Les Schwab is the Best!

Yesterday we discovered a leak in one RV tire. All tire places were closed because it was Sunday in Salt Lake City. This morning we got our fastest start ever and arrived at Les Schwab just before they opened. They repaired the tire and gave us a couple of parts that will help if we have the problem again (you'll have to ask Gary what the problem was, something about the valve stem, I think). When Gary went to pay, there was NO CHARGE! So we got on the road to Wyoming earlier than any day we've ever traveled with big smiles on our faces.

We drove a beautiful route from Utah thru Idaho to Thayne, WY. The trees were changing color, saw lots of reds in the distance and yellows up close.


Learned something about altitude this morning. A cup of tea takes 1 minute 45 seconds to be the perfect temperature to drink at home. In Salt Lake City it only took 1 minute, after I cleaned up the mess from the first attempt.


They had luxurious pooper scooper bags at the KOA in Salt Lake City. The bottoms were double lined (see the photo). I am amazed at how many different kinds of pooper scooper bags we have seen as we travel.











Elsie wore herself out "driving" with Gary again today. She would not lie down, had to stand up, leaning against me, watching the road the whole day. She is now relaxed in exhausted slumber.

Tomorrow we drive the CR-V to Jackson, WY to see the sights. It will seem strange to be in the small car instead of the huge RV. I'll tell you about this beautiful RPI park tomorrow.

Arriving in Utah

We have a new routine in the RV this trip. Tule does the usual sleeping while we drive, but Elsie seems to need to help navigate. She has to watch where we are going and doesn't get much rest until we stop. She is still being good, but has to watch that road!






The biggest excitement of the morning was spotting this sign. Gary insisted on a photo.


The large white area in the background of the last photo is amazing--most of the way from the border until we were almost at Salt Lake City we saw this white substance . We decided it must be salt flats. Although after seeing the white rocks around a gas station we determined there are a lot of white things around here. The main difference between Nevada and Utah is a distinct straightening of the freeway and all the white flat areas. Eventually there are also white areas on mountains. Like I said, lots of white stuff.

When we finally got to Salt Lake City we spent quite a bit of time driving around being impressed with how clean the area is. We went on the tour of Temple Square--very impressive. This RV park is beautiful--much different from last night. Although we got some great sleep in the quiet of Wells, NV.

Knitters only

I finished the cashmere scarf for my Mom. I was afraid she'd be cold in the RV (she is cold a lot these days) so I started working on my first lace scarf. I was so happy to finish it before she joins us in Billings, MT. You can see the pins in the photo--I was blocking it. I am very pleased with the way it turned out.

Britta's book!

This is your commercial break:

Go to EerieElegance.com to read about Britta's first book. So far it has been quite successful, selling 70 some copies in the first two weeks and it can only be ordered online so far. If you go to her site and click on ordering it thru Amazon.com, you can see 3 reviews written by people who have bought the book and don't really know Britta! Two of them have never met her.

If you want an autographed copy, you can email her and ask for her to send you one and she will be happy to do it. Otherwise, the easiest way is to order it online. Enjoy! It really is a good book if you are into Halloween, lots of good recipes and how to make things.

Heading across Nevada

I know I am easily entertained. It was so exciting to see old fashioned telephone poles! I remember leaning against the window as my Dad drove us across Montana on our way to North Dakota and watching the telephone poles go by. The only other thing to see other than farmland were the Burma Shave signs, so telephone poles were the big entertainment on the long drive--back in the olden days. ; )

Learned something new at one of the rest stops--we didn't realize President Eisenhower was the one to start the ball rolling on Interstate Highways. Also learned that the grassy looking stuff at the Rest Areas is not grassy and has lots of awful stickers to get stuck in dog's paws. We are now only walking on pavement and gravel and bare dirt.

Poor Gary stubbed his toe just before we left Roseville and it is lots of pretty colors now. It is sticking out a little funny, too. He pulled on it to straighten it out, but it is either dislocated or broken. We are very thankful for cruise control.

Resort Parks International--sounds like these should be nice places, right? All the other RPI's we've stayed at have been lovely. This photo is the "clubhouse" at this RPI in Wells, NV. There is only space for about 12-15 motorhomes and all gravel and dirt. There are a few trees, one of which is new to us and full of stickers. Lots of stickers inhabit this high desert.

We drove through Battle Mountain, which is one of those places where if you blink you miss it. Then Gary decided we should not eat lunch in the RV, so we stopped in Elko. We found a Pizza Hut that is still a sit-down restaurant and we had a ball people watching--it was very busy. There were two teenage boys having a birthday party and a mother with 5 daughters ranging in age from about 2 to 12, plus two of their friends. So far this was the highlight of the trip--laughed the whole time we were waiting for our food. Good thing, since my pizza did the usual thing and didn't arrive. Gary was finished eating and we finally asked for it to go. Got out to the RV to eat it and sure enough--they put sauce on it, so it is now Gary's. Smelled good, though.

No TV here tonight so I am going to knit. Couldn't talk Gary into a game of Scrabble. He is resting. Tomorrow we hope to get going early so we can spend some time seeing Salt Lake City.

Blogging along again--

Sept. 26, 2008

Got going about an hour later than originally planned. As we loaded the food in the RV, lots of neighbors dropped by to talk about the truck theft in the neighborhood earlier in the week. Finally got underway about 11 a.m.

Of course, right after we let the dogs out for their last potty visit to our yard they both got in the pool and were thoroughly wet as we started our trip.

I-80 up to Reno was so bumpy, I couldn't blog or read emails very well, or even knit. It was unbelievably rough. The curves didn't help, either, but it was the bumpiness that got to the dogs and me. Nevada roads are nice and smooth, even though the scenery is a bit boring thru the high desert.

After our GPS got confused and we drove around and around Winnemucca, we finally found our very nice RV park. It even has a tiny dog area where they can be off the leash. Had a little trouble hooking up the electricity. At first only half the plug-ins worked and no tv. A little troubleshooting (about an hour's worth) got us up and running on all circuits.

Now we're pooped and ready for a good night's sleep. Nice and cool out right now. Love this cooler weather!