On the evening of my stay at Devil’s campground, the Scamp reached
temperatures of 96 F., before dropping into the 50’s during the night. I
went from sweating in my underwear to retrieving the heavy sleeping bag
and crawling under its warmth.
I was up early at Elvis’ request (food and walk), so we took
advantage of the empty road at 6 a.m., and hiked out to the admission
booth and beyond to the KOA, where campers were packed in like sardines
but presumably enjoying their full electrical hookups (air
conditioning). After hiking back, I ate a quick breakfast and made
coffee for the road. Because I never unhitched the Scamp at Devil’s
Tower, departure was a matter of pulling up the rear stabilizers,
preparing the inside of the Scamp for the shaking and vibration that
occurs in a day of travel, and plugging in the tow wires.
Elvis and I drove out to Interstate 90 and then on to Buffalo,
Wyoming, where we took the exit for the Mikesell-Potts Recreation Area, a
county park located on a big lake. Two separate campground loops
include spaces on the lake, tucked into the trees or up on top of a big
hill (which is the one that I chose.
The camp host told me that the campground gets very busy in the
summer, but once school starts, it’s easy to find a space—first come,
first serve. I had my pick of over 100 spots, and I think that I chose
wisely. There is no water here. About ten sites have electric ($15), but
those sites are close together and without the prime views. The rest of
the sites have no amenities other than vault toilets and garbage
dumpsters. I think it’s quite a bargain. Elvis and I have been taking
lots of walks along the various campground roads and a grass path
connecting the two loops.
T-mobile doesn’t live here. I had reasonably fast ATT roaming until
T-mobile sent a text that my limited roaming plan was exhausted. We are
at 4600 feet, have the lake on one side and the Big Horn Mountains off
to the distance in the other side. Temperatures have been pleasant
during the day and cool off into the 40’s and 50’s at night . On the
coolest night, I closed up the windows, except for a crack, and slept
comfortably under the sleeping bag. Our brews of choice have been
Brazilian manual drip in the morning and Hot Streak IPA in the evening
by Black Tooth Brewing out of Sheridan, Wyoming.
On my second night, I was awakened after dark by a party setting up
camp at the campsite next door. And I do mean a party. There were 3-4
pick-up trucks and a couple of cars full of young folk, drinking cheap,
making lots of noise, and depositing cans, trash and uprooting a small
tree, presumably to burn for firewood. They left in a thunder of
gravel/dust at about 2:25 a.m., doing a U-turn at my site. When I got up
early the next morning, I found a soiled towel next to my truck.
Life is too short. I picked up camp and moved across the lake, where I found a nice spot next to the beach for my last night.
I
spent three nights here and would stay here again, especially during
the off season. The party crew? Well, that’s just luck of the draw.
Hopefully, I won’t encounter that again soon. From here, we are headed
for the Big Horns.
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