After driving for hours and days on an interstate I was crazy for some relief. Night time was usually in a motel parking lot or a truck stop. I wasn’t resting well, was still wound up tight from the visit, needed more than a Pilot. Thank goodness for a last second decision to get off the highway at the exit for the Vedauwoo Recreation Area. What a surprise. The Vedauwoo is known as “the land of Earth born spirit”. The camping area had a very old, beat up sign, next to an old, run down, entrance kiosk. It said to fill in entrance slip. Senior citizens are free!! I filled out the registration for a ten day stay and found a spot to camp.
There were pit toilets, with doors that didn’t work, no water and dumpsters that took an engineer to open. I was so relieved to be off the highway. So happy not to smell diesel fumes at night. So glad not to be scared by huge tractor trailers whizzing by. Walking around, later in the week, I found a more recent registration area that said seniors were to pay $10/night. Whoops. I ended up staying 5 days. In retribution for my not paying anything I picked up a second bag of trash.
Loved the area. Lots of rock climbers blissing out on the granite masses. Worth exploring. I will return. There are huge areas to boondock, so I will return.
Looking for the next de-stress camping spot I dipped in and out of tiny dirt roads, looking for the perfect spot. The dirt roads were torn up by loggers, and I had to use 4wd. Found a Boy Scout place that looked promising, but had to turn around as there were massive trucks and burly guys with big chainsaws working. The Forest smelled of exhaust. Kept going.
I stood on the brakes and turned off the road on to the “Pump House Recreation Area”. I had no idea what an instant relief and soothing place this random pull off was going to be.
I admit to crying as I sat by the Colorado River. (“All rivers are the Ganges.”) This was the locals’ place to raft and fly fish. Old guys, young guys in waders with fly rods and nets. Youngsters on fat rafts floating by. Immaculate bathrooms, tasty potable water, dramatic clouds and the river made it a perfectly soothing spot. This was either $5 or $10 a night. It was not clear. Being extremely grateful for the divine spot, I paid $10. I was the only camper on this loop.
Driving south from here was the most wonderful two lane gravel road through the mountains. I was enchanted with every hairpin turn revealing another breathtaking vista. Herded some prong horns down the road for longer than I expected. Saw eagles and red tail hawks. Got swarmed by large mosquitoes at one pull off. Speed limit was 35 or 25 for ever. Wow. And very little traffic.
Lilith, the truck, did great. Even after miles and miles of interstate driving. After nights of being out muscled by huge trucks. She needs a reward. Maybe tire rotation time. Maybe a painted hood. Maybe fix the hanging light.
Keep Tweaking
Still carrying stuff I don’t need, don’t use.
- Get rid of 20 gallon propane tank. As I age the damn thing gets heavier. Ming has a 5 pound one. Mark has a 10 pounder. My initial idea of doing gourmet meals with handmade pastas and bread was a dream that will never be realized. The rolling pin can go.
- Donate tools I haven’t touched in all these years. I am liking less and less the idea of building a shed. Not sure what to do when I get too old to drive. I’ll figure it out then.
- Donate the back-up-food-container. Filled with way too much non-perishable food stuffs. It is much easier to travel in the US than in Central and South America. Every gas station here has hot dogs and hot coffee and jelly doughnuts.
- I do not need an entire box of old ball point pens. Nor index cards. Or a Roladex. Really.
Truck Camper Hints 
Such lovely places you take us to!
Your resourcefulness and adaptability are inspiring.
Rolodex!!! 🤣
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Good pictures and description of your travels. I look forward to your posts as I find your writings a mini vacation in my day/week. Thank you.
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Thanks for following, Tom ❤️
On Fri, Jun 18, 2021 at 11:39 AM Truck Camper Hints wrote:
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Really awesome post! Love the sites you found, looked so peaceful and remote. Which state did you find these campsites? Looks amazing! Are you still in WC? Maybe a visit before you leave? Mark and I can have you over for breakfast over the weekend? Or before you leave? I get it about downsizing there’s so many things we don’t need.
Happy camping 🏕
Cindy
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Looks like I will be here for a while. Jen resigned. I hope to get together, but right now we are all trying to mesh here and I have zero idea what is happening even tomorrow. I really want to see you both. It will happen. ❤️🙏
On Wed, Jun 16, 2021 at 9:47 PM Truck Camper Hints wrote:
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❤️❤️❤️
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Wonderful verbiage & pics for us!
Advice? What kind of water carrier do you have and how much do you feel safe with keeping on hand during these back country sojourns? Keep the story telling coming please!
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I carry four 1 gallon screw top water jugs. They are easy to refill anyplace you stop for gas, or the refill station in Walmart, or a house. The pop top water jugs pop their tops on bumpy roads. I also carry a 5 gallon container. Several portable plastic hiking containers. A 2 quart plastic container for the “sun tea”. Please realize that my water needs are not anyone else’s. #1. I hate drinking water. #2. I am not very concerned about washing anything with water. Even my face or hair. Much less the dishes. #3. I started out with 7 more gallons, but felt the weight/gas wasn’t worth it. #4. The truck is very well maintained. I check the hoses and fluids frequently.
I can get by* for 14 days, with a couple of gallons left. I try to follow the rules and stay no more than the 14 days in any BLM or NF. And in the US you can get almost everything you need at the next truck stop. I drink club soda, teas, juices, coffee, ensure, pediolite drinks. Water is the last voluntary choice. I double the use of all of the water … boiling soft boil eggs in the coffee water. Etc.
So …. I have no idea how much you should carry. You need to over-supply your water needs until you feel confident in your ability to judge. It also depends on your style/intent of traveling. Sitting by the river reading a scholarly book doesn’t require extra water. Bouldering or kayaking require lots more. . It also depends on where you are traveling. Desert and high altitudes affect your need for water. Your personal hygiene level. It depends on how much attention you pay to your water consumption.
Advice: Take lots more than you think you might need. Take less next time.
*”getting by” means is there enough water to make coffee
Thank you for this question. I think others would be interested in this detail. May I attribute the question to you? Am thinking of putting the answer as a blog post.
On Tue, Jun 15, 2021 at 8:59 PM Truck Camper Hints wrote:
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Fantastic post Pic! Inspiring too….
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Thanks ever so much for reading and commenting ❤️
On Tue, Jun 15, 2021 at 12:34 PM Truck Camper Hints wrote:
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