"Let's Roam"

A personal challenge on "Let's Roam."  

One last trip to Moab, on a day when temperatures are to hit 100°.  Down a couple of degrees from what was predicted a couple of days ago.  Honestly, after a certain temperature it's just hot no matter how much more the thermometer goes up! 

We have foil in the windows that have inside temperature sensors in them (the sensors really shouldn't be located right next to the window).  Compared to a lot of people who complain they can't even get there RV temp 15° below the outside temperatures, we're doing pretty good.  We don't have a problem keeping it at my preferred temperature of 78°, at least that's what I like when it's really hot out, and could keep it cooler if needed.  Right now the outside says 98° and the inside 78°.   

Krikkit would love to go out right now but with the sun straight over-head there is no shade.  Except for bathroom trips to the small tree with a little shade, it's too hot for her to walk on the rocks at 98° (in the desert areas RV parks are often completely paved or graveled to keep dust down).  She walks so slow she even gets carried over to the little tree.

The Moab Garage Co. was our breakfast destination Sun.  It was a warm, easy-going Cafe that served breakfast, sandwiches, liquid nitrogen ice cream, sweets,  baked goods and from the reviews, great coffee.  Vegetarian and gluten-free options were available.  Pat and I had iced tea. I was happy green tea was an option. I had THE MCLOVIN breakfast sandwich served on a toasted pretzel bun.  It was amazing!  Pat had THE SMOTHERED MOTHER BURRITO, not low carb, but good Pat said, and HUGE.  

Sign outside the cafe.

The restaurant had a great vibe and I liked that it was an eco friendly establisment--everything compostable or washable.  The building has housed a variety of businesses.  It was an auto repair shop from 1928-1975 and that's where it got it's current name and decor.

A unique bike rack made from bikes.

There were about 10 food trucks in the lot.  Not much open today, but the other day we had a great smoothie from a "healthy" vendor.

The north end of Main St.  It's a rather long street (also Hwy. 191) with lots of restaurants and souvenirs shops

When we left Texas our Grandaughter Lilah said we needed to do another scavenger hunt on the app "Let's  Roam."  I didn't think there would be anything in the small towns we would encounter on our way west.   She checked and found one in Moab, UT.  So after breakfast we walked the approximate 1 hour, 1 mile, cultural scavenger hunt.  The app gives you history and information on each site and the town itself.  I have a lot of fun, Pat tolerates it.  Our two scavenger hunts so far, have paid for our one year subscription. The hunts can be found all over there U. S.  Below are just some of the sites we had to find and challenges we took.  Oh yeah, for the first picture on the site today I had to act like an animal (I chose a reptile) that you might find in Utah and take a picture. I doubt if they knew what it was but it was accepted.

We started the scavenger hunt at The Moab Arts & Recreation Center. Using clues and a general map we searched for our next site.  Points could be used to get detailed directions.  What's the challenge in that?

We were led to The Community Tea Garden.  The app told us that this community project creates a garden that exhibits sustainable land management.   Once we both arrived and checked into the app on our phone points were awarded.  Challenge question:  what creature uses the habitat box behind us?  You might have to zoom in for that one!  We had 4 multiple choice answers to choose from.  The other challenge was to take a picture of us relaxing in the garden.

One of my personal challenges was to find something any where along our course that could fly.  Picture taken, accepted by the app, and points awarded. Pat chose to skip his personal challenges.👎

The Tom Till Gallery was another site we had to find.   Let's Roam told us he is one of the top landscape photographers in the U.S.  Points if we took our picture with a landscape.

A personal challenge was to find someone at the top of a set of stairs like Rocky.  

"Pumas on Parade," Art project of the San Juan Mountains Assoc., and purchased by the City of Moab.  Nothing to do with Let's Roam except we walked by it on our route.

The final stop on our scavenger hunt was the historic Moab LDS church.  We had to read the plaque to answer the two challenge questions.   One question, what year was it built? Again multiple choice.

One of the things I enjoy about our travels is learning a little history of the towns and the area.

Our RV Park, Ballard RV Park and Cabins,  (named after the town history below, not a descendent of Harry Ballard) is right on the edge of Thompson Springs, also known as just Thompson.  Thompson Springs looks like a ghost town but still has 40 residents.

The only shade for Krikkit during mid-day.

Habitation in this area dates back to the archaic period with well-preserved pictographs and petroglyphs in 3 different styles (Fremont Culture, Archaic period and Barrier Canyon period).  They are located in Thompson Canyon at the Thompson Wash Rock Art District. Some of the images may date back 4,000 years.  Thanks to our neighbors from Grand Junctiorn for pointing us toward this gem.

These are the only full-sized pictographs we have seen.

Thompson Springs is in high desert country at 5,200 feet.  It began in the late 19th century as a train stop, with a Post Office established in 1890.  In the early 20th century it became important because of the development of coal mines north of town in Sego County.

Harry Ballard a sheep and cattlemen was instrumental in originally setting up businesses such as hotels, stores, saloons and more.  Discovering a vein of coal he bought up land and with Thompson, the town's namesake, established a coal mining camp, Sego, in 1911.  They connected the coal mine to the railroad in Thompson in 1914.  The coal mine was never very successful due to management issues and a lack of water.  The mine closed in 1955 making Sego a ghost town, with Thompson Springs not far behind.  We didn't travel to Sego as the roads are unpaved and more suitable to vehicles that can handle rough terrain. 

One of two motels in Thompson.  This one is abandoned.

The other hotel is still in use.

A little park replaced a former service station.

Maybe the former Post Office?

One room school house.

Most of the businesses and houses have long since been abandoned.

Construction of I-70 in the 1970's  two miles south of town drew people away from Thompson Springs as the Old Cisco Hwy (U.S. Hwy 6 and U.S. 50) was not used.  In 1997 the train station (passenger by these days) was moved to Green River, 25 miles away leading to more economic hardship.  In 2006 the Post Office closed.

I-70 from our RV park.

Where are the Piepers?  Thompson Springs, UT