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Sunday October 1
We
got up late and went to Moab to dump, fill up water and diesel ($2.77 at
the 66 station. came down 10 cents).
Where
we could also dump and fill up water for free. Nice station.
Nice
drive down HWY 191 to State 133 and out to Needles Point. Oh by the way
all of this area is FREE. We like that.
 
The X
above
is
Needles Point.
Terry
taking in the view.
Found
this spot to camp, look at the views. Sometimes we just luck out.
Nice
gravel for when it rains.
View
from the door of the 5er.
The view out our 5er
kitchen sink window. That's Needles Point in the center looking west.
(Google earth of Needels point)
We
are, what is called dispersed camped on BLM ground No Use fees. The X
in the lower right corner.
Not
right on the edge but high up and can see forever. Tried to find a place
sheltered as we are
to
get t-storms over the next few days. The main road is paved and we are
parked on gravel.
Had
posted about our Honda 2000 Gen. problems. Running ruff at idle and had
to chock it a little. Got this email back...
Hope
thjis might help others also.
Sheesh!
You have been bit by the famous Honda bug. All 1000 and 200 generators
have this problem.
Honda's
must be run every 3-4 weeks or their little bitty gas tubes clog up. There
is no way to really clean them effectively.
Short
of spending $100-200 each year on factory maintenance, try Seafom liquid
from Napa Auto parts in each tankful.
This
seems to do the trick.
ED.
We
had bought before your email STP Fuel Injector and Carb Treatment. Will
see if this helps. Thanks ED
Monday October 2
Forecast
was for Showers but by noon cleared to the west and is now another great
day. Solar has all charged up.
Went
for drive north to the Anticline Overlook. On the way stopped at the primitive
Hatch Point campground.
So
glad we didn't try to go there yesterday as it was tight and sharp turns.
Now way to get a 5er in and out of there.
A
couple of places had very low clearance due to scrub trees. Not a big rig
campground at all.
Nor
is the main Wind Whistle campground.
We
did find two people in the Hatch Point campground who were in need of help.
Seems
they have a 12 v cig plugin type cooler and they left it plugged in all
weekend to their diesel pick up.
AND
now the two batteries were dead. They were the only ones in the campground.
We
don't carry jumper cables and couldn't help, so they were going to call
their travel service.
It's
about 50 miles to Monticello, UT.
The
gravel road to this overlook is 22 miles from the junction to Needles point
and dead ends there.
So
out of the blue, Terry proclaims..."We should be there in about 1 1/2 miles".
I looked at him and said.
"Great
going navigator, that helps, when we are on a dead end gravel road and
it is the only place we can end up."
I
told him he was just trying to up his record, making a solid prediction
like that.
Terry
is great at MANY things but navigating is not one of them. We have a good
time on the road
with
the driver (me) refusing to take his instructions.
I have
made him a navigator mask while he was out for a hike.. Made out
of a paper bag. Try to navigate out of that!
I
the eyes are not cut out since navigators can't see anything anyway.
A
big mouth to sip hot tea and be able to announce we are lost.
And
serrated side lines to help escape the paper bag. (Tear Here)
Oh,
don't forget a big target painted on the side so I know right where to
smack, when he screws up.
  
Don't
feel sorry for the paper bag it once had a good life. It carried booze
from the Utah State Liquor store.
We
came back and explored some back roads and ended up back out at Needles
Point for lunch. (below)
Tuesday October 3
By
your roving reporter Terry
Did
not think we would get any solar today, when we awoke this morning
it was to the sound of thunder,
and
raindrops on our trailer roof. At first a very light rain but it
picked up tempo as time passed, and we
had
a very heavy rain midmorning.
Logged
on to the computer early this morning to check e mail and the weather,
then when we had a couple
of
lightning flashes and had to quick turn everything off and stow the dish.
Can't be to careful with the data storm dish.
We
are being extra careful as we are on the meas top at 6300 ft, We are the
tallest thing for 100 miles, not the place
you
want to be with thunderstorms rolling in.
When
the storm was ending went out and took a bunch of photos (the computer
tally said 44) but we rejected
them,
mainly more of the same. We didn't want to waste the disk space,
Sun
finally came out about noon and we are now fully charged, a much
happier situation.
Want
to get to Farmington and Navajo Dam, NM as the next goal.
Wednesday October 4
We
got up and Terry did all the get ready to move chores as I was hurting.
I had a small piece of hamburger go
down
the wrong way and as part of having a coughing fit. I strained and or pulled
a muscle in my lower left side
towards
the back. Now VERY tender and when I cough it hurts like hell. We
stopped at Wal Mart in Cortez, CO
and
I got a back restraint, like the ones you see people wearing at Home Depot.
Helps
allot! Now I know what a girdle feels like! Anyway we are now at Navajo
Dam, NM at the Cottonwood
State Park.
We
got the last non reserveable spot. I insisted we test the Datastorm to
see if we could get out as we are next to a
large
cottonwood. (See below, we are in the center of the pic) We could get out
but moved a couple of feet to get a better strength sig.
Guess
lots of others were getting out of the cold up north and got here ahead
of us. It doesn't look like it has rained here in some time.
About
84 today and just very pleasant.
Terry
is out now taking pictures as the cottonwoods are in full color.
Got this one... We have been here several times but never when the cottonwoods
had leaves on them. In spring before they had buds or late Nov. when the
leaves are gone. This is real nice.
Next
Terrys exploits on Fly Fishing as we plan on being here for a week OR
two.
OK,
OK we got an electric site so I can relax and lounge in the comforts of
full power.
NM
parks are pretty good, only $14 for power and water right next door.
Many
days of boondocking reduces the overall campgrounds fees.
We
are settled and happy in this great park for days to come. The frig is
FULL and all is well.
Thursday October 5
Terry
(Ron reporting) went fishing today and told me he caught 2 small
brown trout about 10-12". Sounds large to me.
They
(here) have to be 18" to keep. But he would never do that since he is into
catch and release.
I
give him shit about all kinds of stuff... BUT he is VERY
good at fly fishing. He said others were complaining it was a slow day.
He
thought it was just fine with what he caught for the conditions.
He
came back about 1 PM as it was starting to rain.
Still
is, and raining harder, but we are snug in our 5er and Terry is cooking
chichen enchiladas.
Terry
didn't have enchilada sauce in a can so he looked it up on the web and
is making it from scratch.
Comfort
food. Now watching the Food Channel.
Emeril
is "Bamming It" as we wait for supper. What could be better...
Gray's
Anatomy just started, so much for posting... Later...
Saturday October 7
WOW
What happened to Friday... It rained and stormed hard late in the day and
we even pulled in one slide so the wind and a large cottonwood tree wouldn't
damage it if it fell. All was ok and today is nice and sunny and
about 70 out. There was a group of RVers in the park and they were having
rally meetings for coffee and brunch and such and all of a sudden on Saturday
morning they all pulled out. Do you plan a rally and end it on Sat and
then move on. Think of all the campers when came through on Friday and
the sites were taken and then on Sat morning many opened up. But
was suppressed the sites filled up again. Now listening to Prairie Home
Companion. The campers next door are starting a fire and the smoke smells
good. It is quite and a slight breeze. A wonderful Sat night in northern
NM next to a premier trout river. If it gets better than this don't tell
me.
I
like it right now the way it is.
Terry
is at the table tying trout flies. The big rain did NOT effect the river
up from us to the dam.
Everyone
is happy about that. Now if I can just find a Sunday paper tomorrow all
will be well with the world.
Sunset
just popped...
A bunch
of happy campers at Cottonwood State Park tonight. The fire pits are getting
a workout.
Lots
of weekenders who need a break from the work-a-day lifestyle they have
to put up with in corporate america.
Go Forward for more...
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