Our Lazy Daze Motorhome

Our Lazy Daze Motorhome
2009 Lake Louise

Saturday, September 6, 2014

2014 September Montana to Basalt, Colorado


September 2, 2014. Tuesday: We decided to stay two more days here in Basalt. We met our friends, Gerald and Charlotte, for lunch at the Outpost Restaurant.  Then drove to Mammoth park entrance at Gardiner, MT.  We took pictures of a herd of elk there and the Roosevelt arch at the north entrance.  On the way we took pictures of an osprey that was occupying an abandoned nest where we had seen eagles several years ago.  Also, found a large bull elk on Riverside Drive next to the Madison River.  We then headed back to the camper.  

September 3, 2014. Wednesday; Moved to site 243 for two days.  We headed to “Old Faithful” about 10:30 am and stopped at every tourist spot along the way. When we finally arrived we had to wait for Old Faithful to erupt at about 1:40.  It was well worth the wait.  The eruptions occur about every 90 minutes give or take 10. We ate lunch in the Old Faithful Hotel dining room and then visited two of the gift shops at the site. On the way home we stopped so Ed could fly fish in the Firehole River.  He caught a 6 inch Brook Trout after a few minutes effort.  Since this was the only time he fished with his one week license, Ed likes to refer to it as his $25 fish.  Close to Riverside Drive along the Madison traffic proved another wildlife sighting.  Jeanne got out of the car with her handy Canon G-16 and found that all of the attention was focused on yet another bull elk.  We arrived home about 7:15 pm.  All of our park trips have been very long.  It was a very cold tonight.

September 4, 2014. Thursday: 28 degrees this morning. Water was frozen but not solid.   Today we did the wash, checked engines and tires on LD and jeep.  Then we biked into West Yellowstone to browse and shop, buying some presents for grandkids.  Returned about 6 pm. We expect very low temperatures again tonight.

September 5, 2014. Friday: Up at 7:15 am. It was cold and difficult to sleep for both of us.  We awakened to 25⁰ temperature with frozen water hose.  We left the Grizzly CG at 11:00 am stopped for gas heading to our campground in Provo, Utah.  Great drive on route 20 out of Montana and into Idaho.  Then on I-15 for the rest of the trip.  Jeanne took over driving with about 130 miles left and we hit into Salt Lake City traffic on a Friday afternoon.  Took us at least 1½ hours to go 45 to 50 miles.  Salt Lake and its adjoining towns are so spread out and I-15 was in gridlock.  We left the interstate at exit 265 headed toward the campground at Utah Lake SP.  The CG is on the lake. We arrived at 6:20 pm after being on the road 7 hr and 10 min, 353.5 miles today.  We stayed in site B-02 for $25.  All sites have only electric and water.  What a welcome spot to relax.  The park has a wonderful view of the mountains and has 2 boat ramps, boat storage facilities and a store.  Each site has a table under a pavilion.  The bathrooms were clean and fairly new with separate shower rooms.  Good local TV channels.  Would definitely return provided we plan better to avoid rush hour in Salt Lake.  This was a dramatic change in temperature and altitude from West Yellowstone.  We have our air conditioner running instead of our heater. 

September 6, 2014. Saturday: Temperature 57⁰ this morning. Alabama and Penn State football games today that we will not get a chance to see.  Off to Basalt, Colorado to meet up with  John Watkins to look at a restored camper.  Left at 9:00 am.  Gas at a Philips 66 in Provo, UT. was $3.619. We passed the “Young Living” headquarters south of Provo where Jeanne gets her essential oils.  Any other time, we would stop and take the tour.  We took I-15 to US 6.  This is a beautiful, scenic drive that we would recommend to everyone.  Could not capture the scenery with a camera.  US 6 followed the railroad tracks and the river from Provo to I-70.  I-70 was also very scenic where we were surrounded by the beauty of high peaks.  This was very different from the previous route.  At Parachute, CO we stopped for gas at a Shell station, $3.759/gal.  We arrived at the Aspen Basalt Campground around 3:30 pm. We met John Watkins and Dennis Bracegirdle at DJ Custom Restorations to look at their completed Scotty Hylander travel trailer.  We also looked at a 1957 Aljo that was restored to a point where a buyer could make final decisions about utilities and furnishings.  We stopped at El Karita’s for chicken fajitas and margaritas, a recommendation from Dennis.  There were four restaurants next to each other and across from Whole Foods in a very upscale area of Basalt.  We will try to make a decision about the camper tomorrow.

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