I am excited to tell you that shortly after my last post, we
received a call from our volunteer gig with the US Army Corps of Engineers in
Idaho. They asked if we would travel
there “unofficially” to await their season opening, thought to be somewhere
between May 20 for day use and June 1 for camping. I don’t have to tell you after you read my
last post (https://ramblingrvrat.blogspot.com/2020/05/coronavirus-cant-stop-nature.html
), that we jumped at the opportunity to get out of sweltering Southeast Texas!
My parents are prepared for the Corona shaming—they already
got a dose from Aunt Laurie in New York, who call us “uneducated”, “part of the
problem”, and “selfish”. Aunt Laurie didn’t
seem to care that we played by the rules.
Long before we started our journey, Polk County, the State of Texas, and
the State of Idaho had lifted their stay-at-home orders, and both states were
already in phased approaches to reopening of businesses. We took a longer route than necessary to
avoid Corona hot spots within New Mexico and Colorado. And by boondocking for more than half of the
trip (and not in Walmarts), we minimized our contact with others.
Aunt Laurie also gave no credence to my parents’ analysis of
potentially fatal behaviors. People
smoke/chew nicotine, vape, smoke weed, overeat, overindulge in alcohol, use
(and sometimes mis-use) prescription drugs, and use illegal drugs. Each of these actions come with known health
risks and consequences. Yet, people
still participate in these activities. Driving
comes with high risk of casualty. Yet, few,
if any, are so concerned about the possibility of death that they forego
driving or forfeit their licenses. While we agree wholeheartedly that coronavirus
is deadly, it is a risk factor we must each evaluate and act upon individually,
like all of the behaviors listed above.
It is about personal responsibility.
For those with compromised immune systems or medical conditions that
make you at greater risk for coronavirus or any future epidemics/pandemics (that is YOU, Aunt Laurie), we believe you
should take the necessary precautions to protect your own health. You do what is
best for you to be safe. We
will do our part to protect you by wearing masks in crowded areas and keeping
our 6-foot distance. But we must also
consider the small businesses that are suffering, people who are out of work, and
families that have lost the ability to put food on their tables and roofs over
their heads all because of coronavirus.
We offer sympathy to those who lost loved ones to
COVID-19. Every person’s life is
precious. But like Aunt Laurie, people seem
to forget that death is a part of the circle of life. It comes to each and every person, sometimes
quite suddenly and unexpectedly, like what happened to both of my human
Grandfathers, who died at ages 49 and 61.
Sometimes death is imminent and expected but then a miracle happens,
like my human Great-Grandmother. She had
a malignant brain tumor. The surgeon said she would live 6 months to
one year maximum, and most likely in a degenerative state. My loving Grandparents took her into their
home, hoping to make her as comfortable as possible in her final days. Well guess what: the rotund Italian lady who was to reside
temporarily in the bedroom of Mom and Aunt Laurie lived in it for 11 ½
years! She suffered occasional seizures
and found it difficult at times to articulate her thoughts, but generally she
led a long, happy life. Sometimes folks
are given second chances in life like my Dad.
A few years ago, he suffered a major heart attack from a 100% blockage
in his right coronary artery. Had it
been the 90% blockage in his “widow maker” artery that caused the heart attack,
I’d be fatherless right now. But it
wasn’t his time to die. My point to all
this? My parents choose to live each day
to its fullest and treat it as if it will be their last because they never know
when death will come knocking at their door.
They are not letting coronavirus stop them from living because of a fear
of dying. They will do all they can to
minimize spreading germs and to protect others.
(Heck, Mom always has practiced social distancing with her loner
attitude.) They love our Country, but they put their faith in The Man Upstairs
to protect us, not any government. These
are their choices, but they do not mandate others take this approach. God provided people with decision-making
abilities. My parents respect your
personal opinions--you do whatever you feel is best for YOU. As for me, I’m sure glad I am a stuffed rat
whose biggest worry is what variety of cheese to eat today!
So with that said, we began our migration to Idaho within 2
days of receiving the call. Dad mapped
out a terrific route that brought us a bit out of the way but provided
wonderful opportunities for learning, exploring nature, and viewing wildlife.
Since the Lone Star Coral SKP Co-op still prohibited
anyone but lot owners into their Park, we spent our first evening boondocking at
a rest area about 10 miles west of Hondo, Texas.
It was very hot, but SO much drier than Livingston! The air conditioner cooled things off
quickly, so Mom was a happy camper.
The next evening we boondocked 5 miles west of Alpine, Texas. It was a small, easy-to-access rest area right
off US-90, situated within the caldera of Paisano Volcano. We had the place completely to ourselves and
traffic on US-90 was light, so it was a quiet evening. And with
overnight temperatures in the 50s, we all slept fitfully. But had I known the Marfa Lights viewing area was just a few miles away, I would have insisted we stay there since Dad
vetoed my motion to look for the lights on our trip to Big Bend Ranch
State Park in March.
We traveled along I-10 West, heading for an overnight stay at
Dreamcatcher RV Park in Deming, New Mexico. It is a small, well-maintained Escapees
corporate park located just a mile off of I-10, with full hook-ups (30/50 amp
electric), large pull-thru sites and a clean, inexpensive laundry facility.
Starting back on I-10, we made our way to Escapees North
Ranch RV Park in Congress, Arizona.
Traffic was light, and with Mom and Dad switching off on driving duty
every 2 hours, things were going smoothly.
That is until we experienced a tire blowout on our Swivel Wheel near
Wilcox, Arizona during Dad’s driving detail.
Upon inspection, we found the hub was damaged as well, all because of a
faulty valve stem on the tire.
The tire
pressure monitor system never went off. Ironically, we had done a visual inspection of
the rig at a rest area just ½ hour earlier—everything looked good. Fortunately, Dad is handy. He did a “Rube Goldberg” job of getting the
spare onto the damaged hub. We made it
safely to North Ranch! I won’t bore you
with the details of the many gyrations required to get a new hub and new tires
over a two-day period. But kudos and a
coveted Rambling RV Rat 5-Cheese Award to Tractor Supply in Benson, Del’s
Tires in Benson, Dexter On-line, and Swivel Wheel for
exceptional customer service. And I
would be remiss without sending special thanks to the staff at North Ranch
RV Park. True to the caring nature
of the Escapees organization and their full understanding of the trials and
tribulations that accompany our nomadic lifestyle, they allowed us to stay an
extra night to ensure we had all the parts required to safely complete our last
1,000+ miles to Idaho.
We had stayed only once previously at North Ranch RV Park,
and it was just an overnight stopover.
So, while Mom and Dad were immersed in the Swivel Wheel project, I went
out to explore. This Park is a true gem!
The sites for transients are all spacious and easy to access, although
they offer only 30 amp electric. The
roads within the non-transient part of the Park are paved and are wide enough
for two-way traffic with plenty of room to spare. The home/lot owners Beautification Committee
works diligently to make the park a welcoming desert oasis with gardens,
benches, and art/lawn ornaments. As I’ve
mentioned in many posts, we spend time boondocking in Quartzsite, Arizona each
winter. And I love watching the desert
come alive. But we leave in early March,
so I miss out on some of the flora. But
coming here to North Ranch RV Park provided me an opportunity to see the
flowering mimosas, the blooming palo verde trees, and even the flora of the saguaro!
And there are lots of critters--baby bunnies with big ears, lizard-like reptiles (though much larger than the babies I see in Quartzsite), and a Mama quail crossing
a wash with her brood following behind (reminded me of the opening credits for The
Partridge Family).
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| He's a big fella, not like the small lizard-like creatures I see in Quartzsite! |
The Park has access to BLM hiking and ATV trails. North Ranch folks even set up a desert golf course back there! Unlike Livingston, it would be a piece of cake for Mom to do her daily 5-mile walks here! And I see there are quite a few empty lots for sale! I would love to have a lot in arid Arizona than in humid Livingston! I’ll have to sell the idea to my parents.
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Hiking and ATVing on BLM Lands right in the backyard of North Ranch RV Park! |
We left Congress and hooked up with US-93, also known as the
Joshua Forest Parkway. You don’t have to
travel to California’s Joshua Tree National Park to see an abundance of these
trees!
We continued into Nevada, staying
at what I consider one of my top 3 boondocking areas thus far, Cold Creek
Ranch Historic Site. Operated by the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), it is located in the Spring Mountains and Toiyabe
National Forest in Cold Creek, about 45 miles west of downtown Las Vegas,
Nevada. This place had it all—I think I
died and went to heaven! Spectacular
views that looked almost like a painting.
Easy access and virtually no one around.
Amazingly, we had excellent cell/internet service. Snow on the mountaintops provided cool
temperatures. There are several hiking
trails here, which provided us a means to get in some mileage for the day. But best of all was the abundance of
wildlife! We saw wild horses, burros, elk, and
mule deer! And it is paradise for those
of us who enjoy ATVing. We absolutely must
return here and stay a week or two! Dad
scored big time in picking this site, all on a tip from a fellow DRV Mobile
Suites owner!
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This foal was feeling brave--though its Mom was eating a short distance away and watching our every move. View the video below to watch the foal's antics. |
After we ate breakfast and did a quick hike, we learned that
a 6.5 earthquake hit Tonopah, Nevada that very morning at 4:00. Reportedly, it was felt as far away as Salt
Lake City and Las Vegas, but it certainly didn’t disturb my family’s beauty
rest—we heard and felt nada. We loaded
into Big Boomer, our medium duty truck, for another day of travel, mostly along
I-15, which had lots of road construction, but offered some nice scenery.
We reached our destination of Parowan Gap, BLM lands outside of
Cedar City, Utah. Another fantastic
boondocking spot, rich in culture, geology, and paleontology! It had lots of flat areas to accommodate big
rigs, or you could venture on some overland roads to get a bird’s eye view of
the area. Parowan Gap was formed by an
ancient river that once flowed through this area. Ancestors of the Paiutes and Hopi roamed
these lands, and they documented many things that occurred in their lives
through rock wall art, A.K.A. petroglyphs.
Our boondocking spot was a short 2-mile walk away from Dinosaur Track
Recreation Site, home to the raised tracks of bird-like dinosaurs and some
interesting rock formations to boot.
Very cool stuff here at Parowan Gap! We watched a nice sunset, and as we returned
to our set-up, my nose detected a pleasant scent. What was that smell? It was wild spearmint! I think I’ll make some mint juleps! The area has lots of ATV trails, too, making Parowan
Gap a top contender for my boondocking “Must Return” list.
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Lots of petroglyphs on these rocks. |
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I often wonder the messages being conveyed. Do you see a man in a canoe on this rock?
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Sunset through the "gap". |
I-15 the next day provided a wonderfully scenic drive, with
snow-capped mountains, Utah Lake, and miles of farmland. Legal speed limits here
are 80 miles per hour! No thank you—we
like to keep things under 65.
We boondocked in Draber, Utah at Flight Path Recreation Park, a point where paragliders take flight and disembark.The sign said, “Park at your own risk.” I sure hoped no “flighters” would crash into our RV! It was ultra-windy in the Park, making it feel quite chilly. On the way there, Gretchen, our GPS, was trying hard to get us into a real pickle, taking us through a residential area that overlooked the Park but we learned had no vehicular access to it (let alone for something our size.) Thankfully, Mom disconnected Gretchen, stopped a local resident to get directions, and we arrived without incident.
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View from our dinette window. |
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Residential complex Gretchen our GPS was taking us through. What is scary is that our GPS is programmed for truck and fifth wheel at all times! Even our truck would have a hard time on these narrow roads. |
Hello, Idaho! We crossed the Snake River and with much more success than Evil Knievel! I saw an old missile silo sitting in a field. Along I-84, a Micro Minnie Winnebago went whizzing by. Hey, what’s that clanking along on the side of his rig? Oh, boy, it is his sewer hose! It was a scene right out of the movie RV! We would have warned the driver had we been able to catch up. The good news is that we didn’t spot remnants of a stray sewer hose along the roadway! A teachable moment for him (one many of us have had), a chuckle for us!
We made it to Boise, staying overnight at Hi Valley RV Resort. This park had lots of features: Easy access off of US-55; Long, level sites and wide, paved roads, giving us the ability to stay hooked up; Clean, reasonably priced laundry room ($2.50/load); Free cable and Wi-Fi; A rec center and even a swimming pool that was open for business (seems like nobody cares about coronavirus here!). We were highly satisfied with our overnight accommodations at $45/night (plus tax) without any applicable discount for us (they only offer Good Sam, AAA, Military).
We were back on the road by 7 the next morning for our final leg of our journey. We encountered overcast skies and periods of rain. As we traversed US-55, also known as the Payette Scenic Byway, we noticed a ton of large boondocking pullouts right along the Payette River in Boise National Forest. We will file that info for the next time we are traveling in these parts of Idaho. I spotted a fox in the brush just returning home from a wild Saturday night (I hope he social-distanced!). I also saw a few deer drinking along the River very close to a road sign that said, “Game Crossing”. Gotta love when wildlife follows the rules of the road! As we traveled along US-95, we were informed by a sign that we were halfway between the North Pole and the Equator at the 45th parallel. The Little Salmon River was running fast (maybe he was trying to catch up with his big brother The Salmon River).
We stopped at the Nez Perce Historic Site, where the first battle between this American Indian group and the US Army occurred in 1877. Prior to this, the Nez Perce Indians migrated peacefully and unencumbered for centuries among the lands of today’s states of Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Idaho. Like most American Indians, they got screwed by the US government—nearly 90% of the reservation lands granted to them originally were revoked for use by prospectors when gold was discovered in the area.
Nearby is White Bird Grade. Built in 1915, it served for 60 years as the main access up this mountain for Highway 95, Idaho’s only North-South roadway. It sounds like a motorcyclist’s dream: lots of curves, switchbacks, and a 2,900-foot elevation change within 14 miles! We may have to come back here to ride!
We picked up ID-13 near Grangeville, entering the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway that follows the routes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and migratory paths of the Nez Perce. I saw moo cows dotting the hills and spectacular seas of sunshine yellow blooms in the fields, which I learned were canola!
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Can't believe I got such a cool photo while we were in motion! Not only did I capture the canola blooms, but a crop duster plane that I hadn't even seen until I looked at the picture! |
We traveled ID-12, running alongside the South Fork of the Clearwater River.
We entered Orafino, and in a jiffy we reached our destination of Dworshak Dam in Ahsahka, Idaho. It is a gorgeous area, and I am excited to explore! But right now I need to help my parents set up “home” for the next 3 months. We are the only ones here in "Volunteer Village"--just the way I like it!
I’ll talk to you again real soon!
We would like to thank the following organizations for all the great service and support they offer to the RVing community:
