Out of the frying pan...

When we went to Pahrump, the temperature was 108 degrees. When we went through Las Vegas on the way to Utah, the temperature was 105 degrees. The weather-guessers predicted a cooling trend. For once, they got it right…too right! The night in Payson at Wal-Mart was windy and rainy but not cold. We took off about 8:00 and headed north to Provo and went up Provo Canyon (Hwy 189). What a beautiful road! It (obviously) went up a canyon lined with oaks and other trees and beautiful large homes, following a small river. When we turned east on I-80, the rain turned to sleet and then to snow. We were debating about continuing on, but the westbound truckers assured us the snow would end about 40 miles down the road. It was sticking to the landscape, and the front of our rig,



but not the road so we not too boldly ventured forth into the unknown. As promised, the snow soon turned to rain which soon stopped completely. Due to the storm forecast, we decided to push the day’s travel and go all the way to Casper, Wyoming to make Thursday’s run to Mt. Rushmore a short one. We got to Rawlins and turned north on Hwy. 287. This road crosses the typical Wyoming high country. I was anticipating seeing a few pronghorns (antelope) but a few is not the descriptive term I can now use. There were heaps and gobs and bunches and herds of the critters. We probably saw close to 50, and those were only the ones that were close to the highway.

At 6:15, we pulled into the Fort Caspar Campground. There was a replica of the original Fort Caspar as we pulled in. The campground itself was a little run down and was occupied by many full-timers in somewhat run-down rigs using the campground as their home. I listened for a banjo playing “Deliverence” after going into the office and talking to the young lady in the office. She was barefoot, missing a few teeth and wearing levi shorts a la the Beverly Hillbillies movie. We pulled into our level dirt pull-through site and plugged in the power. It worked and we were home! Now for a stiff scotch and water, dinner and a shower.

It rained all night and the predictions were for light rain for the rest of the day, but clearing thereafter so, again, we ventured forth. It was an on again, off again windshield wiper day as we drove east, and then north, toward Rapid City, South Dakota. We passed several local landmarks of note, namely a huge log hotel with the cute name of “C’mon Inn”. We also spotted several more pronghorns, much to my delight. They are really beautiful animals.

We got to the Rushmore Shadows Resort in the early afternoon and ran for the office between moderate rain drops. Checking in, we even decided to do the 90-minute presentation for a hefty reduction in the cost of our stay. They even had to refund some of my deposit. I may have even done better than Claudia’s slot machine caper the other day. Setup was sloppy as a slight but steady rain was now falling. However, we did get the chores done and settled in for a three or four-day stay. Our first inside chore was to take showers and get into some dry clothes. We have three days for sure but may extend one more depending on whatever. There’s lots to see around here…that is IF the damn weather clears up. Since we have email here, I’ll send this out now and do another in a few days after exploring the area. Everyone stay safe!