High Desert Cowboy- How far is it up north?

Ridgetop

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Yes, but we have MJ's place rented. Remember me writing about the little 4 acre place with a completely remodeled house, 2 barns, extra outbuildings and a wonderful well? The one we wanted to retire to with the sheep until we found out that the city of Yelm had incorporated it and you could only keep 3 chickens? If we travel via Washington either going or returning a lot or our trip is deductible on our tax return. Since we have a rental in Texas too, the other half is also deductible. We have to route our trips carefully and not necessarily by the most direct route. ;)
 

High Desert Cowboy

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Some people run guns, others are drug mules, and we have @Ridgetop to run goodies all over!
I’m actually going to try and dry some starter out and see if it can be restarted. My mom says it works and is asking me to send her some so if it works and makes it to south East Oklahoma I bet it can go anywhere.
 

Baymule

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Some people run guns, others are drug mules, and we have @Ridgetop to run goodies all over!
I’m actually going to try and dry some starter out and see if it can be restarted. My mom says it works and is asking me to send her some so if it works and makes it to south East Oklahoma I bet it can go anywhere.
Maybe we can ship by Pony Express!
 

Ridgetop

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Sounds like a fun trip across country. Since HDC is in Utah, we can go back to Capitol Reef, and maybe get in some other Parks in Utah as well as visiting our sheep farmer friend in Axtell. We loved Capitol Reef - we picked some of the apples and they were the best I have had. Heritage variety, small, crunchy and sweet! Self pick, self weigh, self pay in a box, $1/lb. Beaautiful park. Our friend's great grandparents farmed in Capitol Reef before it became a National Park!
 

Bruce

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Our friend's great grandparents farmed in Capitol Reef before it became a National Park!
I've been there, when it was a park (2003 to be exact). What the heck were they farming, stone and dust???

I’m actually going to try and dry some starter out and see if it can be restarted. My mom says it works and is asking me to send her some so if it works and makes it to south East Oklahoma I bet it can go anywhere.
It does work. I got mine from Ron Ott on BYC. I don't know what process he uses to dry it but I bet Google can give you some good ideas on the process.

I've got plenty of eggs to barter for the travelling BYH "store" ;) My sister offered me lettuce and artichokes for eggs but it is a LONG way from Vermont to So. Cal.
 

Ridgetop

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LOL.

The capitol Reef folks planted orchards. The charm of the place, other than the gorgeous rock formations, river, and views, are the orchards that are still there. They used the small river to irrigate their fields and orchards. They still have orchards of several heritage varieties of apples, pears, apricot, and others producing there. They ripen at different times through the year and only one orchard is open at a time to prevent it being over picked or damaged. The trees are kept in good shape by different orchard specialists paid by the park to prune annually and inspect the trees for pests, and disease. The park rangers give directions to the orchard and type of fruit that is available at whichever time you are visiting. You go in and can pick as much as you want. There are fruit pickers on long handles to use. You can eat as much as you want in the orchard with no charge, but any fruit you take when you leave you have to pay for. When you leave the orchard there is a scale to weigh what you have picked. There is a money box with a slot in top to drop in your money The fruit costs $1.00 per lb. It is an honor system. The income helps pay for the upkeep of the orchards and park. The variety of apple available at the tie was delicious - sweet and crunchy. My mouth is already watering thinking about going back to Capitol Reef. :drool

There were only ever about 20 families living there and farming at any one time. They used to have to take the fruit by mule wagons out of the tiny valley through steep passes to the markets. Absolutely fascinating place and history.
In spite of the hard life, I can see why the families loved living there.

This time we will make sure the gas tank is full though! No stations for 150 miles and the lack of stations was not posted anywhere! DH was starting to sweat when we finally reached the only station and coasted in on fumes. :rolleyes: We were pulling a trailer and there was nowhere to turn around either.
 

Bruce

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Well we sure missed THAT area of the park! I had no idea. We were only there an hour or so. Had gone through Zion the day prior, stayed at the hotel just outside Bryce that night. Did a drive down the Bryce "peninsula" then through Capitol Reef to wherever we stayed that night. This was JUST after Labor Day and it wasn't at all busy with the tourists and their kids back at work and school. I can't imagine how crowded it must be during the summer.
 

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