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Glendo Reservoir, WY
Reuter NFS, WY
Devils Tower, WY
Falls NFS, WY
Cove C.J.Reservoir, ID
Idlewild, OR
So, leaving Glendo (up from Grayrocks), WY I wanted to see what I could before heading back to OR..
The Devils Tower was about all I could find without going into the Badlands in SD which was too big to see for a short stay, so let go till next time.
There really isn't much in WY to see, flat lands and some Reservoirs except, obviously, Yellowstone and the NE corner going into SD.
Other than that, haven't seen anything but low rolling hills, flat plains... so this was a quick trip.
Needed to get back to Bend, OR for the annual VA appt to get Rx renewed, have to physically see you. Last appt, doc was a no show.
Again, Trip Planning for cheap places to camp on the way back, using Trip Wizard.
So heading towards the Devils Tower, think the SyFy movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind".
There is a KOA, but KOAs are really 'In love with themselves' and are $$$+ at $61.00 night... While it is convenient, right next to the entrance, that's about 12+ nights at BLM or NFS campgrounds (free or $5 with OGP), so the KOAs are out.
Found a place, Reuters NFS, within 30 min of the tower which was great.
(There apparently is another place inside the park, don't know the costs and I'm sure fills up quickly)
Pulled into campground, mostly treed, but did find an open place to try to get SIDs working. Some Solar, No internet, and luckily hit an open spot for DISH.
Nicd little campground and since I wasn't in a hurry, stayed two nights, just feeling lazy.
Camphost indicated there was a back way to the tower that most don't know about and sounded good. When looking at it, it's apx 20-30 miles on dirt road.
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| (Going up this road, past the campground, takes you to the dirt backroad to the Tower) |
That's a little too long to mess with, washboarded road with the Truck, RAM 5500, is a tooth rattling experience and not much fun, not to mention the dust etc.
So, skipped it this time, when back again, will probably do it.
Tower is pretty kewl, you can see it from a distance as a landmark.
Again, entrance was free with the OGP and just happen to be free due to a special day, anniversary or something like that.
You drive up around to the base of the tower, parking, little NFS place. Crowded, so not much else to do except look at the tower. Not about to try to climb it or up the base as I'm sure there was a trail.
Spent about 30min there and hit the road again, westbound. Had a long drive.
Again, using the TripWiz found Falls NFS, WY and true to form, pulled in there at dusk, had to use flashlight to back into site and level.
Nice campground, fairly full, apx 3-4 sites open. A little surprised but due to the hour, not really.
Right across from the camp host who guided me in so I don't land on rock or into a tree.
Surprisingly, it had electric, no water.. but charged for it, $20 night, OGP $10.
Paid next day while doing the "Walk About" I like to do to get pics of the place for references. Didn't walk the 2nd loop, drove it, no electric so $10/$5 night, didn't realize it till next day, oh well..
Headed out next day .. leaving Falls to ID
and ended up in Bruneau, ID... A little tricky to get there.
There are some sand dunes (no ORVs allowed) and various campsites BLM, improved so $5 night, Dry and some free ones.
Between map and my Arch Nemisis "Ms Garmin's" effort to divert me, I finally found it. It's a lot further than indicated and "Ms Garmin" couldn't find it...
When that happens, I'll pick the closest spot on the way and then just pick "Gas" or "Shopping" as most little villages have one or the other... But not all the time.
I can tap the location on Garmin but gets a little tricky when it's not showing any roads.
Stayed at the Cove for two days, bugs.. heheh, seems to be a natural for Reservoirs these days, and then headed out.
The Cove was kinda nice, would be a good Kayaking place as they did, in fact, actually have a 'Cove'...
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One thing that I forgot to do when heading out to "Back roads" is fuel up. Map showed it wasn't really out of the way that much, but then... it was.
Had to go out of the way to fuel up and then get back on track. Figured I had just enough for the next town, Nampa, ID and lucked out. Most stations have a max card fill on the debit card, from $75 to $100 or so. You can reinsert the card to do a complete fill up.
The rest of the day was on back roads, and fuel prices were going up from some $2.70 to over $3+ for diesel. Pricing does matter as I usually will pump some 40-55 gal at a time, typical bill is from $100, cheap fuel, to some $150 to fill. I have the 2nd tank for a total of 74 Gal so pricing does play a little on when and where. Gas Buddies, phone App is helpful as it gives the latest reported, by other users, the pricing and it can vary from $0.15 per gallon in just one town.
Hard to tell without it as whether the first station as you pull in, it the most expensive or the cheapest. Usually mid town, if there is one, is cheaper, but have seen enough that the App helps.
Next stop, Idlewild, OR just north of Burns on the old Hwy 395 we used to go on in Summer to Priest Lake, ID for the summers.
Burns isn't what I remembered it as a kid, still a small town. Good road up to the campground, apx 16 miles or so.
Got there, and it was still Daylight, Yippeeee... drove through the park to find the best available site for SID.
Mostly treed so not as easy. One or two sites boarded on a meadow, which would have worked but one was occupied and I didn't want to camp next to them (Crowding) so further back site worked.
Me, trying to find a good spot, I'll usually drive around first and then come back. It's much like moving furniture... or trying to level jacks... try this, no, try that and back and forth.
So, leaving Buns, back to Bend, OR and sit and wait for appt. Plan on moving VA locations as it's not really working out.
Till the next one.
Cheers.......
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