Only one more year to go, CJ? That’s wonderful. I’ll try to keep you inspired in the meantime. LOL
Iif you make it to Grand Tetons be sure to hike to the waterfall- I think you can shorten the hike by taking the ferry over across Jenny Lake. It’s beautiful.
I hope your travels can take you to Glacier NP
That’s our favorite park- a a great hike there is Avalanche trail- it take you to a snow melt aqua blue lake mostly along side a river- lots of wildlife.
A few minutes ago I met a nice couple and they said I should go to Glacier, too.
Hi Sue, have you considered Nevada as a state of residence? I’m not saying anything bad about SD, there is a good reason why so many RVers choose it. But to me there is one good reason not to choose it, You have to drive there the first time and every 5 years thereafter. I choose Nevada because it has no tax and is close to my regular route of travel.
It is VERY EASY to become a NV resident. Here is a post I made with full details of how to do it.:
http://www.cheaprvlivingforum.com/post/Becoming-a-Nevad-Resident-5876954?trail=#1
It’s just as easy to become an AZ resident, but they do have a state income tax. Only Phoenix and Tuscon require emissions tests.
Bob
cheaprvliving.com
cheapgreenrvliving.com
cheaprvlivingforum.com
I spent some growing up time in the Ogden/Brigham City/Logan area of Utah. Beautiful country and not too hot if memory serves. It’s worth a look-see. The Wasatch mountains are pretty.
Sue, if you get to Brigham City, try the Grist Mill. Yummy soups and breads. Can do take out or eat in, cafeteria style. Worth taking the exit. Nice Wal-Mart there. The Grist Mill is to your left when you hit the light, Wal-Mart to the right.
Did you say Wal-Mart? I have to get out the map and find Brigham City!
We’re pointed in that direction, Kittie.
We’re packing the ‘sita for a three week trip. It is so exciting Your blog makes us want to travel more and more and more. Have a safe journey and a great Monday.
You stay safe wherever you go. Enjoy your three weeks, Susie!
Speaking of your plans for the next stop…I thought of another resource topic: How you decide where to Sleep!.. I read your posts and voila- There you are in a new neat spot, While some were recommended, many were not. Is there is process or source or crystal ball that you use to determine where your next camp or boondock location will be? Do you limit the miles per day, have a criteria list (water for spike??!!), always know ahead of time where you are going and how long you want to stay? The master plan based on the seasons seems easy, it is thinking about how would i know where to spend 365 nights that overwhelms me !
I have a question that is maybe not to exciting. How did you settle on S. Dakota to register everything? What factors do you use to pick the best one? Sales tax? How did Georgia not make the cut?