#17 Richfield Utah

To be honest I kind of dreaded this atv camp trip. I have been on this atv ride a few times in the past.  The scenery is simply spectacular.  But on previous trips we always stayed in motel rooms.  Richfield is not a very big place so I wasn't expecting much with the RV park.  I could not have been more wrong.

What a nice place.  Shady, large RV spots.  While there are a lot of atv riders here, it's relatively quiet.  The park provides you with a nice free fire pit if you buy some wood.  So we did.  Pleasant evenings around the camp fire after the boys go ride all day.  At times I wish I was going too, but I don't ride any more.  My neck and back just won't take it.  So I have been spending the days reading, playing iPad games and just relaxing.  I have become an expert on how to use my new washer/dryer lol.

pavilion

The KOA in Richfield is within driving distance from Bryce NP, Capital Reefs NP and other scenic sites.  It does have a Walmart, so it isn't all bad lol.  The KOA has tent sites with electric and water, along with little KOA cabins.  There'a a pavilion for large gatherings, a pool (only open in summer), large laundry facilities.  There are also some large RV sites with huge cement patios and a fire pit.  Some of them have extra tables and chairs for guests.  Thinking about maybe getting one of those next time.  While large, they aren't as long as some of the others, but perfect for just hanging out with a group.  This is obviously an atv oriented park.  Those particular sites have designated atv parking.  One of the advantages to staying here is you can ride all over town and directly to the trails right from the park.  The only rule is stay off the main highway.  There's a kids playground with climbing stuff and lots of grass.  A small dog park with pea gravel is available.  Benches and shade trees while you wait for snoopy to do his business.

enjoying some fresh air

There are a few restaurants in town.  LJ's favorite breakfast spot is the Little Wonder Cafe.  I wonder why he likes it so much, but he and Rich go there every morning.  There's a little ice cream shop/restaurant in town just down the street.  I didn't think the ice cream was very good.  Probably won't go there again for that.  Haven't eaten lunch there, but the boys have on a previous trip.  They said it was okay for some place different.  Of course, as with any small town, there is Arbys, Burger King and Mickey D's.

For the most part, between Kandi and I, we have cooked dinner, but we did find the most awesome Mexican restaurant ever.  It's called La Gringa Taqueria:  545 Main St., again just down the street from the KOA.  The owners emigrated from Mexico three years ago (legally) and make all the food from scratch..including the tortillas, chorizo, beans.  I have been there twice now and have ordered the bean and cheese burrito and two street tacos.  I can't order anything else because I love it so much lol.  The boys discovered the place a couple years ago.  I could literally eat there every day.  We did go one day about 3 and they were closed.  Talking to the owner, we found out they close between 3 and 5pm every day to go eat and take their siesta (just like they do in Mexico).  Keep that in mind if you go there...and I do recommend you do.

Several ok hotels for folks without an RV, but after having done both, RV is the way to go.

I look forward to coming back and staying here in Sept/Oct for the next few years.  I do recommend, if you plan on coming, you don't come during the atv rally they have every September.  This whole area is packed with people and atvs.  LJ did it once... said he prefers after the rally is over.  This time of year, the leaves are changing and the country side is beautiful.  Paiute Trail maps are available.  There is riding for all skill levels, just be sure you stay on the marked trails and refer to the trail designation to determine if it's for you or not.  The black trails are seriously only for experienced riders.

Maybe we will see you here!

cigar time after the ride

#16 Finally out of Reno

I know it's been awhile, but there really wasn't much to say.  After we left Twin Falls, we headed back to Reno.  Even though we are living full time in the RV, we still have to take care of doctor/dentist visits, mail, etc.  So we spent the first night after we left in the same Winnemucca park we stayed in on the way to Idaho (Frontier RV Park) .  Nothing new there, but it is a nice park.  AAAAAnd since we were back in Nevada, I did gamble a little... noooooo.  Say it isn't so.... Yep. lol

8/21/17 and we are back in Reno.  Once again we decided to stay at the Marina.  Felt like being home.  All LJ could say is "Can't we get away from here? Geesh", but he knew exactly why we were there.  I took care of my dentist stuff.  He took care of his doctor stuff.  And we made a bunch of Amazon orders since we could pick the stuff up from Patty.  While there I ran into a lady that was now full time in her RV although they really weren't leaving Reno.  They had just sold their house in the same neighborhood we lived in!  Small world.  She was crafty like me and we lamented about all the stuff we got rid of to accommodate our new lifestyle.  We also  happened to meet a nice couple parked next to us from Washington.  They started full time RVing three months ago and love it.  They were headed back "home" to do the same thing we were doing lol.  The guys talked rigs and rv parks.  We exchanged info, so hopefully we cross paths again.

We had to leave the marina on the 31st since they were full up for the upcoming Rib Cookoff.  So off we went up the freeway to Bordertown RV Park.  Very nice little place.  Small casino restaurant next door.  It was a little tight getting in there with our big ol trailer, but we did it.  Parked next door to a couple from Southern California who also just started full timing.  OMG we fulltimers are everywhere lol.  I liked our time at Bordertown.  Nice little park if you don't want to be in the middle of Reno.


9/3/17 From there, again kicked out because they were full, we headed down the hill a little bit to Boomtown RV Park.  LJ wasn't real keen on this place because it's old.  But to be honest, I looooved it there.  We had an end spot so we had a large grass area, mature trees and a short walk to the dog park.  As with all the RV parks so far, the dog park was a small fenced in area with DG, but they all seem to be that way.  There's a shuttle to the casino/restaurants, and it's close to town.  For a guy Cabelas is right next door!   I didn't mind the place at all.  We did deal with a horrendous storm.  Lots of rain and wind, but no problems.  The park sits down a little in comparison to where the hotel/casino is so it's not like you are right next door.   I'm working on putting together a Sheriff's Dept. reunion for RVers.  And with the hotel so close, anyone can come!

I wasn't horribly impressed with their laundry facilities and they are only available during certain hours.  Lots of washers and dryers, but wasn't the cleanest of floors and counters.  Gave me the perfect excuse to call and order the washer dryer lol.  I struggled over which one to buy...the vented combo or the stackable separate units.  Finally, because I just didn't want to give up the cabinet space, I chose the combo unit.  But in the meantime I'll just do all the laundry so we can start fresh lol.  I tried to bribe LJ with $100 to do it, but that didn't work lol.

Also, Burning Man had just ended and allllllll those white dust covered people were doing their laundry.  Ewwwwwwwwwww...it was horrible.  The park workers told me they hate when they come in.  They leave a cloud of white playa dust everywhere they go.  Yea, not following those folks.  Glad I got mine done ahead of them.

Splendide 2100 XC

So off we went to Camping World in Rocklin to have my new Splendid 2100XC installed.  We got there early and the guy looks at the cabinet.  "I don't think it's going to fit."  Yes it is, because I measured and remeasured just to be sure.  Momentary stomach ache... but then he went and double checked.  Said it might be tight but they would get it done.  Fortunately Keystone put a removable panel behind where the washer goes that provided excellent access for the vent and water lines.  They were able to do it in a few hours.  I have to say, they did an excellent job.  I'm a happy girl.  And there is plenty of room around it.  Not a tight fit at all.  Can't wait to use it!

But did I use it?  Why no.   I had to get the rest of my gambling time in lol.  After all we are going to be gone from this area for at least 8 months!  Plenty of time to do laundry when we leave Reno.

But in the meantime, we had dinner with friends, caught up all our business.  We took a trip to the big storage unit to get a couple things.  I'm beginning to think I kept too much stuff.  Maybe next spring when we come back we can go through it, pare it down.  Funny how less important things seem the longer I spend in the RV...and it's only been two months!

So now it's time to FINALLY truly get on the road.  I say this adventure officially begins NOW.

oh my that's big

9/21/17 We are off and running.  Or are we.  0700 and LJ says he's going to go have breakfast, go get the ATV and then we will leave.  Get up and get everything done on the inside so all he has to do is empty the tanks.  He wants to be on the road by 10.  So I do.  I am completely ready to go by 0830.  so I wait.   and wait.....and wait..... Finally at 1030 I call him.  Uh, hello... where the F are you??????  He's just filling up with gas, be here in a minute.  Finally at 1045 here he is.  And of course, now it's raining.  Doesn't bother me.  My part is done.  I'll just sit here till he's done.  He finally gets the ate trailer hooked to the fifth wheel.  He finally gets done with the outside stuff and we are finally off....at 1145!!!!  So much for 10 lol.   So what took you so long?

He went to eat and got the waitress from hell (her name is KT and that is allllll he had to say since I'm familiar with her inability to waitress from encountering her at three different restaurants);  He forgot he needed a weighted base for his GPS so he went... ahem, shopping at Scheels;  Then he had to go all the way out to Spanish Springs to get the atv, gas up etc.  Doesn't matter...we are on the road.

Weather is crappy.  Rain...wind...ugh.  Sent out besties, The Kropps, a message.  Did you guys leave Granite Bay yet?  They are like 40 miles behind us.  Oh good grief.  Well that's hilarious since they usually don't get on the road till noon lol.  Maybe we will see you on the road.  They are headed to Winnemucca.  We are headed several miles further to Wendover.  We should have been gone awhile ago.

we followed the Kropp's alllll day

Get to Fernley and breakfast boy says his breakfast sucked.  Oh and he's sure I'm hungry so maybe we should stop at The Bear and eat.  No kidding, we are 30 miles from Reno.  OMG.  Fiiiiiiiiiine.  But no dilly-dallying.  We have a long ways to go and the weather doesn't look good.  So I text Kandi and tell her what we are doing.  She simply laughs....which is exactly what I would have done lol.  We stop...we eat... we get on the road.  (Scooter stayed in the RV on the bed while we ate, so he was fine).

I text Kandi and they are one mile ahead of us lol.  So needless to say we stopped at the next rest stop to meet up.  I had checked the weather and the forecast between Wells and Wendover called for snow.  So we cancelled those Wendover reservations and made reservations at the Winnemucca KOA with the Kropps.  Was actually a nice little place, too.  We made it there around 4 after driving through allllll kinds of weather.  Was interesting at times.  She met me with a drink, bless her.  It was much needed, lol.

We went to dinner at the Winnemucca Inn and Kandi and I had the boys drop us off at Winners casino  for a last hurrah while they went for their evening cigars.  I found a machine that would not stop paying.  I came out of there several hundred ahead...Kandi, not so much.

Next morning boys went to The Griddle for breakfast (highly recommended) and then we were off for Salt Lake City.  That's one of those drives you want to sleep through.  I remember dreading it when we had to ride our Harleys that way.  The salt flats are boooooooring.  But then we were there.

Our home and truck

the Kropp's big ol Motorhome

The SLC KOA is beautiful.  It's right off a busy street, just off the freeway.
 It's like a little oasis, lol.  Beautiful trees and campsites.  I would definitely stay there again.  The dog park was the nicest I have ever seen.  Very large, fenced with artificial turf and toys.  I don't let scooter play with other dog toys, but he did enjoy chasing his ball!  He wasn't sure about peeing and pooping tho.  I think he thought the true was carpet, lol.  So he never did poop, but did pee right outside the gate hahaha.

I finally used my washer dryer.  I LOVE IT!  It's quiet and does a great job.  I didn't find it took terribly long to do a load.  That's one of the complaints.  I am perfectly content with it.  You just do smaller loads more often.  I figure if I do one or two every couple days, not a big deal.

9/23/17 we are off to Richfield Utah.  The boys have an annual ATV trip here so that's why we have the atv with us.  It's cold and rainy when we get here.  They don't put us in the slots we originally reserved because we changed our plans, but no worries.  Beautiful trees, grassy spot.  It's fine.  Of course, with the rain, it would have been nice to have the original spot with the cement patio, but it's allllll good.

Had some difficulty with the tv hookup.  For some reason their digital box that you have to use won't hook up from the inside of the trailer.  But it works fine when hooked up directly to their box.  We haven't had an issue before, but to get TV we have to use the box and had to run it through the window.  Since we both grew up in Rio Linda (like Sun Valley to those friends in Nevada), the more Clampett like it looks, the more at home we are hahahahaha.  Oh well..it's fine.  Stuff a few towels around it and it's all good.  Tacky......but good.  When we have satellite installed, we'll be sure they check all the wiring inside, just in case. Gotta have tv.  We will be spending the next ten days here before we are off to the next place, so no bitching about it lol.  LJ loves this trip and I want him to have the best time possible.  I have been here on ATV trips twice before, riding the Paiute Trail.  I had my own at the time.  Beautiful country.  But, I don't ATV ride anymore since my back, neck and knees will no longer take the pounding.  So I will just relax.

Had a nice breakfast at LJ and Rich's favorite Richfield restaurant, Little Wonder on Main Street.  Quaint little place.  I don't see where it's so spectacular, but it was good.  And you can't beat the senior special...egg, two pancakes and two sausage for $4.95.

Then it was off to Walmart.  Time to stock up on stuff.

As I sit here, updating the blog, I am once again doing laundry.  It really is just like living in a house, only this one has wheels and we can change the view.

We will be off to Arizona next.  We will still have the atv since he has an Arizona trip planned.  So far, so good.  Still no regrets.  Until next time...

SLC KOA

SLC KOA dog park

SLC KOA dog park

love the reds in the mountains of Utah