The Road Less Traveled

Last week my blog left off with Jo’s VW and its punctured oil pan as the Diehls searched for Balanced Rocks. We turned off onto the road less travelled—and that was a real mistake! After nursing the little car as far back toward the main road as possible, we all piled into our pickup and headed for Jeffrey City.  Remembering there is no cell coverage at least for Verizon users, TC went in to the diner/bar to see if they had a land line he could use to call Lander for a tow truck. Wyoming neighborliness emerged when “Hoot,” an oil filed contractor, offered to call Lander on his cell phone (AT&T--did that company buy the cell towers in that part of the country?).

While TC waited for tow truck, the rest of us went back to the camp site to eat a bite of lunch and pack up Jo & TC’s tent, etc.  As we drove through the sage brush we discovered a beautiful antelope buck resting in the road ruts. He decided to stand and slowly walk away as we drove closer.  

We could see the road from our camp site so we ate lunch outside (wasn’t enough room inside, anyway) and about the time we were finished, Brian spied the tow truck. We piled into the pickup and headed for the injured VW. 

Soon we were waving goodbye to Jo & TC and VW plus tow truck and drivers. Dean is a determined man and since Hoot had told him (back in Jeffrey Ctiy) that we just needed to stay on the graded road, we continued on the road we should have stayed on. Sure enough we were soon at balanced Rocks. It’s truly a beautiful spot as are the hills in that area, and a total different scenery down in the valley where Crooks Gap and Jeffrey City are located.

Two “sub-ticks” off the Bucket List—camped at Crooks Gap and saw Balanced Rocks. On to the Sweetwater River. Watch out, trout!  We hooked up the trailer and set out for Sweetwater Crossing. After wandering around a bit in the area, we found the Fish and Game area where the men could fish.  It was very steep descent to the river so it was a godsend that Jeff and Brian were with Dean as I wasn’t about to brave that brush with all the rattlers just waiting to strike, not to mention the ticks yearning to suck my blood. (My farmer Dad is probably rocking with laughter up in heaven as I write of my wimpiness.) 

After about an hour the fishermen returned. Dean discovered that 3 of his 4 fishing rods were not in fishing condition which was discouraging. However, Brian did catch two fish—a 12 inch and one smaller—both of which he threw back. (Talk to Jeff about a picture of the fish.) That was a first for him, so the trek was not a bust. Besides, Dean had fished the Sweetwater—sort of.

We knew there was no gas station anywhere close, so we headed for Lander to eat dinner, gas up, and find an RV park. Life was getting better—we were learning how to “tweak” the trailer appliances, sleep warmer, and “rotate” more efficiently.

Wednesday morning we had to head back toward SLC so we headed for South Pass (Wind River Mountains) and the area of the Sweetwaater’s headwaters. Dean had fished the area many years ago so remembered the approximate area (of course, he remembered the approximate area of Balanced Rocks, too).  After three or four miles of wash-boardy road heading for Big Sandy, we turned off the main road and unhitched the trailer.  Dean took over the wheel from Jeff and headed for the trees in the distance.

Many bumps later we arrived at the riverbank—really an idyllic spot. All three Diehl men took turns fishing with the one good reel. Dean fished from the bank and Jeff and Brian waded in the river and casted. I resisted the wading, but set up a camp chair by the riverbank in the shade of a willow bush, wrote a bit, and just enjoyed the sound of the river. No fish caught this time but we all enjoyed the site/sight tremendously.  (pictures)

The rest of the trip was  uneventful for which we were grateful. We spent the last night in our favorite motel in Evanston, the Prairie Inn and got the trailer back to the rental place in good time. 

Bucket List item—complete. The Diehls’ trip—memorable (however you want to look at it).