I’m at the Sanpete Ranger Office of the Manti-La Sal National Forest.
Having received permission to stay another fourteen days on the mountain east of Ephraim, Utah, my conversation with the lady ranger (wish I had asked her name!) and Ranger Mike drifts to related topics.
(The photos in this post are from this morning as the crew and I walk the meadow behind our campsite.)
Lady Ranger asks me if I know about the pageant.
“Oh, you mean the Mormon pageant in Manti?” I ask.
“Yes. That’s a very big event around here,” she explains. “You don’t want to come down off the mountain this weekend. The streets will be packed.” (I later learn today is the last day of the pageant which runs June 20-22 and June 25-29 this year.)
“All the campgrounds are full right now,” reports Ranger Mike.
Lady Ranger continues, “We get about 7,500 people a day.”
“You mean visitors? But I thought the pageant’s in Manti?”
“It is, but they come here, too. From all over the state and a lot of them camp in the forest.”
Ranger Mike reassures me.
“They’ll be gone by Sunday afternoon. You’ll be okay.”
Mindful that the crew is waiting in the PTV, I’m about to thank them both again and excuse myself when I remember the question I want to ask. One of my recent blog posts raised discussion on whether or not it is okay to fish with a net in the state of Utah.
I direct my question to Ranger Mike.
“Before I came here I camped along Ivie Creek down by Salina. There was a man trying to scoop up fish with a net. I’m curious what your reaction is to that.”
Ranger Mike does not hesitate.
“There is absolutely no fishing with a net in the Manti-La Sal, not anywhere in the state of Utah, for that matter,” he states flatly.
“Except for cisco at Bear Lake, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. What he was doing is not allowed. He’d get a ticket for that.”
“What does that mean? . . . He’d get a ticket,” I ask.
“Well,” Ranger Mike continues, “If he had a good attitude, and, you know, said he didn’t know, that sort of thing, he’d probably just get a ticket with a $75 fine.”
I want to settle this question once and for all so I pursue the question further.
“And what’s the worst that could happen to him?”
“If the guy is belligerent or if he’s received a ticket before, he could be fined $1,500 and spend 30 days in jail.”
“Whoa!” I exclaim. “I had a feeling what he was doing wasn’t right. I come from New York. You mess with a trout stream in New York and you’ll be . . . . ”
” . . . shot,” Ranger Mike finishes for me with a wry smile.
Lady Ranger gives me instructions.
It sounds like she’s said these words more than once before. “If you ever see anything like that, contact us or the Fish & Game. Don’t confront the person, but if you can get the license plate number, that helps.”
“Then the Fish guy would pay him a visit at his house,” Ranger Mike adds.
I nod as Lady Ranger firmly points out, “We can’t be everywhere and that’s a public resource that needs protection.”
Tomorrow we break camp!
I’ll have to wait until afternoon to give time for the weekenders to leave. I usually don’t have a lot of energy in the afternoon — and even less so at this altitude — so it will be a challenge for me to break camp and move us up there at that time. I’ll count on my anticipation to give me motivation. I love new camps, even if only up the road!
Speaking of the road . . .
The road from here to the other campsites is very steep. It’s going to be one of the hardest pulls so far for the Perfect Tow Vehicle. She’ll do fine, I’m sure. Buying the PTV for $8,500 in the spring of 2011 was one of my better decisions. No matter what I ask of the PTV, she always comes through!
Tonight is our last night at Camp Bluebell.
I think Camp Bluebell is a better name than Badger Mountain Camp, now that we will camp at two sites on this mountain. I’ll go through recent posts and change the name.
About the sunset photo . . .
Two nights ago, I’m sitting at my table staring into my laptop (what else!), when a warm glow fills the BLT. I step outside and see what remains of the sunset.
The sunset photo fits for a goodbye to lovely Camp Bluebell. This has been a great camp!
rvsue
THANKS TO ALL RVSUE SHOPPERS! I appreciate all your purchases, including the ones listed below:
Progressive International Adjustable Bread Keeper
Wireless Activity Plus Sleep Tracker
And there it is….the correct answer according to the letter of the law!
The key word was “attitude”………….I can’t tell you how many folks talk their way to jail!
Love to be a fly on the wall right about now. hah!
Oh Cindy… I know what you’re thinkin’ 🙂
Again… The rangers have some discretionary power. I like regs that are tempered with common sense and understanding.
Hi. I saw your comment in the last “chapter” to me about our temp here in Arizona. You know I have lived in the high elevations of Idaho and also in South Dakota. We’ve had to deal with 8 feet of snow in blizzards and I now live where the heat is very extreme in summer. Someone asked God “what’s ya cooking?” and God replied…..”Arizona!” Here in summer you stay in AC most of the time but you don’t have to shovel heat and like the snow country you are kinda locked in during the times when it’s very hot or in the case of the snow folks very cold. In Jan. I sit on my patio in a tee shirt and shorts when it’s 75…..It’s just a matter of putting up with the uncomfortable times waiting for the “good” times…..Take care….J
I was a transplant from upstate NY when I lived in FL. I felt the same way as you, Jim, during the hot and humid summers . . . “Well, soaking up A/C is a lot better than shoveling snow and slipping on ice!”
Someone asked God “what ya’ puttin’ in the freezer?” and God replied . . . “upstate New York!”
I wish you many more “good” times.
And compared to North Dakota, NY is balmy in the winter. It is all relative and what one is used to. Not to mention with central heating and A/C, life is pretty easy these days.
What pretty photos you have today! Bridget in the flowers is especially nice. And Spike in the stream is a classic, of course. It’s great that you don’t have to move too far & hopefully the next spot will be just as special.
Hi CT!
Well, you know I think “Bridget In The Lupines” is a great photo… She’s my adorable little girl!
Thank you for your kind wish for our next camp.
I hope you enjoy your new campsite. And I hope the weekenders don’t expand into your space.
It’s nice to have you “hoping” for us. 🙂 A lot of the folks up here today were day visitors. I’m hearing one after another passing by our campsite on their way down the mountain. If Ranger Mike is correct, the campers will leave tomorrow.
If you ever need a good laugh, check out dogshaming.com The dogs pose with signs listing their bad deeds along with the evidence … “I decapitated the St. Anthony statue (the patron saint of animals).” “I jumped on the treadmill and me and my Mom flew off the end.” I sit wherever I’m not supposed to sit and play deaf.” And so it goes! Your two are saints, mud and all!
I’ve seen that website! It’s hilarious! It’s like the dogs were sentenced to wear those signs as punishment.
Click to see shameful dogs.
Whew, so glad to know the “right” answer.
Attitude definitely makes a big difference. People should always be polite to those who can give you tickets and fines whether they’ve done something wrong or not. If someone feels they’ve been wrongly stopped, explain politely. It makes a BIG difference.
“Bridget in Flowers” is my favorite.
A general rule to follow…. Always be nice to folks in uniforms, whether it’s the police, someone who prepares your food, the nurse about to give you a shot . . .
Good Advice!
Sue, thanks for solving the mystery for us about the law and netting trout there. I was very curious to hear the answer. This kind of wraps the episode up for me. 🙂
Love your mountain, your photos and your crew. 🙂
Yes, at last we have CLOSURE!
Hey 14 more camping days for the asking is nice—–and of course the most important thing is Our Gov is in full control , cause if you don’t ask (“mother may I or gov may I“) it’s a $ 275 fine , so I`ve heard …asking permission is so importance with our fed gov …….lol…………..PS: just me being sarcastic
Hi Mark. . . I hear where you’re coming from . . .
My last two posts are somewhat “pollyanna” regarding the enforcement of rules for our public lands. Most of my experiences with rangers have been positive, but I have come close to experiencing the dark side. I’ll write about that to give the issue balance on this blog.
I am a very independent person who loves your blog just the way it is ………“balance ? “I say this is your blog do what you like . Your talent with words is yours alone .
Poor Spike! Is that the best stream you could find for him?? LOL I know he’s had plenty of opportunities for nice soaks, but that one looks barely big enough for a foot soak.
And glad to know what to do about the fish; my only hesitation was in being sure of the law. Still say there’s too many rules to keep up with to take up fishing as a hobby!
I agree with you about fishing rules, although, I suppose they’re necessary. I read the rule book for Georgia streams and thought the same thing… It’s too risky to fish!
This morning we’re walking around the meadow and in and out of the shady places. On the way back we cross the meadow and it’s getting hot. Spike finds that itty-bitty stream… I didn’t know it was there in the tall grass. He can hone in on water wherever we go!
Awwwwww Bridget is actually posing now! The photo of her in the lupins is wonderful! And of course, Spike soaking is great! So is the sunset photo! I, for one, am glad you will be in the same neighborhood… I really enjoy your photos from there! Have fun tomorrow as your move to your new site!
I am also glad you sought out the answer to your “what would you do?” question posed for your readers a few blogs ago! Now we all know what we should do if the situation arises while we are camped in Utah! 🙂
I think I’ll go up the mountain in the PTV without the BLT, maybe around noon. I’ll take the air card with me and find a campsite with a good signal. I like the one I showed on this blog. There’s another one I didn’t give a close look. It might be shadier which is becoming important.
Your compliments on my photos mean a lot, given your talent and skill with a camera!
Nice photos Sue!
It was good to hear the Rangers say what we all knew was the right answer.
Stay cool.
Thanks, Brian. Too bad I hadn’t asked Utah rangers that question long ago.
When I was in college I received a ticket for shooting fireworks off in Tucson, which is illegal. When I had to go to court, NOTHING happened to me because I had been so dang polite and all I said was yes-sir, no-sir, sorry-sir, won’t happen again sir. The guys that were jerks all got $100 fines. It does pay to be polite to those in uniform.
Hi Allison . . . That’s a good little story with a moral.
Well, I was in Oregon, now I’m in Washington.
Well Sue, you did it again….landed on your feet in a nice spot. Good on you. I sure enjoy your travel and pictures.
Love your blog Sue! I have to say that Spike is an awesome doggie dowser and Bridget always the perfect little lady. I’ve been reading your blog for some time and am so grateful that you share your travels and pictures with us. I feel like I’m along for the ride! Keep up the good job and safe travels!
It’s nice to have you with us, Glenda. Thank you for being a long-time reader!
“Doggie dowsing” is Spike’s career. Bridget is developing her feline side, posing in pretty places. It may look like I put her in the lupines, but that was all her idea.
I laughed, because the first thing that popped in my head was Spike being used as a divining rod!
Sue, I love your blog; and I want to say that I’m really enjoying all the links to the Amazon purchase’s. I enjoy clicking on them to see what people are buying. Gives me good gift ideas! Or I see something and think “Well now…that’s looks handy…I need that!”
I have the same reactions looking at what readers order through my links. I didn’t know some of these products even existed. Every morning I check the orders and it’s like having a friend open up their shopping bag to say, “Look what I got!”
Thanks for the feedback, Linda. I’ll keep the feature going.
Sue, somehow I stopped getting email notifications so I haven’t been following you for awhile. I am so GLAD to be getting your posts again!! What a wonderful place you have found!
You are the BEST!!
Bob
Hi Bob . . . I don’t know that I’m the best, but I’m here and I’m keeping on! Thank you.
Funny that I hear from you this morning. I was lying in bed thinking about the day, having just woke up (it’s 6:20 a.m.) and I thought, “Gee, I wonder how Bob’s doing in Arizona these days. I need to check his blog. I bet he’d like this campsite. He’d get up this mountain, no problem.” I open up my laptop and here you are!
I hope you are managing the heat okay.
What a pretty girl Bridget is, smiling and surrounded by lupines! And the spot Spike found looks like it was a world to itself. All the photographs are just glorious!
Years ago, I worked as a newspaper reporter for a small daily, and one of my beats was the weekly Justice Court, the court that handled the Fish and Game cases. Those fines were steep, and the court didn’t mess around, or play “good old boy” with people who knowingly broke the hunting & fishing laws.
It’s so interesting to learn about local events like the pageant in the areas you’re visiting–thank you for taking us along 🙂
You’re welcome, Mary Ann.
Interesting about your experience covering Justice Court . . .
I agree with the others, “Bridget In The Lupines” is a keeper. Be careful of going further up the mountain in that thin air. Maybe stayed hitched for a day or two so you can come further down quickly if you don’t feel well? Whatever you decide, enjoy your new campsite.
Rosemary in PA
That’s very smart advice, Rosemary. I’ve been thinking the same thing. I haven’t gone up the mountain yet this morning. If I find the campsites occupied I may be forced to go higher than I’d like, and I don’t know if the crew and I can handle that altitude.
I’ve established a habit of staying hitched until we’ve lived in a campsite for 24 hours or so. What looks like a perfect campsite upon arrival can turn into an unacceptable one very quickly (like the appearance of hordes of bugs at dusk, for instance).
I’m so glad you asked about the fishing problem. I really did not think Fish & Wildlife would track down a single wrongdoer. I’m so glad they do! Now I know what to do in a similar situation.
Hi Louise . . .
They do need the help of citizens as it’s impossible for them to be everywhere all the time.
On our very first night of our very first trip in our RV, we had a less than pleasant exchange with rangers in a COE campground in Alabama. After a very stressful day (again, first day in a new-to-us RV) we were finally relaxing at our campsite, and we had a glass of wine by the fire. Unbeknownst to us, alcohol is prohibited in COE campgrounds. The rangers approached us, and even though I was as nice and charming as I could be, I got a ticket for $125. AND he made us pour out a whole bottle of wine. Personally I think he could have just given us a warning (it really was an honest mistake), but he said he was being nice by only fining one of us, and not both us. Oh well, I’ve gotten some good mileage out of telling the story.
Glad to know you were indeed justified in being bothered by that guy’s behavior. I kind of wish you had reported him now….
What a terrible thing to go through! And on your first day! I hate it when the memory of a special event is tainted by a negative occurrence. That ranger wasn’t a “spirit of the law” type, I guess. (I assume no alcohol is allowed because of obnoxious behavior.) Sounds like you’ve developed a good attitude nevertheless.
Yes, I admit I was relieved when I saw that the guy with the net had left the next morning because it made the decision for me.
Gut feeling is what I had about the guy fishing w/a net…right off the bat I said report it. Then I looked up the rules and there it was no fishing w/net unless at Cisco. The rule book has a long list of ‘do nots’ but very easy to read and follow…even has pictures of fish to go with description written. I’d say the rule book is equivalent to a driver’s license rule book. Every once in while, I forget some driving rules so I have to refresh and look it up on the web. I learned a lot from that post…i.e. to read state rules and/or ask questions before doing whatever it is you plan to do. I can’t resist putting my feet in water when I’m near water but in some areas you’re not allowed to do that I learned…in the Smokey Mts. for example you can’t put feet in creeks and streams.
It got up to 120 degrees yesterday in Phx. I saw a couple of dead birds..one in my back yard and one in the park across the street from me. I put several swallow pans of water out on top of my brick fence in shady areas for birds…within minutes I had all kinds of birds visiting/drinking from the pans. Looking at your photos brings me to the mt and the coolness…it’s so beautiful!
Hi Rita. . . The heat in Arizona must be terrible for the birds, especially with the scarcity of water. Good for you for putting out pans of water!
Interesting about the Smoky Mountains rule. I’d hate it if wading were outlawed everywhere.
Be careful in this heat wave, Rita!
Like I said, call the fish cops
🙂
Looks like you have found a “honey hole” out there in that area…the last week or so you have really had some great shots…take care…ron
You take care, too, Ron. I never expected we’d stay in Utah in June and July. I always equated Utah with unbearable heat in the summer, even though I’ve heard it said many times…. It’s all about elevation!
Another reason I’m glad that I’m almost 70 years old! I am so glad I was born early enough to have been able to ride in the back of a pickup truck without my parents getting hauled off to jail and me becoming a ward of the state. I am sad that I now must live in a police state where the way I look or act or the officer I happen to encounter puts my liberty or life at risk. I will Never travel to New York to see a trout stream now that I am aware I could be shot for stepping onto the bank. I have dreamed of full-timeing for over 10 years and now even though I have the RV and toad ready to go, I am losing the desire day by day. Too many rules & regulations to try to keep up with. I wished to frequent the COE campgrounds and today from your blog I learned they prohibit alcohol. So to have a beer with my supper I would have to drive my toad to a place to have a beer & drive back to the COE campground, makes NO sense at all. Oh well, I can’t sell my house here anyway so I might as well sell the RV and give up that Dream!
Oh, don’t be discouraged, Ernest. Everything is magnified in print. Good seems gooder and bad seems badder. 🙂
New York trout streams are wonderful and they flow through some of the loveliest areas of this country. Ranger Mike was using hyperbole when he finished my sentence. You won’t be shot. It’s okay to walk the bank. What’s not okay is fishing without a license or exceeding the limit — that kind of thing.
There are plenty of campgrounds where you CAN have your beer. And I think if you were very, very discreet (inside your RV with your supper) you could have that beer at a COE campground. Your RV is your home.
I think it’s always been important to be polite to an officer, even back in the good ol’ days.
There are many reasons to give up on RVing and there are many reasons to GO RVing. Whatever you do, be sure you do it for the right reasons…
Best wishes to you, Ernest. I hope you’ll continue to follow along with me and the crew. We love this life!
@Ernest: We full-timed back in the 90s. We lived in our RV only for over five years and they were wonderful. Family illness called us back home to a stix and brix. Turned 70 in 2012. Still had the “want to”. I cannot stand seeing the same scene out the front and back window for long. I get hitch itch bad. Health is reasonable, I can still get on the elliptical for 30 minutes. Husband is healthy. The chance has come up to full-time again, and we are going to do it. Writer May Sarton said “I suppose real old age begins when one looks backward rather than forward.” I don’t like to look behind me, might see the entity that the footsteps belongs to.
Amen. There really is no such thing as the good old days, other than in our very selective memories.
I rode in the back of a pickup too when I was a kid. I also got whipped as punishment, as did most of my friends. My daughters, on the other hand, never saw the back of a pickup, but they also never saw the backside of a whipping. I’d say they got they better deal, in spite of missing out on the ‘good old days.’
Ernest:
Could not help but share your sentiments about the state of affairs in this country with us living in a police state but like Sue said, get a fishing license and be above board and you are good to go. I, for one, would be dust in the road if I had your RV wheels. Just take some shorter trips and see how it goes. Since you cannot sell your home, you might feel better about having one after being on the road for awhile, maybe not but just trying to cheer you up. If you are looking for a companion, give me a shout. I hear most older couples who RV are not married and just do it for the companionship, no strings or hook and sinker. Perhaps you are married and “my bad.”
Happy 4th to Sue and Crew and keeping the dream alive!
Virginia that reminds me of the one about the classified ad a guy put out about himslf and mentioned he had a boat… lady responded with “Send a photo of the Boat”! I’d like to hear from you .. I don’t know if it okay to post my email here though. How about a blog I started after my wife passed away, maybe you would like to see that: http://paulawasmygirl.wordpress.com/2011/04/
I just noticed the little map. I love it!
I finally did it! I added a map and now I’m ashamed of myself because it took me so long to try it. It turned out to be very easy.
The location arrow isn’t it the exact location. We aren’t on Skyline Drive, but we are close. When I tried Ephraim Canyon Road for our address, the arrow made it look like we are camped in the town of Ephraim.
It’s neat that you can enlarge it and see roads and such.
Sue, lots of good info from the ranger, thanks for that sunset love it ,,
it is now my background… Safe Travels
You gave me a chuckle, John. Enjoy your new desktop background!
LATER . . . I set the sunset (huh?) as my background, too. Looks pretty good. 🙂
Hi Sue
Your photos of the sunset are stunning!
Have you ever considered putting your photos on SmugMug. You can sell them there and make additional revenue?
Don
That’s a nice compliment, Don. I really don’t think they are good enough to sell… and I’m not fishing for more compliments here. My standards are higher than what I’m producing right now. I have a lot to learn.
How fun to see my recent amazon purchase in your list! I bought the Mac Mini and was a little bit giddy at the thought of you getting that commission, Sue. I am a new follower but have gone back and read through your entire archives. What fun and adventure you’ve had since becoming a full-timer.
I live in Eugene, Oregon. Last summer my husband and I did a long drive to Glacier NP, Yellowstone and Grand Teton. We were nearly there at the same time you were, Sue. We too were overwhelmed by the crowds at Yellowstone. We loved the beauty of Glacier though. Hope you find your way there someday.
My grandma had a rat terrier named Penny who was her best friend. I’ve always had a soft spot for the breed. Bridget and Spike are such characters through your descriptions. I’m so glad you all have each other.
All my best to you and the crew!
Hello, Melinda . . . Welcome to my blog! I’m so glad you are with us. It thrils me to read that someone would want to go all the way back to the beginning of this blog and read forward. It has been a wonderful ride . . .
I was giddy, too, when I saw that Mac Mini on the daily orders list. Thank you very much!
When I was a kid I used to think, “What is it with old women and their white dogs with black faces?” Now I’m an old lady with two white dogs with black faces! LOL
Thanks for writing. Hope you’ll drop by often!
Sue, I just noted that Spike is white again! He’s so handsome!
Must be getting away from the desert dust.
Spike is Mr. White again! (But not for long . . . 🙂 )
Ernest, Don’t let the Blue Meanies get you down. Out here in the west they are few and far between. Get an RV and go camping on the weekends. Ask other campers if you need help. Before long you will be a knowledgeable camper. Especially if you follow RV Sue and Her Canine Crew. It is a simple life style really. Sue doesn’t have a fancy rig or expensive anything, yet she is a happy camper. Learn from her blog. Then the day will come when you will want to explore the west too. Hope to see you out beyound the Outer Limits living the life of freedom just like Sue.
Thanks Rattlesnake Joe for the encouragement. I already have the RV (Oldie but goody 1990 33′ ELITE Class A and a 1973 VW bug for a toad) which my wife & I flew out to pickup from San Diego and drove back here to AR. Then 2 weeks later hopped into for a spin out to Crater Lake then down to San Diego to pickup the custom tire covers the PO forgot to give us and then wandering back to AR. Sadly my wife who was recovering from a terrible fight with ITP during this time developed pancreatic cancer shortly after we came back home and passed away a few months later. I was so happy that we were able to make those 2 trips out to CA and she was able to visit with her best friend from high school for a few days and that her friend & her husband was able to come from CA to AR in their RV to visit before my wife passed away. My mom who was here in a nursing home for the last 13 years passed away earlier this year so now I am trying to sell my house & go full-timing. Don’t really want to go alone, but looks like I will have to.