Antelope Island - Last Day

Today is our last day at Antelope Island.  It's very hot today but I guess it's getting us prepared for Las Vegas.  We drove around the island yesterday.  Visited the oldest house in Utah, passed some buffalo and antelopes and beautiful views.  A wonderful day which was completed with a beautiful sunset.  I've posted some of the pictures I took.  Enjoy!

Antelope Island - Exploring the beach

Today we decided to explore the beach area.  Very interesting but not like normal beaches.  First of all, Salt Lake is extremely salty, the beach sand is actually dirt covered by layers of salt and unfortunately lots of gnats.  Thank goodness the gnats don't bit they're just annoying.  The water is very clear but also very shallow in the area we're in.  We were able to walk out quite a ways without getting soaked and at the same time stay cool.  Taz loved it and actually started floating at one point which confused him to no end.  The salt water makes you very buoyant.  He loved falling his daddy around in the water and trying to keep from floating.  He decided that drinking salt water wasn't very good.  

Antelope Island, UT June 24-28, 2013

We arrived yesterday at Antelope Island.  Coming onto the island you go over a 7 mile causeway with views of Salt Lake and surrounding mountains.  The smell of salt air is awesome.  We parked at Bridger Bay Campground and our spot is right on the beach with incredible views.  Of course, I took lots of pictures. 

Jeff's birthday is today so we drove into Ogden, UT to have lunch.  Of course, Mexican!  This afternoon we walked out on the beach and went wading in the water.  Very, very salty but clear!  No matter how far we walked out the water never got over mid calf.  Taz loved it!

We also decided today to make a change in our plans.  Our original plan was to head to San Francisco and stay there until we headed south to San Diego for Colt's graduation.  Staying in San Francisco is not only super expensive and it's hard to find a good place unless you book way ahead.  Our only option was not in a good area of town and we just weren't comfortable with that.  So we've decided to head south from here and go to Las Vegas.  Yes, Las Vegas in July and August and we're really not crazy.  A much nicer RV Resort, less expensive and it will put us closer to where we need to be in San Diego the end of August. 

Again, the beauty of living full-time in an RV.  You can live where ever you want, whenever you want.  Even if it's 120 degrees.

Rock Springs WY headed to Antelope Island UT

Our trip from Rock Springs, WY to Antelope Island, UT was quick and uneventful.  Although we did pass some beautiful scenery on the way.  Just had to take some pics and share them.

Gillette, WY to Rock Springs, WY

Well we finally left Gillette around 1:00 and headed to Rock Springs for the night.  Beautiful drive. 

Gillette, WY Last Day

This is our last day in Gillette.  One thing we've learned this week is to avoid the Midwest during this time of year.  The thunderstorms are severe with heavy rain, hail and high winds.  When you're in an RV while it's raining hard or hailing outside it's hard to hear yourself think much less talk to each other.  Scary stuff!

We'll be pulling out early tomorrow morning and headed west.  Hopefully to an area that has better weather! One thing about RV living is that if you don't like the weather, your neighbors or the view you can pack up and move.  Our first stop is Rock Springs, WY just for the night and then we're headed to Antelope Island in Utah, about 40 miles north of Salt Lake City.  It's supposed to be a quiet area, right on Salt Lake, lots of roaming wildlife and beautiful views.  I'll be taking lots of pictures. 

Gillette, WY

We've been having a great week in Gillette attending the FMCA Rally.  It's like a sea of RV's all around us.  Lots of activities to do, from Seminars, to vendors with every RV product known to man and a whole showcase of RV's to drool over.  If Jeff could talk me into it we'd buy the new 2014 American Tradition.  Of course, I'd love one to but I'm the money manager in the family and I'm thinking about paying for it.  I'm fine to enjoy the Purple Pig (our 2005 American Tradition) for a little longer. 

Deadwood, SD

We arrived in Spearfish, SD today.  We're staying at Chris' Camp, a wonderful camp with large lots, shade trees and super friendly owners.  On the way to Spearfish we drove through Deadwood, SD, a cute town with rolling hills, a cute Main Street area and lots of things to do.  The Main Street area closes off once a day for the re-enactment of the capture of Jack McCall who killed Wild Bill Hickok. I was so intrigued with this town that I looked up the history and posted it below.  Very cool!

The discovery of gold in the Black Hills in 1874 set off one of the last great gold rushes in the country. In 1876, miners moved into the northern Black Hills. That’s where they came across a gulch full of dead trees and a creek full of gold…and Deadwood was born.

Practically overnight, the tiny gold camp boomed into a town that played by its own rules that attracted outlaws, gamblers and gunslingers along with the gold seekers. Wild Bill Hickok was one of those men who came looking for fortune. But just a few short weeks after arriving, he was gunned down while holding a poker hand of aces and eights – forever after known as the Dead Man’s Hand.

Calamity Jane also made a name for herself in these parts and is buried next to Hickok in Mount Moriah Cemetery. Other legends, like Potato Creek Johnny, Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen, created their legends and legacies in this tiny Black Hills town.

Deadwood has survived three major fires and numerous economic hardships, pushing it to the verge of becoming another Old West ghost town. But in 1989 limited-wage gambling was legalized and Deadwood was reborn.