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Category: Saint George Utah

02 August 2023

Visiting friends along the way

FR & SR67 Kaibab NF AZAfter visiting the Grand Canyon and friends on both sides of the big ditch I continued this summer journey north into Utah to visit more friends.

Jacob Lake Inn AZMade a stop along the way at Jacob Lake Inn and bought a dozen cookies to share with friends.

sign border UT

cookie Jacob Lake Inn AZFunny there was only 11 cookies by the time I got to Kanab and my friend’s house.

unidentified dead dragonfly Kanab UTFound dead in the driveway Sad smile 

I’ve known Amanda since 2003 when we worked as Rangers leading cave tours at Oregon Caves.  Her driveway provided an amazingly level friendock (free place to park at a friends) for the night.

sunset Kanab UTI spent two more nights in Kanab in friends Joe and Tom’s backyard.  We walked into town one evening for some great outdoor music.

Kanab UTPainted on a street in Kanab

Monday morning I was at Ramsay Towing & Service Center when they opened at 8 for an oil change.  They don’t make appointments, but I’ve been happy with work done before.  Figured a good idea to have the truck looked over before making this summer journey of at least 3000 miles as semi-planned.  Three hours later I was ready to roll.

truck tabs in fun envelopeBarely mid-June and already pushing 90° at my next friends stop in St. George.  Thankfully she received mail for me that another friend forwarded the license plate tabs that would expire in July.  Almost messed up on that one waiting until three days before leaving home to pay for the tabs.  What would I do without friends to look over me?  Thank you.

hills mts dark clouds SR320 Pioche NVWith temperatures rising, I left Utah and high-tailed it into Nevada to explore some new territory while watching the weather, fire, and free camping apps.  I had so much fun visiting with all these friends, and a few more, but was peopled out and ready for me time.  As I discovered, being alone is real easy in MOAN, Nevada. (#MiddleofAbsolutelyNowhere)

I was going to skip this part of my journey but realized I have many friends because of social media, national parks, blogging and being generally friendly.  Thanks to each of you.  And by the way I’m still up for visiting friends along this summer journey.  I’m currently near central Oregon slowly heading north to Washington.  All plans are subject to change.  My posts are way behind real time, but there’s a box on the sidebar I try to keep up-to-date with current location.

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Arizona, Kanab, Places I've been, Saint George Utah, United States, Utah friendocking, friends 18 Comments
12 October 2021

Full circle: load truck-camper, Bryce Canyon, and home

grass trees clouds sunburst Skull Valley ArizonaNot even settled in to my new space in Skull Valley or decompressed from the summer season at Bryce Canyon but it’s time to load the repaired truck-camper, and return to Bryce one more time before I am free to do as I please which included Autumn color on the Kaibab and a nighttime bonus below Vermilion Cliffs.

grass trees mt sunset clouds Skull Valley ArizonaI was feeling perfectly happy hanging out at my new Skull Valley home.  Thinking about trimming a few small and low branches for ease of access and building some steps into the berm.  Ah, nesting.  Something I really haven’t done in a few years since Yarnell.  However, I needed to pack a few things into the backseat and drive to St. George, Utah to load the truck-camper.  And one of the those things was Sierra in a cat carrier in the passenger seat.  Didn’t know what to anticipate from that.

Quail bird Ferguson Valley Rd Skull Valley ArizonaTraffic on Ferguson Valley Road as Mr. Quail waited for the chicks to cross

Sierra cat in carrier Arizona road tripPacked the last minute things, including Sierra, Wednesday morning and hit the road.  She meowed quite a bit at first and I just assured her it would be alright.  Guess she believed me as she soon quietly curled up and went to sleep.

rock cliff Saguaro cactus SR96 West Arizona

brush mts SR97 West Arizona

tower Nothing ArizonaPretty drives on backroads are my favorite and AZ96 & 97 generally west towards Bagdad winds through changing desert then junctions with SR93 north through Nothing.

Dazzos Wikieup ArizonaMade a traditional stop in Wikeiup at Dazzos for a Chicago style Italian Beef sandwich.  The owner died suddenly on Labor Day so not sure what will become of this place.  I couldn’t dawdle as Sierra was in the closed truck cab and with no AC that was getting into the 80s.  I gave her a little water and we were on our way.

Hoover Dam bridge I40 West ArizonaBridge above Hoover Dam

After just a short drive on I40 I opted to continue north on SR93 and take the Lakeshore drive instead of more interstate past Las Vegas.  I try to avoid cities.  Miles about the same, only a wee bit slower with no semis and barely any traffic.

sidemirror Lake Mead Lake Shore Road Nevada

Lake Shore Road North NevadaNot much water left to see in Lake Mead yet I do love the surrounding landscape.  Too soon I was in Overton, Nevada making a beer stop for the camper repairman and back on interstate for the last run north on I15 to St. George.

Virgin River Gorge I15 North Arizona

Virgin River Gorge I15 North ArizonaThe Virgin River Gorge makes this a gorgeous drive.  Made for a long drive when six hours turned into eight.  Sierra was grateful to get out of the carrier and into her larger box, the truck-camper.

aluminum on truckcamper St George UtahWork on the truck-camper moved along quicker than I’d have thought.  Back in June when the decision was made to fix it, Bob the engineer took this as a challenge and project.  You may remember when I dropped the truck-camper at Lynda’s in August knowing the repairs would occur in the fall when temperatures cooled below 100+°.  His idea was to reinforce the front corners with aluminum L brackets and lined underneath with aluminum sheeting.

new wood truckcamper St George Utah

aluminum on truckcamper St George UtahOne side required a little replaced wood.  Not only is it structurally stronger than when it was built 25 years ago but it looks great too.  Bob said good for at least another ten years.  All I could really do to help was hold and fetch.

truckcamper St George UtahIt almost took longer to re-load onto the truck than do the repairs.  Just kidding.  But there is small margin for error loading a truck-camper between the wheel wells that definitely takes two people.  The heavy jacks could be taken off completely and left at home as I don’t plan for this to come off the truck again for a while.

rain fall colors mt SR20 East UtahFriday morning I left early, for me, and drove 2 1/2 hours through mostly rain and lots of wind to Bryce Canyon.  Amazed how much fall color came on in the last week.  The paperwork person did her magic and collected my keys, badges, and the all important PIV card that sometimes got me into government computers.  I signed some papers, got my final evaluation, said goodbyes, and was back on the road in two hours.  And thus, I am no longer employed and officially retired.  Or at least I don’t plan on returning which is all that happens for a seasonal employee.  Bittersweet.  Hard to say goodbye and glad to be leaving.  Especially as the temperature would be dropping with possible snow Saturday night.  And I didn’t plan to be there.

trees sunset clouds Wheel Inn RV Park Fredonia ArizonaSunset from the RV Park

Instead, I drove 1 1/2 hours south to Fredonia through more rain and stayed at the Wheel Inn RV Park, plugged in with heat.  I FEEL FREE!!!!!

Sage Flats & Kaibab Plateau SR89A South ArizonaBy morning I decided to drive up on the Kaibab Plateau to hopefully see fall colors.  I really wanted to camp in the forest but not with temperatures below freezing.  I scored!  Been happening a lot lately.  Maybe that’s because I’m following my bliss.

fall colors Grand Staircase clouds LeFevre overlook SR89A Kaibab National Forest ArizonaStopped at LeFevre overlook with a clear view to the north and brisk wind.  Wonder who I waved to at Yovimpa Point in Bryce at the top of the Grand Staircase.

16 DSCN0526lecwfbr Jacob Lake Inn AZ g-3

Of course a cookie stop at Jacob Lake Inn.  How could I not.  Been way too long.  Fortunately there was very little pawn jewelry to temp me so I only bought two chocolate chip cookies.

Fall colors 2006 Warm Fire Kaibab National Forest Arizona

fall colors Kaibab National Forest ArizonaFrom there I turned south on SR67 like I was headed to the North Rim, but I didn’t plan on going that far.  Wasn’t long before I was pulling over at every wide spot to take photos of the brilliant neon colors of Autumn Aspen all aglow.

fall colors Kaibab National Forest ArizonaHow I needed that fix.

fall colors Kaibab National Forest Arizona

fall colors Kaibab National Forest ArizonaEnded up driving almost 25 miles to the Country Store where I said hi to Robert.  Then turned around and stopped some more.

fall colors Kaibab National Forest ArizonaIf only it wasn’t predicted to be so cold overnight I would gladly have camped amongst all that color.

fall colors Pleasant Valley Kaibab National Forest ArizonaBut the afternoon was waning and I still had to find a camp.

House Rock Valley from SR89A Kaibab National Forest ArizonaAlways stop at the overlook dropping off the east side of the Kaibab Plateau for a marvelous vast view.  And that made me think I could just camp on the BLM land seen down below instead of paying for no hookups if I could get a space at Lee’s Ferry.  The truck-camper is self contained.

Vermilion Cliffs clouds sun rays BLM Hatch Arizona

Vermilion Cliffs clouds BLM ArizonaDefinitely made the right choice there when the setting sun came through the heavy clouds offering a magical light show on the Vermilion Cliffs.

Echo Cliffs sunset clouds BLM ArizonaThe reverse sunset looked like Arizona’s version of the Aurora Borealis over Echo Cliffs to the south.  The night temperature didn’t go below 40.

truck camper RV Echo Cliffs clouds BLM ArizonaNo particular rush in the morning though I had at least a four hour drive ahead.  I wanted to go home but loved the freedom of travel wherever I want.  Yet I also kept an eye on the weather and with cold wind headed my way I sort of made a dash south.

Mt Humphreys SR89 South ArizonaMt Humphreys marked coming into Flagstaff.  Loved the way the mountain is crowned with golden aspen and topped with a bit of snow.  That’s where snow belongs, on top of mountains.  Fueled the truck before town, then stopped for lunch in Ashfork and a few groceries in Chino Valley.  That’s how a four hour drive becomes six.

truckcamper & 5th-wheel Skull Valley ArizonaPulled into my Skull Valley home at 5pm.  Ah, homes sweet homes.

bumper rock collection BLM Vermilion Cliffs ArizonaBumper rock collection BLM Vermilion Cliffs AZ

 

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Arizona, Bryce Canyon National Park, Kaibab National Forest, Kaibab Plateau, Places I've been, RV life, Saint George Utah, United States, Utah fall aspen, fall colors, moving 37 Comments
09 July 2011

Great road trip but no license plate

01 Mike at LeFevre overlook SR89A AZ (735x1024)

At least not for me. But Mike got his new to him Jeep licensed in Colorado City.

02 GSES while dropping off Kaibab Plateau SR89A N AZ (1024x768)

Dropping off the Kaibab Plateau with views of the Grand Staircase Escalante.

03 Old house SR389 W AZ (1024x766)

Evidence of somebody’s dream.

04 JB's why I love chocolate sign Hurricane UT (1024x754)

At breakfast this sign says it all.

05 Stormy sky to the S from SR389 E AZ (1024x757)

It was about 94 degrees in Saint George, Utah. And I’ll have to go back in a couple weeks to get a 5th-wheel hitch mounted in the truck.

06 Rain falling on the Vermilion Cliffs from SR89A N Kaibab NF AZ (1024x743)

Although we watched the stormy sky all the way home we barely got a few rain drops.

07 Clearing yet stormy sky over the meadows SR67 S Kaibab NF AZ (1024x768)

Someone asked about the first image of standing dead trees in my SWF post. In 2006 lightning struck near Jacob Lake starting the Warm Fire which ultimately burned almost 60,000 acres. Now I see aspens taller than I am.

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Hi, I’m Gaelyn, the Geogypsy

I retired after 29 summer seasons as a Park Ranger, traveling solo for 40+ years. My passions include travel, connecting to nature, photography, and sharing stories.

I started exploring US National Parks in 1977 and 20 years later became a seasonal Park Ranger.  I’ve lived full-time in a RV for 30 years working summers and playing winters.  I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow old, other than grow up.

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