Seeing America with Ken and Shirley: illipah

Saturday, October 15, 2022

Illipah camping, Lunch in Milford Utah to Cedar City Utah

Senior Spotlight! 💙

Thursday morning we left home around 1030. We would have liked earlier but it was what it was.

We decided to head out on Highway 50..The Loneliest Highway..hahaa. NOT! We've done 50 many (and I mean many) times over the years. Lots of trucks on this route now..but not as many as Highway 95.

Great ride until Eureka when we were stopped by NHP and told to pull over because there was a wide load coming. After about 30 minutes of waiting I told Ken why don't I go in the trailer and make sandwiches. We had a nice lunch, and of course the wide load came through during that time.

This is the Tonka toy we waited for LOL.

The aspens were gorgeous!

We continued on and ended up at Illipah Campground just outside of Ely. We love this place. It was actually the less crowded than we've ever seen it! We found a place and parked. Happy Hour happened after that when Ken started a fire!

Happy Hour at Illipah

The campfire was definitely needed!

Great spot for FREE!

Lake Cumins outside Ely, Nevada

At the entrance to Great Basin National Park

Dinner was easy as we had left over pork from home. Temps were cool, so and after a while we went inside.

The Illipah campground is a great place to be. Covers to protect you from the wind, fire pits, tables, and pit toilets. All for free! Tons of places for ATV's, Side by Sides Etc to ride! There's a reservoir for fishing etc too.

We left there early morning after having coffee. It was about 0630 we left and went to Ely to get to gas. We got to Lake Cumins about 0730 where I made breakfast and we had showers. A beautiful place to be. It was 28 degrees at that time! Once we were finished we headed out, around 0900.

A great drive down Highway 50 to 487 out of Great Basin area and then to Milford, Utah where we took on water, had lunch and stopped at the local grocery store to pick up ice. They have a free dump, water and a campground that doesn't cost a thing. No hook ups but a great place!

The camping area in Milford, Utah

Our lunch spot in Milford, UT

We left there not quite sure where we were going, but ended up at RJourneys RV Park in Cedar City Utah. Nice place, you can tell it used to be a KOA years ago by the shape fo the roof. $47.00 with full hook ups for the night. Last night was free, so averages out to a pretty cheap two days.

Very busy, lots of Canadian plates too! 😁

We're hoping to only go about 28 miles today to a NFS campground and then check out Cedar Breaks National Monument. We will see..otherwise we keep heading east. Our plan is to avoid the interstate as much as possible. 😀

Have a great Saturday! We're heading out! 😍

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

A decision made! On our way to South Dakota. Illipah to outside of Rock Springs WY tonight. Eric's webcam

Wyoming loves their tall flags! Us too! 💗

Yesterday morning we left the house about 1030 still not knowing where we were going for our anniversary trip. We decided that when we got to the roundabout in Silver Springs we'd make the decision. Ok we both said we're not going to Oregon as we can do that any time of year if we want. Right we went. We passed Sand Mountain and a little bit later Ken said "How about Deadwood?" I countered with that's South Dakota (duh). We only have 10 days. He said we can go longer. Ok then let's do South Dakota.! Yay! I've been wanting to go back for a few years anyway, as they appear to be one of the only "normal" states in the union.

In the middle of nowhere is a place called Middlegate. They have a little bar/restaurant, motel and rv park. Ken turned on the road and said let's celebrate making a decision and have a drink. 😃 The place was packed as a bus had stopped in but we weren't eating anyway but we'll be back as the food looked awesome!

Very rustic but so cute!

Money everywhere!!!

Our celebratory drinks!

All kinds of stuff like this Nancy!

Loved the porch covering and screened in at that!

Outhouse by the motel! :)

It was a bar but their burgers looked awesome!

WE drove to Illipah Resorvoir just outside of Ely, Nevada where we've been before. It's a great little campground with FREE sites with a wind shelter, fire pit and picnic table. Some have shelters over the tables. It's 1 1/2 miles off the highway, no cell or internet service. Found a site, parked and it was time for Happy Hour. Our site overlooked the lake, which is really low. Wild horses were out and about!

Beautiful moonrise!

Ken made a nice fire as it really cooled off and we just enjoyed. Later we went in for dinner and the heater ran off and on all night :)

Alarm was set for 0500 and we were out of there by 0730. We decided we're going to get to South Dakota as quick as we can so we can enjoy our time there. Going home a different way so we can enjoy that too.

We stopped outside of McGill, NV and had our breakfast burritos that I made before we left. We have the Hot Logic warmer I bought and the burritos were warm and toasty.

Mc Gill, Nevada..I love this town!

Got ourselves through Salt Lake City, which wasn't too bad and then into Wyoming. We both love watching the terrain change, it's amazing.

Salt Lake traffic...

Wyoming!

This is advertised as the highway to heaven..smoky and now they have the
windmills! YUK! If it wasn't that it appears the windmill was in the way it would
look like the road ends...

Near Flaming Gorge..

We went through Rock Springs Wy. In 1970 (I know 51 years ago) we went through there with our mom and dad coming home from our yearly Arkansas trip. We met my daddy's Cousin Flossie in Rock Springs in her cute little house. There really was nothing there, a small town. Not anymore!! Seems like yesterday, but 51 years! How can that be????!!! LOL.

We are about 60 miles from Rawlins, WY where we will turn North off this freeway! We're in a very noisy rest area for the night. Noise doesn't bother us a bit! Ken really didn't want us to wake up on our 49th anniversary in a rest area or truck stop, but who cares?! We're in the Mansion and we're together :)