Day 46, Tues, Oct 18: BLM lands outside of Goblin Valley Utah to just outside Valley of Gods
We left early this morning working our way towards son’s house in concho/show low area. First stop was Hanksville to hit grocery store and the old mill in Hanksville. David is a diyer/machinist/fixer of all things so he had to see it.
Our route was Utah route 24 to 95 to 191.
Our next stop was Hog Canyon intending to do a small hike there but part of it was under water and I was not about to get wet hiking shoes so we both said, ah, nope.
When left Hanksville a parking lot near Valley of the Gods/route 261 as our destination as we worked our way to our sons in Show Low/concho. When we were close it was decided that we would press on as Mali dog wouldn’t have much fun with her long line in a parking lot and probably a LOT to scrounge there. So through the Rez we went. Our stop at the Burger King in Chinle provided us with 2/two panhandlers…ah NOPE, get a job. I told the second one that social services could help him as he was a bit more persistent. He wanted a ride to Gallup…not going there. Then he wanted food…I had no chips to throw him and nor cash. The Rez also had two dead roadside dogs and about 6 more roamers most likely destined for the same. I REALLY do not like going through there. Most likely will avoid next time. We say this every time
We ended up at the Crystal Palace Gift shop after riding through the Petrified Forst east of Holbrook, AZ. AT 5:30, it was almost full but we did find a suitable spot. Across the road there are paid spots but I could not find how much it was. Someone said you have to go in an ask…but they were closed…supposedly they had electric boxes to unlock.
It was culture shock driving on route 40 as we had not been on an interstate since we left home early September. Also, lots of trucks and the road surface was POOR. We elected to go through the petrified forest to save time and not tolerate trucks. THAT proved to be a pretty rutted paved road as well in too many spots…REALLY needs resurfacing.
It was just about dark/5:30 when we arrived at our overnight parking spot at Crystal Palace.
Day 45, Mon, Oct 17: BLM Lands outside of Goblin Valley state park
Sunny, of course…mostly always this time of year.
Took a walk up the lumpy hill to any destination…not the arch this time. I didn’t last a long time as I knew I had to pick my way down…but the weather was perfectly great…not deadly hot…maybe low 70’s with cool breeze and cooler if you could find shade.
Campfire evening.
Day 44, Sun Oct 16: Temple Mt road near green river Utah to BLM Lands outside of Goblin Valley state park
We went to Green River, Utah to do errands. We checked out the Maverick for free dump and water but there was too long of a line up waiting…estimated at at least 45 minutes. Went went to Green River State Park $8 senior with no wait. Stop at Ray’s tavern for lunch…which was hopping…the street and all available spots were taken by rv’s or trucks and trailers with ATV/OHV. No laundry this time (we can go about 3 weeks). Off we went to the BLM lands outside of Goblin Valley…not knowing what to expect. We saw MANY coming north on route 24 (a good sign/end of weekend). We arrived and got one of our usual spots immediately…SCORE!
Camp fire evening.
Day 43, Sat. Oct 15: Temple Mountain Road near Green River, Utah
Woke to 49 degrees in our coach this morning…whoops we both forgot to turn heat to 55 last night!
After breakfast we headed off in jeep to go see Dutchmen’s Arch and Swazey Cabin (1921 cabin built to work the land near here). We forgot to begin carrying a gallon of water in the jeep with cups/dog bowl (OOPS) so we came back. David then headed out to Green River to get some better sealant/silicon for shower. The stuff he put on last time was not sticking to the surround and needed replacing before we used it again. He worked on that in the afternoon.
Walk with Mali in the evening.
Our near neighbors have cleared out…a one night thing!
Day 42, Friday, Oct 14 Friday: Price Utah Walmart to Temple Mountain Road
After early Quest Lab blood draws in Price, we left to head to Temple Mountain Road (off route 70 Utah and north of Goblin Valley). Our first pick was not accessible to our low riding class A as there was a wash that had been too rutted during wet weather. The second road we tried was a NOPE also as it was just a bit too rocky for us. We settled into a spot by a corral and made sure we were far enough away just in case farmer needed access….the best we could do with our rig.
We get settled and see 2 trailers out by the road contemplating where to stay arrive…UH, HELLO, we got here first. They picked a spot far closer to us on our little cut off closer than I would park to anyone out here in big land territory. There are other places! Some of them took off on dirt bikes hopefully to scope out somewhere else to stay as not much came out of the trailers. Fingers crossed they come up with something better…which they CAN find with a little creativity. Our choices are very limited with our Class A…former class C less so. NEVER come to this area without a plan B. Its HEAVY with atv’s of all kinds. We thought it was more so on the north side of route 70 (we are on south side) but it must get so congested there that they branched out. In the end, they set up camp…bummer.
Took a nice walk with Mali. Back to shorts and t shirts here near Green River, Utah…haven’t seen that in many weeks as we were traveling up north.
Day 41, Thursday, Oct 13: Flaming Gorge to Walmart in Price, Utah
Our 4 hours of travel always ends up being 5 to 6! But today we took FR 8 on the west side of Flaming Gorge to 530 south to 44 to 191. It was a scenic ride and chock full of up, up, ups and down, down, down and many weavy windy roads added. At the top we got a magnificient view of Flaming gorge. We arrived at the Walmart in Price around 4pm but first there was a general delivery pick up at the post office.
Walmart shopping/minimal and just relaxing…early to bed for me.
Day 40, Wednesday, Oct 12: Flaming Gorge/west side.
Took a jeep ride further down route 530 west side of Flaming Gorge to see other overnight spots and look around. Walking with Mali. We are the only people here! Lovely views of the reservoir…breezy but protected by the Tamarisk shrubs. David worked on adding some air to tires with our little compressor…
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Day 39, Tuesday, October 11: Big Sandy Recreation Area WY to FR 008/Flaming Gorge
Left midmorning from Big Sandy and after errands (dumping/water, propane, Walmart) we ended up on the west side of Flaming Gorge. We’ve been to the east side several times and enjoyed it but Class A would not do that rutted road. Forest Road 008 was much better and we easily found a spot…many minor paths/roads that were skinny but all we needed was one for us. A WINDY day, getting blown all over…had david known it was going to be this blowy he would have waited a day.
Woke to beep, beep, beep, beep. We ran out of propane in the 20 pounder we are using. Went outside and switched it to onboard tank. It was 51 degrees in coach when I caught it…COLD. Temp is set at 55 at night and window was open by my head.
Took a jeep ride to check out the area.
Day 37, October 9: Big Sandy Recreation Area WY
Lovely sunrise and moon set this morning/no pictures. About 30 degrees outside…tank heaters on and David’s improvements to exposed pipes (wrapping/heat tape and moving others).
David took off with Mali dog to go do a hike north of here early…like 30 miles of dirt/gravel road each way…ah NOPE. I have a husband and dog free day…whoopie. They were gone all day. I did floor cleaning, pedicure day, walking on the beach, reading….relaxing.
We think we now have our house fly problem under control. The 2/$.97 walmart fly swatters along with improved speed have helped a lot and of course we are no longer in ND, SD. Those two states with their large amounts of cattle help breed flies. Pictured Rocks also had the stable flies that loved our rv. Relief.
Day 36, Saturday, Oct 8: Louis Lake Road dispersed camping, south of Lander on route 28
The hunters were out early this morning but not earlier than me! Could hear them rumbling by. Wet bay with small heater measured 37 degrees this morning…tank heaters on and hopefully working. 25 degrees outside temp.
We also realized after the fact (last night) that this was probably Columbus Day weekend and that everyone would be out in their rv’s. We should have fixed our location one day earlier and less hunter/OHV oriented…oh well. My motto for the west is: “an rv in every driveway”…not exactly true but they have all those free lands to use…jealous.
Took a jeep ride to Louis Lake (about 14 miles round trip)…a fair amount of big rv’s (not class A) back in there.
Decided to leave for better campsite. We stopped at Farson Mercantile for ice cream and found GREAT/the best yet/free campsite at Big Sandy Recreation area. There was only one camper in this area and we found a spot away from that camper all to ourselves. Excellent views of the Wind River Mountains and reservoir (low, they are working on the dam). Mali can go out on her long line and she is finally in an area that she recognizes the small sage (etc) plants that house lizards. Now she believes that every bush has one and pounces on it hoping it will come out; but I have yet to see one.
We will stay here for a few nights here. We can receive texts and phone calls (Verizon) but cannot call out from campsite…a couple of miles away we can.
Nice calm night so campfire…to get rid of the firewood we got at Twelve Mile Beach! Probably have at least one more nights worth of fires.
Day 35, Friday, Oct 7: Glenrock Wyoming to Louis Lake Road dispersed camping, south of Lander on route 28
We left Glenrock early but not as early as we liked. We made a stop in Thermopolis to visit the hot springs/mineral waters. We WERE going to do the FREE state park hot spring but they only give you 20 minutes. David talked with a local guy and his favorite was right across the street $12.50 each for as long as we wanted. We went with that one Star Plunge. I am not sure how long we stayed. I don’t like deadly hot as I overheat and David can do hot for a long time. The inside pool was about 94-98 degrees…more than enough for me and the hot tub was 104 AT LEAST. We mostly did the inside pool because the outside was cooler. It was good but I think in the end it was a bit too much hot for me as I had to sit down.
Our next stop was to find an overnight parking spot. David had a couple of ideas and we went with Louis Lake dispersed camping. We should have unhooked jeep and explored with that. However the road in was good…the spots to camp a little rough. Our new class A does NOT have a lot of clearance…I would call it 6” max…the tailpipe is low and the “accessories” underneath are low. We found an adequate spot out in the open because on a Friday night most spots were taken or a little rough for us. We settled in. Hunting season we presume!
Day 34, Thursday, Oct 6: Elk Mountain campground in Wind Cave National Park to Glenrock South Recreation Complex, Wyoming
Left early this morning to get to The Mammoth Site to have breakfast and then see the museum. Enjoyed seeing what they had to show.
We had several (more really) possible places to do a overnight tonight but each one got beat down due to “NO OVERNIGHT PARKING” or we would not be able to put slides out on the side we needed to or not wide enough. This included the few rest areas we ran across. Out in the middle of nowhere with nothing around and you are telling me you don’t want me to stay overnight? David is less likely than me to just do it anyway until busted but then again he’s the one that would have to wake up and drive.
We were eager to get situated today as it was WINDY today and that is annoying and hard to drive in. Some beautiful scenery. I kept scouting for places to possibly pull off and end the day early but NOPE not much to choose from. If we were a truck camper it would not be a problem but then again we would not have the tankage either or the room.
Glenrock South Recreation complex has five free sites (LOVE FREE) and we fit and there is only one other camper here who appear to be process a dear or antelope. Plenty of places to walk too. I would stay here again despite it really being right next to I-25 (but taking about 7 miles round about to get here).
Walking, showering/AH and relaxing.
Day 33, Wednesday, Oct 5: Bell Fourche Reservoir South Dakota to Elk Mountain campground in Wind Cave National Park
A sunny day greeted us and we packed up and left.
A stop at Walmart to refresh the produce and find the steak I LOVE…got all they had for freezer…Tri tip.
Museum of the Black Hills visit…which we both thought was really good for a small museum…some noncast/originals!
Our route today 85 south through spearfish into deadwood and then in deadwood or lead 385 branches off/take 385 south. 385 will go through Hill city…stop there. 385 through Custer and south on 385…it will eventually take us to Elk Mountain Campground!
Our campground for tonight is a bit of a disappointment. We knew that due to time of year the only part open would be sites 15-35. Two spots were open when we arrived around 3pm. We finally selected on in desperation. They are not that big and mostly roadside small pull offs. $6…only staying for one night. We JUST fit. I knew I didn’t want to pay for an rv park so Hot Springs, SD was out and nothing much else really. Hard time finding this one.
