Meanderings Of An Abject Fool

This one gonna be short and not a bunch of pictures, perhaps none.

Surprise!!!!!!! I stayed in till 5am that’s a record for me at least. At 10 off to get a yanking…of tooth.

It is a groovy day. Perfect temperature, , nice breeze, not cloudy at all and then there’s the tooth to take it all and ruin it.

Got on road immediately had over an hour drive. It’s a real shame they couldn’t make parks more convenient. Closer to town perhaps? I mean the gateway arch is a park and in a town St Louis..,yes I know it’s really not a park it’s a monument regardless of what it’s deemed and it kinda sucks.

I started round of antibiotics couple few days ago which gonna make this go faster and it does. In our 45 minutes with a mouthful of gauze and enough new rules to choke a snake.

Can’t use straw or anything really in mouth for days. Drinks okay as long as cold. Hot is bad. Why no straw suction is bad. Gotta let blood clot to protect the extraction site. Extremely difficult to do in one’s mouth.

It’s not just straws you suck on I’m off squares for probably 5 days!!!! This gonna be difficult. They have instructions on if you must smoke but are so convoluted and involve so much time you’re probably gonna lose the cravings by the time you can smoke. Or you’re like me and see list and just to damn lazy.

Eating not as easy as it used to be unless you’re given a temporary mouth somewhere else that hasn’t any stitches. Basically soft food for at least a while. They suggest jello pudding or some form of popsicle and ice cream. Excluding the last as I do dig some Ben And Jerry’s I’m not 9 yr old and not interested. I ask the dentist if they make a savory popsicle “not that I’m aware of” she replies. Perhaps eggs ? “ that’s great I suggest scrambled and not a bunch of extras” ie meat, veg, potatoes basically anything that can did a way to the former tooth parking spot. I never thought of it but per her rice is absolutely the worst….tiny grained bastards.

She said plenty of ibuprofen finish the course of antibiotics doc gave me and because I’m on the move she gave me a prescription of hydrocodone in case of emergency. I wasn’t planning on using them at all fore right now pain is livable but they look almost exactly like my antibiotics which I gotta take. So yes I took one thinking it was the other. Slept extremely well and moved opioids to different spot so as not to confuse them again.

No hiking today as just driving back caused me to bleed like a stuck pig. She advised nothing to get the heart pumping or I’ll be upping the share price of gauze pads. Less walking less bleeding.

So I’m here in cascades which is better than a hospital for recovering, less patients, less virus, more better views. Plenty of drinks I’ll pickup first of whatever softy food I can preferably eggs and ice cream perhaps BnJ which I’ll leave in bearbox and let melt a trifle for I hope a strawless shake. A bit of rest do me some good and welcome to the world of I don’t have a choice. Perhaps I’ll spend time planning next leg?

Woke up at redundant Thing bout early is nobody on the road. Another thing is it extremely difficult to find way down a mountain by touch. I have found several modern conditions to help with orienteering however. none of them are GPS you can’t call people unless you do a crazy dance and if satellite is not overhead you just look foolish.

Chances are at top you gonna be on lose gravel. Go from memory, not my strong suit unless it’s about something no one but me cares about. Soonish or not it’ll sturdy up a bit with less potholes but still gravel.

Then and this when it becomes easier you will spot a bridge. They only are built to get somewhere that could be civilized. After all emergency services needs them.

Once over still little gravel(no signs till a bit later) but soon it’s an actual road with pavement and everything. Good sign but not final. Drive on that for a bit if changes back to gravel you missed a turnoff.

Then you’ll spot occasional road signs that may just say don’t enter private property. This is good people other than park people are alive you are getting closer.

Once you see yellow lines on pavement it’s gonna be groovy. Highway department ain’t going where no one else goes there’s no point.

The final and best sign is one that says road adopted by the elks or rotary club or a local politician. What’s the point of doing something charitable if no one knows.

Your home free by that I mean a gas station nearby and that spells civilization.

Filled up the tank this time I was 3/4 down and I hate that. On the road to the northern cascades with a couple sites along the way.

Drive bout 3 hours when it hit as luck would have it near a rest stop Ran in and saw perfection in the shape of a toilet bowl.

Before camp I stopped for gas cause I ain’t getting stuck up high for an empty tank. Words to live by. Hiking only fun due to the sights and sounds. A face full of gravel and exhaust are neither.

Back up new mountain to set up camp call dentist with assistance from sister filling out questionnaire and then set up camp for evening.

It’s oodles of work just to screw up bumper.

Of course woke early and with pills swelling down and no pain. Left site in dark and once I got to a town pulled over got gas (always fill when at a half tank you’ll be driving a bit)and had cell service Hooray!!!

Checked dyrt app and split 8 hrs into to 4. Groovy idea. I’m stopping at Wenatchee National forest. Most camps at this time always booked but if like me you wake early and don’t mind a primitive site(they do have toilets) sites usually have some first come first serve.

Idaho was lovely except Ketchum left, like ketchup, a bad taste in mouth. Onward to hopefully something good.

Much better last night let me reiterate Oregon has great park system. Slept good and for me longish.

330 my time up and onward to Washington. Now this my kinda state. Not as flashy as others but decent folk beautiful landscape and only slightly lugesque(not a real word)downhills on mountains.

Traveling through Washington not exactly what I expected at least in the beginning. Enormous tracks of farmland not of grapes but big corporate(one had a tiny cargill sign)ag owned fields of perhaps wheat.

During this period of ever growing and going fields perhaps my closest friend Steve Lauer called and our discussion kept me busy while the field kept going. As a child he was next door neighbor since birth and have remained friends. This is a rarity for me as I tend to chafe. He owns historic floors and uses refurbished old lumber to make exceptional flooring. Very much into not just the floors but craft in general.

I asked a favor using friendship to my advantage definitely not above that. He knows of the Telo and that I’ll have camper shell on mine. “I know it won’t be wood but captain craft can you design me a bed for the back?” Obviously I didn’t need the friendship card which is why we are friends in first place he was all in and the wheels started turning. “Of course it won’t be wood it’s electric it’ll need to be light graphite carbon fiber maybe. Get me the dimensions of trunk with shell and quick “ he was already working it out in head. Thanks Brother!!!

Then got on to Washington expected.

Then came the mountains I would love to get pictures but best keep eyes on road. Not only do the have the standard truck pull offs for chains and sand ramps when no breaks. They also have for old men like me who aren’t used to the long downhills places to pull over and let thee speed demons fly. I used them liberally and I was doing 50-60. Not fast enough for these cats.

Went uphill finally at least as much as downhill but less of a nail biter. Got to camp right as check in started once again FCFS got a great spot by bathroom of course and started exploring area. There’s a bunch of area to explore. Once again no service but who cares certainly not me.

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.