the Campground at Capitol Reef

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Once again, I'm behind in posting.

We got here two and a half weeks ago, spending our time at an RV park in Torrey, a small town about ten miles from Capitol Reef proper. We originally stayed there so we could meet some fellow bloggers (Laurie and Odel) and we had a lovely time with them, but one week in the RV park was enough for us.

On a day trip, once again, serendipity intervened. Trying to escape a tailgater on a twisted mountain road, we ducked into a National Forest campground to look around. And what should we find, tucked back in the woods, but another Lazy Daze! It turned out to be someone we've communicated with for several years, and just like that, we made more new friends .

Steve and Nancy (the Lazy Daze folks) were staying at the campground at Capitol Reef, so we decided to move on over. It's drycamping under the trees, a beautiful spot, and it's only $5.00 a night with my brand new Golden Age Passport (now just called the Senior Pass, more prosaic, but I guess that's what it is . . .).

Terry has had his for some time, but I finally got mine here at Capitol Reef.

I'm officially a fogey!

Here at the campground, there's a nice level walking trail that meanders along the Fremont River. This tree, which I love, stands guard over the trail.

If you look closely, you can see the face.
I love it, but imagine
a Halloween nightmare
for the young ones.

Our first few days here
were rain soaked.

I tried to take advantage of the water
for photography.

Here's a shot of the trail.
Notice how the flowers
are all hanging down
drenched by the rain.

The rain, while inconvenient,
seems to have been appreciated
by the plants and trees.

These are called the mail trees.

Here in Fruita (originally a small but prosperous Mormon community in the late 1800s and now the center of Capitol Reef National Park), these trees marked the far end of where the mail could be delivered.

The residents would leave outgoing mail hung in bags and the mailman would leave the incoming mail in the same manner.

These are ancient cottonwoods, very unlike the cottonwoods we're used to in New Mexico. These are huge, as is most everything here in Capitol Reef.

Here's one final shot
from the campground.

Lots of pictures to post,
this is just an introduction.

We've now been here ten days (plus the one week in Torrey) and still have barely scratched the surface of this place. They say Capitol Reef is one of the lesser know National Parks, but I can't figure out why.