Part II:
Goblin Valley
Sunset at Goblin Valley.
For night #3 we took a chance. Google Earth reconnaissance looked good for Forsyth Reservoir, at 8,000 feet in Fishlake National Forest north of Loa. That turned out to be my new favorite campsite, and we got to enjoy the spectacular UT-24 through Capitol Reef National Park and the sleepy town of Torrey en route. We were the only overnighters at the entire lake.
Zoe swims at Forsyth Reservoir.
Our campsite at Forsyth Reservoir.
Our campsite at Forsyth Reservoir.
Hangin' in camp at Forsyth Reservoir.
Sunset over Forsyth Reservoir from camp.
Looking across Forsyth Reservoir at our camp.
A few observations from this trip:
1. Damn, I'm paying to get something else fixed on the trailer. This sucks. Rookie mistakes to be sure, and I'll eventually learn to not make them, but...damn. Just damn.
2. The new truck tows like a champ, even on steep, unimproved dirt roads.
3. The new truck drinks like a sailor on shore leave -- average 8.5 mpg towing. Maybe if I kept it below 75-80 mph...
4. Forsyth Reservoir is ~15 miles from Loa, the location of the nearest store. It's a straight shot on UT-72. Nevertheless, DW and aunt still found a way to get lost for nearly 3 hours on a quick run to the store. There's no cell service in that neck of the woods and I had to go find them. Sheesh.
5. In the span of 4 days we had thunderstorms, unusually hot mid-90s sunshine for early June in the desert, and a night in the upper 40s. We had a canyon rim, barren desert, a slot canyon and a refreshing mountain lake surrounded by spring greenery, all in one quick long weekend trip. #utahisrad
6. Did I mention that I broke the trailer again? Damn.
Addendum: Well, the estimate is in for the repairs: $800-1000. Not cheap by any means, but a far cry from the $4733 I did on our second trip. It looks like I should be flushing the head again by this weekend.