RV Travel in North America: 2021 July Casper, WY to OR

Final workday at a hospital in Casper, WY we have lunch with staff members Mitch, Cathy, Tommy. Tanya gets to meet the team that I enjoyed a great working relationship with. Sharing stories of enjoyable food, travel, people and places we had a great time. The Team gives cards and farewell gifts to me to show their appreciation for our work together. I know our travels will bring us this way again and Tanya and I will surely stop in to say hello.

Staying the night in Rawlins, WY near the train tracks, Tanya is reminded of a time in her childhood watching trains come and go, wondering what sights they see on the way.

Stopping briefly at Visitor Center of Green River they had history of mining development changing from coal to Trona – a mineral used to make soda ash which is then used in bicarbonate of soda. Many household and commercial uses.

While there Tanya captures pictures of a Bald Eagle with the fledgling. This was from above so you can see into the nest!

Sopping at Fort Bridger State Historic site was worth the 2-hour tour. Genuine materials, tools and exhibits. A replica of the Fort through Wyoming State and several original buildings tour. The museum taught a lot of history. Jim Bridger a mountain man trapping furs, then once the fur trade ended Jim opened a trading post to serve the emigrants traveling the Oregon Trail, California Trail, Bozeman Trail and Morman Trail. Not too much past Fort Bridger the trails separate.

Tom asked and learned that the large animal dropping round in shape were Moose! Quite a discussion about animal poop and the resident Moose followed. The female Moose had 1 child and last year pushed the child away to be on its own for another baby was along the way. Occasionally the bull Moose returns to visit his family who remain at the Fort year around.

Salt Lake City, UT touring “This is The Place" where Brigham Young brought the Morman settlers. There were 2 weddings being set up and Covid rules resulted in there not being any Docents around. This is a very major difference from the last time I visited. Learning history, customs, trails of the settlers while viewing their homes contributed highly to the experience. So today turned out to be a short walking tour instead.

OH, MY there’s a Trader Joe’s! My lovely bride gets her shopping fix! Hmmm not enough room in the refrigerator, guess what’s for dinner honey!

The next morning as we travel away from Salt Lake City to see “Golden Spike National Historic Site" we text fellow travelers Leesa and Joy to see where they are. They text back that they are at Antelope Island, Salt Lake, UT! Woa they are 10 miles away from where we camped last night! Such an amazing coincidence!

Visiting Golden Spike National Historic Site first we will return and stay over with them. A very good stop, informative and photogenic.

Steam power locomotive, 1 is wood fired one is coal fired. Back in the day there was no coal development on the west coast, so they used wood. Tom spoke to the engineers at length and learned the sequence of operation for these locomotives.

Promontory point was abandoned not long after being built for a shorter and less hills on the south side of the Salt Lake was built. The only thing there now is the National Park Service, the town is gone, shops, businesses, ranches are all gone.

We go over to Antelope Island and camp out with friends Leesa and Joy! Wow what a small world, I inadvertently said we have connected in 4 different states over several years. Lo and behold Joy counted them up and YES I was right! Isn’t amazing how you can make friends and continue to reconnect during multiyear travels! I love this life 😊

We toured the island first day, hiking up a point of land to see across the lake at the mountains ringing the valley – all covered in snow. This is the beginning of May and desert wildflowers show at times, lots of greening in grasses and trees and shrubs. The sagebrush also has a bit of brightness to it. I am happy to report that my stop smoking efforts are paying off, I can hike to the hilltop and not feel pain from breathing like I expected. I could hike when I smoked but was short winded. Now I fear too much expansion will create pain and damage these tender lungs. NOT - all is well, I will continue on this path to quit smoking!

The next stop was a ranch on the southern end of the island, walking through the buildings we discover how the sheep are sheared and prepared for shipment or return to the range. Some amazing machinery, easy to determine their purpose for the most part.

The wagon that a sheepherder would live in year-round! VERY EARLY RV’er!

Inside the Sheepherder RV

Second day as Tanya and Leesa work, Joy and I travel around, walking put to the water, seeing the visitor center then going into town for a “carnivore” lunch! The others of our team are vegetarians, and it was nice to rejoice in an old-fashioned Bar–B-Que!

Time to find a new place to camp and we go to the Lodge where Tanya and I stayed a few days ago. At that time no one was there! This time there were plenty of cars about. So, parking and going inside I ask if its ok for non-members to park overnight? Most time this is ok, here the local ordinances have made trouble, so they are allowed to stay in the general parking for just the night. Over beers, wines and Kalua we discuss options to membership for our traveling friends. No luck here for our traveling companions do not stay in one place long enough to go through the orientation and initiation process. Oh well, maybe next time.

Leaving our friends for now, we travel into Idaho, see Shoshone Falls (disappointing for irrigation takes so much of the water) on toward Oregon we are traveling a 2-lane road (Hwy 20) over to Bend, OR. VERY beautiful drive along a swollen creek (also used for irrigation) stopping Burns, OR at the County Fair for the night.

We like this kind of driving, exploring “off the beaten path locations” poking around the towns, villages, highways and byways of this USA. Mmmmmm I love it!

Catching up with my brother Bob, oops I only have 1 brother, 4 sisters…. We set up camp along the Deschutes River near Warm Springs, OR. Each day I learn more from Bob, refresh (with some coaching) my casting skills, reading the water, reading the insects and absolutely having a great time flyfishing the Deschutes River during the Salmonfly Hatch. Unfortunately, there is not enough Salmonflies just yet. By the weekend we head out to the Oregon Valley for Mother’s Day. Maybe come back next week and the Salmonflies will be in full swing.

Here is a picture of “slot legal” (allowed to keep between 10”-13” only) a fish for Tanya’s lunch.

We stop for the night with Brother Bob at home with Tanya’s Sisters Jan and Bunnie it’s fun to catch up. Right away the next day were off to Mom’s for the Mother’s Day weekend.

Mom is doing well! Meals, chats and spending time together is always enjoyable. This is the Lady who herded cats during Dad’s military career of 6 kids! Now is her time to enjoy life and we are planning a 6-week trip with Mom and brother Bob’s family. Taking RVs through Northwest, Midwest, seeing National Parks, Presidential Libraries, Visit family in Wisconsin. Can't wait to start in June!

Took care of few “honey do’s” at Moms before heading back over the mountains to continue fishing on the Deschutes River. Did not catch the Salmonfly Hatch yet, they are slow to start this year, after 2 weeks we came back over the mountains to brother Bob’s house where the RV developed an electrical short. Both Bob and I worked for a week on it before giving up and taking it to a shop for repairs. Waiting now for them to fix it so we can start our journey.

Leesa and Joy join us at Bob’s house in their RV while we are waiting, and we all had some great conversations with the RV’s sitting in a circle similar to “circle the wagons”.

Taking the RV to the shop

This is the 2^nd time that I have been near brother Bob’s when I had a significant breakdown. How lucky are we that Bob has space for us in his home, ability to tow the RV to a shop!