13 July 2019
Traveling North
Early morning departure, the routine is rout. The truck is ready, the gear is stored and the last step before rollout. Throw the tennis ball! This morning departure would be celebrated with a blue bird that landed on a wooden fence post as we were returning from the tennis ball throwing arena. This bird had little concern, for we were of no threat, but to have a blue bird bid us farewell was a treat.,
MOHAB, Nothing more to say.. If you have a jacked up Rubicon, it should be used for more than driving around the mall.
Schofield State Park, Home of the worlds fattest ground hogs. Well I don’t know that to be globally true, but since I declared it, it is fact, done deal. It was 260 miles since leaving Mesa Verde. The Tortuga was going to make it a long day, because there is to much to see and Lacy wanted to play ball in more than one or two states.
A brown sign appeared at a perfect time, pointing west, it announced Schofield State Park 10 miles. Not quite a power slide, or squealing of rubber, maybe just a sharp turn at a Tortuga speed we changed direction, Fatigue was sneaking in and the State Park sign appears, a match made in heaven, well a match made in Utah. Over the hill at mile 9, there appears a valley with a few houses, but it was the lake surrounded distant snow caped mountain tops that confirmed fates decision.
WHAT ABOUT THE FATTEST GROUND HOGS?
Sorry, let me fast forward. Well after the 10-minute set up of the truck, Lacy was ready to recon the camp. The park is covered with holes all over the ground. Caution had to be taken as to not trip. Wondering what kind of creature would den under the feet of humans, the answer was delivered by a ground hog standing on its hind legs scanning the horizon for food.
As Lacy led the recon, ground hogs would scamper across our path to hiding positions on the other side of the road , but if there was a camp site where people had walked away from food, these critters were brazen. I could have sworn this one ground hog put on a bibe right in front of us, then cross the path before climbing up upon the picnic table. As the Lacy walked by the ground hog looked over, untreated and continued to chow down on a 5 course meal, not once looking over at Lacy as a threat. Lucky for the ground hog it didn’t look like a tennis ball, else it would have been over.
Schofield State Park, As the Tortuga sits a cold breeze that is leading a summer rain strom approaches from the south west, it a strange feeling. This time of year for the Tortuga, it is hot on the beach!!!!, 90 degree, 90 percent humidity and ZERO breeze. Oh yea this is why the Tortuga headed north in July. Well, The first drop hits and thoughts turned to waiting it out and see what, if anything would happen. Prudence took charge (she is so smart) and the Lacy dawg led the way back into the cabin. Before the door was closed the comforting pidder patter of a few rain drops hitting the top of roof, then with little warning, instantly the comforting pidder pattern, turned into a deafening barrage of horizontal rain bullets. If that was not enough the storm crescendo with thunder so loud that the first thought was that this was it for this Tortuga, it was time to meet the Big Tortuga in the sky. Well after a minute of dought the storm pasted, living a cool breeze and soothing rhythm of the last few rain drops that make yah sleepy. This Day is Done.
