Problem Solved!

July 14 – I didn’t sleep too well last night, wonder why?  After breakfast we decided to leave the RV sitting and go out where we might find some cell service and start making some calls to find a space for 4-5 nights so we could at least visit Yellowstone since we drove 2,000 miles. 

We stopped in the ranger office to see if we had any mail delivered already and to let them know how unhappy we were with the situation.  The ranger on duty was a summer employee and said we’d have to talk to our contact, Susan.  Since we had her cell number and she answered it last we decided to call her once we had some ideas of what we could do.  The ranger suggested a couple of campground for us to try.

I called Susan and she thought we were all settled in and was shocked when I told her there was no way we would attempt to put our RV in the ghetto spots she had to offer.  She got really nasty to me and I explained how the weeds were over 2 feet tall, the spaces were too narrow and short for our RV, the abandoned Rv’s were parked there and junk and stuff was all over and there was no way we could take that space.  She said I was being too picky and she didn’t know how we ever found a place to volunteer and how no one else had ever complained.  I told her I was sorry but we’re not being picky but those spots just aren’t satisfactory.  She said she’d call a ranger and see if they had something for us in one of the campgrounds.

Since we needed to make sure we had an alternate plan we stopped at Sawtelle RV first and the lady there was really nice to make some calls and give me some info and found one place that definitely had a space for us.  I picked up a pamphlet of Idaho campgrounds and went through it and found 2 state parks.  I called them to see about a space and also if they might need any volunteers.  One had a space for us and both said they’ve give the ranger our info to see if they needed us.  Then we stopped at Valley View and were told we could have a space starting on Thursday for as long as we needed.  I explained that we were in a pickle and would never wait to the last minute to book a campground in a busy place like here.  We’re only 16 miles to the entrance to Yellowstone National Park.  I got rather teary as I really felt bad about the whole thing and that we spent a lot of money getting here to be so disappointed after all of the planning.  The campground is family owned and run and I met the parents and their daughter who said they were short 2 couples and asked if we would be interested.  I talked to her about the duties and hours and she said she was working 6 days a week and Sunday was covered by someone so we could work whatever days.  I told her what we had committed at Johnny Sack Cabin and she said we would get it worked out.  I told her I would talk to Bill and she said she’d hold the space for us and to just let her know as soon as I could so she could rent the space if she needed to.

View from our campsite

We went to Henry’s Lake State Park and booked 2 nights and asked if they could call the ranger who was off and see if they might need us.  She did and the ranger said they were good.  So we went back to Valley View and Bill went in and met the owners and we agreed to come back Thursday and move in!  What a relief!  I thanked them so much for lifting the burden and they said we were doing the same for them.  Yee haw!  Bill will be filling propane tanks, parking check in RV’s and cleaning the showers and restrooms.  I will be taking reservations, checking in guests and keeping the Laundromat cleaned.  We were both so relieved.  Bill said “when one door closes, another one opens” and I guess he is right.  We still feel bad about our commitment.

Went decided to go to lunch and use the WiFi at Pond’s Lodge.  We had put our computers in the car so we could do some searching for a position but now we didn’t need to but we were hungry.  Lunch was good!  Bill had a hamburger as usual but I had a beet and mixed greens salad with goat cheese and chicken again.  I love that.

After lunch we went to get the RV and I drove it while Bill drove the car to Henry’s Lake and got settled in.  I put a load of laundry in and we left to visit Johnny Sack’s Cabin.  Bill didn’t want to wait in case Susan is there as the host one day.

Johnny Sack's Cabin

The cabin was awesome and we’re sorry to miss being a

Dining Room

host there.  The cabin took 3 years to build by John Sack who was only 4’11” tall.  He did it entirely with hand tools and made every piece of furniture, even the magazine rack, ashtrays and light fixtures.  He used mostly pine and did some spectacular work.  There are 2 bedrooms upstairs and downstairs is a “great” room, kitchen, dining area and an enclosed porch.  The only thing built to his size was the height of the kitchen counters.  Since it was built on rock he had a small bathroom with sink and shower and used an Outhouse.  He built the house on the Big Springs River and built a pump house with a water wheel to provide his electricity.  John never married and lived there until his death in 1957.   

Our new pet

On the way back to the RV we stopped at Robin’s Roost, the local grocery, just to check it out.  Most of the prices were rather high but we are a ways out of the hubbub.  They had a good selection though.

When I got back I made a rhubarb crisp before the rhubarb went bad, put wild and brown rice on to cook and later broiled some steel head trout and steams zucchini for dinner.

I called Kerry and we caught up on my parents and other items then I got on the computer and tried to get caught up while watching our TV shows.  Didn’t make it!