Campsite Full

When we decide to move to the Moab, Utah, area on a Friday Dave checked out a local state park to see how crowded it might be. There was only one site left so he reserved it. We seldom make reservations but we aren’t prepared to do much boondocking in this new RV yet and this being prime time in this part of the world, competition for sites with electrical hook-ups can be fierce. Especially since a lot of campgrounds around here are still closed for winter.

So as we pulled up to Dead Horse Point State Park we weren’t surprised to see the sign say, “Campground Full.” Fortunately, we arrived early in the day when most of the sites were still empty because it was too early for new arrivals to come. We blocked the campground road a long time before we finally got our RV into our assigned site. We think this site was available only because it had a maximum RV length of 38 feet and most class A motorhomes are 40 feet long. They ask you how long your RV is when you make a reservation but no one asks how wide it is. This site was narrow. To make things even more challenging the asphalt curved.

The utility pedestal was on the wrong side of the site so we considered pulling in instead of backing in but that would have meant driving the wrong way a short distance along the road. Since we weren’t sure how busy traffic would be at departure time we decided not to risk it. Also, we weren’t sure we would be able to open all our slides so backing in would let us open the most important one.

Here’s a picture of the passenger side once we got backed in showing the electrical hookup being on the wrong side.

And here’s the driver’s side just barely still on the asphalt.

And here’s the car tucked in front just off the road.

With the big slide out, Dave had to walk around the rocks to get the electrical cord from its storage compartment. Fortunately, it did reach all the way over the the pedestal so we have a 50 amp electrical hookup which means we can run our air conditioning if it gets really hot here.

When we opened the living room slide, it bumped a tree.

I didn’t realise how close it was until I later when I closed a window there and smelled the fresh pine needles that got crushed in the window. We won’t be opening that window anymore while we are here.

We took one look at the picnic table’s shelter and decide not to even try opening the bedroom slide.

But we are safely tucked in for the weekend and there is much to see here. Are you coming along to see the sights?

TTYL,

Linda

More Zany Brain

Railroad car wheels loaded on a semi-truck. There’s just something inherently wrong with that.

Well, it’s one point of view I guess. Big Bully.

I saw a van with an ad for Rock Star Energy Drink and a huge wifi signal graphic. The van is a wifi hot spot? Are you supposed to chase it down the road while computing?

A Cruise America RV went by and Dave said, “That’s what we’re doing.” He got that right. But, I’m sure glad we aren’t doing it in one of those Cruise America RVs with their obnoxious graphics.

A billboard said, ” Animals are kids, too. Don’t abandon them.” I know a lot of people who think their pets are kids but unless they or another human gave birth to them it is not true. Unless they are baby goats. We shouldn’t abandon our pets anymore than we should abandon our children but pets are not kids no matter how much you love yours.

Another billboard said, “We cordially invite you to act your shoe size.” I have no idea what they were advertising but it is an interesting concept. I wear a size eight. When I’m playing, eight is a good age to be but not when I feel like throwing a tantrum.

I like being the navigator when we are driving Interstate freeways. For three days the directions were I-15 north to I-70 east to Colorado exit 19. Even I could remember those.

As we crossed the Arizona border there was a sign that said, “Commercial vehicles must proceed to port of entry 30 miles.” That port of entry turned out to be in Utah. How does Arizona know if you went that far or not? How can they require you to pass through their state then come back before you turn to their interior?

Another billboard said, “What happens in Siever County you can share with your friends.” This is in response to “What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas.”  I never understood that last one anyway. I’m sure if I lost lots of money in Vegas, Dave would know about it. Plus, it would probably become a good campfire story.

Utah’s anti-litter slogan is “Don’t Waste Utah.” Instead of wasting it, use it all up?

We drove by some stony ground covered with a white material I think is salt. Is this where they get rock salt?

The exit sign said, “Ranch Exit.” Is there is a town named Ranch? Apparently not. Several miles later there was another Ranch Exit sign with the milepost listed above it. Then another one with a different mileage. Apparently, Utah has a lot of exits that lead only to private ranches. Some signs added “No Services.” In other words, don’t get off here unless you are headed for a particular ranch. Is that a Western Welcome? If so, don’t look for their wagon.

A sign said the next rest area had vending machines. I can’t read one of those without thinking Cheetos. It’s probably a good thing we didn’t stop there.

Then a sign said, “Eagles on Hwy.” The Eagles? A music festival?

OK. That’s enough to let you know I’m still out here. I’m working on a blog that started with about a hundred photographs. I’m trying to get them down to a more reasonable number before I post them. Watch this space.

TTYL,

Linda

Easter Surprise

When I think of an Easter surprise my first thought is of Faberge who made the phrase famous.

From www.stpetersburger.com/, “The great tradition to give eggs for Easter goes back to ancient times. In Russia tsars always presented painted eggs to their confidants. Among the Easter eggs the world famous name was gained by Faberge’s firm that created eggs with surprises from gold, silver and presious stones. The first Faberge eggs was produced in 1884 for the tzar Alexander III.”

My second thought tends to be of the original Easter surprise: the empty tomb of Jesus of Nazareth.

The surprise I got this year has nothing to do with either of those, though.

I was sitting home alone when our RV started shaking. My first thought was that the strong wind gusts predicted for Monday came early. I was surprised they shook our RV so much because we are parked in a fairly sheltered spot. Then, I looked out the side window and the trees weren’t blowing.

My second thought was that friends had arrived unexpectedly and were shaking the RV. So I opened the front curtain but no one was there.

So, when Dave came home I told him I thought there was something wrong with our jacks because they didn’t provide the stability I expected.

That was when I learned I’d just experienced an earthquake! Its center wasn’t very close so it wasn’t very strong here but it sure was a surprise.

TTYL,

Linda