Safari Tales

2012 Summer

This summer we did not really have idea’s on where we wanted to go. So we just went! Then it came to us. Many times through the years we have zoomed across Hwy 80. Always in a hurry and on a time schedule. So we decided to stop and really see Hwy 80. It was a good decision.

Our first stop was Fernley NV. Spend a day going to Pyramid Lake and also a trip to Virginia City. The weather got cold and windy so we hunkered down and ended up staying 6 nights. We wanted to spend some time in Elko, but there was a Gem show in town and every RV Park was filled.

So went on to Wells NV. We stayed at Angel Lake RV Park. The park is located along side of the Hwy. At night we enjoyed watching the trucks with all their lights on. Quite a sight! We saluted all the “Road Warriors” who drive those trucks night and day. I kept hearing the song, “Rubber Ducky” but I know it was my imagination. At the park there was a sign for Angel Lake. So one day we got into the car and went up on a curvy mountain road. Then we saw it. A mountain lake with snow covered peaks in background. This is a beautiful place and you would not believe it was there just traveling Hwy 80.

Then on to Provo UT and had a nice visit with my Dad and Vena Lee. My Dad is 97 and looks wonderful. Some memory problems, otherwise he is fine!

Our Son Rick e-mailed us that they and some friends were going to Lake Powell to Houseboat. Why don’t we meet them. So we headed south. We forgot about the heat of the south. We have been on a houseboat at Lake Powell, but never in an RV. Totally different views. We toured Glen Canyon Dam.

We are kind of looking at places we would like to spend more time at when we get tired or too old to travel as much. I had heard about Munds Park, south of Flagstaff AZ. Cool in the summer, so decided to check it out. Beautiful Park, great weather, and we could only get in for 2 nights. Park was full! We have found out where the people of AZ go for a cool summer. A very popular place.

Next stop: A place we found on the map called Camp Verde AZ. Beautifully maintained park. Nice trails around. One problem. This is a place where the people of AZ go in the winter!!! The weather was in the triple digits every day! We stayed inside with the A/C during the day and sat outside late at night. Had signed up for 1 week.

Bob had read about Show Low AZ. A town that had been won over a poker game. The main street was “Duce of Clubs.” The town wasn’t very exciting; however we stayed in one of the friendliest parks we had ever seen. Most of the park people spent the whole summer there. They kept coming over one by one to welcome us. This was though 4th of July and yes, we were invited to a gathering. Really nice people. And we could only stay 4 days. It got so if the weather was nice, the park was booked and could only give us a day or so. If really hot, we could have as long as we wanted!!! Does that make sense?

Our ice machine was doing funny things. Then after a time just quit. So Bob got really busy checking, taking apart, and working on the machine. Even got on line maybe to buy a new one? For the price, I told him I would be the ice hauler.

We were in Navajo Country, in a town called Chinle. We stayed in a beautiful park with lots of cottonwood trees. No hook ups and fee was $10 per night!! This is Indian owned land. We were there to see the Canyon De Chelly (pronounced “Shay”) National Monument. The road winds around the top of this canyon where Indian families have passed their land from generation to generation. The only way you can get into the canyon is with a Navajo guide. Well worth seeing. Very hot there and ice was at a premium. We had filled all small containers with water and froze them in freezer. Then one evening we heard the click of ice machine working! We got excited and high fived each other. We were saved! Next day nothing. One evening we were sitting outside and 2 Navajo boys came over. We started talking to them. They had been out selling their family made earrings and had some left. I picked out what I wanted, the Bob said, “We’ll take them all.” Guess what all the girls will be getting for Christmas! From there we went to Flaming Gorge Recreation area. Stayed in a small park in Dutch John UT.

We were getting tired of all the hot weather. We had heard of a park in Dolores CO called Priest Gulch elevation over 8000 feet. Beautiful country and park. Perfect weather for 3 days, then afternoon thunder showers for a few days, then rain all day. We had signed up for a week, then wanted to stay a while longer till the rain cleared up, but would have to move, so we disconnected and headed out. We took Hwy 145 north close to Telluride and up to Grand Junction. What magnificent scenery. It was a very long drive, but we both agreed that we would have to see it again.

We had seen the Colorado Monument Canyon in Fruita, but wanted to see it again. Stayed a week.

Angel Lake Wells NV

Lake Powell from camp site

Korkie & Emma driving Houseboat!

Headed up into WY and stayed in Kemmerer. This is where Mr. J C Penney lived and started his very first store which is still in business and I did some shopping in it. This is also the world’s largest deposit of freshwater fossils from a 60 million year old dry lake bed. We met a man in our park that made a career of digging for fossils. He had sold pieces to museums all over the world. He gave us a fish fossil and we are giving to Granddaughter Claire.

Started heading west and went to Elko NV. Found a really nice park and stayed a week. Saw some amazing sights in the Ruby Mountains. This is my birth place and a really great place to visit. Next time you are in Elko, check out the museum. Quite a place.

We were getting tired and wanted to find somewhere we could just vegetate for a while. Needed some cooler weather. It had been a hot summer so far.

We found the Rivers Edge RV Park in Clio CA. We are about 2 miles outside of Graeagle and 50 miles from Lake Tahoe. We drove over to Tahoe for a week end when the kids came up. It is a beautiful park with pine trees all around us and nice large lots. Plumas County is beautiful!

OK, we have been here now for almost a month. Not too sure how much longer we will be here. The park closes down in October. Also we are to be in Pleasanton for Bob’s 55 year HS reunion in September. We will be spending a week or so in Pleasanton, visiting with our families then will head home to DHS. Oh, and the ice machine has a mind of its own. It works perfect on RV power, but does not work on shore power so we disconnect the power during the night and Voilà!, ice in the AM! Works for us.

So it has been a lovely summer. Saw some wonderful places. Looking forward to heading home to DHS again.