Yes, that is a gas can and yes, we ran the hell out of gas. Before you start gettin' all high and mighty about how you would never have that happen yourself, let me just explain in a defensive voice that there is absolutely nothing between Salt Lake City and West Wendover the next big town on the border with Nevada. Oh sure, there are some towns on the map and so when Fred said we were getting close to empty I thought no biggee we'll just stop at one of the three towns along the way. Well, that is until we passed each one and each one had a big, blue "No Services" sign posted right under the town name. Hmm, ok well worst case scenario we've got 3 gallons of gas in the truck bed for use in our generator. Whew, crisis averted I guess.
Um, no. As the gauge counted down the miles to empty and my gas app on the phone showed 12 miles to go to the nearest gas station we coasted on our last fume into a roadside rest stop on the Bonneville Salt Flats. That's when we discovered the merry pranksters that work at Ford have a truly twisted sense of humor.
You see that blue gas can Fred is holding? Well, as he started to pour it in the truck we realized the nozzle would not fit and all that happened was the gas would drizzle down the side. Turns out that the guys in charge of designing gas tank mechanisms at Ford thought it would be funny if, while you are frustrated and pissed about not having gas, you should also use that moment to discover that you have to have a specially designed Ford "easy" fuel gas funnel. Supposedly, it comes with the truck but to really amp up the fun they locate it under the backseat in a special compartment that can only be accessed if everything is removed from the seat. You know what's on our seat right now? A heavy-ass cooler, a tripod and scope, a case of beer, groceries, a computer and some rocks (don't judge me).
So, while you are sweltering in the desert frustrated because the damn Mormons don't have enough gas stations in their state, you have to gather your wits and remove everything from the backseat onto the hot pavement only to find out that the very special gas nozzle is not in fact where it is supposed to be. At this point, Fred was ever so patient and calm and set about trying to figure this conundrum out in a calm, analytical way. Um, not.
Time lapse forward, for reasons we are still scratching our head over, the nozzle was located in a drawer in the Bambi. Neither of us have an inkling how it could have gotten there since we have never run out of gas ever before and would have had no reason to pull it out from the truck and even if we had seems like we would have remembered that event. I'm gonna chalk this one up to clean living and divine intervention because without that thing we would still be stuck there. I mean, we had gas so walking or hitching to a gas station would not have helped. Even calling AAA wouldn't have worked unless they carry that particular special nozzle.
Lesson learned from this? Check the meds that the Ford Motor Company provides to employees.
After we got a few drops of gas in the truck we were able to really look around and it was one amazing rest stop. Check it out:
Bonneville Salt Flats, they're very sparkly in the sun
It's best if you don't have a cut on your tootsies
This guy had his dogs on the salt flat. The origin of the term salty dog.
Crunch, crunch, crunch
I can't imagine how anyone could make a living out here, oh wait.....
But I'm getting ahead of myself. We actually drove from Austin to Quanah, TX, spent one night then drove to Sugarite Canyon State Park near Raton, NM, spent one night then drove to the Pawnee National Grasslands in CO for one night. Lots of driving and none of these spots were really worth spending more than one night. We had been to the Pawnee before and it was great but it was during the spring. This time it was pretty dead.
The grasslands in all their glorious grassiness
It wasn't totally dead, there were a bazillion huge grasshoppers
Fred spots a sign, insert sound of screeching tires
Well worth crossings two lanes of highway
After the Pawnee we plotted a course to the Ruby Mountains outside Elko, NV. I had never heard of this place but it turned out to be one of our all time favorite camping spots. Middle of nowhere, gorgeous mountains, no one around, we loved it.
You can't see it here but a stream was flowing right by our camping spot. It was so nice to hear at night and you can see we hang a hummingbird feeder on the back window so we can see the birdies without having to leave the comfort of our fleecy covers.
The views weren't too shabby either
Lock her up Fred, let's take a hike
Can you see that itty, bitty cabin? It has now become my official dream house.
Looks and feels like fall up here
It took me hours to hike up to this lake, altitude and laziness both were factors
Since my retirement, Fred now brings home the bacon And fires it up in a pan
While Fred was out doing this hike above, I stayed at the camp and read a few pages of my never ending Game of Thrones book. As I glanced up, I thought I saw something move in the tangle of bushes across the stream. It looked like this:
Can you see it? Look harder.
I couldn't figure out what it was so I ran up the trail a ways to see if I could catch Fred but he was long gone. When I came back to camp, it wasn't there. So bummed because I knew Fred would want to see it and I wasn't exactly sure what I was seeing. I crossed the stream to search the underbrush but no luck. As I came back and plunked down in the chair, looked what wandered up to me.
It's a dusky grouse, friendly as a chicken
Such a cutie and darn good eating I hear
On the hike we took up to the lake, we had talked with several hunters with rifles and bows all after grouse. None of them were successful. Maybe this knows a birdwatcher when he sees one. He hung around long enough for Fred to come back and he took lots of photos, which is good otherwise he would have been grousing the rest of the trip.
If you get a chance, go here
Next up, Steens Mountain in eastern Oregon. But first, we really need to fill up.
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