Meanderings Of An Abject Fool

I’m old so get used to this up early thing. Stayed groovy lodge

After leaving I checked face it was trifle swollen one side and because galevanting cross country new gotta be pulled.

Tried for dentist but like barbershop always closed on Monday dentist always closed on Friday. Ran to urgent care doc said no matter what they gonna send you here first so I can give prescription antibiotics. It makes their life easier.

Took pills and headed north to Oregon.

Sawtooth camp extremely difficult to get to. Took mighty long time and I only saw side by sides and got so bad had to turn around. Did I mention also no signal of course.

At this point expecting a picture and would like to share but on this one gravel lane and constantly moving over to share it a picture would mean certain death. As I’m not this means no pictures. Sorry.

My mouth feeling much better and am at state campground also from outta state so that means 40 bucks. I did get here just in time. Lots of people camping.

I’ll leave tomorrow early morning. Pretty sure next stop Cascades. I’ll be staying few days hiking and oh yeah getting a tooth extracted.

Thing is sawtooth mighty big place. Several entrances usually I check for campgrounds but was in hurry and not thinking just put in the park and it was only 58 miles away worse decision of the day.

Before that the morning hike at Craters of The Moon. Lovely and highly unusual place it’s a shame most including me never heard of it. Huge black lava flows everywhere made for an extraordinary morning.

Okay morning spent hiking on the moon. Time to get move on to Sawtooth. As I said before pretty big place and great drive…to bad I picked wrong entrance. But again drive cool at least after Ketchum.

Ketchum let’s go to that this is not a place for the bourgeois. They just the helpers the do what they’re tolders. They don’t live here can’t while I have no idea what it costs this is small town of 100 million, billions aires. Peruvian Nuevo cuisine check. The chi institute for mental gymnastics check. A performing arts center to rival big “real cities “. Hell even a doggy thrift shop better than any I’ve seen for actual humans. It’s a small town that would be perfect for walking where no one does. Traffic nightmare indeed. I imagine had I come in winter prime ski time I’d even be depressed but now just kinda funny,as in strange, and creepy.

In any case I left with great expediency and it took two hours to get to better entrance. Too much time with the ultra rich so campgrounds all full up. But lovely lodge or independent motel (extremely old school) had a room which ment shower and repacking. It’s much nicer than doing at campgrounds.

Early up maybe tomorrow and off to Hells Canyon great name and if it’s any indication they probably have a great house band.

Late to bed early to rise makes a man or at least me cranky. I slept in car as it was raining and didn’t want to take extra time for tent drying. Good thing bout car camping is everything set up to leave early. I left at approximately 4 in the am.

I start driving and on breaks start looking more into the Niagara of west and get less and less enthusiastic. I get campground paranoia.There are very few and by that I mean none within hour’s drive so I’m thinking to do what only a guy with no schedule can do change it.

Not wanting to drive eight hours I set up dyrt app for a stop in middle. The problem arouse when no matter how I put it in I ended at same campsite on Antelope island. It was lovely but I wanted something new instead I drove all day. Plenty to see.

When I was a child next neighbor liked to see what she could get away with instead of ring doorbell and run she’d ring and see what she could get away with. She went from door to door with me in tow asking for donations to visit Idaho “it’s the potato state”. Her nefarious plan never came about but I was close to the Idaho potato museum so why not.

Left there and found next stop craters of the moon monument. Large black lava fields that look very moonish.

Set up camp met my neighbors. At theses smaller stops the folk are generally and genuinely more civil decent just extremely kind. Joy and Tim were kind enough to pull out maps I gave general direction the told me stop at sawtooth and hells canyon on way to Washington state and the cascades. It meets itinerary perfectly. Thinks guys you’re extremely groovy. Hike tomorrow leave day after.

Rained all night but slept well in tent none the less. Yesterday I got in some walking and saw the sights learned a wee bit bout fossils.

That being said today was about that other kind of fossil the prehistoric bits o algae, plants and teeny tiny microorganisms. Not as glamorous as a Dino but in today’s world extremely important.

I’ve been going from park to park and my car nanny said it was time for an oil change. I checked my sticker when I got last and nanny was correct.

Back at temp homestead and looking like rain again I decided to car camp again. It’s gonna rain and tent gotta be dry or mold. No time for that in wee hours of morning so I packed up set up back of ecosport for napping.

If weather holds for a bit there’s a small trail going from one camp to another that runs along a stream. Perhaps one more hike in today.

Concerning the hike it’s a no. Not much of trail and lots of ants. I’m sure they are the dangerous fire ant(not really) that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

I’ll be leaving the park er monument tomorrow. If wondering why I screw up the designation it’s because this should be a park and it’s huge, beautiful , and lots of stuff to learn about. St. Louis Arch became one in 2000 now that’s a monument plus no camping least you get mugged. The problem is Colorado and Utah both battling over who going to be big dog and neither will give an inch per the Ranger who also thinks it’s stupid state version of D__K measuring.

Coming soon the Niagara of the west.

Left approaching 4 and not soon enough(city not oasis). Even at early hour still stupid crowded and impatient.

Filled tank and drove ditto ditto on and on. Kept at no stopping not cause I didn’t want gas but there were none to be had. I had to break my 1/2 tank rule which is supposed to be 3/4 tank rule. Then it was spotted.

Close now Google map tells me so also other clues.

Today short as I’m staying an extra day. Setting up camp and a short extremely warm hike. I’m told bring extra water and sunscreen both appreciated and necessary.

Back at camp which had several lizards writing this and holy poop a downpour. Tomorrow is hot hiking day. Oodles to do and oodles to sweat.

By the time I woke the kids in BLM park we finally asleep. I’m sure they and the music went to bed round midnight. I wanted to scream while waiting for them to quiet down but it’s a free park with no time limit. This means no concern for anyone. Made me feel extremely old wanting to yell “Hey kids get off my lawn”!!!! The fact that it’s not mine made little difference but I stayed quiet anyway.

Got out by 3:30 and left in dark just as well as I already saw so much I felt confident I’d be groovy.

My app(I’m not a Luddite) Dyrt is great and takes care of everything. I put in parameters of getting to Dino National Monument how many hours drive a day price and it takes care of rest. I’d have a night stay in Utah at state park Antelope Island. I was sure it was like naming a place Coconut Grove in Iowa to bring in tourists. I was wrong!!!!!

The drove over brought little it appears while there’s mountains (always just on the horizon) I never hit em. No choice in Montana but in these two states the highway always goes around and stays flat Ugg.

Pee o’clock and I’m in Utah took a while but first rest stop beckoned and I needed resting.

Moving to fast to take pictures apparently patients isn’t quite the virtue for LDS(it’s a joke get used to it jeez).

On way in Utah saw a horse ranch and a dead one side of road. But coolest thing perhaps was the enormous solar farm. Several types dig solar. 1-utilitarians 2-eco fanatics 3 preppers 4 those waiting for the apocalypse. Many times it’s all of em. My guess is the latter two for this crowd. Solar rocks so I’m all good.

This grooviest accident of the day. As I said I just picked cause it only a night and cheap did I mention and beautiful?

I didn’t know this but antelope island is largest in great salt lake if reservations open id stay longer but I got lucky with one night.

Tomorrow wake up early again Dino’s are calling but like so many stops…gotta come back.

Sadly had to leave Glacier and do so early. Getting up to site in daytime isn’t great but leaving in the dark makes former seem so.

Not many pictures as I was in rush. Another first come first serve sit. I was not.

About 4 hour trip and it was packed with locals throwing me that kinda look that says “don’t know ya don’t wanna Mr outlier. No space no problem it was probably gonna get loud and I prefer the not loud.

As of yet I haven’t been close to running out of gas as I fill often. It makes it look cheaper and if no gas around (like today) no problem. Went couple hours on satellite no reception and down to1/2 tank which I hate. Drove to a town called melrose that had pictures of gas and restaurant on exit sign. 3 miles down couldn’t find either. So driving back and there it was”Bar Gas Casino” this was a local joint absolutely no franchise in this town. Compared to these lovely folk the campers were positively animated with joy at my being there.

Kept driving going south to see Dino in Idaho tomorrow but where tonight? Got clear of no reception and there it was no charge BLM site I’d stayed at a few ago free and serene(not exactly)but it rhymes better than quiet.

Here’s the problem with being able to change direction at drop of a hat. Everyone else planned for weeks and I plan hours. Up early as I’m Idaho bound and want a spot.

Drove most of day pretty exhausted. Stopped at BLM campground/ fishing hole best part nobody but me sleeping. Second best part free.

Raining and bout 33 when arrived. Definitely no tent setup today. After arriving instead of setting up tent I reorganized the back of Echosport moving stuff to one side and organizing stuff putting the extremely necessary next to hatch or a door.

I started very early still brisk as hell and here’s cool thing. Perhaps a Montana thing. I went from cold to snowy to rainy and back to perfect as I drove

I had read that the last bit of road to glacier had its challenges. Perhaps not for truckers used to it but for me? Let’s throw a big uh huh!! The last stretch was more than a challenge it could charitably be called a glorified logging road. No stops no place to pull over just occasional sand ramp in case trucks breaks go out.

Last 30 miles or so was the less than pristine logging road but I made it to glacier.

Woke early for a hike before people start arriving, they never did which I don’t understand. WiFi ain’t here, cell nonexistent, and to get satellite you’ve gotta do the chicken dance facing southwest between trees sometimes. But the cool part is most of those things. I have no idea what is happening in the world!!! That’s a + I didn’t think of.

Hiking early this is view of start.

Started hike not long bout 7 miles I stopped when I needed wellies and came back but beautiful the whole way.

At beginning

Got back hungry noticed a store on way to camp but apparently not just any store.

Problem going is ya gotta come back. It kinda like lomard street in San Francisco but longer, rockier, one car only fits so you watch corners and play dodge car.

Longer

Alas my journey complete for the day any way and routine developing. Clean rearrange luggage and start planning next leg of trip. Heard a podcast concerning a Dinosaur National Monument!!! Not on list but closer it’ll make for good next stop. That being said I can’t research or plan cause did I mention no connection to outside world. So very nice.

I know some asked me to post everyday but kinda impossible when 20 miles from Canada border in mountains where luxury of all luxuries they had a toilet.