back in Utah, mutant fungus,room with a view, and mega box

I don’t think we’re in Oregon anymore, Meadow and Mesa.

Living on wheels doesn’t always lend itself to a schedule or itinerary (not that I care). I pulled off onto some BLM land one afternoon in Idaho. It was not great but not too bad (except for the flies). I got up the next morning and intended to sit and have a large mug of yerba mate and do some reading, since I planned for a very short drive to the next spot. Anyhow, when I got up I heard thunder and saw lightning so I thought it best to go right out, back the truck and hook up the weight-distribution hitch. I was two minutes from finishing up when it started to hail. I was two miles down this road with pretty bad washboards and maybe a quarter mile of loose, rutty hill down to the lake, where I was camped. I thought it would be smart to get up the hill and out towards the asphalt before the road got too slick. I then pulled over and heated up a mug of my morning drink. Since it was raining, I then just headed out.
South of Jackpot, I didn’t think I could get up the road I was shooting for. Also, I wasn’t at all sure if it was even the correct road. It was cold and raining so I just kept driving rather than find a spot and end up sitting most of the day in the trailer. I like to do the drives on poor days to be outside. As I was driving (& maybe because of the dreary weather), I decided to pass up on my intended route down to Ely and ended the day in Utah. Wasn’t even a consideration when I got out of bed. Go figure. I was up at 7627’ near Scofield. It snowed a little one night but there was a pretty good place for hiking so I stayed in the area for a few days.

It looks like a mushroom. It feels like a mushroom. It tastes like a mushroom (just joking). I came across this one morning while out hiking. I have no idea what it is. Maybe there is an old uranium mine nearby and this is just a plain, old mutant mushroom.

I wanted to check out a couple spots north of Moab but it didn’t work out. Next year, for sure. I drove to a spot I came across last year while out on a run. It was 9 miles in from the asphalt and the roads had water damage from the heavy rains they have had in the area (at least there were no washboards!). I like the spot (6233’). I checked out the map and went off on my mountain bike and realized there was a shorter way to come in, only 6 miles off the asphalt and quite a few miles less on highways to Moab. Maybe I can get Glen and Lisa to bring their Scamp out for a bit. Only saw one road crew truck while driving in and no one was on the lower road the first two weeks I’ve been here. Not bad. Hope to spend a month here and maybe move to another spot. Plenty of choices for hiking and running in the area.

You can see why I wanted a big back window. Talk about a room with a view.

M&M are all over the rocks on our walks. And after a walk, the table is generally their spot to recharge.

When I first started spending time in the desert, I was surprised by all the nightlife. Even now, when I go off in the morning for an hour or so, the number and variety of new animal tracks is quite impressive. Pretty cool. I get a smile out of it.

I have my stack of cowpies by my fire pan, so I’m all set for the evening.

While up north, I was told about Dave’s Killer Bread. Absolutely stellar bread, wish it was distributed in the southwest. Expensive, but well worth it. Don’t know how many loaves I ate this summer; probably went through a loaf and a half a week. I really do like good bread.
Check out his story on daveskillerbread.com
I packed 6 loaves into the freezer before leaving Oregon. The old Boy Scout thing again.

When I first started using solar shower bags, one only lasted a couple months, not even a whole summer. Or I should say, I trashed it in a couple months. Now I know how to plan for its weaknesses and maintain it. My most recent bag lasted nearly 15 months (I don’t use it from sometime in October or November to sometime in March or April). Not bad. There were even some mornings when it was a block of ice, when I forgot to bring it in and put it on the floor of the shower. No way I could do this lifestyle without a solar bag.

A pickup pulled up one morning and Glen stepped out. Remember I’ve mentioned that he is about the only person (other than Janet) who I listen to when he suggests a place to camp. Even after talking with people, they still do not comprehend the type of places I look for. Unreal. Anyway, we went off for a hike and I thought I was in trouble right from the get-go. Glen hikes ALL the time. We probably didn’t go 100’ and I was already 20’ behind. I adjusted to his faster pace and had a fabulous time. We went down into the area that is in the above photo looking out the back window of the Nash. It blew me away how close the water and cottonwoods were. I had no idea. The hiking here is phenomenal. We weren’t on trails. One works your way down the bedrock, meandering while looking for the best route; when down in the canyon, you’re stepping back and forth over the stream, ducking under limbs, stepping over brush, and when working up out of a canyon, there might be a little backtracking if a route dies out. All at Glen’s pace. A much more vigorous way of hiking than I’m use to. Pretty cool. Luckily it was only a little over 2 hours. Glen generally goes for much longer hikes (and he’s a few years older than me!). I’m going to start to pick up my hiking pace a bit above my comfort level. The hike sure felt good but I started to drag at the end. Thanks Glen.

M&M might possibly have the largest litter box to be found in an RV. Remember I had gotten a 10gal tub for them since Meadow stands up while peeing? Outside, she squats. What a twit. No way was I going to get one of those small covered litter boxes (cats must hate those). Anyway, in the 10gal, she could get pretty close to the top edge while squirting. Not good. The 18 is a couple inches higher. I’m thinking maybe next summer, I can empty out the litter, fill it with water, and take a bath. (^–^) M&M seem to really appreciate the new box. They can be out for 2-3 hours and when they come in—they head for the box. You had plenty of time to do that OUTSIDE! I also gave away the new bed I bought them since they wouldn’t use it. Over $40 gone. I’m going to have to try and remember why I like felines.

Meadow and Mesa sleep over 12 hours a day. They have their food prepared for them and their meals are provided at no cost. They visit the doctor once a year for a checkup, and again during the year, if any medical needs arise. For this they pay nothing, and nothing is required of them.
They live in nice neighborhoods in a home that is much larger than they need, but they are not required to do any upkeep. If they make a mess, someone else cleans it up. They have their choice of comfortable places to sleep. They receive these accommodations absolutely free. They live like royalty, and have absolutely no expenses whatsoever. All of their costs are picked up by another. I’m thinkin’ this can probably apply to more than pets.

I was going through my tote of 25 cent paperbacks I picked up last winter that I still have not read and pulled out one I had forgotten about, an oldie but goodie—Dune by Frank Herbert. I first read it back in the 70s so I did not remember anything about it other than there were sand and giant worms. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it again.

It’s good to be out in the sticks. One of my favorite aspects of this lifestyle is going off early morning for a run or hike in a new area; checking out the sights, sounds, smells, wildlife, topography, and whatnot. Exploring areas not accessed by motor vehicles. I go out the door looking to see what the day has got in store for me. It feels good; it’s a good lifestyle, and I’m healthier than I should be. Not bad.

I like the way days shorten more quickly at sunset this time of year. There is not the lingering twilight effect of summer nights. Twilight fades quickly now. The sky is dark less than 90 minutes after sunset. Nice. And being away from city lights, the night sky is like a vaulted dome of stars. This lifestyle has its pros and cons but the pros have the edge.

When going off for a hike, I generally head uphill. Or in areas like this, pretty much stay within a 50’ of the starting elevation and hike to an overlook and merely look down into a canyon or wash. Now after hiking with Glen, from time to time, I’ve been heading off downhill. Strange, but it has opened up a new perspective for me. I also find myself, on occasion, sitting down on my butt and scootin’ down a rock slope on feet, butt and hands. Yet another aspect of ‘hiking’ I was not used to. Sure glad I wear BDUs with a double-layer butt. The offset of this, however, is at the end of the hike, when I’m tired, I’m hiking uphill. Guano.

Well, there’s another page of mishmash. I wonder what November will bring.

September sixty minutes sixty years—2100 minutes
September Triple 18—pecs/delts: 1900; core: 2095; legs: 3780

When I asked for all things, so that I might enjoy life…
I was given life, so that I might enjoy all things.
Unknown

RVwest article ‘Following a Free Spirit’
FOR INDEX OF POSTINGS GO TO JULY 2006