A bit more puttering about in the rig & some more branches trimmed today. Don’t think I will ever run out of branches to trim. Our at times heavy rains began around 2 this afternoon & as I am writing this tonight it is still raining. We have had us a fair bit of water come down. All sunny days predicted for next week with temps in the 60’s. Bonus days:))
In Tuesday's post I copied & pasted an article about the U.S. Government wanting to pass a bill to enable them to charge people for using BLM lands which are now free. Noticed some folks thought that might be Okay if improvements were made to some BLM lands such as adding water & dump stations. People didn't seem to mind paying if they had some comforts. I have some different thoughts on that of course but think I will just keep them under my hat for now.
However, ED had a comment at the end of my Tuesday post regarding that article. According to Ed it may not be as bad as it seems. I'm kinda thinking Ed may be right with his comment saying, "First, I do NOT support the passage of the Bill. It is just another revenue enhancement (tax) because the Federal government is broke and they are going to tax anything and everything they can". And Ed goes on to say, "Second, Escapees says "...which will allow fees to be collected for most of the "public land" that is controlled by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management". If you read the Bill, it does NOT allow for collection of a fee for MOST of the public land in my opinion. It allows for the collection of fees on SOME of the public lands that have been free. The free disbursed camping (boondocking) sites on BLM land that Al has enjoyed in the past do not appear to me to fall within the scope of the Bill and will remain free - for now. There will come the day when there is NO access to ANY Federal land without paying a fee; as is now collected at National Parks". Sue from THE MOHO AND OTHER TRAVELING TALES also left a couple of insightful comments worth going back to the post & reading too. Interesting thoughts from other readers as well.
Gaelyn over at GEOGYPSY had a question in her latest post which asked, "How Do You Process Photos"? In my case I use a popular photo editing program that I'm guessing most of my fellow RV Bloggers use. It's free & it's Google's Picasa. I have been using this program for years now & was first attracted to it by it's ease of use. It had a gentle learning curve even I could figure out. I did briefly try Adobe's Photoshop one time about 5 years ago but couldn't even get to first base in trying to figure it out. I soon lose interest in things I do not have a lot of patience with. In choosing a photo editing program one has to decide what it is they wish to do with their photos. For people hoping to reach a higher level of photography with a possible goal of selling their photos Picasa is probably not going to be their program of choice. I don't think one would find any professional photographers using Picasa. Not that it isn't a good program it's just that it does not have the scope & range needed on a professional level. Picasa is great for folks like myself who have no other interest than to simply post their photos in their blogs.
Chinle over at SPOTTED DOG RANCH has just completed her 6th book in the Bud Shumway Mystery Series & it's called The Ice House Cafe. Print and audio versions will soon be available. Not sure where Chinle is right now but I’m thinking maybe somewhere in Alaska if she’s still on the road traveling. Or maybe back to Colorado or Utah by now. Been trying to leave some comments on your last couple posts Chinle but have not been able to do so. We hope to be in the Moab area sometime next month just in case you
After publishing Tuesday night's post I climbed aboard our Google Earth plane & flew myself on down to southern Utah. Figured I'd have me a look around the Capital Reef area. Noticed Sherry & David from IN THE DIRECTIONS OF OUR DREAMS are in that region right now so we'll be following their travels with a vested interest because it is an area we plan to be sometime in October. If anyone has been in the Canyonlands, Escalante & Capital Reef or any southern Utah areas we would appreciate your suggestions on what to see & where to boondock. We have been to Moab, Arches, Bryce & Zion Canyons as well as the Monument Valley area of Arizona. All thoughts & suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Am particularly wondering if the drive from Fruita Utah to Torrey then down # 12 to Escalante is driveable in a 37’ Motorhome with toad.
Having been to the South-West for the last 8 years in a row it just excites me to no end when I already know the sheer beauty we will see there again this coming winter & especially on our trip down. So looking forward to seeing things we have never seen before & traveling through areas we have never been before. Just love Google Earth for checking out roads & terrains. Flew over Moab Utah & buzzed the RV Park we stayed at back in October of 08. Two ponds at the rear of the campground brought back fond memories of morning walks with Max, Checkers, & our little Cora. (Motormouse) I will just be soooooo happy to return to the deserts, mountains & forests that have given us sooooooo many wonderful memories over these past years. My head may be in Bayfield Ontario but my heart yearns for the great American South-West. Just makes me want to go out & saddle up that Motorhome right now & ride forever………………:))
GROANER'S CORNER:(( "Do you sing?" "Of course I do." "What kind of music?" "Aquapella." "Don't you mean 'a cappella', singing without accompaniment?" "Nope. I mean 'aquapella,' singing accompanied only by the water coming out of the shower head."
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Before my son could start going on job interviews, he needed to dress the part. That, he decided, required a $500 suit. "What!?" I answered, gagging at the price tag. "I've bought cars for $500!" "That's why I want the $500 suit," he said. "So I don't have to drive $500 cars."
You and I sure do agree. My head may be on its way to Virginia but my heart is back in the desert.
ReplyDeleteThere is boondocking west of the western entrance that you can see from the highway. There appeared to be big rigs when we were there last April. It sits north of the highway against the cliffs. There is also boon docking east of the park entrance but would Not recommend for a big rig....Nearly got my self in a pickle when I ran into swift water crossing the dirt road....It sure tested my backing up skills as I had to back up my pickup and travel trailer half the distance of a football field around a bend!
ReplyDeleteWell, you definitely want to check out Goosenecks State Park if you haven't been there before. Free boondocking on the edge of impressive canyon over San Juan River. Take a drive up the Moki Dugway too. Lots of jeep roads around there too, and spectacular scenery ;-) Your camera will love you!
ReplyDeleteWe towed from Kodachrome SP to Torrey on 12 and then out east on 24 into CO without any difficulty. Some parts of it might look "scary" to you, but hike up your big boy pants and you'll be OK. :-) That drive is forever in our memory as some of the finest landscapes we have ever seen. Can't comment on boondocking since we don't do it.
ReplyDeleteHave a great trip.
Goblin Valley State Park is well worth a visit. It's on Highway 24 between I70 and Hanksville. It is signposted, I mention this because our satnav wanted to send us off up a deep sand dirt road. Have a great trip.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are amazing as is... the black eyed Susan's and the crocuses almost look 3D
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ReplyDeleteLove the fact that you are gearing up for your trip to the Southwest........the excitement is catching .....it is such fun to hit the road.....don't you know Al, I believe it is a wonderful trait and in the bloodline when you crave traveling and heading out to the wild blue yonder !!! So much fun and adventure ..... And to think you, Kelly and The Pheebs have new wheels !!!
We too are just chompin at the bit waiting to hit the road. Not sure how we will get to the southwest yet, but will get there.
ReplyDeleteMy heart will always be in the east, although a part of it resides in Sacramento because I have 3 children there.
ReplyDeleteI wrote to my congressperson about the BLM and Forest Service lands but have had no response as of yet. I think it is more likely they will leave some primitive sites alone, both for tenters and for RVers, but if they install utilities then I think they should charge a fee.
We stayed in Escalante this past spring and while we did not boondock we did see boondockers on Hole in the Rock Road. We pulled our 35 ft 5th wheel from Escalante to Torrey on hwy 12 and it is a gorgeous drive! I did two posts on our stay in Escalante, here is the wrap up post: http://metamorphosisroad.blogspot.com/2014/05/wrapping-up-fantastic-week-in-escalante.html
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to all your great explorer posts
ReplyDeleteoh I also wanted to ask, with all the flooding we had here in az recently do you know if your home here was in any of that flooding zone?
ReplyDeleteLove the pictures of flowers and butterflies. I can feel your excitement - time is getting short.
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I agree with Chesire Cat. Goblin Valley is very remote and very interesting. Strange mushroom (goblin) formations, hiking etc. Good jeeping. Again, very remote, so have everything you need with you. It's about 50 miles SW of Green River and it's a good 45 mins just to get IN the park from the road. Most people have never heard of it.
ReplyDeleteYour heart may be in the southwest, but your camera lens is definitely capturing the beauty of late summer in Canada - great pics! Haven't been to the area yet, but from I've seen in others' blog posts, you're in for a real treat!
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