tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36521197902588658322024-03-28T08:38:23.080-04:00Flyin' the CoopFollow our adventures as 2 empty nesters camping when we can.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-3807633362186482792024-03-28T03:30:00.005-04:002024-03-28T03:30:00.237-04:00The Great West Trip Part 6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJRpIndPelrkm8xBATHe-TCoZAJ9vayLti88I8kBJkNnyt0-JbSEpJN2PEhma9T799BpKrR0CJnAa4YyunmsMX9Kx68xv0uaD9F1c-fFCcvarPgLH36c5nAK-rubRfO0ijWhlB0UksUFlX4JSW3uJtkfGoVQlMJAwTBlSxoreQsc7CCwAoD5mTDffSzw/s1280/West%20Trip%202023.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJRpIndPelrkm8xBATHe-TCoZAJ9vayLti88I8kBJkNnyt0-JbSEpJN2PEhma9T799BpKrR0CJnAa4YyunmsMX9Kx68xv0uaD9F1c-fFCcvarPgLH36c5nAK-rubRfO0ijWhlB0UksUFlX4JSW3uJtkfGoVQlMJAwTBlSxoreQsc7CCwAoD5mTDffSzw/s320/West%20Trip%202023.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our next destination is definitely a hidden gem, so get ready for a huge photo dump. I had trouble deciding which pictures to include in this post.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Robert's brother told us about this place. What he didn't tell us about was the washboard roads getting to the destination. The road was pretty desolate; we kept checking to make sure we were going the right way. There are only dirt roads with very few signs along the way.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL10pvkWq8cAIgm4l4JrTKLQt5m79QxRDAdZwel3jGahWR6r2adFQtRZCD1g0_CixkwEYi5HJPxxA98-MTqFn4Wk__Rmg8OXYcv4JsmhDNzuQ5bdrUeoY5mZnWO_zAe-tHUp3utz0DqgwvZ3Daxm7wpLBW2KaTXljndCX7v7Hcx1L5Bsc-_7v7YZClAKo/s3024/0718231210a-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL10pvkWq8cAIgm4l4JrTKLQt5m79QxRDAdZwel3jGahWR6r2adFQtRZCD1g0_CixkwEYi5HJPxxA98-MTqFn4Wk__Rmg8OXYcv4JsmhDNzuQ5bdrUeoY5mZnWO_zAe-tHUp3utz0DqgwvZ3Daxm7wpLBW2KaTXljndCX7v7Hcx1L5Bsc-_7v7YZClAKo/s320/0718231210a-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPgEkUjSCnc4isHcnmoGsmAehAHUA-eTA41cGANPFBu6EtgSaiGC77fhTjD3KsPczE6U9n4LsYdjR9dFi6hciXpcQSKBPf_sb6ZiebqodJZOKMQMoi6METLfZ33Es_E6TgiJ6DURVp2HY38o7OkVAIFLpWrFMLzPLK-Mi_h834aLUkC2b36C82qoiGNY/s5184/IMG_8115.JPG"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPgEkUjSCnc4isHcnmoGsmAehAHUA-eTA41cGANPFBu6EtgSaiGC77fhTjD3KsPczE6U9n4LsYdjR9dFi6hciXpcQSKBPf_sb6ZiebqodJZOKMQMoi6METLfZ33Es_E6TgiJ6DURVp2HY38o7OkVAIFLpWrFMLzPLK-Mi_h834aLUkC2b36C82qoiGNY/s320/IMG_8115.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikp0FEl3nvmuuqn7xsTvmadMo8kFoFTp-DqFuBlIOe_PRTgopndISYI_kGJ-ES_vnjGgRcT_-UbcOLzFJtwL3Sr_qNmhmdnFa0D0CIasvBfjdn4F2QYL3yirto2gBXjV6WYAuB43R8c3liZs_iVuWN7QXXBKFWr31gH7Fm8oRLQUWk7CaX2Xdd9xII7SM/s5184/IMG_8122.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikp0FEl3nvmuuqn7xsTvmadMo8kFoFTp-DqFuBlIOe_PRTgopndISYI_kGJ-ES_vnjGgRcT_-UbcOLzFJtwL3Sr_qNmhmdnFa0D0CIasvBfjdn4F2QYL3yirto2gBXjV6WYAuB43R8c3liZs_iVuWN7QXXBKFWr31gH7Fm8oRLQUWk7CaX2Xdd9xII7SM/s320/IMG_8122.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div>Where is this place? The Little Grand Canyon, just north of Arches National Park in Utah. This area is part of the San Rafael Swell. I'm a little surprised this isn't considered a National Park, but it is BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Land. Which means you can camp wherever you want as long as there are no signs contradicting that. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It seems like it took hours to get to the top. In reality, it probably only took less than 2 hours. But, when you're driving on washboard roads, listening to everything in the van rattling, it seems a lot longer. When we made it to the top, I couldn't believe what I saw. I haven't been to the Grand Canyon yet. I don't know if this would have made such a big impression on me if I had been there.</div><div style="text-align: left;">There are no words to describe this beauty so I'll just let the pictures do the talking:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeq6zVf7CppOO_C1v6TAl66_Ovj0fqveGZdidneyhZL8p4KP4lDHy6_lP8Pib0wpo-5RksxPvmPByNCTvpsDT4QeS14A-WfU2Z-icuBhW8kowGe9md-BLrzGqAAxxcsCAmjKf77UKqVYgHbrwKPx0IIiQjYzOXOXg8PS7nc81lgc46U-BFvo1vjRqgA8/s5184/IMG_8125.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeq6zVf7CppOO_C1v6TAl66_Ovj0fqveGZdidneyhZL8p4KP4lDHy6_lP8Pib0wpo-5RksxPvmPByNCTvpsDT4QeS14A-WfU2Z-icuBhW8kowGe9md-BLrzGqAAxxcsCAmjKf77UKqVYgHbrwKPx0IIiQjYzOXOXg8PS7nc81lgc46U-BFvo1vjRqgA8/s320/IMG_8125.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrt4ZTlwJtO51a2rQxFsvvi5xqg-x_wzGaIZW-ka_U14fixkddPtE1Bgu7BfdjSo4XjX9mGRKZoZs5HxPs5kBuNK1aZ0xuhvOoePJba6BVR1-pfU1W1BAZ8lflUH3jOqfCT0ZOMFPwPP8BQv_bJx11vwY4zk9KvB55i-NCphYLrERRQ5WqwsSboy4VPI/s5184/IMG_8130.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrt4ZTlwJtO51a2rQxFsvvi5xqg-x_wzGaIZW-ka_U14fixkddPtE1Bgu7BfdjSo4XjX9mGRKZoZs5HxPs5kBuNK1aZ0xuhvOoePJba6BVR1-pfU1W1BAZ8lflUH3jOqfCT0ZOMFPwPP8BQv_bJx11vwY4zk9KvB55i-NCphYLrERRQ5WqwsSboy4VPI/s320/IMG_8130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0S6Z9is6T50nY66r-B8AHf5-R0njZ0Rrth8qaSx_PukIA60KoOgXeTBL0rYngbTi7kHMO651CUo2wc0PcPbqHFJ4bsvnJc3A6QKf0wk0krs2Kl1F84mTPB455NVOx7nQkNH3A4J8ZFUHs6L5Z_IJWTzegc_XHSl8d27zQbczRFzVaQO3Gk5C_iNAHQRc/s5184/IMG_8131.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0S6Z9is6T50nY66r-B8AHf5-R0njZ0Rrth8qaSx_PukIA60KoOgXeTBL0rYngbTi7kHMO651CUo2wc0PcPbqHFJ4bsvnJc3A6QKf0wk0krs2Kl1F84mTPB455NVOx7nQkNH3A4J8ZFUHs6L5Z_IJWTzegc_XHSl8d27zQbczRFzVaQO3Gk5C_iNAHQRc/s320/IMG_8131.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrggYMP9hvx2xaoE9cVduvDaHx897UsYO3dEVTcqff-wtGsE0uu2cznIKjDoWat6tdz4gMYE9evvISZKwzvlhgHZc6_tII7ekOUEB4K9b-oR7CDtz41oV6PDsKS7eQr7OQtr-DUE494TWF3a0QPLgyzKxI9SvwNc3BQEKDgUREkgajC4sd9bpUTW7jiQ/s5184/IMG_8133.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrggYMP9hvx2xaoE9cVduvDaHx897UsYO3dEVTcqff-wtGsE0uu2cznIKjDoWat6tdz4gMYE9evvISZKwzvlhgHZc6_tII7ekOUEB4K9b-oR7CDtz41oV6PDsKS7eQr7OQtr-DUE494TWF3a0QPLgyzKxI9SvwNc3BQEKDgUREkgajC4sd9bpUTW7jiQ/s320/IMG_8133.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We were a little disappointed that we couldn't camp right at the top. </i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6XDZktLJitEF0Zi6rWJWh1jsx7o9lmjnNh-C2B3BZhLxKE0AOQmjdf5biuuU-vQkh32yUAIlmLgN7nG02faVWGK6ObOfwd4JISXWvoVRU3HUvGOcMLATadIEQaOybC-iDFTUoTVZaSGFHW5BpFqd6ca3nPUfAlhNInxS3fnn53j0c_GQTG4jNJAuyY8/s5184/IMG_8134.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6XDZktLJitEF0Zi6rWJWh1jsx7o9lmjnNh-C2B3BZhLxKE0AOQmjdf5biuuU-vQkh32yUAIlmLgN7nG02faVWGK6ObOfwd4JISXWvoVRU3HUvGOcMLATadIEQaOybC-iDFTUoTVZaSGFHW5BpFqd6ca3nPUfAlhNInxS3fnn53j0c_GQTG4jNJAuyY8/s320/IMG_8134.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiriQM3ghcD-uhTEjbivsLgqiA6e31yE7G9QV7NgRTzpkFALWbZd5AGrftDMtafqlGpeOY_j_Ltu2Tiku4okosDMnRDHGzbHNzX4FUZviEi8hbXLIrHbgkC6C-m4xUsHK5orJe7azSyPEYYht5zc02DiMrskAiDmBBCYU_whvAqK5ZWnGPDJZZ4XSrh8kY/s5184/IMG_8135.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiriQM3ghcD-uhTEjbivsLgqiA6e31yE7G9QV7NgRTzpkFALWbZd5AGrftDMtafqlGpeOY_j_Ltu2Tiku4okosDMnRDHGzbHNzX4FUZviEi8hbXLIrHbgkC6C-m4xUsHK5orJe7azSyPEYYht5zc02DiMrskAiDmBBCYU_whvAqK5ZWnGPDJZZ4XSrh8kY/s320/IMG_8135.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TSoIq0-qlqZgiFYSVwrNn4eAHQQZCYh_pF5siA5z21a0Bh2tGkrt1iU1YMOEtxUCYMNy4z3a6oXlSWC5JyHxqa7OnkA52xhAYBiRL26AeN0ZbhWnVKjICuUlWKV0P2SxAk4YmRztGcj8zhfnYA-xWxQsnNWNqQuCzswSg4SMxA3E1C7nyeDyLSQXW_0/s5184/IMG_8158.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TSoIq0-qlqZgiFYSVwrNn4eAHQQZCYh_pF5siA5z21a0Bh2tGkrt1iU1YMOEtxUCYMNy4z3a6oXlSWC5JyHxqa7OnkA52xhAYBiRL26AeN0ZbhWnVKjICuUlWKV0P2SxAk4YmRztGcj8zhfnYA-xWxQsnNWNqQuCzswSg4SMxA3E1C7nyeDyLSQXW_0/s320/IMG_8158.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9_v68w46bXeW2gYPWg2pVINvH0VcwJpuYoVgpfzkmJchpH_U7KNZ0F-Hpe994GOCpAIS5KHcf3cMVWuAbqCB4d-zUpPhyphenhyphenHear83DsyQExRZhMG5g9e8S3KmwSk2586mFR2dQ3hORbaVd2zE8tjEIsOPKYUR0iP8dKTW5ctoYix_mVNV2fqptDaph-LE/s5184/IMG_8160.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9_v68w46bXeW2gYPWg2pVINvH0VcwJpuYoVgpfzkmJchpH_U7KNZ0F-Hpe994GOCpAIS5KHcf3cMVWuAbqCB4d-zUpPhyphenhyphenHear83DsyQExRZhMG5g9e8S3KmwSk2586mFR2dQ3hORbaVd2zE8tjEIsOPKYUR0iP8dKTW5ctoYix_mVNV2fqptDaph-LE/s320/IMG_8160.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrV4u5NohUOprt5ON6VaVH9hrAzemiM0KKoPZqenskluqDUGjajHb7SNdId3NVzGF6wT8SKAgSVs4_mOa5qUq7wpOIrFykER72vxjM0xyP1lWMYF_69nWVzO-FGfasm5Wk-x0n4iLFAPJh_sbfdkPYluP7d_0zwrxmtmHjLYfiwGHLOicSKl7PnVP_O0/s5184/IMG_8161.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrV4u5NohUOprt5ON6VaVH9hrAzemiM0KKoPZqenskluqDUGjajHb7SNdId3NVzGF6wT8SKAgSVs4_mOa5qUq7wpOIrFykER72vxjM0xyP1lWMYF_69nWVzO-FGfasm5Wk-x0n4iLFAPJh_sbfdkPYluP7d_0zwrxmtmHjLYfiwGHLOicSKl7PnVP_O0/s320/IMG_8161.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBUnkJI4Wx2IKtlzhkJI9rpzDoaAMrnBtCV16vzPu95lOQLjjzD9F17VaI-4XOc91EKyIkzkhrd6Y12WsFRUaC7kuW1o7NUPynY31e1RB-W7ZE8f-wdJINgybsMIVN6j3HR6QIgGWXFAihO2K1JAchIUuGkCblVlIQMPQ4aW3lP0mT0t-kFTFkbY0_y8/s4032/0718231309a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBUnkJI4Wx2IKtlzhkJI9rpzDoaAMrnBtCV16vzPu95lOQLjjzD9F17VaI-4XOc91EKyIkzkhrd6Y12WsFRUaC7kuW1o7NUPynY31e1RB-W7ZE8f-wdJINgybsMIVN6j3HR6QIgGWXFAihO2K1JAchIUuGkCblVlIQMPQ4aW3lP0mT0t-kFTFkbY0_y8/s320/0718231309a.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">We were the only ones there. We didn't see anyone else until later in the day as we were driving out of the canyon. It was over 100 degrees, so that may have had something to do with it.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx9ftLJS_a0Tr1p4fZz10EDyRxLZnUDiZQhU7QXzTVmclicB4EOz0LnelHYEPkXP77wFjHB6us9x-dti8C2hw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>As you can see in the pictures/video, rain was starting to come in. There are some designated camp areas in the canyon but not knowing how long it was going to rain or how much rain there was going to be, we decided it would be smart to get out of the canyon and find another place to spend the night. The drive out of the canyon was stunning:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iO_kI9Dz1hFOaJS3KZrQrLRf7rdWBHKluPv0t6jwndiCzfVUFdNVk9R2tDaHlQAyPqq9GkhnuuG6BKD0rzNaqPXzrKgR5Bj-gA-0GUP51yOnJ47oOnjbKjyFwEypDvdCHDUyMvFDey3h6ekFAG-d5JhALnY8koB1L0Lfq5-9uPIVwVStYW-DnmmpyB8/s5184/IMG_8166.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iO_kI9Dz1hFOaJS3KZrQrLRf7rdWBHKluPv0t6jwndiCzfVUFdNVk9R2tDaHlQAyPqq9GkhnuuG6BKD0rzNaqPXzrKgR5Bj-gA-0GUP51yOnJ47oOnjbKjyFwEypDvdCHDUyMvFDey3h6ekFAG-d5JhALnY8koB1L0Lfq5-9uPIVwVStYW-DnmmpyB8/s320/IMG_8166.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CmSH0_ejv6H4CjuXgSEdj2rr-5D8vR0M-Ejut9Ba7v0E2D59xP_kSpKXO5Msab2KHJrOndjSN-0CX4huLkmjDe2opY7X5VElAGJb70NdNSDD8sFLM1jM_VcIPorPZ5QP7h08A4JuldSLi0Mnm-LOWoJ7NmXb-UifB4xgR1nlnMQ5HNzv_i40A2MUlIA/s5184/IMG_8171.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CmSH0_ejv6H4CjuXgSEdj2rr-5D8vR0M-Ejut9Ba7v0E2D59xP_kSpKXO5Msab2KHJrOndjSN-0CX4huLkmjDe2opY7X5VElAGJb70NdNSDD8sFLM1jM_VcIPorPZ5QP7h08A4JuldSLi0Mnm-LOWoJ7NmXb-UifB4xgR1nlnMQ5HNzv_i40A2MUlIA/s320/IMG_8171.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>We came across a couple of vehicles with what appeared to be college students at the pictograph panel. It was kind of a relief to finally see people. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6858WZOdCg4h4bCbBl_n4XuOfgXdfXaIECOIge9T2lL6pq2O3wJjXqkRABxeRCyBtgisiT0m6B6YupDvj59p1gGIhWGOsctiz5ohBwe3GrQ2LhgFIDX-NFppRQHq1Kd9_xx668ij6MBhCF8Cqlw06DYIQdj0nl2xPUt7Yn369ARfyTwRwP1v4GntxzM/s5184/IMG_8178.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6858WZOdCg4h4bCbBl_n4XuOfgXdfXaIECOIge9T2lL6pq2O3wJjXqkRABxeRCyBtgisiT0m6B6YupDvj59p1gGIhWGOsctiz5ohBwe3GrQ2LhgFIDX-NFppRQHq1Kd9_xx668ij6MBhCF8Cqlw06DYIQdj0nl2xPUt7Yn369ARfyTwRwP1v4GntxzM/s320/IMG_8178.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj098KALH5754sUgxyg6XA8trlYbWCdRuPSdXHtJ7wuDh7NwGiGDytt__3M2tuVhtOcRyp2lLd2jB5rmarkm1zVb9oa5R3ojHl5rgYHoZFwXB83q7zeS5A-ogc4vw3oahNOn0lCb00iPPs6N2UGTJ_BTLJew7QN2D2WVrZgFyIgtqJ3kZ1u-qef_xJeFlc/s5184/IMG_8180.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj098KALH5754sUgxyg6XA8trlYbWCdRuPSdXHtJ7wuDh7NwGiGDytt__3M2tuVhtOcRyp2lLd2jB5rmarkm1zVb9oa5R3ojHl5rgYHoZFwXB83q7zeS5A-ogc4vw3oahNOn0lCb00iPPs6N2UGTJ_BTLJew7QN2D2WVrZgFyIgtqJ3kZ1u-qef_xJeFlc/s320/IMG_8180.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Human and Snake</i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZqvQKWpK75opS7in20ALlxh3sg8mqgSlGfSNO7aXXZ9NytKxfPu-BR75SqPms9hJCyu8fe3xxKLcEHboiU7sRyJ8wkm6SZrTEWqNKvd-IfhiyzZXS0AmCk5dq2Gv8ztzPevkoILWmR6YZ8Fzy42pOd94kpqrLJU65M2R5uEY3Lp38DoEmQEZsCDpDco/s5184/IMG_8190.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZqvQKWpK75opS7in20ALlxh3sg8mqgSlGfSNO7aXXZ9NytKxfPu-BR75SqPms9hJCyu8fe3xxKLcEHboiU7sRyJ8wkm6SZrTEWqNKvd-IfhiyzZXS0AmCk5dq2Gv8ztzPevkoILWmR6YZ8Fzy42pOd94kpqrLJU65M2R5uEY3Lp38DoEmQEZsCDpDco/s320/IMG_8190.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rain Angels? It was determined that the lines were drawn on purpose and weren't a product of dripping paint</i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfvLM-kpNlk6mIinqgbskSeGd_lOOT9WCBVU0vV7k8OpYXHw1Ha7tKuhYWTk23C_SdaBG2iI62_XqkgIgbvecunMQ4OGTtbpz324gMJ6VJDkMemMBtaxqpzbdx_pbVnNn1sZ9Um0Kvo3_A4wUJTEBVlnQge27b2hJMjqPV9j4sJW-Ov_FMJg-740ZJNQ/s5184/IMG_8194.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfvLM-kpNlk6mIinqgbskSeGd_lOOT9WCBVU0vV7k8OpYXHw1Ha7tKuhYWTk23C_SdaBG2iI62_XqkgIgbvecunMQ4OGTtbpz324gMJ6VJDkMemMBtaxqpzbdx_pbVnNn1sZ9Um0Kvo3_A4wUJTEBVlnQge27b2hJMjqPV9j4sJW-Ov_FMJg-740ZJNQ/s320/IMG_8194.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Maeve parked in front of the pictographs</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since it was raining, I did a quick "jump out and take pictures" but didn't linger long. We didn't want to get caught at the bottom of the canyon in the rain...just in case.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdFh7Agv7i1CEzbsGYrECq68ZC1RltYLUoFkt1iRBrw8JJPB71V8KIQKvho5Bwx6DLB5e9gLW754z9WZZdam3-T4NmlTdNf7I2mO3OClmU2gHUSiyvx6b1ARETqfLUZlu3waOtrBVc6B1D0LDOQPIR42sQ8BYkm3A3-BMmNciJDwQehZUZZJeGJqP_TU/s5184/IMG_8197.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdFh7Agv7i1CEzbsGYrECq68ZC1RltYLUoFkt1iRBrw8JJPB71V8KIQKvho5Bwx6DLB5e9gLW754z9WZZdam3-T4NmlTdNf7I2mO3OClmU2gHUSiyvx6b1ARETqfLUZlu3waOtrBVc6B1D0LDOQPIR42sQ8BYkm3A3-BMmNciJDwQehZUZZJeGJqP_TU/s320/IMG_8197.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLThJA-BaQuk98S5VlRJL7PoI2dZRvUdXkWEtc3xlSVOHS1CAltHSqP63kkMG7PUs9E7-8aJlmQePLLtg4Yq-3r1qUpx87Jo88tF_XCPXFggQfClu94c1oT3ueWww-aTBjjUEa10Ar8HRyUSOxxV5y2SNxHcLbUa_gwDYUJoKcVM-oLxL7AczY_tsU_-k/s4947/IMG_8205-2.JPG"><img border="0" data-original-height="3298" data-original-width="4947" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLThJA-BaQuk98S5VlRJL7PoI2dZRvUdXkWEtc3xlSVOHS1CAltHSqP63kkMG7PUs9E7-8aJlmQePLLtg4Yq-3r1qUpx87Jo88tF_XCPXFggQfClu94c1oT3ueWww-aTBjjUEa10Ar8HRyUSOxxV5y2SNxHcLbUa_gwDYUJoKcVM-oLxL7AczY_tsU_-k/s320/IMG_8205-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEo1kHPSg3leFXmo7epXII6toSwRlS_WBqRXMBVHC0HXqo0ORnghPWBK44iTJMv09LmB3MyP21AQWm8V7sYkdZsKStRvMLHPpSydzHzQtXkzpLIsU2J7HhTNe5KHf9XZ9EfwnQWRUPz-b3DP7V2xtUs1MKcCVz95wda15XOCMpqQU2aCwXxinAmTDhig0/s5184/IMG_8225-2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEo1kHPSg3leFXmo7epXII6toSwRlS_WBqRXMBVHC0HXqo0ORnghPWBK44iTJMv09LmB3MyP21AQWm8V7sYkdZsKStRvMLHPpSydzHzQtXkzpLIsU2J7HhTNe5KHf9XZ9EfwnQWRUPz-b3DP7V2xtUs1MKcCVz95wda15XOCMpqQU2aCwXxinAmTDhig0/s320/IMG_8225-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEQ-yjSMcYsLLCjis8QytqSsHcnsvkY8vmiIC74Pv4KhI6LZS685fDRl-4Th1pJO1BLo3WALeBxQ69pTUrHJkxMQlja6XVnrMfOjHFMO1FAXewbSP4t1rny09BoF4KmQ8Zs54mOwVWgG6m1kgnuQzp27ptdJ3frEX0PeOjmpPmhe1ckgvZ5LLgnP__m4/s5184/IMG_8224-2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEQ-yjSMcYsLLCjis8QytqSsHcnsvkY8vmiIC74Pv4KhI6LZS685fDRl-4Th1pJO1BLo3WALeBxQ69pTUrHJkxMQlja6XVnrMfOjHFMO1FAXewbSP4t1rny09BoF4KmQ8Zs54mOwVWgG6m1kgnuQzp27ptdJ3frEX0PeOjmpPmhe1ckgvZ5LLgnP__m4/s320/IMG_8224-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijf2bOoNaoawyeM0J3-2i1jrnvTWdM5FQP-3jC7w3SVC53f1pwof0SiwcGkErH8AiN5zcpidNlGjKmVUJh2v_new4F1rn9TCHmrZkoI50sCQplDbOOMICIJcYNuUBEFd5Sqpe6e2NHbsZudtrZJisba54pgyW8ioNJCCXWZIxgFVs034ArODLSLauYPaQ/s4910/IMG_8220-2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3273" data-original-width="4910" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijf2bOoNaoawyeM0J3-2i1jrnvTWdM5FQP-3jC7w3SVC53f1pwof0SiwcGkErH8AiN5zcpidNlGjKmVUJh2v_new4F1rn9TCHmrZkoI50sCQplDbOOMICIJcYNuUBEFd5Sqpe6e2NHbsZudtrZJisba54pgyW8ioNJCCXWZIxgFVs034ArODLSLauYPaQ/s320/IMG_8220-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The San Rafael Bridge is right beside one of the designated campgrounds. It was built by the Civilian Conversation Corps between 1935-1937. It used to be the only bridge across the Green River until the 1990's. It is now only open for pedestrian use. It is listed on the National Register of Historical Places.</i></td></tr></tbody></table>A quick word about the campgrounds in the area: They are equipped with vault toilets and picnic tables, but that's it. We thought about staying at one but, since it was at the bottom of the canyon and we weren't sure about the weather (plus there was no cell service) we decided to try to find a place to boondock. There were no people at any of the campgrounds, probably because (as mentioned earlier) it was over 100 degrees with no shade. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfKEQeQ-gG-Vr-51O5t5DmP0tIeJUqCjworYLojqYaPg2n4f8eCzmVy72jFhVwViZNotXlte0Y-b69Zuc7KFI9d2Q-XQYd7tJD5OcmB61-Kw-q02e6btQHLtvSccDuNg9s_v878IJcM8JeXfkEhQLP5o7ETQMTOOMNAAJOLTaRQ7cfOZMWTmEyPZ3jBM/s4816/IMG_8216-2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3210" data-original-width="4816" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfKEQeQ-gG-Vr-51O5t5DmP0tIeJUqCjworYLojqYaPg2n4f8eCzmVy72jFhVwViZNotXlte0Y-b69Zuc7KFI9d2Q-XQYd7tJD5OcmB61-Kw-q02e6btQHLtvSccDuNg9s_v878IJcM8JeXfkEhQLP5o7ETQMTOOMNAAJOLTaRQ7cfOZMWTmEyPZ3jBM/s320/IMG_8216-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPdHgFZwCS2JEskVmfnq-fn7hIYRxzuLo8rdUxmDgnvdsfhkAjTkFGvvbAjuhBv65K_zKOk7PLOiWB5uRrtG3aOysK3g8lJjbjoo5gbkZWU9c5JbBM2w6E1wqgSb6MjEB7mjibydO7N0ANXOvqhcE42Zvj5Yo1eJ8d7jqGCKfAsFhAh3CcPvF-fg2LXQ/s5184/IMG_8211.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPdHgFZwCS2JEskVmfnq-fn7hIYRxzuLo8rdUxmDgnvdsfhkAjTkFGvvbAjuhBv65K_zKOk7PLOiWB5uRrtG3aOysK3g8lJjbjoo5gbkZWU9c5JbBM2w6E1wqgSb6MjEB7mjibydO7N0ANXOvqhcE42Zvj5Yo1eJ8d7jqGCKfAsFhAh3CcPvF-fg2LXQ/s320/IMG_8211.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBx-Fdf6HBUTsQGfJZEx9f2OSK9g-vz7iFW-GiWDt5GL7gmK5B9UU4M3hGTukyVEE-ADu-jw2fzj3oi2Dp9fCj62LTMuPdiYzBzTYUd4hQipInf54Muttq4cb_fsQKQHAUTofDZ-sm_wDE2y21wOuuCPeZW7ehOYxBKNEaP58bvWQIqk8B9QEKi7zXd4/s4861/IMG_8210-2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3240" data-original-width="4861" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBx-Fdf6HBUTsQGfJZEx9f2OSK9g-vz7iFW-GiWDt5GL7gmK5B9UU4M3hGTukyVEE-ADu-jw2fzj3oi2Dp9fCj62LTMuPdiYzBzTYUd4hQipInf54Muttq4cb_fsQKQHAUTofDZ-sm_wDE2y21wOuuCPeZW7ehOYxBKNEaP58bvWQIqk8B9QEKi7zXd4/s320/IMG_8210-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The rain cooled things down rather nicely. We found a spot just outside of the canyon and about a 20 minute drive to the interstate to stay for the night.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GqGW5ucCtkLopmjRJAcQX928Jn-WAVlOHtVkpZ_PnfOjRAcxA5kGfCZM4io5KIRX5sFy7tUjyZjyQ-ZEuCttzDFX31r5hcoV-Zm0bleZUzKFASk4ysJmbjBqiHEh5MfiThBueAjnUdyd4aJx859e6lkICo2fDoolUTspZpQs_CwMT6P9pB6JZOgYwXc/s4032/0718231706a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GqGW5ucCtkLopmjRJAcQX928Jn-WAVlOHtVkpZ_PnfOjRAcxA5kGfCZM4io5KIRX5sFy7tUjyZjyQ-ZEuCttzDFX31r5hcoV-Zm0bleZUzKFASk4ysJmbjBqiHEh5MfiThBueAjnUdyd4aJx859e6lkICo2fDoolUTspZpQs_CwMT6P9pB6JZOgYwXc/s320/0718231706a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx57FLn7VXvs6p-ae6XEyrBQEQoVysjUCqSG_fJoF8AmQao57RV4WLwqzylwtbdTbcuAokO17Y5pO__G9KAWw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>We slept incredibly well. As I said in a previous post, even though our cabin air conditioner wasn't working, we kept cool by closing all of the doors/windows except for the one over the bed and turning on the MaxxAir Fan. Robert asked me if I ever thought I would sleep on the side of the road out in the middle of nowhere. I reversed it and asked him if <i>he</i> thought I would ever do it. Even though we were the only ones out there, I felt completely safe. We ended up seeing a total of 3 or 4 vehicles that evening and one of them was a government truck. <div>We headed out the next morning before the temperatures started rising too much.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCVJbSatAYPkftl8rX2YkkJFYpT3BuzctwUOHVwJHnEVHr7_S4bmcpQcPx2kQG4QLwXVHkQ3e2bhds7Mr_rLFsPrpv2fLTxaszD7nAbQ8EkpL5RGuqWMAJbrvDgeIW2n7v31JqgtG-8G0VwsXXs9EfI82-0gw1RxZuYxq3mT3U794g8-AOx6o1VTKjhk/s4032/0719230833.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCVJbSatAYPkftl8rX2YkkJFYpT3BuzctwUOHVwJHnEVHr7_S4bmcpQcPx2kQG4QLwXVHkQ3e2bhds7Mr_rLFsPrpv2fLTxaszD7nAbQ8EkpL5RGuqWMAJbrvDgeIW2n7v31JqgtG-8G0VwsXXs9EfI82-0gw1RxZuYxq3mT3U794g8-AOx6o1VTKjhk/s320/0719230833.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUDs-_c6oDKHGN731wVSCF_gBz4nAk-HPCK2n7TthneQB21BFhXYTn456jlhym0JGkHf7oUUlfFD0KYvFv29U2IgCCsbuaE3UaUp9X2uptAC9T2FIo9nvJ4F-7e1oSvVrFXFj4nB9Vw7P5sKBnJueaVHX6EkTrhhKMXriSS9DaLD9nKo_L3eLud0iAd8/s5184/IMG_8247-2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUDs-_c6oDKHGN731wVSCF_gBz4nAk-HPCK2n7TthneQB21BFhXYTn456jlhym0JGkHf7oUUlfFD0KYvFv29U2IgCCsbuaE3UaUp9X2uptAC9T2FIo9nvJ4F-7e1oSvVrFXFj4nB9Vw7P5sKBnJueaVHX6EkTrhhKMXriSS9DaLD9nKo_L3eLud0iAd8/s320/IMG_8247-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>View on the way to the highway as we said started heading more south</i></td></tr></tbody></table>Our next stop was Arches National Park, just under 2 hours away. More beautiful views as we drove:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmkcv537zJfnW2428YQ9i-jGKdBtScWGg70MjmKHahfHc68onkvu6woJmE-_kNJVr4Fb9qjmjgs3umCZuCQ-j-HrLhqADO4YWHKeMBc5LFahUMcDBXgcmuTjim59cYZcnq9HvZCAzDbJssl8XA0ShOdx8Z6AX1wNOAmJs8r1A0zRYYPnLlA4wVP76kjA/s3401/0719230950-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2551" data-original-width="3401" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmkcv537zJfnW2428YQ9i-jGKdBtScWGg70MjmKHahfHc68onkvu6woJmE-_kNJVr4Fb9qjmjgs3umCZuCQ-j-HrLhqADO4YWHKeMBc5LFahUMcDBXgcmuTjim59cYZcnq9HvZCAzDbJssl8XA0ShOdx8Z6AX1wNOAmJs8r1A0zRYYPnLlA4wVP76kjA/s320/0719230950-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpNIOIj4h43PHKn2qLJqvMLQXcTgWd9RppXDMny1WQ-ozShkojrCKMDzKrwwXrg4UK7pk-e2_JZq-zMfl68pAjx0aIQcnYJTYLttMWLvuTpo7Ddr0W9OTyfbFg9Qq_wKotU2QJ61EqxcdszfXV32-0nHRJpdSC24AQMEqjRmWkXmUzj6pDk4WPIkvzhc/s3024/0719230954-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2749" data-original-width="3024" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpNIOIj4h43PHKn2qLJqvMLQXcTgWd9RppXDMny1WQ-ozShkojrCKMDzKrwwXrg4UK7pk-e2_JZq-zMfl68pAjx0aIQcnYJTYLttMWLvuTpo7Ddr0W9OTyfbFg9Qq_wKotU2QJ61EqxcdszfXV32-0nHRJpdSC24AQMEqjRmWkXmUzj6pDk4WPIkvzhc/s320/0719230954-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Arches was, in a word: HOT. It wasn't as crowded as I expected. We had to make a reservation to enter the park and it was very easy to do. I was concerned that we weren't going to be able to get in when we got there, but we had plenty of times to choose from. No worries at all. I think there may have been 2 cars ahead of us at the gate. We were given a window of time to enter. As with the other parks we visited, there are times when a reservation is not needed...early in the morning and in the evening. We arrived around 11:00 a.m., drove around a bit before we headed out. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5U-USSSt4Y4Dw51cqiacc26vjBqNnn6rplSBWlnMpOnZvNC0_GvBEJWHaXEPfNEmhGu4A0CzVRBsxUnQbDAiJq2mXeU-wcfSw07loR-kbDzYNe_I9RcvbDLJGp5BlmTFFgpsN2bAhxVnlF5LfUHmTRGNcm458CXKflo-TsD2xGgOH3YKIE0fCedZkSQ/s3235/IMG_8279-2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2319" data-original-width="3235" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5U-USSSt4Y4Dw51cqiacc26vjBqNnn6rplSBWlnMpOnZvNC0_GvBEJWHaXEPfNEmhGu4A0CzVRBsxUnQbDAiJq2mXeU-wcfSw07loR-kbDzYNe_I9RcvbDLJGp5BlmTFFgpsN2bAhxVnlF5LfUHmTRGNcm458CXKflo-TsD2xGgOH3YKIE0fCedZkSQ/s320/IMG_8279-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWt4oKbWEYqvNQPSYOEJ6pcxKI3vYoKuaYkAfVNMn14tYQEvE2ZrDdEPWLHJq1R4OuhY2vnGX9FOlO0KvKu9QRCYAbN1Ab4GEyY94-xuCQ0xf9OOsWi_zZja8MWu7vBBa9pVdeltX7DQE9k_D9135Yfqe15wi284dV2UfjdSptYBgcEiMKm_L28I8ok4E/s5184/IMG_8282-2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWt4oKbWEYqvNQPSYOEJ6pcxKI3vYoKuaYkAfVNMn14tYQEvE2ZrDdEPWLHJq1R4OuhY2vnGX9FOlO0KvKu9QRCYAbN1Ab4GEyY94-xuCQ0xf9OOsWi_zZja8MWu7vBBa9pVdeltX7DQE9k_D9135Yfqe15wi284dV2UfjdSptYBgcEiMKm_L28I8ok4E/s320/IMG_8282-2.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic265dAoWOfq9lW59SI9dkzWrtEoSfXDsjOU1urxgGm4a7l675-63X6b0jK5lqD06ybiCIa11iDkXXBpN1QVZgjt3Z9fqXFLgsl2D3OtNZ2RsGU6akHbV6EGu12tnnT1WWYswfHQaO97Otv9RvaSSTG9t_XynXh4Vz7TlYqgO2J3-YllY0CKPOMqzYP8E/s5184/IMG_8290-2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic265dAoWOfq9lW59SI9dkzWrtEoSfXDsjOU1urxgGm4a7l675-63X6b0jK5lqD06ybiCIa11iDkXXBpN1QVZgjt3Z9fqXFLgsl2D3OtNZ2RsGU6akHbV6EGu12tnnT1WWYswfHQaO97Otv9RvaSSTG9t_XynXh4Vz7TlYqgO2J3-YllY0CKPOMqzYP8E/s320/IMG_8290-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsttgLf2PIw9CVZf1ax_V7-2Yco-hzdwHVrBfdf3IY-GsLPZW6CDAT8fesRab-JkEIzRPqg70buIaqN4CpAd0564zYhX3VUmL4WPLgSwOo8twU17N4kJkKrYFNRIxo57-dXSvTVqm4QKbG47yjwDEmgwnFMWj5BznsM3ZYdR3WlWOnruQ5mt0dQ3aCTFA/s5184/IMG_8295-2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsttgLf2PIw9CVZf1ax_V7-2Yco-hzdwHVrBfdf3IY-GsLPZW6CDAT8fesRab-JkEIzRPqg70buIaqN4CpAd0564zYhX3VUmL4WPLgSwOo8twU17N4kJkKrYFNRIxo57-dXSvTVqm4QKbG47yjwDEmgwnFMWj5BznsM3ZYdR3WlWOnruQ5mt0dQ3aCTFA/s320/IMG_8295-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhu_ztSwhx2_mOloDWBEeUccerZss_e-JRiQCAM76T7nsYtNRUUwUltiMmWYmSeG7E5nro10iCPae1wCmAzr0LrwcEZHBesfRtcLdlJnOf63r98vkgMedSdotPx5Evl4yIwNl0hbZk5xHuJh7gQj7KD1beXN_tBITR1p8RuCFC-35CnaO3E7hJih310M/s3273/IMG_8310-3.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2317" data-original-width="3273" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhu_ztSwhx2_mOloDWBEeUccerZss_e-JRiQCAM76T7nsYtNRUUwUltiMmWYmSeG7E5nro10iCPae1wCmAzr0LrwcEZHBesfRtcLdlJnOf63r98vkgMedSdotPx5Evl4yIwNl0hbZk5xHuJh7gQj7KD1beXN_tBITR1p8RuCFC-35CnaO3E7hJih310M/s320/IMG_8310-3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The iconic arch. I was surprised it was so far away from the trail. And up a hill. So I viewed from a distance.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JJ3ofsZ_1QMeAu87sGHYONW0OgJ6fcCrxg5GQqJdmaAX_k8wr77weaza78QtuiOmcnYvPonU8cIeUtqtiSNmRPAJLVFiR5C4hwyZOhSQktFV8Kn7YgtEtfr76r2jCZXZSQI8iVRIoLioh2xJPVVIllpG6fEFDG8ZiG4onqO9RBpofuOO8VrTCk_wEKU/s3997/IMG_8318-2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="3997" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JJ3ofsZ_1QMeAu87sGHYONW0OgJ6fcCrxg5GQqJdmaAX_k8wr77weaza78QtuiOmcnYvPonU8cIeUtqtiSNmRPAJLVFiR5C4hwyZOhSQktFV8Kn7YgtEtfr76r2jCZXZSQI8iVRIoLioh2xJPVVIllpG6fEFDG8ZiG4onqO9RBpofuOO8VrTCk_wEKU/s320/IMG_8318-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The green rock was from a time when this area was underwater. Volcanic ash landed and where it landed, it's lack of iron in the water turned the rock green instead of red.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg49ZL3PDIwOFJ7v85GZpE44BhWt7oOtj40SW24ZZgA-IGmcGxaPkMnaNnwrZMX4GR1bIybcJSkOGOxRbZEzJewhYLUXct0hx3AuRQEnVGItQ4M6wgFLr8Ne2fZ5PLumnHdj_Djfl6gfPhKnhC_Y-f0ac_cE4pDrR2QVIpsuoA5zoDqc9L2HiCL0-v8r8/s5184/IMG_8323-2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg49ZL3PDIwOFJ7v85GZpE44BhWt7oOtj40SW24ZZgA-IGmcGxaPkMnaNnwrZMX4GR1bIybcJSkOGOxRbZEzJewhYLUXct0hx3AuRQEnVGItQ4M6wgFLr8Ne2fZ5PLumnHdj_Djfl6gfPhKnhC_Y-f0ac_cE4pDrR2QVIpsuoA5zoDqc9L2HiCL0-v8r8/s320/IMG_8323-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fiery Furnace</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div>The formations were really cool to see. All you could do is stand in wonder at what nature has done to the landscape over time. </div><div><br /></div><div>To be perfectly honest, we kind of rushed through Arches because of the heat. July is definitely not the time to go if you want to get out and really explore. Plus, with the lack of humidity, it was rather hard to gauge our dehydration. So we stayed in the air-conditioned van and drank plenty of water. Then we decided to not go into Moab but head toward cooler weather in Colorado. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvB8sQOujPgosX350VF_Hla3pIIRKt6SqzODqGAeZHgb7zNT_NggPzoZAQquN9Pr2Bj_aS767f3JEWX9G5qpXK5oA1XRSB2mOlfgIC0k_5xyKiADHbpWkeJYZTd0U9Rw4ejKk4YqWgVIVOcOP1-somctAwqtex_l2M2ZAkdDflLOxsqhb9G0xZRFyJ_Wc/s3024/original_240c0cef-10cb-4238-b65e-47fc148647c8_0719231243.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3023" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvB8sQOujPgosX350VF_Hla3pIIRKt6SqzODqGAeZHgb7zNT_NggPzoZAQquN9Pr2Bj_aS767f3JEWX9G5qpXK5oA1XRSB2mOlfgIC0k_5xyKiADHbpWkeJYZTd0U9Rw4ejKk4YqWgVIVOcOP1-somctAwqtex_l2M2ZAkdDflLOxsqhb9G0xZRFyJ_Wc/s320/original_240c0cef-10cb-4238-b65e-47fc148647c8_0719231243.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Maeve in front of the Fiery Furnace</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div>Until next time...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkKihn38n_mlKGWcgAjlLdXjYK6WEh3QzcCJsPRdA_ABVLOqYLiCDcGWZ_ekvUP4rwMJgToYybStbeDGSlQ1njdx4OQnW6KhHjDquCrpENgjIhtPjROjpIgc4QysHr1ZKlya3wMn4qKBk5FNZpkP2ZuGSE0AZXCar125_8GzBCKL-FMD662gxsnT-oOc/s2460/original_47c007cb-f032-46a7-bfe7-d4db54c8dac3_0719231242a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2459" data-original-width="2460" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkKihn38n_mlKGWcgAjlLdXjYK6WEh3QzcCJsPRdA_ABVLOqYLiCDcGWZ_ekvUP4rwMJgToYybStbeDGSlQ1njdx4OQnW6KhHjDquCrpENgjIhtPjROjpIgc4QysHr1ZKlya3wMn4qKBk5FNZpkP2ZuGSE0AZXCar125_8GzBCKL-FMD662gxsnT-oOc/s320/original_47c007cb-f032-46a7-bfe7-d4db54c8dac3_0719231242a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrchhdxscOU9PA3m_iQ3T3arPf457H62hqvsDTh3iy3Xn_CafKeoLeCp7h4Gt7QsCuCV0dgPfGwTt_BuXJ4uGMtW4es2AsETwHLZBoSw7i3qeHqOk4WJHhznQoqwkmhyRxPfls0HwgdfY4w0N_J1hjTzQlXs_RCCXPo-6BAm_Zsa9m06sdMS0PNUmdZY/s267/Name.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="267" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrchhdxscOU9PA3m_iQ3T3arPf457H62hqvsDTh3iy3Xn_CafKeoLeCp7h4Gt7QsCuCV0dgPfGwTt_BuXJ4uGMtW4es2AsETwHLZBoSw7i3qeHqOk4WJHhznQoqwkmhyRxPfls0HwgdfY4w0N_J1hjTzQlXs_RCCXPo-6BAm_Zsa9m06sdMS0PNUmdZY/w200-h118/Name.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-84788876386778658892024-03-21T03:30:00.004-04:002024-03-21T03:30:00.143-04:00The Great West Trip Part 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DWyMMg8mtQDhSNh4jZNx1rhky2-45wwk8lu50tM3aY1qdms8jOlra1ls1yPEMuqeC9_njTvlH6B0uhXlmDoky1szWqoP9B3ol-llVQIeixeKwTc7g_gX6vEM8B67GArMoscQNTJq5RBrJl0QaPShsywDwPm3ipQEAzVf_iBSk0E0jz7JbBbTpgVdKOQ/s1280/West%20Trip%202023.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DWyMMg8mtQDhSNh4jZNx1rhky2-45wwk8lu50tM3aY1qdms8jOlra1ls1yPEMuqeC9_njTvlH6B0uhXlmDoky1szWqoP9B3ol-llVQIeixeKwTc7g_gX6vEM8B67GArMoscQNTJq5RBrJl0QaPShsywDwPm3ipQEAzVf_iBSk0E0jz7JbBbTpgVdKOQ/s320/West%20Trip%202023.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>When we left Yellowstone by the South Entrance, we immediately entered Grand Teton National Park. Except there wasn't a sign so I was a little confused as to where we actually were. We were soon greeted by an amazing sight:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkTucSND-KQojYC2W47dJSepbI3WNr7Dl4ZFQF54bTbI5Zh2gUQphX8hccUpj1SFSxOpYo8YMyIt1Rgb5R7QYeZUEMbT5kb9-v0xOgWoJ89yu-iK1ln5blnLeqV56SThJk2jrB2hF3H3wG6B7h5nWWe3Y7acfasQGtx0VnscsA7-CZX12JMHTG85QEtU/s2198/IMG_8050-2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2198" data-original-width="2198" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkTucSND-KQojYC2W47dJSepbI3WNr7Dl4ZFQF54bTbI5Zh2gUQphX8hccUpj1SFSxOpYo8YMyIt1Rgb5R7QYeZUEMbT5kb9-v0xOgWoJ89yu-iK1ln5blnLeqV56SThJk2jrB2hF3H3wG6B7h5nWWe3Y7acfasQGtx0VnscsA7-CZX12JMHTG85QEtU/w320-h320/IMG_8050-2.JPG" title="Eagle in the sky outside of Yellowstone National Park" width="320" /></a></div>I was feeling pretty patriotic seeing this just as we left Yellowstone. I thought it was extremely exciting. And then, as we drove further into the Park, a bear ran across the road ahead of us and down the hill. And that was the extent of seeing wildlife in Grand Teton. <div><br /></div><div>As mentioned in the last post, we managed to snag the last spot in the Colter Bay Campground. A huge thank you to the person who canceled just before I booked it! When we rolled into the campground I had to show the employee that we had the reservation because his paperwork didn't have the updated reservation. I didn't take any pictures of the campsite; there was nothing spectacular about it. I think it may have actually been a tent site since we had to park on the side of the road. To the best of my recollection, there was a fire pit and picnic table. The public restrooms had a flushing toilet and sink but no shower. The next morning we went to the Colter Bay Visitor Center to shower and do laundry. The pay showers were amazing. I think we paid $5 each for lengthy showers. It helped that we were there fairly early and were one of the first ones there. There is also a store that has groceries, coffee and breakfast sandwiches, as well as a gift store. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1lP4Shgfb_EF_vV1fbMer9bzVppqHta-v3sSWyYNdUiodQqVaNiJEO8fObtV89pM7q06_46jRntujqSu6nWIiQ6Vtg_lH5tSRMKULChpyVUVroD97CP1JGkRDN8WJDc3H7Wxrn4PU3YKkrNw32no7tP5yQEr92z83bnw0D4lp9AIBE3ytAkHENuJk_Y/s5184/IMG_8069-2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1lP4Shgfb_EF_vV1fbMer9bzVppqHta-v3sSWyYNdUiodQqVaNiJEO8fObtV89pM7q06_46jRntujqSu6nWIiQ6Vtg_lH5tSRMKULChpyVUVroD97CP1JGkRDN8WJDc3H7Wxrn4PU3YKkrNw32no7tP5yQEr92z83bnw0D4lp9AIBE3ytAkHENuJk_Y/w320-h213/IMG_8069-2.JPG" title="View of Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>View of Jackson Lake</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RmV_MPRLnOMUprdotufmWnhZ5JALk49QiJ2mcxxsOC-cDMklPfkD9PWW7Bi0U5-CXyIbp1Dibu-LtFY5GxaSRsHPsC0VRgjCv0VbNceARPIxf77SugvbKVIIInkLZwgh0HePqxozoWH3hm8ERnyVpw7UKs6W0Wb06VCId4bXUEJbhiwkFzKzzukL6Hg/s5184/IMG_8059-2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RmV_MPRLnOMUprdotufmWnhZ5JALk49QiJ2mcxxsOC-cDMklPfkD9PWW7Bi0U5-CXyIbp1Dibu-LtFY5GxaSRsHPsC0VRgjCv0VbNceARPIxf77SugvbKVIIInkLZwgh0HePqxozoWH3hm8ERnyVpw7UKs6W0Wb06VCId4bXUEJbhiwkFzKzzukL6Hg/w320-h213/IMG_8059-2.JPG" title="Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I was awestruck by the beauty</i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>After we were showered and our clothes cleaned, we started driving out of the park. We came across a young couple carrying a bicycle wheel. We stopped and asked if they needed a ride somewhere. This couple was cycling the Continental Divide from just next to the Mexican Border up to Canada. They were walking to the post office (about a 10-mile hike from the campground) to pick up a part a friend of hers overnighted to her. They had both just graduated from college and were taking the summer to cycle before "becoming adults". Once we dropped them off at the post office, we decided to wait for them and offer them a ride back to the campground since we weren't on a timeline. I know they appreciated it, but we kept telling them that we would hope someone would do the same for one of our boys. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMyZ0Wcswz6c-nHrh-eVt8tlDCzcoG9VPl84NOivAlCoMSntWjn77N6SvH6X5vXHe7M7eSuP7WJOYRHF5WJJsF66-Z9k5X58EdnXT7t9exr8w0M_1r0kGJ-ij7K5QSV58Bhz-m46MC-JB60J6rfzZjKE5S28QzvV5jo8C2_yIFi0R8o57Jh8HJ6xsOqg/s5184/IMG_8071-2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMyZ0Wcswz6c-nHrh-eVt8tlDCzcoG9VPl84NOivAlCoMSntWjn77N6SvH6X5vXHe7M7eSuP7WJOYRHF5WJJsF66-Z9k5X58EdnXT7t9exr8w0M_1r0kGJ-ij7K5QSV58Bhz-m46MC-JB60J6rfzZjKE5S28QzvV5jo8C2_yIFi0R8o57Jh8HJ6xsOqg/s320/IMG_8071-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>View as we drove to/from the post office</i></td></tr></tbody></table>We drove through Jackson and stopped for groceries. Honestly, I wasn't very impressed. It was so crowded; I wanted to get groceries and get out of there. It was too touristy for our taste.<div><br /><div>At the last minute, we found a Harvest Host for the night. This was another dairy farm that had an ice cream/dairy shop. We weren't so thrilled with this spot. It was hot, there was absolutely no shade, and we were told to park right next to the cow pen. On top of that, this was our view:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjDmRWMDByf2ZHCUeYEKt8htJE8gzth9fAFXWkhTdR_PNoGpXRb3ioxtOsSuUw0rOsLAKGn7jXweyx-N6Uohkha38wqENrPnyz9dsXXC_TeI6JelfFWFQybpDNdzq08RVEJiqDlIKZdEP0S8jPmx5X0wVLvRwKvqJZLMe4YHg7yKkhhdx3_j_yiEIVqc/s5184/IMG_8091.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjDmRWMDByf2ZHCUeYEKt8htJE8gzth9fAFXWkhTdR_PNoGpXRb3ioxtOsSuUw0rOsLAKGn7jXweyx-N6Uohkha38wqENrPnyz9dsXXC_TeI6JelfFWFQybpDNdzq08RVEJiqDlIKZdEP0S8jPmx5X0wVLvRwKvqJZLMe4YHg7yKkhhdx3_j_yiEIVqc/s320/IMG_8091.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Thanks, but no thank you. We ended up getting a hotel room for the night so we were cool and were able to take luxurious showers in Afton, Wyoming. This was a very cute little town whose claim to fame is the largest arch made out of elk antlers...over 3000 of them, in fact.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYTiNyqfRABzMhMyPNHGaixIlX6WHJJv-ZnTHGt7sErQ32XG7Yv7aMuKxzT1bVFMORgP4jRJ7bRh0N0S0XJkdT2Cz4Ydp3zCm32gFta96UE1w6nyZXIqWS1U4-JE8Xd714tkJZNjA28ZAishFctrBUNTGG3qRTOFsaZ5ckujeLyoVNKcPx-1UreLCt0I/s4032/0715231523.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYTiNyqfRABzMhMyPNHGaixIlX6WHJJv-ZnTHGt7sErQ32XG7Yv7aMuKxzT1bVFMORgP4jRJ7bRh0N0S0XJkdT2Cz4Ydp3zCm32gFta96UE1w6nyZXIqWS1U4-JE8Xd714tkJZNjA28ZAishFctrBUNTGG3qRTOFsaZ5ckujeLyoVNKcPx-1UreLCt0I/w320-h240/0715231523.jpg" title="Elk Antler Arch in Afton, Wyoming" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmafEADrb4cJ-fuizIl0BdadsdVKBjmKej-_gS7G6r4oMF54C3v84EOlvLek3fkcNbDUPKaUFFUUoiA3LCr_jWe7R9QGbAHYfOBgehEzG-gyql9rVgH6ECAyANedXOnhRAp-M42i_yE-eVjgju1U03Nhp-mO_D3Ivry0KsLkF3Ti0yfpPz5bNJAoNB56I/s4656/0715231523_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4656" data-original-width="3492" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmafEADrb4cJ-fuizIl0BdadsdVKBjmKej-_gS7G6r4oMF54C3v84EOlvLek3fkcNbDUPKaUFFUUoiA3LCr_jWe7R9QGbAHYfOBgehEzG-gyql9rVgH6ECAyANedXOnhRAp-M42i_yE-eVjgju1U03Nhp-mO_D3Ivry0KsLkF3Ti0yfpPz5bNJAoNB56I/w240-h320/0715231523_HDR.jpg" title="Elk Antler Arch in Afton, Wyoming" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26O0WnnI13qhJ1tBjTUUvhnnWHzWWQC8h1UAuDm33bA4pWWoPD9QIVD-WrSxnY1Y-kZ029ekv7Bx7KkHTwnxDCM8uwJxu8Wp3bDSKD8ZRcFM2Tv3h1inImsECy_N2bxgWilpBWGDfZ8B61HsN-Obl-S0Y_XURME1yQN0IsMpEM_y2spc-zF0l2hqo5fY/s4656/0715231524_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4656" data-original-width="3492" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26O0WnnI13qhJ1tBjTUUvhnnWHzWWQC8h1UAuDm33bA4pWWoPD9QIVD-WrSxnY1Y-kZ029ekv7Bx7KkHTwnxDCM8uwJxu8Wp3bDSKD8ZRcFM2Tv3h1inImsECy_N2bxgWilpBWGDfZ8B61HsN-Obl-S0Y_XURME1yQN0IsMpEM_y2spc-zF0l2hqo5fY/w240-h320/0715231524_HDR.jpg" title="Closeup of Elk Antler Arch in Afton, Wyoming" width="240" /></a></div>It would have been nice to have had a few more hours to look around. This one street is pretty much the whole town. There was a shortcut from the Oregon Trail that went through Afton (Lander Trail). <a href="https://www.starvalleyhistoricalsociety.org/Museums-LanderTrail/" target="_blank">"This shortcut saved emigrants as much as 7 days travel."</a> If only we had known!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglv-rhedDPyhJKHxIkyOWtLvbS6fg7Oup8dQlhQGhgqY_YWSihhIzZZqJMfKRg3CJJf6I9Z1SyC_ocV3t5AP9YLuXy5BBOaYgvlC6sbql0xahvli-CFPy4RNKBE5gS2np7_6Wa9nlXDiiTK12UMUK7qhvbGkANVXbEKu2aZrRNwOTu9yI0zIRb6iwF4eg/s3280/0716231152a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3280" data-original-width="2460" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglv-rhedDPyhJKHxIkyOWtLvbS6fg7Oup8dQlhQGhgqY_YWSihhIzZZqJMfKRg3CJJf6I9Z1SyC_ocV3t5AP9YLuXy5BBOaYgvlC6sbql0xahvli-CFPy4RNKBE5gS2np7_6Wa9nlXDiiTK12UMUK7qhvbGkANVXbEKu2aZrRNwOTu9yI0zIRb6iwF4eg/s320/0716231152a.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We made it to Utah!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKh8IuMkk21TQ4gsrKEyry0_94w8BVb1Sa4yNVKL6CLSglCCjuaxYjPspB1zzSKZXS23Jbo1PEPeABRk-9d9q15jBsLAm53F2RZlFXbAn0JZ8X3Yc0bDq-x5hvDQaVjcGlUeN3ttloVvfdKNk4yzdYoYipJZ3BTGxaMHpVm1-b9wH-OsbfAh7mbrVCAlI/s3280/original_dd319fa2-9fb6-4ff2-a302-80453fdd0c06_0716231155_HDR-2.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="3280" data-original-width="2460" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKh8IuMkk21TQ4gsrKEyry0_94w8BVb1Sa4yNVKL6CLSglCCjuaxYjPspB1zzSKZXS23Jbo1PEPeABRk-9d9q15jBsLAm53F2RZlFXbAn0JZ8X3Yc0bDq-x5hvDQaVjcGlUeN3ttloVvfdKNk4yzdYoYipJZ3BTGxaMHpVm1-b9wH-OsbfAh7mbrVCAlI/s320/original_dd319fa2-9fb6-4ff2-a302-80453fdd0c06_0716231155_HDR-2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Since we didn't get a picture when we originally crossed into Wyoming, after taking the picture in Utah we crossed the street & snapped this picture!</i></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxABtf6nmEgRBfv_uWj1wv1B1HZfUa7Uo6hYlVi05waQ5DjGbJjR3udiebna8UJ05Ijj8qqLL5q-V10otrmwKcqbJhgdJ5qqlZhCwTqKMTA89X-toBKPMA0rFjEcxOhyphenhyphenVxBy28XYGfr-Xc7rNm-KbJqjNMqs09eUfWhrGSvBhPIIj64P08O6ZGZl3mUiM/s4032/0716231353.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxABtf6nmEgRBfv_uWj1wv1B1HZfUa7Uo6hYlVi05waQ5DjGbJjR3udiebna8UJ05Ijj8qqLL5q-V10otrmwKcqbJhgdJ5qqlZhCwTqKMTA89X-toBKPMA0rFjEcxOhyphenhyphenVxBy28XYGfr-Xc7rNm-KbJqjNMqs09eUfWhrGSvBhPIIj64P08O6ZGZl3mUiM/s320/0716231353.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Finally...red rock! This was at a beautiful rest area in Utah</i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhTvzaMFgqdZ4U9vEgBZLL77d5nC-kPrnVDOUH7lhdPWlBovi2Ave-zGaF5ujxD3s9CEIkX60JcvQitmC5hg8TupDb2TQd6V0ZKUicpuoOVhwgb_kCyX-w6Uj8wq8kFq1xcZ1SXtllzjFvbp1dTXaFlai1ssQ_Q7IA0LHKR2inNdAsqZKW0soz1-7FtQ/s3160/original_ffb13562-32e2-4f09-a684-941b6539d1f4_0716231409.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2276" data-original-width="3160" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhTvzaMFgqdZ4U9vEgBZLL77d5nC-kPrnVDOUH7lhdPWlBovi2Ave-zGaF5ujxD3s9CEIkX60JcvQitmC5hg8TupDb2TQd6V0ZKUicpuoOVhwgb_kCyX-w6Uj8wq8kFq1xcZ1SXtllzjFvbp1dTXaFlai1ssQ_Q7IA0LHKR2inNdAsqZKW0soz1-7FtQ/s320/original_ffb13562-32e2-4f09-a684-941b6539d1f4_0716231409.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This was also taken at the rest area. So unique!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div>Moving on, we clipped Idaho and then made it to Utah. We discussed going to Craters of the Moon National Park. While it looks like a very cool place, we decided to keep moving on. Robert has a friend in Park City, UT that he attempted to see. Unfortunately, we weren't able to make that happen. Our oldest son lived in Park City for a while so it was cool to see a glimpse of where he lived, as well as the skatepark where he spent some of his time.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jBIHactk-s-gfgTU5xnWpy1eFvm7RDkH4Ug3MFe6FVLCnVoNu82PzdFeZYcfqAuyh3UDSYLmVYS65JXF9K-CQAw5vhh5zYj_5pA95YLYEKxVfu8h4mZK3G126XNROxpMSif27YUSuQ2SLyoDoZAv2h7na9xoTlHNqYZDnrFwdo0daethAWMfPY6Vqz8/s3280/0716231458b.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3280" data-original-width="2460" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jBIHactk-s-gfgTU5xnWpy1eFvm7RDkH4Ug3MFe6FVLCnVoNu82PzdFeZYcfqAuyh3UDSYLmVYS65JXF9K-CQAw5vhh5zYj_5pA95YLYEKxVfu8h4mZK3G126XNROxpMSif27YUSuQ2SLyoDoZAv2h7na9xoTlHNqYZDnrFwdo0daethAWMfPY6Vqz8/s320/0716231458b.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This is a pavilion right next to a skatepark</i></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Again, Park City was very crowded and hot, so we traveled on to Salt Lake City and spent the next day there. We didn't see much...it was well over 100 degrees. I hear people joke all the time, "But it's a dry heat" and now I get it. Yes, it was hot. Hot is hot, but without the humidity, it certainly didn't feel like it was over 90 degrees. We managed to see the Great Salt Lake in the distance before driving down to Provo (another hotel) for the night. People in Utah love to put things on the side of the hill:<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2nnGEzIlG6YWvKH0zW-swyz3358ZWXYmbO80tgG3yDLD2mfGpoAqVjVA8vqCt-F-aA6MfUkcKFGNNUYhet44DmrMfaCNlJvWQiwr8Lpnk2b4Ahlsq_WwtfGWPeLr5nBDy5U-G46jM64pRSl1lD73iO_mB5aGDE3NzzzRs1lAyl4I1AvwKBLuZZf7-Hs/s4032/0718230944.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2nnGEzIlG6YWvKH0zW-swyz3358ZWXYmbO80tgG3yDLD2mfGpoAqVjVA8vqCt-F-aA6MfUkcKFGNNUYhet44DmrMfaCNlJvWQiwr8Lpnk2b4Ahlsq_WwtfGWPeLr5nBDy5U-G46jM64pRSl1lD73iO_mB5aGDE3NzzzRs1lAyl4I1AvwKBLuZZf7-Hs/s320/0718230944.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The "Y" is for "Young"...of Bringham & Young. We weren't far from the university.</i></td></tr></tbody></table>Afton had a star in the hill behind our hotel since it is in the Star Valley. This "Y" is on "Y Mountain" and was built in 1906 out of lime and rock. It has been reinforced with concrete and paint. Believe it or not, this project was not a university project; the idea started because, in 1905 or 1906, the junior class of Bringham Young High School wanted to paint '07 on the mountain, which of course upset the senior class of '06. A compromise was reached with the university president and high school principal coming up with an idea. Originally, there was going to also be a "B" and "U" but after hours of hauling lime and rock up the mountain, the project was abandoned. So now there is just a "Y". There is a parking lot roughly a mile away and it is one of the most hiked trails in the Utah Valley. I had no idea you could actually go up there. I don't know that we would have done it, but it could have been a possibility!<div><br /></div><div>So far, we have seen some pretty incredible sights. But what was coming the next day was the best yet!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdk43oXdbeDLcE5v7fY2iF_cEuxtWm95iXdxSzBMEBC1s_42KGsl1q8K8eLvsjxh9K0mzHeKNYQoCJecrAnY9xGQcUAkP7eFRFAw95w4_807o5bDuamemW_tvLv_FfM0aaOB06pehCTAXY8v5I5eYdG3u11pniAAWAxmx98dq0KUZxL-ZATwK-MRcmCXE/s267/Name.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="267" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdk43oXdbeDLcE5v7fY2iF_cEuxtWm95iXdxSzBMEBC1s_42KGsl1q8K8eLvsjxh9K0mzHeKNYQoCJecrAnY9xGQcUAkP7eFRFAw95w4_807o5bDuamemW_tvLv_FfM0aaOB06pehCTAXY8v5I5eYdG3u11pniAAWAxmx98dq0KUZxL-ZATwK-MRcmCXE/w200-h118/Name.png" width="200" /></a></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-78598229439535480442024-03-14T03:30:00.009-04:002024-03-14T03:30:00.144-04:00The Great West Trip Part 4<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp372jyw4ActNvAbXUeF8NNmPneI2gQN1g79KBvQ2ET5PagzwqXRWBz8ZOh7LTNNLDso0WZrLhkIhWEL5hi5bqq2QXHk9FSPWTy5CIHASvLC1XtKioYfNEDsU699MvFVthw8JHXH50DllawJFtPmRDRVkl9KOu0Ca4vsgQsT8qwWvDJMBW50woXZWkddY/s1280/West%20Trip%202023.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp372jyw4ActNvAbXUeF8NNmPneI2gQN1g79KBvQ2ET5PagzwqXRWBz8ZOh7LTNNLDso0WZrLhkIhWEL5hi5bqq2QXHk9FSPWTy5CIHASvLC1XtKioYfNEDsU699MvFVthw8JHXH50DllawJFtPmRDRVkl9KOu0Ca4vsgQsT8qwWvDJMBW50woXZWkddY/w320-h180/West%20Trip%202023.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">We entered Yellowstone National Park through the East Entrance and began driving through what I would call the mountain area. I had no idea that each part of the park would look so different. Our first stop was at an overlook. We had to stop because the views were spectacular. The pictures don't do it justice.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiceQr1vXx_lF-7UekTSxnIaC3ow0GUowvMLeEPU0lfeVIZooOqd0O8D6BGFCec9SL2mnAxQa21MkId7PLs9RIbpG7-SQmF8xuviVMhrPzvOAWq1CfzrWJeHkSOvpGu8a6ckxPAoxof__cmUTgFHNkKO0T4gsoFM05yqor7keFkIbCzlzFEn_qGqt6QVGg/s4032/0714230839c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiceQr1vXx_lF-7UekTSxnIaC3ow0GUowvMLeEPU0lfeVIZooOqd0O8D6BGFCec9SL2mnAxQa21MkId7PLs9RIbpG7-SQmF8xuviVMhrPzvOAWq1CfzrWJeHkSOvpGu8a6ckxPAoxof__cmUTgFHNkKO0T4gsoFM05yqor7keFkIbCzlzFEn_qGqt6QVGg/s320/0714230839c.jpg" width="240" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The obligatory picture at the entrance</i>.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbe56bpXV6zI4y6N6l4jRs2Rsrdqfxu-Tto44hwdhGUzz-AUPSFBN2e9KQRiABlGJTO1XEi6L2HRsmQH34ULR9Ao_mSlHE2LWbmOCCgXKPpeB-y9Ili-QR_xQjLOr4WHu1Y0vrcw8t2UFUF2XmN1alNUiO6kKK1hS7bMgeI1rtwC6sW9daZ8PKkDAz-8/s5184/IMG_7938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbe56bpXV6zI4y6N6l4jRs2Rsrdqfxu-Tto44hwdhGUzz-AUPSFBN2e9KQRiABlGJTO1XEi6L2HRsmQH34ULR9Ao_mSlHE2LWbmOCCgXKPpeB-y9Ili-QR_xQjLOr4WHu1Y0vrcw8t2UFUF2XmN1alNUiO6kKK1hS7bMgeI1rtwC6sW9daZ8PKkDAz-8/s320/IMG_7938.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUDruUaDSCnuw0EwtxAHbAVZFmMyHyLxZJY9Bods9lCyTuuSFAz4cVyRGoXpK334dY1wSRTZRFrQlPQhCNLC6LCvbZkucTyGaSWptrgnyOY4rfN6v-g7ZVCa6Roxr0Y8oGCIrD_lxks-BNqm-xvS85zZkVzcGh7XIJi7hniIgw6pV_MsZLpp-B2mbGl4/s5184/IMG_7945%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUDruUaDSCnuw0EwtxAHbAVZFmMyHyLxZJY9Bods9lCyTuuSFAz4cVyRGoXpK334dY1wSRTZRFrQlPQhCNLC6LCvbZkucTyGaSWptrgnyOY4rfN6v-g7ZVCa6Roxr0Y8oGCIrD_lxks-BNqm-xvS85zZkVzcGh7XIJi7hniIgw6pV_MsZLpp-B2mbGl4/s320/IMG_7945%202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwRNaqFd7lab_g7Z4G2-IJzcvFe1ehEL3EmdgYAaPlqQ5MaKzDE2BrLz2JTrhqLGThsc9iKaNqY9KVJe6GEMRjvEdjFnS0vGTLnX_lgZxY-FK_Wh-Y-0ZtMy7RdGIBKPPv4qjAS_vhgdPAziTfkjZF-Izoxyaq86uH_qPRZQujg1-9eAUMoSSx5qH6J4/s3456/IMG_7947-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwRNaqFd7lab_g7Z4G2-IJzcvFe1ehEL3EmdgYAaPlqQ5MaKzDE2BrLz2JTrhqLGThsc9iKaNqY9KVJe6GEMRjvEdjFnS0vGTLnX_lgZxY-FK_Wh-Y-0ZtMy7RdGIBKPPv4qjAS_vhgdPAziTfkjZF-Izoxyaq86uH_qPRZQujg1-9eAUMoSSx5qH6J4/s320/IMG_7947-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>As we made our way through the park, we started to see random buffalo in the fields. There weren't big packs of them in this section but it was a thrill to finally see some.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhima4dOs4Pp55tfeBEIqX3YcMw_6r0fO_MXINMCB4G9cM1566rL-d4FbKKYGN2zGEqVUW7ygK9Hpq3MKoiWSagne6LS7TTG5lL7PZo-vCViYKrBz2MU1vv0gL-HBuHJpQgin0hwNX1b45Ly6tawtlDj1DvSsjoB0pJGiZO6Wwg2Tmg69m6eZKpLie4OwM/s5184/IMG_7954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhima4dOs4Pp55tfeBEIqX3YcMw_6r0fO_MXINMCB4G9cM1566rL-d4FbKKYGN2zGEqVUW7ygK9Hpq3MKoiWSagne6LS7TTG5lL7PZo-vCViYKrBz2MU1vv0gL-HBuHJpQgin0hwNX1b45Ly6tawtlDj1DvSsjoB0pJGiZO6Wwg2Tmg69m6eZKpLie4OwM/s320/IMG_7954.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We saw our first geyser/ hot spring of the day</i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNg6Tk23_10KBv_BNBVNtY5fLC6UZzuAC2d_Dt8bT-E3tJ6VXrzUNj2aBW1XrpVA1RK0tEW0fVEMWOu2Dj25WiNYaBZd7TSnEXfN57h7FoZoj23cE_PHrtsXS954a99jmQ3uDnnwAyB3cWuR5g6xIe9euHpNsDJiLmgBlAeQrSY4bnAhjuLrGjOqwVrls/s5184/IMG_7955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNg6Tk23_10KBv_BNBVNtY5fLC6UZzuAC2d_Dt8bT-E3tJ6VXrzUNj2aBW1XrpVA1RK0tEW0fVEMWOu2Dj25WiNYaBZd7TSnEXfN57h7FoZoj23cE_PHrtsXS954a99jmQ3uDnnwAyB3cWuR5g6xIe9euHpNsDJiLmgBlAeQrSY4bnAhjuLrGjOqwVrls/s320/IMG_7955.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>First buffalo sighting!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BGEi-ry5UY5bkc6w4u6IhwPCtf4FaAGnV8nKmilqJwifMiWoH5b_rnW4cSDC9An1ZaaPk8r3Bhivfnh1dxXDBXPU_-scnxUHx266iR6bV6EfooJqMUnZ7JfiPCUfd4gZpBBs2bvXmzE4AM3jqxmtKHzJLoK8A95o-iDi5GBvAPUojZ-7SYoWIuSehjA/s5184/IMG_7966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BGEi-ry5UY5bkc6w4u6IhwPCtf4FaAGnV8nKmilqJwifMiWoH5b_rnW4cSDC9An1ZaaPk8r3Bhivfnh1dxXDBXPU_-scnxUHx266iR6bV6EfooJqMUnZ7JfiPCUfd4gZpBBs2bvXmzE4AM3jqxmtKHzJLoK8A95o-iDi5GBvAPUojZ-7SYoWIuSehjA/s320/IMG_7966.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We noticed this rather large crow sitting on the roof of the bathroom. It was pretty loud and Robert was able to get rather close to it.</i></td></tr></tbody></table>We stopped at Calcite Springs and I walked the path to the overlook. The water was a stunning color.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7gsYJ_2LNqLAaCghJNgQLZ_y9B5NPFfONdtfLJ222gDw7aoIWLzD-c3QTYPrc8Qg5z2wJ9LW0mD7aWrRQAojn2ccr5I_pYBBrsS2EuH3-MdKQCtJUfkxz15LEOsES24MNcFXshFvkLmaYW7hjzzUgsK3RAa3FgXSEtPbG8l6wH6UsxE1FAHww-EnMjk/s5184/IMG_7976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7gsYJ_2LNqLAaCghJNgQLZ_y9B5NPFfONdtfLJ222gDw7aoIWLzD-c3QTYPrc8Qg5z2wJ9LW0mD7aWrRQAojn2ccr5I_pYBBrsS2EuH3-MdKQCtJUfkxz15LEOsES24MNcFXshFvkLmaYW7hjzzUgsK3RAa3FgXSEtPbG8l6wH6UsxE1FAHww-EnMjk/s320/IMG_7976.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The steam coming from the side of the river was pretty cool.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NVrEjJa2fiysBP-qn3xKQyFOUX2pyw5XVzIdjq5iugvKFssRduI9ll7mVFfyQnOHbtKJN5Cu9cZ-Tv4xokbxZW5AdarAE8nAjm8zRvMnTc4oKK6srikGNCvm7hridYsSVjH2mnAj4pzSTmD0EQYDQ2MlxbgI5mTzPGgCsDZu0dH5BMmnU2gWNvUt17w/s4032/0714231119a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NVrEjJa2fiysBP-qn3xKQyFOUX2pyw5XVzIdjq5iugvKFssRduI9ll7mVFfyQnOHbtKJN5Cu9cZ-Tv4xokbxZW5AdarAE8nAjm8zRvMnTc4oKK6srikGNCvm7hridYsSVjH2mnAj4pzSTmD0EQYDQ2MlxbgI5mTzPGgCsDZu0dH5BMmnU2gWNvUt17w/s320/0714231119a.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>See what I mean about the color of the water?</i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzpq95N5Bg5IvJXRuv4haszExpek7vyx43kpfylkbEC-_u77ztmNUm74pxxijzX-SXP205RXGJtIVDJPFmmvI-urTgQoyyeZvmHCOUNJsYWUvHfccWS2waKTmw23GQnr4hmqB_s1R4jgcVCC0TOlYF0EZ118lwMIAPmiSvElP2_SOZUVhgid3XGSxjwQ/s5184/IMG_7979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzpq95N5Bg5IvJXRuv4haszExpek7vyx43kpfylkbEC-_u77ztmNUm74pxxijzX-SXP205RXGJtIVDJPFmmvI-urTgQoyyeZvmHCOUNJsYWUvHfccWS2waKTmw23GQnr4hmqB_s1R4jgcVCC0TOlYF0EZ118lwMIAPmiSvElP2_SOZUVhgid3XGSxjwQ/s320/IMG_7979.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>These formations were made by volcanic activity</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>We were surprised that we hadn't seen as many buffalo as we were expecting. A quick talk with a ranger gave us the information we needed. We drove through what I would call the "plains section" and managed to see a lot of them. Babies, mamas, daddies, and even some pronghorns in the mix.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8ixh-gLgYtTBB44ZeEHPiJplQ1K5rJB8KKyijak7bpzehPTuJdnXAm2KbVG5JRNHHInjX9ULnqyTpndK3DjDxa3jayF5w2zC1NhRNZ3xn68u87YtKcKBkB2gn5USAoa9YVmM8xxqauSoj-4dtqR4jC98yV_2UZGDkxsZjeM2RKz-HkcQioIxHDIi7qc/s5184/IMG_7984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8ixh-gLgYtTBB44ZeEHPiJplQ1K5rJB8KKyijak7bpzehPTuJdnXAm2KbVG5JRNHHInjX9ULnqyTpndK3DjDxa3jayF5w2zC1NhRNZ3xn68u87YtKcKBkB2gn5USAoa9YVmM8xxqauSoj-4dtqR4jC98yV_2UZGDkxsZjeM2RKz-HkcQioIxHDIi7qc/s320/IMG_7984.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Buffalo mamas and babies</i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbovy3KWYsyNUfz-YoZ0435dTe2Lt10LjXL8wYh9mshdkCbh0LuhKjzR7GQWhW3xoxHTwkj5KlJ9RC5EslCFUwd4zDMRyjWO9d7qd7U6L60_zboCpKAGa4EiFT_M3S0KxfrtnMdPkLexByAvLMzkPhvV6ISiLlZ1oiJ4gNNxiYgFj2cHAM8iRtchJDHo/s5184/IMG_7994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbovy3KWYsyNUfz-YoZ0435dTe2Lt10LjXL8wYh9mshdkCbh0LuhKjzR7GQWhW3xoxHTwkj5KlJ9RC5EslCFUwd4zDMRyjWO9d7qd7U6L60_zboCpKAGa4EiFT_M3S0KxfrtnMdPkLexByAvLMzkPhvV6ISiLlZ1oiJ4gNNxiYgFj2cHAM8iRtchJDHo/s320/IMG_7994.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pronghorns in the background mixing in with the buffalo</i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzuJY8u5tdCzUsC3S7XDzFj_aQ8i10QU49VbhnL3UxePQbyx1LN1XVL4cRDleaopRnvlCpoxmS6QoNmnq9G5g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Having our fill of buffalo, we continued on. We stopped at the Albright station at the North Entrance and saw some elk as well as some interesting rock.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09WKzvOUsClZRkmW05QrZsKWX11iKWydqwD_89E6f-513YN6KdPI2xRk29BhgajGf02IGhK__LIUbvQ-oNRzJPfkZTisrycmc2aKF_PhAhUQFV8g4pYBPJSmgS6JYhty_blSk0LYUbE3nLsXyphyphenhyphenQp7vr1gB0Thz2SyMCMrBfKwdh8wn7jDqMtKm-Pd0/s5184/IMG_8003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09WKzvOUsClZRkmW05QrZsKWX11iKWydqwD_89E6f-513YN6KdPI2xRk29BhgajGf02IGhK__LIUbvQ-oNRzJPfkZTisrycmc2aKF_PhAhUQFV8g4pYBPJSmgS6JYhty_blSk0LYUbE3nLsXyphyphenhyphenQp7vr1gB0Thz2SyMCMrBfKwdh8wn7jDqMtKm-Pd0/s320/IMG_8003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We were amazed that these elk were just hanging out in the midst of the visitor's center with a lot of people around</i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKSNdlfcoAGloF0WnoxbEqEZe8uhr-mzCScEOQUBbRJXw-YJzl6nfIXwrsPXu0hlZjA-4VKxJuwPFqISQJInFrmkTH0oS2KNisralVj2kLE2J6DIgQpxIeHBrWAXLEtQgntJ4sOrXmHPlLyJd70KdrlCI3pL3YXwvgT2sFPG4yWNPvriUmoRUAu_loH4/s5184/IMG_8010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKSNdlfcoAGloF0WnoxbEqEZe8uhr-mzCScEOQUBbRJXw-YJzl6nfIXwrsPXu0hlZjA-4VKxJuwPFqISQJInFrmkTH0oS2KNisralVj2kLE2J6DIgQpxIeHBrWAXLEtQgntJ4sOrXmHPlLyJd70KdrlCI3pL3YXwvgT2sFPG4yWNPvriUmoRUAu_loH4/s320/IMG_8010.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This rock looks like snow cascading down a mountain</i></td></tr></tbody></table>In the afternoon we made it to the geyser section (as I call it) which is in the west side of the park. We opted to skip Old Faithful which I think turned out to be a good choice. We aren't crazy about getting in with the crowds and by the look of the line of cars, it was going to be pretty crowded. We stopped at Beryl Springs and got a pretty good idea of what a geyser looks like on a smaller scale and without a lot of people.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPe6CM5UCmHM-3P6QosjOk4LeoTeSJkA6NBYYlFtwqmhxIqtYlS15vCHgmG4L8WO8-jeWYLhebiM7HiDhVyLv15Ta4az5Z9eMosrt49eGjWMehglU4W2P2nOA3N12CKf3CHr2JXkF2xLBd63OSbR4jX0fWahyphenhyphenCaswpPtKNdYTauwd_-srH-ukogxNF2Q/s5184/IMG_8014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPe6CM5UCmHM-3P6QosjOk4LeoTeSJkA6NBYYlFtwqmhxIqtYlS15vCHgmG4L8WO8-jeWYLhebiM7HiDhVyLv15Ta4az5Z9eMosrt49eGjWMehglU4W2P2nOA3N12CKf3CHr2JXkF2xLBd63OSbR4jX0fWahyphenhyphenCaswpPtKNdYTauwd_-srH-ukogxNF2Q/s320/IMG_8014.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Beryl Spring is one of the hottest springs in Yellowstone.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCsjNqpR7XGNd4L24aNpz8oUF9knwLDxD6funvSPioUf9fRUvAlBpTdVaBygZChoUKbMF4ahLbFwb9IOUpDUly0i6YEqitthFtO2xc65_jT35TQmi5DZDQkCwNqC2q7T428s1Rg6vhftP7YMD6aE_trkEvJmsnU7rjD6Lj2QoB110FsjwvoLPuacfaCE/s5184/IMG_8018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCsjNqpR7XGNd4L24aNpz8oUF9knwLDxD6funvSPioUf9fRUvAlBpTdVaBygZChoUKbMF4ahLbFwb9IOUpDUly0i6YEqitthFtO2xc65_jT35TQmi5DZDQkCwNqC2q7T428s1Rg6vhftP7YMD6aE_trkEvJmsnU7rjD6Lj2QoB110FsjwvoLPuacfaCE/s320/IMG_8018.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It was named "Beryl" because of the blue-green color of the water reminiscent of the gem beryl.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxcieDo3vK6KZnalcGI62FjY99RJhZDN4_S6cMLThtl1HS-Vmo3lbD__9idvgHYzuoqV35rr3VweLairA77KA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>We stopped at Flood Geyser just as it was finishing its performance. This is one of several geysers in the "flood area" of the park.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwKv4a-iG9gnt4LWk-1XuPM8tN8lZ8gxuKg3noivEOCCAxwUBNUFxbHiaPAlJUGwNL1UZbHo20yYU0eiBLOec0hErgb4o97fuXMZKoqtTCDyeQsWJBhMQ5NVFWuzIZ05UCOVryyWPvvaqRKOwZQsfhwmk0v1nkQt-i9D5v2WjAoGVIU97hF3w4fCxgU8/s4032/0714231551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwKv4a-iG9gnt4LWk-1XuPM8tN8lZ8gxuKg3noivEOCCAxwUBNUFxbHiaPAlJUGwNL1UZbHo20yYU0eiBLOec0hErgb4o97fuXMZKoqtTCDyeQsWJBhMQ5NVFWuzIZ05UCOVryyWPvvaqRKOwZQsfhwmk0v1nkQt-i9D5v2WjAoGVIU97hF3w4fCxgU8/s320/0714231551.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I couldn't find this so I'm going on the assumption that it's possible that this area floods since there is a stream/river flowing through this section.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPfa5nZ_yH8dJsNA6TOLEJRk54TQajX21HWCGUm3T10kgNqz_QAL7mw4TXYSnnOl85_NxSDjgizalMYjyAH0QiwsZwIH2VF38V5Jt1OpkteB2m-vwuhNcpv9MBSmJcqoUd-Nzt1wFmpMlR99z-CBAMsdf14-CtSlrht6PWb49yse5c8m9WlTj_E_zpUc/s4032/0714231552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPfa5nZ_yH8dJsNA6TOLEJRk54TQajX21HWCGUm3T10kgNqz_QAL7mw4TXYSnnOl85_NxSDjgizalMYjyAH0QiwsZwIH2VF38V5Jt1OpkteB2m-vwuhNcpv9MBSmJcqoUd-Nzt1wFmpMlR99z-CBAMsdf14-CtSlrht6PWb49yse5c8m9WlTj_E_zpUc/s320/0714231552.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Or maybe it's because it looks like it's flooded. If you know, let me know!</i></td></tr></tbody></table>As we made our way to the South exit, we saw a few more geysers/hot springs which were just fantastic to drive through:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnubR78m8iYwmdG5fqFKoNt_eoSCcdAs4nTsDXyq0kbtAs9YDJavDXQCEIlSaF3X_dseu3kI0Xzy3LKSI8XsP7grDGnAk7zJclKHidSNVLcWiTAqVlUJCAUvFnzAC_xjVYDVTOglNqHAN0coESr2GgvW4apkySbrwB8ho0QRIOECKMHbuuYRiDINrzco/s5184/IMG_8031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnubR78m8iYwmdG5fqFKoNt_eoSCcdAs4nTsDXyq0kbtAs9YDJavDXQCEIlSaF3X_dseu3kI0Xzy3LKSI8XsP7grDGnAk7zJclKHidSNVLcWiTAqVlUJCAUvFnzAC_xjVYDVTOglNqHAN0coESr2GgvW4apkySbrwB8ho0QRIOECKMHbuuYRiDINrzco/s320/IMG_8031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZkLbHei_23gISatv-JhU4jqL7mNS5XkUZM2iBmIlnU9zfRPlKix0XIOr2f00taielEhk_ub7d6qIqrNTG3cLw9oitiAWjMZCS_9TAxAjwBSL8fVnB4xh-QYajTJmiMcptcibU2PZScFzXSdxG0G3St4SULHDTwkLkIoHKx7tdeqP0soyf9fF3jeX3sk/s5184/IMG_8042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZkLbHei_23gISatv-JhU4jqL7mNS5XkUZM2iBmIlnU9zfRPlKix0XIOr2f00taielEhk_ub7d6qIqrNTG3cLw9oitiAWjMZCS_9TAxAjwBSL8fVnB4xh-QYajTJmiMcptcibU2PZScFzXSdxG0G3St4SULHDTwkLkIoHKx7tdeqP0soyf9fF3jeX3sk/s320/IMG_8042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Our next mission was to find a place to stay for the night. I had the coordinates of a place to boondock but, surprisingly, Robert wanted to find a campground instead. We stopped at one place and were pretty much told, "Good luck". I checked a campground in the Tetons and, as luck would have it, they had one spot left. We snatched it up right away. It wasn't the best campsite we've ever had, but it gave us a place to park the van. More on that next time!<div><br /></div><div>I realize how much we missed by doing Yellowstone in one day. This will be one place I want to return to and spend more time. There is so much to see!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzCUuLtQpt_7m7SvpkzUR2KB_eVVlAH62wTg3udBojK7WHjG-NpzPmjqDdrLIcc4nwsSK8eNIyyouQDfKaxsoSdA2bAxhztR7lMGA9jru2Wv3zzpwJXXxoO2BfIdrK4yxwu14ZUEqsr436hyphenhyphenhna2vqRNjOGjwu-HOLAEZEsJK19Tw1RyC_m-o_b7WkeM/s267/Name.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="267" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzCUuLtQpt_7m7SvpkzUR2KB_eVVlAH62wTg3udBojK7WHjG-NpzPmjqDdrLIcc4nwsSK8eNIyyouQDfKaxsoSdA2bAxhztR7lMGA9jru2Wv3zzpwJXXxoO2BfIdrK4yxwu14ZUEqsr436hyphenhyphenhna2vqRNjOGjwu-HOLAEZEsJK19Tw1RyC_m-o_b7WkeM/w200-h118/Name.png" width="200" /></a></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-35923231008428786002024-03-07T03:30:00.008-05:002024-03-08T12:12:53.261-05:00The Great West Trip Part 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IzW1KsyxP4oYUydvv2NfVNXAK5EAp09gM8QiDupcupauRNXt2D_AdYXcRypGUDr0h608eQXF7QsNLZ9jGDFNxsMR5mvNQ7Wd2cYrI4Bp6cZFsVIBywrnFSGnrMUHf65_aOwy36lm3EcKjQNEbNDsuueUDSDbo4V8pYvvlMc7_OjjrfXzTfv9HxKwf4s/s1280/West%20Trip%202023.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IzW1KsyxP4oYUydvv2NfVNXAK5EAp09gM8QiDupcupauRNXt2D_AdYXcRypGUDr0h608eQXF7QsNLZ9jGDFNxsMR5mvNQ7Wd2cYrI4Bp6cZFsVIBywrnFSGnrMUHf65_aOwy36lm3EcKjQNEbNDsuueUDSDbo4V8pYvvlMc7_OjjrfXzTfv9HxKwf4s/w320-h180/West%20Trip%202023.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>Decision time: Do we go north to Banff, northwest to Glacier, or south to Yellowstone? When I looked at how many miles it was to Banff, it looked like we would spend 6 days just getting there and back to Billings. So, we decided against it. We also decided against Glacier. Cody was of some interest to us, so we made the choice to drive there. The views were well worth it:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcabPY416vyFOf-3i9Z2zcI2z6hf7jhyphenhyphenuk25n7JIIx7zu4JIr9zru4iOOQivaWnBa3yw5Gqi_nvfFtxqgWUWTt9EfAlSmJXBQMBQmMx7m4fnKPdpobAF0gcXrRGRUiLmCrf7hU0QgAvK5R2CgLkJzXD0g1P6SztSl_tlr2hS4bqrwRPzpnwBbFAPqKdI/s3456/IMG_7913%202.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcabPY416vyFOf-3i9Z2zcI2z6hf7jhyphenhyphenuk25n7JIIx7zu4JIr9zru4iOOQivaWnBa3yw5Gqi_nvfFtxqgWUWTt9EfAlSmJXBQMBQmMx7m4fnKPdpobAF0gcXrRGRUiLmCrf7hU0QgAvK5R2CgLkJzXD0g1P6SztSl_tlr2hS4bqrwRPzpnwBbFAPqKdI/s320/IMG_7913%202.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This house on top of the butte interested me. It seemed like it was the only house around for miles.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSY8QdIRNmaW6z7aqlHe0YMkFejZnxi6Pv1qeM_6-zZRN_YucL5-bCofJO0N0BXuzH_0qXqt8ieR2L72UP99jTe8mDkf78BBke56tRYj-SpO39GmmPpAxP4619iOAnsG-HPAvvPkq715Sk8ADsKDgi_vuYJAJOzKXw2JwAfTCc9X8UgMbvQEVeI5ZMy98/s5184/IMG_7918%202.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSY8QdIRNmaW6z7aqlHe0YMkFejZnxi6Pv1qeM_6-zZRN_YucL5-bCofJO0N0BXuzH_0qXqt8ieR2L72UP99jTe8mDkf78BBke56tRYj-SpO39GmmPpAxP4619iOAnsG-HPAvvPkq715Sk8ADsKDgi_vuYJAJOzKXw2JwAfTCc9X8UgMbvQEVeI5ZMy98/s320/IMG_7918%202.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The different colors of the mountains/hills were beautiful.<br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrPRKdL3pLMv_Xff1CMw7Zvhebx3Hpwwlp0tijnyM35TcE2Pnhn0WArlyPgeKnvM2tgUrFdkflHVZqx6wYMW6pJuWxW-amflTKZ82rvnzvK5OPIiiO1ibnVuWSXKn9JPuWg_4E3T7FKo2Hsh6MBeuXjbD5Gz8nZ3R1fvvToBmy9t5yXYjWJj7fZBKFf0/s4675/IMG_7919%202.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3219" data-original-width="4675" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrPRKdL3pLMv_Xff1CMw7Zvhebx3Hpwwlp0tijnyM35TcE2Pnhn0WArlyPgeKnvM2tgUrFdkflHVZqx6wYMW6pJuWxW-amflTKZ82rvnzvK5OPIiiO1ibnVuWSXKn9JPuWg_4E3T7FKo2Hsh6MBeuXjbD5Gz8nZ3R1fvvToBmy9t5yXYjWJj7fZBKFf0/s320/IMG_7919%202.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Again, this sight struck me as interesting!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhhrXgkfz6dq9EK3DdtlE2orQIsXuPsH1HR1pAxV5dnmjxFa-YqYB3JKBV5W1kRVYU9E6ud644wgY2GMoGqbTwN5xUtPD-Ow9B1uIwUEREnBOZwhYxO2hxJB7FPDCEM9-poFVWkP-PIjxSoh5Dd0fzIlWCOjHBChRS42aCt721aV2S5fbtHm1hlrO7_A/s5184/IMG_7921.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhhrXgkfz6dq9EK3DdtlE2orQIsXuPsH1HR1pAxV5dnmjxFa-YqYB3JKBV5W1kRVYU9E6ud644wgY2GMoGqbTwN5xUtPD-Ow9B1uIwUEREnBOZwhYxO2hxJB7FPDCEM9-poFVWkP-PIjxSoh5Dd0fzIlWCOjHBChRS42aCt721aV2S5fbtHm1hlrO7_A/s320/IMG_7921.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>2 tunnels on the road: it kind of reminded me of Ireland.</i></td></tr></tbody></table>After we arrived in Cody, we went by the visitor's center to get information on the town, as well as a recommendation on where to eat lunch. The young lady was most helpful and suggested <a href="https://www.irmahotel.com/dining/" target="_blank">Irma's</a>. The official name is <a href="https://www.irmahotel.com/" target="_blank">Buffalo Bill's Irma Hotel</a>. Buffalo Bill Cody built the hotel in 1902 and named it after his daughter. The building is a working hotel; the rates are actually quite reasonable. Some of the rooms are historical while some were added on as late as the 1970's. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDljhBdHOa3fa9LbBMNm2oXoBYt4pvRWN9Fn2cmnDpwPAJlIVRob_3kUcq9UQjNY1Of1q6IV_vjphgEeKnt5MTL5BWDvuPHj-rX-zjPaQwsIAkuejWrTYNWQHOb_Ut80Cy9io3w16a2A0UBlqW0YcIjdzyKRwxL69WCW3pIUNtubijfJr6wQfLJGnoQs/s4032/0713231213.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDljhBdHOa3fa9LbBMNm2oXoBYt4pvRWN9Fn2cmnDpwPAJlIVRob_3kUcq9UQjNY1Of1q6IV_vjphgEeKnt5MTL5BWDvuPHj-rX-zjPaQwsIAkuejWrTYNWQHOb_Ut80Cy9io3w16a2A0UBlqW0YcIjdzyKRwxL69WCW3pIUNtubijfJr6wQfLJGnoQs/w240-h320/0713231213.jpg" title="The Grill at the Irma Hotel in Cody, Wyoming" width="240" /></a></div>The grill was recommended to us for lunch. We split a sandwich and had potato salad for a side. I'm super picky about my potato salad so I try to steer clear of ordering it at a restaurant, but theirs was just like my mom's! Quite a pleasant surprise!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaNEYmOeNHt40ArQBIF1LQlZdUjz8Bt-fzDoiFXEPl5f87ZrPeO04xGp4TVW5er4JNkjfLQTaDi5jr1e4VSfB-kJXGzlcl28otRLnufwJfdz_u-hhh_mIAEbDG2WhI4cnjJhF21MV1X1m50m9quOOHxTe_0NpeRLwawRnPF3zR73tnzc66s9w5cvTzgc/s3024/original_9f2ffd6e-f55d-4834-80d6-8af2ce89070d_0713231105_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3023" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaNEYmOeNHt40ArQBIF1LQlZdUjz8Bt-fzDoiFXEPl5f87ZrPeO04xGp4TVW5er4JNkjfLQTaDi5jr1e4VSfB-kJXGzlcl28otRLnufwJfdz_u-hhh_mIAEbDG2WhI4cnjJhF21MV1X1m50m9quOOHxTe_0NpeRLwawRnPF3zR73tnzc66s9w5cvTzgc/w320-h320/original_9f2ffd6e-f55d-4834-80d6-8af2ce89070d_0713231105_HDR.jpg" title="Cherrywood bar in the Irma Hotel, Cody, Wyoming" width="320" /></a></div>This cherrywood bar was presented to Buffalo Bill by Queen Victoria. She shipped it to the hotel after his performance for her in London.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZEHHGNAPC-dPReCDJT6hyphenhyphenRtVP7OYJNVp_8tEAQtqhnFCBZAzfMi8E0ONYxEGcDhYOWEtqmUZWGPOWyJKoAfbf7a_r9VW-4SoJOVMSzy7d8cJbYb-2nnLsJ15jWXM_skCWAH6fX8mzSSK5XeriXZQOJED9eSHPjRt0V-Rq-4xoTIbtLmCYp_CYkxUsUbI/s4032/original_b265ea7d-5123-4d29-9a3d-f8bf7bae6353_0713231113_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZEHHGNAPC-dPReCDJT6hyphenhyphenRtVP7OYJNVp_8tEAQtqhnFCBZAzfMi8E0ONYxEGcDhYOWEtqmUZWGPOWyJKoAfbf7a_r9VW-4SoJOVMSzy7d8cJbYb-2nnLsJ15jWXM_skCWAH6fX8mzSSK5XeriXZQOJED9eSHPjRt0V-Rq-4xoTIbtLmCYp_CYkxUsUbI/w240-h320/original_b265ea7d-5123-4d29-9a3d-f8bf7bae6353_0713231113_HDR.jpg" title="Stone fireplace in the Irma Hotel, Cody, Wyoming" width="240" /></a></div>The fireplace is in the hotel section of the building. It is made from rocks, fossils, ores, and minerals from the Big Horn Basin.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZC5FIbYbHnorDL23rPpT-4gEsIkynNVx95IfObUB14DhDt2RR4KPtUNz0V4byIq7ErTA6wL6m3DtpiEbyCYiPDkttcJggbSqvPPL8Ha4bq5wJuAoOXTIrys0HlDag2UaknoBO0nchNCkJE0fcNSu28Rj8GQNAQsrJIFbYAeVwoTcVyqwWx2krgQgL-E/s2460/original_e6838a97-4cbd-483f-b1ce-6979beb8a4a4_0713231139a_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2458" data-original-width="2460" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZC5FIbYbHnorDL23rPpT-4gEsIkynNVx95IfObUB14DhDt2RR4KPtUNz0V4byIq7ErTA6wL6m3DtpiEbyCYiPDkttcJggbSqvPPL8Ha4bq5wJuAoOXTIrys0HlDag2UaknoBO0nchNCkJE0fcNSu28Rj8GQNAQsrJIFbYAeVwoTcVyqwWx2krgQgL-E/s320/original_e6838a97-4cbd-483f-b1ce-6979beb8a4a4_0713231139a_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>After we ate we visited the Cody Historical Society and learned more about the town. I asked the ladies who were working if any of Buffalo Bill's family still lived in the area. He had 2 descendants (from Irma) who were in the area. One of them steers clear of the Cody name; the other one used it to make his fortune. Sadly, he was killed in an airplane crash. I wasn't able to confirm this by researching on the internet; there isn't much published about the family.<div><br /></div><div>From Cody we headed to Yellowstone. There are several campgrounds along the way. We chose Rex Hale because it is the closest to the park gate that has a bathroom. Although we have a bathroom in the van, it's nice to have one close by so we can empty the cassette toilet before leaving. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgKmH2euyYPD8mwsyXVXXXTx0mljGmJPESesNSoHYPbS9Lv_goO_N28rbBanZfGp7E0MdeGL9bDPmuNC_zQNj7J-R5M-Yt03ld4OFq_4lZXbvOSlXWXVITFF-il9GCF35zzoyYwFZ5L1bE_g4N41-e8-pr6YcnZZh1VrCJm5BSeHkUaItJIKtClgVwrw/s3024/0714230805%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgKmH2euyYPD8mwsyXVXXXTx0mljGmJPESesNSoHYPbS9Lv_goO_N28rbBanZfGp7E0MdeGL9bDPmuNC_zQNj7J-R5M-Yt03ld4OFq_4lZXbvOSlXWXVITFF-il9GCF35zzoyYwFZ5L1bE_g4N41-e8-pr6YcnZZh1VrCJm5BSeHkUaItJIKtClgVwrw/w320-h320/0714230805%202.jpg" title="Rex Hale Campground Wyoming" width="320" /></a></div><div>We almost turned around and went back to the Wapiti Campground since it looked like it was better shaded but there was a spot here. The camp host was extremely nice. He is a retired archeologist and was very interesting to talk with. Plus, the vault toilet was the best-smelling vault toilet I've ever been in! He kept it immaculate!</div><div>There are no showers, electricity, or other amenities here. But the views are worth it! Maeve looked great in that setting:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHIVaEM1iUSCgTRCk2_d5UA6IYKfbb-kzkVJxyb3GPTRWpiEzauuc7PoQYPr8xVgNphG_2f9ka__cKLEYquSjYfseGN0v8tTJB27nWTvgSdX_VgU4wnFOu46mrGwYCE1rrhXSc0nK1hNb4kGMX5od2x_45EKyZ0hLaS52Y49004yzgtEvNPVTuXpqFHk/s4032/0713231358a%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHIVaEM1iUSCgTRCk2_d5UA6IYKfbb-kzkVJxyb3GPTRWpiEzauuc7PoQYPr8xVgNphG_2f9ka__cKLEYquSjYfseGN0v8tTJB27nWTvgSdX_VgU4wnFOu46mrGwYCE1rrhXSc0nK1hNb4kGMX5od2x_45EKyZ0hLaS52Y49004yzgtEvNPVTuXpqFHk/w240-h320/0713231358a%202.jpg" title="Rex Hale Campground Wyoming" width="240" /></a></div></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWYDpzUBaFaJ6E5qBHy6MnrEhcKIvRXjL0DFak8yqHN_EpC4DA7Ev0_ho6NHSOMIsVOh0I-zbA8E3bOS-IbVviU_df1MsH2e0YZ1gMhDhr6U-j48lxH0H2zFLAC3pEeVoV-BhWcw71nUDWSr6kdkEFtaFsLWFWbMw7CK4GCgkuDojlFppkMzHkFAdX2g/s4032/0713231357.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWYDpzUBaFaJ6E5qBHy6MnrEhcKIvRXjL0DFak8yqHN_EpC4DA7Ev0_ho6NHSOMIsVOh0I-zbA8E3bOS-IbVviU_df1MsH2e0YZ1gMhDhr6U-j48lxH0H2zFLAC3pEeVoV-BhWcw71nUDWSr6kdkEFtaFsLWFWbMw7CK4GCgkuDojlFppkMzHkFAdX2g/w240-h320/0713231357.jpg" title="Rex Hale Campground Wyoming" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1CSCocOPGYN3cTgEsOqDhYfiw-Y3NAMmWr7Vb-x_RzXoQGoDCZ0vts8ZLjOkNPdKgwAnz1zGG9tZkRT6jPRuPs0vglRI0SGhyphenhyphen43S2rRv_Sa9-mM7kVdt2W3wJSATAvg4Tv5n1vZhr5_5I8VX8CZZhUW5x9P6i_cPsx0nj1yVaJ4RdGDx24PVVP0Emns/s4032/0713231401a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1CSCocOPGYN3cTgEsOqDhYfiw-Y3NAMmWr7Vb-x_RzXoQGoDCZ0vts8ZLjOkNPdKgwAnz1zGG9tZkRT6jPRuPs0vglRI0SGhyphenhyphen43S2rRv_Sa9-mM7kVdt2W3wJSATAvg4Tv5n1vZhr5_5I8VX8CZZhUW5x9P6i_cPsx0nj1yVaJ4RdGDx24PVVP0Emns/w320-h240/0713231401a.jpg" title="Rex Hale Campground Wyoming" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPxbvKYMqYLX-4Dsp-T1CXtW85s0FohBD7vAFu0TnOkLbSvDBQWTrtTX165jfq27Y0GhK9v1XMunnzYfhsar6X2NTILqnb_NtBvfpihLNTgjY3kBCPjF9NfRuDawoQCQVpS7n0_i7H54Udh3oGKE-GHIF-gUruONz3YZLZ3S-98yhO8VME66TJB-gUqI/s4032/0713231403a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPxbvKYMqYLX-4Dsp-T1CXtW85s0FohBD7vAFu0TnOkLbSvDBQWTrtTX165jfq27Y0GhK9v1XMunnzYfhsar6X2NTILqnb_NtBvfpihLNTgjY3kBCPjF9NfRuDawoQCQVpS7n0_i7H54Udh3oGKE-GHIF-gUruONz3YZLZ3S-98yhO8VME66TJB-gUqI/w320-h240/0713231403a.jpg" title="Rex Hale Campground Wyoming" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVEk8oxTmKLf6H60Wv0Cpt4MDYlXYjvukSZ_5awZbciSGMVWihpiie9UZa8HFJIniSqA8uiCIEq7we2a8XuYPy0NRbgJb8Sbb9atBaFfVYHPz4Ifnkky9fTnd8RpIz-zotMU-vg4-VBzKPaTg5yw7SJRDeM6pMPsQxm77SJ-bePDhZMTiGgJZR9tafJA/s5184/IMG_7933.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVEk8oxTmKLf6H60Wv0Cpt4MDYlXYjvukSZ_5awZbciSGMVWihpiie9UZa8HFJIniSqA8uiCIEq7we2a8XuYPy0NRbgJb8Sbb9atBaFfVYHPz4Ifnkky9fTnd8RpIz-zotMU-vg4-VBzKPaTg5yw7SJRDeM6pMPsQxm77SJ-bePDhZMTiGgJZR9tafJA/w320-h213/IMG_7933.JPG" title="Rex Hale Campground Wyoming" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUaUjavAsXwB8_HGjslcjKSRyvYqVIc-R6BXidh-aG6Ls3zxkUiUgd5zZg9JogFJE26u7ti6QcrHSNQYKyO4AkltOl_7z4dVXSTXcI-tLa4Ym6y4IQVwlTTT4OX23xl25yMtm8x53OFHZ-sXM-gw5wrVDdv3zc7EDIdFvX9rFKUdTeHpCxAo6j05INUE/s5184/IMG_7928.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUaUjavAsXwB8_HGjslcjKSRyvYqVIc-R6BXidh-aG6Ls3zxkUiUgd5zZg9JogFJE26u7ti6QcrHSNQYKyO4AkltOl_7z4dVXSTXcI-tLa4Ym6y4IQVwlTTT4OX23xl25yMtm8x53OFHZ-sXM-gw5wrVDdv3zc7EDIdFvX9rFKUdTeHpCxAo6j05INUE/w320-h213/IMG_7928.JPG" title="Rex Hale Campground Wyoming" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoCZ1qhaTZXBc3uywvIp2EcU5kwZ0rJEpUUjI33o81XvtsHPoZoEkfx7Z9Q1KyYc7Z2aC6u_RmYSCh56EYSZLHDy5Dh4tzIxIplErvkOJafYIWK09MuRxMi6w32UOSFC0CAv3HwU5TrAXQzog-lfS_vnqbEwpzDUh-9YXJeRXIiWD3gSSNEFrwymqjwA/s3024/0714230804%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoCZ1qhaTZXBc3uywvIp2EcU5kwZ0rJEpUUjI33o81XvtsHPoZoEkfx7Z9Q1KyYc7Z2aC6u_RmYSCh56EYSZLHDy5Dh4tzIxIplErvkOJafYIWK09MuRxMi6w32UOSFC0CAv3HwU5TrAXQzog-lfS_vnqbEwpzDUh-9YXJeRXIiWD3gSSNEFrwymqjwA/s320/0714230804%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It was very quiet and peaceful; exactly what we wanted and needed. The host said there were little to no worries about bears. The North Fork Shoshone River runs behind the campground and if there are any bears to be seen, they would be fishing in the river. We chose not to chance it and stayed away.<div><br /></div><div>That was our big day in Cody. We discussed going back into town before we headed to Yellowstone but then chose to keep going. Yellowstone has to have a post all on its own!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkls2bi5JnY5_bh3UQIDEzZzrt1JubTWH8bCtgzBPKYx6T2EFZC8rwwH2sq3Gw2EFjsH_wqTtnROm3iHmKDCuwXketLOTJg6M6TsgbwrCs1C-xo_Y1yoh-5o4U_YkPMHwhYVVSUlHFYBAQl2qRAQuBVpfgQeUxCNt-JtsWUO3MHZIADcfuSeVsgAvCFaA/s267/Name.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="267" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkls2bi5JnY5_bh3UQIDEzZzrt1JubTWH8bCtgzBPKYx6T2EFZC8rwwH2sq3Gw2EFjsH_wqTtnROm3iHmKDCuwXketLOTJg6M6TsgbwrCs1C-xo_Y1yoh-5o4U_YkPMHwhYVVSUlHFYBAQl2qRAQuBVpfgQeUxCNt-JtsWUO3MHZIADcfuSeVsgAvCFaA/w200-h118/Name.png" width="200" /></a></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-27614274231550062972024-02-29T03:00:00.008-05:002024-03-08T12:13:38.040-05:00The Great West Trip Part 2<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLQY6sO7QJrYbkjRksjrgEgmLW4kWz9tKu1jKkjqSCAvcLiuZA_ASuBN8CrAl4nlmQFzfJYKiAwArHpFM7T2S6B0mZaFzNjh6RIVuW8aRjFAJIOE8-5FgmZz2iR5E-2qKzFXUjS6-DbeS9U5EoXJprRQVH_OFQz7olGBFuRHuV22LF_gLyEoVAf_MVx8/s1280/West%20Trip%202023.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLQY6sO7QJrYbkjRksjrgEgmLW4kWz9tKu1jKkjqSCAvcLiuZA_ASuBN8CrAl4nlmQFzfJYKiAwArHpFM7T2S6B0mZaFzNjh6RIVuW8aRjFAJIOE8-5FgmZz2iR5E-2qKzFXUjS6-DbeS9U5EoXJprRQVH_OFQz7olGBFuRHuV22LF_gLyEoVAf_MVx8/s320/West%20Trip%202023.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After we left the Badlands, Devils Tower was next on the list. We just passed through and honestly, I would have been happy with seeing it in the distance and not actually driving into the park. It was rather crowded and, since we weren't hiking, the views weren't worth it to wait in line to get to the parking area. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72rMUl3Rp5OZmrrP5tnojSjEQNtf3sHPZDismhWUnbiDTrRFD2Cqupfyugxu1zKtQ-P8-Rjdzvl7cHEozvoVmtY7cslpGjEaJBcmECzRV3dbgzPjqQ_oP746hoIApKqW_hJ-KN4xf0BvFYc-9tgHD-levhLcVZ7kETZ9NBbyJmEevjgkLTNFJbzarJGY/s3024/0710231148a%20square.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72rMUl3Rp5OZmrrP5tnojSjEQNtf3sHPZDismhWUnbiDTrRFD2Cqupfyugxu1zKtQ-P8-Rjdzvl7cHEozvoVmtY7cslpGjEaJBcmECzRV3dbgzPjqQ_oP746hoIApKqW_hJ-KN4xf0BvFYc-9tgHD-levhLcVZ7kETZ9NBbyJmEevjgkLTNFJbzarJGY/w320-h320/0710231148a%20square.jpg" title="Devils Tower Wyoming from a distance" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was hot, but it was July, and crowded. I am surprised that climbing is allowed, for a fee, of course. We ran into a Polish couple in Yellowstone who climbed it. It must be done in the back of the tower; I didn't see anyone climbing but we saw the information for it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROg5CJ9bK13n7oUgAoHtGqIgxc8_yGnEjkRUHtoX8HtjQ9nvVNHYKx1q1L69i9cN6cgqyjgeVEmywGlsQAc0d4zGTFuP9BHtfxZe3FaHFo7AvF-EhrTofbJgyewgR6GhflAbIQONGkA8uCdPo44-jz2KeM_2ztNw8q96anc2r6ZYOqaX10tbuVXX7uKE/s3280/0710231258_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3280" data-original-width="2460" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROg5CJ9bK13n7oUgAoHtGqIgxc8_yGnEjkRUHtoX8HtjQ9nvVNHYKx1q1L69i9cN6cgqyjgeVEmywGlsQAc0d4zGTFuP9BHtfxZe3FaHFo7AvF-EhrTofbJgyewgR6GhflAbIQONGkA8uCdPo44-jz2KeM_2ztNw8q96anc2r6ZYOqaX10tbuVXX7uKE/w240-h320/0710231258_HDR.jpg" title="Devils Tower, Wyoming" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRdYwcsV3md75pgApRZBlhm4-aZflRBH9FOaPCQVLtslMLQb6Z_oyt-AjnQ0eM2031K8sMcVW0pmrimTFheXOxr4SW5sLOvK3HHUTiyyVJF1gdDSjCptTOhIrIXts9JnWWLuSp5-69i6LZFWG36DHGiPkxKNHLsYdwykmsI3uAVhkFNOF_IAEkL068PA/s4958/IMG_7892%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3306" data-original-width="4958" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRdYwcsV3md75pgApRZBlhm4-aZflRBH9FOaPCQVLtslMLQb6Z_oyt-AjnQ0eM2031K8sMcVW0pmrimTFheXOxr4SW5sLOvK3HHUTiyyVJF1gdDSjCptTOhIrIXts9JnWWLuSp5-69i6LZFWG36DHGiPkxKNHLsYdwykmsI3uAVhkFNOF_IAEkL068PA/w320-h213/IMG_7892%20(2).JPG" title="Devils Tower, Wyoming" width="320" /></a></div>We thought about camping in the area but with the temperatures predicted to be fairly warm overnight, we opted to stay in a hotel in Gillette. At some point in your life, comfort outweighs adventure.<p></p><div style="text-align: left;">From there we headed to Billings, Montana. We needed a "rest day" and it was a good time to do laundry and replenish groceries. We were able to secure a somewhat shaded spot at the KOA. This just happened to be KOA #1 so we felt like we found gold!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHayJUcFhjsOFVZFKOQqaZDPkRxW4v36shM3nfJQuR_sjhPXkj-NBnRhz9E7i9RImTFPKLuw7eTgGK_oFONYYIi_COripqlssfIAUxmZgUDrCrvT5LvlCIJpLr-yAG6FD6bUd43RQFbcSYvR9Ut0e51HAcW-9wAfifscb41B6oZYAHyXa0DJP5CjqJ2qY/s3024/KOA%20Sign.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHayJUcFhjsOFVZFKOQqaZDPkRxW4v36shM3nfJQuR_sjhPXkj-NBnRhz9E7i9RImTFPKLuw7eTgGK_oFONYYIi_COripqlssfIAUxmZgUDrCrvT5LvlCIJpLr-yAG6FD6bUd43RQFbcSYvR9Ut0e51HAcW-9wAfifscb41B6oZYAHyXa0DJP5CjqJ2qY/w320-h320/KOA%20Sign.jpg" title="KOA Holiday #1 Billings, Montana" width="320" /></a></div>It was your typical KOA: Kind of tight spaces but the amenities were nice. We thought the location was a little odd: It was behind a residential area. We decided that the campground was probably there first and the houses were built later. Robert soaked in the pool and I sat with my feet in it for a while. We finished our laundry and relaxed. The Yellowstone River runs behind the campground.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zVsyHY3-F6XZ-RE_U7SJCOaHEswriGA93uWW-NYdcYnoNvwF13PqwuZzDNSZXcuk5-Z8E5K7zy7dviE-2SF0OQytKSrxgAMSEF9SyH_rt_pCPWVbUJ9z-zpN3XJAavpmbGFo0v8km3VWDM75IXlwDYktwiqBzyEMWuUnEJr2KrDQIlpG-lcNx6q7NcA/s3024/0711231515~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3023" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zVsyHY3-F6XZ-RE_U7SJCOaHEswriGA93uWW-NYdcYnoNvwF13PqwuZzDNSZXcuk5-Z8E5K7zy7dviE-2SF0OQytKSrxgAMSEF9SyH_rt_pCPWVbUJ9z-zpN3XJAavpmbGFo0v8km3VWDM75IXlwDYktwiqBzyEMWuUnEJr2KrDQIlpG-lcNx6q7NcA/w320-h320/0711231515~2.jpg" title="Yellowstone River, Billings, Montana" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPbFQqETIo4_mu0_KuE5tcK2pn8vq8ut0pv9-wgq-3Q6GODGzk0PtVAzhnBTI8h2rrch9GYle2_Qh9NUOkUweUPYCYhPm53AzP2JjSMn108N3SHZRZTI7D63Qs92Vn50GR5X4F8bFE_2xyp6gVFvRxa6BTRAq1GUhbTvfWLWBWQi7CBwuC50znF4Vl-c/s5184/IMG_7898.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPbFQqETIo4_mu0_KuE5tcK2pn8vq8ut0pv9-wgq-3Q6GODGzk0PtVAzhnBTI8h2rrch9GYle2_Qh9NUOkUweUPYCYhPm53AzP2JjSMn108N3SHZRZTI7D63Qs92Vn50GR5X4F8bFE_2xyp6gVFvRxa6BTRAq1GUhbTvfWLWBWQi7CBwuC50znF4Vl-c/w320-h213/IMG_7898.JPG" title="Cliffs of Yellowstone River, Billings, Montana" width="320" /></a></div>While driving into town to go to the grocery store, I was pleased to see that the underpasses had been spruced up:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSluRirrK6G5weDNkVVGvEYbOd8RBe05LW7zDcM6-Xl4Q3oyQxFaIYq11bqQwSV26gnRYAKa6buP1eKlH0l47FvlUJpoEuJQ3W_XIR7wwUthJSRCxp6csjAIlwcktr9qFcBui31enH5rTmwWgMwW7gaBrsW3EsaOHXWr11urkmf4em6vHMtuRintK8gA/s3492/0711231759_HDR%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3492" data-original-width="3492" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSluRirrK6G5weDNkVVGvEYbOd8RBe05LW7zDcM6-Xl4Q3oyQxFaIYq11bqQwSV26gnRYAKa6buP1eKlH0l47FvlUJpoEuJQ3W_XIR7wwUthJSRCxp6csjAIlwcktr9qFcBui31enH5rTmwWgMwW7gaBrsW3EsaOHXWr11urkmf4em6vHMtuRintK8gA/w320-h320/0711231759_HDR%202.jpg" title="Underpass in Billings, Montana" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFIZSWa4X7Gigis4FSCg2M8_Ril0wmge6QHAk8jC0t-M-Jak8MQ0RLOjinhL4Yv0tDrIYW90IfXF52My-gtKOQvVzWNwIbNmZPhKnpOnqD4hxd9YzWeiGmDqVsWGoqHavSA7E-nbLa46U4sjGrljXIavLFtQPQm93kEfuhefxJSbdM3lQCbnh4im460w/s2478/0711231759a_HDR%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2478" data-original-width="2478" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFIZSWa4X7Gigis4FSCg2M8_Ril0wmge6QHAk8jC0t-M-Jak8MQ0RLOjinhL4Yv0tDrIYW90IfXF52My-gtKOQvVzWNwIbNmZPhKnpOnqD4hxd9YzWeiGmDqVsWGoqHavSA7E-nbLa46U4sjGrljXIavLFtQPQm93kEfuhefxJSbdM3lQCbnh4im460w/w320-h320/0711231759a_HDR%202.jpg" title="Underpass in Billings, Montana" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmTSex1dEZx4y6-5C68bC82nUe2CHvgOLTZw2-W4JAphiclsFqN_gZPjn2AguJw4Cs52U3lrE7ZpBKWEDTK7FMZ-zD-QyEgf3WxsLyJpL-4s90NMnEKAUzsbbZUTnKRM7M0UAi0yUprsLGFZ36ZVazMHzaL68AY0OO0PZ2OX-WBbt9WlD1Rc40l1eoo8/s1357/0711231758%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1357" data-original-width="1357" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmTSex1dEZx4y6-5C68bC82nUe2CHvgOLTZw2-W4JAphiclsFqN_gZPjn2AguJw4Cs52U3lrE7ZpBKWEDTK7FMZ-zD-QyEgf3WxsLyJpL-4s90NMnEKAUzsbbZUTnKRM7M0UAi0yUprsLGFZ36ZVazMHzaL68AY0OO0PZ2OX-WBbt9WlD1Rc40l1eoo8/w320-h320/0711231758%202.jpg" title="Underpass in Billings, Montana" width="320" /></a></div>While at the campground, we discovered we had some interesting neighbors:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbvgDc_irByssoxEDgSj_i_KxazoWxbg0Qtf1fiu4O3luyBwDkcjkiZ5rsUzAwPPfqD3rmoVVzZ63dAdwkh_Mo1IUKh53Xw9h2pYZ4zRMAZdnaNYKZg9w3AkJ03UiCFvkNthXqBF19dKcWlzHXjY3zNBJrCDAuGPLCIjkHaUNDSe-D71a-K7uulQVzSA/s5184/IMG_7893.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbvgDc_irByssoxEDgSj_i_KxazoWxbg0Qtf1fiu4O3luyBwDkcjkiZ5rsUzAwPPfqD3rmoVVzZ63dAdwkh_Mo1IUKh53Xw9h2pYZ4zRMAZdnaNYKZg9w3AkJ03UiCFvkNthXqBF19dKcWlzHXjY3zNBJrCDAuGPLCIjkHaUNDSe-D71a-K7uulQVzSA/w320-h213/IMG_7893.JPG" title="Bald Faced Hornet" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHtCyXr4z91tkfqfCxjy_a9ekjCb2nHr9UCTn3qEeBeVX8wPzomGSuCSKnQdfWsurpCubXg3MC58jw-3DAuNs_3ul4ja-r8m_gfFAYgz3He2JhSGQGXbk-3JQMfMsgyGX8vUR1vo8N7iUpSRETscd8Tn-Y46Wdi7Wu25tZkIICiU86a-cuNJVEv41G6U/s5184/IMG_7896.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHtCyXr4z91tkfqfCxjy_a9ekjCb2nHr9UCTn3qEeBeVX8wPzomGSuCSKnQdfWsurpCubXg3MC58jw-3DAuNs_3ul4ja-r8m_gfFAYgz3He2JhSGQGXbk-3JQMfMsgyGX8vUR1vo8N7iUpSRETscd8Tn-Y46Wdi7Wu25tZkIICiU86a-cuNJVEv41G6U/w320-h213/IMG_7896.JPG" title="Bald Faced Hornet" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Robert looked it up because the employees had some question as to when to attempt to remove the nest with the least amount of bother to the campers. It's a "bald-faced hornet" and is very aggressive. According to some sites I looked at, they sting repeatedly and can spray a "venom" in the eyes of an attacker causing watering of the eyes and temporary blindness. The nest was across the path from our site but thankfully they waited until after we left to take care of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>We had a big decision to make. After seeing Robert's pictures when he rode his motorcycle to the Arctic Circle, I've wanted to see Lake Louise. We made sure we brought our passports just in case we went over the border but we had some considerations that we had to take into account. Do we go north into Canada, west to Glacier National Park, or south to Yellowstone? Or do we decide to go another route and do something different? Find out in Part 3!<br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mUszvaSz0gYWWjiGctMdw6GXA3QFJERuhT5pBB7v0zExZzjJUMh_NYr_EiJNIr3Cgkk1lzrsy-in_hQ5YPEaIFZ7VDgm9tMi47B8yUraOfO6Gxjnz4kRMLHqXR80L831w9IqGmWYqenAx0ZJY4lel-kcTf-NHNmD6dpvxUNpJk7E8vp0eh6iDwveWYc/s267/Name.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="267" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mUszvaSz0gYWWjiGctMdw6GXA3QFJERuhT5pBB7v0zExZzjJUMh_NYr_EiJNIr3Cgkk1lzrsy-in_hQ5YPEaIFZ7VDgm9tMi47B8yUraOfO6Gxjnz4kRMLHqXR80L831w9IqGmWYqenAx0ZJY4lel-kcTf-NHNmD6dpvxUNpJk7E8vp0eh6iDwveWYc/w200-h118/Name.png" width="200" /></a></div></div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-22418023685422000152024-02-22T15:36:00.005-05:002024-03-08T12:14:25.968-05:00The Great West Trip Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMtyXnAFtx3Pczo0lq1jVSHNL8Tm0DDRleizOTT_Oix4J5VEy5bJv9sRNuzEdKu-d_fyoG9pUSycumoTyRAelfd99UNlbxmdIp_qoDFENp24yK2w0XfQ12fc3q0PozoAf3bRale_7_HzGRkmufKt13x_Ae_eUz4YeZCxUVua2aA6x0-SyRe8c6HTnnRM/s1280/West%20Trip%202023.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMtyXnAFtx3Pczo0lq1jVSHNL8Tm0DDRleizOTT_Oix4J5VEy5bJv9sRNuzEdKu-d_fyoG9pUSycumoTyRAelfd99UNlbxmdIp_qoDFENp24yK2w0XfQ12fc3q0PozoAf3bRale_7_HzGRkmufKt13x_Ae_eUz4YeZCxUVua2aA6x0-SyRe8c6HTnnRM/w400-h225/West%20Trip%202023.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">For our big trip, we talked about either going north or west. It just happened that the northern US was being pounded by a lot of rain, so we decided to go west. One of the reasons for that decision was that I (Mary) had never been to Utah. I wanted to see Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and Arches. Plus, I wanted to see some places in Colorado that Robert talked about. We decided that we wouldn't push ourselves and would take our time. We didn't make any reservations except for the Harvest Hosts on the way to the Badlands. <br />We made our way out of TN with the first Harvest Host as the first goal. We ended up leaving a day later than expected because of an issue with our cabin air conditioner. We took it by the dealer where we purchased the van only to be told that the battery was okay. I'm not sure if they didn't understand that we knew the battery was okay; it was the AC that needed to be looked at. In hindsight, when Robert bought it, I think he just checked to make sure that it was blowing and not that it was cooling. Anyway, we made the decision to go ahead with the trip without a working AC unit in the cabin; if it was too hot at night we would just get a hotel room. This actually worked extremely well for us. We ended up staying a few nights in hotels but opening the window above the bed and turning on the MaxxAir was all we needed. <br /><a href="https://membership.harvesthosts.com/member/host/profile/6juEi9Hgl8fGRBto0nWi" target="_blank">Holt RV Service </a>was our first host. We spent the night of the 4th of July there. They were so very welcoming, even though they had a family party happening that night. We were treated to fireworks and nice conversation. If you're thinking, "Couldn't he have fixed the AC?", the answer is "no" due to the voltage of our AC. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8o398WensmVcSPpeBR1KXZhD_tafMorFqdf4Bf2wUrLnLwZeEAPym6Utun1zQjE1rxMvBdVg8y3fNUkwa3ddrvMMkumcdIpYW8sh020pMPBIEcaCLyHMYN_3hZO8DKcqXIYDApISbvibO4vgdSOzVex39EcN8QrmIflbddeymSqj7-I8C5c8yKBnhWBM/s3023/0704231857_HDR~2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3023" data-original-width="3023" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8o398WensmVcSPpeBR1KXZhD_tafMorFqdf4Bf2wUrLnLwZeEAPym6Utun1zQjE1rxMvBdVg8y3fNUkwa3ddrvMMkumcdIpYW8sh020pMPBIEcaCLyHMYN_3hZO8DKcqXIYDApISbvibO4vgdSOzVex39EcN8QrmIflbddeymSqj7-I8C5c8yKBnhWBM/w320-h320/0704231857_HDR~2.jpg" title="Harvest Hosts at Holt RV Service" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nice spot at Holt RV Service</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53wfprGTaQ5OLHnGry8i4GhIXTQvXvIFfxzfmCSP_Wn_Y6xfRN2USNg96e9YZIdSnFjchvxRLSgkTECdKgQEN6W7kGLuTKXcaTs1g6LF7D53DAXbFZZ85F_ng0aYTB87FpG2Fh3NuO413NVGYHqf9GHTnuL2GAIX_AEzIfRani3oXq-XWNM6Rp7O8S_4/s3024/0704231821.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53wfprGTaQ5OLHnGry8i4GhIXTQvXvIFfxzfmCSP_Wn_Y6xfRN2USNg96e9YZIdSnFjchvxRLSgkTECdKgQEN6W7kGLuTKXcaTs1g6LF7D53DAXbFZZ85F_ng0aYTB87FpG2Fh3NuO413NVGYHqf9GHTnuL2GAIX_AEzIfRani3oXq-XWNM6Rp7O8S_4/w320-h320/0704231821.jpg" title="Friendly Cat at Holt RV Service" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">They have a super friendly cat that we had to make sure we didn't take along with us when we left the next day.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The next stop was my sister's house in Missouri, just north of Kansas City. We ended up spending a couple of nights there so I could have my sister time, then headed to the next Harvest Host site in Iowa. <a href="https://membership.harvesthosts.com/member/host/profile/stensland-family-farm" target="_blank">Stensland Family Farm</a> is a working dairy farm. We dealt with flies, but it is a dairy farm. The parking was in the parking lot which was very level and quiet. We got a quick tour of how the freeze-dried ice cream was made and were given some samples. There is a small store with a pizza maker, ice cream, and cheese. You pay via the honor system which means if you want to use a credit card you have to make a phone call. They ended up getting a bit of a tip since we didn't have exact change.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgya0F8MIL-jUqsK_3bpQQ7JFmvscSRD50q7EIpNg6IuaBZLIC8kZIotsYOd7BIBcn-OzGr5pOLrd5bHLTOroNDHwdmOTMVGXhYV4yyNxAwfpjqk2gmvwU9Gj7LveItcDdi8OvV70RzWalucEmHwjtsyjSuj6drzfoJOYdeH9XcZa22mH2vywKAM7PRUpM/s2603/original_8aee0dfe-e712-4745-9bfb-bfff178576ad_0708230732a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2602" data-original-width="2603" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgya0F8MIL-jUqsK_3bpQQ7JFmvscSRD50q7EIpNg6IuaBZLIC8kZIotsYOd7BIBcn-OzGr5pOLrd5bHLTOroNDHwdmOTMVGXhYV4yyNxAwfpjqk2gmvwU9Gj7LveItcDdi8OvV70RzWalucEmHwjtsyjSuj6drzfoJOYdeH9XcZa22mH2vywKAM7PRUpM/w320-h320/original_8aee0dfe-e712-4745-9bfb-bfff178576ad_0708230732a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>View heading toward the farm</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfTX4Pjy1jS8jiUOVJa2CKukomU_CNeqCAb5hQvCz_KYvjzR4RqF9bGDdihvZC5Qf8OSoF9A37pNsOID8NmWm5Cdy1z6ldg3fXTimlsmp15JEsy33ZdU7qml1QCKPTkvAXeSBWRalNjX1Mfa9VFkGDoSBLnlGu2Nm9E22dP758nBOWJgLX3J3PS4BCAs/s2551/0708230729.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2551" data-original-width="2551" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfTX4Pjy1jS8jiUOVJa2CKukomU_CNeqCAb5hQvCz_KYvjzR4RqF9bGDdihvZC5Qf8OSoF9A37pNsOID8NmWm5Cdy1z6ldg3fXTimlsmp15JEsy33ZdU7qml1QCKPTkvAXeSBWRalNjX1Mfa9VFkGDoSBLnlGu2Nm9E22dP758nBOWJgLX3J3PS4BCAs/w320-h320/0708230729.jpg" title="Stensland Dairy Farm" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3xz7duk_eLzkgde8atMfS4QEuq04Jt0thWL_CDAzlfuGg22TXXRTCnCnbI74Yp0DuxlipenLQOTrIEvLa1rMxUGBnqNs073FMviinNQstanUDbI_wIA_fmGeKZLNxm8vyXqS5nKHTy_2gRdx8jGovgrn67tQ7wbpx-vS1qQ7lpTW79fKh86X1ssVSCc/s2709/original_8f78eb06-ffa1-4af0-aa8d-5c9f24e126e6_0707231628_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2708" data-original-width="2709" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3xz7duk_eLzkgde8atMfS4QEuq04Jt0thWL_CDAzlfuGg22TXXRTCnCnbI74Yp0DuxlipenLQOTrIEvLa1rMxUGBnqNs073FMviinNQstanUDbI_wIA_fmGeKZLNxm8vyXqS5nKHTy_2gRdx8jGovgrn67tQ7wbpx-vS1qQ7lpTW79fKh86X1ssVSCc/w320-h320/original_8f78eb06-ffa1-4af0-aa8d-5c9f24e126e6_0707231628_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>View from the front of the van</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFX7lMoMbgfSglLYbLu1hb_8JfqUIRi5ywovsjZb7B2PedJqZQc0cZ946o_MCRPWRK82N5WJi4Yj0bGmH-8R9UkvS1yA3ZKGh3bEWWwW-_1nz2RzR8PSO70vhUUB8zSIrVWS7wElFbz606Id9Idsg6En-RnjKFI6q69g8LLrU53UHMJ-Gc6apjiu_OL6I/s2123/0707231612.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2123" data-original-width="2123" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFX7lMoMbgfSglLYbLu1hb_8JfqUIRi5ywovsjZb7B2PedJqZQc0cZ946o_MCRPWRK82N5WJi4Yj0bGmH-8R9UkvS1yA3ZKGh3bEWWwW-_1nz2RzR8PSO70vhUUB8zSIrVWS7wElFbz606Id9Idsg6En-RnjKFI6q69g8LLrU53UHMJ-Gc6apjiu_OL6I/w320-h320/0707231612.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>We parked in the parking lot but it was a quiet night. There was one other camper who came in while we were there.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTM2_M4LR3fNx4hT0z01PP31hmsUr7LVkoCWCMJe6r5XgbVL7Vd7AngHQV-LcFeQKkHX22SA9lYNwXZOOCGKN36Ms3Yy9QFSosKA-uE6jom-6feejspjV1ya5v-NHl1nmcsYilaegZ0EVyVDB30PQY1zt2J6arZL6iyxwdGQQ8TsN24zvxUxQg_I9VNhc/s3280/0707231611.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3280" data-original-width="2460" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTM2_M4LR3fNx4hT0z01PP31hmsUr7LVkoCWCMJe6r5XgbVL7Vd7AngHQV-LcFeQKkHX22SA9lYNwXZOOCGKN36Ms3Yy9QFSosKA-uE6jom-6feejspjV1ya5v-NHl1nmcsYilaegZ0EVyVDB30PQY1zt2J6arZL6iyxwdGQQ8TsN24zvxUxQg_I9VNhc/w240-h320/0707231611.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>It's a working dairy farm....you've gotta take a picture with a cow (real or not!)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>On to the Badlands! On our previous trip out west we drove past this National Park but didn't actually go <i>into </i>it. This was one place I knew I had to visit and it definitely didn't disappoint. The scenery was breathtaking! We found an amazing place to Boondock, along with about 100 other people. You'll want to make sure you get to this space in the afternoon; if you wait until the evening you won't be able to find the best spot.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqpCrWeleYXOur5c07ntu7ArtUWVbKsG-xujQ430tklxOEB3sUi2TnJkziNkhcfXtt0K2hoKWFo1O0g-iW7deB7NrDuxqnY2p-7MH4ReP-6CcuXVtcjVa9Na0yDJxCI1_l-UOoPDZ-8oec4k96g9Koe-dLz2eO8cZXIZ0hZpn32F5qdU5eHAR-NPMN5Q/s4032/0708231510_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqpCrWeleYXOur5c07ntu7ArtUWVbKsG-xujQ430tklxOEB3sUi2TnJkziNkhcfXtt0K2hoKWFo1O0g-iW7deB7NrDuxqnY2p-7MH4ReP-6CcuXVtcjVa9Na0yDJxCI1_l-UOoPDZ-8oec4k96g9Koe-dLz2eO8cZXIZ0hZpn32F5qdU5eHAR-NPMN5Q/w320-h240/0708231510_HDR.jpg" title="The Badlands National Park" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4an2L5m0a2SXQnX8zB9mg8eZypD7v2W-pi9ckNDjg_A9SjgB33BghB7mGN4UI3wM0hmnVSP4uUIXoJ21HX6BFelVdEQvidAR0yY_fIuy7W2R3OsFXdJnFny1DY9L6_NOgmfnl-B6-8TodpOorfSnRt2-KRug029oWEWX6VM4Ns2RHIp8BxbDPjRseVqI/s4032/0708231931a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4an2L5m0a2SXQnX8zB9mg8eZypD7v2W-pi9ckNDjg_A9SjgB33BghB7mGN4UI3wM0hmnVSP4uUIXoJ21HX6BFelVdEQvidAR0yY_fIuy7W2R3OsFXdJnFny1DY9L6_NOgmfnl-B6-8TodpOorfSnRt2-KRug029oWEWX6VM4Ns2RHIp8BxbDPjRseVqI/w240-h320/0708231931a.jpg" title="Pinnacle Boondocking Area, Badlands National Park" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The view from our van</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">We spent 2 nights on the Pinnacles (also called "Badlands Boondocking Area" or "Badlands Boondock Campspot" on Google Maps). The whole drive through the Badlands was just breathtaking. We rode through the "loop" when we got there, found a spot to spend the night, and then spent the next day going back through the park at a much slower pace. We showered at the campground and then headed back to the Pinnacles to find a spot for the night. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeDpMlJa7-w_dJg7KkB-jwokX2XUMksI3wo8lTQf9-7O1wDCH-7EvD-u6e-q_HBH-llJUVO6UKbGmxqqff3_oa5pltYN-pMecbBLrAJh45JFx-9X5QmpP5ev133eVzNZUYjE2WQHFiDxWMZdX46nkEIjacygwgE_2GN85ejl4Xriz565mj_lxoxcMPyE/s4032/0708231611.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeDpMlJa7-w_dJg7KkB-jwokX2XUMksI3wo8lTQf9-7O1wDCH-7EvD-u6e-q_HBH-llJUVO6UKbGmxqqff3_oa5pltYN-pMecbBLrAJh45JFx-9X5QmpP5ev133eVzNZUYjE2WQHFiDxWMZdX46nkEIjacygwgE_2GN85ejl4Xriz565mj_lxoxcMPyE/w320-h240/0708231611.jpg" title="Badlands National Park" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNd7av0qu93JW_SExa-vM8C-ohOEXyynmIRq5RE4mjsHHF7p2LUjXHZAj6rDyrIPVWbNYXS1W1hry966OgJSIOYobrNS_hjED1jeiAgqXL8mNV3oMCG9MOmjmJ6XOOdS3ZZ24JbDleCKD3dWw9tOwau8Mm_wMnzqkkZHMeIv2haquwxF3eGLTuO1fZvOY/s5184/IMG_7822%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNd7av0qu93JW_SExa-vM8C-ohOEXyynmIRq5RE4mjsHHF7p2LUjXHZAj6rDyrIPVWbNYXS1W1hry966OgJSIOYobrNS_hjED1jeiAgqXL8mNV3oMCG9MOmjmJ6XOOdS3ZZ24JbDleCKD3dWw9tOwau8Mm_wMnzqkkZHMeIv2haquwxF3eGLTuO1fZvOY/w320-h213/IMG_7822%20(2).JPG" title="Badlands National Park" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwna7oZ6Un-VzNAbp8RNZo2MCtVQQG-2gEoH_fqrmOFSXkxLn0pyngOKasP85R3fOkyl84oHNsOWYa5kDkzeEH8kFLMU3cRwXyUHTZyFurRYrfcGXulkcnlA-lHnBl78Awru2cPMP6fNuHK5-1944X1URKuIOZEtpEm_iZM1ILfZ2UaXZhjLs9BU60ERA/s5184/IMG_7873%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwna7oZ6Un-VzNAbp8RNZo2MCtVQQG-2gEoH_fqrmOFSXkxLn0pyngOKasP85R3fOkyl84oHNsOWYa5kDkzeEH8kFLMU3cRwXyUHTZyFurRYrfcGXulkcnlA-lHnBl78Awru2cPMP6fNuHK5-1944X1URKuIOZEtpEm_iZM1ILfZ2UaXZhjLs9BU60ERA/w320-h213/IMG_7873%20(2).JPG" title="Badlands National Park" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2Jy4zh5CO-sFoJXXqOjAeln7q51cC0AI79bi1tRlk7J6ad5HR_LTG-wrnzOxFoJD0SmHFR-D7KqNk54EOSIIPxba-G-hWilSR33phhquyiVlmFBf0dYFFfizvXLcr0_Vwd1xfX3vtsc17C06u0SKK1pxegQzzfttOizYvUTa2eSn5Kr-6l91e_9jxYs/s5184/IMG_7886%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2Jy4zh5CO-sFoJXXqOjAeln7q51cC0AI79bi1tRlk7J6ad5HR_LTG-wrnzOxFoJD0SmHFR-D7KqNk54EOSIIPxba-G-hWilSR33phhquyiVlmFBf0dYFFfizvXLcr0_Vwd1xfX3vtsc17C06u0SKK1pxegQzzfttOizYvUTa2eSn5Kr-6l91e_9jxYs/w320-h213/IMG_7886%20(2).JPG" title="Badlands National Park" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">We had been advised to be aware of the wind. We had a young couple in a tent in back of us. Luckily the winds weren't too bad that night and their tent didn't end up against the van. We ended up seeing the couple again a couple of days after that on the interstate to Billings. It was very cool to have someone to wave to when we were so far away from home. </p><p style="text-align: left;">From the Badlands, we started heading north/northwest. We had the luxury of taking our time deciding where we were going to go next as we drove along. We averaged 4-5 hours of driving each day which was perfect for us. I was already amazed at how beautiful this area of the country is; there was much more to come!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCBZ_yUsHUP6cdb-LjqKBWXMuvFeAnKZTJ1QD5jq46QUHuktYmSHRYmu1ivQhpPnulaVbdrXjZcXLn_IEi7LRAKu1QMPDSthTeg7VTKQJUykh_qh6gCVCd7rrwxyiYOukS3HB-BYAgd7MhNtn4xySU2c98ke5g1YYLCD68VATV3J7merf5Os0PPXMo8s/s267/Name.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="267" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCBZ_yUsHUP6cdb-LjqKBWXMuvFeAnKZTJ1QD5jq46QUHuktYmSHRYmu1ivQhpPnulaVbdrXjZcXLn_IEi7LRAKu1QMPDSthTeg7VTKQJUykh_qh6gCVCd7rrwxyiYOukS3HB-BYAgd7MhNtn4xySU2c98ke5g1YYLCD68VATV3J7merf5Os0PPXMo8s/w200-h118/Name.png" width="200" /></a></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-58152889895997620352023-06-07T03:00:00.024-04:002023-06-10T08:49:12.896-04:00Harvest Hosts: Tsali Notch Vineyard, Madisonville, TN<p>Night 2 of our anniversary weekend trying out Harvest Hosts was spent at <a href="https://tsalinotch.com/" target="_blank">Tsali Notch Vineyards</a> in Madisonville, TN. We were there an hour before we said we would be, but JD welcomed us with open arms and told us to head into the Tasting Room to let them know we were there. It was only about a 20-minute drive from <a href="https://www.grainbincommodities.com/" target="_blank">Grain Bin Commodities</a> so if you wanted to stay at the Vineyard and make a pastry run, you could. (Just a suggestion!) If you're coming from I75, the drive is only about 10 miles from the exit so it's not too far out of the way. The vineyard is also just down the road from <a href="https://thelostsea.com/" target="_blank">The Lost Sea</a> so you could spend the day exploring the world's largest underground lake and then stay the night.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERel-CJLOUT-1VGtuYk89dFMhQN1oOMbQt9aIgo5lMtjs_wccncjyhIQKoi8frMTn6w0EByFZf9pyLYtDclEQtetU2yrymrSRDOLhW9_-LQT-s2ywMfOnWeUFwoZcqzlXaOsfJmt_aAnvUS3AUTZinRfp0ZZkA2GpygEvlLLNWzNkriEigTUZ5aq_/s5184/IMG_7742.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERel-CJLOUT-1VGtuYk89dFMhQN1oOMbQt9aIgo5lMtjs_wccncjyhIQKoi8frMTn6w0EByFZf9pyLYtDclEQtetU2yrymrSRDOLhW9_-LQT-s2ywMfOnWeUFwoZcqzlXaOsfJmt_aAnvUS3AUTZinRfp0ZZkA2GpygEvlLLNWzNkriEigTUZ5aq_/w320-h213/IMG_7742.JPG" title="Tsali Notch Vineyard Entrance" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Entrance to Tsali Notch Vineyards</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>When we arrived JD was prepping for an event so we tried to just stay out of the way. I managed to get in the wine tasting ($10) before it started raining. Tsali Notch is a Muscadine vineyard, and, being a red-wine girl, I wasn't sure how I would like the wines. But I managed to find a couple that I liked, so again, I had no trouble spending the suggested $20 for staying the night. The Chatsworth is a dry red with just a hint of sweetness. Even the French Broad (rosé) surprised me. Their juice is pure juice from the Muscadine; no sweeteners are added...or needed. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fgz0wCjJ7wl3bSiWfNhgt9wV9P6J0QIC1KcNbQ18n7DW2qxu71ccGSJOyKAfZzJAGnsL3XDdEo4wPAE6l0guLvx5dX6OMo5AT8FmeH5S1O43p4ZiOY515zG-ajj7Zx3AaoNRgl2JMVbdunpZA7ix3-HltTmDd3KIYD-msofiIknBuKmAp8pQCBh9/s5184/IMG_7709.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fgz0wCjJ7wl3bSiWfNhgt9wV9P6J0QIC1KcNbQ18n7DW2qxu71ccGSJOyKAfZzJAGnsL3XDdEo4wPAE6l0guLvx5dX6OMo5AT8FmeH5S1O43p4ZiOY515zG-ajj7Zx3AaoNRgl2JMVbdunpZA7ix3-HltTmDd3KIYD-msofiIknBuKmAp8pQCBh9/w320-h213/IMG_7709.JPG" title="The Tasting Room at Tsali Notch Vineyards" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Tasting Room</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>While it rained, Robert napped and I read. Even with an event happening at the bottom of the hill, it was extremely quiet and peaceful. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdIO0x4Rf8t3S3Fsztk9L8VOnn1NtYMdFbDiGvYl8tbI3z28ZWarfopWqUp8rnjcXlkInjErtYluqIyBwZP44S33cfxNuzXfQu4Kxz-wlOWjkXqaMzJgb17aaduQCV3P2g7lOM6H6Dv7ObMrpP08dNpqTNAxIEGAXKvNUObIONcRfd5fa6_JqB9Yb/s3024/0520231356.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdIO0x4Rf8t3S3Fsztk9L8VOnn1NtYMdFbDiGvYl8tbI3z28ZWarfopWqUp8rnjcXlkInjErtYluqIyBwZP44S33cfxNuzXfQu4Kxz-wlOWjkXqaMzJgb17aaduQCV3P2g7lOM6H6Dv7ObMrpP08dNpqTNAxIEGAXKvNUObIONcRfd5fa6_JqB9Yb/w320-h320/0520231356.jpg" title="Looking through the Window at the Rain" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>View from the side window as it rained.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkB9Bu7nk57HbGD3hSm9P9oYPNwHqu1HIBNCkb4QAi97ge7-Rjln8QoEP1wMMS6T56HECBFif6hTjMLKP3Wc0ZDGtCwZcrBCTc_sY5mcUbZ27e_uIo7i5V0hrt4DidlK3ii9XHNXnQiuY1akhXX1sVbDG89cd6WV2gxf8PEAvqK2ClCfM0qDvqSxK/s2012/original_e8cc5826-85f3-4dc5-9802-a3b0e3c5b464_0520231341_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2012" data-original-width="2012" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkB9Bu7nk57HbGD3hSm9P9oYPNwHqu1HIBNCkb4QAi97ge7-Rjln8QoEP1wMMS6T56HECBFif6hTjMLKP3Wc0ZDGtCwZcrBCTc_sY5mcUbZ27e_uIo7i5V0hrt4DidlK3ii9XHNXnQiuY1akhXX1sVbDG89cd6WV2gxf8PEAvqK2ClCfM0qDvqSxK/w320-h320/original_e8cc5826-85f3-4dc5-9802-a3b0e3c5b464_0520231341_HDR.jpg" title="Windshield view of the rain" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The view looking out of the windshield</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div>Our site for the night was just beautiful. There was one other van that came in later; their view was awesome as well.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2Pk5itofC59P3QWhGRSF1o2JOJzcwSNFZ6ABY81zw9Vl6zJb3FLyBaZ9cqYcTTVbUNk9sd_cG946cA4vreNMdzv2vSapuQTnaphgIIRMhkdGAUGCN6pymPSsAfP_uoJnK5GKw76_WgWizC5E2R5B9KQvHCTmsNBTAw_a6zeSdYM3luqfVwH6jGFT/w320-h213/IMG_7712.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Sprinter Campervan Parked at Tsali Notch Vineyard" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>We parked right across the road from one of the vineyards</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2Pk5itofC59P3QWhGRSF1o2JOJzcwSNFZ6ABY81zw9Vl6zJb3FLyBaZ9cqYcTTVbUNk9sd_cG946cA4vreNMdzv2vSapuQTnaphgIIRMhkdGAUGCN6pymPSsAfP_uoJnK5GKw76_WgWizC5E2R5B9KQvHCTmsNBTAw_a6zeSdYM3luqfVwH6jGFT/s5184/IMG_7712.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i></i></span></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0b6Nm9GD4UnkEmKn8kqZbNjg2x2Ul4xlOD1abLbM3UogbrXamy2SxSRsEWK0g0hPZZB22YyuUs5aagSKO-wLnvq614_kLbOTmY64wbih9gPuT10pUETQakx5LGFAz9QhVVvf-IetR8EWfN7OWqa7Q6A9sLTP6rvsB7EtXwnItibtTBb4nrruxJGl/s5184/IMG_7713.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0b6Nm9GD4UnkEmKn8kqZbNjg2x2Ul4xlOD1abLbM3UogbrXamy2SxSRsEWK0g0hPZZB22YyuUs5aagSKO-wLnvq614_kLbOTmY64wbih9gPuT10pUETQakx5LGFAz9QhVVvf-IetR8EWfN7OWqa7Q6A9sLTP6rvsB7EtXwnItibtTBb4nrruxJGl/w320-h213/IMG_7713.JPG" title="Entegra Launch parked at Tsali Notch Vineyard" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Perfect spot!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZN6L33umiOx4WL5BAN6NQ46AY7EEiuh6xYOQmpnorhYO6EVyiPS76DIrgDNSXJzHQsWkUBxzr_mpMPTDsHiHj2wXibsLG28MDi64asfDUSxEDNkjdUqceQjaPVomGMDYismX3wRC4GV5z5EMfjtd4D6ZEolntA_CAhyiXEYvWswswsyVX5IVmsbgE/s5184/IMG_7714.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZN6L33umiOx4WL5BAN6NQ46AY7EEiuh6xYOQmpnorhYO6EVyiPS76DIrgDNSXJzHQsWkUBxzr_mpMPTDsHiHj2wXibsLG28MDi64asfDUSxEDNkjdUqceQjaPVomGMDYismX3wRC4GV5z5EMfjtd4D6ZEolntA_CAhyiXEYvWswswsyVX5IVmsbgE/w320-h213/IMG_7714.JPG" title="View of Tsali Notch Vineyards" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Our view from behind the van before the rain.<br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>We had asked ahead of time if we could set up our gazebo and were given the go-ahead. There were storms in the forecast so we decided not to put it up in case the wind picked up. It ended up just raining, which was fine since we had such a nice quiet afternoon. The views after the rain were even more spectacular:<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsiwsdLHF1VX618gp7gzlkBSvLYv4NC35hSE4gIaqVRiO2wTWsViaaqfA9WazQ-1La730sB1nHag-sIBWsFTPtn54C2Mr-3ocrqNM2uS3cNLeOQnkO9jsUlxrQM8UWfIxaPLg8EyEqraZBruZM2d9cSDpKgq25JNr7bOYgTDgBL63IwwfdfRcU0Wg/s5184/IMG_7724.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsiwsdLHF1VX618gp7gzlkBSvLYv4NC35hSE4gIaqVRiO2wTWsViaaqfA9WazQ-1La730sB1nHag-sIBWsFTPtn54C2Mr-3ocrqNM2uS3cNLeOQnkO9jsUlxrQM8UWfIxaPLg8EyEqraZBruZM2d9cSDpKgq25JNr7bOYgTDgBL63IwwfdfRcU0Wg/w320-h213/IMG_7724.JPG" title="Mist over Muscadine Vineyard" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Mist over the vineyard after the rain</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnLssOJ-Q8EUy5L9n3yoEnwYjvyMcvf-Eo_KuM3pJcG0iBJPBMYEn3an5WpR0QYqBrP8dTwrTDKBvgwzhMmKmUKAiwMitmkf-Vja08CalOBEJHE9ds3Q4tSt4xHT9IGBHMy97TqrNuRK1odgJl60ehxeevDgV0x9co43A6QUTvKjxQQt-Eh5vMfek/s5184/IMG_7729.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnLssOJ-Q8EUy5L9n3yoEnwYjvyMcvf-Eo_KuM3pJcG0iBJPBMYEn3an5WpR0QYqBrP8dTwrTDKBvgwzhMmKmUKAiwMitmkf-Vja08CalOBEJHE9ds3Q4tSt4xHT9IGBHMy97TqrNuRK1odgJl60ehxeevDgV0x9co43A6QUTvKjxQQt-Eh5vMfek/w320-h213/IMG_7729.JPG" title="Low Lying Clouds in East Tennessee" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Low-lying cloud in the distance</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzGMveSI9EN_n5P0v56L16xf0zqongbxMO-xE_vkxkSBpRVAncJTv5yh3wRlFqGEloiTQJIVlEiI_NvVN3gFgCYaNdVsOjnRSZ2ItugxKTAkVOuA144_RUMoaqZEyHD8JzYuyjxmeeOii1QHRPJOMiswOtLG-CR6qIR5LA3nk3W9Dhx6wCsni-95W/s5184/IMG_7731.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzGMveSI9EN_n5P0v56L16xf0zqongbxMO-xE_vkxkSBpRVAncJTv5yh3wRlFqGEloiTQJIVlEiI_NvVN3gFgCYaNdVsOjnRSZ2ItugxKTAkVOuA144_RUMoaqZEyHD8JzYuyjxmeeOii1QHRPJOMiswOtLG-CR6qIR5LA3nk3W9Dhx6wCsni-95W/w320-h213/IMG_7731.JPG" title="Clouds Hovering in East Tennessee Mountains" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>More clouds in the distance</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div>More views of the vineyard:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72G4_OhZymlBQB6GUDNAWFEMJLhvlusZhSB66g8fL8Gw-DeRkHBQtnBVxZB6qY10t1mCmNzx_wt6gzj7DFLoXcSFNqvhb8BWCUxk6AMWcZcbWRyHjtsb7O9ZwjjNgUbHZkxp_CO3scdSP-op7Ws0KNb-yeo-eSEsnjRXQoCikfQiA8ky4D1GiVO-W/s5184/IMG_7701.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72G4_OhZymlBQB6GUDNAWFEMJLhvlusZhSB66g8fL8Gw-DeRkHBQtnBVxZB6qY10t1mCmNzx_wt6gzj7DFLoXcSFNqvhb8BWCUxk6AMWcZcbWRyHjtsb7O9ZwjjNgUbHZkxp_CO3scdSP-op7Ws0KNb-yeo-eSEsnjRXQoCikfQiA8ky4D1GiVO-W/w320-h213/IMG_7701.JPG" title="Silo at Tsali Notch Vineyards" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCa0-WcI9SlmuC-OQA4Ybo2gDxJ3S_pRXWw5JmWGJ928OiP8eNy3K5DGRl0MxVlEc8k_55HHVRVRk2FS_Gb9RTK9soWAiuTEtJ7dYYZlapC4DNFVAvWshjU1_lezFJAKSAB0eIR1ZOYUh7VdztkRPN8vBtH7-9sqF6qFz2eqaD2FuVXBlbf0W_aJo/s5184/IMG_7707.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCa0-WcI9SlmuC-OQA4Ybo2gDxJ3S_pRXWw5JmWGJ928OiP8eNy3K5DGRl0MxVlEc8k_55HHVRVRk2FS_Gb9RTK9soWAiuTEtJ7dYYZlapC4DNFVAvWshjU1_lezFJAKSAB0eIR1ZOYUh7VdztkRPN8vBtH7-9sqF6qFz2eqaD2FuVXBlbf0W_aJo/w320-h213/IMG_7707.JPG" title="Tennessee Tri-Star Fire Pit at Tsali Notch Vineyards" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I loved these Tennessee Tri-Star fire pits</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYAcw4p8BPWaYm_ZL5lI0SkbYwYDPSEyi5xhRxNpwyCp55mbe5obB0u9TnOtXM98qPcuTQxsHkRjIZCq3VbtQBaj8Y8RdxCoz-yhmzZNDjnHhjGZ-pcsJGRCEavEWo3cR4Cg9qUMHn5wsyviY5538gdyf-xWDVZdJdHDPp8vzN4-BqZ-B1ef7xBa1/s5184/IMG_7708.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYAcw4p8BPWaYm_ZL5lI0SkbYwYDPSEyi5xhRxNpwyCp55mbe5obB0u9TnOtXM98qPcuTQxsHkRjIZCq3VbtQBaj8Y8RdxCoz-yhmzZNDjnHhjGZ-pcsJGRCEavEWo3cR4Cg9qUMHn5wsyviY5538gdyf-xWDVZdJdHDPp8vzN4-BqZ-B1ef7xBa1/w320-h213/IMG_7708.JPG" title="View of Tsali Notch Vineyards" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-r4b_1WEImKZphv-VRY7YitbW3ktKb_9Ll60RILIFzfaEUtoFI3tKXzOpKhS1ZHv46mz53hdX_ylZVEH_Ooiip79KfQKrp_WDIzZsyIB3h7KGTz7aHvrh3YL53V_CuIKbztCReNRo7tVOPJ5wrt_e3UvRJfc2hwS2N5gsPMRlFwNgxQViaPMQtMsK/s5184/IMG_7720.JPG"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-r4b_1WEImKZphv-VRY7YitbW3ktKb_9Ll60RILIFzfaEUtoFI3tKXzOpKhS1ZHv46mz53hdX_ylZVEH_Ooiip79KfQKrp_WDIzZsyIB3h7KGTz7aHvrh3YL53V_CuIKbztCReNRo7tVOPJ5wrt_e3UvRJfc2hwS2N5gsPMRlFwNgxQViaPMQtMsK/w320-h213/IMG_7720.JPG" title="Mountain View between Jackson's Lounge and Tasting Room at Tsali Notch Vineyards" width="320" /></a></div>In the above picture, t<span style="text-align: center;">he building on the left is the Jackson Lounge, where the restrooms are housed. The restrooms were kept open at night and weren't that far of a walk from the van. That made it really nice so we didn't have to use the van toilet. Also, the gates are closed at night, but when we left around 9:00 the next morning, they were already open. As we drove away, I made Robert stop so I could jump out and take a few more pictures of the vineyard in the morning mist.</span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CuIHslbaclMr3DHIReEpKwXhH-jZHhgPVDUsjArwW7y5487Q0vxrcRMsozTfHFK9GOmMFvGdCS5s95k8klW6KMpz9bqbsLOeseF74fYzonqDzu0p_vY8nfq7vpV3DGJj4a7ikzgCEFKbWDsbVHvOTyOqWWy47ALc3T9As9cBMYrxt3LmdDea_P9a/s5184/IMG_7732.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CuIHslbaclMr3DHIReEpKwXhH-jZHhgPVDUsjArwW7y5487Q0vxrcRMsozTfHFK9GOmMFvGdCS5s95k8klW6KMpz9bqbsLOeseF74fYzonqDzu0p_vY8nfq7vpV3DGJj4a7ikzgCEFKbWDsbVHvOTyOqWWy47ALc3T9As9cBMYrxt3LmdDea_P9a/w320-h213/IMG_7732.JPG" title="Morning Mist over Tsali Notch Vineyards" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxMFkEAlHbQXvDVQTj8l-PabICK2CPhv9hisrzRGfpLMSXkXbR80BoCE3O9sM2sTPWqrGQiSkarX9LGuMte2o3glBDeOgduLmfmOeepbBKvfajj--9TS8uoXx-M-O7-gyEJIyE_AOtaj-lNg62Qc7yiIfwtipuoOWZmPcbUA6OkfAcCHA72P6_G3c/s5184/IMG_7733.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxMFkEAlHbQXvDVQTj8l-PabICK2CPhv9hisrzRGfpLMSXkXbR80BoCE3O9sM2sTPWqrGQiSkarX9LGuMte2o3glBDeOgduLmfmOeepbBKvfajj--9TS8uoXx-M-O7-gyEJIyE_AOtaj-lNg62Qc7yiIfwtipuoOWZmPcbUA6OkfAcCHA72P6_G3c/w320-h213/IMG_7733.JPG" title="Tsali Notch Vineyards" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Looking out over the main vineyards</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCOcr8BoVwCfhcwPznQmMngideKPv_ieUHFYSl0NFrL3L0jeQiO3n0TS_F6gtjGSoRX-aaUcviYM9GLwhefAJ3ESqIgH6RvaMdflgjfwdzO2RPCK3tTvibv6C7eE0U7bKp3DlR3_8VqSZZ6I5V9775GR1xupNOC8hr9jZ-ul-JFKxJMyBh7wfPUT2/s5184/IMG_7736.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCOcr8BoVwCfhcwPznQmMngideKPv_ieUHFYSl0NFrL3L0jeQiO3n0TS_F6gtjGSoRX-aaUcviYM9GLwhefAJ3ESqIgH6RvaMdflgjfwdzO2RPCK3tTvibv6C7eE0U7bKp3DlR3_8VqSZZ6I5V9775GR1xupNOC8hr9jZ-ul-JFKxJMyBh7wfPUT2/w320-h213/IMG_7736.JPG" title="Event Barn at Tsali Notch Vineyards" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Event Barn</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">Both nights during our weekend were A+! Harvest Hosts is a great way to discover unique places in your area of the country that you may not have known existed. It may not be your typical camping experience, but what a great way to support small businesses! </div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzcCOCQN1Ml4Ym1dH4wFY0TWbB1GuBEijQxpRlKEcOZu1nHqdYWI4h_BdNNHCVGnzlIkfpXFeG0lQcE8f8zZkz4wW27mRTru4UtPM5InRp0x9uCENx1m87wGo1uSRxjVHr0a-ETuHlAJFAej5XWvydpASCfOAHChNvBzVTttgLiHAv6avp2AOBcYy/s267/Name%20transparent%20background.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="267" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzcCOCQN1Ml4Ym1dH4wFY0TWbB1GuBEijQxpRlKEcOZu1nHqdYWI4h_BdNNHCVGnzlIkfpXFeG0lQcE8f8zZkz4wW27mRTru4UtPM5InRp0x9uCENx1m87wGo1uSRxjVHr0a-ETuHlAJFAej5XWvydpASCfOAHChNvBzVTttgLiHAv6avp2AOBcYy/w200-h118/Name%20transparent%20background.png" width="200" /></a></div><i>Have you heard about Harvest Hosts? It's an RV camping membership that has opened up exciting and new overnight experiences for my road trips! Use it to unlock unlimited overnight stays at locations such as farms, wineries, museums and so much more. The network has over 4000 locations and is expanding daily - and it's so much fun! I think that you'd really enjoy it. Here is the link to join with a special discount: <a href="https://gr3f.co/c/53807/TdItX" target="_blank">Flyin' the Coop Harvest Hosts Invitation </a>. Check it out and let me know what you think!</i><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-79983157623282165072023-05-31T03:30:00.006-04:002023-06-10T08:50:57.179-04:00Harvest Hosts: Grain Bin Commodities in Sweetwater, TN<p>I bought a <a href="https://harvesthosts.com/" target="_blank">Harvest Hosts</a> membership in April during National Parks Month for $20 off of the original price. I thought we'd try it out and see if we would use it enough to make it worth the money. We wanted to try it out at a couple of places near our home before we hit the road and need to use it. We chose our anniversary weekend to spend the night on a farm and a vineyard about an hour away.</p><div style="text-align: left;">Friday night was spent at <a href="https://www.grainbincommodities.com/" target="_blank">Grain Bin Commodities</a>. This unique farm has a bakery right in the middle of it. Craig met us as we pulled in and showed us around the bakery while telling us the story of how they got started. He led us to some options to stay and was extremely accommodating. We were able to finally sleep with the back doors open to enjoy the fresh country air and late spring breezes.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ddRRXjJAomFb03_6T6Q4CmRGKMBo9BtjA1L4itWA9l5syiJfvcIL9gpeO4t7MA1I21nAVIwBPlpNssoe2l1tuuzeKMk8xnYFZBce7D8ZtmLBnFToCB4m80kzsZzUrY_kxzPjO_JAqS1b05sKl790qkwJK0VwXfa6xgyuBwNA9ilsZun0fcVMnoRc/s5184/IMG_7671.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ddRRXjJAomFb03_6T6Q4CmRGKMBo9BtjA1L4itWA9l5syiJfvcIL9gpeO4t7MA1I21nAVIwBPlpNssoe2l1tuuzeKMk8xnYFZBce7D8ZtmLBnFToCB4m80kzsZzUrY_kxzPjO_JAqS1b05sKl790qkwJK0VwXfa6xgyuBwNA9ilsZun0fcVMnoRc/s320/IMG_7671.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Entrance to Grain Bin Commodities. There is a little dip just as you go in so if you have a bigger rig you may scrape.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuyQ4z3kLFCYBPP52kSj5NMkZLk3S2M7lnXV4XDAiJ1MArnCqO-Pqzk5Zp6wZMiRMa4SeamtgQDEVTcMMUjr-18sXWGRDO1ywl0K5K7oMRf8Gcefc_eRs7-ElCVG5RNE3S9Sr4-BCiiZ3vCgi85d0VW18mcZeEejB4c35mmeOj86rUtFUttEtca6g/s5184/IMG_7672.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuyQ4z3kLFCYBPP52kSj5NMkZLk3S2M7lnXV4XDAiJ1MArnCqO-Pqzk5Zp6wZMiRMa4SeamtgQDEVTcMMUjr-18sXWGRDO1ywl0K5K7oMRf8Gcefc_eRs7-ElCVG5RNE3S9Sr4-BCiiZ3vCgi85d0VW18mcZeEejB4c35mmeOj86rUtFUttEtca6g/s320/IMG_7672.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The camping spots are just beyond the field. There were several flat ones to choose from.</i></td></tr></tbody></table>We were at the bakery just before 9:00 the next morning to buy goodies for breakfast, as well as some to take with us. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ywXvkLV_sGEpq_416gScue8dt2ztOxxslLaNPKmKClF2Z6mKxClP5tEvcLYqzd6T3l2x2GSRAzAvKXTLfuDki32ez-bDY1mbLTQpGeZfUxieuoOnSxdNFUG0yctwYIpdIf1oxsvOvAyP3Mh-u_ufXl0LMUN3YNMVwMDgylui9iiYFCiS2jNTMQA1/s5184/IMG_7676.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ywXvkLV_sGEpq_416gScue8dt2ztOxxslLaNPKmKClF2Z6mKxClP5tEvcLYqzd6T3l2x2GSRAzAvKXTLfuDki32ez-bDY1mbLTQpGeZfUxieuoOnSxdNFUG0yctwYIpdIf1oxsvOvAyP3Mh-u_ufXl0LMUN3YNMVwMDgylui9iiYFCiS2jNTMQA1/s320/IMG_7676.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">They have an event barn for private events.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUHOAuby-lSdK3-rZWs949oFakV3CE8jCsqmERE9QFzf8grsbYXpRRPq3J6RDKUcg431sM9vN3zomde2lUX_JPyiyLDmyFtt-1Em7S6640tSoPAEm3aGsxRhZMUiCaCSQxpHrDuUo8Bb_lpvaTjDxs8LC-kCEbjeRe1TeO6f887940hrsE3Co-Qyz/s5184/IMG_7675.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUHOAuby-lSdK3-rZWs949oFakV3CE8jCsqmERE9QFzf8grsbYXpRRPq3J6RDKUcg431sM9vN3zomde2lUX_JPyiyLDmyFtt-1Em7S6640tSoPAEm3aGsxRhZMUiCaCSQxpHrDuUo8Bb_lpvaTjDxs8LC-kCEbjeRe1TeO6f887940hrsE3Co-Qyz/s320/IMG_7675.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We enjoyed our breakfast on the patio.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOsJ2YD0QxIXcJDC7UuMLE-Lp6Y8Ta1TyNV7VzMtpUmaPDU-vwb8I5S2Q0QbnXBGe-9o1Q19AuVGLxJu0ZQLoewWT7vkPHbMXauLllMEjP_ZWws-Y1oKzX3nO9BSzkbBLGtiRhs29JCR73ZNYi6UdWMDi66FeW080v_a2n2_47_DQ_iysMyiN_0zm/s5184/IMG_7677.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOsJ2YD0QxIXcJDC7UuMLE-Lp6Y8Ta1TyNV7VzMtpUmaPDU-vwb8I5S2Q0QbnXBGe-9o1Q19AuVGLxJu0ZQLoewWT7vkPHbMXauLllMEjP_ZWws-Y1oKzX3nO9BSzkbBLGtiRhs29JCR73ZNYi6UdWMDi66FeW080v_a2n2_47_DQ_iysMyiN_0zm/s320/IMG_7677.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The views were gorgeous.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEhejPd1mswy5RbDOgVeTcp2wbkUWiZy_g0TGwtio4OwVr9xBfj0WYLE22jxt6S2xk0KsxAfVdxIOWoNUYlLGfne1hE24ODd2pnv3edANJ2VfToOiuJn9udhvSr7fvyBjedB-bTz_nvmRsrms3eRJjHlxt8G_lnJU4sip23mUZlfhZnCpEk_ZBW4M/s4545/IMG_7678.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3030" data-original-width="4545" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEhejPd1mswy5RbDOgVeTcp2wbkUWiZy_g0TGwtio4OwVr9xBfj0WYLE22jxt6S2xk0KsxAfVdxIOWoNUYlLGfne1hE24ODd2pnv3edANJ2VfToOiuJn9udhvSr7fvyBjedB-bTz_nvmRsrms3eRJjHlxt8G_lnJU4sip23mUZlfhZnCpEk_ZBW4M/s320/IMG_7678.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Ti9MCFSd4HLo7Wg_Octw5CxZ7UrmCNwMIyr-X7-1kkIRjBsPmvaYgAyp2FR4pOnKN0QyO0QhJs_vave6j4CXVshlScv9blZG5pZvq_xlTXvgxTCFoEAz4ln5vTst0BNJQT43UbCcmx4BlcPLJwvCMq1L0eCnrNpqBgRMnvW8WQSBZhkD22466F53/s3871/IMG_7679.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2581" data-original-width="3871" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Ti9MCFSd4HLo7Wg_Octw5CxZ7UrmCNwMIyr-X7-1kkIRjBsPmvaYgAyp2FR4pOnKN0QyO0QhJs_vave6j4CXVshlScv9blZG5pZvq_xlTXvgxTCFoEAz4ln5vTst0BNJQT43UbCcmx4BlcPLJwvCMq1L0eCnrNpqBgRMnvW8WQSBZhkD22466F53/s320/IMG_7679.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Ti9MCFSd4HLo7Wg_Octw5CxZ7UrmCNwMIyr-X7-1kkIRjBsPmvaYgAyp2FR4pOnKN0QyO0QhJs_vave6j4CXVshlScv9blZG5pZvq_xlTXvgxTCFoEAz4ln5vTst0BNJQT43UbCcmx4BlcPLJwvCMq1L0eCnrNpqBgRMnvW8WQSBZhkD22466F53/s3871/IMG_7679.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Ti9MCFSd4HLo7Wg_Octw5CxZ7UrmCNwMIyr-X7-1kkIRjBsPmvaYgAyp2FR4pOnKN0QyO0QhJs_vave6j4CXVshlScv9blZG5pZvq_xlTXvgxTCFoEAz4ln5vTst0BNJQT43UbCcmx4BlcPLJwvCMq1L0eCnrNpqBgRMnvW8WQSBZhkD22466F53/s3871/IMG_7679.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxppiZy7voZvSy6Ozk8kxeppNvElb8hzSMmEHTy8nhMwGRFisSsvQoo15O2DcpGd8bKdH6jm7tdwWbPcwsdYE4KoC6ywIuawd_D6PkD0hhsqV7p6MgtDvG9fWythsi7W2tw0nea9Xz6uThKT8BsTrZq86m0CZmxVMyUINFkj1pADWr8JDwDv6-u63/s3024/original_d9200cdc-4337-4791-a155-ac989516ba18_0520230935.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3023" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxppiZy7voZvSy6Ozk8kxeppNvElb8hzSMmEHTy8nhMwGRFisSsvQoo15O2DcpGd8bKdH6jm7tdwWbPcwsdYE4KoC6ywIuawd_D6PkD0hhsqV7p6MgtDvG9fWythsi7W2tw0nea9Xz6uThKT8BsTrZq86m0CZmxVMyUINFkj1pADWr8JDwDv6-u63/s320/original_d9200cdc-4337-4791-a155-ac989516ba18_0520230935.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFe4JJJo6XFMqXqifaRuGbIjVwWbdD3PEgAsvKlHOKYlMg7gi_vtX6_L6tIC82vP4RfHS6-MURm8PMf87FDIDKxgFN_Hnzuwj51215C9m8JjU4iyaLUgyIZcVAEY9Kzqy9azs8QncSnbgFZSpBSeuqp_TOxm8dfkdVAnxidmppVixWT8zBl4Vb_LZ/s4180/IMG_7680.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2787" data-original-width="4180" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFe4JJJo6XFMqXqifaRuGbIjVwWbdD3PEgAsvKlHOKYlMg7gi_vtX6_L6tIC82vP4RfHS6-MURm8PMf87FDIDKxgFN_Hnzuwj51215C9m8JjU4iyaLUgyIZcVAEY9Kzqy9azs8QncSnbgFZSpBSeuqp_TOxm8dfkdVAnxidmppVixWT8zBl4Vb_LZ/s320/IMG_7680.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">How relaxing would this be to sit here with coffee and a book, just watching the world go by!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoctDn0kzgpz2KlouccHSY_XpWJZhg9TGe8XP31jqFxRWMu6Zg119MNQkskyBE5LpPbn9YQWQh5AiIPKyHnBSJQKOy66N3YOnIvE_gjMKd7hiY5wJ4FVl4ps7fVk6a5lzi4wJJy0QjsWH1qTimLGNDCoeQ4k1gNXIGkuvqQQY7gC8Id8nlAccn1b4q/s5184/IMG_7681.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoctDn0kzgpz2KlouccHSY_XpWJZhg9TGe8XP31jqFxRWMu6Zg119MNQkskyBE5LpPbn9YQWQh5AiIPKyHnBSJQKOy66N3YOnIvE_gjMKd7hiY5wJ4FVl4ps7fVk6a5lzi4wJJy0QjsWH1qTimLGNDCoeQ4k1gNXIGkuvqQQY7gC8Id8nlAccn1b4q/s320/IMG_7681.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The outdoor fireplace would be perfect for cool fall nights.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFrKxuxPwHoafe2t-PEV3q0FH5YimIBVKzIfHnDe-gyFDkkti0wkQpftdJKXSC9sABlP6W-Etw-2AWDlmmOyG-WMrDUcB8qrI3SwotieMHIRLFDzkt7uNqNJqxd6J3NBY_SzK-GSngM71PkpJYJznj_7iuXqaI6pfFFxkoL2CfCMefr0WgfFm4AeH/s5184/IMG_7685.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFrKxuxPwHoafe2t-PEV3q0FH5YimIBVKzIfHnDe-gyFDkkti0wkQpftdJKXSC9sABlP6W-Etw-2AWDlmmOyG-WMrDUcB8qrI3SwotieMHIRLFDzkt7uNqNJqxd6J3NBY_SzK-GSngM71PkpJYJznj_7iuXqaI6pfFFxkoL2CfCMefr0WgfFm4AeH/s320/IMG_7685.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Callie & Craig paid close attention to every detail on the grounds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyTlzM98WozJepwrOvc6s3d0cQtjr8ioA0qItu5aa8I5BkdF7YZF5suV_6pj3s9jGZFn3VebH409ZbW2uEmuBb7ih4aNBmGWYqVpBPdI7IB1m7PBajIaIDQ3os4LWFCnUhNx-Lvzm6NYkaEY0qcoQmVgt0CVZQmjWTk7oQHdLb0IlKKP7t48PePQ1/s5184/IMG_7686.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyTlzM98WozJepwrOvc6s3d0cQtjr8ioA0qItu5aa8I5BkdF7YZF5suV_6pj3s9jGZFn3VebH409ZbW2uEmuBb7ih4aNBmGWYqVpBPdI7IB1m7PBajIaIDQ3os4LWFCnUhNx-Lvzm6NYkaEY0qcoQmVgt0CVZQmjWTk7oQHdLb0IlKKP7t48PePQ1/s320/IMG_7686.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And even in the bathrooms!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4JSe7e70hiWVIeFmoT0gE4Q7yiSvELnVBwbambTwOqWSnoXuUn6aBSQcNfrDf2mSkdZAeAkpJKN9hyaNNx9k0jREt9MHHY2wJnLdAkdHY4xJwMCeA834CeUL9_gz3XmPLMmAGNwgWySzydpuz-QZE-KLR2kxxcgIY-o1uFZUH1uYa7sHKh3pL44l/s4032/0520230953.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4JSe7e70hiWVIeFmoT0gE4Q7yiSvELnVBwbambTwOqWSnoXuUn6aBSQcNfrDf2mSkdZAeAkpJKN9hyaNNx9k0jREt9MHHY2wJnLdAkdHY4xJwMCeA834CeUL9_gz3XmPLMmAGNwgWySzydpuz-QZE-KLR2kxxcgIY-o1uFZUH1uYa7sHKh3pL44l/s320/0520230953.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had no trouble spending the requested $20. It was hard to choose what to buy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RPhGLX0Qihr4dBXVJHw-zQxBfxTWTsjj-36aOJ002KtN-7tdavLzBnkZIepFjMh55o7Tvf1r3QV3NNU0Az27YpwS55voLyuBAqxnKsa0ijTZfp1GvKC5RTAPZHzB8WuVL5Sh04W_mUjuAbeQUz_GTy1UMUB_rmqvrhSi6wO9Cibm_VMM5Vu3OsXl/s5184/IMG_7688.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RPhGLX0Qihr4dBXVJHw-zQxBfxTWTsjj-36aOJ002KtN-7tdavLzBnkZIepFjMh55o7Tvf1r3QV3NNU0Az27YpwS55voLyuBAqxnKsa0ijTZfp1GvKC5RTAPZHzB8WuVL5Sh04W_mUjuAbeQUz_GTy1UMUB_rmqvrhSi6wO9Cibm_VMM5Vu3OsXl/s320/IMG_7688.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCe3EO3Nt-tDVMqun2jlmj1uinorX1YoxtKSXPhCCcpmHbB-_JdG3EV4eXU4NDppC5YFsupqAlRZcuabKeHEMpqUd4JilIs-RWaW1M-YQIAgsGhJUd0zFQacTXsFQKItNZbCg_EviYSE3bxCb7KYjP2QFBaCOQssZY90HRNCaKHrVhQcvOqZwvV1Z_/s5184/IMG_7689.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCe3EO3Nt-tDVMqun2jlmj1uinorX1YoxtKSXPhCCcpmHbB-_JdG3EV4eXU4NDppC5YFsupqAlRZcuabKeHEMpqUd4JilIs-RWaW1M-YQIAgsGhJUd0zFQacTXsFQKItNZbCg_EviYSE3bxCb7KYjP2QFBaCOQssZY90HRNCaKHrVhQcvOqZwvV1Z_/s320/IMG_7689.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">But we did make a choice:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUMVI0k3DphaCyfu-RQqQY6kSx9iI311uPCUwzJ-TY1tuF1lPV_Xtk4uuBZSEjYGF42TQJ-z2O_mImwnR6LPaoDso7_YVFS-vuIlUhiX34O3sRALXT4fS4qSUXG5w1O8gZYcOLVsJflHiAxmk8FI4tehIiKfHICZajlE2Dj9AGkAQX71SKHrHfZEt/s3024/original_3c0e4c14-42cc-41a6-ad28-119c4dff0168_0520230934a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3023" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUMVI0k3DphaCyfu-RQqQY6kSx9iI311uPCUwzJ-TY1tuF1lPV_Xtk4uuBZSEjYGF42TQJ-z2O_mImwnR6LPaoDso7_YVFS-vuIlUhiX34O3sRALXT4fS4qSUXG5w1O8gZYcOLVsJflHiAxmk8FI4tehIiKfHICZajlE2Dj9AGkAQX71SKHrHfZEt/s320/original_3c0e4c14-42cc-41a6-ad28-119c4dff0168_0520230934a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vRRLIB63XpnVazNSNLGzeXoozx2-VlckucECGWFBMG7JIjZMEUFMwHQR49hbAdEAnYlNpM4WGsU-5BLj3krOpqmOfG8hAfmFV13alNJIVifLQwrGmU9U9pTLawkM52Fhf0caVESFNMBpMzQGRA8PjxEwm6Wy7Qx5WkLGfXFqCqIRtYUds3tEIGWS/s3024/original_81b25658-4317-4304-8e28-466af69da48b_0520230934.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3023" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vRRLIB63XpnVazNSNLGzeXoozx2-VlckucECGWFBMG7JIjZMEUFMwHQR49hbAdEAnYlNpM4WGsU-5BLj3krOpqmOfG8hAfmFV13alNJIVifLQwrGmU9U9pTLawkM52Fhf0caVESFNMBpMzQGRA8PjxEwm6Wy7Qx5WkLGfXFqCqIRtYUds3tEIGWS/s320/original_81b25658-4317-4304-8e28-466af69da48b_0520230934.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Night one of our Harvest Hosts weekend was a hit. Maeve Anne continues to perform just as she should.</div><br /><div>Stay tuned for our second night...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_b_S9_AN0V2DSjoMTvFYdBiQ9VVOw8TbZMgefVLZbqx8LfYw8D8lsTYg0pTBFT2At5bWFLrQ1PYecedSq_OahzZzFKxK4VN-TDrXOw1p0GxbPw4hWykEPHrhkLwpMgH-TMSXjVqlEIvL0CR0ZpAfdG7GVTQ2kvkKGhuPYJHm7_hgB4NsUH2o5K4cv/s267/Name%20transparent%20background.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="267" height="75" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_b_S9_AN0V2DSjoMTvFYdBiQ9VVOw8TbZMgefVLZbqx8LfYw8D8lsTYg0pTBFT2At5bWFLrQ1PYecedSq_OahzZzFKxK4VN-TDrXOw1p0GxbPw4hWykEPHrhkLwpMgH-TMSXjVqlEIvL0CR0ZpAfdG7GVTQ2kvkKGhuPYJHm7_hgB4NsUH2o5K4cv/w127-h75/Name%20transparent%20background.png" width="127" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Have you heard about Harvest Hosts? It's an RV camping membership that has opened up exciting and new overnight experiences for my road trips! Use it to unlock unlimited overnight stays at locations such as farms, wineries, museums and so much more. The network has over 4000 locations and is expanding daily - and it's so much fun! I think that you'd really enjoy it. Here is the link to join with a special discount: <a href="https://gr3f.co/c/53807/TdItX" target="_blank">Flyin' the Coop Harvest Hosts Invitation</a>. Check it out and let me know what you think!</i></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-48454054740551300162023-05-24T03:00:00.007-04:002023-05-24T03:00:00.138-04:00Quick Overnight Boondocking<div style="text-align: left;">Maybe it's boondocking, maybe it's "Moochdocking". Technically we were boondocking but since it was on a friend's land, maybe it is moochdocking. But, when a friend with land says, "Come and stay any time", you do. We're still getting used to Maeve Anne and all of the nuts and bolts of her. And since we plan on doing some boondocking in the future, we need to make sure we have a good idea of how much battery and water we'll be able to use. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZw0hC65vozArA8uH-0ghe40zrFlyoCz8O_NigIytsK86HC1JzbxAVKOVZrotPFOljjPgOU7gd7BL1Y_AsCCFWEhmkNwQYPy9PH4x7mAz5I3aeU9wYQb4_14tR6GvoVAM07KYoMR_JwirzvAa4OtHj8Ic3cXSlAKW05p-7AUoVwi-KHYxtpsZVBVYO/s2448/original_6d41594d-5fef-4d94-b3c4-ec7f17933ebc_0506231711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2447" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZw0hC65vozArA8uH-0ghe40zrFlyoCz8O_NigIytsK86HC1JzbxAVKOVZrotPFOljjPgOU7gd7BL1Y_AsCCFWEhmkNwQYPy9PH4x7mAz5I3aeU9wYQb4_14tR6GvoVAM07KYoMR_JwirzvAa4OtHj8Ic3cXSlAKW05p-7AUoVwi-KHYxtpsZVBVYO/s320/original_6d41594d-5fef-4d94-b3c4-ec7f17933ebc_0506231711.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">We enjoyed sitting right on the lake and admiring the reflection of the trees in the water:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis55HqOPh8fS0UNJLOzHUoGogUONcnwj9ApjUDSm90RRxzlToCWBSZcubSo5vKrBSDKoMCgt0mARs8EqoOrURgsRd7Kt3aBi_9we17VY1dwg7KXfs8eqYUXHDzGO_ne2Aov5kRrML7ilQLipUrr8BjQUvcYS59t_CAu_WqlClwWC1DHBhb7TgsklSb/s4032/0506231853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis55HqOPh8fS0UNJLOzHUoGogUONcnwj9ApjUDSm90RRxzlToCWBSZcubSo5vKrBSDKoMCgt0mARs8EqoOrURgsRd7Kt3aBi_9we17VY1dwg7KXfs8eqYUXHDzGO_ne2Aov5kRrML7ilQLipUrr8BjQUvcYS59t_CAu_WqlClwWC1DHBhb7TgsklSb/s320/0506231853.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirklxVjjF5dsaLChCGGY7CNDgx6VpIhoICg6ubrhZOXhfgjrmMZ7Y0WU0kxYdZwfX_rNcO6VyBYFJorc_YNlBop51R2OfPNKSqDrOgxMPokb_XJXVufyTVGqY-1B773e3u5w1uaACzAAeDPdv6a-hDvWiKexbGgYFdqpBuAP9MLOdAAx-xlbtsSkeu/s4032/0506231901_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirklxVjjF5dsaLChCGGY7CNDgx6VpIhoICg6ubrhZOXhfgjrmMZ7Y0WU0kxYdZwfX_rNcO6VyBYFJorc_YNlBop51R2OfPNKSqDrOgxMPokb_XJXVufyTVGqY-1B773e3u5w1uaACzAAeDPdv6a-hDvWiKexbGgYFdqpBuAP9MLOdAAx-xlbtsSkeu/s320/0506231901_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We only stayed 1 night but we were able to gauge how much electricity and water we would use per day. We made full use of the bathroom for the first time and used the inverter so we could cook supper and then breakfast. Maeve Anne did a great job although the water situation is a little questionable. When we left the house we had 67% of the tank but it quickly fell to 33%. We've read that the water gauge isn't real reliable so we'll have to continue to figure that one out. </div><div style="text-align: left;">It was pretty warm during the day so we thought we would leave the back doors open and use the screen. When I got in bed that night we decided to close the doors. With the window over the bed open, the front windows of the cabin open and the fan on, it was pretty chilly. So we have yet to sleep with the doors open. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxGyLBiO0V9xLoJhPK0Jp8Foxqcy9a5bXAGbhKJ5ks4dghDBxrr_CaCCraL-KTaYHjROGdNNFHptqn24qiEbzve7XK_IuUJ0pjBCpHaB1DKNUAVze_ghA9K_de0T4wLuC2AnbArI2hIBbq6LSUq1qqHJUpAp8N0JDJHyw1kY2kxlS8G9UF_0zVVx_/s3492/0428231549_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3492" data-original-width="3492" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxGyLBiO0V9xLoJhPK0Jp8Foxqcy9a5bXAGbhKJ5ks4dghDBxrr_CaCCraL-KTaYHjROGdNNFHptqn24qiEbzve7XK_IuUJ0pjBCpHaB1DKNUAVze_ghA9K_de0T4wLuC2AnbArI2hIBbq6LSUq1qqHJUpAp8N0JDJHyw1kY2kxlS8G9UF_0zVVx_/s320/0428231549_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>We went to bed and woke up to the sounds of bullfrogs and birds. Since the friend's land is popular with motorcyclists, there was a class going on that morning. It was a little loud but not too badly and they were very respectful. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzTtWjrfOpQ8qjJm9AVKjVlGCNZxl23OxRpjkC5yF-XLdkbwLVA70NLaZpBGpJf_xKjcSfC9RoF4bEEMCWGVQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div>One thing I am really enjoying is the short amount of time it takes to pack up. With the Cargolite Xtreme and the tent, we would be so sweaty by the time we were ready to get on the road. (Robert more so than I.) With Maeve Anne, I make sure everything is ready in the cabin and Robert checks outside and makes sure everything is ready to go. Right now we have a large tote in the garage that we are tying down to keep it from moving around. We think we have an idea for what we want to do. It's different than what we've seen anyone else do but it's what we think will work for us and will give us some additional storage. So stay tuned!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6H-WAvHMRLIW9lXNVVTXgjdMifxMXC1glDx90e_-b3i0q0msw0KkcSmtIB1IbnLeU5x9DjnFS_BC9-AmvULzsDTqZ-nNgfoouIpZrWv38hwpjggCtiImirfOop6OeWgncw6_kmVfYynKvPwyquJmidKtTCWX4QpoX8QhPyDoFilX-ISiB6lhelVU/s3024/original_8f0ffcfd-ee69-49f6-93d3-99e07d989e2f_0506231706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3023" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6H-WAvHMRLIW9lXNVVTXgjdMifxMXC1glDx90e_-b3i0q0msw0KkcSmtIB1IbnLeU5x9DjnFS_BC9-AmvULzsDTqZ-nNgfoouIpZrWv38hwpjggCtiImirfOop6OeWgncw6_kmVfYynKvPwyquJmidKtTCWX4QpoX8QhPyDoFilX-ISiB6lhelVU/s320/original_8f0ffcfd-ee69-49f6-93d3-99e07d989e2f_0506231706.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>Robert also had the chance to try out the 4-wheel drive: He drove through the creek to get to our site, and then got to drive back through it on the way out. She did great!</div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oYxjXP_t0o0" width="320" youtube-src-id="oYxjXP_t0o0"></iframe></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKJgZu9SiLRWO6gP9NJfCguf0qeRKtQxMzNR6BPHoCEE8v-AZMv2E2M0E_nw_n_jPwstCeyjoWIvaD_MWiRVeRodwSwnyxQGY0bS0GETPNO_Fxn30IxEe_IOnFEx0uuKnjRwWCEGZ-tJw9SB5GL6XsFEk8V9-dEZ7CbVQClXbdWJjl2xGOrSVE7t2/s267/Name%20transparent%20background.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="267" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKJgZu9SiLRWO6gP9NJfCguf0qeRKtQxMzNR6BPHoCEE8v-AZMv2E2M0E_nw_n_jPwstCeyjoWIvaD_MWiRVeRodwSwnyxQGY0bS0GETPNO_Fxn30IxEe_IOnFEx0uuKnjRwWCEGZ-tJw9SB5GL6XsFEk8V9-dEZ7CbVQClXbdWJjl2xGOrSVE7t2/w144-h85/Name%20transparent%20background.png" width="144" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-38897428123731161772023-05-17T03:00:00.002-04:002023-05-17T03:00:00.146-04:00Hornsby Hollow, TN<p> </p><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://hornsbyhollowcampground.com/" target="_blank">Hornsby Hollow</a> is a favorite campground of ours. We first visited back in 2016 when we had our Cargolite Xtreme.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PbkWqVij7IF9fRCP4Cz7B9HIkyjGNwGhJk3yk0ygB2A4CXSa6-cTcD6pImHOELP4G6BcgGc087arfhFik0K-vCnBvItm-RHthfh561cC03SYLmbpvFOnVBKHuEjrHmp9rDJB1QrSoUrpK2IzqibJLS5BT4q8JIQpXQwoK6a7ZDrrfn0iH8t21Fsv/s1853/GEDC0293.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1392" data-original-width="1853" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PbkWqVij7IF9fRCP4Cz7B9HIkyjGNwGhJk3yk0ygB2A4CXSa6-cTcD6pImHOELP4G6BcgGc087arfhFik0K-vCnBvItm-RHthfh561cC03SYLmbpvFOnVBKHuEjrHmp9rDJB1QrSoUrpK2IzqibJLS5BT4q8JIQpXQwoK6a7ZDrrfn0iH8t21Fsv/s320/GEDC0293.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Cargolite Xtreme Toy Hauler by Watts Bar Lake</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>This time we were on the opposite side of the campground and I have to say that I prefer the side we were on before. It just seemed a little more crowded than the last time we were there. <div><br /></div><div>But I'm getting ahead of myself. Where is Hornsby Hollow? It is in Ten Mile, TN between Chattanooga and Knoxville. It's right on Watts Bar Lake (one of the largest lakes in the south) which makes it a favorite for fishermen and water enthusiasts. TVA created the lake when it built the dam. </div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEge1r6RdGCkNtlqpywlpW9cor4uAzVmBEKHcwfQEsx1B1DUae4rs8alW_Gsoe5bgZvRRxYEPgNDEcpg-uL7MZZ4NYSpsUYnFiblGRQ7NPNWGzw5bWcb4LTVjvCNoZPJ_GVaZ_ZhdctoIHS6leQutOK-pl_lHssVRxfWRbjyqHGjfyb8OJpwBbVnoxpt" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><img alt="" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEge1r6RdGCkNtlqpywlpW9cor4uAzVmBEKHcwfQEsx1B1DUae4rs8alW_Gsoe5bgZvRRxYEPgNDEcpg-uL7MZZ4NYSpsUYnFiblGRQ7NPNWGzw5bWcb4LTVjvCNoZPJ_GVaZ_ZhdctoIHS6leQutOK-pl_lHssVRxfWRbjyqHGjfyb8OJpwBbVnoxpt" width="320" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Hornsby Hollow is easily accessible from I75 or I40</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>The sites are spacious and absolutely gorgeous. I would argue that every site has a view of the lake. We were lucky enough to snag a site right on the water.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjodcPvhEiTwiLzlFezMEGybVNp2HaDt0l3hGhjtPj1LJzNxyZtitAFaGiZtk0N45bwsAPZDstEvrP6-fXnWBQtStER7orW8vtOUhw3mM7EG0RSqv8V92KrkZKJ4QolxVsOAo45SwIs0CH3vDRZj_WmugJ8hcb7CSMJgQc8jqakkjGakurRATlP-Fb/s1280/60830.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1280" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjodcPvhEiTwiLzlFezMEGybVNp2HaDt0l3hGhjtPj1LJzNxyZtitAFaGiZtk0N45bwsAPZDstEvrP6-fXnWBQtStER7orW8vtOUhw3mM7EG0RSqv8V92KrkZKJ4QolxVsOAo45SwIs0CH3vDRZj_WmugJ8hcb7CSMJgQc8jqakkjGakurRATlP-Fb/s320/60830.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>View from Campsite</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>The sites will cost you, though. It's definitely not the least expensive place we've camped, but it's not the most expensive either. Their website indicates that the average site will cost $40-$43/night. We were told that the reservation system is going to change, but for now, you have to call the morning of and reserve a spot then. <div><br /></div><div>Cell service is okay but not great. Wifi is available but only at the entrance. Water and electricity are available at the sites; the dump station for gray and black water tanks is located at the entrance. Each site has a picnic table, lantern post, and a firepit/grill.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtYUs3uy4qpQS4YGcGSRaiN4i5erv4lfbp9X8I-eW4dIHwd0Sk2fPIIhKBjrAocj7JyNm5ED5UNa2QJw5O8HQqxSfsVWxiERVHKZSxTKp7gzOF2NWg8n6ry_g48Vn52Dw519cR54xJ2Edor4pMHgI7D1UvnXru8bBMyXNhaVnRM4imclQfsxfboID/s3264/GEDC0314.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtYUs3uy4qpQS4YGcGSRaiN4i5erv4lfbp9X8I-eW4dIHwd0Sk2fPIIhKBjrAocj7JyNm5ED5UNa2QJw5O8HQqxSfsVWxiERVHKZSxTKp7gzOF2NWg8n6ry_g48Vn52Dw519cR54xJ2Edor4pMHgI7D1UvnXru8bBMyXNhaVnRM4imclQfsxfboID/s320/GEDC0314.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>All of the sites are equipped with a grill/fire pit</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div>A very small store is at the entrance with a book-lending library and a residential washer/dryer. When we arrived, we were able to go directly to our site since Robert paid online. I was surprised at the great site he was able to get, but even more surprised that there were so many sites available on the weekend. The bathhouses are plentiful and the shower pressure is good. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSq1h-0RH-EtIomIs2WGdfykHFKGJnhxlqpAH4Rc2JUhOYZlYcSHkrHa65kQLObXYuePlKnlA-jFrII0qmxgzsbQ7jcBLrJL2brvNKBG2twb2DVS3h6B_FtQBnJwvywIv8cLNANBjdI34leNIVRNZhCWp0aM0huF9U-DaSM6bUhWjF_BmMDxmozWt/s2446/0415231420.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2446" data-original-width="2446" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSq1h-0RH-EtIomIs2WGdfykHFKGJnhxlqpAH4Rc2JUhOYZlYcSHkrHa65kQLObXYuePlKnlA-jFrII0qmxgzsbQ7jcBLrJL2brvNKBG2twb2DVS3h6B_FtQBnJwvywIv8cLNANBjdI34leNIVRNZhCWp0aM0huF9U-DaSM6bUhWjF_BmMDxmozWt/s320/0415231420.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>The bathhouses are energy efficient</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijD2-F8P8mFwSWK6orRuxV2gn9eHwn1Zq6oJGriPaxhMVxd2sTcA3EJspgZWobTbS62b6nmOtIduBO1R54F_83SOLtiTCBFNrB8fK37FiHP5Q4T4YAfqjx7McV-dVFNb9-25PYAWbNe5pQyksVt--iyRqY6rj3X63PN1B34fhVUQ76oRvmfFIiMtvY/s4032/0415231220.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijD2-F8P8mFwSWK6orRuxV2gn9eHwn1Zq6oJGriPaxhMVxd2sTcA3EJspgZWobTbS62b6nmOtIduBO1R54F_83SOLtiTCBFNrB8fK37FiHP5Q4T4YAfqjx7McV-dVFNb9-25PYAWbNe5pQyksVt--iyRqY6rj3X63PN1B34fhVUQ76oRvmfFIiMtvY/s320/0415231220.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Spacious shower with good pressure and warm water</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKq3Im8W0HMT_NSKcR8-AFe6qfkQ4cGG1afRv8XjDXwcPXnyG4Ef4SETSRCgQRi8hu9wD1K4fGRPmCIMcNEhUthLsHDT8hHW6BgDIqF7oL9VeMRm-lVcIew1ocv4aYo8uObjYcyxr7R5Xe-8HXnMDFpBPMPGEGeplEjLAs0JXyBkZSRtch8bMl6qYU/s3024/0415231220a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKq3Im8W0HMT_NSKcR8-AFe6qfkQ4cGG1afRv8XjDXwcPXnyG4Ef4SETSRCgQRi8hu9wD1K4fGRPmCIMcNEhUthLsHDT8hHW6BgDIqF7oL9VeMRm-lVcIew1ocv4aYo8uObjYcyxr7R5Xe-8HXnMDFpBPMPGEGeplEjLAs0JXyBkZSRtch8bMl6qYU/s320/0415231220a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Nice big bench in the shower far enough from the water to keep your things from getting wet</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFZh-il9DSyG-eNxRBDT_1ShLDf-POW1wkDqMgmjutJ3zcWIGKs4bmL3gKMOcjpnX8NWW0bWmukuMDb6eCWl0O95ZyFoA0kdCj_NHcb8qQ4P4uSlcdCRLkIELmExJeoSzKrv6Oi1vWSPphl01ZGtp0r7sRIvsut3RhMSrl8PFpIojK2pWgGcULIyc/s3024/0415231220b.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFZh-il9DSyG-eNxRBDT_1ShLDf-POW1wkDqMgmjutJ3zcWIGKs4bmL3gKMOcjpnX8NWW0bWmukuMDb6eCWl0O95ZyFoA0kdCj_NHcb8qQ4P4uSlcdCRLkIELmExJeoSzKrv6Oi1vWSPphl01ZGtp0r7sRIvsut3RhMSrl8PFpIojK2pWgGcULIyc/s320/0415231220b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>2 sinks with paper towels!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>More pictures of the campground:<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj52-A-EzSRolnIci1PwytAIlGiIGY7Rjtzf7ziuHvJZK1ZGKVSjSQ8hL_Sr4tPWtRLUuCL8kqfjEp3q-Wt33k4giQxJEVOdbhHD8ThvQF-eALE4fLuYQMeUOHcyzy4YStnmF-OUbutjn1O-Uw9iUqSb_NAABjuS1gcX1Lm3S5Swu9kzstSuj1Co6U/s3024/0415231418.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj52-A-EzSRolnIci1PwytAIlGiIGY7Rjtzf7ziuHvJZK1ZGKVSjSQ8hL_Sr4tPWtRLUuCL8kqfjEp3q-Wt33k4giQxJEVOdbhHD8ThvQF-eALE4fLuYQMeUOHcyzy4YStnmF-OUbutjn1O-Uw9iUqSb_NAABjuS1gcX1Lm3S5Swu9kzstSuj1Co6U/s320/0415231418.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Boat ramp with more sites</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfFp_xQI52JRVdqKs1Ddap25XRs7XBPAR-z8a6gS-UDLggbKMc98d9zWcFVWrCKKmXeGc3FvsiFKG2MTDQqTuC-uU6uoTymXLIuWiYmOu8pPZlfn1Iv48IHfkqlwt_U04PtHDb9bEfTNfGBteT7FotnMTOoz9cx9ZHIv4c4N2C07N1cy0_lNunemV/s3492/0415231623.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3492" data-original-width="3492" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfFp_xQI52JRVdqKs1Ddap25XRs7XBPAR-z8a6gS-UDLggbKMc98d9zWcFVWrCKKmXeGc3FvsiFKG2MTDQqTuC-uU6uoTymXLIuWiYmOu8pPZlfn1Iv48IHfkqlwt_U04PtHDb9bEfTNfGBteT7FotnMTOoz9cx9ZHIv4c4N2C07N1cy0_lNunemV/s320/0415231623.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>The sidewalk leading to swimming section</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgcvG1YgeTWUjyvubhbXU6Zl2uDAaOokL9DNBZ3giLybxO2b5dmbBlPJguKgh2g5QjxNslYUPz5FKkaMKITHAkAUuEFaa4HKZ8Afr8bBVDFpoLsMY7gE9D_WXDMEV30xr_0ILYkTmAlKooilbO9mrFAPTeoD4LaIrCyXEePt7puQgw4l_QJvJGxaM/s3492/0415231624.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3492" data-original-width="3492" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgcvG1YgeTWUjyvubhbXU6Zl2uDAaOokL9DNBZ3giLybxO2b5dmbBlPJguKgh2g5QjxNslYUPz5FKkaMKITHAkAUuEFaa4HKZ8Afr8bBVDFpoLsMY7gE9D_WXDMEV30xr_0ILYkTmAlKooilbO9mrFAPTeoD4LaIrCyXEePt7puQgw4l_QJvJGxaM/s320/0415231624.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Stairs to the swimming section</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4vDfIkBg4sOkx9bAO4VZNBAgylO_UXrsLOgjzqQ4QzkESLKQ7JSXuxEC9adfJUPHwt4FlxKaNH4JCY7YCFNFAnDbtbnW26PeU2Y6eBRQnpPp4QYIIcPjTrTbWuUvg4psfq2PxYPfIEliwxz_pHvQAum_cPNWnky24TwRwum2zjnaG7W2uft1cKrf/s2677/0415231631.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2502" data-original-width="2677" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4vDfIkBg4sOkx9bAO4VZNBAgylO_UXrsLOgjzqQ4QzkESLKQ7JSXuxEC9adfJUPHwt4FlxKaNH4JCY7YCFNFAnDbtbnW26PeU2Y6eBRQnpPp4QYIIcPjTrTbWuUvg4psfq2PxYPfIEliwxz_pHvQAum_cPNWnky24TwRwum2zjnaG7W2uft1cKrf/s320/0415231631.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Playground</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Like I said at the beginning of the post, I prefer the other side. I'm sure it's not, but it feels like there's more room over there. Luckily, we didn't have anyone in the site next to us so it felt like we had more room than we actually did. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETIceg3fPsDcaQbe8v4js2Mg_Yz3RG0t97-SJX27pw3HTtiObKTr-hFiMmzJGmBV2TILKpZMLS9-YQjDL468qvvW4CxqzIS7d51WwTiUFMlLgSjYWnRU71pc9PjQKYhobm8cuZFIvI2LMR9VCQIqvmqc4pnuazHldZkk7YBWTmbGOqMUifpppJKqq/s2479/0415231426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2479" data-original-width="2479" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETIceg3fPsDcaQbe8v4js2Mg_Yz3RG0t97-SJX27pw3HTtiObKTr-hFiMmzJGmBV2TILKpZMLS9-YQjDL468qvvW4CxqzIS7d51WwTiUFMlLgSjYWnRU71pc9PjQKYhobm8cuZFIvI2LMR9VCQIqvmqc4pnuazHldZkk7YBWTmbGOqMUifpppJKqq/s320/0415231426.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Would we stay here again? Absolutely. It's not far from home so it's good for a quick getaway. It's peaceful hearing the water lap against the shore and watching the fishermen out on boats. Not to mention watching the water birds. We aren't water people but we do enjoy being close to it and watching others enjoy it. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwpuxmqmJJJwwR5SEY2LnR0jLVq7HNns8LxOo6qnUQwVcPencppP8si7DzdFrX_bGbFbf9fM4z7xXBJLxmp32cez7g-F9D_VfFP2UBm8u3gz8IlkHnXOWuuJnO1Yr22TotbPzdb8GfS4Chx5hbRNLc_gU8X-aE5GlBUDPgddAFg3vvRTvWg54KL9B/s267/Name%20transparent%20background.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="267" height="79" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwpuxmqmJJJwwR5SEY2LnR0jLVq7HNns8LxOo6qnUQwVcPencppP8si7DzdFrX_bGbFbf9fM4z7xXBJLxmp32cez7g-F9D_VfFP2UBm8u3gz8IlkHnXOWuuJnO1Yr22TotbPzdb8GfS4Chx5hbRNLc_gU8X-aE5GlBUDPgddAFg3vvRTvWg54KL9B/w134-h79/Name%20transparent%20background.png" width="134" /></a></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-56373927211221843992023-05-03T03:00:00.008-04:002023-05-03T03:00:00.141-04:00The Maiden Voyage with our Entegra Launch<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCl2AJfEKjst1JmJ0IN11FY1LOWw1pXsPkl-tjeZlpuaq_pORDD_jBnBsd-YpBM1z3l0nYZjMEFecU9PgibovEqodhSWpU6uP2GB71Btm1vxuRQ-0TjYX9Ux8pu9iySzocfyJrZvRZjTilbnZShy-wobNnM7CroeIOk-xFPe4eDuQByVJzTWpUlFd/s3024/0414232022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCl2AJfEKjst1JmJ0IN11FY1LOWw1pXsPkl-tjeZlpuaq_pORDD_jBnBsd-YpBM1z3l0nYZjMEFecU9PgibovEqodhSWpU6uP2GB71Btm1vxuRQ-0TjYX9Ux8pu9iySzocfyJrZvRZjTilbnZShy-wobNnM7CroeIOk-xFPe4eDuQByVJzTWpUlFd/s320/0414232022.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>First night in Maeve Anne</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal">For Maeve Anne’s maiden voyage (which we have dubbed
“Maeveanne voyage”) we drove about an hour from home to a campground where we
have stayed a couple of times. This is a campground that you have to call the
day of to see if there are open sites, then you can reserve a site. Not only
did we reserve a spot, but there were several that were open. This is
definitely a hidden gem…right on Watts Bar Lake with every site having a view
of the lake. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Robert had no trouble backing her into the spot. Once there,
I put some groceries away and Robert got out our chairs. Then we started
figuring things out. We got out the covers for the windshield and the cab
windows. That’s where we encountered a problem. The shades are supposed to have
magnets in them, and I think they do but they are so weak that they won’t hold
up the shades. Fortunately, we didn’t have anyone right beside us so it wasn’t
a huge concern this trip. Buying magnetic shades quickly went to the top of the
list of things we need to purchase...or heavier magnets and some glue.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfytKWYVCu2vdCrQOrGlYjWE_WCQ0fgIWBL95ZYV2Hhsy_U1OW_BY9JPHWoDv_u1pJOaNjBbAZp1ViENa0wzLLQT4zFOYpYpl_hsDm9Gsnea_H7IN7y4SU5iJdvwCT6uW5n1S1rBzI-GOWgE009rRmTPxT_D8-cfbKGF7ejcTna3yCOjwrtjcdBto/s1717/60812.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1717" data-original-width="1288" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfytKWYVCu2vdCrQOrGlYjWE_WCQ0fgIWBL95ZYV2Hhsy_U1OW_BY9JPHWoDv_u1pJOaNjBbAZp1ViENa0wzLLQT4zFOYpYpl_hsDm9Gsnea_H7IN7y4SU5iJdvwCT6uW5n1S1rBzI-GOWgE009rRmTPxT_D8-cfbKGF7ejcTna3yCOjwrtjcdBto/s320/60812.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I managed to get the side cover up but it didn't last long!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">Now for the bed. I’m 5’9” and Robert is 6’3” so we aren’t
small people. We weren’t completely sure how comfortable we would both be since
the bed is a little on the small side. Size-wise, it turned out to be fine. As
with most RV mattresses, the comfort level left something to be desired. We
watched videos of people recommending different toppers or mattresses. I ordered the one recommended by a guy who is about our age and at the time of this writing, it's on the bed, all made up, ready to go.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWxlk0cqMPGN7nxFI89CvnYtRF9SIeUmN06xfJXKuksej4pYqMEBETjGFzk-G8QP4nHaQD33yN_2IZXxo8H_R7mc9raqfz3P7dKsL7E0gnHdpaXKi9UjgLIhfhx5C8N_38Xy6eNW3Cv9clslir4jJYfBeDppToq_cXu3doDY04whLiOYcDHCmGKNJ/s4656/0428231549_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4656" data-original-width="3492" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWxlk0cqMPGN7nxFI89CvnYtRF9SIeUmN06xfJXKuksej4pYqMEBETjGFzk-G8QP4nHaQD33yN_2IZXxo8H_R7mc9raqfz3P7dKsL7E0gnHdpaXKi9UjgLIhfhx5C8N_38Xy6eNW3Cv9clslir4jJYfBeDppToq_cXu3doDY04whLiOYcDHCmGKNJ/s320/0428231549_HDR.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pre-topper</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">We used the portable induction cooktop for the first time to
make breakfast. It worked great but getting the sticker off it was fairly time-consuming. It’s going to take some time to get used to the controls and how the
heat works, but it’ll come. I like that it is stored under the pantry
instead of taking up a whole drawer. It has its only little place so it will be
protected. <o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jLa4dymaS5AFFItZltQl9ESgCmdfJOJ01CRF1dl1h1wFLHq7ozrSGzvbCgZtmmEL8NiNVBr-NaMnMKW146eGobklCgC3nLve_Qy-smGVEkkWvfhzl-RvMkRxpVo-W1oQAeN494-e4mZEtHfEDkoVYnTIv4FsvPOEfV84F7gnzwmerpD7mhGkoSQ2/s2690/0415230956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2690" data-original-width="2690" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jLa4dymaS5AFFItZltQl9ESgCmdfJOJ01CRF1dl1h1wFLHq7ozrSGzvbCgZtmmEL8NiNVBr-NaMnMKW146eGobklCgC3nLve_Qy-smGVEkkWvfhzl-RvMkRxpVo-W1oQAeN494-e4mZEtHfEDkoVYnTIv4FsvPOEfV84F7gnzwmerpD7mhGkoSQ2/s320/0415230956.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>First meal! Another thing on the list...outdoor rugs!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYkz_OjDB80n_QPMi1S8CR267M7cZCx3_u56Vy7mrfisLQhrvBgMb7ZyVfif4oggzRDnPrM0J1stv3FKgxC9mbmhxoTGIBjG1oEGR4dflYLnMn9-rOpi4DFW0HICcNSntWM8x5jo3XAXDLIWwSvZTjfGA3hUfiX_2HWEK_JKJsKotxA0L57fT-jst/s612/coffee.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYkz_OjDB80n_QPMi1S8CR267M7cZCx3_u56Vy7mrfisLQhrvBgMb7ZyVfif4oggzRDnPrM0J1stv3FKgxC9mbmhxoTGIBjG1oEGR4dflYLnMn9-rOpi4DFW0HICcNSntWM8x5jo3XAXDLIWwSvZTjfGA3hUfiX_2HWEK_JKJsKotxA0L57fT-jst/s320/coffee.jpeg" width="226" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Coffee...a must-have</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">We hooked up the water without incident. Robert checked
everything inside to make sure there were no leaks and that everything was
working as it should. No problems there. When I washed the dishes I put a
collapsible bin in the sink, filled up one with soapy water and one with just
water for rinsing, and washed outside. Thankfully, we have a lot of camping
supplies from our years of camping so the only things we’ll need to buy are
things specifically for the van (like the window coverings). </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Now...why "Maeve Anne"? As mentioned in the previous post, our Ireland trip inspired this purchase. While we were in Killarney, we walked into a crowded pub and asked a young couple if we could join them because there were absolutely NO seats available. They said yes and we ended up talking and laughing with them for a few hours. (Okay, truth be told, since we were in a pub, of course, drinks were involved!) Her name is Maeve...she was absolutely beautiful and extremely nice. And to top it off, she is a special education teacher of high school students with autism. That's why we named her "Maeve". Robert said that since she's southern (the van, not the Irish lady) she needs a second name, and "Anne" just popped out. I didn't think about how it sounded when both names are put together but we think it works.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgF7H_OzalJxkSwm7Q35-JLVlB4vRZmMPIxQbudd_m7YbhLJhMya6JOt7RmoSYdmGFupQnaEyRFN1r0ivYAJAIF5W4D_uQEz-2t-XeSF8aqSLk3YnRnb8EOe_De1yJTr5gyaOVCj0HIN4Qyc2MT6drnY_zKvnYU0abvLzX0etWs_19BVX6EvoOFja/s1435/IMG_20230415_200617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1435" data-original-width="1434" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgF7H_OzalJxkSwm7Q35-JLVlB4vRZmMPIxQbudd_m7YbhLJhMya6JOt7RmoSYdmGFupQnaEyRFN1r0ivYAJAIF5W4D_uQEz-2t-XeSF8aqSLk3YnRnb8EOe_De1yJTr5gyaOVCj0HIN4Qyc2MT6drnY_zKvnYU0abvLzX0etWs_19BVX6EvoOFja/s320/IMG_20230415_200617.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We can't wait to see where Maeve Anne takes us!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-91500825063183265132023-04-27T17:08:00.004-04:002023-05-14T12:42:51.272-04:00The Journey to Find Maeve Anne<p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkQOwleZUVR7mDDtdKDwDcRFHD0Tx9qUba2ykMIhpfOT-b7oZ1l8EludEr1VY6PGOo99EdRa0kRc6HJ8QOXcV9AlBYYtK1Fhiltg42odtHi76_bZrQTeOz3BLuARtGQWbR0KcFxrJpaZJzqDteACTvqLilfP5swrCXhhr_-ZRClcPbHQTYtOddMa3/s4032/Roche's%20Campground.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkQOwleZUVR7mDDtdKDwDcRFHD0Tx9qUba2ykMIhpfOT-b7oZ1l8EludEr1VY6PGOo99EdRa0kRc6HJ8QOXcV9AlBYYtK1Fhiltg42odtHi76_bZrQTeOz3BLuARtGQWbR0KcFxrJpaZJzqDteACTvqLilfP5swrCXhhr_-ZRClcPbHQTYtOddMa3/s320/Roche's%20Campground.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Roche's Caravan and Campsite, County Wexford</i></td></tr></tbody></table>A year ago, Robert & I rented a campervan and toured
around the <a href="http://oopersflyingthecoop.com" target="_blank">Republic of Ireland</a> for 10 days. We appreciated the ease of pulling
into a parking space and staying the night. No setup, no teardown, just
unplug, turn things off, and go. The few times we have gone camping since
then made us appreciate the van life even more. We aren’t getting any younger,
and Robert likes to have things packed and set up just so. It’s too much for me
to handle, getting the tent and gazebo along with other camping items on the
top of the Delica Van, which is why that's Robert's job. And then once we get to the site, staking out the tent
and gazebo. Our Gazelle tent & gazebo makes things pretty easy, but having
to stake them down was a pain in the least and a chore at the most.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAXiQm6bcI2ZR7E7W04jWrx6F0Q0LnPAyjkaLuYyBmZsexu0_0R5JVg9-JrD5Zc7alkplhtgE82UXXb-hec12XJD6c5AOU0V91nIR42cUzdNtSsJ-2PmE94ZyLOO6-vsIiOcXG7VDPi66gS6vqEHxsKK2U2swynQxkkrGSr0-AeK91qaJWD3vIF1x/s3024/Delica%20at%20FDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3016" data-original-width="3024" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAXiQm6bcI2ZR7E7W04jWrx6F0Q0LnPAyjkaLuYyBmZsexu0_0R5JVg9-JrD5Zc7alkplhtgE82UXXb-hec12XJD6c5AOU0V91nIR42cUzdNtSsJ-2PmE94ZyLOO6-vsIiOcXG7VDPi66gS6vqEHxsKK2U2swynQxkkrGSr0-AeK91qaJWD3vIF1x/w320-h319/Delica%20at%20FDR.jpg" title="Camping with the Mitsubishi Delica and Gazelles" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>FDR State Park, Pine Mountain, GA</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After <a href="https://www.coopersflyingthecoop.com/2023/04/f-d-roosevelt-state-park-ga.html" target="_blank">our last camping trip</a>, we decided that if we want to
travel like we do we need to make a change. We need something that 1) will
allow us to travel on the interstate, 2) be easy setup/tear down, and 3) that
I can drive if I need to. We kept talking about our <a href="https://www.coopersflyingthecoop.com/p/ireland.html" target="_blank">Ireland Adventure</a> and <a href="https://www.bunkcampers.com/" target="_blank">the camper we rented</a>. It was just about perfect; we really liked the layout and the
space. An added plus was the convenience of a bathroom if it was needed. So, we
began our search.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrZN9Y2MFW8PV5jZF-LmQjhDhlEXNvdknfv3EvA_C6kOnd7lxnxVnx7xamV51IenekR5uIiHEs7lnNFVdJmouHtlZc79QdxHc-hRthfBpU0zKE5AKIygLx5OWik0a5JHdbvcN0bYJeU-4aRYtOKq9nwZ7PjaVuamNKeF4lzf19Z3TZdDG6DhJr1cF/s4000/DJI_20220318_074942_58.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrZN9Y2MFW8PV5jZF-LmQjhDhlEXNvdknfv3EvA_C6kOnd7lxnxVnx7xamV51IenekR5uIiHEs7lnNFVdJmouHtlZc79QdxHc-hRthfBpU0zKE5AKIygLx5OWik0a5JHdbvcN0bYJeU-4aRYtOKq9nwZ7PjaVuamNKeF4lzf19Z3TZdDG6DhJr1cF/s320/DJI_20220318_074942_58.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Inside the Irish Campervan</i></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal">We started looking at different vans with different layouts
but kept coming back to the one in Ireland. That narrowed things down somewhat.
Robert started looking at different types of chassis and we narrowed things
down further. We finally had it narrowed down to 2 different vans: the
Airstream Rangeline and the Winnebago Revel. A local dealership had both of
them so we could compare literally side-by-side. Robert discovered that a lift
kit could be put on the Rangeline so it was very desirable. I liked all of the
storage space it has; every inch has a purpose. The last question we had to ask
ourselves was, “Where do we want to go in it?” That was the clincher: we want
to be able to camp on the beach and off the beaten trail and you can’t do that in a front-wheel drive
van. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have to be honest: the first time I looked at the Revel I
wasn’t sure about it. I thought it was overpriced for the space. But it grew
on me the more I looked at it and the more YouTube videos I watched. As I
said, there was a dealership in town that had a Revel for sale. Robert began
negotiations which ended up being pretty short. He knew we could get one for a
lot less than their final offer. He sent me a link for an Entegra Launch and
asked what I thought. I knew when I saw it that that was it. It is basically
the Revel but with upgrades. The inside is more aesthetically pleasing and the
kitchen drawers are more functional. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once we decided on exactly the van we wanted, Robert took to
the internet to find one. It didn’t take him long to find a dealership with few in stock. A couple of weeks later, we had perfect timing to fly down to
pick it up. Our plan was to fly in on Wed. night, inspect and pick it up on
Thursday, and drive 2 days home. Only that didn’t happen. The van we wanted had
battery issues in the cabin that the dealership couldn’t resolve. They had
another one with a working battery, but it turned out the chassis had issues
that couldn’t be fixed. So we called it a day (or rather, a weekend) and flew
home. We were really disappointed but realized that it was for the best. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I did a search for the van in our home state, and one popped
up that was a couple of hours from us. The dealership is a national chain that
just opened up a branch in Nashville. Robert immediately called and spoke with
someone. He assured us that everything was working as it should. He sent Robert
pictures of questions he had and even sent him a video to answer one of the
questions. Again, the timing was right so Robert ubered over and came home with
her that night. He said the dealership was professional and knew everything
about the van that he expected them to. <o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopiEKHYYA5oM3VQX02hIjcIbAO2IbThwNNZyw0G4gr4-38mp2NXwdz2E2Gquy-CMGGPMpgdMvYSS4zHUI1_WxWLg5vjy2TZDDRbc-WU_6ToG2aGKGmXe5RpyKziiRaf0jZEcDvPmvGrzjCbRNPotlOj6IA3P5m6T90OSrTBgeKM7V8Ru_LAQaJQ_C/s4032/0410232213_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopiEKHYYA5oM3VQX02hIjcIbAO2IbThwNNZyw0G4gr4-38mp2NXwdz2E2Gquy-CMGGPMpgdMvYSS4zHUI1_WxWLg5vjy2TZDDRbc-WU_6ToG2aGKGmXe5RpyKziiRaf0jZEcDvPmvGrzjCbRNPotlOj6IA3P5m6T90OSrTBgeKM7V8Ru_LAQaJQ_C/w240-h320/0410232213_HDR.jpg" title="Entegra Launch with Awning Out at Night" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Maeve Anne is home!</i></td></tr></tbody></table>Owning a camper van was such a dream of ours since Ireland. We thought about buying a van and having it customized. In fact, Robert spoke with some guys a few months ago and was getting ready to look for a van when I got cold feet. We have the Delica and I thought that was pretty much all we needed...until we camped again with it a couple of months ago. In the cold. Without a bathroom. We expect to have some stellar times with Maeve Anne and can't wait to get started!<p></p><div>Find out why we named her Maeve Anne in the next blog post!</div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-35310265673036386762023-04-10T21:45:00.004-04:002023-04-10T21:45:39.639-04:00F. D. Roosevelt State Park, GA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNB9NHDM1us-HhcN3eOdvED5n4xLS0qBu5Vj2qBq1CXJARP6yOvPpPRXHA1NyIB3z0iPqLagRcJCPGKzykb-Rkdu9w-CVUuSFMlkVZ0oV-Cxdo8W6Ur8dUQIr9Uo6IOMiUhfAmMUKi17jqdqusStFrakL99DgZZgav3SP0YB8xktbh80Rdv2__w9h/s2355/0313231051_HDR%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2355" data-original-width="2355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNB9NHDM1us-HhcN3eOdvED5n4xLS0qBu5Vj2qBq1CXJARP6yOvPpPRXHA1NyIB3z0iPqLagRcJCPGKzykb-Rkdu9w-CVUuSFMlkVZ0oV-Cxdo8W6Ur8dUQIr9Uo6IOMiUhfAmMUKi17jqdqusStFrakL99DgZZgav3SP0YB8xktbh80Rdv2__w9h/w200-h200/0313231051_HDR%20(2).jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p>Robert spent a night at FDR State Park on his way to camp in Florida. He said it was a place we needed to return to, so when we were looking at someplace to camp in mid-March, I suggested FDR. It was further south which was important for warmer weather... or so we thought. Since we were in the Delica, we took the back roads instead of driving on the interstate. The drive wasn't bad at all, although there was one section that was a bit boring. We arrived after 5:00 so we checked in online. We found out the day before we left that we still needed to check in with the office so we could put a tag on our post. (Oops...totally my fault. I thought since I had checked us in online it would be taken care of.) What's a trip to a state park without us getting in trouble for some minor infraction! </p><p>We chose a site on the outside of the campground since the lakeside sites were taken. We weren't sure how close together the inside sites were; we like our privacy. There is plenty of space; however, so we would have been fine with an inside site. Our site backed up to the woods, perfect for our next-door neighbor's golden retrievers. They had plenty of space to run and do their business.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7splpLQyj-7wSs2Lh4F1hZ14aiPHueDoP6YGLwGy4C1SZDx_PqeOZMUFfuwquxSGYITCIL5Ierwn3sZ62NNHtHkxUAmlQ9nd58LhsWyjIwxqZHoodY3QmQqn-HqgH11TnT7ZjboRj80lRXXVLRFsuUALqpmZDcl2xyAU5KzrkfIxuzCm5iBhw2gWA/s2771/0314231447_HDR%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2771" data-original-width="2771" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7splpLQyj-7wSs2Lh4F1hZ14aiPHueDoP6YGLwGy4C1SZDx_PqeOZMUFfuwquxSGYITCIL5Ierwn3sZ62NNHtHkxUAmlQ9nd58LhsWyjIwxqZHoodY3QmQqn-HqgH11TnT7ZjboRj80lRXXVLRFsuUALqpmZDcl2xyAU5KzrkfIxuzCm5iBhw2gWA/s320/0314231447_HDR%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Campsite on the inner side</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYf2w0QGkVRxM4b-3qjEM0ZBr6T8pG4uRmVKHJ2VMjue9WmkUWudQUgJcVtKzYRQ_RKIKuCFpJmF6MzSu_9i99k7fXbR97I5Rht9E-YOHzJrtvN1ykSIG93mNW__huIZrpTqeyRYj_ZPqLFfWGuxyvXY1GzIuAP1dkHo-kqE3L_v2kkeCa4_jU6sS/s3024/0314231502%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYf2w0QGkVRxM4b-3qjEM0ZBr6T8pG4uRmVKHJ2VMjue9WmkUWudQUgJcVtKzYRQ_RKIKuCFpJmF6MzSu_9i99k7fXbR97I5Rht9E-YOHzJrtvN1ykSIG93mNW__huIZrpTqeyRYj_ZPqLFfWGuxyvXY1GzIuAP1dkHo-kqE3L_v2kkeCa4_jU6sS/s320/0314231502%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The lakeside sites are absolutely beautiful. Robert was lucky enough to snag one of these sites when he stayed there. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All of the sites are level and have electricity and water. Gray water dump stations were numerous. If I had to say anything negative, it's that the only place to throw your trash was in the dumpsters which were quite a walk away. In fact, there are only 2 of them for the entire campground.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgMURMp9eDoJ7gn0O8CksZwH2umtmefUemSCaWLaIC7pnHsnHXCmUzhyKCyAmmBFjBRUnbiGeRMPuXsfrsS9Im3jtMRjJ05JaRleTlOb7ol2XUG9FzbVJZOedTdZQN3yTFr5jU9xMkwaMFtCCVqlxUM8_LVQP9zt0L-YEjJpWfbOboKBtzd5_N6Jx/s3024/0314231439c%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3016" data-original-width="3024" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgMURMp9eDoJ7gn0O8CksZwH2umtmefUemSCaWLaIC7pnHsnHXCmUzhyKCyAmmBFjBRUnbiGeRMPuXsfrsS9Im3jtMRjJ05JaRleTlOb7ol2XUG9FzbVJZOedTdZQN3yTFr5jU9xMkwaMFtCCVqlxUM8_LVQP9zt0L-YEjJpWfbOboKBtzd5_N6Jx/s320/0314231439c%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">In addition, the sites also have a table, a fire ring, and a lantern stand. We opted to set up the tent on the drive instead of on the tent pad; we put the gazebo on the tent pad. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdU982SaxfSqo6WBKFiMCAhZ3o53O4Y0RMbLHepNn-tTnw0eANjsNJoO0ygPmZGX9TT9ksxgWrTparOzyVn2DrA1fRcEZc2CHHbUyNuo_SzXwRrefVmgySVn8OwC43UoOEm9cMoMw3QGKLegykR2umvq1KZdwdGVeiXvBY89lzTTzcQmuIPI6kWKl3/s4032/0314231439a%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdU982SaxfSqo6WBKFiMCAhZ3o53O4Y0RMbLHepNn-tTnw0eANjsNJoO0ygPmZGX9TT9ksxgWrTparOzyVn2DrA1fRcEZc2CHHbUyNuo_SzXwRrefVmgySVn8OwC43UoOEm9cMoMw3QGKLegykR2umvq1KZdwdGVeiXvBY89lzTTzcQmuIPI6kWKl3/s320/0314231439a%20(2).jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This campground had the nicest playground I think I've ever seen. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgeBOXyUxndBijlk9p7E5V-2tIkFVVGwvu0inxmefawUvDf1Tx6Oqa7-MIheZKdIlDq9Z7Obzq84-aKOzlIxRonCSqcPDMQUj2XAthGAh9uGAfZwglP3VOtYpiIezg95k7jsjKGa21wnJtExYmUXSwmTh7ExFD4H8cR8dalx-r59cz_qIhkgXNzpY/s2912/0314231544_HDR%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2911" data-original-width="2912" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgeBOXyUxndBijlk9p7E5V-2tIkFVVGwvu0inxmefawUvDf1Tx6Oqa7-MIheZKdIlDq9Z7Obzq84-aKOzlIxRonCSqcPDMQUj2XAthGAh9uGAfZwglP3VOtYpiIezg95k7jsjKGa21wnJtExYmUXSwmTh7ExFD4H8cR8dalx-r59cz_qIhkgXNzpY/s320/0314231544_HDR%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">The bathrooms are very clean. In addition to a regular shower, there is a handicap-accessible shower. We were in area #3; the restrooms in area #1 were updated but they did not have paper towels...they only had hand dryers. When I'm camping when it's cold, I like to be able to make sure my hands are dry before I go outside. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the hand dryers at all. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5kvmvLT1GRtnEWzRLSRfsQxd1b4agfCHnin1D47O6k_v8NhMQhbqWxMcf3p9FM--hwCOp9yQasl68YLKmLvT2dRbQiEX_H5wrs3NtveikC07hzzejqlcmkNE-ZR9gxBJBrSCBQqNnm1ats7aBheI3qOBzxq1qGbV5ddz7_vA-N4Ff2vJcjk2AtEE/s3024/0313231746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5kvmvLT1GRtnEWzRLSRfsQxd1b4agfCHnin1D47O6k_v8NhMQhbqWxMcf3p9FM--hwCOp9yQasl68YLKmLvT2dRbQiEX_H5wrs3NtveikC07hzzejqlcmkNE-ZR9gxBJBrSCBQqNnm1ats7aBheI3qOBzxq1qGbV5ddz7_vA-N4Ff2vJcjk2AtEE/w320-h320/0313231746.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHrBlAadSL3NABpeHLYztNryHSIGJ2n3uX1t792PEFoIfhZMqnt2RWN6RTWIxrsv7Q9MogmD3dT4YO6yaWjvfyApyZe19mNELZiXRLtZB40sYuBu3easGPz_0gd0FB_GAlXjB3XWxB3DIIAs--tnODyvQM1cMMFbrtTSnEhEAmgkiDfHxsjVUzGDF/s3024/0313231746a%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHrBlAadSL3NABpeHLYztNryHSIGJ2n3uX1t792PEFoIfhZMqnt2RWN6RTWIxrsv7Q9MogmD3dT4YO6yaWjvfyApyZe19mNELZiXRLtZB40sYuBu3easGPz_0gd0FB_GAlXjB3XWxB3DIIAs--tnODyvQM1cMMFbrtTSnEhEAmgkiDfHxsjVUzGDF/s320/0313231746a%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AShj2bdGVzA5dDJJvovi1imOOSPeKfk0ieBWy_0gkQGt4eEJJpkjUctFpELYWln_z4RP66VeXu8FdMT9-xXEHwkmFFBgrWkY4KCuBgqElq0O2PD2N5vSpDjDDuWawPzEEz0TJlEAUwZ1-opyGYvWqFbOXbFPpq5s4iu5VwH7g-Ju0AAvgxQgo9nc/s4032/0313231746c%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AShj2bdGVzA5dDJJvovi1imOOSPeKfk0ieBWy_0gkQGt4eEJJpkjUctFpELYWln_z4RP66VeXu8FdMT9-xXEHwkmFFBgrWkY4KCuBgqElq0O2PD2N5vSpDjDDuWawPzEEz0TJlEAUwZ1-opyGYvWqFbOXbFPpq5s4iu5VwH7g-Ju0AAvgxQgo9nc/s320/0313231746c%20(2).jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I was pleasantly surprised to see these messages in the bathroom. Even if 1 person is helped, it's worth it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0lijCy8YNPIFywYrr5eWK8UQJ6nUSf7bfqSWXhdmKwdLnDr85o3TvWs-q0tWpDX-VgAH2rPy4zIMOjutcZNQEBaYRRFNDj0RFJkNUu4iN4Rgqob2HXp8YlqFSA828dPGI4fwRQVbg_6YHNjZ9wdQ0v4yAOBkHs933CGaGLAc8hsEMRMiNQDQQpBq/s2723/original_0b951bc1-f2b3-4f31-aaf0-95f8cf963ddb_0313231748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2722" data-original-width="2723" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0lijCy8YNPIFywYrr5eWK8UQJ6nUSf7bfqSWXhdmKwdLnDr85o3TvWs-q0tWpDX-VgAH2rPy4zIMOjutcZNQEBaYRRFNDj0RFJkNUu4iN4Rgqob2HXp8YlqFSA828dPGI4fwRQVbg_6YHNjZ9wdQ0v4yAOBkHs933CGaGLAc8hsEMRMiNQDQQpBq/s320/original_0b951bc1-f2b3-4f31-aaf0-95f8cf963ddb_0313231748.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">FDR is Georgia's largest state park. It is located right next to Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA. If you haven't heard of Pine Mountain, you've probably heard of Warm Springs, where FDR went for polio treatments. Visiting the Little White House, walking the trails in the park, and visiting Pine Mountain are some of the activities available. We really enjoyed the Little White House, the pools at Warm Springs, and having a picnic lunch on Dowdle's Knob. This is definitely a place we would revisit.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1VI6L1rnEWUCnN1EJ3xixPwF_72TSVGoFKg1QAmK-WR9QN_8C4_j118YGfwXx-4mh536EV43oXOrZ1nECRc_5NIunY8PPOeO2M6EUPFRc5ilVGq7ZVqdiTey423IgTBn0g3Kx4MJpqK2qPaR-joho8gUmDm0e1o55sgjx3R9lFAA5oGIwsaczc68v/s3023/0315231523b%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2888" data-original-width="3023" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1VI6L1rnEWUCnN1EJ3xixPwF_72TSVGoFKg1QAmK-WR9QN_8C4_j118YGfwXx-4mh536EV43oXOrZ1nECRc_5NIunY8PPOeO2M6EUPFRc5ilVGq7ZVqdiTey423IgTBn0g3Kx4MJpqK2qPaR-joho8gUmDm0e1o55sgjx3R9lFAA5oGIwsaczc68v/s320/0315231523b%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Brick oven where FDR would grill while on Dowdell's Knob</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2a_JlC8VeDrRZUV5AyWomDJT-CL7bXbkslOWmYgJ4EtPKvAN7F4-4klWxW7jlhSpx6l6I8V3Ku2W0KL_mlvWR3YjaiooPMSQuUdCqSQB0NkUL34T5k0yRNIULzfh00KK6Xj7_WK0D2e7ishABV1yRxd9gbxiC1fqKkUVTdCjAhItL2zokY8_aQf4y/s267/Name%20transparent%20background.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="267" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2a_JlC8VeDrRZUV5AyWomDJT-CL7bXbkslOWmYgJ4EtPKvAN7F4-4klWxW7jlhSpx6l6I8V3Ku2W0KL_mlvWR3YjaiooPMSQuUdCqSQB0NkUL34T5k0yRNIULzfh00KK6Xj7_WK0D2e7ishABV1yRxd9gbxiC1fqKkUVTdCjAhItL2zokY8_aQf4y/s1600/Name%20transparent%20background.png" width="267" /></a></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-41594137440665491642022-07-30T11:11:00.001-04:002022-07-30T11:11:05.699-04:00Gazelle T4 Hub Tent vs. Rhino-Rack Sunseeker Awning Tent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4_knh1eMsbHaYolZQHHyeS3SONOT2JLInu8-_Wvks7pyVzFZte_HUHcCIg_WJTeKseATm9YtR-XccNA0ijRiRSODcHcFKeISe--LAngnszM7jDFnRhhZKQHNQl9G-m9uo0X_jLcSu9PXn2k4de9KFy8NcMjuB2Z0xwRt2eZVLzVH15RPuvFAUGX5/s1280/Tent%20Comparison.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4_knh1eMsbHaYolZQHHyeS3SONOT2JLInu8-_Wvks7pyVzFZte_HUHcCIg_WJTeKseATm9YtR-XccNA0ijRiRSODcHcFKeISe--LAngnszM7jDFnRhhZKQHNQl9G-m9uo0X_jLcSu9PXn2k4de9KFy8NcMjuB2Z0xwRt2eZVLzVH15RPuvFAUGX5/w400-h225/Tent%20Comparison.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>Comparing these 2 tents may be comparing apples to oranges because there are different factors that come into play when deciding to use each one. I'm going to do my best to provide a run-down of both of them and give you my opinion.</p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Answering Questions</h3><div style="text-align: left;"><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>What kind of camping will I be doing? The <a href="https://gazelletents.com/" target="_blank">Gazelle </a>is great for general camping. If we're camping and we want to do some sightseeing, this is the tent. I would use the <a href="https://www.rhinorack.com/en-us/" target="_blank">Rhino-Rack</a> if we were overlanding and were going to stay put for at least a couple of days. </li></ul><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>What time of year is it? My first experience in the Rhino-Rack was in mid-July...in the Southeastern USA. That means it was hot and humid. Even with the huge doors on all sides of the Rhino-Rack very little air went through the tent. We put a fan in the top of the tent and didn't get a lot of relief. I've gotta give this question to the Gazelle. I think we would have stayed cooler in it. We've camped in warm weather with the Gazelle and actually ended up getting a little too cool with the fan going. </li><ul><li>That being said...I think the Rhino-Rack would be awesome for winter camping. Robert has a little stove that can be brought in and vented out of a door to make it even warmer.</li></ul></ul><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Which is faster to set up? Hands down...the Gazelle. While the Rhino-Rack was pretty quick (especially comparing it to your standard camping tent), nothing beats the quickness of a Gazelle. Before putting up the awning tent the awning has to be out, so that takes a few extra minutes. Unless you use the tent as a "stand-alone", which can be done.</li></ul><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>What about tear-down? Again, the Gazelle. The Rhino-Rack is so airtight that air bubbles in the tent when taking it down. Of course, it helps to have the doors unzipped a bit to let the air escape. Considering the time it takes to put either tent in their respective bags, it really doesn't take that much more time to put the Rhino-Rack away than it does the Gazelle. I just think the Gazelle has a slight advantage. Again, take into account that the awning also has to be put up so add a few more minutes to the awning tent.</li></ul><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Which will keep you dry if it rains? This one is a toss-up. We've been in the Rhino-Rack in a good hard rain, and if we had zipped up all of the doors we would have stayed completely dry. The Gazelle has also kept us dry without any problems. The Gazelle will keep you more comfortable when you're in a summer rain because chances are you'll be able to have most of the windows open with the rain fly keeping the rain out. The Rhino-Rack attaches to the awning and has a door so we can easily get into the van without getting wet so this tent may have a slight upper hand. Of course, the campsite could be configured to have the Gazelle next to the awning (when not using the Rhino-Rack) to keep you drier. Like I said, it's a toss-up. Both do equally well in the wind. We've had the Gazelle in extreme wind in Canada on the St. Lawrence and it held up exceptionally well. </li></ul><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydirXkA6yMDt_dkyoNfNISMJ3mb_aUDSz5x1MoABScNgzG-wRP3jdMHFUxpYbHzfYdckMc-uV2EYA6qmCKG7CimN4sq6uAGf6EErrMZLViapXXmqnnzggQWQUe_c6blDKVOiPyNH7KnRkg-QbKGOkHuYS-rt3H85JuLn9NowwSuh5wM_4N9SsGkyj/s4656/0722221259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4656" data-original-width="3492" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydirXkA6yMDt_dkyoNfNISMJ3mb_aUDSz5x1MoABScNgzG-wRP3jdMHFUxpYbHzfYdckMc-uV2EYA6qmCKG7CimN4sq6uAGf6EErrMZLViapXXmqnnzggQWQUe_c6blDKVOiPyNH7KnRkg-QbKGOkHuYS-rt3H85JuLn9NowwSuh5wM_4N9SsGkyj/w150-h200/0722221259.jpg" title="Rhino-Rack Sunseeker Awning Tent opening to the van" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">View of the back door of the Rhino-Rack opening to the van</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>What about space? Which one has more room? Keep in mind that the Rhino-Rack is a straight up and down square. The Gazelle gives a little more room on the sides since they bow out a bit. The sides of the Gazelle aren't as tall as the Rhino-Rack. We use 2 cots when we camp. With the Rhino-Rack Robert barely had enough room length-wise. There was no room to walk around the cots at the bottom or top. With the Gazelle, there is a little bit of room. There seemed to be more room on the sides of the cots with the Gazelle as well. I'm not sure how much this little difference matters; all you're doing is sleeping anyway. </li></ul><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcZmB4IbuHbnwevALaLgWx5pyQgJVAE876cHHl_OIeG59BC8uZsiV7Np6Com_ZpuuPUgdpEThEH8ZGeKeGPqKhnHzxnGccpQSVjSv3Ijal_4dUeq8DEfreM38EjcTnDWKkNMeOdp7Ux0SCHlyxlESU_zuks1os2zOrHlKpBupndrEjrRcNNeiNLH-/s4656/1230191408_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4656" data-original-width="3492" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcZmB4IbuHbnwevALaLgWx5pyQgJVAE876cHHl_OIeG59BC8uZsiV7Np6Com_ZpuuPUgdpEThEH8ZGeKeGPqKhnHzxnGccpQSVjSv3Ijal_4dUeq8DEfreM38EjcTnDWKkNMeOdp7Ux0SCHlyxlESU_zuks1os2zOrHlKpBupndrEjrRcNNeiNLH-/w150-h200/1230191408_HDR.jpg" title="Inside a Gazelle T4 Hub Tent" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Both cots inside of the Gazelle T4 Hub Tent with room around the sides and bottom to spare</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>What about the cost? The Rhino-Rack Sunseeker Base Tent is $539.10; the Gazelle T4 Hub Tent is $459.99 but they have sales what seems like all the time. At the time of this posting, the Rhino-Rack was out of stock and it looks like it would have to be bought internationally and then shipped to the USA.</li></ul><h3 style="text-align: center;">The Verdict</h3><div>As you can probably tell by the above answers, I have to go with the Gazelle. I've gone from having to have a trailer with heating and air to loving tent camping with the Gazelle. I definitely think the Rhino-Rack would be great for cold weather camping but we haven't done much of that in the past. Yes, they are more expensive than the tents you'll buy at a local department store but it's well worth the money...and aggravation of the traditional tent. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkfNkfh3Dq5m1iTcCKUHiXxF-fw81NwMnqqsgAFVLaDCT7RWvDlVB0ChHvI9n67wMXsUnHd2KS_b46PfbSvDIviWumVT7_cPskgBly_Eax8x4_6jXQ6AyC9liuI_UmXnWrYs20irDhXMXNH7LOK6Y0K0B9DSaF_FjxmfwSEZh8ZWNTrg0mRdHD1Gh/s5184/IMG_6444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkfNkfh3Dq5m1iTcCKUHiXxF-fw81NwMnqqsgAFVLaDCT7RWvDlVB0ChHvI9n67wMXsUnHd2KS_b46PfbSvDIviWumVT7_cPskgBly_Eax8x4_6jXQ6AyC9liuI_UmXnWrYs20irDhXMXNH7LOK6Y0K0B9DSaF_FjxmfwSEZh8ZWNTrg0mRdHD1Gh/w320-h213/IMG_6444.JPG" title="Gazelle T4 Hub Tent and Gazebo" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Portsmouth Island, NC</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJncac_0G1dmwd2MgLzQOE8tYLO8MO8FSBFyK5we-sqvdRUfchj4Psg_LNZ9HqAT7iKGMYzXy8CYIV-yFrrikLbxhXQIHxgxsPMv8h4jfdeeSY1NtUkjrg6eV_V-oX22ezJk_8nvwY_MhuoU6z_PF5gjOgQa-MAyHr3Sq_aKPqxy8syCmO6L1PvgG/s267/Name%20transparent%20background.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="267" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJncac_0G1dmwd2MgLzQOE8tYLO8MO8FSBFyK5we-sqvdRUfchj4Psg_LNZ9HqAT7iKGMYzXy8CYIV-yFrrikLbxhXQIHxgxsPMv8h4jfdeeSY1NtUkjrg6eV_V-oX22ezJk_8nvwY_MhuoU6z_PF5gjOgQa-MAyHr3Sq_aKPqxy8syCmO6L1PvgG/w200-h118/Name%20transparent%20background.png" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-89499540555833111172022-07-21T22:54:00.004-04:002022-07-22T11:50:41.502-04:00Camping on a Tuesday: Jake Best Campground (TN)<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lvpOK33vaLwS4rUNJ9MJsvtuSTtqX2IfMDAT7m9O6oQRZZpAvXK3IiyEiNXslO8A4h5Ob5IZROrM7f9w3N8rUHhrQBAOAbObJayfr1Wab_d09U0KOTJ4JUOwdNsJGbC6Lo2SX436K7NbhUN_oy6sutU5GH6lW59YwOcQ48Zu_Knfa7vrikFu_iGU/s5184/IMG_7029%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lvpOK33vaLwS4rUNJ9MJsvtuSTtqX2IfMDAT7m9O6oQRZZpAvXK3IiyEiNXslO8A4h5Ob5IZROrM7f9w3N8rUHhrQBAOAbObJayfr1Wab_d09U0KOTJ4JUOwdNsJGbC6Lo2SX436K7NbhUN_oy6sutU5GH6lW59YwOcQ48Zu_Knfa7vrikFu_iGU/w320-h213/IMG_7029%20(2).JPG" title="Jake Best Campground, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I had one more week before it was time for another school year to begin. We decided to take a mid-week break and take a chance on a campground that is first come, first serve. We were a bit concerned that it might be full, but...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dK1YG0r4Jma7BlyX9OomAcYq-5AioAE8Ebga-Uj8aGPbMawjiAoFh_mMyfV1R5uET0kkYIhOGM5obTP38wkbPNqtUX1qQXNW6mVKXyL-RzRw_6zEPVwWnYv15xVuzHf5EGqWS7Lejj3V3nTu-z0rBLxzk3aKjA_KXyXnBIb719t_AdmKzjMFPIzu/s5184/IMG_7047%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dK1YG0r4Jma7BlyX9OomAcYq-5AioAE8Ebga-Uj8aGPbMawjiAoFh_mMyfV1R5uET0kkYIhOGM5obTP38wkbPNqtUX1qQXNW6mVKXyL-RzRw_6zEPVwWnYv15xVuzHf5EGqWS7Lejj3V3nTu-z0rBLxzk3aKjA_KXyXnBIb719t_AdmKzjMFPIzu/w320-h213/IMG_7047%20(2).JPG" title="Jake Best Campground, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxTXjoGlVM_ouhLt-MXZj5M99vBzL553FN33NbVaJwkm3Gr3PYP0uegXLWCsIHEu7A1ePL912p0J0bMA--cNJe08g89DuGkBA27qJ3hRJhzaFYZEGiIEWVQa6r86RnS2JyIrjXZeaLxfno8sr-6tSPCEg9ddsetO4M_yvTnhkurYO18Noejqqqfxc/s5184/IMG_7048%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxTXjoGlVM_ouhLt-MXZj5M99vBzL553FN33NbVaJwkm3Gr3PYP0uegXLWCsIHEu7A1ePL912p0J0bMA--cNJe08g89DuGkBA27qJ3hRJhzaFYZEGiIEWVQa6r86RnS2JyIrjXZeaLxfno8sr-6tSPCEg9ddsetO4M_yvTnhkurYO18Noejqqqfxc/w320-h213/IMG_7048%20(2).JPG" title="Jake Best Campground, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">We had the whole place to ourselves. <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/cherokee/recarea/?recid=35038" target="_blank">Jake Best Campground </a>is in the Cherokee National Forest in East Tennesse, between Vonore and Tellico Plains. More specifically, it is in the Citico area. As we made our way along the gravel road to the campground, several dispersed camping areas were on the creek. This one is on the other side. The ones on the creek are quite spacious.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wbjnXk8nCd-7LHwwP6V8NKrZVAZOCjxb3hJevhXzVo8PcgZ0xXq-8s6WUIfPVi3CxKfeuSpfsQq-LYtQkcV8H_yXjR9E-SeJKJmCGNwRGebnNh4KYhN6gAp83CTIzrXG_QPweguHUHSrK0lsPlx3DhvMHtFQdjMUXbhcOu99XBnMULZIfXpxqGEw/s2195/0721221207_HDR%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1414" data-original-width="2195" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wbjnXk8nCd-7LHwwP6V8NKrZVAZOCjxb3hJevhXzVo8PcgZ0xXq-8s6WUIfPVi3CxKfeuSpfsQq-LYtQkcV8H_yXjR9E-SeJKJmCGNwRGebnNh4KYhN6gAp83CTIzrXG_QPweguHUHSrK0lsPlx3DhvMHtFQdjMUXbhcOu99XBnMULZIfXpxqGEw/w320-h206/0721221207_HDR%20(2).jpg" title="Citico Campsite, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There is no fee to camp at these sites. Jake Best is $6/night and includes no hook-ups. The campground is open from around the beginning of March through the end of November. There is only one bathroom with a vault toilet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YhVFoOxkc2NAIuoL_iAwXl2NCB3Nfxl143KZKIyNDL8CQX1QM7aPuJq5mhhjqC4zlepxXhLUSTG66HTXV1zhlzC6bzNPl3kuUNw_Pn2H8cVmpEF8zL5xgeyfj9YoHLC8QuyEIX_ZGHAmo7r8sh5d8I99kSLSmQlF_AcsN5jeRkT7lYAzdtT-wb0M/s5184/IMG_7050%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YhVFoOxkc2NAIuoL_iAwXl2NCB3Nfxl143KZKIyNDL8CQX1QM7aPuJq5mhhjqC4zlepxXhLUSTG66HTXV1zhlzC6bzNPl3kuUNw_Pn2H8cVmpEF8zL5xgeyfj9YoHLC8QuyEIX_ZGHAmo7r8sh5d8I99kSLSmQlF_AcsN5jeRkT7lYAzdtT-wb0M/w320-h213/IMG_7050%20(2).JPG" title="Jake Best Campground, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Yes, I said only one toilet, but there are only 7 sites at this campground. During the peak season, there is a campground host who takes 1 spot. 5 sites are up a hill from the creek; there are 2 on the other side. Those 2 back up to the road; however, the road is one lane. When we were there, there was very little traffic. Robert said that the area gets quite busy once trout are released in the creek as well as during hunting season.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtilXw-GuXq1ykogY7vsKrmZncasKCM6iMu5uyq_1VzyHjy0Y5Ys68wu7yWN8K0hLpp-FB2r3Yt0TSJL-ib31bZhdUReA_-BLUc9_aVLEI7akdPtQ09mPevRg_RTDio3GLqoTAu0YB3idAYyKe81EDXE6lCq6Vc6lHtB6VFmcwznO_Oi6rs9RfQlj/s5184/IMG_7049%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtilXw-GuXq1ykogY7vsKrmZncasKCM6iMu5uyq_1VzyHjy0Y5Ys68wu7yWN8K0hLpp-FB2r3Yt0TSJL-ib31bZhdUReA_-BLUc9_aVLEI7akdPtQ09mPevRg_RTDio3GLqoTAu0YB3idAYyKe81EDXE6lCq6Vc6lHtB6VFmcwznO_Oi6rs9RfQlj/w320-h213/IMG_7049%20(2).JPG" title="Road to Jake Best Campground, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The road leading to the campground</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54E079_whWrg9ms4zmUB7A7vRtlUx6iSDSPIz_aIfe1uI6u-xQFFzyk_xdHefSk4VJ_w8vln4-8M7GaHiw9ZIpRWOxyAUOZUFXe71Pwhlta055S5Y37FzlnDOqQeQx5P3_OINJrszEpZK1WccUa75LXrU_xkC4SGKGwnB6Pul8H1-8XmiP0-xZYm1/s5184/IMG_7057%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54E079_whWrg9ms4zmUB7A7vRtlUx6iSDSPIz_aIfe1uI6u-xQFFzyk_xdHefSk4VJ_w8vln4-8M7GaHiw9ZIpRWOxyAUOZUFXe71Pwhlta055S5Y37FzlnDOqQeQx5P3_OINJrszEpZK1WccUa75LXrU_xkC4SGKGwnB6Pul8H1-8XmiP0-xZYm1/w320-h213/IMG_7057%20(2).JPG" title="Road to Jake Best Campground, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The road leading to the campground on the other side.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Right beside the toilet is a box with envelopes and a pole where your payment is inserted. I'm not sure about other times of the year, but we didn't see any rangers while we were there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVUYFvnnv_hirAg_K92A4RtVEbBfD9x_4I9i0g0QV2YmruO43XjxOlU8vo6w2F_wWircFhH03dzphJ-MLL2h4cyduvV73slVsKE_RQ_1hUEcaKonliHiDogdcFw1q3gmwhR_icGRN6w690fbGpWh7_lIXCdhp_tvAEvl5L8wljVeREL4eIlp8fMLC/s1688/Picture1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1688" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVUYFvnnv_hirAg_K92A4RtVEbBfD9x_4I9i0g0QV2YmruO43XjxOlU8vo6w2F_wWircFhH03dzphJ-MLL2h4cyduvV73slVsKE_RQ_1hUEcaKonliHiDogdcFw1q3gmwhR_icGRN6w690fbGpWh7_lIXCdhp_tvAEvl5L8wljVeREL4eIlp8fMLC/w320-h213/Picture1.png" title="Jake Best Campground, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">The sites are a good size and are fairly level. There is no electricity or water, so be prepared. There is also no cell service so you're able to completely get away from distractions.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiS3LClfG_HREjLypF378NWyz9VqrOeTng4UdRbTEt7XgfQ7rzDxy1hHL1MuYm_Cr1t1rO5MJmickGJLQ8YPNtSKUxdfpMnJGr4_dfxgjb2-0UXNnYY3tXQpHmq85_vq7t50rL4LKZvHmA8mOGQz_DYScEfOWCHH1PKBLf1FcbCz2PCXbhrnywFJGa/s5184/IMG_7053%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiS3LClfG_HREjLypF378NWyz9VqrOeTng4UdRbTEt7XgfQ7rzDxy1hHL1MuYm_Cr1t1rO5MJmickGJLQ8YPNtSKUxdfpMnJGr4_dfxgjb2-0UXNnYY3tXQpHmq85_vq7t50rL4LKZvHmA8mOGQz_DYScEfOWCHH1PKBLf1FcbCz2PCXbhrnywFJGa/w320-h213/IMG_7053%20(2).JPG" title="Jake Best Campground, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Site 2 seems to be the best site for RVs</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpHgGC4yPgbBdNxVVx4s2z7Wh5pzl0bjKtj3fIt42lipOQlBDAk1prcJkZsQcBo6dkmZs0gZWWtNhz96S2aDaWrZesksb5C8swcAsjq0Kgm4rgu-O9G4rd_YFzWcBjEpQl3RQyiPHg2taCHXz7rG6IQLJXjbaAc8tRm0kweAEPsJLJOD5X6yCRstD/s5184/IMG_7054%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpHgGC4yPgbBdNxVVx4s2z7Wh5pzl0bjKtj3fIt42lipOQlBDAk1prcJkZsQcBo6dkmZs0gZWWtNhz96S2aDaWrZesksb5C8swcAsjq0Kgm4rgu-O9G4rd_YFzWcBjEpQl3RQyiPHg2taCHXz7rG6IQLJXjbaAc8tRm0kweAEPsJLJOD5X6yCRstD/w320-h213/IMG_7054%20(2).JPG" title="Jake Best Campground, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Site 3 seemed to be the shortest site.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">We chose Site 7 because it had a view of the creek down the hill at the back. The site next to ours also had a view but it wasn't quite as good.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgN2R33FDrvc-STRVgpa0THIO0u6c1UUAhrb4rLOAOcx863tGh5UKuJxKBu6QbioLiiTf7MJpKtllJxe2BVdmeq1uCN-T-zGRVGEw-d0WkrxHSJV3VDS_yFKTpEmQSXdzTV1cgRdHqGcJO6XJ0MByVrdsszzhmMLxKv56ge3S-EM8JGL0F7BRAVdq/s4032/0719221415_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgN2R33FDrvc-STRVgpa0THIO0u6c1UUAhrb4rLOAOcx863tGh5UKuJxKBu6QbioLiiTf7MJpKtllJxe2BVdmeq1uCN-T-zGRVGEw-d0WkrxHSJV3VDS_yFKTpEmQSXdzTV1cgRdHqGcJO6XJ0MByVrdsszzhmMLxKv56ge3S-EM8JGL0F7BRAVdq/w320-h240/0719221415_HDR.jpg" title="Jake Best Campground, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The back of Site 7; the creek is down the hill</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-sVyJNcmcYafQPjT5v2PQyu6U16SLQTqAof-vD7qeXGEFrWNYJsnxRuldmuYRRG9K1_prMi1FqV6SmVVQFDBTM3FJypbu-LLKR1xKmf2hjNKxFmhF2YewhlpkE19B-sqMxMeuj0eAlSU0z_BLK_UHyjDwxiiUp9v58nZXbunSxymyA0ht9K6VFFr1/s4565/IMG_7046%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3043" data-original-width="4565" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-sVyJNcmcYafQPjT5v2PQyu6U16SLQTqAof-vD7qeXGEFrWNYJsnxRuldmuYRRG9K1_prMi1FqV6SmVVQFDBTM3FJypbu-LLKR1xKmf2hjNKxFmhF2YewhlpkE19B-sqMxMeuj0eAlSU0z_BLK_UHyjDwxiiUp9v58nZXbunSxymyA0ht9K6VFFr1/w320-h213/IMG_7046%20(2).JPG" title="Jake Best Campground, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Site #7</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga69gQ4KyfhBKsDMoHUT-VcOXyMe01qumYAKalH6U3YT27J4itPXNdf2LRavkiXwqrNx8Sz1SHJ1nEhOVmU3Kp6l4ILybjEkn7oJCzhPrAT7I9GslXnv3yBLx6f17cSPiXp6PLykez41E8iWZ_sGkNOntCEZTjwrSR-DM9VUTcfBVwyUNj4Yf6hAhO/s5184/IMG_7030%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga69gQ4KyfhBKsDMoHUT-VcOXyMe01qumYAKalH6U3YT27J4itPXNdf2LRavkiXwqrNx8Sz1SHJ1nEhOVmU3Kp6l4ILybjEkn7oJCzhPrAT7I9GslXnv3yBLx6f17cSPiXp6PLykez41E8iWZ_sGkNOntCEZTjwrSR-DM9VUTcfBVwyUNj4Yf6hAhO/w320-h213/IMG_7030%20(2).JPG" title="Jake Best Campground, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Since this is bear country, bear-proof trash cans are provided. There are 2 right next to Site 5 and 2 beside the toilet. We didn't see any evidence of bears, or even raccoons for that matter. The campground was very clean and the garbage bins were empty when we got there. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1MogE0k_hHXKHoNz7PsyFz2hrIu3iMu6xMsUP6XbIV2nnhJGOA9gMxblGrnUCJAWqxqLzjl50WfRubYddGbqK3gm8kgf869v-T6wRGd0JRxXm7t5Ro-QenA-ywnc8bXyIWMiwIXCL89Pops1AawiF7zP-wQ9KKTaLQ38XHWpQ6NGcNStKSPRMVav/s5184/IMG_7028%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1MogE0k_hHXKHoNz7PsyFz2hrIu3iMu6xMsUP6XbIV2nnhJGOA9gMxblGrnUCJAWqxqLzjl50WfRubYddGbqK3gm8kgf869v-T6wRGd0JRxXm7t5Ro-QenA-ywnc8bXyIWMiwIXCL89Pops1AawiF7zP-wQ9KKTaLQ38XHWpQ6NGcNStKSPRMVav/w320-h213/IMG_7028%20(2).JPG" title="Jake Best Campground, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Bear-proof bins next to Site 5</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTeT2QEH0K8N_hbVuQki5M7vkpuqrVZhKpEmAD_QBJ1R4bk18q8B6PAKmnsCiAhQcED2VCHclCmZpiwmghPxZ4Qhl-ZiC_vDBgomoKP3xJXyoAKpdSK_cZTOi12qLdhKaeel81nnsHFjJ5JSKV78hZS2nfhUjdTzbTmSJ3bf1ML-lRmKnwB_UlGqi/s5184/IMG_7051%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTeT2QEH0K8N_hbVuQki5M7vkpuqrVZhKpEmAD_QBJ1R4bk18q8B6PAKmnsCiAhQcED2VCHclCmZpiwmghPxZ4Qhl-ZiC_vDBgomoKP3xJXyoAKpdSK_cZTOi12qLdhKaeel81nnsHFjJ5JSKV78hZS2nfhUjdTzbTmSJ3bf1ML-lRmKnwB_UlGqi/w320-h213/IMG_7051%20(2).JPG" title="Jake Best Campground, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: small;">Bear-proof bins next to the toilet</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I would definitely stay there again. It was a little unsettling to be the only ones in the campground the first night but the second night I wasn't bothered by it. We had a backup plan in case the campground was full so we would definitely do that again. There is another campground not too far away that has overflow camping so <a href="https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232215?tab=info" target="_blank">Indian Boundary</a> may be another option.</p><p>We very much enjoyed the solitude of Jake Best. The walk to the creek was easy. The water was very cold and very clear. Robert took a couple of dips in the cold water (I got in once) and we skipped some rocks. It was an exceptionally relaxing couple of days.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7T5rV71ixESPp5cVqpVt32qtZTlJV4YiB5yK5PsMfD4lNX8PZFPOJNwQFM6v-OC5fOJFbml5r9U81flB-7XQwFvVUcU2gkHHb5ZdDJ3KExai6F19KZRHFz922_mTN-YE9FLk3zAa40Nm_VnXNmKRIyvdGUGdO9XbK1uZP07wl-AGmOLyg7wwNIJF/s5184/IMG_7040%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7T5rV71ixESPp5cVqpVt32qtZTlJV4YiB5yK5PsMfD4lNX8PZFPOJNwQFM6v-OC5fOJFbml5r9U81flB-7XQwFvVUcU2gkHHb5ZdDJ3KExai6F19KZRHFz922_mTN-YE9FLk3zAa40Nm_VnXNmKRIyvdGUGdO9XbK1uZP07wl-AGmOLyg7wwNIJF/s320/IMG_7040%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYsuoWzvd1VE0iOuQYdLd1nmu6ro6zu-Bhy-LLtGgz8lRpTqeClxHnOHuCn1ELCHkFIvXesRrMnuqqjaoLwG64pVbv8awZPPQ4umaw-_CCiWNA7dm9GRop-BrzM_znoDxaXfZ9V1cEMKuHddb9VHBVlv43fNrpX4VjtGI9UyAy6PR9YbxAXD6sZcH/s267/Name%20transparent%20background.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="267" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYsuoWzvd1VE0iOuQYdLd1nmu6ro6zu-Bhy-LLtGgz8lRpTqeClxHnOHuCn1ELCHkFIvXesRrMnuqqjaoLwG64pVbv8awZPPQ4umaw-_CCiWNA7dm9GRop-BrzM_znoDxaXfZ9V1cEMKuHddb9VHBVlv43fNrpX4VjtGI9UyAy6PR9YbxAXD6sZcH/w145-h86/Name%20transparent%20background.png" width="145" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-9632812363294813522022-06-16T09:28:00.003-04:002022-06-16T09:28:49.528-04:00Camping Vacation 2021: DeSoto Falls National Park, GA<p>We had big plans for our summer of 2021 vacation...and then life happened. We decided to stay closer to home instead of leaving the country, but we knew with it being summer in the South, we needed to head north or higher in elevation.</p><p>We found DeSoto Falls National Park near Dahlonega, GA. The location is more in-between Dahlonega and Helen; the Appalachian Trail crosses the highway just up the road from the park. This was a smaller campground than most of the National Park Campgrounds we've been to. We were there at the beginning of the week; there were a lot of empty sites. </p><p>As you drive on US Hwy 129, you may almost miss the turn. Coming from Blairsville, it's a sharp right to turn into the park.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYQKtHvcxeLeOZ2ltCYVpDv6n0CZoz27etIqErO3gLnLZ-dAXDSWwLfAN8MrM9lyQUgapDxutXjAyK2K4wUXxqVsz_Ge1q3GQDeoQcVgYBeJUtGrKiXk3blXTdG65XLGHbWtfYlVpC2s6YT2n3i1wVZ6aG_YHAVQmoJpcd85T2up6o7vcKI4MXlbi/s2325/0614211707.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2325" data-original-width="2325" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYQKtHvcxeLeOZ2ltCYVpDv6n0CZoz27etIqErO3gLnLZ-dAXDSWwLfAN8MrM9lyQUgapDxutXjAyK2K4wUXxqVsz_Ge1q3GQDeoQcVgYBeJUtGrKiXk3blXTdG65XLGHbWtfYlVpC2s6YT2n3i1wVZ6aG_YHAVQmoJpcd85T2up6o7vcKI4MXlbi/s320/0614211707.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">The campground is divided into 2 separate parts: one section has outdoor shower facilities available with flushable toilets and the other section only has "chemical flush" facilities. We had potable water just across the road from our site.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXo4iieSmhT8_e7wuy85rSg5-LZrc26KvaNxulB1yJl3-MXoUaJq_8Kn3TtWmBmSGJklh5MqkcHwNJOjbGv4v4b06DDdU7P1QHp1Wdp8g3zfZyqKkxDJqTlxpRnvmWg1-l8uf6h7veTrGwk6GxJuZqgyyB1STII8m4VFtL14CEVma9vNLBtdqGrIvl/s2137/IMG_6146%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="2137" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXo4iieSmhT8_e7wuy85rSg5-LZrc26KvaNxulB1yJl3-MXoUaJq_8Kn3TtWmBmSGJklh5MqkcHwNJOjbGv4v4b06DDdU7P1QHp1Wdp8g3zfZyqKkxDJqTlxpRnvmWg1-l8uf6h7veTrGwk6GxJuZqgyyB1STII8m4VFtL14CEVma9vNLBtdqGrIvl/s320/IMG_6146%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potable Water Spigot</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguehxiXuAG41VRWX8wHT7B8bzWRu408z0AHvheZD9webR-D35IquZcKioLlYXRhd9lh8liLldUF0iHXiCM3uJcTLDgnyFx80xShWwnJpjRWX3fWUBlQe_E5cAt3nM-tM-I0nOM8iOc8m4uf0V4CVdkLKQ_C35MOPCPAYvr5GpyfC0x57JC6wV_s9hv/s5184/IMG_6219%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguehxiXuAG41VRWX8wHT7B8bzWRu408z0AHvheZD9webR-D35IquZcKioLlYXRhd9lh8liLldUF0iHXiCM3uJcTLDgnyFx80xShWwnJpjRWX3fWUBlQe_E5cAt3nM-tM-I0nOM8iOc8m4uf0V4CVdkLKQ_C35MOPCPAYvr5GpyfC0x57JC6wV_s9hv/s320/IMG_6219%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shower Facility</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzsJVb1o7b72HPAp3XWN4r7e7H0cxSE5qk6pC2zkUrccs4Nlz_p27IId5s11WMnQbEPVtxYD-ua7w3Obd49E4BiWuvUdryWafbUBBczcBfuc-awelTOydP1bpeeEUSu63RH5ZjlxEtC5rb8TDAqiF8QoJX89Ed0WchNex66kEg_jh74AtQGNLSdaJ/s5184/IMG_6220%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzsJVb1o7b72HPAp3XWN4r7e7H0cxSE5qk6pC2zkUrccs4Nlz_p27IId5s11WMnQbEPVtxYD-ua7w3Obd49E4BiWuvUdryWafbUBBczcBfuc-awelTOydP1bpeeEUSu63RH5ZjlxEtC5rb8TDAqiF8QoJX89Ed0WchNex66kEg_jh74AtQGNLSdaJ/s320/IMG_6220%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outdoor Shower</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVF1MRr7LIfPoQQLhIlRuPy265ZIaPIb5GBDq1Fo9MPb8sxcQ7LvmTYoSTAMEd5t5E1PbcKZFeJgx2cE5FwEwbGQHP53_RPX_9bqmJ-jSGyOAsTgMZ_R0rWD6yrT2wDqwtfV-yEj2F9zxiFw5DGHGukaVFpVuIJpcaPazGvvmCHIGSiVkWI4QM4fzX/s2192/IMG_6222%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1461" data-original-width="2192" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVF1MRr7LIfPoQQLhIlRuPy265ZIaPIb5GBDq1Fo9MPb8sxcQ7LvmTYoSTAMEd5t5E1PbcKZFeJgx2cE5FwEwbGQHP53_RPX_9bqmJ-jSGyOAsTgMZ_R0rWD6yrT2wDqwtfV-yEj2F9zxiFw5DGHGukaVFpVuIJpcaPazGvvmCHIGSiVkWI4QM4fzX/s320/IMG_6222%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chemical Flush Facility<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table>The sites are large and the ones in the loop where we stayed were wooded, with Frogtown Creek to the back of them. Picnic tables, fire pits, and a lantern stand are provided. There is no electricity or water at the sites.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaT51_rtMAN6crobLb_uviO_P5-RauZmzpJoFLAqIXpCA1ndUSU485ROynL92T1UZDiDJPQLClvuRX1_wPvi8mGpsa_v5M04uRtd2NDrRaxih7Yd3AtxO31GWYVzxX1RsCpGebs8_8tjzcGH26dqz7nPc_oeBB4qnikuLpR8fA6QzNiq-m1UxZ7bs/s5184/IMG_6133.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaT51_rtMAN6crobLb_uviO_P5-RauZmzpJoFLAqIXpCA1ndUSU485ROynL92T1UZDiDJPQLClvuRX1_wPvi8mGpsa_v5M04uRtd2NDrRaxih7Yd3AtxO31GWYVzxX1RsCpGebs8_8tjzcGH26dqz7nPc_oeBB4qnikuLpR8fA6QzNiq-m1UxZ7bs/s320/IMG_6133.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our site</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNw2Xq281jjnCxPYyYsqN8tGwU9i4r0zX4_uP3_IPLUDzP_4pZOQirg4pIEZX5qcvt7mr1_H7zI0_iR0i8MB1ac7ZeNixm_4Q8UinIkPXXQHfk2O-Z08TAsrzFoH7DtR4FIDhkUzKqTidCqJycZFMnxvfcP02ghqN0qXSiwml-AH8RxY9tD9jKNdc/s5184/IMG_6143.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNw2Xq281jjnCxPYyYsqN8tGwU9i4r0zX4_uP3_IPLUDzP_4pZOQirg4pIEZX5qcvt7mr1_H7zI0_iR0i8MB1ac7ZeNixm_4Q8UinIkPXXQHfk2O-Z08TAsrzFoH7DtR4FIDhkUzKqTidCqJycZFMnxvfcP02ghqN0qXSiwml-AH8RxY9tD9jKNdc/s320/IMG_6143.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxG3j6eXCy4sAy_h63aMYIdYrPfJN10ZsYUNC_VMqd9M5BvBlHOdAKEeI9Jf18lWvGYIRh2UOo23NkmVUkPyx0xVsSPVBzDRR7oV2U4n-fkr7rXT8tbtTVzWla6OhXRs5kb-f8Yeg-BI9IgojXif9_Ypm3NdztIYbU2kgepQgfRfR0PBTXdArofKR/s5184/IMG_6145.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxG3j6eXCy4sAy_h63aMYIdYrPfJN10ZsYUNC_VMqd9M5BvBlHOdAKEeI9Jf18lWvGYIRh2UOo23NkmVUkPyx0xVsSPVBzDRR7oV2U4n-fkr7rXT8tbtTVzWla6OhXRs5kb-f8Yeg-BI9IgojXif9_Ypm3NdztIYbU2kgepQgfRfR0PBTXdArofKR/s320/IMG_6145.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The site beside us</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_V9Zl8lpUxti8-Jna6V5Qevh9zqEfV38DZcSsKY95W2NsbC97ueMuHT7-gj9w66lKINI5Nhq-abmPYA8xxym9u_3dOaVE1OK7e5iHFnyCe11uhiczLya_ujh2RKTlaJrOCH6CnlJrrAe9_k9yaolLZ25eKKnYYnn1ER3wJj9hM8u-h8yakq4fqps/s5184/IMG_6148.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_V9Zl8lpUxti8-Jna6V5Qevh9zqEfV38DZcSsKY95W2NsbC97ueMuHT7-gj9w66lKINI5Nhq-abmPYA8xxym9u_3dOaVE1OK7e5iHFnyCe11uhiczLya_ujh2RKTlaJrOCH6CnlJrrAe9_k9yaolLZ25eKKnYYnn1ER3wJj9hM8u-h8yakq4fqps/s320/IMG_6148.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the sites in the middle of the loop</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYsoL7sr4TMXYCMFH2Di-aumJ94FCfDdrLQ3QPvswlMRN86RCse-hzLqi_NdZV0nxCDntCD7gYv94x5raiUiGByV-D_8mgiTAN_o2zKAAzx3j6voD845XUVxyhFlV6RGyusidtDVlsggULxNrley0qwYWc7tTf9vWvNf1q9d98LydKk5MJhe5H-Tr/s5184/IMG_6225.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYsoL7sr4TMXYCMFH2Di-aumJ94FCfDdrLQ3QPvswlMRN86RCse-hzLqi_NdZV0nxCDntCD7gYv94x5raiUiGByV-D_8mgiTAN_o2zKAAzx3j6voD845XUVxyhFlV6RGyusidtDVlsggULxNrley0qwYWc7tTf9vWvNf1q9d98LydKk5MJhe5H-Tr/s320/IMG_6225.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road view of our site</td></tr></tbody></table>We stayed 2 nights. The first night was the best night's sleep either of us had in a long time. Unfortunately, the second night a family with 3 young children stayed. I say "unfortunately" because I don't think the parents knew (or cared) about camp etiquette. The youngest daughter (who we estimate was around 3 or 4 years old) screamed and cried until around at least 11:00 pm with the parents sitting around the campfire. We aren't sure what they put in their fire, but whatever it was blew into our tent and caused Robert to start coughing. Let me just say that if we had planned to be there another night we would have said something to the ranger. The people who were there our first night also had small(ish) children who were well-behaved and calmed right down when it was time to go to sleep. <div><br /></div><div>Enough of that; camping etiquette with children will have to be another post. There is a very nice, well-kept trail on the other side of Frogtown Creek that leads to the waterfalls. It was an easy hike. We had nowhere to be so we just took our time and enjoyed the flora along the way. The rhododendron wasn't blooming yet but I would say when it does it's absolutely beautiful. </div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOzrqKDM3JEaG91tzPRQ7WTd70Galz-tR22pbQHFPlJdxmDFnF88-74JnRu-BfRkM9r4VRCWgY493GpAJOPGjuqnETOuIooshBc1_kMPE8rQRWQYkUYMmXKTcbI9grAQk4cznyJpubguIqjOJF9racg5ywZQJr8oyG8DtYgPRrchsUhgJUwEA2tP-/s5184/IMG_6154%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOzrqKDM3JEaG91tzPRQ7WTd70Galz-tR22pbQHFPlJdxmDFnF88-74JnRu-BfRkM9r4VRCWgY493GpAJOPGjuqnETOuIooshBc1_kMPE8rQRWQYkUYMmXKTcbI9grAQk4cznyJpubguIqjOJF9racg5ywZQJr8oyG8DtYgPRrchsUhgJUwEA2tP-/s320/IMG_6154%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An easy hike with a well-kept trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiTuuGIzZJBf2sHlbVMQqT4NFoTyi_6uh3jWl_u_mv7Lmy0EGaf3vcPY_KiGmdKj_cZVlAGcCF-hZbe4tc90-KYDHsP8eBxyDv5QooitjW_YwIbJ4wOrhvpMxzNE6GmNJw2u_q60qWQs_T4uTRZ_R4VGY-p4XZ1Rwbmn_-1Nr5KVdN_8K-1bCvc8j/s3435/IMG_6169%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2290" data-original-width="3435" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiTuuGIzZJBf2sHlbVMQqT4NFoTyi_6uh3jWl_u_mv7Lmy0EGaf3vcPY_KiGmdKj_cZVlAGcCF-hZbe4tc90-KYDHsP8eBxyDv5QooitjW_YwIbJ4wOrhvpMxzNE6GmNJw2u_q60qWQs_T4uTRZ_R4VGY-p4XZ1Rwbmn_-1Nr5KVdN_8K-1bCvc8j/s320/IMG_6169%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It had been a little dry, but after a rain I'm sure the fall are spectacular!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFL_dtGqIPrS2SNmevG7-p-RuRpGCAer9CcuuhK6prlQIBqnn7bF50fpBSQbOLhG1T8-zIkDGNOpebWPyjG2Z9n6rCJZ55zOiCm3WYD1LMJAZcoCdNQCvKTyspcIoHajrnQ9BSVZiAL4CO_kg19nYYbIOfamJQOEsxW4bEXOhsw9lDvGmWjmuZS9j-/s5184/IMG_6199%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFL_dtGqIPrS2SNmevG7-p-RuRpGCAer9CcuuhK6prlQIBqnn7bF50fpBSQbOLhG1T8-zIkDGNOpebWPyjG2Z9n6rCJZ55zOiCm3WYD1LMJAZcoCdNQCvKTyspcIoHajrnQ9BSVZiAL4CO_kg19nYYbIOfamJQOEsxW4bEXOhsw9lDvGmWjmuZS9j-/s320/IMG_6199%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rhododendron were just about to bloom</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIDu1JcxwbC7REo2BxwOlZmyL3n-bIaeM5mzChWibovjwNw3jrAY3CsHT67X8_PeWvAJiTFYGsAz9uM5CPhk9GlNpk80udgzdTgqZk4qln2MvxG9hmUpOtECrjvPyHyyuwbjY8ZxaAE-MZM3HSNawQvrvMzeVXiNbkbDIgq9zQtkry-5s5UN5onkM/s5184/IMG_6214.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIDu1JcxwbC7REo2BxwOlZmyL3n-bIaeM5mzChWibovjwNw3jrAY3CsHT67X8_PeWvAJiTFYGsAz9uM5CPhk9GlNpk80udgzdTgqZk4qln2MvxG9hmUpOtECrjvPyHyyuwbjY8ZxaAE-MZM3HSNawQvrvMzeVXiNbkbDIgq9zQtkry-5s5UN5onkM/s320/IMG_6214.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our campsite from the trail<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>We met Laurene and Shirley. They've been visiting the campground for well over 20 years. Their sons bring their campers up and set them up for them and they spend the summer there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZd3LTBJDJmlcMAr6e5fwvyfYXWTtFZwF7b1EnSxaLLAWOcQLfJAyEOLyS24az3DAA_9zZeNqPW0W7hbJEziTon8KpTjgzOyVROUEKD9Wmo4Pdve6cE-VmyM8qLut1FiyjZEduMIJaGgS_yYkRwKXMsMCJ0ZfKEi5MxhZD7_UWnZl0Bt6ebf3u5NZA/s5184/IMG_6256.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZd3LTBJDJmlcMAr6e5fwvyfYXWTtFZwF7b1EnSxaLLAWOcQLfJAyEOLyS24az3DAA_9zZeNqPW0W7hbJEziTon8KpTjgzOyVROUEKD9Wmo4Pdve6cE-VmyM8qLut1FiyjZEduMIJaGgS_yYkRwKXMsMCJ0ZfKEi5MxhZD7_UWnZl0Bt6ebf3u5NZA/s320/IMG_6256.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizez7Ko4ICAlsb7476lwIR5Oigahft78OU-rdlAHrmxlDvdBpGUX5D4Zkg1-7NaD2_pTG6yD1fWNG7fQu2g6Quu5MCjh1Vv0rzpCLz8PaXEtbZ4B0kXjCNMzanSqYggdOhKU4KOEvQDqDyXRGyRyf4Go_FyV0mXxqjl2Wr8AMM8WXKesR-hjLHS0q3/s5184/IMG_6258.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizez7Ko4ICAlsb7476lwIR5Oigahft78OU-rdlAHrmxlDvdBpGUX5D4Zkg1-7NaD2_pTG6yD1fWNG7fQu2g6Quu5MCjh1Vv0rzpCLz8PaXEtbZ4B0kXjCNMzanSqYggdOhKU4KOEvQDqDyXRGyRyf4Go_FyV0mXxqjl2Wr8AMM8WXKesR-hjLHS0q3/s320/IMG_6258.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div>If you're looking for something to do during the day, Dahlonega is close by. We drove in to reminisce about a couple of July 4ths we spent there. We didn't stay long, though. We found Frogtown Winery in between Dahlonega and the campground. It's well worth a stop!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZbTiPAwEazvgXW64qdB-a6OyjJaEwYA84hNwu8VJKnKT4YCfS8F8HF04v-PWVnN23ZmWgA0Ax5sTEdayrVyCUNC16lEfmqwq-b_DhIyawe8OaVlSZUNb1Xcqpgr3-DMGlSANFVI6J8WDrL1uY4LmzFqzLx-CEE8rJq9b0XT3NPWg2tijg_iZZ86S/s3280/0614211555.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3280" data-original-width="2460" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZbTiPAwEazvgXW64qdB-a6OyjJaEwYA84hNwu8VJKnKT4YCfS8F8HF04v-PWVnN23ZmWgA0Ax5sTEdayrVyCUNC16lEfmqwq-b_DhIyawe8OaVlSZUNb1Xcqpgr3-DMGlSANFVI6J8WDrL1uY4LmzFqzLx-CEE8rJq9b0XT3NPWg2tijg_iZZ86S/s320/0614211555.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUFlNut6w_RY1hAdh_uP5ARoYYQu2JmdXoRyy8K4nPGp0rqFAH1_4oPxj1OGnhqzPi8Ilpi6XIcuirnSJerPjKu8foKWoLZOHALavGazyDGMwZJKUV9fhd5REUSjlGCZz7P8kLO9ziTtlZZsmpFSUuUBouaEvBb5fwCmSyTDrWJOG98W1nPYA3dAW/s5184/IMG_6248.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUFlNut6w_RY1hAdh_uP5ARoYYQu2JmdXoRyy8K4nPGp0rqFAH1_4oPxj1OGnhqzPi8Ilpi6XIcuirnSJerPjKu8foKWoLZOHALavGazyDGMwZJKUV9fhd5REUSjlGCZz7P8kLO9ziTtlZZsmpFSUuUBouaEvBb5fwCmSyTDrWJOG98W1nPYA3dAW/w320-h213/IMG_6248.JPG" title="Frogtown Winery, Dahlonega, Georgia, USA" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Now the big question: Would we camp there again? Absolutely, without a doubt. The only downside we saw was the unruly neighbors we had that one night. We would definitely try to get our same campsite. There's just something about having the sound of the creek lull you to sleep at night!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiB0bTMl_nDefkaMT4CGJaqUaTbkTRma92_txszTI0utZNcw0xNlMiqWwQXdr3SBQDogtoRvbKlmR0GLIU8K0B507AlwaYcnSSG9VBw5EVtNWSBMb4yPCOqPEcONk4baCGVRGWDZePE1FCJqAdB8goIODMHrTCM-mX2arqYeE5c17o0pThdpgwgLD3/s267/Name%20transparent%20background.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="267" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiB0bTMl_nDefkaMT4CGJaqUaTbkTRma92_txszTI0utZNcw0xNlMiqWwQXdr3SBQDogtoRvbKlmR0GLIU8K0B507AlwaYcnSSG9VBw5EVtNWSBMb4yPCOqPEcONk4baCGVRGWDZePE1FCJqAdB8goIODMHrTCM-mX2arqYeE5c17o0pThdpgwgLD3/w190-h112/Name%20transparent%20background.png" width="190" /></a></div><br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-75295740591832778732022-06-01T17:02:00.005-04:002022-06-01T17:05:55.103-04:00Ireland Adventure Re-Cap<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9hKqYGuT8TltyTyrLy0EG-pRc3jUQHcEFcvKBncTlhZQa4Qy5fDEJV_RKnbGfPBdKyFddsJywNuwb-JDQ_CQ6B1HtCWDojk4YXaFZiqMND_GT1eVu9xZE6LzCv3HBrqmu7K4hSrTFSFmFr98Q8VQsxqrqf0p3RyiLoqEqXYlJDUj2iHbekEz3Kfb/s3000/IMG_20220317_170430%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9hKqYGuT8TltyTyrLy0EG-pRc3jUQHcEFcvKBncTlhZQa4Qy5fDEJV_RKnbGfPBdKyFddsJywNuwb-JDQ_CQ6B1HtCWDojk4YXaFZiqMND_GT1eVu9xZE6LzCv3HBrqmu7K4hSrTFSFmFr98Q8VQsxqrqf0p3RyiLoqEqXYlJDUj2iHbekEz3Kfb/w320-h320/IMG_20220317_170430%20(2).jpg" title="Sign in Off the Square Restaurant, Clifden, County Galway, Ireland" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This is exactly how we felt about Ireland</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>This was one of the best, if not THE best, vacations we've ever had. It was, quite honestly, planned at what some might say was the last moment. As in, 3 or 4 weeks before we left we began seriously planning. We tossed the idea back and forth for a few months but then we decided to just go ahead and do it, and I'm glad we did.<p>Renting the campervan from <a href="https://www.bunkcampers.com/" target="_blank">Bunk Campers</a> was a brilliant idea, so thanks, John! I've said this before: the van we rented was just the right size. Having a toilet at our disposal was exactly what we needed. The bed was so very comfortable that I had no trouble going to sleep from the beginning and I didn't wake up with my back hurting. </p><p>Robert did a great job driving with the gear shift on his left side and driving on the left side of the road. He was already used to driving on the right side of the van, but it had been some years since he had driven a manual for any length of time. He only ground the gears twice and never stalled the engine. The round-abouts were no problem at all; I think we only had to stop at a couple during the whole trip. In fact, he found that driving on the left side of the road and all of the round-abouts were easier than driving in the US, partly due to the courteousness of the Irish drivers.</p><p>The prices of everything seemed to be comparable to or less than what we would pay in the US, especially once we left Dublin. Diesel was, as you might imagine, expensive, but we only had to fill up 3 times and spent less than $400. The campervan seemed to be relatively fuel-efficient. </p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Favorites of the Trip</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOo4iu7UhoEnZxE2EXZd_fjiL4WdBA57ne7sAcaQkClzOo7NlQMQPUcmbMrNhcgbf5_KAalz0jC-OcelcRMRAVB70j9--mlAafcQAns7DjWCqOe5600csUfSKtKzZZxZCkyC89NE9nRLH4iQMkTyWNrXSp_eJOPCy-EMJ6VficfF91HYg06L9uCtYL/s426/Capture.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="384" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOo4iu7UhoEnZxE2EXZd_fjiL4WdBA57ne7sAcaQkClzOo7NlQMQPUcmbMrNhcgbf5_KAalz0jC-OcelcRMRAVB70j9--mlAafcQAns7DjWCqOe5600csUfSKtKzZZxZCkyC89NE9nRLH4iQMkTyWNrXSp_eJOPCy-EMJ6VficfF91HYg06L9uCtYL/s320/Capture.PNG" width="288" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">My favorite part of the trip was steering away from most of the tourist traps, going "off the beaten path", meeting the Irish people, and taking our cues from them. I never thought I would enjoy not planning a trip! Yes, I know by doing this we missed some things but that just means I need to go back and do it again. I think my favorite place was the Beara Peninsula. It's hard to say for sure, but just the beauty of that area of the country stole my heart.</div><p>One of Robert's favorite parts of the trip was being able to see our British friends in Dublin before we picked up the van. Another favorite was visiting Ross Castle in Killarney and walking back through the park back into town. Seeing the Irish Red Deer and getting a view of St. Mary's as we walked into town was very special. Ladies View (in the Killarney National Forest) was his favorite scenery. The real surprising part to him was how genuinely friendly the Irish people are. He had heard about the friendliness but to experience in person was something!</p><h3 style="text-align: center;">The Big Question</h3><p>Now for the big question: <i>Would we do it again?</i> Most definitely! We're already talking about renting from Bunk Campers again and traveling through Northern Ireland and the northern part of the Republic of Ireland, Scotland, or Southern England. </p><p>Next time, I will plan out our dinners and breakfasts to make sure we didn't waste so much time in the grocery store. I don't think I will even plan where to go next time; we should just go where the road takes us and where locals suggest we go.</p><div style="text-align: left;">Our biggest piece of advice is to <i><b>just do it</b></i>. Go while you can, before you get too old. Even if you have to put everything on a credit card and pay it off later, <b>do it</b>. The memories we have from this trip will last for the rest of our lives.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyahS2-QovKgtYeXop57Ymt03AEyMqhsfwufUzMKgjhl1E5TJXbdXF-QqMiUXiJ7by_vnGVEpfN4OQZzS0_PfjKFWktBIlA-gBn1XUO2mBycXZ71WtJgUN-aOLU_GVZ3b_C2oLPLgUYJPBlU7zoDusIfWbB7TyLX3TrqDTy9WrcsHB-OE68R1Jo1W/s2116/IMG_20220319_152816%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2116" data-original-width="2116" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyahS2-QovKgtYeXop57Ymt03AEyMqhsfwufUzMKgjhl1E5TJXbdXF-QqMiUXiJ7by_vnGVEpfN4OQZzS0_PfjKFWktBIlA-gBn1XUO2mBycXZ71WtJgUN-aOLU_GVZ3b_C2oLPLgUYJPBlU7zoDusIfWbB7TyLX3TrqDTy9WrcsHB-OE68R1Jo1W/s320/IMG_20220319_152816%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><b>Sláinte!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #59ff00; font-size: x-large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgt1iLE9eaX93lcyUXBNeM9jMkwRLsBvclIOjTQ0M4XETO6U00QROsxE0Jrlhylsdxo7ju4hLb0P_w9rglt6eC6xDuMHSZkcARa_YhAPp5ivPZnNkidbStQg3ZlJq8SKGb6RHw-LZH54VJUaPM6u88apQMfQZ-ZR5EA8Pdwz3askfNETBfouDMol0Z6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="640" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgt1iLE9eaX93lcyUXBNeM9jMkwRLsBvclIOjTQ0M4XETO6U00QROsxE0Jrlhylsdxo7ju4hLb0P_w9rglt6eC6xDuMHSZkcARa_YhAPp5ivPZnNkidbStQg3ZlJq8SKGb6RHw-LZH54VJUaPM6u88apQMfQZ-ZR5EA8Pdwz3askfNETBfouDMol0Z6" width="320" /></a></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJVEVVLZn4lHn0I8qqTF_kuz1sa2_Sa5suoMF8nyTXfaZPLhdYZfi2SHbm-G0OPRKiSh6hhsqyQQP9N6J8_qeJLW5Dl7i6kwGuOWQpNj0ZEkQzWrb5OQdVgbSpZH9o5L38b-PrlVajo4Z7dwkzlvCpp2ArBpeuFemh5BwzL-kqNkGoxaMMFDssXQZ/s267/Name%20transparent%20background.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="267" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJVEVVLZn4lHn0I8qqTF_kuz1sa2_Sa5suoMF8nyTXfaZPLhdYZfi2SHbm-G0OPRKiSh6hhsqyQQP9N6J8_qeJLW5Dl7i6kwGuOWQpNj0ZEkQzWrb5OQdVgbSpZH9o5L38b-PrlVajo4Z7dwkzlvCpp2ArBpeuFemh5BwzL-kqNkGoxaMMFDssXQZ/w168-h99/Name%20transparent%20background.png" width="168" /></a></div></span></div></span>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-7850029348546931232022-05-07T11:19:00.004-04:002022-05-07T11:26:14.749-04:00Our Last Planned Campsite<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObO2P-j1BYWrISesCkGHvuN9isKLN2iAsfNkb_ToGeJO1-lP3BfdvKoVijnHjlXLO_gZGtcByYoYupJ2GqLiXl6Yo4JyLo1X25vs0PAGa3DkO8pnKVjnXaNgyx4D4zp3fBhRPxnhnR0ekEKkt03Er1ntWMhP4xPAk6fZNvfY7_qY9M8afrPQHRJLX/s759/Roches.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="759" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObO2P-j1BYWrISesCkGHvuN9isKLN2iAsfNkb_ToGeJO1-lP3BfdvKoVijnHjlXLO_gZGtcByYoYupJ2GqLiXl6Yo4JyLo1X25vs0PAGa3DkO8pnKVjnXaNgyx4D4zp3fBhRPxnhnR0ekEKkt03Er1ntWMhP4xPAk6fZNvfY7_qY9M8afrPQHRJLX/s320/Roches.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">After we left Hungry Hill, we headed toward our last planned campsite: <a href="https://www.pitchup.com/en-us/campsites/Republic-of-Ireland/Republic-of-Ireland/Co_Wexford/Wexford/roches_campervan_and_campsite/?type=10" target="_blank">Roches Campervan and Campsite</a> in County Wexford. We took a bit of a detour because when you're in that part of Ireland going to the Rock of Cashel is a must. We skipped Blarney Castle (too touristy & I've heard some nasty things about what happens on that rock at night!) knowing that the Rock was also touristy. As luck would have it, there was maintenance going on that day and we were able to park and get into the castle for free. As luck would have it, there were very few people there and no tour busses. (For more on our detour visit <a href="https://www.marylifeinasmalltown.com/p/ireland-2022.html" target="_blank">Life in a Small Town</a> and click on County Tipperary.)</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEWK8qpKFYcPfVNo_NzlpK4KmveOkT_BWlCh-owH8aTk3jVIIBRPrjsHBld6_lqyIKKdI0tURaCGXv5Fe7BlUVuSA4G6Ufg86boF0cX8uNUfZk7Uz5j0Rz6mxnROqRCKNCO8xkesVd43YZ6SPETprOBtvl3kPF5Z9Shf-CtpWr6F2mxRFLPP8azzQ/s4656/0322221419_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4656" data-original-width="3492" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEWK8qpKFYcPfVNo_NzlpK4KmveOkT_BWlCh-owH8aTk3jVIIBRPrjsHBld6_lqyIKKdI0tURaCGXv5Fe7BlUVuSA4G6Ufg86boF0cX8uNUfZk7Uz5j0Rz6mxnROqRCKNCO8xkesVd43YZ6SPETprOBtvl3kPF5Z9Shf-CtpWr6F2mxRFLPP8azzQ/s320/0322221419_HDR.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock of Cashel</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">We stayed long enough to eat lunch at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ONeills-Restaurant-141550102682194/?ref=page_internal" target="_blank">O'Neill's</a> and walk through the castle, then we were back on the road. Along the way we passed the place where the cider we enjoyed is made. We didn't stop to see if they gave tours. It didn't look like they had a place open to the public, but I wonder if we would have been able to get a tour if we had stopped.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SNKWr3Dm4bFedkrcG1QVHjgOSHf_-RKlmNKan-OZXScSXv3eiqtdqGe01QFFDaYnWW9SPynvsHIsfl43-b1hjpHqTDjwnPdHyIy97CkGKJ9hg-M59TyJGWRMWD9IjpGueMPPlg_6bdBEiMgGdN0iIJ1clbhK1vtxpkPB5rjL7yNOIl2Ov0o8PNOJ/s2939/0322221511.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2938" data-original-width="2939" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SNKWr3Dm4bFedkrcG1QVHjgOSHf_-RKlmNKan-OZXScSXv3eiqtdqGe01QFFDaYnWW9SPynvsHIsfl43-b1hjpHqTDjwnPdHyIy97CkGKJ9hg-M59TyJGWRMWD9IjpGueMPPlg_6bdBEiMgGdN0iIJ1clbhK1vtxpkPB5rjL7yNOIl2Ov0o8PNOJ/s320/0322221511.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.bulmers.ie/" target="_blank">Bulmer's Cider</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">Roches Campground is right on Bannow Bay and is a working dairy farm. We paid half of our night's stay as a deposit online and were told we could pay the rest before we left the next morning. (Make sure you have cash!) As we arrived we were greeted with views of Bannow Bay over the field.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadpDIi70xKqnzBWu2JaKGZOwOsWC4QrQD7knlYENg_IuaeXDf26pS5Z8RZAjVbyItQ889OiIEgO-ztsgX2IursIUAE2twXaNc0lkQAZoqHyRYU84MpBtbFIL_seNXghAzSO2S-HoYJZ_JIPFsOK9Z_Vf3IPE7bTr-_-f5BFe5DzIYWaHELeyuxZNk/s4032/0322221651.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadpDIi70xKqnzBWu2JaKGZOwOsWC4QrQD7knlYENg_IuaeXDf26pS5Z8RZAjVbyItQ889OiIEgO-ztsgX2IursIUAE2twXaNc0lkQAZoqHyRYU84MpBtbFIL_seNXghAzSO2S-HoYJZ_JIPFsOK9Z_Vf3IPE7bTr-_-f5BFe5DzIYWaHELeyuxZNk/s320/0322221651.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bannow Bay</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">We almost had the place to ourselves; there was one other person sharing the concrete. Just across the bay, you can see where the Normans landed in 1169.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2keSUHy7iz6iB8bk9-E9eHEnCDzNlvO7OH5C6RaVzZdddn1jbndzmxEJv4PBy8oce4uUeKkve6_HPzsW5GXBIOeaj1D5U3VsbkRcTYrZXIjAEjT4lUvx4C6r1ZU6flsduq8Fk_a_3abPQZVuzI2m5odnt4HCd1HWTPTcVyFJX9N_Zxp_EK-tPrSF/s4032/0323220712%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2keSUHy7iz6iB8bk9-E9eHEnCDzNlvO7OH5C6RaVzZdddn1jbndzmxEJv4PBy8oce4uUeKkve6_HPzsW5GXBIOeaj1D5U3VsbkRcTYrZXIjAEjT4lUvx4C6r1ZU6flsduq8Fk_a_3abPQZVuzI2m5odnt4HCd1HWTPTcVyFJX9N_Zxp_EK-tPrSF/s320/0323220712%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Site of the Norman Invasion in the background</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">Since there were only 2 campers, the site was extremely quiet. The views were spectacular.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCuLI9Mu0n5EO-sG33ExC7vXYloDFYr-UwdxJ2PrAGiiPheEkeGFS-XG_ppWoIqs_4Yx_yFstnYK9HTaZvbh8nnPWTUFyxTE9dqnI4spkg7BCs8yJXxOVk6XaNl4xtlhzAHKwfs1O9_6lEGM3fg9idAJBY0v4S20XQuEQpVt5VjtUZ8w0Md8-_HPm/s4032/0323220614_HDR%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCuLI9Mu0n5EO-sG33ExC7vXYloDFYr-UwdxJ2PrAGiiPheEkeGFS-XG_ppWoIqs_4Yx_yFstnYK9HTaZvbh8nnPWTUFyxTE9dqnI4spkg7BCs8yJXxOVk6XaNl4xtlhzAHKwfs1O9_6lEGM3fg9idAJBY0v4S20XQuEQpVt5VjtUZ8w0Md8-_HPm/s320/0323220614_HDR%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roches Campvan and Campsite</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RU4VPuxIxOLeFeZcmA3wxVpVQz3SgFee6QEkNd5oDQosua-wKOlBvy_uMkh0PJliTuSM5lkGQE1eGE5gkzeNdNf96xvZojjB9-0ljQdSihJnCWLUaZsBoJRronJBSuO13MSkO8EDp3-bkDlqd0DwgYGQKWzbecyXQhQ3AlNUDorJHgUllRnBUMFW/s5184/IMG_6873%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RU4VPuxIxOLeFeZcmA3wxVpVQz3SgFee6QEkNd5oDQosua-wKOlBvy_uMkh0PJliTuSM5lkGQE1eGE5gkzeNdNf96xvZojjB9-0ljQdSihJnCWLUaZsBoJRronJBSuO13MSkO8EDp3-bkDlqd0DwgYGQKWzbecyXQhQ3AlNUDorJHgUllRnBUMFW/s320/IMG_6873%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the top of the hill of Roches Campervan and Campsite</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">The campground is very clean and well-kept. Electricity is available at the site, but there is no wi-fi. There is a common area with a camp kitchen (of course...it's Ireland!) and really nice bathrooms.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUeiDDBl7NFfFgObXdMA47NoLpvpTXwTNB4sdmJ1m4NZyDbp3cLleAisc0efjdrF7k7C1OrXJfpeTyduwyf8aVjIaSfYOXXLoA_kuU2pWqKCQT1PUH1qKNuoeEJafsKgAZzt4zquvYZa0trvx8qVZhuT5QnBHmxREqF07kYvb8lkf5vy0rGsiT7za/s2182/0323220614%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2182" data-original-width="2182" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUeiDDBl7NFfFgObXdMA47NoLpvpTXwTNB4sdmJ1m4NZyDbp3cLleAisc0efjdrF7k7C1OrXJfpeTyduwyf8aVjIaSfYOXXLoA_kuU2pWqKCQT1PUH1qKNuoeEJafsKgAZzt4zquvYZa0trvx8qVZhuT5QnBHmxREqF07kYvb8lkf5vy0rGsiT7za/s320/0323220614%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the campsite up the hill to the common areas</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzk9YyCXu6YjMEI7d030CXw5I3KtIQEpywbp1Q7MHbvqZiIQMgTSM45ZQ_4cqCfKx2hzqcHqSwv7TpkkM_E239Tbi6VDtoDoclH-WQpXp-tLYpKyqeyN8IJaQqHNs3SgPIBJFzC9XwTIupX4_K9FKRqa5OxAcsbc46mRnQO5jTnBgJA5HzeUmEbBc/s2863/0323220627%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2862" data-original-width="2863" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzk9YyCXu6YjMEI7d030CXw5I3KtIQEpywbp1Q7MHbvqZiIQMgTSM45ZQ_4cqCfKx2hzqcHqSwv7TpkkM_E239Tbi6VDtoDoclH-WQpXp-tLYpKyqeyN8IJaQqHNs3SgPIBJFzC9XwTIupX4_K9FKRqa5OxAcsbc46mRnQO5jTnBgJA5HzeUmEbBc/s320/0323220627%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camping kitchen</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV48cujTe4Db1TuiO6lBg0cfiJcgWp2WI7L2D_Gnkfn2zhv97hSElwxZM_QDhCvlzIIvOkmpTnNZao9MrKq3hVZt85n6w_bycEM8l2yKp-Ruo2yPEMvkQ_y7dJd1O00DiB93Q8aX02DsBjpDheE7x4pTNbQOtX5L85PzvXTduU6mmKgYP4dzuGBOUL/s4656/0323220627_HDR%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3492" data-original-width="4656" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV48cujTe4Db1TuiO6lBg0cfiJcgWp2WI7L2D_Gnkfn2zhv97hSElwxZM_QDhCvlzIIvOkmpTnNZao9MrKq3hVZt85n6w_bycEM8l2yKp-Ruo2yPEMvkQ_y7dJd1O00DiB93Q8aX02DsBjpDheE7x4pTNbQOtX5L85PzvXTduU6mmKgYP4dzuGBOUL/s320/0323220627_HDR%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common area</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZo1Foy7UA48vrH_22FSiVHE2kKpNc2QBKLHzWRJAoRblqoJujF8mw846wgTnanmwKh2Ze8rR7UgLtoqlPai62iM2LSX_aTN2N6ua3TdkwiV-PSVe36qtULK8apdO3LzzGbZbar-zZr3jWq5xjqxRgH20Z07lM0vh8yw2q0JHsDSByz5oN82xJAPx/s3492/0323220627a%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3492" data-original-width="3492" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZo1Foy7UA48vrH_22FSiVHE2kKpNc2QBKLHzWRJAoRblqoJujF8mw846wgTnanmwKh2Ze8rR7UgLtoqlPai62iM2LSX_aTN2N6ua3TdkwiV-PSVe36qtULK8apdO3LzzGbZbar-zZr3jWq5xjqxRgH20Z07lM0vh8yw2q0JHsDSByz5oN82xJAPx/s320/0323220627a%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unisex bathrooms</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the picture below you can see the coffee trailer that is used during the high season. They also have live music during that time, but the owner had traditional Irish music playing over the speakers for us since we were there during the off-season.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQSzWy7dxxLR6aB9gVFtoCe2z1lWKosmVRoNm9F4H8HH11TJW0KE6H60IsVIjsdOrztx8CbjkF6qna5Z7_QLVid58Ww5vd903LHKg2S-rX8gU7_2-WxCqEeyGK5kE3V9d8IKwknLvR-BdIeo0263DjPKYNg_yj1GLqRj3LRi1KCpNU-4dwluChJPc/s5184/IMG_6875.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQSzWy7dxxLR6aB9gVFtoCe2z1lWKosmVRoNm9F4H8HH11TJW0KE6H60IsVIjsdOrztx8CbjkF6qna5Z7_QLVid58Ww5vd903LHKg2S-rX8gU7_2-WxCqEeyGK5kE3V9d8IKwknLvR-BdIeo0263DjPKYNg_yj1GLqRj3LRi1KCpNU-4dwluChJPc/s320/IMG_6875.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>There are grassy pitches for tents. They offer pony rides on the beach and I'm sure the fishing is fantastic here. There is a shoreline path around the water but we didn't walk around too much the next morning because we had things to see that were recommended to us. Wellingtonbridge is a short drive away if you have the need for groceries or want to get a bite to eat. <p></p><div style="text-align: left;">The next day we headed to the Hook Peninsula. A lady I met in Clifden was from the area and told me to promise that we would see Tintern Abbey and the Hook Lighthouse. I told her the lighthouse was the reason we stopped here but I didn't know about the abbey. It turned out to be Robert's favorite castle/abbey of the trip.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3u1mq1koxObKGd79TrU8pcptxG10RaJirR9WOPLCYufyRQKRi-pixDetXQd5WJrzAhvjmGPoeJkXKhNJOm0eNeTnZp9qKhGSRL96jtLs2yEs8hu4RtzsE_2TM5C-OlREeepYm5fn5vXtl0_-i-9Wo84uNTBB3t3oWSsrB0bKihxRXP4P6f-hTQsP/s1871/IMG_6884%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1871" data-original-width="1871" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3u1mq1koxObKGd79TrU8pcptxG10RaJirR9WOPLCYufyRQKRi-pixDetXQd5WJrzAhvjmGPoeJkXKhNJOm0eNeTnZp9qKhGSRL96jtLs2yEs8hu4RtzsE_2TM5C-OlREeepYm5fn5vXtl0_-i-9Wo84uNTBB3t3oWSsrB0bKihxRXP4P6f-hTQsP/s320/IMG_6884%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tintern Abbey was established in 1131.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GDzoQVdQ9ViVLgbBERb8zvkYbFdgRrmoEmAsKpS5ZCQ-l6-5FWPNWNy3ySyJPDj4XyrYEZpaNPrc3ERncJLlCLYBnc4s29DN0wqmX878YjMfwUI-HxXWxTWxhhPpbUoJ6DiC58aym_yRLGbzpurEISG0FkzBR61GMznBL8Uv06McR4ukTX2LspQO/s3456/IMG_6892%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GDzoQVdQ9ViVLgbBERb8zvkYbFdgRrmoEmAsKpS5ZCQ-l6-5FWPNWNy3ySyJPDj4XyrYEZpaNPrc3ERncJLlCLYBnc4s29DN0wqmX878YjMfwUI-HxXWxTWxhhPpbUoJ6DiC58aym_yRLGbzpurEISG0FkzBR61GMznBL8Uv06McR4ukTX2LspQO/s320/IMG_6892%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was used as a residence until 1959.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had some time before it opened so we strolled around a battlemented bridge and a church. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyOMY4ojzDcPerbuR3GHdEH9ESjvPVkWnCOI87BvzOY3DPQqkB15CeHTCl52HcCLvNOb3jSsNN2IhczaSlHe2jLNsbXgH8GHKvLtf4YO3vIqnA_IAXJ9Arl3-ya8inHmG0RqooH_c7XwYpSX6_sDu3nY8J86Fhr3smiMg265WvTl-Q8HeQ_1WKgmh/s5184/IMG_6890%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyOMY4ojzDcPerbuR3GHdEH9ESjvPVkWnCOI87BvzOY3DPQqkB15CeHTCl52HcCLvNOb3jSsNN2IhczaSlHe2jLNsbXgH8GHKvLtf4YO3vIqnA_IAXJ9Arl3-ya8inHmG0RqooH_c7XwYpSX6_sDu3nY8J86Fhr3smiMg265WvTl-Q8HeQ_1WKgmh/s320/IMG_6890%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">18th-century Battlemented Bridge</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4pQSQLvi_uIsArKOvO90cNYvwK-G4RKBCTFubTZF_dXxi6NM44QkN6fBU1OeCiX6KKk2mYlwVKNq1gzNLEzSKXocWOwlhmqF1eY0af273uQ5mbasi74R1hntneSi9rKPwln1kwl28_O3LPULYA0NJDBKEymTeXXM6sTEhTo-c-AaRyOlQzaCM14_/s5184/IMG_6895.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4pQSQLvi_uIsArKOvO90cNYvwK-G4RKBCTFubTZF_dXxi6NM44QkN6fBU1OeCiX6KKk2mYlwVKNq1gzNLEzSKXocWOwlhmqF1eY0af273uQ5mbasi74R1hntneSi9rKPwln1kwl28_O3LPULYA0NJDBKEymTeXXM6sTEhTo-c-AaRyOlQzaCM14_/s320/IMG_6895.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Battlemented Bridge</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIhIXUKnd_UClbgpiIgJUXdHV4P3OKt0K9McC-frQPFbW5JmWyAeeRC8B029eDRj3XC_3Cjxc9iS4InSVuYlH7b3iEL_PnarA6zr0eWFI_xo7IGSfiGoQmBcBxqb2o3QEWSjTnjoB9sL-rIe3LlIMerOqupGCPBgZnR69PC_8uSk68OcwczH3ABDi/s5184/IMG_6902.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIhIXUKnd_UClbgpiIgJUXdHV4P3OKt0K9McC-frQPFbW5JmWyAeeRC8B029eDRj3XC_3Cjxc9iS4InSVuYlH7b3iEL_PnarA6zr0eWFI_xo7IGSfiGoQmBcBxqb2o3QEWSjTnjoB9sL-rIe3LlIMerOqupGCPBgZnR69PC_8uSk68OcwczH3ABDi/s320/IMG_6902.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The church was rebuilt in the late 16th/17th centuries and was probably used by the local laypeople.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtn_WKiAkMb12o73--ryGIsv5LtxHlnLN2eoj7YGxOvtw-ix3eBXsYNHnSGDlY2T1FwRKinVtO4mYjfaMHGQGnX5yVNzqDSdWXmT3CnDy772sc_R9GZkVh_cqzJhG0FensF78KhMsVaXN3heD8R1WKT-8H9B4LxGKtpC5q1Cv_gtku6TrpOJUl-7N/s3366/IMG_6923%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3366" data-original-width="3365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtn_WKiAkMb12o73--ryGIsv5LtxHlnLN2eoj7YGxOvtw-ix3eBXsYNHnSGDlY2T1FwRKinVtO4mYjfaMHGQGnX5yVNzqDSdWXmT3CnDy772sc_R9GZkVh_cqzJhG0FensF78KhMsVaXN3heD8R1WKT-8H9B4LxGKtpC5q1Cv_gtku6TrpOJUl-7N/s320/IMG_6923%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hook Lighthouse was constructed in the 1100s</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1bp7AslPLzp1RWn7yHpNodBypLj5rbvgdIR0JFowYj-E5n5FRB7WdjIkFpcymXzFemRdRFdn_PLcCTx78bEui-wTBWveqI18Uwcl5XRAQxA6530pJHO92mSKDv5id0zE-cBI_T7GfgQE4PuITVjSq4oVELUjTDz9wH8B7aeO523FqbyxnXUAP4CF/s4032/0323221347.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1bp7AslPLzp1RWn7yHpNodBypLj5rbvgdIR0JFowYj-E5n5FRB7WdjIkFpcymXzFemRdRFdn_PLcCTx78bEui-wTBWveqI18Uwcl5XRAQxA6530pJHO92mSKDv5id0zE-cBI_T7GfgQE4PuITVjSq4oVELUjTDz9wH8B7aeO523FqbyxnXUAP4CF/s320/0323221347.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the top of the lighthouse</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Both are things you won't want to miss. Seal and whale-watching are popular activities during certain times of the year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Sidenote: A man in the lighthouse gift shop told me that Carnavan Beach was a good place to park the van and spend the night. We didn't drive by and check it out so I can't confirm this.</span></i></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We only stayed one night at Roches, although we talked about staying another one. I would love to go back during the high-season. Our plan was to hopefully find someplace to stop for the night in Wexford similar to what we saw in Castletownbere. After Tintern Abbey & the lighthouse, we decided to go ahead and start heading to Wexford. As I said in the post <a href="https://www.coopersflyingthecoop.com/2022/04/camping-in-ireland-without-reservations.html" target="_blank">Camping in Ireland Without Reservations</a>, we were disappointed at first. Every time something didn't seem to go as we hoped, something better happened.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For more information about what we did and saw in Ireland, visit <a href="https://www.marylifeinasmalltown.com/p/ireland-2022.html" target="_blank">Life in a Small Town</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9-aek_oZ4kifjn9h5dLq1GBFXRpaToZP42HhfdWw7h5ZPVjWyCJO6OsomEjnru3id_NElNK03LK4aRy-Ia7YX8BMrBz86O-QWLwZGciSkOTLtSB38vVXMi_JGXVrG1k9qn8z85_Up4BSAGsbrRHp4y2Gv6rLi9TOuh5bsjVgJ33bcnHi-AdtIsdN/s267/Name%20transparent%20background.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="267" height="78" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9-aek_oZ4kifjn9h5dLq1GBFXRpaToZP42HhfdWw7h5ZPVjWyCJO6OsomEjnru3id_NElNK03LK4aRy-Ia7YX8BMrBz86O-QWLwZGciSkOTLtSB38vVXMi_JGXVrG1k9qn8z85_Up4BSAGsbrRHp4y2Gv6rLi9TOuh5bsjVgJ33bcnHi-AdtIsdN/w133-h78/Name%20transparent%20background.png" width="133" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-24074522150808597052022-04-30T22:25:00.005-04:002022-05-14T07:28:10.706-04:00Beara Peninsula<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2b9OtKxbS-8Wy4E6wXOoznmwaR2AKK8CZBAQ-WD8YW7xaFrxm4yNOKjHLaRWs7B-gmu9H5ObJKXYnOjpcUtboXwIBuylY8tf_oDSs8YoPXhFgk6SfpJzUSXKma2y3211DpD75CR6hkY7-OhObXxJYrhnWEyOSuEQthmLT3kmuVQpx1tASrS0VxlK/s518/hungry%20hill.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="415" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2b9OtKxbS-8Wy4E6wXOoznmwaR2AKK8CZBAQ-WD8YW7xaFrxm4yNOKjHLaRWs7B-gmu9H5ObJKXYnOjpcUtboXwIBuylY8tf_oDSs8YoPXhFgk6SfpJzUSXKma2y3211DpD75CR6hkY7-OhObXxJYrhnWEyOSuEQthmLT3kmuVQpx1tASrS0VxlK/w160-h200/hungry%20hill.PNG" width="160" /></a></div>After a day in Killarney, we drove through Killarney National Park to get to <a href="https://hungry-hill-lodge-and-campsite.camping.care/" target="_blank">Hungry Hill Lodge and Campsite</a>. The views along the way were spectacular although some of the roads were a little nerve-racking for Robert.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BKBvC-0MwYI0M8lMHtunQOEE3J40bHVfmFMoneSbr1-5oBOMxPGfAzpCrvj79OtHxJzeNLrFnM5IE-Ww0rO_mXQ_L5FQ6TApFxGxvCEnDRTCgJt58nC5zgYHbyg_hmwpdlRSsnxeayy6PBjBMnaeFogs6KVOhZGSVvvKx8fEAKkipacd78YWLwHE/s2299/0320221335.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2298" data-original-width="2299" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BKBvC-0MwYI0M8lMHtunQOEE3J40bHVfmFMoneSbr1-5oBOMxPGfAzpCrvj79OtHxJzeNLrFnM5IE-Ww0rO_mXQ_L5FQ6TApFxGxvCEnDRTCgJt58nC5zgYHbyg_hmwpdlRSsnxeayy6PBjBMnaeFogs6KVOhZGSVvvKx8fEAKkipacd78YWLwHE/s320/0320221335.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turners Tunnels on the County Cork line</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjAOsaB3NAwNLxwy6hqyu6sPdPvNDcVobZevxHEkqlhTyFWvT5IGo9Qnpn9o8IZPIxMKrLRSl4RV4F3hmNBJTUb3ty9x-DMuOyfxLI5QQZf4TEE23jMe-KUtCidyTSPOe2tihKXhvPCppH1yh2uLDCLq1wmRSoYquxSKMiTRESwlKkF54DUVUxmDe/s5184/IMG_6723%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjAOsaB3NAwNLxwy6hqyu6sPdPvNDcVobZevxHEkqlhTyFWvT5IGo9Qnpn9o8IZPIxMKrLRSl4RV4F3hmNBJTUb3ty9x-DMuOyfxLI5QQZf4TEE23jMe-KUtCidyTSPOe2tihKXhvPCppH1yh2uLDCLq1wmRSoYquxSKMiTRESwlKkF54DUVUxmDe/s320/IMG_6723%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladies' View</td></tr></tbody></table>We planned to take this day to rest and do laundry. When we arrived, Jamie came out to greet us. She checked us in and showed us around. At that point, she said there would be one other couple in the campground but a young brother & sister from Germany ended up spending the night as well. <div><br /></div><div>The campground is set against a mountain so it was perfect and made us feel at home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6IyxKQgY1QW1btksPk3E0NVbyzs3jncGOjgIhLZlxhcF0D7c1ewgxRr4VB5tItpDCoz6pIIsdY9tjLyoYgEacKgxaCWvBkRsUX2BGRxMSEK4EoieQ6V3r0ZfAtWD7sT01KbuEoZT9s9rCzHyAXfa6t5YCfhE2ei5mO1GGWUQzF3UNM2VtRoTMPYl/s4032/0320221642_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6IyxKQgY1QW1btksPk3E0NVbyzs3jncGOjgIhLZlxhcF0D7c1ewgxRr4VB5tItpDCoz6pIIsdY9tjLyoYgEacKgxaCWvBkRsUX2BGRxMSEK4EoieQ6V3r0ZfAtWD7sT01KbuEoZT9s9rCzHyAXfa6t5YCfhE2ei5mO1GGWUQzF3UNM2VtRoTMPYl/s320/0320221642_HDR.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is a store within walking distance. It had what we needed for the night but we had to go into Castletownbere for "real" groceries. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The campground has laundry facilities, free electricity, free Wi-Fi, and free showers. When we were there Daniel was in the process of fixing one of the sets of showers so there wasn't a separate shower/bathroom for each gender. There was a shower and toilet marked for guys and one for the ladies. The showers were hot and had plenty of pressure. Also on site is a kitchen. Let me just say that I love how every campground we went to had camp kitchens! I don't understand why we don't have them in the US. It just doesn't make sense.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2xQvdDT7BcKpIKrA42HtDowzaanDgizwkHSvOIZglZQbi6DuztMDuv3aGXBC87RR1fIyKMj2hRufH0XGLj85cyB4WC73oI6wYwmjVHpIuAuAt09fGuUjdoIa00dfrKRloRer6p3WnNhPkdwPwUfnFpWxvQmbRQ15vUeCQJpd2Njq87zm1szMrh4u/s4032/0320221647_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2xQvdDT7BcKpIKrA42HtDowzaanDgizwkHSvOIZglZQbi6DuztMDuv3aGXBC87RR1fIyKMj2hRufH0XGLj85cyB4WC73oI6wYwmjVHpIuAuAt09fGuUjdoIa00dfrKRloRer6p3WnNhPkdwPwUfnFpWxvQmbRQ15vUeCQJpd2Njq87zm1szMrh4u/s320/0320221647_HDR.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp Kitchen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eqPplAXMnWWnt8L4fINzSDxSXO_g4WHfn4fdFf1zxKUx8hTfirkiNMux6tz6fV3baC3FTbxvTqaJru_tag92z_PFmBbmZTSR_alf3W2JnxS5WI14zCIntNDPBM36gYJmY10hLe-nY4Ydu9ltiDPxHNkmZLmClSc4I6ulR7kBkH_YJreuVEG3ZEPW/s4032/0320221647a_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eqPplAXMnWWnt8L4fINzSDxSXO_g4WHfn4fdFf1zxKUx8hTfirkiNMux6tz6fV3baC3FTbxvTqaJru_tag92z_PFmBbmZTSR_alf3W2JnxS5WI14zCIntNDPBM36gYJmY10hLe-nY4Ydu9ltiDPxHNkmZLmClSc4I6ulR7kBkH_YJreuVEG3ZEPW/s320/0320221647a_HDR.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unisex (for now) bathroom</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHlB9EzjTTG_OPof4rTOionaeTQdghcI6E3ttPxvrorA1LFmZCFGUoC0gX-Ac_NQOhhOQsBHkCcKRffxmFGnIare_uFwDIA_4qnkYQSXlzhqBhD0dCc1_MwpOWO_nbPRUHPQTdXoCbdtbZ-WLV0WuBWIda78tI9bTQzfUc08f6-Fa_jJu3Jd_5rOv/s4032/0320221647.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHlB9EzjTTG_OPof4rTOionaeTQdghcI6E3ttPxvrorA1LFmZCFGUoC0gX-Ac_NQOhhOQsBHkCcKRffxmFGnIare_uFwDIA_4qnkYQSXlzhqBhD0dCc1_MwpOWO_nbPRUHPQTdXoCbdtbZ-WLV0WuBWIda78tI9bTQzfUc08f6-Fa_jJu3Jd_5rOv/s320/0320221647.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The showers were a little narrow. Robert said he felt too cramped but I had no problem.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMlI0pxYZJMZA5na4RJ84LJkJjWlL5AoG-A7kUD8xIeGWhP6kGHrv4DrdybFvPZeqq4dOW-618bvNUt4-JfUegHkclAwPptLmm78fxJUsl3V8jRQHdSdNdyPpNBrhp2MNVuV1am8KaVNJFD6Gh4hSgvRuqiqvGK0EmWaOjRl2BhgNHAm0A_fHomnT/s4656/0320221701.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4656" data-original-width="3492" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMlI0pxYZJMZA5na4RJ84LJkJjWlL5AoG-A7kUD8xIeGWhP6kGHrv4DrdybFvPZeqq4dOW-618bvNUt4-JfUegHkclAwPptLmm78fxJUsl3V8jRQHdSdNdyPpNBrhp2MNVuV1am8KaVNJFD6Gh4hSgvRuqiqvGK0EmWaOjRl2BhgNHAm0A_fHomnT/s320/0320221701.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laundry facility</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Jamie and Daniel did everything to make us feel welcome and at home. Daniel's dog came out to meet us after we told him that we were dog lovers. He makes sure the dog is in the fence when campers come. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I had a little trouble with the dryer while doing laundry: my clothes weren't getting dry. It turns out that it was on the wrong setting and I didn't know I could change it. Jamie was kind enough to give me some of my money back. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Jamie also gave us a couple of recommendations on what to do during our day in the Beara Peninsula. We looked into taking a ferry over to Bere Island but then decided to just stay in Castletownbere. It appeared to be a really small town with not much to do, but after talking to Adrienne in MacCarthy's Pub, we found plenty to see. We drove out to Kilcatherine's Church to see a medieval church built on the ruins of a 7th-century monastery. The church itself is from the 11th or 12th century. The views were incredible.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BcbQC2M49wI9WIcjAhbrszk_QD9HlMiv0qPLV1rGyauNg4m43fAQpXd5AjNoHBOkhFMwQBBoMrOL23fDyslg38zc_QwW6bhedbxjTvf-SplhV6U909FHCwbZ2JCI4BNZqOBbRi6ixOeDVceuMGEO7KzQ5xbI4mXKcGtBQnC1tpGn4CV1_sY0cqEH/s4032/0321221527.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BcbQC2M49wI9WIcjAhbrszk_QD9HlMiv0qPLV1rGyauNg4m43fAQpXd5AjNoHBOkhFMwQBBoMrOL23fDyslg38zc_QwW6bhedbxjTvf-SplhV6U909FHCwbZ2JCI4BNZqOBbRi6ixOeDVceuMGEO7KzQ5xbI4mXKcGtBQnC1tpGn4CV1_sY0cqEH/s320/0321221527.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful final resting place</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQ1myK1Q3CMadGjYsuM-eQ0CC6z-T-C1-ytsPSDCKufNP5XK2AYo3gMD7pUc_y-DRzEnLTR9gSwS0LxrDbr87wrEMhQenY694sU6Cb92x7MQSRlj3imw44B19_sS5XVFm_KSr7A_V3akUWR6Jk9Z_iTDo_pkDiv7K8a5p7GoMOeKbMzmsfG37mCCp/s5184/IMG_6814.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQ1myK1Q3CMadGjYsuM-eQ0CC6z-T-C1-ytsPSDCKufNP5XK2AYo3gMD7pUc_y-DRzEnLTR9gSwS0LxrDbr87wrEMhQenY694sU6Cb92x7MQSRlj3imw44B19_sS5XVFm_KSr7A_V3akUWR6Jk9Z_iTDo_pkDiv7K8a5p7GoMOeKbMzmsfG37mCCp/s320/IMG_6814.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View looking from Kilcatherine Church</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3yJEfh3eeqEqK3bMbcxl_DIHVjBBM0G46nCmTmJWiijfXrWp6uors8fF2_oCFxF9SigBeWw59CI0DxIS1fgO8eYvIZdNnKsZTbg_DLAjDEXkoINMMRGGB8YJ0GTvXU7410X4O9Jw7FTMIh7JoGUeRztFMLaygLpzfdLPF-WcrZOWlHhYM0A7ZVppA/s5184/IMG_6816.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3yJEfh3eeqEqK3bMbcxl_DIHVjBBM0G46nCmTmJWiijfXrWp6uors8fF2_oCFxF9SigBeWw59CI0DxIS1fgO8eYvIZdNnKsZTbg_DLAjDEXkoINMMRGGB8YJ0GTvXU7410X4O9Jw7FTMIh7JoGUeRztFMLaygLpzfdLPF-WcrZOWlHhYM0A7ZVppA/s320/IMG_6816.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kilcatherine Church</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">We also found the ruins of Dunboy Castle, although we didn't know it at the time. It wasn't well-marked and we thought it was something else!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHUcVMLbOnJvdBwMFq5MI5_yyH_2loEwJJt6JR_Ygi7NtgFyaWFlWT0A-Vni8lDYF_O-LAxinddl72-ALIbIc8q2BxSs07Lun9t0x6hEA_qhCEsEDaLaCmjmKEVIH5bOYLaX9aIe1OLDrJre5JnFI3MmQ2fSmVA-K6ritHPBI3om1JYX7uAy9hyHI/s5184/IMG_6761%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHUcVMLbOnJvdBwMFq5MI5_yyH_2loEwJJt6JR_Ygi7NtgFyaWFlWT0A-Vni8lDYF_O-LAxinddl72-ALIbIc8q2BxSs07Lun9t0x6hEA_qhCEsEDaLaCmjmKEVIH5bOYLaX9aIe1OLDrJre5JnFI3MmQ2fSmVA-K6ritHPBI3om1JYX7uAy9hyHI/s320/IMG_6761%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dunboy Castle was destroyed in 1602 during the Seige of Dunboy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdX-FvabBleMn2lRibCy1UNwiiIvuratH-VQYtWW0eNqGsB6yxMv230tYT24DW2dlMSL91LduwnHsKsByoWEluUmm9bcDfDp8xft5_fDz-KyLW160FNwmTiEOnNG6jFQTHc4ssheMgigC73w0G4-Jvchd_wTjf2dmiE_cu3mtV4Ukh1Sf8dhAoiBK7/s5184/IMG_6768%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdX-FvabBleMn2lRibCy1UNwiiIvuratH-VQYtWW0eNqGsB6yxMv230tYT24DW2dlMSL91LduwnHsKsByoWEluUmm9bcDfDp8xft5_fDz-KyLW160FNwmTiEOnNG6jFQTHc4ssheMgigC73w0G4-Jvchd_wTjf2dmiE_cu3mtV4Ukh1Sf8dhAoiBK7/s320/IMG_6768%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruins of Dunboy Castle</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbsMSJFLPKZrLdU2foVaQOqiakc4CNvP2WKPRPLDtxXJIYDKl7ouEV7y_Fz6liYoOyl9q3V1UoYgNg2rbB6NRMgCQ1bhBnkV9EScIg41dkp6XSL3FfHVXT67mLdbyaHEp1E1DMXirLGjiF1_C5q23slcPBtG9Y8CNO0IZVeabr9MyYeHGd90TRXh4/s5184/IMG_6770%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbsMSJFLPKZrLdU2foVaQOqiakc4CNvP2WKPRPLDtxXJIYDKl7ouEV7y_Fz6liYoOyl9q3V1UoYgNg2rbB6NRMgCQ1bhBnkV9EScIg41dkp6XSL3FfHVXT67mLdbyaHEp1E1DMXirLGjiF1_C5q23slcPBtG9Y8CNO0IZVeabr9MyYeHGd90TRXh4/s320/IMG_6770%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the shape of a star of the fortress</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When we were in town we came across a parking lot that had signs allowing campervans to stay there overnight. That would have been a perfect place to stay if we were looking for someplace like that. We were hoping to find someplace like that in Wexford but didn't. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What's the verdict on staying at Hungry Hill again? You betcha. I loved the property it's on. There's also a lodge, tent camping areas, and "glamping" opportunities. Just about perfect!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZAeQ0vXm04ZTaC63AXGFNg4SxIepO7HEpw9ShOYcoPZFuQW2PrrRUB0L9Rw11KwcBNfHboEi-cNJTFR-LFKHH97sH5jdgar10MWPvrWO5BXCDfiEs7-Yg_FYRNVXs8skhDgmZKcQksiuzL8eJUMDUIrIissM746-_WoT6eMN808kIEW6-38GUy-h/s4032/0322220838.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZAeQ0vXm04ZTaC63AXGFNg4SxIepO7HEpw9ShOYcoPZFuQW2PrrRUB0L9Rw11KwcBNfHboEi-cNJTFR-LFKHH97sH5jdgar10MWPvrWO5BXCDfiEs7-Yg_FYRNVXs8skhDgmZKcQksiuzL8eJUMDUIrIissM746-_WoT6eMN808kIEW6-38GUy-h/s320/0322220838.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hungry Hill Lodge and Campsite</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-16662003941610268252022-04-23T14:59:00.003-04:002022-04-24T10:28:25.727-04:00Camping in Killarney, County Kerry Ireland<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgT3ySXu1krcl3DP91bkGblYVneexCTP0RUmqhVc_IJSzKdf32RultF6xnoKOcremTSfPgCi2zd4sv-zMaJyZedPq26eWDQ479HlywRMC2EiyKXIu_sTEHdj1-N1avOFEa0CZnwLBns7A28rtZ4XJqYsLIZ8FZSNGJkypnklXK1fvmQ5w2lyH8ROYiZ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="445" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgT3ySXu1krcl3DP91bkGblYVneexCTP0RUmqhVc_IJSzKdf32RultF6xnoKOcremTSfPgCi2zd4sv-zMaJyZedPq26eWDQ479HlywRMC2EiyKXIu_sTEHdj1-N1avOFEa0CZnwLBns7A28rtZ4XJqYsLIZ8FZSNGJkypnklXK1fvmQ5w2lyH8ROYiZ" width="207" /></a></div></div></div></div><p>This is going to be a weird post because I have zero pictures from the campground where we stayed for 2 nights in Killarney. I chose Fossa Caravan and Camping Park because 1) it was open (we were there during the "low season" (off-season), and 2) it was close to Killarney. Right before we left for Ireland I found a campground on the Dingle Peninsula that was open. I could have canceled, but unless someone else reserved the site, we would have to pay for it. I decided not to chance it. </p><p>We had a "grass pitch" site and it was a little wet. Not terribly wet, but slightly wet. Instead of each individual site having its own power outlet, there was a "communal" one with about 6-8 outlets. That meant it was necessary to have a long cord. The people across from us laid their cord across the road, and it wasn't one that could be driven over. (Not the best choice on his part) The place was packed, but it was really quiet. We only saw a handful of people the 2 nights we were there. On-site is a hostel and mobile homes (although we didn't see these). A pub/restaurant is close enough to walk. Our first impression was less than stellar. It just looked like a trailer park, actually, which is why I don't have any pictures. </p><p>Those were the negatives. The positives: The spot we had was level, and we were told we could just pull in horizontally instead of vertically like everyone else did. The facilities to empty the toilet cassette and gray water were very easy to get to and the 1 to empty the cassette was very clean. The showers were excellent, even though the 1 I was in the first day had a loose shower head and the next day I couldn't control the temperature in the other one I tried. They were extremely clean and they were free. (Always a plus!) There were 6 total showers in one building and on the other side of the area where we were there were 2 more that were handicap accessible. That building also had toilets. The side of the area where we were had toilets in the back of the office building, as well as a kitchen and laundry that could be used. Did I say how quiet it was, even though it was crowded? It almost felt like we had the whole place to ourselves.</p><p>I mentioned the<a href="https://thegoldennugget.ie/" target="_blank"> restaurant/pub </a>within walking distance. The night we arrived we walked over. Robert called ahead and was told that the kitchen was just about to close (like, within minutes of him calling) but that if we came right over we could order something. The walk was a little more than we thought it was going to be, but the food and Guinness were good. </p><div style="text-align: left;">There is a restaurant on site that has an incredible breakfast for a very reasonable price. It isn't associated with the campground and it closes at 5:00 pm, but you won't want to miss the breakfast!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Ps0G2Jc0c8dkHOvvSJrlVWBP3hTODrFNqDTMTyDgzG_3eUttmTuU-uP8eW6tlKX5VYvqnFKDmz6D9b4Ch_7ajNXagttoLF749r1CYHEWxHGReovCxJNBYT94DqkwJo7Gh1F8rqCA5ClzOp4QyvjYePObjxUdFcFLVEqxnlixiCCJNSn_SBA4hrF_/s4032/0319221002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Ps0G2Jc0c8dkHOvvSJrlVWBP3hTODrFNqDTMTyDgzG_3eUttmTuU-uP8eW6tlKX5VYvqnFKDmz6D9b4Ch_7ajNXagttoLF749r1CYHEWxHGReovCxJNBYT94DqkwJo7Gh1F8rqCA5ClzOp4QyvjYePObjxUdFcFLVEqxnlixiCCJNSn_SBA4hrF_/w150-h200/0319221002.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We wouldn't mind staying at this campground again, although it wouldn't be my first choice. I would prefer someplace a little more like a campground, but it was a good spot for being close to Killarney. There is a bus stop right across the street from the office, but we found it was faster to take a cab. Derry, the owner, is another HUGE reason we'd stay there again. He went out of his way to call us cabs and to let us know what was in the area that we should see during the 1 day that we had there. Robert left his smartwatch in the shower stall and didn't realize it until the next day when we were 2 hours away. Derry sent it to our house in the USA and said it wasn't necessary to reimburse him (although Robert did). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was a weird post, not the usual kind I write. I regret that we don't have pictures. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #e1f0ff; font-family: Hanuman; font-size: 17.6px;">Follow along with more recaps and pictures on my personal blog: </span><a href="https://www.marylifeinasmalltown.com/p/ireland-2022.html" style="background-color: #e1f0ff; color: blue; font-family: Hanuman; font-size: 17.6px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Life in a Small Town</a><span style="background-color: #e1f0ff; font-family: Hanuman; font-size: 17.6px;">. (The link will take you to a list of the Ireland posts.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCl-5U9btZ6H808TNYI4zw6aWXWge_ryckfDsHCTdn_-sPLmVrUxhJeLw3swhaixwlCsDzGYaYKHaV7bq2nKfF55QPsgjVxDHzzutRlo8lGo3mTKEJXGXRmidBXBfmaULPcJIRfq2HgPbUaiwoDoqG7nWbC99E-zilVIcysljMbtVfsJfaO8sNBJZ/s267/Name%20transparent%20background.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="267" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCl-5U9btZ6H808TNYI4zw6aWXWge_ryckfDsHCTdn_-sPLmVrUxhJeLw3swhaixwlCsDzGYaYKHaV7bq2nKfF55QPsgjVxDHzzutRlo8lGo3mTKEJXGXRmidBXBfmaULPcJIRfq2HgPbUaiwoDoqG7nWbC99E-zilVIcysljMbtVfsJfaO8sNBJZ/w135-h80/Name%20transparent%20background.png" width="135" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-5191535796274926342022-04-15T21:30:00.005-04:002022-04-30T22:08:30.509-04:00Our Camping Experience on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqEZDeqnT8e9FS1LmzDxKCVIgPZQjpiFIZ9A1KJg0lgBGRqRZsKYCO_G2Siu8-_uAFdQEChU_w1e5n11VlY2SrJur_BYhGiO6GNlLykz17vsLteDCud2RQf3uOxxhVKFJJwBQYamS0rvif_2-6Dk1-_PX4CD5lq9VWMC9FAqD5RstlWvQFFGfFqs0k" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="579" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqEZDeqnT8e9FS1LmzDxKCVIgPZQjpiFIZ9A1KJg0lgBGRqRZsKYCO_G2Siu8-_uAFdQEChU_w1e5n11VlY2SrJur_BYhGiO6GNlLykz17vsLteDCud2RQf3uOxxhVKFJJwBQYamS0rvif_2-6Dk1-_PX4CD5lq9VWMC9FAqD5RstlWvQFFGfFqs0k" width="270" /></a></div><br />The one regret I have about this campsite is that we didn't have more than 1 night. Robert said he thought I was a little overly ambitious with our first few nights. Since we lost a day waiting to pick up the camper, it didn't start out that way. Instead of having a full day in Clifden, we only had hours. <p></p><p>Our first campground was Clifden Eco Beach Camping and Carvanning Park in County Galway. The campground is literally right on the Atlantic Ocean. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9frgIljLKxvfH7sCLIxzCebrzleciSnrQIMHKAgwY52uJoP-lrODI2pUJIGqFJcbdBMDemdxMGJHRhwkjChN9rAR9UgvTyyRo3QvzGtNvIhOr95YNQuyC-0GPS38OnpNta5BHHHYuThLEETISIiy7x-p0C2h23IYSZ5nFiYRwiQm-aweelsqGK8iu/s1873/0317221514~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1872" data-original-width="1873" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9frgIljLKxvfH7sCLIxzCebrzleciSnrQIMHKAgwY52uJoP-lrODI2pUJIGqFJcbdBMDemdxMGJHRhwkjChN9rAR9UgvTyyRo3QvzGtNvIhOr95YNQuyC-0GPS38OnpNta5BHHHYuThLEETISIiy7x-p0C2h23IYSZ5nFiYRwiQm-aweelsqGK8iu/s320/0317221514~2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>It is on private property with a gate requiring a code in order to enter the grounds, so it's very safe. Upon entry, Tatiyana checked us in and Kris showed us around. They require green tablets for the toilet. Fortunately, Mark at Bunk Campers found some and made sure we were set. Otherwise, we would have had to drive to a place to empty our toilet cassette and bought some from the campground. </p><p>They have bathhouses and a camper's kitchen available. Wi-Fi is available in the common area. The bathhouses are not heated (none of the bathhouses at any of the campgrounds where we stayed were) and I never had hot water while washing my hands. We didn't shower there so I can't speak about the water pressure, but they charge €5 for a 5-minute shower. They don't have designated women's/men's bathrooms/showers, so that was a little awkward when I almost walked in the door and there was a man at the sink. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpB-s-QiZShrwXGPdov-LG3H1Lt9qVFGGkOVclnbE76MPiNfdgbVJnaZdbnHMhpZ2cNnHtXpfVKqYkhWxbGK4eRqFgtZPnP8q0wbdpqi2v2Kv7YO-212v1qKpa-L9b24keadKGYk9BgaKp5QSP48Rnahoxw21VZ72IgdaUKktpi_AIMrCMECIJOZD4/s4032/0318220659.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpB-s-QiZShrwXGPdov-LG3H1Lt9qVFGGkOVclnbE76MPiNfdgbVJnaZdbnHMhpZ2cNnHtXpfVKqYkhWxbGK4eRqFgtZPnP8q0wbdpqi2v2Kv7YO-212v1qKpa-L9b24keadKGYk9BgaKp5QSP48Rnahoxw21VZ72IgdaUKktpi_AIMrCMECIJOZD4/w150-h200/0318220659.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking into the shower</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpyxXhoEEe6BXXx1SZWoafBbruY7hINncNsFE0B7UsAGmVjm0kGVloXjhURyEVPvQvMDdubz3XDWYUgD5NCHOPYW_L1pAlJ0r-F4ziBKSlBFGMzYN7iycrzwawdq_uCMpMhwTtfoKNji1sh7ultuhYj7RbesvMuAE59mgUFmM3uyCxfBF1HcM7G3L/s4032/0318220659a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpyxXhoEEe6BXXx1SZWoafBbruY7hINncNsFE0B7UsAGmVjm0kGVloXjhURyEVPvQvMDdubz3XDWYUgD5NCHOPYW_L1pAlJ0r-F4ziBKSlBFGMzYN7iycrzwawdq_uCMpMhwTtfoKNji1sh7ultuhYj7RbesvMuAE59mgUFmM3uyCxfBF1HcM7G3L/w150-h200/0318220659a.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the shower. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HsPBsy8MEmXtotAP8L4Nf5vJO_ppSqFy56E9oYQnynj3-7-TDWLX4RP0fsJu_1iBsH7IAZKD1JaQGFAelAzELKlIIAFL5a6xgUFPgBmqvMKoIl3I8MtlZ3pKrVICl4YO24HsgQ_7L7OC3MxsAgbxUpzgyFUt_H1hy3X1QjBMqkzmT4L5lNdrQz3M/s4032/0318220659b.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HsPBsy8MEmXtotAP8L4Nf5vJO_ppSqFy56E9oYQnynj3-7-TDWLX4RP0fsJu_1iBsH7IAZKD1JaQGFAelAzELKlIIAFL5a6xgUFPgBmqvMKoIl3I8MtlZ3pKrVICl4YO24HsgQ_7L7OC3MxsAgbxUpzgyFUt_H1hy3X1QjBMqkzmT4L5lNdrQz3M/w150-h200/0318220659b.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1AQJur7ft3FXTY_iGs1CiCwcY6FCKflY5VqF1TaWEBACP-vidV-hoAqMw8ttRai5kMULoRHU5UZBTHfXah6PYQgJEcsgy8V3l3Rtodw9lkzLxnEkZND_evHfihK0js7DHRAMq0ZqFyK7k8bW3Hba1Gk1PL6t66fjbW5lURAHGl-yP3yMuynXf9xL/s4032/0318220659c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1AQJur7ft3FXTY_iGs1CiCwcY6FCKflY5VqF1TaWEBACP-vidV-hoAqMw8ttRai5kMULoRHU5UZBTHfXah6PYQgJEcsgy8V3l3Rtodw9lkzLxnEkZND_evHfihK0js7DHRAMq0ZqFyK7k8bW3Hba1Gk1PL6t66fjbW5lURAHGl-yP3yMuynXf9xL/w150-h200/0318220659c.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp Kitchen</td></tr></tbody></table>Electricity is available but it's not "full power". It suited our needs; we just needed to be able to charge up our cell phones since we were only there 1 night. I'm not sure if any of the sites have water; ours did not. But we had some amazing views:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNH3TgHXfl1btfZtGqM8YanvjQUSgyOTzclFGOmKQ7Eppyj9-dQK5IVCJZmF6Iy18p1ASmP2txMNcZEID3MLY2HByk4Q3PbMOM6HNuDsILSdouiRo-cqbc3sEg1deh0kBeGmr-khzb2e6pqnmnzlLOJST8X1vJxNTSLMqxHzIlYdOf0V2Ed8pvCn0/s5184/IMG_6592.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNH3TgHXfl1btfZtGqM8YanvjQUSgyOTzclFGOmKQ7Eppyj9-dQK5IVCJZmF6Iy18p1ASmP2txMNcZEID3MLY2HByk4Q3PbMOM6HNuDsILSdouiRo-cqbc3sEg1deh0kBeGmr-khzb2e6pqnmnzlLOJST8X1vJxNTSLMqxHzIlYdOf0V2Ed8pvCn0/w320-h213/IMG_6592.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsT7KvlXM_TUnqvc3FdfJo6VrDr3o5qhHWJ8fCxd0vFv7tQvZ6TFgGwfHQP2EkertbJ0KaOgfosiRbemzW-IOQPBKWgC_FbU3cTQSpZGrk106TvWL4FZvYcBwla3i2Pe7_TO9t9K4sqK0Awzu48yYqNVA_1A6dH2NY3ff9Nyc_v57-XCtKLuHoeZvN/s5184/IMG_6593.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsT7KvlXM_TUnqvc3FdfJo6VrDr3o5qhHWJ8fCxd0vFv7tQvZ6TFgGwfHQP2EkertbJ0KaOgfosiRbemzW-IOQPBKWgC_FbU3cTQSpZGrk106TvWL4FZvYcBwla3i2Pe7_TO9t9K4sqK0Awzu48yYqNVA_1A6dH2NY3ff9Nyc_v57-XCtKLuHoeZvN/w320-h213/IMG_6593.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7nZ-oy42fB8jwL20vyLKlAmOuyCIX6-xFlqgyiQ35z1Oo6i8pEiror4f26Ae2NcNDXvguY8q6nCH5b8XBO7oH7vzdCXaDksPKGZQQ4L8GtwC1LTcEaoicX_zZmWvuZHtJQGM5J7cdmbs6QW4IupmcD5wUm5Two_q5VJxpP2Od4P5irV1DH50dHIe/s5184/IMG_6600.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7nZ-oy42fB8jwL20vyLKlAmOuyCIX6-xFlqgyiQ35z1Oo6i8pEiror4f26Ae2NcNDXvguY8q6nCH5b8XBO7oH7vzdCXaDksPKGZQQ4L8GtwC1LTcEaoicX_zZmWvuZHtJQGM5J7cdmbs6QW4IupmcD5wUm5Two_q5VJxpP2Od4P5irV1DH50dHIe/w320-h213/IMG_6600.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHIedwvQAQ2IagO5YCbMRnecvPC-y2nWtu3qiPz2mJWhoiEsaKDVacw1TPImzCTmssxVFpQYxRM7NWuJ4IWC7TlCVSLe5GXp8U1eEHN8GhTI7nAVW1youT8XqyCMM-WNAhQAOKl6VdBrjW-4df2cN6kk4x2r2ULbpM_Jy2SCV65Exg9X4ZYXEue6s/s5184/IMG_6621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHIedwvQAQ2IagO5YCbMRnecvPC-y2nWtu3qiPz2mJWhoiEsaKDVacw1TPImzCTmssxVFpQYxRM7NWuJ4IWC7TlCVSLe5GXp8U1eEHN8GhTI7nAVW1youT8XqyCMM-WNAhQAOKl6VdBrjW-4df2cN6kk4x2r2ULbpM_Jy2SCV65Exg9X4ZYXEue6s/s320/IMG_6621.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>These aren't pictures of views from our site, but they were just around the corner, across from the bathhouse:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qanEIvD0vkbXX8H-rSuRJDdGSgSWAGR5mHVvqnjQFAb_OEfMdUjCzg0k4HD9w5KJXqT5GRA0aeX1wipUpWB4ZxuruLVBWwCoHATLM_BCY2Hk-9iWNhOHm6AHt5DS2bLH-iECWyITzmj-qyclZw7XGLuZj7ylHOSJZRHqihx1GNYENYo7OtDattbw/s3024/0317221512.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2359" data-original-width="3024" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qanEIvD0vkbXX8H-rSuRJDdGSgSWAGR5mHVvqnjQFAb_OEfMdUjCzg0k4HD9w5KJXqT5GRA0aeX1wipUpWB4ZxuruLVBWwCoHATLM_BCY2Hk-9iWNhOHm6AHt5DS2bLH-iECWyITzmj-qyclZw7XGLuZj7ylHOSJZRHqihx1GNYENYo7OtDattbw/s320/0317221512.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5iCpllch8DhMo-NL-GLyqb2DYTw1nIxgqXZ_Y6L2vfW3u76E7ZRw8u8sGY887DLZ--JXRtDhoo6a5s24EIT5FOaOCn7zDW8StDDLKAdXBgEKhywJ3AHeQGhRzCUjM29otBxnPnAAsuusXaTI2znjKIbrB6HM8MDXNj6FtDS0-agCxohbxV3mwwXlX/s5184/IMG_6628.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5iCpllch8DhMo-NL-GLyqb2DYTw1nIxgqXZ_Y6L2vfW3u76E7ZRw8u8sGY887DLZ--JXRtDhoo6a5s24EIT5FOaOCn7zDW8StDDLKAdXBgEKhywJ3AHeQGhRzCUjM29otBxnPnAAsuusXaTI2znjKIbrB6HM8MDXNj6FtDS0-agCxohbxV3mwwXlX/s320/IMG_6628.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Kris drove us into town and brought us back for €15, which was cheaper than a one-way taxi ride from the Dublin Airport to the City Centre. He gave us a good tip on where to eat in town as well as a couple of pubs. Since it was St. Patrick's Day, he & Tatiyana suggested that we leave by 9:00 before things got too rowdy. <div><br /></div><div>This should go without saying, but it was very windy so be prepared. Of course, since it's right on the ocean you would expect it to be windy. You can tell in this video just how windy it was:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw7i3TfZlj6VIFP8_gQX8jfibOYfpHMgm9QiMLlYfJZWsQxO72hvWnQgRFP7fFZ4pbKYS7uIHGcDI-Xzw47jw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><div>I need to backtrack a bit. On the flight to Dublin, a young woman from Galway sat next to me. I struck up a conversation with her and she told me that we had to stop in Oughterard. She said there is a shop that has fantastic coffee and wonderful pastries made from farm-fresh products. We had no trouble finding the shop. Once we found someplace to park we went in and picked up some of the most amazing pastries we've ever had and a latte (which was absolutely wonderful). "Galway Girl" (which is what we call her because I never asked her for her name but I know her boyfriend's name is Joe and he drives a lorry) was spot on with this recommendation. In fact, we liked it so much that we stopped again the next day when we left Clifden to go to Killarney! This is a "must stop": <a href="https://sullivanscountryliving.com/" target="_blank">Sullivan's Country Grocer</a> on Main Street in Oughterard. You have to go right by it to get to Clifden from Galway. Just don't stop on a Monday because they're closed.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVjnIvxxV0MzpQrcxANI5Q1ZcfWcIui8QbysceqTu7ogQteWGA67vP-RPXD4oL3pzE1L02l1AUGRzoGtHNhNabFqG_SbvZKz3Ml-mulULdHRk2kUwNMGrG9oHQrny505924ZPw28Xkz35ssWDfQ89kFEtvIn06S-ZqJa8ynaG7j7aaTIc6_LNZQ_I/s2408/0317221211_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2407" data-original-width="2408" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVjnIvxxV0MzpQrcxANI5Q1ZcfWcIui8QbysceqTu7ogQteWGA67vP-RPXD4oL3pzE1L02l1AUGRzoGtHNhNabFqG_SbvZKz3Ml-mulULdHRk2kUwNMGrG9oHQrny505924ZPw28Xkz35ssWDfQ89kFEtvIn06S-ZqJa8ynaG7j7aaTIc6_LNZQ_I/s320/0317221211_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right on Main Street!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsw10TML0B8URT30XIrxT8S7oCq4uNifueB-gvGaayWPs0286ZXO82JHYKlXAXHOUWv_l89KE3ERnIwltVvc5kgxx_HJXKsN2nrLq1pzv3sgDVAc4bdY8NHofpbDXpLH4muks1cyuEu8628f-FjKpHtMW0PD__It6yYJtJfJ90zQsP3dmiLjsecYee/s2321/0317221211a_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="2321" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsw10TML0B8URT30XIrxT8S7oCq4uNifueB-gvGaayWPs0286ZXO82JHYKlXAXHOUWv_l89KE3ERnIwltVvc5kgxx_HJXKsN2nrLq1pzv3sgDVAc4bdY8NHofpbDXpLH4muks1cyuEu8628f-FjKpHtMW0PD__It6yYJtJfJ90zQsP3dmiLjsecYee/s320/0317221211a_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-sPr80l-tGclobWj1D4Mji_mi4DTZSEYiBf7VL3WsRg0FgbP3HL1LC3c4Ve5eXktuCRcTU6ZnHhRE86uS5aznSw-4RsY3OiElwnLveKu48UDT_XCboQpKtbqUtCcxo1Kpq0oRpPzgODhAOT7X6JNTN60tZHqDwb8MvVTyyCEP9EToebB2w2jZELC/s4032/0317221215.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-sPr80l-tGclobWj1D4Mji_mi4DTZSEYiBf7VL3WsRg0FgbP3HL1LC3c4Ve5eXktuCRcTU6ZnHhRE86uS5aznSw-4RsY3OiElwnLveKu48UDT_XCboQpKtbqUtCcxo1Kpq0oRpPzgODhAOT7X6JNTN60tZHqDwb8MvVTyyCEP9EToebB2w2jZELC/s320/0317221215.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stop #1. Notice the green icing on the cinnamon roll for St. Patrick's Day!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURIlGQFJ_8vkl8Oz17e7fxnZTO9dnC8H2ypIz_pPNMqaCb_QRNkTMT-jhSQqfVInL-v7OxdmRmbIDzh2OQmTxI0UBXXPO-x_YR9x5gr98gCRrRdvuOrzMFByCOejxKrXYpV4vIfK2XPbl3-4ZpyIwX2GhMW5nI9e6ayxiKYnlG4wpuLd6qx90BKBY/s2570/0318221122.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2569" data-original-width="2570" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURIlGQFJ_8vkl8Oz17e7fxnZTO9dnC8H2ypIz_pPNMqaCb_QRNkTMT-jhSQqfVInL-v7OxdmRmbIDzh2OQmTxI0UBXXPO-x_YR9x5gr98gCRrRdvuOrzMFByCOejxKrXYpV4vIfK2XPbl3-4ZpyIwX2GhMW5nI9e6ayxiKYnlG4wpuLd6qx90BKBY/s320/0318221122.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stop #2 (minus the sandwiches we bought)</td></tr></tbody></table>We left Oughterard the first time just as the St. Patrick's Day Parade was beginning so we had to take a detour. That took us down this road:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Woa4UlA3v45KkVN3p4We-EkUtvJKN4ChwcFo26M6ytkd4YmPAeyQ0zGmD3SUF1Z_b6hFdNzzifzQB0esqgttueefcn4HoAoE96yo7_RGPycyMb83_xfTMJIvG4KnecKeF_x_P1gtH0mew6HbqS1x7xxAJIBP9De2-mCxtowQLeDoNMY_GNTAZsSu/s4656/0317221306a_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4656" data-original-width="3492" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Woa4UlA3v45KkVN3p4We-EkUtvJKN4ChwcFo26M6ytkd4YmPAeyQ0zGmD3SUF1Z_b6hFdNzzifzQB0esqgttueefcn4HoAoE96yo7_RGPycyMb83_xfTMJIvG4KnecKeF_x_P1gtH0mew6HbqS1x7xxAJIBP9De2-mCxtowQLeDoNMY_GNTAZsSu/s320/0317221306a_HDR.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>A bit exciting, but we didn't see any sheep, cows, or horses crossing the road. I don't remember if we met any cars on this road, either. <div><br /></div><div>The verdict: Would we stay at Clifden Eco Beach again? Absolutely. I would definitely put it on a list of "re-dos"! </div><div><br /></div><div>Follow along with more recaps and pictures on my personal blog: <a href="https://www.marylifeinasmalltown.com/p/ireland-2022.html" target="_blank">Life in a Small Town</a>. (The link will take you to a list of the Ireland posts.)<br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsM6Qo1s_jqPF9IyYmoyHy3oR6Z2PLfGW8-cSn4se70OndenYKJ1QcjyRxgvKhKVLHabFm1Um-XHHjOKm23fpsTEdh0enXrlHMeiQqvgzF8Kj2R746I57-TApVSjdJ5BpG2hqYha1df8D0pX6ziv3hPSSrSopIU_KscbG16ExUdRXKIPzNvy5zGcA/s267/Name%20transparent%20background.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="267" height="65" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsM6Qo1s_jqPF9IyYmoyHy3oR6Z2PLfGW8-cSn4se70OndenYKJ1QcjyRxgvKhKVLHabFm1Um-XHHjOKm23fpsTEdh0enXrlHMeiQqvgzF8Kj2R746I57-TApVSjdJ5BpG2hqYha1df8D0pX6ziv3hPSSrSopIU_KscbG16ExUdRXKIPzNvy5zGcA/w110-h65/Name%20transparent%20background.png" width="110" /></a></div></div></div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-49910112845694694312022-04-07T21:10:00.007-04:002022-04-24T10:28:01.796-04:00Camping in Ireland without Reservations<p>I'm a planner. I like to have things laid out so I know where I will be at night. For this trip, I made reservations at campgrounds (based on which ones were open during the off-season) except for the first night and the last 2 nights. I originally had a reservation for the first night but I thought we picked up the camper earlier in the day. With it being Robert's first day driving a strange vehicle on the wrong side of the road plus it being a manual (which he hasn't driven in a long time), we decided to cancel the first night at our first campground. As mentioned in the previous post, Mark was so helpful with finding us a place to park for our first night. </p><p>We're told that in Ireland if you find a place to pull over on the side of any road, it's fair game for staying overnight. As long as there are no signs stating that there's no overnight parking, you're good. In fact, if you want to stay in a field, as long as you get the farmer's permission, you can. The problem I see with that is that the farmers aren't in sight. I suppose you could drive up to their house (if you can find it) and ask, but that seems a little weird to me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbwV0-GzL3VDmeQWAZ_F0O-8UeuLnmwK5jK_LN6LRu2sLtOdlUdYF6ebXlKcfHCgIKEGyNXbYZszCfd1xW3hJf5UngemEo-yOuO2HTWBH9j06H8OWuv7qJpXBRnnZ1jsIYzxfRxiRJLOFhPlW9B5hq80x5EaT1mJQm5Fr1NRBRPxQFQHhZ17trIXo/s945/1st%20stop.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="945" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbwV0-GzL3VDmeQWAZ_F0O-8UeuLnmwK5jK_LN6LRu2sLtOdlUdYF6ebXlKcfHCgIKEGyNXbYZszCfd1xW3hJf5UngemEo-yOuO2HTWBH9j06H8OWuv7qJpXBRnnZ1jsIYzxfRxiRJLOFhPlW9B5hq80x5EaT1mJQm5Fr1NRBRPxQFQHhZ17trIXo/s320/1st%20stop.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Mark (at Bunk Campers) found a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MoycarnLodgeandMarina/" target="_blank">lodge/marina</a> halfway between Dublin and Galway that was just off the motorway. We were given permission to park overnight (in fact, there was another camper in the parking lot) as long as we came in and bought a pint or two. When we arrived, I went inside to see if we could order something to eat. We arrived just after the kitchen closed, so we weren't able to order. But Sean, the barman, called us a cab so we could go into town. After an hour, we were still waiting. Sean called the cab driver and let him know he wasn't happy that he didn't show up. It turned out to be no big deal; the town was just a couple of miles down the road so we ordered something online and drove in to pick it up. We ate in the camper and then went inside for a couple of drinks and some conversation. We ended up getting some great tips on places to go from Joe (a tour bus driver) and another tour bus driver. Sean and Joe provided great entertainment by way of the stereotypical Irish banter back and forth. When the clock turned to 2:00 a.m., we walked back out to the camper and settled in for an excellent sleep. We woke up the next morning to the sight of boats on the river.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pV0yRFbvQVLI6wHOIzuxdJFwf-zQlEyw7l_nFTTpcuFnRicy1xauVssUfGA_ol2UnZE-ph00dowLvNCYw511VRikHRuuzAcebJuRxrZ9rgmB2SRnlBzYndy3Cxtr_3bpH2lFxk_UsptB6sug01l0j0SFUnQk-m74qQE2jCmV2jqzjw7BzD6M5HGo/s5184/IMG_6555.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pV0yRFbvQVLI6wHOIzuxdJFwf-zQlEyw7l_nFTTpcuFnRicy1xauVssUfGA_ol2UnZE-ph00dowLvNCYw511VRikHRuuzAcebJuRxrZ9rgmB2SRnlBzYndy3Cxtr_3bpH2lFxk_UsptB6sug01l0j0SFUnQk-m74qQE2jCmV2jqzjw7BzD6M5HGo/w320-h213/IMG_6555.JPG" title="Moycarn Lodge & Marina" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_34q0erIVg4igWjrSnY4qpYmSUAXYdUzEO86JuNw095bOr7a0baiJjINIh0oDc5WdO5cKD7SCjrmUQ54vtsoMm_cCXuiqtCTJ1_NW9MMD10OTcyeSHVfQxZZB5u56rX7lI1oMKMYLk4JY5tj9nqWdcuIcFC9clnBKint4YkLVoR93vwsf9MzV3rx/s5184/IMG_6557.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_34q0erIVg4igWjrSnY4qpYmSUAXYdUzEO86JuNw095bOr7a0baiJjINIh0oDc5WdO5cKD7SCjrmUQ54vtsoMm_cCXuiqtCTJ1_NW9MMD10OTcyeSHVfQxZZB5u56rX7lI1oMKMYLk4JY5tj9nqWdcuIcFC9clnBKint4YkLVoR93vwsf9MzV3rx/w320-h213/IMG_6557.JPG" title="Moycarn Lodge & Marina" width="320" /></a></div>Our first night with the campervan was a success. We had a restful night (or rather, morning) and were ready to head to our campground reservation. (More on that in a future post.)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-i74aymdqEhA3ITNtpfcCgJVv9u8gIChDnnuoG2Jptk3Pl72Sua1fsbZvu7YFyQBn8mB91DZIgQ53I2f_7KxBHGOOXES-IVGbn8jmYNo_2NPgkSUotWI7gXoCftdlPueigle6p4eG9y-06aFwReOSMOa7Q4qL9gDdJ92nJKZiAlgl-zztPtsTe_-/s3280/0317220925_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3280" data-original-width="2460" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-i74aymdqEhA3ITNtpfcCgJVv9u8gIChDnnuoG2Jptk3Pl72Sua1fsbZvu7YFyQBn8mB91DZIgQ53I2f_7KxBHGOOXES-IVGbn8jmYNo_2NPgkSUotWI7gXoCftdlPueigle6p4eG9y-06aFwReOSMOa7Q4qL9gDdJ92nJKZiAlgl-zztPtsTe_-/w150-h200/0317220925_HDR.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96sHLCsBVVAm8wF7mfpHLQY5nrffCC-gb8rS6vj81FnYsttNRQR1EKKcZbA7ozm3peCdQOAOaQxXgn56U8f075NLoue7HOCdETgZJ1lrINXtCGdY-M-mZL2uv2Ybxd2UmLMQYBzGvE1HXRn3FY5u8DzFHy1nmM8C95UVr0VOm2qddE8nSaOc1Qa1f/s5184/IMG_6554.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96sHLCsBVVAm8wF7mfpHLQY5nrffCC-gb8rS6vj81FnYsttNRQR1EKKcZbA7ozm3peCdQOAOaQxXgn56U8f075NLoue7HOCdETgZJ1lrINXtCGdY-M-mZL2uv2Ybxd2UmLMQYBzGvE1HXRn3FY5u8DzFHy1nmM8C95UVr0VOm2qddE8nSaOc1Qa1f/w320-h213/IMG_6554.JPG" title="Moycarn Lodge & Marina, Ballinasloe, County Galway" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgnlrloS_iAcQcYtiZyspsjfPtzg0vB2UT7yrbIy3boc7IbkfPOcwRJLi0rknufXJ79GYOGJlL2Wnx6jO763hPY7KPnRgcbLgN-sceCUwasMk9z_rtc6HFizCEAbzgvSJ__u0JKAjH1Fi7O0NrCryFogF_n-g_xUXx8pXWnR5AGPNqcIZii5kKVVE/s5184/IMG_6556.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgnlrloS_iAcQcYtiZyspsjfPtzg0vB2UT7yrbIy3boc7IbkfPOcwRJLi0rknufXJ79GYOGJlL2Wnx6jO763hPY7KPnRgcbLgN-sceCUwasMk9z_rtc6HFizCEAbzgvSJ__u0JKAjH1Fi7O0NrCryFogF_n-g_xUXx8pXWnR5AGPNqcIZii5kKVVE/w320-h213/IMG_6556.JPG" title="Moycarn Lodge & Marina, Ballinasloe, County Galway" width="320" /></a></div><div><div>One word about the motorways: There are tolls. By the end of the trip, I learned to have €3.50 ready just in case we happened upon a toll. </div><div><br /></div><div>At the end of our trip, we felt comfortable enough to wing it. Glendalough was on my list of things to see so after we left the last campground we headed north back to Dublin. We wanted to stop in Wicklow and find a parking lot, that way we could walk around town and walk back to the van for the night. We found one but it was a distance from town and I didn't feel comfortable there. The parking lots right in town have height restriction bars so we weren't able to stay in town. I found a road that followed the coast and we hunted for someplace to pull over. We opted for a regional road as opposed to a national road. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpkt_AHd1AYrwOEaEDi6rbXQVXW5Wx1wBio5QdI27fpk9CzOBna9VBRETb2fQFcthQY6YqjkYCVdS7s_XNL_ywgzBdvzyMZ4aezqrGMgpESFwpPZwP9xztQwiWB9XeSdK1JHxtGT-zULyqeE-tSSmo9sb_AXcTSjhrR2_p8QsIz9WJAkkhxiR-aAN/s611/castle%20inn.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="611" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpkt_AHd1AYrwOEaEDi6rbXQVXW5Wx1wBio5QdI27fpk9CzOBna9VBRETb2fQFcthQY6YqjkYCVdS7s_XNL_ywgzBdvzyMZ4aezqrGMgpESFwpPZwP9xztQwiWB9XeSdK1JHxtGT-zULyqeE-tSSmo9sb_AXcTSjhrR2_p8QsIz9WJAkkhxiR-aAN/s320/castle%20inn.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div>We were also looking for someplace to buy a few groceries so we could cook something besides buttered pasta for dinner. (We didn't plan ahead and buy groceries when we were near a grocery store.) As we entered Newcastle, we saw signs for a birdwatch nature reserve and thought that might be a place to stay. There was a gas station/convenience store, but then Robert spotted a pub. We pulled in and Robert went inside to speak with the management to get permission to stay the night. Before he went in, he chatted with a couple who had a dog that looked very similar to his dog and who was just as sweet. We talked with them for a bit then went in for some amazing stew (and a couple of pints). The manager (I hate I didn't write down her name!) brought us half of a loaf of brown soda bread, butter, and jam for our breakfast the next day. The parking lot was quiet and I woke up to see some baby lambs with their mamas.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqq8kxIVtKPvHJaHC1I0Qr_os-IYSlAczsbtL9zdDkb7CqlKftynM1-jdrJXcjrYjhJDFzFCDNqPywqRqqYpHVw4QlwEv9smpO_q8KfGaq3RWrC-TOV11oSkk9u2Rqh3smXSGkT4OVRulGjSzS_3Gg2eRU6eKScS-FINUBFHkcxtxH0xtpMMISy3I/s3024/0324220756_HDR%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqq8kxIVtKPvHJaHC1I0Qr_os-IYSlAczsbtL9zdDkb7CqlKftynM1-jdrJXcjrYjhJDFzFCDNqPywqRqqYpHVw4QlwEv9smpO_q8KfGaq3RWrC-TOV11oSkk9u2Rqh3smXSGkT4OVRulGjSzS_3Gg2eRU6eKScS-FINUBFHkcxtxH0xtpMMISy3I/w320-h320/0324220756_HDR%20(2).jpg" title="The Castle Inn, Newcastle, County Wicklow" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYK8BOjE2i0HApYPa7DEJeT74mE_tAPZ9DoP4KVvmGoUFSeTbm8QRInz4qOV6-kGAmDfIemgXK09sBLyXILSwi86LZAPB_pn-lLJNBgb93MC-TzC-ab9rgB1B2ujIyZJpLfWNrN4497SfQWYmkJc0c44Mdy1J9c_m5veptWh4SAvnmEZsn-FVGlnZT/s1510/0324220816%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1509" data-original-width="1510" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYK8BOjE2i0HApYPa7DEJeT74mE_tAPZ9DoP4KVvmGoUFSeTbm8QRInz4qOV6-kGAmDfIemgXK09sBLyXILSwi86LZAPB_pn-lLJNBgb93MC-TzC-ab9rgB1B2ujIyZJpLfWNrN4497SfQWYmkJc0c44Mdy1J9c_m5veptWh4SAvnmEZsn-FVGlnZT/w320-h320/0324220816%20(2).jpg" title="The Castle Inn, Newcastle, County Wicklow" width="320" /></a></div>We had one more night with the campervan and we had some idea of where we were going. At least, we knew the area we wanted to go to. After leaving Glendalough we headed through the Wicklow Gap in the Wicklow Mountains, looking for a place to spend the night. Then we went back to Glendalough to empty the toilet cassette. We went into one of the 2 parking lots and thought €4 was worth it to be able to empty the cassette. But, when we parked, a lady told us that our vehicle was €15! Then she told us that we could stay the night in the lot, which would have been pretty neat, but we found a spot in the Gap for free. We told her we weren't staying longer than 15 minutes, so she said we would be okay without paying the €15. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8AX5WBdIsv_LDaVa_rUnPO2MWj-lHvQJGes5IwJ3JWoY5rRPMPAENzems7DeHP6h6yDuqSQ_Y0IBQGcnYkTIKeiJusbbOo3qf1vgeGLybCM1xxRIECr9f1RpfcQTJj05t7n13VKTjjD6VCfC6zSGWiQyCVzPjWnY2Z7-CJEewxgW7yQi69Yv753h/s774/Turlough%20car%20park.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="329" data-original-width="774" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8AX5WBdIsv_LDaVa_rUnPO2MWj-lHvQJGes5IwJ3JWoY5rRPMPAENzems7DeHP6h6yDuqSQ_Y0IBQGcnYkTIKeiJusbbOo3qf1vgeGLybCM1xxRIECr9f1RpfcQTJj05t7n13VKTjjD6VCfC6zSGWiQyCVzPjWnY2Z7-CJEewxgW7yQi69Yv753h/s320/Turlough%20car%20park.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>Turlough Car Park is open 24 hours. We were there mid-afternoon so we just hung out. Another couple was also there. I have to say that that night was the worst night's sleep I had the whole time. This parking lot turned out to be safe, but for some reason, I felt safer in the parking lots of pubs. But the views were so worth it:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hFfVa3roF5Grwlp-GjS1Gvd3xwofMAirEdAMFsP8Z0GGSuIjDZA-FqUX9tteqbdvezkz2TNFZEjjkR0GacGTwFdrowxbzZyYnkXlzIL1tM-WHlutFdItXlBePACigLcrlhlnj9w7XYoscwWXWXpRImd_pjn91OlBRl2numnaqxydnO6XxIbHvW4I/s5184/IMG_6982.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hFfVa3roF5Grwlp-GjS1Gvd3xwofMAirEdAMFsP8Z0GGSuIjDZA-FqUX9tteqbdvezkz2TNFZEjjkR0GacGTwFdrowxbzZyYnkXlzIL1tM-WHlutFdItXlBePACigLcrlhlnj9w7XYoscwWXWXpRImd_pjn91OlBRl2numnaqxydnO6XxIbHvW4I/w320-h213/IMG_6982.JPG" title="Turlough Car Park, Wicklow Gap, County Wicklow" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTct8xd8bo5DSU_IIX-L-XUt8vpcbItS0in4dCbP9eHkLX5Q3YFGFNTObC2_zlAgtrAg4fKvWvVFqtCaqirUjni8KTva3XmxbwZOxyfeQHoVG9TRBLE1vYLvo4AIQHRVx07zANcnXCd3IEU2Epif__UnLquEB9lygpKtJab221Z3Nnp2ZjL1s0D2x/s5184/IMG_6985.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTct8xd8bo5DSU_IIX-L-XUt8vpcbItS0in4dCbP9eHkLX5Q3YFGFNTObC2_zlAgtrAg4fKvWvVFqtCaqirUjni8KTva3XmxbwZOxyfeQHoVG9TRBLE1vYLvo4AIQHRVx07zANcnXCd3IEU2Epif__UnLquEB9lygpKtJab221Z3Nnp2ZjL1s0D2x/w320-h213/IMG_6985.JPG" title="Turlough Car Park, Wicklow Gap, County Wicklow" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HrHBePZfpcHEX749hzKhXbJn512kPi2427J5EuSB7vfwARiNIyA0b7ppn3D5GVji6Lwvuj1sBKtifz6MLg0X7qi3KATR_JzMVJkzS5rXV2qntT_2NTHkPZPNAcB8AfY210di49zpn8BzHUW_c6wyq8I4lHkW9Thyhur48sNlkXUg3wuzyIud2_uB/s5184/IMG_6987.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HrHBePZfpcHEX749hzKhXbJn512kPi2427J5EuSB7vfwARiNIyA0b7ppn3D5GVji6Lwvuj1sBKtifz6MLg0X7qi3KATR_JzMVJkzS5rXV2qntT_2NTHkPZPNAcB8AfY210di49zpn8BzHUW_c6wyq8I4lHkW9Thyhur48sNlkXUg3wuzyIud2_uB/w320-h213/IMG_6987.JPG" title="Turlough Car Park, Wicklow Gap, County Wicklow" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizv_OaMxuxPbKZ0xHZ-qtmsTSQlOYJ8Rs2S61Kdx45Ifdb5jU0p9SDsZrXAmD49_CZ7Y8hXLOgGxrk5eLUkGeFHPq2Azb27wIfEfRpZLA_1YdVN4vFzGkmG84d5IaAmbRkWOeFpjjrcY7DMtQsucTwAbC4E6n2y9szctQBMItxBiSqNGPHAxNcOlgA/s5184/IMG_6992.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizv_OaMxuxPbKZ0xHZ-qtmsTSQlOYJ8Rs2S61Kdx45Ifdb5jU0p9SDsZrXAmD49_CZ7Y8hXLOgGxrk5eLUkGeFHPq2Azb27wIfEfRpZLA_1YdVN4vFzGkmG84d5IaAmbRkWOeFpjjrcY7DMtQsucTwAbC4E6n2y9szctQBMItxBiSqNGPHAxNcOlgA/w320-h213/IMG_6992.JPG" title="Turlough Car Park, Wicklow Gap, County Wicklow" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjmn_JFd-MrmeiQApD_lDzf5X0W6DrlCZ-i6q-i-iJPxgWkixdYm18dvanPOWoPR0ieGsZr4nQP0FJnMoLfMQWFBM_UaFi_3fut5wXslw80CDtEbh6hDyJw8W_c1LbAQ-4uV_x0L6tqne-iY0cI2DplJ0nIBp1fKUjvNDjGZPfJymLbxadrmue-pb/s5184/IMG_7002.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjmn_JFd-MrmeiQApD_lDzf5X0W6DrlCZ-i6q-i-iJPxgWkixdYm18dvanPOWoPR0ieGsZr4nQP0FJnMoLfMQWFBM_UaFi_3fut5wXslw80CDtEbh6hDyJw8W_c1LbAQ-4uV_x0L6tqne-iY0cI2DplJ0nIBp1fKUjvNDjGZPfJymLbxadrmue-pb/w320-h213/IMG_7002.JPG" title="Turlough Car Park, Wicklow Gap, County Wicklow" width="320" /></a></div>I'm definitely not a "go with the flow" kind of person; Robert is more of one than I am. This was definitely an adventure for me. I would have loved to have camped right next to the sheep, but maybe next time. And I definitely need to come back to the Wicklow Mountains when the heather is blooming. <br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: #e1f0ff; font-family: Hanuman; font-size: 17.6px;">Follow along with more recaps and pictures on my personal blog: </span><a href="https://www.marylifeinasmalltown.com/p/ireland-2022.html" style="background-color: #e1f0ff; color: blue; font-family: Hanuman; font-size: 17.6px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Life in a Small Town</a><span style="background-color: #e1f0ff; font-family: Hanuman; font-size: 17.6px;">. (The link will take you to a list of the Ireland posts.)</span><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuT5mJ6SP5mPqkF3_2owCC0mRwRUg0UHdowhfqynPCQnMd2bx7IlYSdkbfOLRGa7VX0XGb2pS_5wtb83gano24Hyo_koD41_Xa0U4qLI9atxixnrdcs_BamLQmMihvWXBE4SJb5hRD-p_Zi1E5WToRkITh-k8J3zwrH8O9bM2hxIkDEW-re9vuZ_6/s267/Name%20transparent%20background.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="267" height="69" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuT5mJ6SP5mPqkF3_2owCC0mRwRUg0UHdowhfqynPCQnMd2bx7IlYSdkbfOLRGa7VX0XGb2pS_5wtb83gano24Hyo_koD41_Xa0U4qLI9atxixnrdcs_BamLQmMihvWXBE4SJb5hRD-p_Zi1E5WToRkITh-k8J3zwrH8O9bM2hxIkDEW-re9vuZ_6/w118-h69/Name%20transparent%20background.png" width="118" /></a></div></div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-52376403227898907622022-03-27T10:22:00.004-04:002022-04-24T10:27:46.093-04:00Hiring a Campervan in Ireland: Words of Advice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgOmcvR7_9wHXKKzaRFnyieRIsCCRnzXPIc1icocFvPHraYOIuSh53US1P3_WbPsAGU6qnesb_x8C6hkGxgWqWahBOx7ZI4gJeVUBD500KlLhmpjv6FwCPgNr1LZU27rBy2K27r0FoddvsKm03XaHt6-SZb142-4JAPiW__0BznaTSmpXL7fXw9hv/s2686/0325221106.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2685" data-original-width="2686" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgOmcvR7_9wHXKKzaRFnyieRIsCCRnzXPIc1icocFvPHraYOIuSh53US1P3_WbPsAGU6qnesb_x8C6hkGxgWqWahBOx7ZI4gJeVUBD500KlLhmpjv6FwCPgNr1LZU27rBy2K27r0FoddvsKm03XaHt6-SZb142-4JAPiW__0BznaTSmpXL7fXw9hv/s320/0325221106.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This is the first installment of a series of "Camping in Ireland" posts.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">While planning for a major milestone birthday, Robert asked what I wanted to do. I suggested a trip to Ireland; he came up with the whole "camping in Ireland" idea and set the wheels in motion. He contacted an English friend who recommended <a href="https://www.bunkcampers.com/" target="_blank">Bunk Campers</a>. They rent campers in different sizes to fit your needs and have locations in the UK (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland) and the Republic of Ireland. Be prepared: they mostly have manual transmissions. The Aero+, Grande & Europa have an automatic option but it's based on availability. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">For our purpose, we hired the <a href="https://www.bunkcampers.com/en/campervans-for-hire/2-person-aero/" target="_blank">Aero</a>. It was perfect for the two of us and gave us more than enough storage. We probably would have been comfortable in the <a href="https://www.bunkcampers.com/en/campervans-for-hire/nomad/" target="_blank">Nomad</a> (a VW bus with a pop-top roof) but it was nice not to have to get the bed ready every night. Plus, it was nice to have a toilet without worrying about trying to find one while we were traveling. Being from the USA (with wide roads and most of Ireland having narrow ones), the Aero was just wide enough to make things interesting when meeting another van or a lorry. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqgtGhN5ESL7zlex4v6UeTTsQC1DKmy7yNFbb793n15g6-IxikJp2iXA63I_De-9NXNYgVD0kYFGbGpdLstKgV2ZjMXM68CMsGAFaoo9yjveM_PdCwvoWO_yAjLmzKNhwZZrdf6idotlWBRht2Dkc_14QaSWpqbfC2yPCcujFELV_CnnWZO3dIXNJ/s3764/DJI_20220318_074651_56_pano.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3764" data-original-width="3143" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqgtGhN5ESL7zlex4v6UeTTsQC1DKmy7yNFbb793n15g6-IxikJp2iXA63I_De-9NXNYgVD0kYFGbGpdLstKgV2ZjMXM68CMsGAFaoo9yjveM_PdCwvoWO_yAjLmzKNhwZZrdf6idotlWBRht2Dkc_14QaSWpqbfC2yPCcujFELV_CnnWZO3dIXNJ/s320/DJI_20220318_074651_56_pano.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-2CYmAcHhF8gqTYVPIOmWG1z3ZqHF5kNH7Oh1bU94Q-aRl-xunldYgUu8bs_r5iP09tpRocE-rPkGVZXOFHkG5N8-DYM2cCxzZ2x1MFFulCc-J6dQ3nlzFvhJwRzGD5VhZscp-k2QvEj5rpQbZW6RRpGhtFjXACcoehu7GxGyr-5vg4rr-UEWqIA/s4000/DJI_20220318_074942_58.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-2CYmAcHhF8gqTYVPIOmWG1z3ZqHF5kNH7Oh1bU94Q-aRl-xunldYgUu8bs_r5iP09tpRocE-rPkGVZXOFHkG5N8-DYM2cCxzZ2x1MFFulCc-J6dQ3nlzFvhJwRzGD5VhZscp-k2QvEj5rpQbZW6RRpGhtFjXACcoehu7GxGyr-5vg4rr-UEWqIA/s320/DJI_20220318_074942_58.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When picking up the camper, Mark at the Dublin office went through everything we needed to know for the camper. <b>Word of advice</b>: Don't just let him show you, let him <i>talk you through it as you do it</i>. This would have saved us a couple of aggravating nights when we stopped. When we arrived, the propane tank was just switched so we had an almost full tank, as well as a full spare tank. There was an error message that Mark didn't know how to fix, so he called another guy over. He told us what to do if we got that error, but we misunderstood and thought we had to do the "fix it" each time we turned the gas on. That resulted in us getting the error message and Robert working through the reset for the first night or 2. Another <b>word of advice</b>: Also, make sure you can open all of the locked compartments (the toilet cassette and most importantly the fuel tank). We lost close to an hour (if not more than an hour) the first time we stopped for fuel because the fuel tank wouldn't open. Robert had a couple of people stop and try to help but they weren't able to open it either. The problem was exacerbated by the St. Patrick's Day Holiday and a lot of places were closed. Someone at the Circle K in Clifden called a mechanic who took part of his holiday to get us back on the road. While I'm on this subject, one more <b>word of advice</b>: Get a couple of numbers in case something happens and you need to contact someone. We only had 1 number and were at the mercy of that 1 person returning our calls, which again took time when we could have been driving to our next destination. The poor guy seems to work really hard and deserves a day off, so we felt bad calling him and leaving a message each time. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We didn't check everything in the camper for broken items. When we stopped for the first night, we discovered the side shades in the van were broken. Luckily the shades on the windshield were in good shape, as well as the side and back blinds in the camper. We also discovered that the screen over the table wouldn't raise. <b>Word of advice</b>: Check all of it before you get going. We made a list as we saw things and made sure they knew when we got back. We weren't charged for any of it, which is a good thing because we left the camper as we found it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Word of advice</b>: Before you take off on your adventure, check that the cruise control isn't on. After missing a turn in Dublin, Robert had some "practice time" to get used to the van as we drove around Dublin to get on the motorway. Once on the motorway, the van wouldn't go over 27 km. Once he figured out that the cruise control was on and set to 27, he was able to turn it off and we were able to speed up. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now that you're up and running, you have to find someplace to stay. I made reservations for each night except the first one and the last two nights. The Bunk Campers website states that a "<a href="http://www.safenightsireland.com/" target="_blank">Safe Nights</a>" temporary membership is included; however, we were steered more toward the <a href="https://www.park4night.com/" target="_blank">Park4Night </a>app. We weren't given a username or password to check out Safe Nights and I'm not sure how useful either of those 2 would have been. (We met an English couple toward the end of our stay who said that they found that the Park4Night sites are old and many of them are inundated with campers. He didn't find the app to be very reliable.) We picked up the camper a little later than I originally thought so Mark found a place for us to stay that was roughly halfway between Dublin and Galway. It turned out to be a fantastic place and a great way to start our adventure. We spent our first night in the parking lot of a lodge/marina. The barman called a cab so we could go into town for something to eat since the kitchen was closed by the time we got there. Long story short: we drove into town for "take away", ate in the camper, then went into the bar for drinks and talked with the barman and another couple until 2:00 a.m. (There will be a post on this coming up.) <b>Word of advice</b>: find a decent parking lot and ask the owner/manager if you can spend the night there. We heard that most of the time, as long as you go in and order some food or drinks, you won't be turned away. We did that one other time and both times we were really happy that we did. If you find a decent pull-off on the road, you can stay there as long as you feel safe. We were told you can even park in a field as long as you<i> ask the owner</i>. I'm not sure if you would have to pay; we didn't pay at the places we stayed. On this subject, another <b>word of advice</b>: Don't try to stay in Wicklow; every parking lot we found had a height-restriction bar over the entry to keep campers out. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Everyone told us to just go as fast as we're comfortable going and not be intimidated by the other drivers. We found the Irish to be extremely courteous drivers. We didn't have anyone honking their horn to try to get us to speed up. I couldn't see out of the side mirror, so I don't know if cars were on our tail or not. Robert just pulled off when he could so the other cars could pass. We just took our time and enjoyed the scenery. <b>A word of advice</b> to the passenger: There are so many beautiful sites. It took me a few days to curb my enthusiasm and to stop telling Robert to look to the right/left for ruins or for some incredible views. Another <b>word of advice</b> to the navigator: It takes a little bit of time to get used to the roundabouts and the different roads available. Be patient, take your time, and <i>zoom in to the roundabout before you get there</i> so you can tell the driver exactly what exit to take. Robert kept his Google Maps on; it was pretty reliable. We can't say how reliable the navigation in the van is since we didn't use it. Google Maps was less of a hassle since we're already familiar with it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In our opinion, this was the best way to really see Ireland. We met amazing people and saw some incredible things that we wouldn't have seen if we had hired a driver, traveled on the motorway, and stayed in B&Bs or hotels. We definitely wouldn't have had some of the "white knuckle" experiences! The only times we saw tourists were when we were in the center of Killarney and when we went to Glendalough. If we ever get back to Ireland or the UK, we would definitely use Bunk Campers again.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #e1f0ff; font-family: Hanuman; font-size: 17.6px;">Follow along with more recaps and pictures on my personal blog: </span><a href="https://www.marylifeinasmalltown.com/p/ireland-2022.html" style="background-color: #e1f0ff; color: blue; font-family: Hanuman; font-size: 17.6px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Life in a Small Town</a><span style="background-color: #e1f0ff; font-family: Hanuman; font-size: 17.6px;">. (The link will take you to a list of the Ireland posts.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9j8JjK3A3d_3YDfyUeKSH46R4ZeZWjjnkmY11ZH70SFJ5FEGu_v-NEUArWyNhclZFXII2HFR12IldMHLwZksx0WIqDsZd67bMllb2pwDcIk6EGs3CThQkHhkjjQGbl-Q0X83klGMkrIzTPX6G9_FxEeBX2jKA4oncMrqyOjiXXM5iGJmGXu998WOy/s267/Name%20transparent%20background.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="267" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9j8JjK3A3d_3YDfyUeKSH46R4ZeZWjjnkmY11ZH70SFJ5FEGu_v-NEUArWyNhclZFXII2HFR12IldMHLwZksx0WIqDsZd67bMllb2pwDcIk6EGs3CThQkHhkjjQGbl-Q0X83klGMkrIzTPX6G9_FxEeBX2jKA4oncMrqyOjiXXM5iGJmGXu998WOy/w119-h70/Name%20transparent%20background.png" width="119" /></a></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-1014774808926067242021-11-16T20:25:00.001-05:002022-03-27T07:06:40.404-04:00Portsmouth Island (NC): The Third Time's the Charm<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRTJgtnN3lGJNhD50pKjJhpVrzn8txKB5FT8_Zucu9v2HUrlur5FUjovXqQHqEG-PKUVyMqHBw6zYNxwwE33FPMzFojcKRQ8MbKvxaAFotJZ0z5sFyYAszayUZTiJ04sLXtiePkRRAcA/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="461" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRTJgtnN3lGJNhD50pKjJhpVrzn8txKB5FT8_Zucu9v2HUrlur5FUjovXqQHqEG-PKUVyMqHBw6zYNxwwE33FPMzFojcKRQ8MbKvxaAFotJZ0z5sFyYAszayUZTiJ04sLXtiePkRRAcA/" width="241" /></a></div>Robert tried to get me to Portsmouth Island twice before. The first time there was a hurricane, and then, during our first trip in the Mystery Machine, we had some minor trouble with the van and ended up in Wilmington. This time was the winner!</div><div>The people at the ferry allow people to stay overnight in the parking area. It seemed a little strange, and unfortunately, there wasn't a restroom available. So I just had to make do. (Read what you want into that.)</div><div>When we first got there, everything seemed great...until the sun went down and the mosquitos came out. Those things don't play around...they bit me through my leggings. (Word of advice...no matter how hot it is, wear jeans.) </div><div>We boarded the first ferry to get to the island and were the only passengers. I wasn't sure how I would like to be on an island with nothing there and supposedly without much cell signal. The man on the ferry told me people either hate it or love it. Great. I was going to be there for 2 nights and 3 days; I certainly hoped I fell into the "love it" category. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBopuwCEBmhHbKjJlL_WvGr03La1Gna6xrMJihRkPH_t4BTE0wIv28YkoMlQba87NnNEHNgRgvT1rmC5gbqIJRaa8_Gw-GLhQ_AF_tl4vt94ebmJtN5VimLd86IMSviW_hdG1VOiucjQ/s2048/IMG_6379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBopuwCEBmhHbKjJlL_WvGr03La1Gna6xrMJihRkPH_t4BTE0wIv28YkoMlQba87NnNEHNgRgvT1rmC5gbqIJRaa8_Gw-GLhQ_AF_tl4vt94ebmJtN5VimLd86IMSviW_hdG1VOiucjQ/s320/IMG_6379.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div>Once we rolled onto the island we were greeted with abandoned cabins and a bathhouse. As it turns out, there are hot showers to be had! The only request is that you clean up after yourself. Not a bad deal at all. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzUaZpRSOeDIYT5pHQMBhlvbJ3kEBnA8v1CM7wDCt8Xg5pkB1MZ-Q977MCw87UWoBIbBV2D1B7KAsD0VBy3bsigpWfeEi9Jvlw6aCHNwrO4PMEUFPFz2xjOqHvgNOGCiP8AgF9xILmZM/s2048/IMG_6459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzUaZpRSOeDIYT5pHQMBhlvbJ3kEBnA8v1CM7wDCt8Xg5pkB1MZ-Q977MCw87UWoBIbBV2D1B7KAsD0VBy3bsigpWfeEi9Jvlw6aCHNwrO4PMEUFPFz2xjOqHvgNOGCiP8AgF9xILmZM/s320/IMG_6459.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div>We drove down the beach in search of a perfect site. Not being sure if I was going to be a lover of the isolation, I didn't want to drive too far down the beach. We ended up getting a decent spot. We set up the gazebo and the Gazelle tent...plus the utility tent.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV450Xl9HXUqCbcfCvD8iWqiu9agCaUNoPs878rkUck9Ltr4-yyvajHrE4DJLNjRsDbNML8vBaFVnkWzPP2zInHLB-0zzb_QkSCSCCmX6Mm4nElNydX2LD7dSKYAcn0vsC3qah7o6gJX8/s2048/IMG_6513+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV450Xl9HXUqCbcfCvD8iWqiu9agCaUNoPs878rkUck9Ltr4-yyvajHrE4DJLNjRsDbNML8vBaFVnkWzPP2zInHLB-0zzb_QkSCSCCmX6Mm4nElNydX2LD7dSKYAcn0vsC3qah7o6gJX8/s320/IMG_6513+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TFfBbCxZGp0" width="320" youtube-src-id="TFfBbCxZGp0"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yes, I said the wrong name for the Sound...it's Core Sound!</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The stars at night were just incredible. With very little light pollution, the sky was filled with stars. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFBL3fQawPX0ZCeqTJklZAML4TozWMFn7C6Cqgl2guGD4jpIlr3n1KZsSC2BO9goZkIcs-wk_wIvHoE2XonJWCwRMD-wuk6nBZ7fc4RR_4I1d7cpXjMMVjlImi96Gw9LYuivsECxVG2M/s2048/IMG_6408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFBL3fQawPX0ZCeqTJklZAML4TozWMFn7C6Cqgl2guGD4jpIlr3n1KZsSC2BO9goZkIcs-wk_wIvHoE2XonJWCwRMD-wuk6nBZ7fc4RR_4I1d7cpXjMMVjlImi96Gw9LYuivsECxVG2M/s320/IMG_6408.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This isn't a great night-sky picture. It was my first attempt.</span></i></div><div>One evening, a couple of spinner sharks put on a show for us. We had never heard of them before, but we were mesmerized by the sight of them jumping and spinning out of the water. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIHryE6ZQ-C3U0HFTe7GP-JK9MyIZhiVYs-RMgVrlrQLI98NoYjWAU1OCK3zpyQuhlSPTBufHW709qkq6h6UijAxuUS-aniWowm0qvlaS24c-NWQP-2rhm8H5xBKfdv2WqNUytYXFnnQ/s650/IMG_6471+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="650" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIHryE6ZQ-C3U0HFTe7GP-JK9MyIZhiVYs-RMgVrlrQLI98NoYjWAU1OCK3zpyQuhlSPTBufHW709qkq6h6UijAxuUS-aniWowm0qvlaS24c-NWQP-2rhm8H5xBKfdv2WqNUytYXFnnQ/s320/IMG_6471+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div>The sunrises were just jaw-dropping. We fell asleep to the sound of the ocean and woke up to this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwy2jL0E5ldhixBKtfpwDjdjw2SZgeSFJDIQItFYL0xzKlulBw3EJfBHKnQ_0Ehqs38D1T68tdw3PQs0FMgOnQoJwmlz2p3mAeBXLhroettwH3780EYOQ3lwdBgEjFv6meLWG6nLspWc/s2048/1005210654_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwy2jL0E5ldhixBKtfpwDjdjw2SZgeSFJDIQItFYL0xzKlulBw3EJfBHKnQ_0Ehqs38D1T68tdw3PQs0FMgOnQoJwmlz2p3mAeBXLhroettwH3780EYOQ3lwdBgEjFv6meLWG6nLspWc/s320/1005210654_HDR.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCq7wm7yl8kNfPrx9bMusAX722t8i2i7YFFMMOzT0seExXBvui1Y2-RW_MdgCdbugYlex4L3GxcjTm4Ub1geVwZ12QJufMhjADJMW0r7ZoAbLO6DdyiQ1TvT07BHUez1E2SpVf5fuVYQ/s2048/1005210654a_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCq7wm7yl8kNfPrx9bMusAX722t8i2i7YFFMMOzT0seExXBvui1Y2-RW_MdgCdbugYlex4L3GxcjTm4Ub1geVwZ12QJufMhjADJMW0r7ZoAbLO6DdyiQ1TvT07BHUez1E2SpVf5fuVYQ/s320/1005210654a_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>We had enough cell signal to text and make calls; I'm not sure if we were further down the beach we would have had the signal. I was actually a little disappointed that we were able to connect with the "real world". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5eRof5LLtJKti0hIqmd3Dq1MZwsyjtKM3TpPy8XmQkB6WDs3EZdWUU1bNhQWJ86K8gzpdtHKZpxe5sPa759rqDo1pYfmZGpm5DIQs3A1lxjMgHNmfRSEOIVio7l3RzoPNbCBr0iftRo/s2048/IMG_6512+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5eRof5LLtJKti0hIqmd3Dq1MZwsyjtKM3TpPy8XmQkB6WDs3EZdWUU1bNhQWJ86K8gzpdtHKZpxe5sPa759rqDo1pYfmZGpm5DIQs3A1lxjMgHNmfRSEOIVio7l3RzoPNbCBr0iftRo/s320/IMG_6512+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div>Walks on the beach whenever I wanted, reading with my toes in the sand...I definitely ended up in the "love it" group. I want to go back and stay longer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosCYngSOjwZ92pa5jhrlC2bIWPq0BJ794ZA5wLrtA2NpT6zX7V5ZHKK0OAvN7bSqoL0LM6oxBy54Az7p9Tw7twUYkfXlViYWk3oNBWyjH4nyo1mNZRT7pa3ZxsKabYxLYZIQTp30A2Rc/s2048/1005211030a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosCYngSOjwZ92pa5jhrlC2bIWPq0BJ794ZA5wLrtA2NpT6zX7V5ZHKK0OAvN7bSqoL0LM6oxBy54Az7p9Tw7twUYkfXlViYWk3oNBWyjH4nyo1mNZRT7pa3ZxsKabYxLYZIQTp30A2Rc/s320/1005211030a.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxSPvRo-SX1tOiPBAowXFJ3ujdmmNVWNtRYW84e6gx7C3f_TzvxHvcApxdcbImCkj2toVJVpkP2wkZCfWVcxXwJqKQ1zGTaZDnKha4qNdTlNYJpwILxQyilIJ1PYIQh8waOZdv36388c/s267/Name+transparent+background.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="267" height="74" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxSPvRo-SX1tOiPBAowXFJ3ujdmmNVWNtRYW84e6gx7C3f_TzvxHvcApxdcbImCkj2toVJVpkP2wkZCfWVcxXwJqKQ1zGTaZDnKha4qNdTlNYJpwILxQyilIJ1PYIQh8waOZdv36388c/w125-h74/Name+transparent+background.png" width="125" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652119790258865832.post-21427433376556074582021-06-03T17:45:00.003-04:002021-06-03T17:45:55.706-04:00Rutherford Beach (Louisiana)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbmv-eLijBbOt1QHNDigiSXMbfWQTVpSKF3HZLflbUvqwhZpjC1qQtHufLYl-FLAxikRWOyFtxuVPmVs0XM6fF_wSJTnq6hXffbE-ABRHuMHHg60K12MbVgQvQVAZ8yZaamlC_vfL2TU/s2048/0101201001a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbmv-eLijBbOt1QHNDigiSXMbfWQTVpSKF3HZLflbUvqwhZpjC1qQtHufLYl-FLAxikRWOyFtxuVPmVs0XM6fF_wSJTnq6hXffbE-ABRHuMHHg60K12MbVgQvQVAZ8yZaamlC_vfL2TU/s320/0101201001a.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">We stayed at this beach for our annual New Year's Camping Trip in 2019. One of our sons lives nearby, so we decided to turn our visit into a camping trip. Robert found this free place to camp; Mary was skeptical. A free beach on New Year's Eve? She could just imagine the place crawling with drunken teenagers. But, it wasn't like that at all. </span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bAc-WM1CETFKIJlk0fJsaJ7r-37V3ai2qEfaqhcbjGBr5bvaAYWaFJoKUXuqRo8Nazan_hk13-mcQy6g6-LYMdBpuFwkCERXI2wHVReI324tKyIV4D8vOibnZC2STWyXuqVzEdAMEiM/s2048/IMG_4520+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bAc-WM1CETFKIJlk0fJsaJ7r-37V3ai2qEfaqhcbjGBr5bvaAYWaFJoKUXuqRo8Nazan_hk13-mcQy6g6-LYMdBpuFwkCERXI2wHVReI324tKyIV4D8vOibnZC2STWyXuqVzEdAMEiM/s320/IMG_4520+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9GCsMTar0UbqAYGAIq96RJcaXYKUu5EaKM1S5SJWaEqkbSGTOl2ksJFJpNHXE-ryZ2m9gNczWKt1oFk6eP4g3G68D6t48_i1lFXZxGoZXzgNYPNu-HUISswEq1poVVrZN0AJRj5bO2E/s2048/IMG_4524+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9GCsMTar0UbqAYGAIq96RJcaXYKUu5EaKM1S5SJWaEqkbSGTOl2ksJFJpNHXE-ryZ2m9gNczWKt1oFk6eP4g3G68D6t48_i1lFXZxGoZXzgNYPNu-HUISswEq1poVVrZN0AJRj5bO2E/s320/IMG_4524+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The white speck in the background is Robert's truck.</div><div style="text-align: left;">When we arrived, we drove down (on the beach) to the furthest place we could. We had that whole section of the beach to ourselves. Well, except for a creepy doll attached to a post.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMtt3jle6ipgmVW3ySAwhZOBLC5AaZ-1dJyebyX2rlcHMXTmC4ELyG6cygpKXWFgfjY2dD37GRHByrf4OZzbSba5IIRCflwFzSfeZ4AA3ix3_t3ncMScP7_rrS-6liJehu6sjRnqdH4A/s2048/1231191125_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMtt3jle6ipgmVW3ySAwhZOBLC5AaZ-1dJyebyX2rlcHMXTmC4ELyG6cygpKXWFgfjY2dD37GRHByrf4OZzbSba5IIRCflwFzSfeZ4AA3ix3_t3ncMScP7_rrS-6liJehu6sjRnqdH4A/w150-h200/1231191125_HDR.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">With visions of Chucky dancing in her head, Mary thought it was best to just let it be. So it stayed.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our campsite was pretty basic. We didn't put the utility tent up since there was no need for privacy. As mentioned above, we had that whole section of the beach to ourselves. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22ZfpBXFgHiW5SWqmgQxigxOZSq3jwbMbC0F-lEIZ_p23XCgJqbGzDRqtNA61Qfx-8siEy7JHgyZKtaIKCv87isjjtOfqdCrUM_E3KGxADFESguBj7CiNu1Nq4tPF4XZ_5ZauyvLgKSY/s2048/IMG_4510+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22ZfpBXFgHiW5SWqmgQxigxOZSq3jwbMbC0F-lEIZ_p23XCgJqbGzDRqtNA61Qfx-8siEy7JHgyZKtaIKCv87isjjtOfqdCrUM_E3KGxADFESguBj7CiNu1Nq4tPF4XZ_5ZauyvLgKSY/s320/IMG_4510+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCR0DUFKGncU2mN21aKbM6tNnhJygotNArpNYpiUiFmbhr1ABDiXNSDWzh84En0sXrtfs1utANLH_iE2lInjqGIycFqEb5neB9-FjQBySrGpmF3x6iS4ead6lxF0Xnf_r8DMBOkRm67uI/s2048/IMG_4529+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCR0DUFKGncU2mN21aKbM6tNnhJygotNArpNYpiUiFmbhr1ABDiXNSDWzh84En0sXrtfs1utANLH_iE2lInjqGIycFqEb5neB9-FjQBySrGpmF3x6iS4ead6lxF0Xnf_r8DMBOkRm67uI/s320/IMG_4529+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>There is a porta-potty available, but it was at the entrance of the beach. We were as far down the beach as we could get. We felt pretty isolated. There is a field on the other side.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLV0Vhb1QIsfMSyxpWqacTW6Alc6MSXihJFUdDxAV7lp8FHCtCFdkqyZJX0l5rpGWJQ18iHFZwVdfvx5ti9-mYkcd656IOCfbRXQH3D0LI3U0sO_dhNxCbbwDT56TXyM4gS95wv_kwuiM/s2048/IMG_4574+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLV0Vhb1QIsfMSyxpWqacTW6Alc6MSXihJFUdDxAV7lp8FHCtCFdkqyZJX0l5rpGWJQ18iHFZwVdfvx5ti9-mYkcd656IOCfbRXQH3D0LI3U0sO_dhNxCbbwDT56TXyM4gS95wv_kwuiM/s320/IMG_4574+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>At night we were treated to beautiful sunsets. The oil rigs in the distance did nothing to deter how beautiful they were.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4TY2hYJ55n5NzpseFAydGrDH0IHnkWB_ds3hrn8w__eaOYGLPSxsX5M_clatS0nwJwniOcZrBmaRgE5pfzH5D_Tc3qPOiSSW_OtFuCRUpW4HlwDIlgeou1v472squjkYua8vDDVs_ApI/s2048/IMG_4544+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4TY2hYJ55n5NzpseFAydGrDH0IHnkWB_ds3hrn8w__eaOYGLPSxsX5M_clatS0nwJwniOcZrBmaRgE5pfzH5D_Tc3qPOiSSW_OtFuCRUpW4HlwDIlgeou1v472squjkYua8vDDVs_ApI/s320/IMG_4544+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Even from December to New Year's, a screen was an absolute must. The <a href="https://www.rhinorack.com/" target="_blank">Rhino-Rack</a> saved us from getting eaten alive at dusk.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkGk7dTM2XMDYyebStVT4ORzK5RlsCs3OqKgcXJPy2yYkvNycbwVrNRzKuIY3HHlkBviMp4Kh14emZdKJrCZtNnVu5mWlTPj6cvJtjdibOijtvYFND7Jp39kwG0XUfRPgJGMkCaIGdWE/s2048/IMG_4514+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkGk7dTM2XMDYyebStVT4ORzK5RlsCs3OqKgcXJPy2yYkvNycbwVrNRzKuIY3HHlkBviMp4Kh14emZdKJrCZtNnVu5mWlTPj6cvJtjdibOijtvYFND7Jp39kwG0XUfRPgJGMkCaIGdWE/s320/IMG_4514+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>We had plenty of cell signal. We were able to stream movies, check email, and check social media.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUYsvT6QBwouaiKImd-b4QvXpypBJFV4sbSp9koDewSdSQvS1Hc5FshLWycWoQWvafYNyrWMOTeyQTGYgMMADbT6wOatYqr0XfE180_dAVdZklRCMhUxinWNito2VdpJo7trsTk2fwpk/s2048/0101200635a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUYsvT6QBwouaiKImd-b4QvXpypBJFV4sbSp9koDewSdSQvS1Hc5FshLWycWoQWvafYNyrWMOTeyQTGYgMMADbT6wOatYqr0XfE180_dAVdZklRCMhUxinWNito2VdpJo7trsTk2fwpk/s320/0101200635a.jpg" /></a></div>We just put Robert's tablet in the pouch at the top of the tent and we had a perfect place to lay on our cots and watch a movie.<div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Fires are allowed on the beach, so Mary enjoyed her first-ever beach fire. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5cATPuZhsbji5LY8hvzGgePb9TEhnV8MrSdQyC3epNX7iXc80R0hJ6Rqq6CtlYMyfNHboD7ZspiZeHg7_uSxjITcCUim3WO3NITOPJ1CJ3U1Tgb7K7NfOw41fACoHghj8X0TQctwv9M/s2048/1231191710a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5cATPuZhsbji5LY8hvzGgePb9TEhnV8MrSdQyC3epNX7iXc80R0hJ6Rqq6CtlYMyfNHboD7ZspiZeHg7_uSxjITcCUim3WO3NITOPJ1CJ3U1Tgb7K7NfOw41fACoHghj8X0TQctwv9M/s320/1231191710a.jpg" /></a></div>We enjoyed our couple of days here. We were entertained by dolphins swimming close to the shoreline.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcVDPZBo3GeVSLzZLEkm7wng4l0dG2_Cgcl0IzN332PEX2t1jrFRjzsOSzEHq-X2APm8sEUcfZO5rPyiARLGfzPXnqMS1rRH-60mKRqQopjRHPa7zXlt4jX6pzUMDvmb8N7PSyfStr_A/s815/IMG_4611+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="815" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcVDPZBo3GeVSLzZLEkm7wng4l0dG2_Cgcl0IzN332PEX2t1jrFRjzsOSzEHq-X2APm8sEUcfZO5rPyiARLGfzPXnqMS1rRH-60mKRqQopjRHPa7zXlt4jX6pzUMDvmb8N7PSyfStr_A/s320/IMG_4611+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYd2CsUZgZzBaSQXZZoIFt0ugFGBhw6eAE2SOOl8g-mZvojih2MwZ3W9JqltEO9LTDgFjhL-CcL7aj9MWPoqPEIBb1MQruUPnqHX4IoxMxa4mXo-aDEu_yNZoSRtt1pZ0kn5WLbDl6HJw/s663/IMG_4621+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="663" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYd2CsUZgZzBaSQXZZoIFt0ugFGBhw6eAE2SOOl8g-mZvojih2MwZ3W9JqltEO9LTDgFjhL-CcL7aj9MWPoqPEIBb1MQruUPnqHX4IoxMxa4mXo-aDEu_yNZoSRtt1pZ0kn5WLbDl6HJw/s320/IMG_4621+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pYAco11v453GFcEM1A1qWp7ds7cdn_9s_Hub7dI0eDcLtX6BQq4EMKvt7xZURll6N9C-i3NvkBAiYH58spOG2ZYJ5RBgupnAExQdggJmD5o7ym12-O56qk6SwHbIrtqPMI1mxa_r5so/s2048/IMG_4634+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1227" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pYAco11v453GFcEM1A1qWp7ds7cdn_9s_Hub7dI0eDcLtX6BQq4EMKvt7xZURll6N9C-i3NvkBAiYH58spOG2ZYJ5RBgupnAExQdggJmD5o7ym12-O56qk6SwHbIrtqPMI1mxa_r5so/s320/IMG_4634+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdBChlMqpNSGuW8Yk8SHeIWximuHg5gBtOX2QdQGedaOvwL3iTaCLQUsJ0jK_Een5Q7R6bU8GcYmNwsEyiylyc7TbXkU7Uyxiud-YScb3axTxJpmAjeDE9YX9q6UQyRpjI_CWF5GIWPY/s1390/IMG_4683+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="1390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdBChlMqpNSGuW8Yk8SHeIWximuHg5gBtOX2QdQGedaOvwL3iTaCLQUsJ0jK_Een5Q7R6bU8GcYmNwsEyiylyc7TbXkU7Uyxiud-YScb3axTxJpmAjeDE9YX9q6UQyRpjI_CWF5GIWPY/s320/IMG_4683+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DpNnZCHtS5vPO1aQKmvUNQE8CFJQlYEHlB0eDlhKfuVfZ0B3kLQVqqy5aBx25yd4M2oZNmWVbo9tmQ2ZaT7sxdC8D6YIE7phMjkZWUCfzIVD-4JEuPIE6fcB8jBg7pSJkDPt7LNcvqQ/s998/IMG_4684+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="998" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DpNnZCHtS5vPO1aQKmvUNQE8CFJQlYEHlB0eDlhKfuVfZ0B3kLQVqqy5aBx25yd4M2oZNmWVbo9tmQ2ZaT7sxdC8D6YIE7phMjkZWUCfzIVD-4JEuPIE6fcB8jBg7pSJkDPt7LNcvqQ/s320/IMG_4684+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFg1SOmMjlN_2_L-PCxA7K0s1nUWMks-Uv75UG7wLtnaM5MqdqLpLdk4VE5l6Enq9y8Zy-orZfbyOMjgqmZ5iAf-GE8X73ezEw4fcufu5FBhm9bK1a3_SKK3kERlClMBdRrQckPr9kyg/s1213/IMG_4745+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFg1SOmMjlN_2_L-PCxA7K0s1nUWMks-Uv75UG7wLtnaM5MqdqLpLdk4VE5l6Enq9y8Zy-orZfbyOMjgqmZ5iAf-GE8X73ezEw4fcufu5FBhm9bK1a3_SKK3kERlClMBdRrQckPr9kyg/s320/IMG_4745+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>There is no water or electricity here so make sure you bring your own or do without. Definitely take out what you bring in. We cleaned up around the site a bit when we got there, but some things had to stay.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLh1h9t2JN6Mh9vmMdBF1QfrHouLaFNX8xDAXoI529lxkr-BrZbIF8WLYT7ROySZoxy0zcmIG2uvIVkU2BaU_T0tA5OFts9QIC0_0IiLHUhiuJfly4kUNiukNOxMqFh_3Hl7Xn3oqr40/s2048/IMG_4571+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLh1h9t2JN6Mh9vmMdBF1QfrHouLaFNX8xDAXoI529lxkr-BrZbIF8WLYT7ROySZoxy0zcmIG2uvIVkU2BaU_T0tA5OFts9QIC0_0IiLHUhiuJfly4kUNiukNOxMqFh_3Hl7Xn3oqr40/s320/IMG_4571+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeCO90LgBl3HuZNB2-lx7ySvB5KSdgBqYIXPYRrwon9eAELt5_C-XwL9MkgKqMWTwmxNdKJH-s-eH7JaYwX6FkoFfOBKJy59AeSm8QLc5dhltl2uZrTzzvtSFT8hlfmkdhTxeoT-Zg8M/s2048/IMG_4572+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeCO90LgBl3HuZNB2-lx7ySvB5KSdgBqYIXPYRrwon9eAELt5_C-XwL9MkgKqMWTwmxNdKJH-s-eH7JaYwX6FkoFfOBKJy59AeSm8QLc5dhltl2uZrTzzvtSFT8hlfmkdhTxeoT-Zg8M/s320/IMG_4572+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Would we stay here again? Most definitely. Keep in mind that our stay was before Hurricanes Laura and Zeta, so we aren't sure what Rutherford Beach looks like today. We found that it was very calming and peaceful to camp on the beach and feel like we were all alone. There were some campers closer to the beach gate, but no more than 10 campers were there. In fact, I would say it was more like 5 or 6 and only 3 of them (not counting ourselves) were right on the beach. The best part about it was the price!<br /><div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11533317405680450964noreply@blogger.com0