Cafe Diablo

One of the best ways to find good food while on the road is to watch the locals and see where they congregate.  We did just that in Torrey, UT after a day of exploration.  The local colorful characters seemed to love Cafe Diablo. 

 So in we went and boy, what a delight it was to find this cuisine out in a rather barren land!  Enjoy the pics.

 RATTLESNAKE CAKES

Two patties of free range desert rattler with ancho-rosemary aioli 

MARINATED LOIN OF UTAH LAMB

Sage and rosemary infused loin of lamb, casamiento pie, asparagus & pasilla verde  sauce

CROWN RACK OF GLAZED RIBS

Baby back pork ribs, slow roasted in chipotle, molasses & rum glaze, squash & zuchinni, with mashed sweet potatoes

And for those who shy away from exotic food choices, you have your basic meat and potato fare, done with flair!

BEEF FLANK STEAK CARBON

Sliced marinated beef steak with slivered vegetables, parmesan crisp & garlic straw potato

Yeah, its rough out here, camping and eating noting but hot dogs over an open fire . . . NOT!

Vintage Trailers (and other old things)

At Devil's Canyon campround, north of Blanding, Pete & I  saw one of the granddaddies of all fiberglass trailers, a 1974 Echo owned by Steve, an outdoor enthusiast who's tent making skills allowed him to incorporate new technology into his classic trailer.  I said "Look, Pete, a solar powered Echo!"

Echo inspired Boler, which inspired Scamp, out of which came Casita, which inspired Oliver.

I figure that kinda makes this guy the Wonder Egg's great granddaddy.

We crossed paths with this 1981 Scamp, owned by Jane, of "LaBelle, Cool Warm Hats"  at Capital Reef SP.  Jane affectionately calls her trailer the Star Scamp due to numerous silver stars scattered about the top half - perfect trailer decor for this prime stargazing area.  Click on the hyperlink and check out her coooool hats . . . 

As I was laying out in the sun catching some Zs, this 1962 Tin-Can trailer took the slot next door. I ran over after they set up and they allowed me to view the inside design that was also straight out of the sixties.

 These guys went all out with matching lounge chairs and even an authentic 1962 milk carton painted to match.  But the mostest awesomest thing of all was the cute little dog they had!

While at Capital Reef SP, Pete & I drove down a very old wash that formed over the eons.  The locals say it's not safe to drive here during rainfall.  

Pete told me the numerous holes that pockmark the face of the rock walls are said to hold great mysteries.  He claimed that sometimes, ghosts of ancient dinosaurs peek out of a hole and watch the cars go by.  I laughed and told him he was full of it.  Suddenly he shouted, "Look, Oscar!  There's one now!"

Very funny, Pete, very funny . . . 

 

Anasazi Heritage Center

It's always fun to suddenly come upon an interesting place and stop in to look around ... such as the Anasazi Heritage Center we passed on our way to join with other travelers.

Numerous displays weave a tale of the lives of the Pueblo peoples who have inhabited this area around 500-1300 AD.

The character in this this from 700-8--AD exhibits a head decoration similar to the "butterfly" whorls worn by Hopi girls in modern times.

The Canyon of The Ancients National Monument has over 6000 archeological sites, some areas having a density of more than 100 per square mile.  Evidence of earliest human hunter gatherer activity dates back to 6000 BC.  By 500 AD, the Ancestral Puebloans had established homesteads and cornfields.  The Pueblo Grande, near Pheonix, was very large and complex in nature.  Descendants of the Pueblo people live throughout this area today and often return to some of the ancient sites for reflection and teaching the next generation about their heritage.

Target Tree

Southern Colorado...Ute Indian Reservation...evidence of past activities abound.  One interesting spot we found was the Target Tree Campground, where you could learn about the Ute's connection with and use of the majestic ponderosa pinetree.

As you hike and explore Colorado, you may come across a large, oval shaped "scar" on the lower portion of a ponderosa pine.  This is where the Ute Indians would peel back the bark to gain access to the cambium (inner bark) and sap.  The cambium was used for soups, stews and tea, while the sap was made into a sweet candy.  These trees were also used for target practice to hone the skills of their warriors.

 

Relaxing in the crisp air at 7700 foot elevation, Oscar and I talked about the gifts the trees gave the Ute.  Oscar was spellbound and a bit dumbfounded.  All this time, he thought all the trees in the world were put there just for him  . . .  

Go figure

Coronado State Park

Pete & I pulled into the Coronado State Park campground and found a cool site on a bluff overlooking the Rio Grande River (and we're not even in TEXAS!)

We took a short walk to visit the ancient ruins of the Kuaua Pueblo, a farming community which grew up in the 1200s and was visited by Coronado's expedition in the early1540s during his quest for the legendary Seven Cities of gold.  These walls have been rebuilt in the 1930s over the same layout of the pueblo which lies several feet below the ground. The many roomed structure stood 4 stories tall!

 

Coronado's soldiers wore the latest protection available as they traveled across the land. The short "Sport Sword" and Stirrup in this display are original, while the feathered helmet is a reproduction of more items used by the Spaniards.  They must have looked very strange to the peoples of Kuaua.

 

We walked along the trail through the archeological site.  When Pete saw this sign, he looked kinda worried.  I told him not to worry, that I, Oscar the Smiley Dog, would protect him . . .

 Just down the trail a bit, these two snakes were all intertwined and slowly wiggling in the dirt.  As I jumped up into Pete's arms (to calm him down, of course) he said we had nothing to worry about and that the two snakes needed to "get a room".  What did he mean by that?  He's so weird.

To show him that I ain't afraid of wild animals, on the way back to the campground, I hopped out of his arms and had my picture taken next to this huge, scary, bear.  "Nanny, nanny, boo boo, bear!"

Our neighbors, Bennie and Edith invited us over for some conversation and lap time, my favorite thing.

Another great campground with new things to see and sniff . . .
I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!

Summer 2012 Journeys Begin!

 Finally!  All packed up and heading out  . . .

Look real close at the back window of the truck and you 'll see Oscar saying goodbye to the house as we depart for another adventure.

 

 The deer all smiled as they relaxed in the front yard and watched as we departed.

Oscar the Smiley dog made a spectacle of himself by yelling goodbye to all our neighbors. 

(he can be SO embarrassing sometimes)

 Our first night's stop was in Buffalo Gap, TX where I went to The Purple Buffalo and purchased a new mountain dulcimer.  What a treat!  Click on the link to read all about the Purple Buffalo and see the cool stuff they have.   Later that evening I had the distinct pleasure of sitting in a jam session with the infamous Dulcimer Divas, who play regularly at one of the local cafes.  As I jammed with the divas, Jonnette and Sandi, Oscar sat on the lap of his new best friend, Jay.

After a pleasant day's drive, Oscar & I are settled in for the night at Oasis State Park, near Clovis New Mexico. 

The adventure continues...