An almost perfect trip back home - Part 4

 I had made reservations for the next night after RMNP, but it was going to be last minute decisions after that. It might be 2 or 3 nights until home. This time Google Maps had some surprises for me. I passed Grand Lake, which lived up to the name, and then Google sent me right down a dirt road. It was beautiful country with no sign of human activity! I saw one other vehicle coming towards me and one passed me. Suddenly I turned a corner and was at an overlook - Gore Canyon. It was a small and humble Colorado River at the bottom.




The road took me to a T. My instinct was to turn right, and Google said "no reception". AAA map to the rescue - turn left! Back on I 70 - destination Green River, Utah. I had camped there before, so I knew a good shower was in my future. 
 
Green River is hardly more than a small town between two truck stops. The evening storm was a wind storm - no rain. Next morning I caught breakfast at a small local diner-ish establishment. Across the street was a coffee shop with some unusual decorating. 

Going towards Salt Lake City, I went up and over Soldier's Pass - 11,000 ish feet! Then I flew through the extended city and decided I could make City of Rocks in southern Idaho easily. Another surprise! City of Rocks is a National Preserve, but all sites had a QR code for Idaho State Parks. A lot of good that does with no internet or cell reception! I settled into an empty site with a wonderful view, cooked supper, and went to bed after some time spent knitting. Suddenly a car pulled up and a voice said, "Anyone there? You are in our site!"


It was very dark. I put on my headlamp and broke camp. I found another site that was also empty, but I thought my odds were better at 11 PM. I woke up to no night visitors and a fabulous view of the valley. On my way out, I stopped at the ranger station to pay my expected dues. Another surprise - all sites are and were pre-registered, so I got a fine for trespassing! But since they honor the national park pass, it was 50% off. And the total was less than the cost of reserving the site!


Once again I headed out with no particular destination in mind - possibly Emigrant Springs State Park, but it is right on I 80. So at Baker City, I consulted Google, and she sent me to tiny campground a few miles before that. 4 sites and well away from the noise. All 4 sites ended up being taken but no one turned away. A vault toilet but no water. And I rescued a couple from B.C. with the remains of my gas cannister! 

I decided to make my final day on the road more scenic by heading out 410 from Yakima to Chinook Pass. This was a Saturday, and even with the new, expanded parking lot, stopping was not a consideration. In the photo below, you can see the line in the cliff's side. Mt. Rainier was behind the clouds. The engineering of the road down to Sunrise always amazes me. After a wonderful Huckleberry shake at Wapiti, I was back on the fast track. A stop in Gig Harbor to hug the grandkids, and I was "home at last"'! 




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