Day 196

Echo Canyon State Park to Ely, NV
We spent 13 days at Echo Canyon State Park and I swear it rained every day.  It even snowed one day.  We were sure that we were done with the bad weather when May hit, but it seemed to get worse as the month went on.  Echo Canyon has a reservoir  and I watched it rise and fall depending on the amount of rain.  There was a garbage can at the edge of the lake about 2/3 of the way under water when we first arrived.  I looked at it this morning and you couldn’t even tell it was there because the water was so high. 
There was major flooding in the area and the Spring Valley State Park, about 10 miles up the road from us, had to be evacuated on Friday night the beginning of the holiday weekend.  Needless to say our campground was packed.  There were 2 trailers in the space where one was supposed to be in some sites.  Looking across the lake showed that the trailers were parked side by side in the day use lot at the boat ramp.  Looked like one of those RV shows.
Lee laughed at me because I felt guilty about taking a spot from the weekend campers.  He had to explain to me that this was our house and we paid for the spot, just the same as them.  (Helped a little, but I still felt guilty.)
Bristol, the cat, is getting a lot more energetic about exploring outside.  She explored around further and further until we couldn’t see her.  I would call her and she would mosey on back to me.  But when Lee would call her she came running to him.  It was really funny because he just calls out ‘come here kitty cat’ and here she comes a running.
The towns got smaller and smaller as we traveled down US93.  Caliente, where we stayed at Kershaw-Ryan State Park had a grocery store, a couple of restaurants, a Family Dollar,  an auto parts store and a bunch of other businesses.  Panaca, where we stayed at the Cathedral Gorge State Park had a grocery store and a convenience store, a thrift store (that was not open on the day we went to town) and a car lot with 3 cars for sale.  Pioche seemed to have more residents, but their grocery store was in an old filling station (much smaller than a convenience store). They had a good selection of items, but nothing was priced.  Sure we spent more on groceries, but it was kind of quaint.  This town even had a Sheriff’s Detention Center.  Lots of new houses going up in town, so it must be a good place to live.
The next town down the road from Pioche was Ely.  About 120 miles away.  1 rest stop and 1 bar/RV park between Pioche and Ely.  But a really pretty drive.
Stopped at McDonald’s to have some ‘real food’.  Lobby was under construction so only the drive through was open.  Can’t take a dually truck and 29′ trailer through the drive through, so we had to go to the Love’s truck stop and eat at Carl’s Junior.  Pretty good, but kind of a let down after getting myself set for a quarter pounder with cheese.  Haven’t eaten fast food since Bullhead City, about 42 days ago.  Yes, I’ve been cooking, when Lee won’t.  Used my Crockpot Express Cooker to make a roast a couple of times (it’s like an Instant Pot, but a lot cheaper) Need to get in the habit of using it more, since the leftovers are so good.
Found an RV Park (Valley View) in Ely, only $28 a night.  Not the best place we’ve been, but half the cost of the KOA. Our camp is right next to the highway.  It’s been so long since we have been in a big town it’s kind of a novelty to watch the cars go by.  Might not feel that way after a couple of days, LOL.
Really muddy here, so we didn’t set up the satellite dish.  Scanned in the digital channels.  54 channels, wow.  And we have 3 episodes of Chips in a row.  Who doesn’t like the old 70’s cop shows.
I saw a YouTube video of a review of a manual washing machine agitator that was for sale on Amazon.  After watching the video, I figured out that I could make my own with a bucket and a toilet plunger and save $27.95.  Can’t wait to try it out.
Hard to believe that it’s been 186 days since we were in Ely last.  Doesn’t seem like its been more than a couple of weeks.  Time sure does have a way of racing by…