Utah awaits.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Utah awaits.

Our original plans were to zigzag our way through Utah and see all the national parks and monuments and perhaps take 6 – 8 weeks doing so.  With the shutdown that plan has been waylaid.  To complicate matters more, all those folks that had camp reservations at the national parks and BLM campgrounds along Highway 128 have now moved their reservations to the state parks. 

Now what?

We get to Moab – it’s a zoo.  There’s some RV Parks, but they look very uninviting compared to the camping style we have grown accustomed to.  We drive through town and keep truckin’ down the highway.

Hiding amongst the trees with the deer.

We drive as far as Monticello and pull in at the Visitor Center to inquire about camping.  The young lady directs us to the Manti-La Sal National Forest directly west of town.  She checks the deer hunting season dates.  The bow season just ended, and the rifle season doesn’t start for several more days.  We’re in luck – we have a good chance of not getting shot while we’re camping.  Off we go.

We find Dalton Springs Campground about 5 miles up from Monticello.  It’s very serene as we drive down the lane in search of a site.

Tucked in amongst the trees for the night – happy to have found the peace and quiet we were looking for – we take a walk around the campground.  

We walk to the main road and head toward the second entry back into the campground.  The day is coming to a close, and the shadows are long.

Aspens are aglow in the afternoon light.

Entering back into the campground, we see that deer are scattered throughout peeking at us from behind trees or lying perfectly still with turned heads peering in our direction.  Being hunting season, they’re a little skittish.  We try to give them the peace and quiet they are seeking also.

Thankfully, a peaceful evening ensued for humans and animals alike.