Friday, August 27, 2010 - In Search of a Cell Phone Signal

Spent the day trying to find a cell phone signal. I actually found just up the hill from the campground, but for some reason I couldn't call out on it. Maybe it was roaming, or a competitor or something, but I just couldn't get through. One of the rangers had told me that sometimes you can get a signal down by the lake, which was another 5 or 6 miles further up the road, so off I went. The road quickly turned to gravel, in some places very rough, mostly narrow. Again, it took a long time to get there. Once there, I couldn't even get a signal, much less a usable one. Rather than let the trip go to waste, I took the time to refill the horses' barrel, as we had already used up a third of it, and I didn't want to make that trip again! I headed back to the campsite, filled all the buckets and tubs again, then headed down the mountain, still searching. I finally received a signal... about the time I got to the ranger station! I've never seen such a dead zone! Well, I filled up the barrel again, then went down to the local general store (one of about 3 buildings in town), bought some tomatoes, then found a shady spot to get online, which, at last, I could do. Did some work, even got a phone call from a potential new client, would you believe! After about an hour or so, I headed back up the mountain, which only took 45 minutes in the pickup truck. I only hope the trails are worth it!