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June 1
We’re off. We’re so excited. It was difficult going down our driveway & looking at plums ready to ripen, the oranges & avocados left behind for others to enjoy & our peach tree with its first crop ready to ripen. It’s a beautiful, chilly morning as we closed our gate behind us. The weather continued to be accommodating until we got near Mesquite, NV, where it got a bit windy. The temperatures across the desert never got above 90 degrees so that was nice. There was a thin cloud cover all day, so no glare. I15 is still torn up in Las Vegas-not as bad as its been, but still kinda nasty. It’s been years undergoing renovation. Not sure it will ever end. We stayed the night in Mesquite, Nevada. We traveled 371 miles today.
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We close our gate behind us as we leave for the summer. Our mailbox, on the left, will hold a lot of mail. As the mailman puts the mail in the box, it drops down & stays in the long gray area below the door. It is locked in the back. Our son retrieves it every few days or so.
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And so we begin to cross the desert, always my least favorite part of our travels. The clouds gave respite from the heat & glare.
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It does seem as if it will never end.
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The ‘Oasis’ campground in Mesquite. For $20 a night, you get full hookups. Not much on looks, but it’s just for the night. There are a couple of casinos & what is supposed to be a fine golf course. The town is marketed to retirement age folks & has a business district & several gas stations, restaurants, etc. 80 miles n/e of Vegas on I15.
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June 2
Determined to get an early start on our 299 mile trek to Provo, we took off about 8 am. I know that’s not real early, but we were sleepyheads. Once again, nice weather. As we began our journey into Utah, the wind picked up and continued to get stronger as the day went on. Clouds appeared now & again. As we climbed out of the desert floor, the view began to change from red rocks to snow-covered mountains. Grass covered meadows were full of horses & cattle. Very green & pretty. It also got cooler & we changed into warmer clothes. We pulled into Provo, which also has MAJOR renovation work happening on I15. What a mess! Supposed to be done sometime in 2012. We’ll see. The Wasatch Mountains are covered in heavy snow. Just so majestic & beautiful. The campground, Lakeside RV, is very nice, but damaged by a 4" rainstorm that hit a few days ago. There is a canal with a tall levy that curves its way on the perimeter of the campground. It appears that there is some seepage at the base of the levy, and combined with a lot of leftover rain sitting in the low areas near the levy, the owners have put in 4 pumps to try to get the water gone. It seems to be working. Very muddy. The part of the grounds we are on is high & dry. We’re under a canopy of trees & it is quiet here. The owner & workkampers are very congenial. This park is very near Utah Lake. A huge, natural lake with no dam controls, it is beginning to overflow. And the real snow melt is yet to come. The temps are beginning to get higher & so it won’t be long before that melt will be pouring lickety-split into the waterways around those incredible Wasatch Mountains. Went to bed with temps at 41 degrees.
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Between Mesquite, NV & St. George, Utah is a very scenic area on I15, part of which is known as Virginia River Canyon Rec. Area. The Virginia River is flowing fast & furious & muddy through these startling canyons.
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St George Utah. A green oasis surrounded by red rocks & interesting land formations. It seems like every town we approach has major freeway work happening. Getting tired of being bounced & jounced on these mostly poorly planned temporary detours.
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Leaving St. George, the freeway begins to wind upward and soon we are in an environment that reminds us strongly of Northern Arizona. Small pine trees and grassy areas. The horses’ legs are hidden in the deep grass of late spring in this meadow. On the mountainside in the background there are still traces of snow.
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Cedar City has this very tall lighthouse for what purpose? Not a drop of water to be seen. Pretty, though.
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The speed limits in various states amaze me. This is unrestricted. Big semi’s can travel at these speeds.
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Cattle & greenhouses. Interesting combination. The cattle were on the slow move as they munched their way through the pasture. We’re seeing more & more mountains. They’re getting closer.
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The wind is whipping this large flag as if it weighed nothing. We stopped to fix lunch and kept an eye on that flag’s unceasing waving. On the upside, on the freeway this was a tailwind for us.
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The scenery is getting more & more interesting as we get closer to Provo, Utah.
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We have arrived, safe & sound. Gary is getting the little barbeque ready as we settle into our home for the next week.
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This little tananger was flitting around the wagon wheel. He was fun to watch. Nervous birds, they flit around making it very difficult to get a picture of them. He was hunting for his last meal of the day.
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The canal walk around the perimeter of the campground. Soothing & peaceful walking on the top of the levy that protects the campground from the swollen canal.
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A momma & 4 ducklings drift towards their resting place for the night along the canal.
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Left & Below:
The majestic Wasatch mountains as viewed from the canal walk. We were quite surprised at the amount of snow still on them.
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