#2
Heading toward Flaming Gorge the reds have given way to a chalky white with a slight celery tint to it. 191 south of the Flaming Gorge was a beautiful road. Surely it rates as an all time favorite motorcycle road in that area, i would think.
The ascent right before you get to the more Alpine area south of Flaming Gorge was really beautiful. It's a wide ascent and you can look back down on the valley below. I was too busy driving to take photos though.
Soon, I was back in Alpine and Aspen and started looking for a place to camp.
I ended up at Lodgepole Campground staying right next to the campground hosts who were two really terrific people. They looked after and watched over me as if I was one of their own. For a National forest campground, it was very nice. I've been disappointed in many I've looked at because the camping areas were so close to each other, it was hard to have any privacy. These were spaced nicely with lots of trees and nature between you and your 'neighbor'.
Here was my campsite:
My camp hosts were right across the road, but my campsite was set back off the road further than most places have them. This is their campsite:
:eek1 :eek1
Wow - what a way to camp!!! They do this in the summers and love it. I wanted to show you their place though because a couple of evenings they would build a fire and invite campers to join them around the fire. I was 'like family' by then, so this gave me a chance to meet other campers as well. All of them were interested to know why I was alone and why I was draggin' around 3 bikes. They enjoyed my stories and thoughts and I loved hearing theirs even more.
I stayed at this campground about 4 days because by this time in the trip I had become exhausted and needed a couple of days to just sleep and reorganize again. (yeah, I guess I probably do organize a lot). It was cool enough during the day to take naps and the camp hosts weren't early risers, so no noises to wake me early in the morning. This was one of the most peaceful places of my journey. I would return here just to camp, even if Flaming Gorge were not close by.
The first day I got to lodgepole, it started hailing. I had only had the GS for a couple of days and certainly didn't want the first mark on it to be from hail, so I grabbed my armor and laid it over the tank. What else could I do?
Pea size hail, I guess right? BTW, I did not go out in the hail to get the pictures. They came after the hail stopped. soon after.
Another thing about my campground hosts. The last evening I was there, they had pretty much figured out that I was eating only meals from Mountain House - ready to eat meals. Which I still enjoy, but I think they took pity on me. Carolyn came out of her camper on her way to 'make the rounds' and had two plastic dishes in her hands.
"Hon, you must be starvin for some real vegetables. Here. Eat this. It's only leftovers and you may not even like it. Eat what you want though. It won't hurt my feelings if you don't like it. Here is some pasta salad and macaroni salad."
I know some of you don't like food photos, but I just want you to see how delicious this looked to someone who had been eating 'boil in the bag' meals for the last several weeks. It was gourmet!!!! She even brought salt and pepper!!!!! How thoughtful is that??
I was soooo thankful and so grateful. I was also very glad she had rounds to make because trying to eat this delicious food with a fork was taking too long. I hate to admit it - but yes, when no one was looking. I put down the fork and used my fingers. Which may seem really hideous to you and I'm sure one day when I'm eating normal food again day in and day out, I'll think so too. But the experience gave me new insight into something I saw in Africa last year.
I was in Nairobi last fall and I visited a school and feeding center. For 90% of those children the meal they received for lunch while I was there photographing was the only real meal they would have all day. For many of them, it was the only food they would have all day. I remember the teachers continually telling them to use their utensils to eat their rice and beans when one would try to hurry and just grab with their fingers. All I can say is, I understand those kids now. This food tasted so good and the texture and flavors and smell was so different than the food I had been living on, that instinct just took over and I laid down the fork and ate like a starving child. I wanted to hurry and eat it all before she came back. I was shocked at myself. But I was smiling the whole time. It was good - and all within probably 3 minutes.
hahahaha - I'm laughing at myself still.
The next morning as I was packing up my bike I was secretly hoping to slip out before Carolyn awakened because I hate to say good-bye. We had informally said goodbye the night before around the fire with other people there. That was easier. A face to face encounter and a goodbye was going to be hard.
I was strapping down the last bike and her door opened. I looked up to see Carolyn holding a plate with food, napkins and two coffee mugs.
"Come on over here and sit with me and have some breakfast."
I smiled a huge grin at her readiness. She must had been up and watching me from their window and knew exactly when to come out.
"I just need to finish this bike and then wash my hands and then I'll be right there."
She had toasted bagels, different spreads, butter, and some hot chocolate for me. Bagels - hand food. No fork necessary. hahahaha. I did use a knife to spread the cream cheese though.
We talked of plans; hers, mine. We talked of routes and things I should see. We talked till the sun started getting hot on our faces. I wouldn't hurry off. Not in the face of such graciousness and kindness. Eventually the goodbye came with all the well wishes we could think of for each other. She turned toward her motor home, and I climbed up in the truck.
While I was camped there, I did take some rides down to the Flaming Gorge and through the geological loop called Sheep Creek Loop. Those photos next.
