I'm In Moab

SmokerBill · 05-16-2011, 05:40 PM

I made it to Moab, Utah Saturday night. First night was spent on the back lot of a gas station/RV park, about 8 miles north of Moab. The regular RV spots were full, so they let me dry camp on the back lot for $10.

Last night and tonight I'm at Sand Flats, just above Moab. Again, $10 a night, no hookups.

Tomorrow morning I have my sites set on a boondocking spot about 25 miles from town, and about 5000 feet higher in elevation. It's in the Manti- La Sal National Forest. I drove up there today, and was surprised that I had pretty good cell phone service there. So I should be able to give ongoing reports here in the forums.

Here's a pic of where I'm at now, Sand Flats.

Bill

**Crabman** · 05-16-2011, 06:07 PM

Nice spot. Keep us up to date, us East coast guys do not get to see those places much. (Never for me but maybe someday).

Rustic Eagle · 05-16-2011, 06:16 PM

Bill,

Now that's my kind of camping, no shore power!

Just wondering, any reason for having your awning support rails retracted in the photo?

Bob

SmokerBill · 05-16-2011, 06:50 PM

Bob, I don't understand what you mean by retracted. I've been positioning them where they are at in the pic, then adjusting them so they push a little on the main awning bar. I feel like that will keep the awning nice and solid.

Am I doing it wrong?

Here's a pic of where I'll be tomorrow.

shepwv · 05-16-2011, 07:08 PM

Bill, your awning bars should be pushed all the way up, and locked parallel with the awning canvas. Then slightly pull down on the roller tube to tighten the canvas then tighten the black knobs on the bars.

BTW Love the pics, keep us posted!! We wanna go out west someday.

Rustic Eagle · 05-16-2011, 07:41 PM

Bill,

Roll the awning out until it locks, now slide the inner awning support up along the main support until it locks at the top. Lean slightly onto the main awning support to tighten the awning fabric, then tighten the black knob. Do the same to the other side. Now you can raise the awning to your desired height.

There is a metal tab at the top of the main awning support to release the inner awning support, and slide it back to it's original location before retracting the awning.

This is what it should look like (less the sun screen):

Bob

ps: The view in your second photo is great!

SmokerBill · 05-16-2011, 07:50 PM

Ok, that makes sense. Thanks for the awning training session gentlemen. I'll give it a try next time I unfurl the beast.

Another picture, from last Thursday. I was at Wilson Lake in Central Kansas.

Rustic Eagle · 05-16-2011, 07:59 PM

Must be tough leveling on a concrete pad

SmokerBill · 05-16-2011, 08:31 PM

First concrete pad "premium" site I've ever been on. It was great.

Next picture, I had to deal with a "traffic" jam as I drove up to the National Forest this morning to find my camping spot for the next two weeks.

Moooooove out of the way!

Rustic Eagle · 05-16-2011, 08:44 PM

Fantastic view out of the windshield. I'm jealous because that has all the ear markings of a great boondocking adventure.

As mentioned in a prior thread/post, I hope to be out that way next year boondocking myself. I'll be looking forward to your future trip reports on the area.

Beautiful scenery.

Bob

Seann45 · 05-17-2011, 06:33 AM

Heck man you are in Moab.. if you are dry camping anyway there are lots of FREE places to dry camp... dont pay the town rip off.. I stayed just a few miles N of Moab on BLM land.

shepwv · 05-17-2011, 05:12 PM

Bill, The pictures are GREAT!!! Ya should've took one of those cows back to the smoker.........LOL

Keep 'em commin..........enjoy

Denise · 05-17-2011, 05:53 PM

Oh my gosh. We love 'color country'. Enjoy the views!

SmokerBill · 05-17-2011, 10:09 PM

Smoked "cow" would've been good. I would have got one of the little veal critters. Easier to pick up and hide in the bed of the truck!

Tonight I am tuckered out. I went to Canyonlands National Park today. Twice. I didn't move to my new campsite as planned, because it was raining, and I just didn't feel like moving. Worth ten bucks to stay here again.

I must have walked up and down rocky hills for 5 miles to get to the lookout points, and I'm not used to that kind of abuse. I was there three hours this morning, then went back at 5PM and stayed till 8PM.

I saw some incredible sights, though. Made the pain of all that walking worth it.

I took a lot of pictures too, and will post some here a little later (if I can stay awake). Gotta shower off first.

Later.

mustang · 05-18-2011, 05:58 AM

Great views Thanks for sharing the pictures!! Looks like an amazing place to camp!

SmokerBill · 05-18-2011, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seann45

Heck man you are in Moab.. if you are dry camping anyway there are lots of FREE places to dry camp... dont pay the town rip off.. I stayed just a few miles N of Moab on BLM land.

I'm not sure how long ago you dry camped in Moab, but the BLM and the National Forest Service cracked down. All the sites up Kane Creek Road require a fee payment. There still are (I think) a few places up north, within 10 miles or so, but other than that, you have to go 20 or so miles away from town.

That's my understanding, anyway. I think the city of Moab pressured the BLM into charging for the closer in camping (which they do for "environmental" reasons) so the local for-profit campgrounds get more customers.

Bill

Seann45 · 05-19-2011, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokerBill

I'm not sure how long ago you dry camped in Moab, but the BLM and the National Forest Service cracked down. All the sites up Kane Creek Road require a fee payment. There still are (I think) a few places up north, within 10 miles or so, but other than that, you have to go 20 or so miles away from town.

That's my understanding, anyway. I think the city of Moab pressured the BLM into charging for the closer in camping (which they do for "environmental" reasons) so the local for-profit campgrounds get more customers.

Bill

Last time I was there was 3 years ago. I stayed just N of Arches NP

SmokerBill · 05-23-2011, 01:27 PM

Just a little while ago I got clobbered by a hail storm. I didn't see that coming.

Well, I guess I did. The sky turned black, and I was enjoying all the lightening and thunder. But it was pretty calm otherwise. Then a few drops of rain. And then the wind gusts hit.

My awning was really shaking, so bad it caused one side to skip a few holes on the latch mechanism. I wasn't able to get the awning up until after it was all over... and after I used a broom to get all the hail off of it. It was really sagging!

I'll retract my awning sooner next time.

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