We’re in Utah!
By the time the crew and I drive into Kanab, I’m feeling weary. It’s about noon and getting pretty hot. I turn into the parking lot of Honey’s Groceries. I crack the windows of the PTV and run in, grab a few items, pay, and get back to the crew in a flash. Gee, it’s not too bad in here after all. I think I’ll see if I can get online.
When I start to feel tired, it’s time to find a place to camp for the night.
It’s not good to be driving and towing when low on energy and worried about a stupid tire. I look online and find the phone number of Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. The guy I get on the phone gives me a lot of good information about the park. Two facts jump out at me . . . It’s $16 a night and they have SHOWERS! “Thank you very much! I’m on my way!” To heck with the expense. I want to go there! At this point I’d pay $16 for just the shower!
On any other day, Kanab would be an interesting stop.
Today it’s something in the way of my shower. Off we go! At the park entrance we’re assigned a site as we pay. I find it’s a very pretty campsite and happily climb out of the PTV. Oh crap! I can’t believe how LOUD that is! A fifth-wheel is parked on the opposite side of the road and has the noisiest generator I’ve ever heard in my life! What did he do? Soup it up like a hot rod?
The crew wants out so I walk them down the campground road a little way.
Aha! The camp host is out! I say hi and present her with my problem. “I hate to even ask, but I know I can’t live with that noise.” She’s agreeable, hops on her quad, and says, “Follow me. I have to go up to the office anyway.”
Long story short, we move to a site that’s much quieter and just as nice.
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is popular with the off-road vehicle people. Pink sand is all around the park and some of it is designated for ORV use. I’m fine with that. I resolve to muster up all the tolerance I can and enjoy this unusual and, actually, quite charming campground.
The shower is the best I’ve ever had!
No scrimping on the water and it blasts out of the nozzle in a wide spray. Boy, did that feel good!
Before leaving, I find a chance to thank the camp host again for moving us to a new site. “I really enjoyed this park. At first I thought it was going to be so-so, what with the ATVs and everything. But it’s a great park.”
She tells me her name is Elaine.
She still has a British accent, although she’s lived in the States for 35 years. She and her husband Mel will host this park until August. They just learned they’ve been accepted to host at another park on a beach in Oregon. I can tell she’s thrilled, and I share that I hope to be in Oregon in a year or two.
“You know, you have the perfect personality for hosting,” I tell her. “Plus your work ethic is fabulous. Whenever I see you walk anywhere, you stop and pick up something.” This makes her laugh. We talk some more and I take photos of her show dog, Emma, a Shar-Pei. We say goodbye. What a nice person.
“Maybe our paths will cross again someday, ” I remark, walking away. “In Oregon . . . on a beach.”
“Yes!” she replies cheerfully. “On an Oregon beach!”
(The photos of the dunes were taken in the morning. I should have taken them when the crew and I viewed them the night before. That’s when they’re less orange and more pink!)
rvsue
rvsue and her canine crew 