7-23-2022 Richfield, UT

 First, our KOA campground is absolutely wonderful.  There are tall old elm and oak trees that provide lots of shade and we have the biggest patio ever.  It is about 30’ X 30’ with a brick fire pit in the middle, a patio table and 6 chairs and a swing.  Perfect for sitting out in the breeze with a cup of coffee and Sudoku in the mornings or cocktails and a bbq in the evenings.  Or it could double as a roller rink.  If you have reason to travel this way, stay here!

Rob relaxing on our patio

Evening campfire

 

That’s where the story ends in Richfield.  We tried, honestly, to find interesting things to do and tell you.  A map was provided at the campground and OK, we’re not expert navigators but hard as we tried and as many times as we circled the town we had no luck.  The cartographers were playing a joke on the tourists, apparently.  The Richfield Town Park does not exist.  The Utah Territorial State House does not exist.  The Visitor Center wasn’t located on the map or in the “search” window.  And the Chamber of Commerce was closed.  So we went to Bar 86, had a beer and came home.

Bar 86 - Voted the best restaurant in Richfield!

 

Oops - crash and burn # 1

Today was a completely different story and began with sunshine and coffee on the patio, of course.  After that, we loaded up the Jeepster:  beach towels, swim suits, cooler, sunblock and shirts, backpacks, cameras and lastly, the inflatable paddleboard, pump and portable battery.  Got it all.  Palisades State Park is about 40 minutes away out in the middle of nowhere where there is a pretty, blue, fresh water lake.  Later, after a drive through the mountains and the farm land, we arrived at the lake and found a wonderland of beaches, docks, warm, blue water and many places to launch toys.  Unfortunately, we spent about an hour trying to figure out the pump but at last, I remembered how it was supposed to work.  (You see, Little Miss Obsessive had filed the instructions safely at home, right where they belong.  Hmmm.)  I got up on the paddleboard right away but I was very wobbly.  I kind of got the hang of it in the reach but the minute I turned abeam, again I got all wobbly and crashed into the deep blue.  I didn’t give up.  After about an hour, though, Rob did the lighthouse thing and beckoned me ashore.  I was grinning from ear to ear but my knees and hands were trembling.  A lot more practice will help.  It was comforting to know that I can still outswim a runaway paddleboard with a crawl stroke while keeping a grip on the paddle, arthritis notwithstanding!

OK - standing up!  So far so good.

 

Party responsible for this foolishness!

Put your tongue away, Krauser!

Walter Fredrick Morrison, inventor
of the frisbee

In a shocking, unexpected turn of events, we ran across the closed Visitors Center!  Out front was a plaque honoring Walter Morrison.  He was from here and invented the Frisbee so this is kind of like Frisbee International Park or something.  While doing that, Maggie showed up.  (I love that name.)  Maggie works at the Visitors Center and came back because she had forgotten her lunch.  She invited us in and gave us the rundown on several places to see while here in Richfield.  Too bad we leave in the morning!

 

Don't know - officers' quarters?

Don't know - barracks?  Vintage 
Civil War?

On our way home from the lake, we encountered a strange sight:  what appears to be the ruins of a military fort or an old prison.  There were no plaques or signs so we have no idea what it is.  Rob got topo maps off of Google and we are sending them to the visitor center to see if Maggie can tell us anything when we come back through on the way home.  Stay tuned.

Sign spotted in the campground.  
Apparently, someone likes to
travel in the rv with his 
pet llama.

The reason for small trips this year