Sylvia's RV Journey

My last day, and heading home! I checked out the ranger's cabin at Jacob Lake, a national historic registered place. Its well kept, and across from the Lake. I have to say that the lake was looking more like a small pond, but maybe drought has been drying it up?! It was in the 40's here, so crisp, and cool in the pine forest. And still seeing the sad views of devastating fire. As I head out, temperatures rise, pines disappear, juniper and sage appears, as I wind around the plateau, driving down overlooking the Vermillion Cliffs. Its a new view in this morning sun. Its actually a very unique area, as I got another look at those cliffs, along with the mushroom like rocks precariously balanced. The colors are stunning. Its was getting hot. My head is heavy with the elevation changes. I camped at 8,000 feet. I continued on through the Navajo reservation. The shanty shacks along rte 89 were all closed when I drove through nearly 6 weeks ago. They sell native art and craft from jewel...

This was one of the rare first mornings where I didn't have to have a long jacket or hat on to exit the RV, first thing in the morning. It was probably in the low sixties and pretty comfortable, as I strolled around with Jo Jo. My miniature "Bryce Canyon" space was one of the top overnights that I have had the pleasure to enjoy. So another 5 to 6 hour drive today, as I headed through more of rural central Utah. I have been on Route 89 the whole way, and have also been fighting cravings (for days), to visit a coffee shop/bakery the whole time. I passed through many more hay farms, cattle farms, and grasslands in this area. And suddenly, there it was, in the town of Mount Pleasant: The Coffee Depot. So naturally I had to stop to check it out. I've been running low on fruit, so what a better way than to supplement my fruit deprivation, than with a fruit smoothie topped with real whipped cream? Heaven? Yes! Add to that a bagel with cream cheese, and a cheese danish, and n...

I'm so glad it did quiet down overnight, in this unbelievably pristine, and beautiful valley next to Grey's River.  I headed just a few miles towards the freeway to get internet connection and let everyone know that all is well. I was about to embark on a five to six hour journey, leaving at about 8:30 am. I debated, whether to make a slight detour stop at the Fossil Butte National Monument. And since I was so close, I had to do it, and I'm glad I did. This dried up ancient lake bed is filled with fossils. Everything from flowers, insects, amphibians, to prehistoric horses, and fish feces. The fossils are imbedded in flat slab layers of rock. No collecting allowed here! They no longer excavate in this area, as of the 1950's, as it is part of the national park system. However private land surrounding it still does so, and offers their specimens up for sale to private individuals, or museums, and galleries. I have seen these fossils exhibited, but never really understood ...

Well, the haze from the California fires are even more pronounced this morning. It's as if the Grand Tetons are ghosts now shrouded in mystery. It's actually beautiful, but I can't imagine that newly arriving visitors are pleased with these conditions. I'm disappointed too, but glad I saw them clearing when arriving. There is certainly nothing that can be done about these fires, for now. The whole area, within a few hundred feet, goes into a hazy, blurry, misty, foggy, effect. It's as if clouds of dust have been kicked up, as far as the eye can see.  I took a brief hike along Jackson Lake, nearby the campsite, using my hiking poles to navigate the agate glacier rocks. It was extremely peaceful, and mirror calm water, as the kayakers cruised by. I headed into the city of Jackson, a mountain town perfect for tourism. I managed to find a parking spot and Jo Jo was excited to take a walk. Eventually, when the crowds got thick, I had to put him in the kangaroo pouch, whi...