I take Randys advise heading south along Flaming Gorge to Lucerne campground on Utah border. Side trip along the way and take a random dirt road eastward to edge of gorge. Flaming Gorge Resevoir sprawls out between cliffs. Prong Horns meander along as I find a plateau overlooking the water. Gorge looks to be a smaller scale Grand Canyon. I consider camping, which would be free, but realize my fresh water tank is empty. Pull out my drum for an hour of drumming. The antelope seem intrigued. They come in closer. Place quickly begins to bake from heat. Dogs are off ropes, free to wander. Dangers of snake encounters be damned. Continue further south to find a great Forest Service campsite called Lucerne on Green River. The place is large with sites along the river. I guess I’m in Utah now. It’s empty of campers so I get a great spot, #11 right on the river. A herd of wild antelope graze on the campsite green grass. Must be gourmet eating for them as the surrounding prairie looks dried up and unappetizing. Good for me as I get to watch and take pics.The one with biggest horns seems to patrol. When I get closer they seem to inflate the wings on their asses! Their butts seem to have wings! Guess they inflate when threatened. An interesting feature.
I pull out satelite dish and set it up. I’ve had it for a few weeks and haven’t used it.
To my surprise within 15 minutes I’m watching the Pope and President Obama talk about global issues. This seems bizarre watching this in the wilderness. I flip channels and find everything from Southpark to NFL. Antelope is staring down JP right outside my door. I wonder if I should be concerned? Antelope are running all around my RV. The bigger male is acting all horned up and chasing off the young buck. Are they teasing my dogs or are they playing their mating games?
GG is whimpering. She wants to chase antelope. Campers next site over gave me a magazine about boondocking and other camping groups called Escapees. Going for a drive to find new campsite, maybe a freebie.
9/25
Camped at waters edge right on Wyoming/Utah border near Lucerne, Flaming Gorge Resevoir. Place was completely empty. Just me, the dogs, and 4 antelope. Rangers mentioned the were closing campsites for the season. JP and I were chillin’ but the antelope have a strange effect on GG. She needs to stay tied or she’ll chase them. She whimpers and bounces around from window to window in the RV, finding best vantage point. Drummed on my hand made African drum for about an hour. Broke the ice with it. Was great fun. Ill want drumming a part of life.
After breakfast I pack up and go into Manila, Utah another tiny town on the way to Moab. These towns are in varying shape. Some are half boarded up and about to blow away. Most have a diner, a gas station, an auto shop, and maybe a hardware store.
I continue on to Vernal and spot the Sheep Creek Loop scenic drive turn I’d heard about from Randy and Bartender at Brewery. A geologists gold mine. Rock formations tower on both sides as the road winds through. Gotta feeling this is the appetizer for the canyons further south. Saw plenty spawning Kokanee salmon and a covey of fat wild turkeys crossed my path.
Near the end of loop there’s another sign listing 3 different mountain lakes, a few trailheads, and a campsite. On an impulse I veer on to the dirt road. Drive for 5 or 6 miles into the wilderness past Beaver Creek and on to Browne Lake.
Browne Lake is a bit of a let down. It looks man made.
No one there so I pull out the drum for an hour. Campsites are closed for season, but this would make great place.
Head for Vernal winding down a series of mountain switchbacks. Its after 4pm so I pull into an abandon looking Sinclair truck stop. Just 3 rigs parked on the 3 acre lot. Turns out the recent oil deal with Saudi Arabia has put a hurt on the fracking oil boom. Just like that 2,000 jobs are lost in the Vernal/Jenson area. It’s effecting Wyoming, Utah and several other oil producing states.
These small towns which were thriving just a few months back are now facing bankruptcy. Many blame it on Obama. It’s not so simple, but it does seem sometimes capitalism wins over national loyalty. Supply and demand is capitalism. Supplier with lowest price wins!
I get to take a shower at truck stop and buy a few groceries.
I pull out satelite dish and set it up. I’ve had it for a few weeks and haven’t used it.
To my surprise within 15 minutes I’m watching the Pope and President Obama talk about global issues. This seems bizarre watching this in the wilderness. I flip channels and find everything from Southpark to NFL. Antelope is staring down JP right outside my door. I wonder if I should be concerned? Antelope are running all around my RV. The bigger male is acting all horned up and chasing off the young buck. Are they teasing my dogs or are they playing their mating games?
GG is whimpering. She wants to chase antelope. Campers next site over gave me a magazine about boondocking and other camping groups called Escapees. Going for a drive to find new campsite, maybe a freebie.
9/25
Camped at waters edge right on Wyoming/Utah border near Lucerne, Flaming Gorge Resevoir. Place was completely empty. Just me, the dogs, and 4 antelope. Rangers mentioned the were closing campsites for the season. JP and I were chillin’ but the antelope have a strange effect on GG. She needs to stay tied or she’ll chase them. She whimpers and bounces around from window to window in the RV, finding best vantage point. Drummed on my hand made African drum for about an hour. Broke the ice with it. Was great fun. Ill want drumming a part of life.
After breakfast I pack up and go into Manila, Utah another tiny town on the way to Moab. These towns are in varying shape. Some are half boarded up and about to blow away. Most have a diner, a gas station, an auto shop, and maybe a hardware store.
I continue on to Vernal and spot the Sheep Creek Loop scenic drive turn I’d heard about from Randy and Bartender at Brewery. A geologists gold mine. Rock formations tower on both sides as the road winds through. Gotta feeling this is the appetizer for the canyons further south. Saw plenty spawning Kokanee salmon and a covey of fat wild turkeys crossed my path.
Near the end of loop there’s another sign listing 3 different mountain lakes, a few trailheads, and a campsite. On an impulse I veer on to the dirt road. Drive for 5 or 6 miles into the wilderness past Beaver Creek and on to Browne Lake.
Browne Lake is a bit of a let down. It looks man made.
No one there so I pull out the drum for an hour. Campsites are closed for season, but this would make great place.
Head for Vernal winding down a series of mountain switchbacks. Its after 4pm so I pull into an abandon looking Sinclair truck stop. Just 3 rigs parked on the 3 acre lot. Turns out the recent oil deal with Saudi Arabia has put a hurt on the fracking oil boom. Just like that 2,000 jobs are lost in the Vernal/Jenson area. It’s effecting Wyoming, Utah and several other oil producing states.
These small towns which were thriving just a few months back are now facing bankruptcy. Many blame it on Obama. It’s not so simple, but it does seem sometimes capitalism wins over national loyalty. Supply and demand is capitalism. Supplier with lowest price wins!
I get to take a shower at truck stop and buy a few groceries.
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