I’m back at work today … but fortunately, my work-from-home extends to my home-on-wheels, given the Starlink internet connection!

So while we’re stuck in the campsite (can’t get too far away from the router to avoid losing signal), we’re still on the road – leaving options for further trip exploration right outside the (trailer) door.

Day 20 (Wednesday, October 25, 2023)

Day 2 of working (it’s going to be a short 3-day week, but still) …

After the work day is over – Kirk has started to pack up while I’m in meetings all afternoon – we leave Great Basin NP and head north, to the next destination for the night: Ely, NV.

Our gas tank regulator is broken as Kirk found out today, but even the various stores here in town don’t have a replacement part, so we’ll be staying chill the next couple of days … but hey, it’s an adventure – right?!

Good thing we’re parking at the KOA campground in Ely, where FHU means we can run the fridge without gas and can still get a hot shower!

Day 21 (Thursday, October 26, 2023)

Last day of work before a long weekend starts …

We’ve been getting itchy to get home, back to the cats & into a more spacey home, so we’re off to a couple more hours of driving tonight, to cut down on the rest of the trip home, which will be tackled all tomorrow, Friday!

Tonopah, NV is in the middle of nowhere, along Hwy 6 across Nevada, and offers a very nice Rest Area just outside of town, where we stop for the night. It gets cold out here … 33 degrees in the trailer by 7am, vs. 32 degrees outside!

Day 22 (Tuesday, October 24, 2023)

Having made better progress than expected, we have “only” 7 hours left for our drive home today – crossing the remainder of Nevada, we enter California near Benton, CA as we close our 3-week loop to return to Hwy 120 to take us home.

A quick late breakfast stop at Nicely’s in Lee Vining, CA and off we go over the Tioga Pass (9,945 ft) and through Yosemite National Park once again, as we head west. Nothing says Welcome Back to Civilization as watching the Friday afternoon traffic build up on I-205 in Tracey, CA while we climb one last hill (Altamont Pass at 1,009 ft) before descending into Livermore and park at home!

How has it been 2 weeks already!? Well, the good news is, that the vacation isn’t over yet. But it is time to pack up and leave Goblin Valley, and after a pit stop in Green River, UT (Hello I-70!) to get the truck & trailer washed and groceries restocked, we are heading back out into the wilderness, to explore the northern part of the San Rafael Swell (north of I-70).

While the destination (Wedge Overlook) is in the middle of nowhere, the Utah DOT (or BLM) has actually put “improved roads” through the various wilderness areas north of the freeway, so we’re not stuck dragging the Airstream dozens of miles through “off-road conditions” as we crisscross through the San Rafael Swell area, but only over graded gravel roads.

A beautiful drive through the Mexican Mountain Wilderness Study Area takes us to the San Rafael River, where we stop to walk across the Swinging Bridge (glad to find out that there is actually an improved bridge right next to it, over which vehicles cross!) … from there, we pass by the Buckhorn Wash Pictograph panels, before shorty thereafter spotting a few open campsites (hard to come by on a beautiful fall Friday afternoon – we’re not the only ones out and about, and camp sites are very limited out here!).

After scoping out the feasibility of the steep and sandy approach to site #21, Kirk gives it a try – and gets the truck & trailer up the hill and settles in the site. But unfortunately, not without ripping a nice gauge into one of the trailer tires from a major rock that was in the path uphill. Guess we’ll be visiting a tire shop next week once we leave the wilderness! Until then, our eyes will be kept on the tire pressure monitor…

Day 16 (Saturday, October 21, 2023)

Today is all about exploring the San Rafael Swell area we’re in, so after sleeping in, we hop in the truck an go exploring the wilderness. Sights along our drive include the Buckhorn Wash Pictographs, checking out various spots along the Little Grand Canyon Overlook, a drive to the Wedge Overlook, before stopping at the Buckhorn Dino Track on our way back to camp. The Tacoma is loving it (and so is Kirk)!

After getting all shook up, we spend the rest of the day with what we’re here for, too: relaxing!

Day 17 (Sunday, October 22, 2023)

We really do not want to leave here … but knowing that we’ll need to get new tires ASAP and tire shops are open first thing Monday morning, we want to get to civilization (aka a town that has well-stocked tire shops) by Sunday night to get this taken care of!

So after a very lazy start into the day, slowly packing up our campsite, we finally make our way out of the San Rafael Swell Recreation Area via the north-west exit towards Huntington, UT and from there cruise south to I-70 and then west all the way to Richfield, UT.

Here we check in at the Venture RV Park (brand new, 100% geared towards OHV campers) to tackle the tasks at hand in the morning.

Day 18 (Monday, October 23, 2023)

Tire shops open at 8am and it’s not much after that when we roll in at the local Big O – only to find out that they have one (1!) trailer tire on hand. Well, that won’t work, so off we go to Les Schwab down the street – and get lucky here. About 45 minutes later, the Bambi has a set of brand new tires to roll on, and we can get the trip continuation going!

We’re heading west today – and after a few hours leave Utah behind, entering Nevada – and the tiny town of Baker, NV. A left turn here leads to the Great Basin National Park. One of the most remote National Parks in the Continental United States, there is almost no one else here besides us. Being here at the end of the season, visitors have mostly blown out and we have our pick from almost all the sites in the park’s Baker Creek Campground (FCFS) – and set up in site #26, which provides great privacy and sun exposure (critical when it’s as chilly/cold as it is here – at 7,500 ft elevation!).

With the trailer detached, we’re taking the truck to explore the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, gaining anther 3K ft in elevation to the peak (parking lot) at just about 10K ft above sea level. It’s too cold and getting dark too soon to go on any of the hikes today, so we’ll have to come back to the park another trip!

Today’s plan includes a drive west, not all the way to Capitol Reef NP, but into the 4-wheel drive area around the Bentonite Hills. Having seen a vlog post online just shortly before our tip, we knew we had to add these to our sights.

The trek north of Hwy 24 starts out like many other off-road trips, but about a mile in we face – a river. Or maybe only a creek – but definitely steadily flowing water, about 20 ft wide! Kirk backtracks to the last turn and tries another path in the right direction – where we hit the same water, but now we’re behind a Forerunner. We let that truck try its luck in the water crossing first, and after they’ve made it successfully, we follow suit. Phew!

From here on out, it’s a dry drive up into the hills, until after one turn, we find the Bentonite Hills. A landscape as if from a different world (or as the passenger form the other Toyota said: from Star Wars), this area is a must-see if you’re on your way to or from Capitol Reef!

Day 12 (Tuesday, October 17, 2023)

Truck, trailer & travelers are all ready to get back out there – into the wilderness – after 2 nights in Hanksville, UT. We’re not going too far today but explore a new destination: the Goblin Valley State Park.

The park’s campground was all booked up already, but in the park’s expanded areas are plenty of Dispersed Campsites to pick from. And while the one we had been aiming for (dubbed “the patio” by another Vlogger), we actually find an even better one just around the corner – it comes with its own private mini-slot canyon and goblins!

Once all set up, we take the truck to the park’s visitor center and then explore the main sights of the park: the valley of the goblins! Unlike so many other parks or sights, visitors (including dogs) are allowed to walk through/between the goblins, even climb on an dover them! It adds a special connection to the visit – another “plus” in making this one of our new favorite destinations in Utah!

Day 13 (Wednesday, October 18, 2023)

Today we just relax. After all, that’s what we’re here for!

Day 14 (Thursday, October 19, 2023)

After a fairly lazy morning part of the day (well at least for Kirk, while I have to get in a half day worth of work) we decide to go explore some of the off-road paths off the paved road in this western extension of the Goblin Valley State Park.

Checking out the range east of ours, we find a lot of beautiful sites – many taken, some still open – and several campers (including large fifth-wheel oy haulers and bumper pull travel trailers) getting dragged over the very bumpy roads in search of their perfect spot. We head well south, past the park boundary and into the Big and Middle Wild Horse Mesa Wilderness Area. The way back out towards the road leads us through the wash (a mostly dry river bed) that I get to drive, while Kirk flies his drone to follow along.

When it gets dark out here, it is DARK! Even more fun to see two of our “neighbors” (their site is around the next bend) produce a light saber fight on the hill between our sites. Kirk spots them – and starts playing the Star Wars theme to support their efforts!

Taking a walk down memory lane to get to today’s program:

Back in 2019, I had planned a trailer/RV trip with my parents – in May 2020, we were going to travel through Utah & more for about 2 weeks, exploring National Park, Monuments & more.

By late March 2020, I had to cancel it all, as we were all in lockdown globally due to the COVID pandemic. Always the optimist, I rescheduled for October, and was able to get some of the great campsites and tours re-booked for 5 months later than originally planned.

Well, by mid-summer, I knew that international travel wasn’t going to be allowed yet come October 2020, and my parents were not going to be able to join Kirk & I on this trip.

But ready for a serious break after having worked all through the height of the pandemic, not having had a moment off as we were both doing our jobs and covering for our team members on furlough or not able to return to the office, we left Livermore to get away for 2 weeks that fall.

Page, AZ with its Slot Canyon Tours and the Horseshoe Bend was on our itinerary for this trip back then – but all Navajo Nation sites were still closed due to COVID. Even when we drove through the area again during our first (and long) Getting Away in May 2021, we had to skip these attractions as they had remained closed well beyond a year after the start of the pandemic. But now, in the fall of 2023, we finally got to do the tour we had originally planned to do 3½ years earlier – the Secret Canyon & Horseshoe Bend tour. Check them out here: https://horseshoebendtours.com/

I booked the Sunset tour, which starts just after 3pm, and goes through sunset – providing great light for the slot canyon (which is part of the Antelope Canyon) and a spectacular sunset atmosphere while at a private overlook of the Horseshoe Bend. With a group of only 12 people (plus our guide Geri), it was as if we had the canyon and the overlook just to ourselves! After getting some amazing photos inside the slot canyon – while learning more about the Navajo culture and some of their challenges during the pandemic – we enjoyed sunset over the Colorado River. Even Kirk was impressed!

While we enjoyed our tour, J.T. had been spending the afternoon with a doggie-sitter (Rover), as we had not wanted to leave her alone in the trailer at the campground. Needless to say, she missed us fiercely, but all was forgiven once we picked her back up before heading to dinner (with a dog-friendly patio).

Day 6 (Wednesday, October 11, 2023)

Leaving Page. AZ the following morning, we headed east on a familiar route – crossing into Utah about 2 hours later. But rather than continuing straight on, we decided to detour to the Monument Valley Navajo Park, where both Kirk and I had not been in decades. Wanting to get to Valley of the Gods in the afternoon, only visited the overlook points and gift shop, before traveling on – with the knowledge that we’d return in the next days to do the scenic drive.

Less than an hour later, we arrived in Mexican Hat, UT, our gateway to the Valley of the Gods (BLM). We quickly found that there were more – a lot more – campers out here today than at any of the 3 previous times we had been here! Now we all know times have changed, more people travel in their RVs, and have discovered this off-road gem – but once main factor adding to the draw this week: the upcoming Annular Eclipse on Saturday, with Valley of the Gods right in the center path of the eclipse! We were surrounded by (mostly) eclipse fans, eagerly awaiting the coming spectacle!

Well, we were here for that, too – but purely by coincidence or luck cosmic guidance maybe (?) – as we hadn’t planned this trip around the eclipse – the eclipse happened to fall into our travel plans/route!

So after finding our previous spot (from May ’21) no longer an eligible site (closed for restoration) and many other great spots already taken, we ended up in one roadside spot just a bit further west from where we had camped back in Oct ’20. We ended up having a great set up – and no other campers squeezing into our spot next to us, only a couple that drove their car not the Valley day-of for the eclipse joining us in our large turnout spot. (but ‘m getting ahead of schedule here…)

Day 7 (Thursday, October 12, 2023)

After almost a week on the road and finally all settled in for a 4-day stint in the Valley, today was all about relaxing!

Well, in the afternoon, we did take the truck out for a drive up the Moki Dugway, to explore off road trails on the mesa, but that was all the action we were up for that day.

Day 8 (Friday, October 13, 2023)

Taking I slow again today, we decided the only thing on our agenda should be a drive back to Monument Valley, to complete the Scenic Loop Drive. Spectacular views of the various buttes, mesas & more as we explore Navajo lands.

Day 9 (Saturday, October 14, 2023)

The day of the Annular Eclipse is here! Kirk had the GoPro set up for time lapse video and his big camera for zoomed in photos every few seconds to capture all stages of the eclipse. It was phenomenal to watch – especially as it approached the “Ring of Fire” around 10:30am MT.

It most definitely got a lot colder as the sun disappeared behind the new moon, and temperatures took a while to recover. But since there are (almost) no animal noises to be heard during the day in Valley of the Gods, it didn’t go all quiet during the peak (unlike what we experienced back in 2018 at the total eclipse in Oregon).

Once it was all over, it was time to relax again. After all, this was going to be our last day n the Valley!

Day 10 (Sunday, October 15, 2023)

After a well-deserved break at Valley of the Gods, it is time to pack up again and move towards our next destination. Just like many other remaining stragglers left over from yesterday’s eclipse, we’re heading out of the valley and onto more improved ways. But no better way to get a last look over the whole valley than by climbing up the Moki Dugway, this time with the trailer in tow. From here, we head north to my all-time-favorite National Monument: Natural Bridges. We’re only doing a quick drive through along the loop drive today as we still have the scenic drive through Glen Canyon National Recreation Area ahead of us, which will then drop us into Hanksville, UT.

The drive along Hwy 95 is beautiful, especially in the fall, and – just like last tine – we vow to spend more time here (between the Colorado River and the Henry Mountains) on one of our next trips to the area!

Once we arrive in Hanksville, we check into Duke’s Slickrock Campground (site #16), for a 2-night FHU stay to get all cleaned up and refueled.

It’s Friday midday and the trailer is packed, truck ready to go, cat & house sitters on their way to take over Pixl & Nova duty – and we are off! After almost 2 ½ years of no “real” vacation away from any stress and just Kirk and I (plus J.T.), we are finally ready to hit the road again to Get Away for 3 weeks!

We’re returning to Utah, where we’ve gotten lost (or better: away) back in 2021 already and had crossed through on prior trips, but managed to add a few possible destinations we haven’t been to. Possible because other than the first few nights, nothing is planned in detail and definitely not scheduled! This is about getting away from schedules, stress and everything related!

But for today, we have a destination in mind: and as with so many of our trips, the trip itself is (a large part of) the destination! “Der Weg ist das Ziel.”

So where are we headed? Yosemite National Park – and ore specifically: Tioga Pass road (Hwy 120), going all the way across the park & pass, over to the Eastern Sierra side. Given the late winter (the pass didn’t open until late July this year) and damage from the heavy snow, there are no services available over the pass, and the campground is closed. So we have our sights set on a little FCFS (first come first serve) campground outside the park, just before Lee Vining, CA.

After a beautiful drive through Yosemite, over the pass, sunshine views of the Yosemite Valley & El Capitan from the East, we descend into the Eastern Sierra and find ourselves a spot in site #5 at the Lower Lee Vining Campground. Nice setting, even if it gets dark right as we’re getting set up – the days are definitely shorter in October!

Day 2 (Saturday, October 7, 2023)

Today is all about driving … but of course even so we’ll have some highlights to cover! After leaving our campground behind, we head east and then south, as we cross from California into Nevada, briefly back into California before the road turns east once more to take us right back into Nevada, from where on out we head mostly south, towards Las Vegas, NV.

While we would have preferred to route our drive through Death Valley National Park, all roads in the park are still closed, as crews continue to work clearing roads from debris and damages following catastrophic flooding caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm (previously Hurricane) Hilary in mid-August.

In Las Vegas, NV, we have a couple of pit stops to make, to pick up computer and photography items Kirk forgot to pack for the trip and pre-ordered for pick up. Despite the detour costing us about an hour+ or so, we get rewarded with a glimpse of the new Sphere in LV, as we pass by on the freeway (the emoji eyes are looking at us!)

Then it’s onto Arizona (through the Virgin River Gorge) before finally arriving in Utah, our destination state for the weekend. It is dark (make that: pitch black) outside by the time we reach Springdale, UT and the entrance to Zion National Park just beyond. Good thing the Watchman Campground is right inside the park, just beyond the park’s visitor center. And while again – it’s very dark – we ca find & set up in our reserved spot # C19… even if it is a very tight fit!

Day 3 (Sunday, October 8, 2023)

We’re taking it slow today, as this trip is supposed to be relaxing! But by midday I can’t take it anymore and decide to go check out the visitor center and the shuttle service that takes visitors into the canyon (where most of the hikes start from). The line for the shittles however reminds me too much of those at Disneyland – and so I quickly change my plans and instead hike the Watchman Trail, which starts beyond the visitor center and rewards me with great views of the area, including a look down over the campgrounds (trying to spot our Airstream, but it’s hidden behind trees).

Later in the afternoon, Kirk, J.T. I take a walk along the Pa’rus Trail, which meanders along the Virgin River and is the only trail in the park that dogs are allowed on. I’m getting J.T. her B.A.R.K. Ranger badge tomorrow, as she knows – and follows – the rules of the National Parks!

Day 4 (Monday, October 9, 2023)

We might be leaving Zion NP today, but not without me having checked out more trails via the shuttle drive!

Getting up early and joining the line of eager hikers well before 7am, I’m on the 2^nd shuttle for the park’s Canyon Scenic Drive. Pretty much a hop on, hop off system, I ride the shuttle all the way to the end: the Temple of Sinawava stop, where I explore a bit of the River Trail (but not all the way to the start of the Narrows, where most people are hiking towards). Soon after I’m boarding the shuttle back to my first hike: Weeping Rock. Shirt but steep, this trail takes me to an overhang where water seeps out of the mountain, creatin a crying/weeping look (and slippery slopes). From here, I board the shuttle again for just 1 stop and get ff at: the Grotto. A trail leads along (but not directly next to) the road down towards the next stop: the Zion Lodge. Time to hop on the bus again and ride another stop: to the Court of the Patriarchs. A couple of observation points provide a great view. Soon enough it is time to board the shuttle one last time and return to the Visitor center. Campground check out time is approaching quickly and I still need to help Kirk & J.T. with getting the trailer ready, truck re-packed and hitched, so we can leave promptly at 11am.

We make our way up the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, including through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel (one-way traffic – stopped every 5 minutes to allow even the bigger trailers/motorhomes to travel through safely). On the east side of the park, we pass by a group of mule deer that seems to have adopted (or at least gathered around) a big horn sheep, before checking out Checkerboard Mesa and departing the park soon after, as we continue on towards our next stop: Page, AZ.

While the views from the road are spectacular – regardless of the cliffs from Staircase-Escalante NM or Vermillion Cliffs NM or Glen Canyon NRA – the final view before arriving in Page, AZ is a disappointing one: the low water levels of Lake Powell, behind the Glen canyon Dam. Despite looking better than the prior year after a wet winter, once can easily see where the waterline used to be vs. where it is now.

Just before dinner time we pull into our campsite for the next 2 nights: returning to Page Lake Powell Campground, where we had stayed back in October 2020 already, but this time in a FHU (full hook up) site (#77).

Back in CA!

Day 33 (Wednesday, June 02, 2021)

Leaving Craters of the Moon behind, we decide to stretch out our drive home a little – and avoid Interstate 80 altogether this time. Instead, we head north, into the Sawtooth National Forest and NRA. Slowly but surely the landscape around us changes – from lava beds to hillsides and then to mountains.

Passing the Sun Valley ski area, we come through the town of Ketchum. Ernest Hemingway, the Nobel Prize-winning author, first came to Idaho in 1939 and became the state’s most famous resident, completed “For Whom The Bell Tolls”, was a passionate fly fisher and spent the last years of his life here. He died in 1961 and is buried in the town’s cemetery, alongside his wife.

We head on towards Galena Peak, cresting at 8,701 feet elevation, from where we have a spectacular view of the Sawtooth Mountains. Once you see them, you know where the name comes from. No other name would fit for these glacially carved mountains. Rolling down the hill, we follow the Salmon River, which is home to chinook salmon, steelhead, brook and bull trout, as part of its 900-mile journey to the Pacific Ocean.

Once we reach the town of Stanley, Gateway to the Sawtooth Wilderness, we turn west onto Hwy 21, to reach our stop for the night just outside of town – at Stanley RV & Camp, site #26 FHU.

Day 34 (Thursday, June 03, 2021)

Another lesson in “it’s a small world!” was learned when we find out that our site neighbors are from Santa Rosa, CA – but moved to Idaho 3 years ago. They share the scoop on what not to miss before leaving the area, and so take a detour just a mile after leaving the campground this morning – to swing by Stanley Lake. Bypassing the many forest campgrounds on our way to the boat ramp and picnic area, we quickly make it to the lake shore. Not only is it a beautiful lake, but the tall McGown Peak and surrounding Sawtooth Mountains as the backdrop make this a must-see. What’s the trade-off? Relentlessly aggressive, undeterred, blood-sucking, hungry mosquitos. Bite-you-through-your-shirt kinds of buggers! About 35 bites (not exaggerating here!) on my upper back and back of my upper arms plus a couple on my legs in about 15 minutes – must be a new record, even for me. Kirk, who sat across from me while we’d been having a quick snack on the shore, gets away with zero (!) bites from here. So, while half an hour ago we were determined we’d have to come back here to camp, this place has now been blacklisted for me. (Portable mosquito tents to carry around all day don’t scream “vacation” to me).

Anyways … on we go on our scenic route, following the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Route (or Hwy 21) west towards Boise, ID. This byway winds through the Boise National Forest, passing through dense forests of pine, across high mountain valleys, and along portions of the Boise River, Lucky Peak Lake, and the South Fork of the Payette River. While certainly a time-consuming path chosen, it offers spectacular views away from traffic and people.

Once back to civilization (aka in Boise), we take the freeway (I-84) to just across the state line into Oregon. Near Ontario, we pick up Hwy 20 which will take us along the Malheur River all the way to Burns, OR. Along the way, we cross through a quick, but extremely heavy downpour with lighting and thunder putting on quite a show! Raindrops big enough to sound like hail on the truck have us fear of dents in the aluminum shell of our trailer, but it was just a heavy cycle washing!

From Burns we he head south on Hwy 205, Oregon’s High Desert Discovery Scenic Byway. It’s almost dusk, and wildlife is out as we drive the last half hour of the day towards our campsite at The Narrows. One will not make it tonight … a little chipmunk races in front of the truck, stops, looks at us and *crunch* is gone. He’ll be remembered forever!

Day 35 (Friday, June 04, 2021)

The High Desert Discovery Scenic Byway provides views across an unbroken horizon, dazzling stars and geologic drama. From desert to mountain, this is Oregon’s frontier country. The density of this part of the state is less than 1 person per square mile, on par with Alaska. Our day starts at the edge of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, an oasis of wetlands and lakes that suddenly appear amid stark mesas and dry grassland. Despite it being still spring, the Malheur, Mud and Harney marshes and meadows are seemingly dry as we pass by. We may already be too late for the migratory rest stop on the Pacific Flyway. We skip the scenic loop tours into the Jackass Mountains (real name, but we have the trailer in tow), as we head south towards and through the historic community of Frenchglen and past the Donner and Blitzen River as we also pass on the Steens Mountain Wilderness detour, another gravel route. Shortly after passing through the town of Fields, OR we cross the border into Nevada. After getting gas at the tiny station in Denio Junction, NV (yes, you certainly have to plan out our gas stops in this part of the world!), we head west Hwy 140, stop at the road construction while waiting fo the pilot car to take us through, and return back into Oregon just before Adel, OR. After not much excitement along the high desert part of the route in Nevada, flora and fauna return as we cross through the canyons once in Oregon. Just past the tiny ski & recreation area of Warner Canyon, we reach Hwy 395, the Oregon Outback Scenic Byway, which will be our route for the next leg of the journey.

It feels like we’re close(r) to home when we cross the state border once again, this time into California! Taking a left turn in the town of Likely, CA, we head up into the Modoc National Forest on Warner Mountain to claim our site (#39) at the beautiful Blue Lake Campground.

Day 36 (Saturday, June 05, 2021)

Since it’s so pretty here and we are on this trip to relax, we stay for a 2nd night at Blue Lake, where the only activities planned are a walk around the lake and hanging out lazily at the site. While a sign along the lake trail reminds us to be cautious around burnt trees and areas, we can see the significant regrowth that has happened here since the Blue Fire in August 2001 (20 years!).

Day 37 (Sunday, June 06, 2021)

We’re officially in week 6 of out trip (technically that started Friday night already), and it’s time to move on to our last (but not least) part of the trip before really returning home. We turn back onto Hwy 395, heading south. After a few hours’ drive, we reach the state border again – going back into Nevada! From here, 395turns into a freeway, as we make our way through Reno (including a quick stop at the Peppermill Casino for Kirk to bet that his A’s will win the 2021 World Series) and Carson City, before returning to a two-lane road snaking its way well east of Lake Tahoe towards the California border. Once crossed back into CA, we continue on the Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway, along the West Walker River to Hwy 108 and the Sonora Junction Campground, where we settle in for our last stop (Site #2).

Day 38 (Monday, June 07, 2021)

Only two more days away before we’ll be returning home, so we enjoy the sun (and not so much the wind gusts) while relaxing at our site at 6,800 ft elevation. Watching the Marine Corps helicopters whirl above us as recruits are being brought in to the USMC Mountain Warfare Training Center a few miles up Hwy 108 makes for an entertaining break in the lazy afternoon.

Before it gets too late, we finally head out for some exploration. Just in the truck – no trailer attached – we head west oh Hwy 108 towards Sonora Pass. Along the way, we check out the Leavitt Meadows Campground, Leavitt Falls, the rough – and later very and very, very rough – off-road 4-wheel low drive, including some screeching (maybe it’s me, maybe the truck) detour towards Leavitt Lake, before returning to the highway to continue towards and over the pass at 9,624 ft elevation. The truck tackles the 26% grade uphill just fine today, but even without a trailer attached we start to smell the breaks a little as we head down the mountain on the eastern side, with its hairpin turns and slopes as steep as 25%. But the views are unbeatable … must be our favorite pass over the Sierra Nevada mountains!

After checking out some potential boondocking sites and the campgrounds along 108 all the way to Dardanelles, we return eastwards to head back over the pass and to our campsite at Sonora Junction.

Day 39 (Tuesday, June 08, 2021)

Last day before our final leg home … so we relax some more! This certainly does not get old, even after 5+ weeks away.

The Marine Corps helicopters are out and about most of the afternoon, either to conduct some training or to check out our awesome Airstream trailer, as it peeks out of the woods here at the campsite. (I think it must be the latter!) At some point, the highway gets some action too, as military vehicles make their way towards base … should be interesting what we’ll get to see tomorrow, when we drive by on our way home.

Day 40 (Wednesday, June 09, 2021)

It’s finally time to return home. Even the longest, most scenic route has to come to an end, and with the spectacular drive across Sonora Pass along Hwy 108 towards the San Francisco East Bay we have a long but beautiful drive home, back to reality.
The next few days will be spent cleaning the trailer (Remember all that dust from Valley of the Gods in week 1? Well, there’s still some coming up after every time we drive!), doing laundry, figuring out live at home again and returning to a state of normal before work will capture our lives again next week Monday.

Stay tunes for out next trip. Until next time!

And because I just can’t help myself – a few statistics from our trip:

• Total trip went on for 40 days, covering 4,286 miles through 9 states (CA, AZ, UT, CO, WY, ID, MT, NV, OR). The Airstream Bambi trailer went along for only about 3,300 of those miles, spending the rest at campgrounds while we took the truck out alone.
• Our Toyota Tacoma truck used 370 gallon of gas at an average price of $3.97 for premium (lowest: $3.48 in WY, highest: $5.66 in CA) and got an average 11.1 MPG throughout the trip (lowest: 8.8 MPG climbing into AZ, highest: 18.9 MPG, driving around Yellowstone without the trailer).
• For the 40 nights we were gone, we stayed at 18 different camp spots, between 1 and 5 nights’ stays paying between $0 (free) and $90 per night, with no neighbors at all (wilderness camping) to occupying the very last open site with neighbors on all sides (at full hook-up campgrounds).
• We visited 10 National Parks, National Monuments and State Parks, plus countless National Forests, Wilderness Areas, and other sights to be seen.
• And last but not least – our 2021 Getting Away trip has a connection to our honeymoon trip 2014 to New Zealand: both included the Craters of the Moon! One in Idaho, the other on the north island of NZ! (see our blog from New Zealand 2014 – Day 6)

Kirk on the moon

Day 28 (Friday, May 28, 2021)

After packing up Friday morning, we leave Montana just a few miles outside the campground, and also cross the Continental Divide as we enter Idaho, our home for the next few days. But first things first – time to refresh and refuel!
Just about two hours south we get to Blackfoot, ID, where we not only stop for supplies and gas, but also for a pick up at the local Amazon locker (yup, Kirk can’t help himself and had ordered some stuff online and delivered here). Then it’s off to the local sight-to-see: the Idaho Potato Museum! As corny as it sounds, it’s actually pretty interesting to learn more about this staple in everyone’s kitchen and diet.

With limited camping options in town (for full hook ups), we head north a little to Idaho Falls, ID, to stay the night at the Snake River RV Park.

Day 29 (Saturday, May 29, 2021)

After more than a couple thousand miles on the road over the last 4 weeks, we are reaching for the moon today. Not quite literally, but as close as one can get with a trailer in tow in this part of the country: Craters of the Moon National Monument!

The path there is fairly straight forward: head east on Hwy 20/26 until you hit the visitor center. But along the way, we pass not only INL (Idaho National Laboratory) near Atomic City, ID, but also the town of Arco: “The first city in the world lighted by atomic power”. Not only that, but it’s also home to the Arco Number Hill (where the graduating class of Butte County High School has been painting their year number onto the rock since 1920) and the Idaho Science Center including the sail of the USS Hawkbill (SSN-666) submarine, decommissioned in 2000 and now “Idaho’s Submarine in the Desert”.

Finally, it’s the gateway to Craters of the Moon NM, about 18 miles outside of town. It’s Saturday afternoon on a long holiday weekend, as we’re approaching the Lawa Flow Campground, with its 42 first-come-first-serve sites. But as luck will have it, there are still a handful of sites open and lucky #13 will be ours for the next few nights!

Day 30 (Sunday, May 30, 2021)

It’s been a busy few days so today is all about relaxing. The only activity on our schedule today is to check out the park’s visitor center and get our permit to visit the caves tomorrow.

Being surrounded by lava rocks at the campground, we are ready to learn and see more of what this little park has to offer. In 1923, geologist Harold T. Stearns described this area as “the surface of the moon as seen through a telescope”. He saw “dark craters and the cold lava, nearly destitute of vegetation”. Its strangeness stirred local legends, wider public interest, then a feature story in National Geographic magazine. In 1924, President Coolidge proclaimed the area a National Monument, preserving “a weird and scenic landscape, peculiar to itself”.

While most lunar craters resulted from meteorite impacts, Craters of the Moon are definitely of volcanic origin. The vast volumes of lava issued not from one volcano but from a series of fissures – known collectively as the Great Rift – that cross the Snake River Plain. Beginning 15,000 years ago lava welled up from the Great Rift to produce this vast ocean of rock. The most recent eruption occurred a mere 2,000 years ago, and geologists believe that future events are likely.

Day 31 (Monday, May 31, 2021)

First things first: Happy 11th Birthday to Ms. J.T.! Hard to believe that this little dog has been joining our travels for the last 9 years, since we found her just outside Joshua Tree National Park on Memorial Day 2012.

Today’s itinerary has us explore the sights of Craters of the Moon. We start with a simple drive along the 7-mile loop trail, to get a first glimpse of all the areas waiting to be explored. Then we go for round #2, including stops and hikes at the various points of interest.

Devils Orchard has a short, easy nature trail where island-like lava fragments stand in a sea of cinders. When the nearby volcanos erupted violently 2K years ago, rivers of lava floated huge chunks of crater wall down to this spot. Time passed. Rocks crumbled. A hundred years ago, a visiting minister declared this jumble of rocks, shrubs, and trees to be a garden fit for the devil himself.

Next stop is at the Inferno Cone. A steep but short hike to the top of this cone rewards with a view of the cinder cones lined up along the Great Rift. Big Cinder Butte, towering above the lava plain to the south, is one of the world’s largest basaltic cinder cones.

Just a quick drive onwards takes us to the Spatter Cones and Big Craters Area. An easy trail leads to these miniature volcanos, where you can view the spectacular Big Craters from the trail towards the west. The volcanoes formed when blobs of molten lava were lobbed into the air during the last gasp of an eruption sequence that ended about 2,100 years ago. Also at this site is Snow Cone – which unlike the other cones right here is hiding some snow and ice in the deep crater visible from the path.

We only make a quick stop at the next stop, which combines the trailheads to the Tree Molds Trail, Broken Top Trail and Buffalo Caves. The caves are closed as the resident bats have their “do not disturb” sign up.

Last but most definitely not least is the Cave Area. From the trailhead here Kirk and I start venturing out towards the caves separately, as one stays behind at the truck with J.T. (no dogs on trails) while the other goes spelunking (sort of).
After a half-mile trek across the lava fields, the Dewdrop Cave sits right at the path splits. A very small cave, quickly accessed over some slippery rocks, it is refreshingly cool inside, a welcome break after a warm walk.

From there, I head towards the Indian Tunnel first, passing collapsed lava tubes … a lava tube’s destiny! Lava rivers become lava tubes when the exterior of the flow cools allowing hot, fluid lava to continue to flow beneath the surface. The flow can continue for many miles, until the source of the lava gets cut off leaving behind a “cave”. In this area, the lava flow travelled a total distance of 18 miles when it flowed from its source at the Spatter Cones approx. 2K years ago. The Indian Tunnel is large – with easy stairway access and collapses in the ceiling providing light for much of the cave and along the 800-foot path to its end. It is named for the stone rings that lie near the path to this large lava tube. The Shoshone, and other tribes, left behind stone structures such as these at various locations throughout the Monument. Archeologists believe that some of these ancient stone structures may have had ceremonial significance for native people but their precise function remains a mystery.

Back to where the trail had split, to explore the remaining two caves – with the furthest one, Beauty Cave – first. After entering through a large opening and scrambling down a slope of large rocks, one reaches the smooth floor of this 300-foot tunnel. The cave glistens from dripping water, icy patches on the floor and what looks like small stalactites (but really are lava droplets aka “lavacicles”).

Final cave of the day is the Boy Scouts Cave, back down the trail a bit. This cave retains ice year-round, and to access it one must crawl over loose rock to enter, due to the very low ceiling at the entrance. A glace past the entry area is enough for me, after all the walking and crawling already done today.

Day 32 (Tuesday, June 01, 2021)

Not only are we well into our 5th week of travels, but also officially into our 2nd month today! This calls for another day of relaxing and not doing much while we enjoy the warm weather at Craters of the Moon, planning where our next leg will take us tomorrow!

J.T. checking out bison at Yellowstone

Day 24 (Monday, May 24, 2021)

It’s another cold morning as we pack up to head up north, leaving Grand Teton NP for Yellowstone NP, which will be our destination for the next 4 days.

But GTNP won’t let us leave without a bang! Just near Colter Bay Village, traffic slows to a crawl and based on the activity on the sides of the road, we know something BIG is out there … while we can’t stop or pull over on a packed street with the trailer in tow, the guy in front of is all but stopping in the middle of the road, allowing for us to get a great view of what’s about a couple hundred yards to the west: a big brown bear (to be correct: a black bear)! Woo-hoo! Timing is everything, and this morning it is perfect for us and Kirk’s 400mm lens is doing its job – giving us a great shot of the bear!

Even more excited, we head up along Jackson Lake, leave Grand Teton and shortly after enter Yellowstone National Park via the South Entrance. As we drive along the Lewis River, we can easily see the new tree growth that followed the 1988 fires which had devastated much of the park’s lodgepole pine forests. During my last visit some 15+ years ago, this was all still looking a lot more dire, but today shows spring green everywhere we look. Just before Lewis Lake we cross the approximate border line of the Caldera … from the last eruption 640K years ago. Not only are we headed north, but also up in elevation, and well before we hit the Continental Divide at 7,988 feet we are driving through the falling snow! What date is it again? Oh, well, the Yellowstone season only just started last week … so I guess this was sort of to be expected.

As we approach West Thumb Geyser Basin on the southeast edge (west thumb) of Yellowstone Lake at 7,733 ft elevation the snow has become a steady buddy for our visit, but can’t keep us from checking out the various steaming geysers, pools, cones, hot springs, mud pots and more. West Thumb’s shoreline has suspiciously crater-like contours. Its underwater profile is dramatically deeper than the rest of Yellowstone Lake. Only a massive explosion could have formed West Thumb. Though the blowout occurred 125K years ago, the area is still thermally active.

As we continue on, we cross the Continental Divide once more (now at 8,262 ft elevation), and snow is not only accumulating on the road but also on the trailer. It’s a first for the Airstream … Soon enough we reach the next highlight: Upper Geyser Basin, home of Old Faithful! As we walk up to the geyser, the visitor information sign alerts us that the next eruption is predicted for just about 30 minutes from now. Great timing as Old Faithful puts its show on approx. every 50-120 minutes. With J.T. in the trailer, we take a walk around the geyser area and pick our spot on the north/east side of it, away from the large number of spectators already accumulating for the show. The sun is starting to make an appearance as well, and while the short break in the clouds is much appreciated, the gusty wind drives the steam – and during the eruption also the water’s mist – right towards us, for a free sprinkling shower.

As we still have to make our way to West Yellowstone and check into our campground there, we soon head onwards along the Firehole River towards Madison, bypassing the various geyser basins for another day’s sights. On our way west along the Madison River, traffic slows again, this time to let a herd of bison cross the road, meander along the road and show off the full beauty of the park.

Checking in at the KOA West Yellowstone and setting up, it’s cold and damp again … good thing for our heater getting the little trailer warmed up in no time.

Day 25 (Tuesday, May 25, 2021)

Time to head back into the park – and back into Wyoming! Forgot to mention, but just a couple miles before the park’s west exit, we had crossed from WY into Montana, and hence now we’re going back to WY for the day.

Today’s destination is the north and northeast of the park – starting with a stop at Gibbon Falls, along the Gibbon River between Madison and Norris. We skip the various sights on this stretch of the road for the next day, and head on north along the Gardiner River towards Mammoth Hot Springs. Without the trailer, we’re able to take the Upper Terrace Drive through the hot springs, park and take a stroll through the upper and lower terraces areas. From the overlook, the views include an almost-aerial look at historic Fort Yellowstone, which makes up most of the “town” part of this area, as well as a great look at the Main Terrace, Mound Terrace and Cleopatra Terrace in the lower part.

We skip the drive to the north entrance (to Gardiner), as we have a bigger target in mind: Lamar Valley to the east, where bears and wolves are frequently spotted. The Blacktail Plateau Drive is still closed (too early in the season), but even the “regular” route offers spectacular views over the northern range, mountains in the (not so far) distance and Yellowstone River in the distance. As we make a quick stop at the Petrified Tree near Tower-Roosevelt, we come face to face with a bison hanging out in the parking area. Never ceases to amaze …

As we cross the Yellowstone River to follow the Lamar River east through the Lamar Valley, we see plenty more bison. We do come across one spot where plenty of people are still watching with their scopes and big-lens cameras – for wolves, as we learn, who had been out here until about 15 minutes ago. Bummer … too late for this show. We continue on east, then along the Soda Butte Creek towards the Northeast Entrance. Just a couple of miles before the park boundary, we get lucky – a moose is grazing near the road, by a picnic area. We stop to check it out, and Kirk gets some great photos. After leaving and re-entering the park, we get a little worried about what other wildlife we might encounter, as the sun starts to set while it’s getting late. Bison, bison, bison … doesn’t get old. But just a few miles after Tower junction, we strike gold: bears! A momma bear wither two cubs are playing around some tree trunks in the distance. Far enough to be safe (for us) to be out of the car, but close enough to get a clear view through our binoculars and Kirk’s camera view finder – for some nice shots!

It starts raining and gets dark as we make our way back west. A few more bison – and great views of the steam clouds rising up from the various geysers, almost shining brightly in the moon light – entertain us as we make our way back to camp.

Day 26 (Wednesday, May 26, 2021)

Day 3 for our Yellowstone visit will focus on the various geysers we missed the previous day and take us east to Canyon. But first – the highlights between Madison and Norris. We start with Beryl Spring and the Artists Paintpots before heading to the Norris Geyser Basin. While the Steamboat Geyser is noted as the highlight, it’s only one of many “sights to see” in this area. Norris Geyser Basin is Yellowstone’s most dynamic – the hottest, most acidic, and most dynamic – geyser basin. It is part of the world’s largest active volcanoes.

When Steamboat Geyser erupts, it can rocket a column of scalding water 300 feet into the air – two or three times the average height of Old Faithful. Steam ca roar for up to 24 hours after. Odds of witnessing this eruption however are against us visitors, as they can occur from 4 days to 50 years apart! I’m not quite lucky enough to witness a big eruption today, but smaller spouts of water do shoot up while I’m watching, and I take that as a win in my book!
Just below the geyser is Cistern Spring, with its various colors created by a variety of living things in it, where the spring’s brown, orange and green colors are representing different species of algae and bacteria, each requiring a different temperature environment.

We head on further west, to Canyon Village, home to the “Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone”. The canyon varies from 800 to 1,200 feet in depth and from 1,500 to 4,000 feet in width. Its length is about 24 miles, of which the upper 2.5 miles is the most colorful section. Steam vents and geysers are still at work in the canyon walls, and hot springs activity has continued through the ages, altering the lava rock to produce the lovely colors which hare largely due to varied iron compounds.

After checking out the canyon as well as the upper and lower falls from both the North Rim and the South Rim, we head south along the Yellowstone River towards Lake Village, on the shores of Yellowstone Lake. But before reaching the lake, we stop at the Sulphur Caldron and the Mud Volcano, both worth a quick stop along the way. The weather has been all over the place today, and while we seem to have a dry break for our walk around the mud volcanoes, we do get some rain coming down just after our meet & greet with the bison along the walkway (safety distance maintained!).

As we round off today’s tour skipping right past Old Faithful (it’s getting late), we do stop at the Black Sand Basin within the Upper Geyser Basin, as the setting sun and the light are just right. Black obsidian (volcanic glass) “sand” gives this geyser basin its name. Oranges, greens, and other colors in and around the hot springs come from Thermophiles (heat-loving micro-organisms).

Sunset along the Madison River makes for more great photo opportunities as we are heading out of the park, as do the repeated bison sightings along (and on) the road.

Day 27 (Thursday, May 27, 2021)

Today is already our last day for Yellowstone … Having four days seemed enough, but we are quickly running out of time with so much more to see! On our list for today are the geyser basins we’ve skipped over twice now – and after a welcome by the bison and a scenic drive through the Firehole Canyon (including a stop at the falls), we reach the Lower Geyser Basin including the Fountain Paint Pot. Here, the path takes us through on of the most complex and dynamic hydrothermal areas in Yellowstone, past geysers, hot springs, fumaroles, and mudpots. The geysers here exhibit a variety of eruption patterns and intervals, including changes throughout the year.

Next up is the Midway Geyser Basin, with its highlight being the Grand Prismatic Spring – Yellowstone’s largest hot spring. It is the largest and one most brilliant of the park’s many colorful hot springs. Its massive expanse stretches approx. 200 feet across. The high temperature of its water (160 F) ensures that the spring is often cloaked in steam.

Within the rainbow of orange, brown, and red colors, some microorganisms live in communities of thick mats. Like miniature forests, these mats have a vertical structure and stratified functions. Microbes that live on or near the top of the mat (similar to a forest canopy) use sunlight to perform photosynthesis, which fuels the mat community. Organisms living deeper in the mat (similar to a forest understory) derive energy from chemicals produced by the surface microbes. They perform other vital functions such as decomposition and recycling nutrients to the mat’s “canopy” just like their counterparts in a forest. All of these organisms create an ecosystem in the expanse of a few inches.

Last but not least (before returning to Old Faithful) is Biscuit Basin. This thermal basin is particularly volatile, unpredictable. On Aug 17, 1959, a 7.5 earthquake had its epicenter just a few miles to the northwest. Four days later, Sapphire Pool began to erupt violently, blowing away the large rock biscuits around the crater, the mineral formations which the basin was names for.

We park just outside historic Old Faithful Inn (hotel), which I really wanted to visit to check out the lobby. However, being too early in the season, I’m a week ahead of opening date. Instead, we head up to the Old Faithful geyser area, and learn that the next eruption is about an hour out. With the sun shining and temps nice for a change, we hang out on our front row bench and wait. Just before 6pm, we watch Castle Geyser erupt in the distance. Quite the treat, as this one is a lot less frequent (approx. 14 hours between eruptions), but the long duration and high fountain of water shooting up makes it a must see. Finally, just a few minutes “late”, Old Faithful erupts right in front of us. While Kirk videos the whole thing (it lasts about 6 minutes), I snap pictures as the steam (and mist) is blown away from us, unlike earlier this week.

A few more bison encounters as well as another beautiful sunset along the Madison River round off our visit to Yellowstone. Definitely a place to come back to and spend some more time …

*sigh* tourists

Day 22 (Saturday, May 22, 2021)

After a cold and wet settling into our site yesterday afternoon and lots of rain overnight, this morning is presenting bright sunshine and glorious views of the Teton Range just across Jackson Lake, a few steps from our campsite at Signal Mountain Campground.

Knowing the weather isn’t going to hold all day, we head out and start our driving discovery tour heading south on Grand Teton Road, from Signal Mountain towards Jenny Lake. We stop at the various sights that allow J.T. to come with us (as she’s not allowed on trails, there won’t be any hiking for us today).

The Potholes are not what we’re used to from commuting on I-580 , but rather are “kettles” created some 15,000 years ago when sediment carried by glacial meltwater buried huge blocks of ice that calved off retreating glaciers. As the ice melted, the ground sank leaving depressions behind which can range from 15 feet to a quarter mile in diameter. Trees take root in some kettles, creating forest islands, while water pools in others.

Viewpoints for Mount Moran follow next. This mountain reflects all the geologic forces shaping the Teton Range, including gneiss, granite, sandstone and glaciers.

In case you did not know – there is a Teton Fault. An earthquake fault line between us on the road and the mountain peaks, where tectonic plates crash. No quakes recently though, so we’re good there!
Next along the route is Jenny Lake, with a great view of the mountains just across the lake. No boat crossing for us today, as again, dogs are not allowed.

After passing through Moose Junction and crossing the Snake River, we head north on Hwy 191 for just a mile before turning onto Antelope Flats Road and towards Mormon Row Historic District. Known for the Ansel Adams photos of historic barns in front of the Teton Range, we stop to (try and) recreate the shots. Dark clouds are starting to roll in, making for a nice variation of the picture!

Back on the highway, we follow the Snake River, stopping at the river overlook where another one of Adams’ famous photographs was taken in 1942. The shot of the unspoiled beauty of the Snake River and the jagged Teton Range captured nature as exemplified by national parks. Adams’s photographs helped promote and protect western U.S. landscapes.

After one more stop along the river, at Oxbow Bend, we head north toward Colter Bay Village before turning back south. No bears in sight at the Willow Flats overlook, but the signs say otherwise …

Last but not least on today’s tour is Signal Mountain, where a windy and steep road gets us all the way to the summit. From here, we have the full views of the valley, including some of wildlife spotting: a group of elk bulls about a mile away and a small herd of bison over two miles in the distance. As we make our way back down the mountain, the rain clouds have finally caught up with us and it starts pouring down with no end in sight!

Day 23 (Sunday, May 23, 2021)

It’s been raining all night and continues to rain all morning. How do I know without stepping outside? Well, the aluminum roof of the airstream trailer lets us hear it loud and clear! What to do? Make it a lazy Sunday …

We don’t really get the day started until the early afternoon, taking a stroll through the campground when the rain stops and the sun peeks out for a moment, check out the gift shop at the Signal Mountain Lodge, hog their internet to listen to the A’s game (they lost :() and catch up on blog posts and photos to tag.

Tomorrow will be another day for another park … but more on that later!

For the rest of the LATE afternoon Kirk wants to get out and about to see if we can shoot a bear… with a camera of course. So we head off in the late afternoon and, well, we don’t find bears yet. But we do see some wildlife. During out evening journey we eventually take a long dirt road to the lake. It was quite a treat since it was also full of exciting elk sightings.

But the hunger pains set in and we had make our way back to our little trailer. Pork, broccoli, and toasted bread settled us in just fine.

It was another nice day of relaxing and enjoying the wilderness. Not too bad eh?

In Jackson, WY

Day 18 (Tuesday, May 18, 2021)

The next several days will be spend driving north, as we’re making our way from southeastern Utah to northwestern Wyoming, for part two of our trip. But one thing after the other … Tuesday has us pack up our very private campsite outside Natural Bridges NM and head north on Hwy 95, towards and across the Colorado River through the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. This drive is another highlight of our route – and we’ll surely be back on a future trip! So many options to camp along the route, ever-changing rock formations beautiful scenery and almost nobody else around!

Once we get to Hanksville, UT and turn west onto Hwy 24, we’re back on familiar territory. Just a few months ago, our Utah trip brought us through here and we retrace our steps as we head through Capitol Reef National Park and into the sunset. Rather than turning south like last fall, we continue on Hwy 24 all the way to Loa, UT, where we stop for the night in a “boondocking site” at the Fremont River RV Park – a small spot next to the office, with no hook ups.

Day 19 (Wednesday, May 19, 2021)

Truck & trailer fully refueled we get back on the road the next morning, heading north through central Utah, back into civilization including freeways, shopping at big box stores and fast-food lunch. In Provo we head northeast into the mountains and find our next stop not too far past Park City (no time or snow for skiing here today). Echo Island RV Park in Coalville, UT is offering a full-hook up site including weekday pre-season discount that’s calling my name … deer strolling through our site just before a quick thunderstorm blows through adds to the ambiance, despite being just off the freeway.

Day 20 (Thursday, May 20, 2021)

A third day of driving ahead of us (since we decided to split our drive up north into 3 days instead of pushing through in only 2) and we’re going to see as many state border crossings as one can possibly fit into one day! While you might think there’s not that many states between Utah (UT – our starting point) and Wyoming (WY – our destination), our route will have us cross into WY early on (I-80), before heading right back into UT as we drive north on Hwy 16, and back into WY (on Hwy 30), then up into Idaho (ID) as we straddle the border on Hwy 89 and return to WY for the last stretch of the day.
Not to be missed in all the border frenzy: the world’s largest antler arch in Afton, WY!

Only about a half hour south of Jackson, WY and the entrance to Grand Teton National Park, we grab a spot at Wolf Creek Campground outside Alpine, WY, along the Snake River. Be Bear Aware! is the serious motto from here on out, as we are in bear country.

Day 21 (Friday, May 21, 2021)

Today is the first day where the weather is turning on us. As we’re heading towards Jackson, WY for lunch, rain starts pouring down. This – in addition to the narrow (side) streets in downtown Jackson – are not helping our search for a lunch spot. But Kirk does find a place to park just a few blocks from the town square and while J.T. stays in the trailer, we head out into the rain on our quest to 1. See the 4 Antler Arches at Jackson Square and 2. Pick up lunch (including an Elk Sausage Sandwich) which we take back to the trailer to eat.

Refueled we head up north into Grand Teton National Park, our destination for the next three nights.