SNAFU!

I headed out from Valley of the Rogue State Park around 9:30 this morning to make the 120 mile drive to Tule Lake NWR.  My plan was to stop at a Pilot gas station just outside of Medford to fill up the rig’s tank.  When I arrive at a new location, I like to have my gas tank pretty full, and I was running below a half a tank.  Well, the blasted alarm for the towed brake system kept going off to distract me (I had double checked my hookup before pulling out), and I somehow missed the Pilot station.  Long time readers know that finding gas stations that I can get in and out of is the biggest heartburn for me of this lifestyle.  Rats!  That got me a little worried, as I drove another almost 100 miles with no useable station in sight.

Two miles before the Oregon/California border on Hwy 97, I happened upon a truck stop.  Halleluiah!  Of the twelve gas pumps, only one wasn’t diesel.  I had to do quite a bit of maneuvering of the rig to find that one pump, and get the rig in place.  Out popped a young lady to fill me up.  I’m guessing it will be some time before I’m in another state where they pump the gas for you.  I probably saved about $25 by finding this station before I entered California.  Sometimes good things do happen.

Then I made my way another 25 miles or so to the refuge.  You may remember that I visited here two weeks ago to check out the site they had for me, and figure out how I was going to approach it.  At the time, they had assured me that all the vehicles blocking the campsite would be removed, and that the water would be turned on previous to my arrival.  Yeah, right!  After volunteering at 13 other refuges, I was not exactly surprised when these things didn’t happen.  SNAFU! 

I parked the rig in a big parking lot, turned on the generator to run the AC for Emma, unhooked the car, and went to check things out.  Temps were in the 90’s.  Eventually, they removed the vehicles, and I actually ended up with five staff members helping to spot me into the site.

It’s not the most picturesque site I’ve ever had, but it’s not the worst either.  I’m flanked by a bunkhouse and a fire management office building.  There is a shade tree, but that played havoc with the DISH satellite on top of the rig.  I had to jockey around to get two out of the three satellites.  Just like Harris Beach, no HD, but at least I don’t have to set up the portable DISH. 

This is the view as I sit outside with Emma.  Not too exciting, but there are no saw mills close by or major highways to create loud noise.  It is peaceful and quiet!  I’m already liking that.

This is the view out my table window in the rig.  There’s a stone building at the top that I’ll try to hike to when it gets a bit cooler.  In spite of the minor problems, I’m happy to be here and looking forward to exploring this refuge.  As for the water spigot getting turned on?  That didn’t happen today, but at least the biologist brought me one of those five gallon jugs of drinking water.  Like several other refuges I’ve volunteered at, the water out of the spigot is not potable.  It’s Okay for showers, dishes, and toilet and such, but the refuge provides the jugs of drinking water.

Tomorrow I’m to report at 8:00 for visitor center training.  I’m bringing my list of questions along with me with a water hookup at the top of the list.

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy