Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Friday, June 10

It’s been warmer so Shell Creek is really roaring this am

click on individual photos to enlarge

It’s sunny and already 57 at 9:30 am. The painting I started and put in the storage box I built warped horribly because it’s only supported on two edges and the canvas is cheap canvas mounted on 1/8 thick cardboard. I don’t have room for a standard stretched canvas. I could paint one at a time because the bottom panel in the storage box is fully supported. Oh well. When I get home I will have many great photos to paint.

At 7 pm it was 70 degrees.

It’s Friday so the campground is almost full.

I was the only camper here for 4 nights except for a woman and her dog who slept in an SUV here on Wednesday night.

I had it made. It was quiet. Mule deer and moose visited the campground in the mornings and early evenings. Moose and deer came in again today near sunset but were soon spooked and left. I’m familiar with the two campgrounds I’ll be splitting my time between for the rest of my trip. They are prettier than Ranger Creek where I am camped now but they will be full. 

As always, I lay low from Friday midday until Monday mornings especially when it comes to fishing. I can fish Monday am through Friday midday without crowds. I let the working people have it during the weekends.

Hiking into spots that are rarely fished is not realistic. Young trout bums have this covered. 

Sunday or Monday I’ll be able to move to my site at North Tongue Campground  The campground host of North Tongue Campground Lenny, who is a very friendly 80 year old woman, couldn’t remember. It’s where I was supposed to be for the last week but was moved down to Ranger Creek because of the snow. Someone is in try site and will leave Sunday or Monday.

I’m hoping, weather permitting, I’ll be able to do some fishing on North Tongue River. It is very small. It’s more of a creek. North Tongue has a good reputation. There is at least one YouTube video someone fishing the North Tongue.

Half of my time here I’ll be camped at Tie Flume Campground on the South Tongue River. I’ve camped there and fished it. Caught many small, beautiful trout, but can’t remember what kind of trout, maybe rainbows.

Saturday, June 11, 2022

Woke at 5 am.

41 degrees out which is better than 32 of the last couple of days.

By 6:30 am it was bright and sunny. Hopefully another day of sun and not running my generator

Campground is full

Shell Creek is higher due to warm weather and snowmelt.

Sunday, June 12, 2022

Woke at 7 am, 44 degrees outside.

Cleaned and organized things before move today or tomorrow.

This is my 5th season camping with my trailer. Hard to believe. I’ve never built a campfire. This year I bought a hatchet. When it warms up I’ll build a campfire or two.

For 2 or 3 years I’ve gone back and forth on buying an ok pair of binoculars. A month ago I finally pulled the trigger. After much research I bought Nikon Monarch 5, 10 x 42s. Not too expensive but a bright, sharp image and they are not huge. Some think 10x is a little too powerful which can make it difficult to find or stay focused on an object. I am able to stay on a soaring bird of prey until my neck gets sore so I’m very happy with them. I take them on my walks and use them once in a while in camp. I’ll do a little star gazing if Elon Musk’s satellites don’t ruin it. I have mixed feelings about that guy.

Sunday afternoon and Ranger Creek Campground is totally empty once again. 

Moved to North Tongue Campground at 4 pm.

Monday, June 13, 2022 day 13 of my trip

Woke at 4, read and slept until 7, 46 degrees and overcast

Looks pretty gloomy outside. Totally different vibe here at North Tongue. Super quiet here because there isn’t a roaring flooding creek behind my trailer 24/7. Ranger Creek was open. I could look out my window while having coffee and see deer and sometimes moose grazing 30 feet away or 100 yards away. This is very wooded and I can see maybe 50 yards. It is prettier.

Kicked the temperature in my trailer up a couple of degrees during the day and at night. Propane isn’t that expensive.

I will be here until Friday when I’ll move to Tie Flume Campground. Friday is supposed to be 78 at Burgess Junction which is a few miles from North Tongue Campground and maybe 10 miles from Tie Flume Campground.

I’m hoping to begin fishing a week from today. Tie Flume is on the South Tongue River. 

Took a walk when it was sunny around noon. The sun didn’t last long. When I walked the half mile to North Tongue River and looked west, rain was coming.

Worst weather day yet. Partly sunny until around 1 pm but after that the temperature dropped to 41, then windy and rainy. At 5 pm some campers set up their tents in the cold, wind, and rain. Not sure why one guy placed his tent on the side of a small hill. Took a photo through my window. They can’t see me.

Tuesday, June 14, 2022 Day 14

Woke at 6. 32 outside and 68 inside

. Very sunny at 7 am Burning a lot of propane but it hasn’t gone up like gasoline.

The tent campers are three guys with three tents. I wouldn’t want to be them but they’re probably having a good time.

Had snow flurries from 2 til 3 pm. Temperature was around 44 so it didn’t stick. Very windy, 45 mph gusts I read.

Got bored reading and napping so I drove down out of the mountains to Sheridan, Wy. 

Forgot a tube of cerulean blue oil paint which is great for skies. Also, I don’t want to use the junky, cheap, cardboard, canvas panels I brought from home so I was hoping to find some art supplies in Sheridan. The Ace Hardware in town has a fair Arts and Crafts section. They have M. Graham Oil Paints and had Cerulean Blue. They also have stretched canvas for a reasonable price. Tomorrow is shopping, mail, wash, and bill paying, and blog day so I will pick my supplies up then. 

A very nice couple in a tear drop camper are freezing their asses off next to me.

Wednesday, June 15, 2022 Day 15

Woke at 5. 33 outside and 66 inside. I think the near freezing mornings are behind me. Tomorrow is supposed to be warmer, I hope.

Need to find a dump station. I’ve been in my trailer for 14 days without dumping and my grey water tank (sinks and shower) is full. The dump station at Burgess Junction is not open yet. I might have to take a drive I don’t want to take. Can’t really take my trailer to Sheridan for chores. I won’t be able to park in some spots.