August 6, 2017 Deer me...

August 6, 2017

I saw this big strange dog yesterday.  Then I saw it again today.  My humans let me out without tying me up, so I took a few steps towards the dog.  It walked towards me.  Ohhh, it is bigger than I thought, so I just froze.  I am a bit of a scaredy cat!  I was ready to run inside, but it didn’t seem mean.  It came a little closer.  I just watched it.  It came and sniffed at me.  I just watched it.  Then it left and one of its friends wanted to get closer to me but was scared.

This morning, we had early coffee outside of Hannah.  The deer that visited us yesterday came by with a friend and a baby.  They were totally intrigued with Rudy.  He just froze and let one of them come right up to him.  She was engrossed with this new critter.  They actually sniffed noses before she walked away.  Several people in the campground took pictures of the exchange.  Our boy… the centerfold!

We then took a hike up the Fremont River Trail.  It is almost a 3 mile roundtrip to a lookout.  It follows the Fremont River (who would figure that out…) along a narrow flat trail, then the climb begins.  The narrow trail crawls up along a ledge with stunning views.  The roar of the red river below is a soothing sound.  About a mile into the trail, it veers away from the river, climbing some more to a lookout point.  The silence is beautiful as is the scenery.  We were alone on top of the world.  Alas, we headed back down.  As we passed one of the many orchards, Spouse picked some more fruit for the deer.

I love the trees along the way.  There are ponderosa pines with their twisted limbs like a bristlecone.  They thrive in harsh conditions… could my backyard be harsh enough?  And then there are ancient cottonwoods with enormous and gnarly trunks.  The stories they could tell…

We readied Hannah for her next adventure.  We head west on rt. 24 through the town of Bricknell.  This was a Twilight Zone experience…  in the mile and a half drive through the town, we did not see a single human, nor a single moving vehicle.  It was as if the town’s occupants had been zapped up to the mothership! The scenery is beautiful.  It is high plains with farms surrounded by higher plains and mountains.  A sheep farm here, a few buffalo there.  We turned north onto rte. 72.

We almost thought that this couldn’t be the right road as it was so small.  Once we passed the town of Fremont, there was no longer a line delineating the middle of the road.  We were on our honor.  We began to climb up a magnificent plateau through the FishLake National Forest.  It was magical.  It was green and beautiful.  To the west, the plains rose till they hit the sky.  To the east, there were mountains studded with pine trees and plains scrub.  It was wide open and spectacular.  It was open range so we did have to stop a few times for cattle to cross the road.  This is definitely the road less traveled and we loved every moment of it.  Eventually, it turned a bit more mountainous as we approached I70.  This was a true treasure of a find.  This one pegs the WOW-o-meter!

When rte. 72 ended, we crossed I70 on rte. 10 north.  As beautiful as rte. 72 was, this is… not! On the horizon to the west are dramatic buttes.  To the west, the plains rise and disappear into the sky.   It is gray and tan and rather boring.  We pass through a few small towns.  Thankfully, a farm would add some green to the landscape.  This kind of pegged the bore-o-meter.

At the town of Price (no doubt it was named after our friends Vicky and Butch), we had a gourmet lunch (Taco Bell) then north on 6 to 191 north.  Once again, at the start, the road was small, but it got a bit bigger.  We wound though some buttes, which then turned into piney mountains.  The summit is 9,114 feet.  We landed in the city of Duchesne (pronounced ‘du-shayne’) in a cute RV park at Lake Starvation.   Fortunately, it is quite windy, thus the lake is not glassed out.  I hate missing out on primo water skiing…

 For the last few days, we have not had cell service, let alone internet.  And we still don’t have internet.  I will post these blogs one of these days…

August 5, 2017 Water oops...

August 5, 2017

I fell asleep and then I heard my humans playing a game.  I came to them and they had all sorts of toys on the table.  I wanted to play too so I jumped on the table.  My paternal human picked me up and put me on the floor!  How rude!  I jumped on the chair next to my maternal human.  She wouldn’t let me play on the table either.  I even turned on my purr box real high.  So I chased one of my own toys.  Then I scratched the couch…  that ought to fix ‘em…  they yelled!

I woke up with a headache.  DRUGS – NOW!  Was it going to be the big one?  It was close, but the drugs kicked in.  I rested… Spouse slept in.  We finally got moving around 8:30 just as generator guy turned up the noise.  We took a hike to Singletree Falls.  The trailhead is in our campground.  It was not more than a mile roundtrip, but it was very steep and rocky.  We are at roughly 9,000 feet elevation, so it definitely got our hearts pounding!

It is a narrow trail that winds across the ponderosa, through stands of aspens and along a ridge with spectacular views of the rocky landscape.  Did I mention it was steep?  The waterfall cascaded onto the rocks then down the canyon.  Then we climbed back up.  It was steep…

Back to Hannah, we made a good breakfast and by the time she was ready to leave, it was already 11 am.  Continuing east on rte. 12, we wound our way through the piney mountains, coming down in elevation.  Then we saw them… the vermillion cliffs of Capitol Reef National Park.  We weren’t planning to go there.  We need to turn left…  The cliffs are screaming their presence!  They command us to turn right.  NOOOO!!!    They are demanding that we go to them.  But NO!  We are going the other way.  It was out of our control…  The truck turned right.  We were caught in their spell.   We could not escape their seduction.

After a mere 30 miles of driving, we pulled into the campground at Capitol Reef.  There are no hookups, and we were low on water, so Spouse saw a spigot nearby and hooked up.  As he is filling our tank, he thought he better make sure the water is potable.  Normally it is marked if it is not potable, but NOT THIS TIME!  The water was already in the tank and now the tank is contaminated!  ARGH!  Spouse put some bleach in the tank.  Then we disconnected and went cruising around, giving the bleach some time to disinfect.

Capitol Reef is not a big park.  There are lots of orchards, we picked some apples and pears.   There are some petroglyphs that we had seen before.  We cruised out of the park and it looked like a gray moonscape.  We saw a town on the map and thought we would check it out.  We put it in the GPS, she took us there… alas there was no town!  We took a road for a few miles that would have taken us 66 miles to Bullfrog marina at Lake Powell.  We have been there in our boat, it would have been a whole lot different coming by land, but we didn’t want to go that far.  We went back and dealt with our water crisis.

We towed Hannah over to the dump station.  We drained the bleachy tank.  We filled the tank and added bleach again.  We drove Hannah to slosh it around.  We drained her again.  We filled her… if you don’t hear from us, we are poisoned in Hannah somewhere in the wild west!

We definitely needed a cocktail hour.  A deer came and visited us.  Rudy kept his eyes on her.  We gave her some of our apples that we picked.  She liked that.  We ate dinner then decided to hike the Cohab Trail to the lookout points.  I was told it is a good hike to do in the evening.  There is a cloud cover, maybe even the threat of a little rain, but the temps are in the 70s and there is a nice breeze.

The Cohab Trail is across the street from the campground.  The first .3 of a mile is uphill…  steep uphill.  We walk 200 steps, then rest.  Walk another 100 steps, then rest.  Our hearts are pounding.  The elevation here is about 5400 feet.  Slowly we climb.  Four guys in their twenties hoofed it past us at a brisk pace and they weren’t even breathing heavily.  Whippersnappers…  We continued our slow climb, then the trail leveled out along a ridge.  It then winded around through a wash with pink sand, over rock faces, up and down.  We then climbed up to the north lookout.  From here, there are stunning views of the valley below, as well as the buttes and mesas all around.  Retracing our steps back, we got back to Hannah at nearly 8:30.  The deer was here again.  There was still a little daylight, but we timed it just right.

Ok, Spouse bought a new thermos.  He loves this thermos and filled it for our Cohab hike.  Given the length of the hike, we figured we could share the one bottle.  Which was almost ok… but Spouse didn’t want to carry the weight of a full bottle so he didn’t fill it!  And I didn’t know that until we were out of water about half way down.  Did you hear me yell?  Mr. Survivalist, Mr. Doesn’t go to the bathroom without a GPS, Mr. never be unprepared… yeah, that guy wouldn’t add a couple more ounces of water to the thermos…

August 4, 2017 The beauty of hwy 12

August 4, 2017

I have decided I am going to keep this batch of humans.  They take good care of me.  I have them trained pretty well too.  Yep, I will keep these humans, yes I will.

My morning walk took me out and about some back dirt roads through the pine trees.  It is cool and it smells good.  Spouse rode his bike.  When we got back, we readied Hannah for her next journey.

Leaving Bryce, we turned east on hwy. 12.  This is an incredibly scenic drive.  The red rock hoodoos guided us along, turning us over to the ocher hoodoos.  The red rock becomes a solitary striation in the formations.  We cruise through a valley with green prairie scrub and marsh reeds, through a few small towns.  The road has been newly paved, and it goes up then down then around.  It is flat, it is mountainous.  It is rocky, it is riparian.  At one point, we stopped at a scenic lookout which spanned a gazillion miles of rock formations.  The road then followed on the backbone of high ridge that was not much wider than the road itself, with drop-offs on both sides falling down thousands of feet.  Talk about being on top of the world!  We are at about 9000 feet elevation.   Breathtaking.

We winded our way to the tiny town of Boulder and decided to eat lunch.  The town had a restaurant – we had to take advantage of it.  We ran into the same couple we had seen up at the scenic overlook so we sat together.  Sara and Phil are from New Jersey and they are out here for a wedding in Santa Fe.  So, they are doing a whirlwind tour of the southwest, loving every step of their way.  They are amazed at the open space here and how you can drive for miles and actually get somewhere.  They definitely are impressed with the enormity of the west.

We parted ways and continued on the mountain drive, in the rain, until we saw a campground, Singletree.  It is not an RV park but the sites are big enough for RVs so we decided to call this home for the night.  It is in a beautiful setting with pine trees and fire pits.  It is wet outside so it is doubtful for a fire.  I also have one MAJOR complaint…  the RV next to us has been running their generator since we got here about 6 hours ago.  I am not against using a generator, HOWEVER, when you are in the serenity of a campground, it should be used minimally so as not to disturb everybody else.  I think they must be binge watching TV…  I went over and nicely asked them how much longer they would be running it, and they said just a short time.  I wanted to say ‘Hey you f’n moron… don’t you know there is generator etiquette?’  Fifteen minutes later, there was a wonderful silence…

Then Spouse and I played Rummicube.  I kicked ass…  Rudy tried to play, but we ix-nayed that!

August 3, 2017 Rudy Deja Vu

August 3, 2017

There are these little mousie creatures hanging around.  When I was on my own, I used to see them.  I admit, I had some fun with them.  These are just like those.  OOOH I want one, but my humans won’t let me run free.  Drats!

We slept in till 7 am!  I am usually ecstatic if I sleep till 6, but 7?  WOW!  (shhhh, don’t tell me that we are on mountain time now that we are in Utah and that extra hour is ‘fake news’).  We enjoyed our morning coffee in the sun with Rudy, admiring the flowers that I brought.  Rudy brought some catnip.  I brought the first orchid I ever bought.  It is a Phalaenopsis that I tortured till I learned how to care for it.  The poor thing fought to survive and rewards me every year with a pretty bloom.  The other orchid I brought is a miltonia.  I have trouble reblooming them.  Last year it bloomed while I was gone.  It was ready to bloom when we left and, although I don’t like messing with a plant until the blooms are fully opened, I figured I would take a chance.  Darn it, I want to see it bloom!  So I gave it a little sun…  we shall see…

My morning walk was a bike ride.  We headed back out of Ruby’s towards route 12, then west on 12.  There is a great bike path.  We wind our way through the plains.  Unlike the brown of Nevada, these plains are green, with wildflowers popping through.  Whites, purples, blues, pinks and various shades of yellow.  Buttes, mesas and mountains surround the plains.  It is warm with a slight breeze that is quite cool making it perfect for biking.  After a few miles, Spouse headed back and I continued passing a tourist outlet where you could feed deer.  Some pretty nice racks in the pen there.  I wish I could keep on pedaling without regard for the fact that I have to go back.  I need a chase vehicle!

When I got back, we moved from our spot into another spot.  People book these spots a year in advance so when you just pop in, you have to be ready for whatever is dished up.  Our new spot is smaller but in the woodsy area.  Rudy seems excited.  I am sure he hung out here in the old days.  He was in this area when we went back for him.  If only I could know…  Oh well.  We set up and then kicked back.

And then the rains came!  With thunder!  YAY!  Not good for a fire in the firepit, but I love the sound of rain on Hannah.  We did manage to cruise through Bryce once again.  It is a magical place.  It amazes me as we rode along the ridge how on one side of the car there is the ponderosa with pines and mountain scrub, then on the other side of the car, the startling red rock canyon with all of the hoodoos.  There is no transition, it is either ponderosa, or hoodoo canyon. 

We did stop at the visitor center for a minute.  That is all it took for us to go in, then run for our life to get out.  TOO MANY KIDS!

And tonite, I got a fine how do you do…  I use a sony camera for pictures.  Not only did Spouse not bring the charger for the camera, his new laptop does not take the chip for the camera.  What is that all about?  ARGH!!!!!  I guess I will get real familiar with my iphone.  But alas, the pictures from the bike ride will not be there…  I am sure you will contain your disappointment!  And I got keep my fingers our of the picture...

August 2, 2017 Is it deja vu for Rudy?

August 2, 2017

It was a long day.  My humans kept me in the little house that moves for what seems like years.  And once I got into the big house, it was so hot.  So, I slept.

The air conditioner stayed on all night long, thankfully.  I even had to cover up a bit with a blanket.  This morning, it was 70 in Hannah, and 91 outside at 6 am.  I did a morning walk before the sun got too high.  It was already warm, but the monsoonal clouds kept it comfortable for walking.  I even found an Elks club, but no RV parking.  Spouse is an elk now so we can use their facilities but this would not have worked for us.

We readied Hannah for her day.  Spouse loves to stop at the Virgin River Casino for their 4000 pound ham steak breakfast.  On the way, we stop at the Ace Hardware to get keys made.  That is when we started to play:  ‘Where is my _______?’    Spouse goes to pay for the keys and cannot find his wallet.  It is not in the truck and we cannot find it in Hannah.  We hunt, we search…  Duh… in his shorts of TOO MANY pockets, it is in the lower one…  Then we try to find my truck key that Spouse had….  We hunt, we search… those friggin’ shorts…  Spouse cannot have so many pockets… 

After breakfast, we head north on I15, leaving the triple digit heat of Mesquite behind us for the triple digit heat of Arizona.  As we enter the Virgin River Gorge, we dip into the double digits, where we stayed.  The gorge is pretty; rugged and steep.  The river looks muddy but there is good flow.  We stop at the eyeglass repair store (Walmart) where they fix my sunglasses for free.  We bought an eyeglass repair kit.  Spouse says he has one already in the bottom drawer in Hannah, but that is the ‘drawer of death’.  One will NEVER find anything in that junk pile.

We are headed to Bryce Canyon…  where we found Rudy 4 years ago.  Will he remember it?  Will it trigger PTSD?  We could cut across near Cedar City, but that is windy and steep, so we head a bit further north to 20 and head east.  It is high desert prairie with marshlands mixed in – green but desert like.  Then south on 89 for a wee bit, where a stream meanders through the landscape. 

We set up Hannah at Ruby’s RV park.  We are not too far from the area we found Rudy.  He is not too interested in coming outside at first.  Then as it got close to the evening, he got all fired up to go outside.  Did he recognize it?  He certainly recognized the little chipmunks – oooh he wanted one of them.  But we really couldn’t tell if he knew where he was.  Of course, we are not specifically close to where we found him, so this should not be surprising.  Spouse took him for a walk.  He is a total chick magnet!  HE is definitely our cat now. 

There is a threat of rain, so we will hang here.  Tomorrow, we have to move our spot, but we will begin our vacation officially then. And, to be expected, there are a gazillion kids here.  Fortunately, they are not by us!

The first vodka tonic of the trip has been ingested.  It is a comfortable 80 degrees with a cool breeze.  We can open up the windows and enjoy the fresh air.  Yes!  A little bike ride so Spouse can get some ice cream topped off the night.

August 1, 2017 The road to ARGH-ville

August 1, 2017

My humans have locked me in the big house that moves.  I betcha we are going somewhere.  I think I will use my litter box.  OH, now they put me in the little house that moves.  I WANT OUT!  I see my turf…  we are moving… I guess we are going somewhere.  I better go to sleep.

I woke up to Rudy pawing at me.  Spouse is somewhat awake so Rudy must figure I am awake too.  I am now!  It is 4:30…  I guess we can get ready and leave early.  We have a golf tournament in Rapid City, South Dakota.  We will head north on 15 till we get past St. George, then we will get off the big highway and drive on the roads less traveled. 

I want to water my orchids before I go, and take a walk.  I usually walk in Wildwood, but with it being barely light, I don’t feel comfortable going there.  Wild animals – most of them 4 legged – will eat me!  So up ‘butt burner hill’.  The sunrise is beautiful among the monsoonal clouds.  Just what I love when we are heading through Pearblossum… monsoon rains…

We ready Hannah…  What did we forget?  Oops, Spouse has to get a cord… what else?  Well, we figure we can buy whatever we forget.  Remember those words…

According to morning radio news, every freeway has an issue.  Our first backup was once we got on the 405 north towards the 14.  Apparently debris on the OTHER side of the freeway.  Argh!  ON we go… it is raining in Pasadena and points going east.  We get to the Pearblossum Highway, passing tons of signs warning of flood danger, but so far, it is dry.  A few sprinkles here and there, and on the horizon, it looks menacing, but not in the direction which we are going. 

We get to Victorville and take one look at the 15 north – it is backed up for miles.  Ugh… must be time for breakfast.  How about Richie’s Diner.  How cool is that!  Apparently, there is road construction about 3 miles up the highway.  As we walk to Richie’s…  where are my keys to Hannah?  I know I had them in my purse…  But I took them out to unlock Hannah this morning… I betcha they are resting comfortably back home…  ARGHH!  I see a locksmith in our future.

We eat, then continue on the most boring ride on the planet…  The 15, thru Las Vegas on to Mesquite.  The clouds come and go but no rain.  When we get to Mesquite, it is 113 degrees.  The good news is that it is only 109 in Hannah.  The bad news is the air conditioner keeps cutting off.  The good news is the casino is a short walk and it has food and air conditioning.  The bad news is it also has cigarette smoke.  And it knows how to take money from you…  And more bad news, my favorite sunglasses lost a screw…  Good thing I have another pair till I get them repaired.  ARGH!  And to top it off…  I have a lot of bills in my wallet that total up to about only $30.  I was sure I had more…  we will have to stop at the money store, the eyeglass repair store, and the locksmith.  And oh crap….  My phone book with little notes that are not in my iphone is at home… no store will replace that.  ARGH!!!!!

As I write this, it is down to 93 in Hannah, and the air conditioner just doesn’t want to stay on for any length of time.  This could be a long night…  I took a hot shower…  no, I didn’t use the hot water.  The cold water was hot enough!  I kept a wet paper towel to wet me down, and with the ceiling fan, I was quite comfortable.  But would I sleep? 

We could go to the hotel… but what about Rudy???  Could we leave our boy???  Even he is complaining and he likes sleeping on a warm car in a hot garage!  Finally, at about 10 pm, the air conditioner stops cutting off.  Relief is in sight! 

And all of this on day 1…

July 29, 2017

Oh lookie!  The big house that moves is here!  Let me go inspect...  My humans are moving things around.  I wonder if we are going somewhere????  I better make sure the don't leave me behind.