November 2018 – Fenley's Footprints

November 30, 2018November 30, 2018

Eastern Utah – Canyonlands National Park

Camp Cookery

Every ten days or so I restock the fridge in the camper. Part of that process is cooking proteins that I buy in bulk, to be portioned out in salads and such over the days between grocery runs. Chicken and salmon are my goto selections, but occasionally I find a good buy on beef, pork or lamb.

This time I found a package of “London Broil”, a butcher’s marketing label which was applied to a nice top sirloin roast. Sliced thin it made for some fine steak salads. 🙂 As long as the Sportsman’s Grill is hot, I throw on some veggies to make the most of the coals.

Continue reading “Eastern Utah – Canyonlands National Park”

November 28, 2018

Eastern Utah – Professor Valley and Arches National Park

The first great tip I got from the proprietor at the Ballard RV Park was to try going through Professor Valley. Instead of going back West to Route 191 to reach Arches National Park, you continue to the East and take Route 128 South. It’s a narrow twisty road not good for RVs or big trucks, but that also makes it great for scenery. This “back door” to the park takes you along the Colorado River through Professor Valley, one of the most picturesque areas around. Best of all the road is rarely traveled by tourists except for at the southernmost end near Moab. Continue reading “Eastern Utah – Professor Valley and Arches National Park”

November 26, 2018

Central Utah – Thompson Springs

An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered. – Gilbert K. Chesterton

I arrived in Moab, Utah ninety minutes before sundown. Good timing I thought, enough time to get set up at the RV park before dark and then head uptown for a nice supper at one of the many eateries jammed with tourists. That was the plan. Pretty sure Joseph and Mary had a similar idea when they pulled into Bethlehem, and I had the same reception they did. Except in Moab, even the stable was full.

My reservation was lost and every RV park, campground and motel had the NO VACANCY sign out. After repeated fruitless attempts I realized I had become part of a caravan of campers going from one place to the next desperately searching for a space for the night. Breaking formation, I puIled over and opened the AllStays app on my phone. Assuming Moab was a lost cause at this point, I searched a wide circle around the area. At the farthest edge of habitation bordering the empty desert was a place called Ballard RV Park. I called them and the nice lady that answered said that she had two spaces left. I told her I would be there as soon as I could drive the road from Moab; she said she’s see me in half an hour. Continue reading “Central Utah – Thompson Springs”