A Room With a View
I prefer not to camp where I need to pull the window shades for privacy. The moonlight is usually nice, too.
Once I moved to avoid the recent rodent issues, I found a new campsite just half a mile further north on 9711F/Old 89. A pull-through loop adaptable to big rigs, it was atop a low ridge and offered a view of miles in nearly any direction. I knew I was in the right place when I woke up the next morning and saw a coyote in the distance trotting in a line from bush to bush, looking to scare up some breakfast. I’m going to let this post be kind of a photo essay, because there’s more to see than to tell.
This is the kind of place with admirable views, enough to climb out every now and then just to take it all in. This is looking NE from the new campsite.
This is looking north near sunset. If you’re the kind of person who tends to be anxious, this is the Rx.
Yep, “Sunset Over the Defiant”. Peaceful.
This is the view back toward camp from an “illegal” gate entry that is wired shut. Then I noticed that the wire loop was configured to swing up and clear. Hmmm. That baby chopped 5 miles off the official entry further north, and 20 minutes of idling fuel off the rough south entry. I’m not admitting I took it…just stating it’s theoretical effect. Yeah.
The same path closer to home. Thar she be, to the left. Yarrrr, the great white whale!
And still closer!!! That’s rain here and there in the distance, having skipped through, and it’s now past and away.
I almost forgot – pointing in a straight line away from that gate is an old abandoned railroad track bed that was used for mining in the earliest days. It heads SE from the gate and is on my GPS as an unnamed road(?) Go figure. The track was removed, and now it’s hard to tell it was there. It’s now just a slight rise over a long distance, perfectly straight.
This is the other end as it prepares to cross Old 89, believe it or not. Barely perceptible, the bushes hide the slight rise.
The tracks crossed Old 89 and kept going SE, but I could find no sign of a trackbed on the other side of the road now.
Just out for a walk on Old 89 and heading back to camp, looking north.
Strolling Amok 
What a life! If anyone should happen to ask me for the definition of freedom I’ll definitely refer them to this post.
Well, I’ve served 62 years in the norm, Rod, but the last 1.5 have been pretty darn enjoyable, I must say. This is just one way, though. I like to quote Seth Godin’s more effective outlook: “Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don’t need to escape from.”
Here’s to Seth!
Love it!!
I love the pictures you post
Flattery will get you everywhere Linda, at least with me. I’ll snap you another one!
I’ve recently started reading Seth Godin’s blog. You are both inspirational.
Wow, thanks Linda. I suspect my inspirational tack aims more toward goofing off, but even goofing off can be purposeful. Sort of.