For weeks, Braden had been talking up Mill Hollow. He sent pictures and did his research. It was going to be a great place for us to camp. The sites are all first come, first served, but he felt confident we would get a spot. I spent a couple of hours on Friday getting ready. I borrowed "vacation" truck (a story for another day) and loaded it up. I thought of everything. I even packed extra things, like my camping shovel, a broom for sweeping out the tents, etc. My children gave me a fancy air mattress for Father's Day. I had on one of my new fishing/camping shirts. I was locked and loaded.
Braden and his family left first, but due to a needed bathroom break for them, we actually pulled into Mill Hollow together. It is beautiful! Even the drive in through Woodland is quite pretty.
First problem - every campsite is taken, in both loops. No problem, Braden said, as he had read about tons of unofficial campsites up the road. Well, we drove up the road looking, but they were all gone. I even drove to the top of hill I could see, and as the truck crested over the ridge, all I could see were RVs. Honestly, where did they all come from?
A bit dejected at this point, but Braden has a 3rd option. He had noted a camping spot about a mile back down the road from the Mill Hollow turnoff. It turned out to be just big enough to collect a bunch of beer cans and rodents. In the end, it served as a bathroom break spot for those in need.
Ok, option 4! I suggest we head up the Mirror Lake highway and camp in one of the lower campgrounds. I have never seen them full. As we get back into cell coverage, Michelle noted that by the time we got there, we would not have time to do anything other than set up the tents and go to bed. We are headed home.
But wait, Jason comes up with option 5! Apple Maps says there is a campground about 5 minutes out of Kamas. We can be there in 10 minutes. Why not check it out? Ledgefork campground has great reviews as well. We turn where Apple says to, and wind our way up on a dirt road. This dirt road is the route to a lot of peoples houses, but no campsite. Jason checks Google Maps, and it turns out Ledgefork is really about 10 minutes past Smith Morehouse, which is over 40 minutes away. Curse you Apple!
We decide to head to Heber to get some dinner and head home. Jason, somewhat timidly, says there is a campground just off the road on the way home. Option 6? Rock Cliff campground by Jordanelle? Why not? As we pull in, we see a sign that says "Camping Closed for Season". We could do nothing but laugh.
It is decided we will meet up for breakfast, then swim later on Saturday. However, we found out the pump is out, and there will be no swimming. So long Option 7.
At least we can eat at Dairy Keen in Heber and watch the model trains? The line to get in stretched down the street, and the drive-up around the block. Option 8 died in flames. Basically, options 9 - 12 never really even started.
We then drove to a number of places in Heber, only to find out they were all closed for dine-in purposes.
I called Lori, said we were picking her up, and she, Jason, Traven and I went to Olive Garden in Spanish Fork, which is actually not crowded at 9 pm! In the end, I drove around for 5 hours to eat at a restaurant 5 minutes from my house!
We are still meeting to eat the breakfast burritos I made, and we are going to have a water day (splash pad and hoses) in the back yard, so we will still have fun today.
