Day 4: Wandering through Utah and Idaho
To get the the border at Sweetgrass, Montana at the scheduled time (or day, at least – Wednesday the 13th), I had about 48 hours to drive the 950-odd miles – 2 easy days. I had run into a problem that needed to be sorted out at Salt Lake City, though – all of the towing gear that I’d bought at the Camping World store at Flagstaff was wrong. Even after me describing what I wanted, and the clerk coming out to the motorhome for a look, he’d packed the wrong stuff. Good thing I opened the boxes while there were still a couple of Camping World stores ahead!
This was the basic route planned – though I might take a detour if a good reason appeared 
So much to see and so little time – I had to just pass through Panguitch, Utah, “one of the great historic towns of the West”, noting it for a future leisurely trip.
Just north of Panguitch, I took Route 20 west for some 20 miles to meet the freeway, I-15, which would be the primary route north.
I don’t like freeways, but here we go, at 10:50 Monday morning.
The 80 mph speed limit was a surprise. Remember when the “double nickel” speed limit program started in 1973-74? “Stay Alive, Drive 55” and whatever the fuel economy slogan was. Signs or not, I never took the motorhome to 80 mph – I’m happy with 65-70 (105-120 kmh).
There is a whole lot of really pretty country out there to see. This is just south of Nephi, shot at 12:20.
It struck me when I took this photo that this was a “colony” community, and a bit of research has shown that to be true. The majority of the 403 residents of the attractive community of Rocky Ridge are members of the Apostolic United Brethren, a polygamous Mormon fundamentalist church within the Latter Day Saint movement. Speaking of polygamous, Cathy suggested that when I passed through Bountiful, I might want to pick up “a spare” (wife, that is) – no, I’m good
As I neared Salt Lake City, I got awfully homesick for some reason
The folks at the Camping World store at Draper, on the south side of Salt Lake City, made exchanging the wrong towing gear for the right stuff very easy, and I thanked them by buying a few more things like camp chairs and a camp table that I knew I’d have a hard time equalling the quality of elsewhere.
Getting through Salt Lake City on the freeway was nowhere near as easy – what a mess. This was shot at 2:40 pm.
By 4:00, life was good again This is near Brigham City.
At 4:37, Welcome to Idaho! I stopped for a few minutes at a rest area and went through a large map book I’d bought at Camping World, soon deciding that a Good Sam campground on the Snake River at Idaho Falls would be a good stop for the night.
The Devil’s Creek Reservoir in Malad Pass.
The north side of Malad Pass, at 5:25.
The variety of terrain, switching back and forth between mountains and dry valleys, was quite interesting.
After what I got at the Grand Canyon, I was very pleased with the Snake River RV Park – although quite busy, a treed, grassed site for $34.50 suited me fine. The final day through northern Idaho and Montana tomorrow would be easy.
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