Evanston to Rawlins, WY

First, I knew there was something I forgot to post about in yesterday's blog but was too tired to worry about it. Remember I mentioned those wheel deep potholes...well, other than the normal things that fell (stuff on walls, etc), the rig shook so much that:

1. It vibrated my Fantastic Fan enough that it slightly opened and the fan turned on
2. I lost a screw out of the return air vent on the A/C
3. When I got to the park, I had no propane.
   

Needless to say, not having propane was the biggest thing...I noticed it because the check light was on the frig and the temp was way too warm. Then I realized the water heater never fired. So I did what little troubleshooting I could think of...reset the propane sensor, checked to be sure I had propane and that the Extend-a-Stay hadn't vibrated loose. Nothing.

Since it was after 4 on a Friday, I knew I'd better do something quick or I could be without for a while. I walked back to the office and asked the host if she knew anyone might be able to come out and take a look at it. She volunteered her father (he built the park and ran it for years) and called him. He walked over and we went through the basics. He had me try to light the stove...nothing. Then he checked to be sure gas was flowing from the talk to the Extend-a-Stay. Plenty of pressure there. Then he started tracing out the wires, figuring out that they were connected to the propane sensor (and I had already learned that it would shut down the flow if there were a leak). He found a loose connection around the side of "something", LOL, and tightened it with his fingers. I reset the sensor inside and it worked! Phew...one more thing added to my troubleshooting list.

This morning I hit the road at 10am, after getting gas. You'll NEVER guess what the first vehicle was to pass me after pulling onto the highway....



Several people have either commented or emailed me...seems as though this is some type of tour bus. When it pulled past me I noticed people sitting in the windows so made that assumption myself.

The ride was fairly boring since it was all interstate, but there were some scenic areas. The giant wind turbines are always a treat and the signs and gates for road closures another reminder of what winter is like in this area.



One of the prettiest section was the west side of Green River. I saw that area when I was touring in 2005 on my motorcycle...I met up with a lady rider friend in Rock Springs before heading down through Flaming Gorge (and had NO idea what I was getting into...LOL!)



I saw several trains today...some VERY long ones. I also saw my first LIVE wildlife, a doe and her two fawns. My previous wildlife consisted of 2 dead deer, 1 dead fox, 2 dead squirrels/prairie dogs & 1 dead skunk.



I arrived in Rawlins, WY and am safely nestles into the Western Hills Campground in an electric only site ($22). Wide open, no problem with DirecTV satellite signal...nice breeze and great shower & laundry facilities (not that I used them but did check them out).



Tomorrow I head to Buffalo, WY where I will be staying at the Big Horn Mountains Campground for three days before moving on to Gillette and the Escapade. I have some friends already there and they've invited me to dinner.

NOTE: For more photos from today, visit my SmugMug gallery.

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

...and today is

What a day...felt like Thursday but maybe it was Saturday, but no, it was actually Friday. It was nice to wake before 7 and not have the sun shining in brightly already. I hoped to get on the road by 10 so fell asleep for a little longer. Had a weird dream....someone stole my motorhome. EEEK! That was when I woke up....phew!

It was a good thing I didn't plan to leave before then...there was an endless stream of ATVs, trucks with trailers full of ATVs and people...all right where I needed to pull out. Fortunately they went their way before I was ready. I headed off by 9:30 and as I drove through Marysvale proper I realized that this was where I stopped on my motorcycle....center of town a little general store with table & chairs out front. I got a soda and an ice cream sandwich and sat out front to enjoy them. I thought it was a neat little town...I remember it being pretty quiet, no ATVs running around. LOL!

I continued north on US89 but made one slight error when I took I-70 to get on I-15. I missed that I was supposed to go the other way which would have kept me on US89. Added about 25 miles to the day but the scenery was still pretty.



Somewhere along the way a bright red vehicle pulled out on to the road ahead of me. It looked like a bus front with a utility travel (double height). I snapped a couple of photos but when we hit a construction area (one of many today), I got to stop right behind it and discovered it was a Mercedes and had both an international tag as well as one from Alaska. Would have loved to chat with them!



The drive towards Provo took me through some pretty areas and I even got to see my first Super C, a Gulfstream Ultra. NICE!



As I headed north the road quality got worse. I would have thought an Interstate like I-15 would be in good shape. NOT! Then once I got on US189 and went through Provo, I found some potholes that I swear were half the depth of one of my tires.

If you have never driven through Provo Valley, you really should. I can't wait to go back in a car where I can pull over more easily and enjoy the views. A motorcycle would be even better. I think it is some of the prettiest views I have seen thus far! I couldn't snag many photos due to the curves & grades.



I had two campgrounds picked out for tonight. The first was Holiday Hills in Coalville, UT and the second was Phillips RV Park in Evanston, WY. I wanted to make Wyoming but if I was tired, Coalville would work. Well, after 5 hours of bouncing, curves, grades and not taking time for lunch, I was ready to stop in Coalville. Only problem was....there was no room at the inn. So I took a 15 minute break, caught my second wind and headed off to Evanston (yes, I called to be SURE I could get in there....LOL!). I'm finding that I need to make reservations more often, at least on weekends.



It's a nice little campground, perfect weather, lilacs blooming and trees abound...of course that means no satellite TV but that's okay. I've got 6 new DVDs and am watching "Dragonheart" as I type. I got a discount for Good Sam and another 105 for paying cash. Works for me!

Today ended up at 278 miles, tomorrow will only be 205. I'm headed to Western Hills Campground in Rawlins, WY (yes, reservation made). Should be an easy day with more perfect weather.

NOTE: For more photos from today, visit my SmugMug gallery.

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

Made it to Utah!

Yup, finally made it out of Arizona...and back into Mountain time zone. It felt really strange taking the same route, US89, that I rode on my motorcycle the spring/summer of 2005. One spot always stuck in my mind...it was kind of in the middle of nowhere, just a pull-off beside the river with canyon type walls rising up on both sides. Did I find it again? Sure did and had to take some photos.

But to backtrack a bit....I set the alarm so I could get an early start. My A/C ran off and on all night...WAY too warm for me. I left the campground before 8:30 and headed north. Initially I was following a Class A pulling a Tracker (so will see it in many of my early photos). Eventually I passed them on a hill...imagine that. I think he was going for optimum mileage at 55 while I prefer just a little faster at 60.

Here are the first shots leaving Page & Lake Powell.



The first 50 miles were pretty washboarded, at least for me in a truck chassis Class C. Since I can hear my stuff bouncing around (as well as seeing my Garmin & Sirius Visor bouncing all over my dash), I tend to slow down a bit under those conditions....not that it helped very much.

No winds and the rig handled the grades pretty well. I only had to shift into 2nd a couple of times and never dropped below 40 (usually held 45 on the worst grades). The downhill grades were mostly 6% and taking it out of overdrive was all that was needed. I forgot to mention in my earlier blog about the wind on the way to Page...between Williams and Flagstaff I passed an accident. There was a fiberglass trailer that appeared to have been blown off the road and the truck & trailer were both on their sides in the ditch. Yup...it really was windy.



I pulled over on the wide shoulder on the north side of Hatch and ate some lunch....found out I had EVDO so signed on (first time of the day). Suddenly I happened to look out the windshield...seems as though I had parked beside a nice empty lot where there was a community of prairie dogs. I know those that deal with them daily, aren't so fond of them but for us visitors they never fail to amuse. There were several little babies but they always scattered before I could get close enough to snap a photo.



Speaking of wide shoulders, I know I'm not alone in liking towns that offer those....perfect for stopping to visit neat little towns like Kanab, Hatch & others. No hunting for a usuable parking spot for our long rigs. Thank you to the founders & planners....LOL!

Much more of US89 was heavily washboarded....my top shelf on the door of my refrigerator completely broke, my teapot wiggled off the no-slip pad where it has ridden for 2k miles without an issue, BUT my drawer fix held! WHOO-HOO!!



I arrived at Lizzie and Charlie's RV ATV Park in Marysvale, UT around 1:30 MT. The clerk was really nice....I offered all my discount cards but they don't honor them. Then he told me he would give me a discount anyway. He said their normal rate was $25, how did $15 sound. WONDERFUL! I paid in cash rather than my credit card as a thank you back. This isn't a place I would stay more than one or two nights but it's fine for that. Lots of ATVs and dirt bikes running around, sites aren't always level (mine is pretty good though). I hooked up to power (yes, the A/C is running again...) but left off the water. I have 3/4 of a tank and it's easy to work off that. Tomorrow I will try for an early start and hope to make Phillips RV Park in Evanston, WY. An alternative is Holiday Hills RV Park in Coalville, WY where I will stop if running later or overly tired. It's 20 miles short of Evanston.

One final note, what's up with the bugs in UT? They started in Page, little gnat like flies and have been joined by larger more irritating insects as I've driven north. I'd forgotten how much I dislike flying insects after spending 7 months in AZ...just didn't seem to run into many of them. UGH!

NOTE: For more photos from today, visit today's SmugMug gallery.

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

Passing along a sale....

From time to time I will pass along specials on things that might interest my readers. Just to be clear, sometimes they will be from an affiliate site, sometimes they will just be something I consider interesting. Thanks for looking!

Lafuma RSX Recliner - XL - Sale $114.95

Closeouts. Lafuma's RSX XL recliner is ideal for people six feet tall, or taller. It smoothly moves from upright to reclined, and adjusts easily while seated. Padded canvas seat and back are mounted to the steel tube frame with bungee-type cords for extra cushion.

Armrests

Removable, adjustable headrest

Folded (LxWxD): 42x30x9”

Height: 51”

Seat depth: 23”

Leg rest: 24”

Foot rest: 20”

Capacity: 330 lb.

Weight: 21 lb.

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna