Feeling Reflective

“What you think you become, what you feel you attract, what you imagine you create.” –Buddha

As we start to explore new opportunities on the east coast it’s hard not to reflect on the most amazing adventure that we embarked on the last year. We experienced some of the most exciting, challenging and developing encounters that one might pursue. The changing environments week after week could be stressful for some but it became a way of life for us that was intoxicating. From hiking the slick rock and slot canyons in Utah to having morning coffee with seals in Malibu to feeling the vulnerability of sleeping in a tent in bear country our journey in its entirety was the destination.

Our road tripping treks are getting further apart these days but we had the opportunity to take another loop down through Florida. To check Biscayne National Park off our list but also to explore some other really amazing places. Our first layover was in Wilmington, NC visiting with family and enjoying Big Benny’s Pizzeria and the culinary fare of Uncle Tom!

This trek did not include the trailer so we were back in our Kelty Tent and we set up camp in Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine, FL. Our site felt jungle like with oversized plants, Spanish moss dripping from the trees and of course lizards scurrying through the fallen leaves. Anastasia State Park is historically a coquina quarry and is the home of 4 miles of pristine beach on a peninsula. After morning coffee and beach combing we made breakfast and hit the road again to Miami. We stopped in St Augustine to break up the drive but definitely know that we want to come back and explore more.

In Miami we stayed in the tent sites at Penny and Larry Thompson Campground. Maybe the only campground in Miami Dade County, its proximity to the National Park was its only redeeming quality. We booked a sailing tour with the Biscayne Institute. The park is made up of emerald islands, coral reefs and pristine waters; it’s recommended to visit by boat. Our sailing captain, Judy, 31, took us out for the the day with 4 other visitors. We helped sail the boat, steering, tacking, lifting and dropping sails. The morning was cloudy and rainy but the 45 foot Morgan held steady as we crossed Biscayne Bay to reach Boca Chita Key. Once owned by Mark Honeywell, known to host extravagant parties in the 1930s on the island, firing a cannon with every guest arriving by boat. As soon as we docked the we entered the ornamental coquina lighthouse climbing 53 steps to views of the aquamarine waters teeming with wildlife. We saw many bird species, a manatee and some stingrays. We eventually made our way to the other side of the island for snorkeling and paddle boarding. There were tropical fish darting about in the shallow waters, Portuguese Man O Wars beached on the sand and sea turtles swimming around the pylons. The whole environment felt like a postcard. Our day on Boca Chita was unforgettable and then we made the long sail back to the mainland learning more about sailing and even taking the helm! Our evening back at the campground was less than desirable but we always make do!

We then made it to the beautiful gulf side of Florida to visit with Brennan’s Grandparents who snowbird in Englewood. The beaches here are perfect for relaxing and beach-combing, known for finding shark’s teeth. While visiting we enjoyed daily yoga on the beach hosted by Loving Light. We took a day to visit Boca Grande and traveled the island by golf cart stopping at the lighthouses, a local museum, large banyan trees and a lovely restaurant called South Beach. Englewood is a great place to get a little sunburnt and relax by the water.

Our last stop was to visit with our close friends, Kevin and Erin in Land O’Lakes outside the Tampa area. They took us to explore Tarpon Springs. We started at Fred Howard Park to hang out on the beach for a bit. We saw dolphins feeding in the water as soon as we drove in. We walked around the historic sponge docks for some window shopping and an amazing meal at Rusty Bellies. This restaurant is so incredible. They own their own fishing boats and all the seafood is caught fresh and local; and the meal starts with a brown paper bag full of hush puppies which is always welcome. The following day we went to Jay Starkey Wilderness Park to explore the trails that wander through a hammock forest and is filled with large gopher tortoise. That evening we stayed with close family friends, The Kowalski’s which I have not seen in over 3 years. It was great to catch up.

The following morning we drove up the coast to head back north. We love Florida, catching all the sunshine and wildlife there is always energizing and seeing family and friends is always refreshing.

We are blessed! Thanks for reading!

#florida #nationalparks #biscayne #bocachitakey #travel #gooutside #camping #hiking #sailing

Reflection

“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”

-Benjamin Franklin

After completing our Southwestern tour we made it full circle back to San Luis State Park right outside of Great Sand Dunes National Park on Thanksgiving Day. We made a fire, grilled steak and watched an epic sunset over the snow capped mountains of the Sangre de Cristo Range in Southern Colorado.

Thanksgiving Day in San Luis

Same campsite that we parked in before

Then we made our way to Golden, Colorado for a few days. Brennan got to ski a day in Breckinridge and we even made it up to Fort Collins for a brewery tour at New Belgium – which is really great complimentary tour made by reservation.

The wooden barrels filled with sour beer

The home of Fat Tire

We made it back to Ohio to spend some time with my family by December and even managed a free campsite in Danville, Missouri – at Lazy Days to break up the drive. While in Ohio I convinced my mom to hike with us at Clifton Gorge, near Yellow Springs. The gorge is beautiful and has always been a favorite place of mine to go.

North Rim Trail

Blue Hole

Becky and Brennan

We got to spend time with family and friends in the Cincinnati area – and ate a proper Thanksgiving meal. We also officially winterized the camper there. On our way to our final destination – Rehoboth Beach we stopped for a few nights right outside Morgantown, West Virginia. We camped in Chestnut Ridge County Park. The snow was coming down and we were the only ones there besides the camp host. This made for a spectacular snowy forest. The scent of cold pine filled our nostrils and the flurries danced in the air. The solitude in this winter scene was like nothing else we had experienced thus far.

Campsite 63

Matisse enjoying the flurries

Cooper’s Rock

Cooper’s Rock

After returning to Delaware we have been able to reflect on all that we have seen and accomplished. We have driven 30,000 miles of highway, gravel and dusty roads. We have hiked 350 miles on trails throughout the mountains, forest, beaches and deserts. This journey has been filled with challenge, adventure and of course, love. We want to maintain that being outside, living simply and staying in the moment thrives in us in our future endeavors.

Thanks for reading! Love and Peace.

#nationalparks #rvlife #hiking #camping #sunsets #colorado #ohio #westvirginia #cliftongorge #sanluis #coopersrock

Love in the Land of Enchantment

“Do not forget to send your love into the earth, into the water and into the sky.” Yung Pueblo

Making our way to Santa Fe we couldn’t help but feel the warmth of nostalgia. This ancient city is where Brennan proposed marriage to me in 2013. We parked the camper at Los Suenos RV Park – which was a bit lack luster overall. But it served it’s purpose and we headed to one of our favorites Santa Fe Brewing Company. It was a Saturday and the bar was busy. There was a bike group finishing their ride as well as plenty of other locals to recommend their favorite places to eat, drink and hike. We even had the opportunity to speak to a lady who worked for the local BLM office. Not to mention a stellar bartender who was entertaining us with stories of Santa Fe and Albuquerque. On our previous trip to Santa Fe we toured the brewery and it is well worth making the stop. After we headed to Tomasita’s a New Mexican restaurant that any local would tell you is one of the best. We bellied up to the bar and each ate a huge plate of enchiladas covered in the both red and green chili sauce which the locals call Christmas. After we ate we stayed and chatted with the others at the bar. We met two other older local couples who we talked about restaurants and hiking. We also met a fascinating young woman, Lioux from Vermont who had been traveling across the country for the last three months. Sleeping in her Jeep with her pitbull, Kinga; and she was heading to Oklahoma next so we gave her some recommendations. It is amazing how many people you encounter while traveling. We were really feeling the vibes of Santa Fe on this wonderful day.

The following day we went to the Plaza which is essentially the town square, which snakes through Pueblo alleys filled with rows of red chile ristras, bull skulls, tapestries and sundries galore. I love the colors of Santa Fe. We ate lunch at the Thunderbird Bar and Grill and could people watch from the balcony there outside looking down into the plaza. We then ventured to Meow Wolf where over 100 artists collaborated to create a reality wrinkling playhouse that is completely interactive. It is definitely a one of a kind experience that I think will be popping up in other cities soon. I have heard that Denver and Austin in the works. We spent over 2 hours at the House of Eternal Return, which is the name of the exhibit there. After we went to a sports bar Boxcar hoping to catch some of the Eagles game and of course, to meet more people. I met a man named Jay who loved our story so much he bought us a round and Brennan talked to a Native American woman who had a lot of recommendations for Taos, our next stop.

Colors of Santa Fe

Sundries

Hotel La Fonda

Meow Wolf

Musical Rib Cage

Wooly Mammoth

Interactive

We headed to Angel Fire next. Our plan was to camp there and day trip into Taos. The drive from Santa Fe to Angel Fire is absolutely beautiful. We stayed at Monte Verde RV Park. Angel Fire is a really small town where there is no stop lights and focuses on the tourism of the ski resort. We enjoyed beers at Enchanted Circle Brewing. We hiked the Elliot Barker Trail which gives you a beautiful view of the ski resort and the town. The trail wanders through the icy meadows, large pines and even some unmaintained fire roads of the Carson National Forest.

From Angel Fire we drove into Taos. We explored the entrance of the Earthship community a group of passive solar powered houses made of upcycled and natural materials. The houses here are made of earth packed tires, mud and glass bottles. They are unique and amazing. We walked across the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge towering almost 570 feet above the river and a great place to see big horn sheep. We ventured into the Plaza of Taos which is similar to Santa Fe but much smaller. We grabbed lunch at La Cueva Cafe for some great authentic New Mexican cuisine. We headed back to Angel Fire to the camper and then stopped at Comanche Creek Brewing a small shack up in the mountains that had 5 beers of tap and a drink limit of three. It was a unique experience to say the least.

View of Angel Fire from Elliot Barker Trail

EarthShip

EarthShip Visitor Center

Earthship

Gorge Bridge

Rio Grande River

Comanche Creek Brewery

New Mexico will always hold a special place in our hearts and if you’ve ever been you know about the enchantment and magic it truly possesses. Here’s to more future adventures in New Mexico.

Thanks for reading! Love and peace!

#camping #santafe #meowwolf #newmexico #landofenchantment #taos #angelfire #brewery #hiking

Sedona: the Energy Vortex

“Be the energy you want to absorb.” J.D. Posey

Our drive from Joshua Tree to Sedona made us arrive after sunset. The plan was to camp on BLM in the Coconino National Forest. This was the first time we had to set up the trailer after dark – and I mean dark sky initiative dark. We crept up Forest Road 525 not knowing what to expect. We saw a strange creature cross the road, with awkward movement, stripes and a humpback I wasn’t sure what we were getting ourselves into. I later learned that the creature was a Javelina; a pig like animal related to a hippopotamus. And apparently is a real treat to come across in the woods. We eventually found an empty space about 5 miles up, which takes over 30 minutes in the dark with the trailer on a rutted gravel road. I even had to move rocks around to get the trailer across the ditch. In the morning we were surrounded by red dirt, pine trees and red rock bluffs in the distance. The plan was to camp in the forest for two nights and then two nights within Sedona to be able to walk into town.

We found the Huckaby Trail; a 5.4 mile out and back trail with some small climbs. Surrounded by fall colors and wandering close to Oak Creek made for a very picturesque hike. The trail was speckled with agave, yucca and of course red sandstone. It was also dog friendly as is most of Sedona. You can take your pups almost anywhere even Visitor Centers and the patios of most restaurants! We headed back to the camper with Açaí bowls, we sat outside in the National Forest and enjoyed the landscape and the beautiful Arizona sunshine.

The next day we parked the trailer at Rancho Sedona RV Park. This campground is by far the most beautiful and well laid out park we have stayed at. There is a dog run and even access to Oak Creek in several spots. It’s also within walking distance from the art galleries, restaurants and bars in Sedona. That day I walked with the pups around the property and Brennan ventured on a trail run called Marg’s Draw. After cleaning up and dressed in our city clothes we decided to partake in some happy hour bargains around town. We stopped at The Hudson first for bruschetta, then to Javelina’s for margaritas and a cheese crisp! These were on a lot of menus around town. A large crispy tortilla baked with cheese and poblanos. Kind of like a Mexican pizza, but for $6 at happy hour we were in heaven. We stopped at Oak Creek Brewing last for a night cap. Everything in town closes at 9 and even the RV Park told us to be inside our trailer by 10 with lights out, which I thought was odd. But it turns out that Sedona follows a dark sky initiative to cut down on light pollution. Making the starry sky absolutely breathtaking and a very interesting walk home.

The next day we got up early to hike to Cathedral Rock. This was a steep climb up to a saddle between large sandstone spires. The summit of this hike is considered a Vortex. There are 5 known vortexes in Sedona. They are labeled as magnetic or electric in a symbolic way, not in actuality. Some say it’s geological because the rock is high in iron and silicon. Cathedral Rock is a combination vortex of upflow (reflection and stress reducing) and inflow (meditation and healing) energies; making this vortex hike recommended for lovers. This trail is very popular and is supposed to be an overall well being experience. The slick rock makes it challenging but the view from the top is amazing. We were the only ones up there briefly, but the crowds followed.

After the hike we explored more of the town including New Age book stores, gift shops and infused tequilas of 89 Cantina. The fountains in art plazas were filled with gourds, cholla wood, and Spanish moss making for an autumn spectacular. We enjoyed the patios at The Secret Garden and The Hideaway House. We walked back to the camper – this time before dark. Sedona is a beautiful Gem of a city. I would say the landscape is similar to Zion National Park but with a town setting that is much more enjoyable. It’s filled with opportunities to get outside and explore balanced with a chance to find inner peace and relax.

After leaving Sedona we decided to stop at Petrified Forest National Park. We wanted to do a small hike in the painted desert. This National Park is incredibly close to I-40 so it was easy to get to. We started on the Onyx Bridge trail. A wilderness hike that descended into the Lithodendron Wash. The pups were even allowed on this National Park hike. The trail is essentially endless and unmarked, winding through beautiful colored dunes and samples of petrified wood everywhere. The sky turned overcast and it started to drizzle so we only ended up seeing about 2 miles of this trail. It was a good opportunity for us to stretch our legs. That night we camped very cheaply at Sky City Casino, owned by the Acoma Pueblo of New Mexico. The wind howled and pushed up against the side of the clipper with 40 mph gusts. Sometimes traveling is only glamorous in retrospect!

Huckaby Trail

Oak Creek filled with yellow trees

Sandstone

Oak Creek

Sedona

Cathedral Rock

Cathedral Rock

Morgan the model

Top of Cathedral Rock

Fours filled fountain!

Mustang sculpture in Plaza

Autumn in Sedona

Frog Prince Sculpture

Painted Desert in Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Wood – Matisse for scale

Onyx Bridge Trail

Onyx Bridge Trail

#arizona #sedona #petrifiedforestnationalpark #hike #camp #blm #coconinonationalforest #art #vortexhikes #energy #gooutside #hikingwithdogs #wanderlustweenies

California Love

“There is nowhere to go but everywhere, so just keep on rolling under the stars.” Jack Kerouac

Our first stop in California was Death Valley National Park. With such a diverse landscape each bend in the road was a new surprise; including two wild burros standing above the road on a talus slope. We settled into Stopepipe Wells Campground which is essentially a gravel lot with views of sand dunes and mountains. The skies at dusk and dawn made up for the lack of amenities. Death Valley is the largest National Park in the lower 48 so there is a lot to discover and we had to choose our adventures wisely. Formed in 1994 the trails are mostly undeveloped and many sites are over 30 miles apart.

Day one we wanted to hike with the pups; the rangers told us that wherever cars were allowed that our four legged friends could venture too. The 4 x 4 roads here are abundant for off roading and exploring so we hiked through Echo Canyon with the weenies. The winding path takes you through rock formations and skree piles that seem unearthly. The landscape here is so intergalactic that even some of the Star Wars movies were filmed here. Echo Canyon is also a popular place for Western film sets! As we were hiking there were plenty of Jeep parties traveling up this road too. I think we hiked about 7 miles here. The pups and my feet were not a huge fan of the gravel – so sturdy shoes are recommended! We drove on Twenty Mule Team Canyon Road; an unpaved path that winds through badlands. Reminding us of the borax mines that have been excavated here before this land was protected. We ate expensive salads at the Saloon across the street from the campground and caught the end of the West Virginia game after our hike.

Day two we hiked up Side Winder Canyon. This foot only path leading you into one of the only slot canyons in the park made up of “poorly cemented” conglomerate walls. The trail is unmarked and hard to follow because the gravel in the dry wash has zero footprints. This 5 mile trail has an almost 1600 foot elevation gain. The views from the top were stunning. The mountains in Death Valley are every color a mountain could be. Making a rainbow landscape with a white salt basin. Badwater Basin was our next stop; a salt flat where earth’s crust is sunken. Sitting at 282 feet BELOW sea level, Death Valley’s floor is the second lowest depression in the Western Hemisphere. This incredible stroll through one of the largest salt pans in the world appears like a fresh blanket of snow with mirror like puddles bordered with crystals. Then we drove to Artists Palette: these sedimentary hills are beautiful multi-hued mineral rich mountains. They appeared as if they were dripping with colors, red, lavender, blue, and white. Everyone had their cameras in hand. The full beaver moon was beautiful that night and filled the basin with silvery light.

Sunset from the Campground

Echo Canyon

Dachshunds that Rock Climb

Echo Canyon

Twenty Mule Team Canyon

Zabriskie Point

Sidewinder Canyon

Sidewinder Canyon

Badwater Basin

Badwater Basin

Salt Pan

Artist’s Palette

Full Beaver Moon

Our next stop in California was Malibu. We drove out of Death Valley with the full moon in the sky. At one point we pulled over to use the bathroom and Brennan said the spare tire was gone. This means that the two metal U-bolts holding the tire to the bumper snapped and the whole darn thing bounced off the camper. This would be the fourth 13 inch radial tire we would purchase on this trip.

We finally made it to the coast later that afternoon. We settled into Malibu RV Park surrounded by palm trees, over sized succulents, and salty air. Our plan for Malibu was yoga with an ocean view. The lady that checked us in at the rv park loved dachshunds – she even had her dogs paw prints tattooed on her arm! This park is absolutely beautiful and there is not a bad space in the resort. Brennan had never seen the Pacific before so he was pretty stoked. We could hear the ocean waves crashing and pulling the large weathered stones back into her from the camper at night; even over the traffic noise of the Pacific Coast Highway. We saw feeding frenzies with our binoculars of dolphins, gulls and pelicans. We were greeted by flocks of wild lavender crested parrots during the incredible sunsets. We ventured out to Ventura County to find a beach the weenies could tread on. You can pull over off the PCH just about anywhere and get to the water but dogs are allowed on the beaches in Ventura County. We found a campground called Thornhill Broom Beach at Point Mugu State Park. You could park right at the edge of the sand! We decided to stay an extra night at this campground. It was cheaper than the RV Park and we could have a full beach day, pups included. From this beach we saw dolphins and seals almost everyday at sunrise and sunset. Our extra night turned into two at this first come first serve campground. In Malibu we didn’t really venture out much with paradise at our door we stayed close to the camper and ate really good at “home”.

This part of the country is absolute paradise and we were sad to leave when it was time.

“I believe in the ocean curing all bad moods. I believe in the waves wiping away all worries. I believe in seashells bringing good luck. I believe in toes in the sand grounding my soul.” – Anonymous

The sky is so blue- in Malibu

Giant Succulent: wiener dog for scale

Prickly Pear for days…

Wild Parrots

Sunsets and Palm trees

Happy Campers

Best Campsite Ever!

Playful Seals

Rocky Beach

More Sunsets

Our last stop in California was Joshua Tree National Park. We camped on the North BLM just miles from the entrance. This BLM was by far the most littered site we have stayed at. This area must be a popular hunting area because there were bullets and shell casings scattered everywhere. The campers were very dispersed so the pups could just wander, which was great. The sunsets were incredible. We drove through Joshua Tree and stopped at Keys View. We drove on the Geology Road Tour where you can wander through the Mojave and the Colorado deserts and see the vast difference between them. There are large granite boulder fields called monzogranite where many visitors climb and hop around on the boulders. This park at times feels as though you are inside a Dr. Suess book. The Joshua Trees are similar to the trees in the Lorax if you are familiar. Protected by Minerva Hoyt in the 1930s who recognized the beauty in the spiny environment where others did not. This park is the home to the desert tortoise and the chuckwalla. Made a National Monument in 1936 and into a National Park in 1994 these endangered species need to be protected and so does their habitat.

Keys View

Joshua Tree Wilderness

Monzogranite Brennan for scale

Pencil Cholla

Cholla Cactus

Geology Tour Road

Joshua Tree: weenies for scale

These trees grow one inch per year!!

Campsite North BLM

Sunset at the BLM

California is like no other state, truly. We only ventured in a fraction of this paradise. We cannot wait to come back and explore some more!

#coupleswhoexplore #california #deathvalley #malibu #ventura #succulents #hike #camping #gooutside #wanderlustweenies #parrots #sunset #oceanside #rvlife #keepthedesertwild

Nevada

With absolutely no expectations of Nevada it turned out to be a real treat! We stayed in Baker, right outside of Great Basin National Park at Whispering Elms. As soon as we parked the camper we drove to the Visitor Center at Lehman Cave and talked to rangers about hiking and cave tours. We grabbed some maps and ended up at the bar attached to the RV Park and met the managers and employees of the motel/Park. They were really friendly and pretty entertaining.

The following day we ventured into Great Basin and hiked up to Johnson Lake and looped it with the newly completed Dead Lake Trail – recommended by the ranger. This almost 8 mile loop wanders through the bristlecone pine forest with a steep climb past old mine structures to an alpine lake. The views through out the hike give you a sense of the basin and range landscape that embodies the park. Established in 1986, Great Basin is one of the least visited National Parks. After the hike we cleaned up at the campground and were invited to go to the Halloween celebration that Whispering Elm was hosting that evening. In a town with a population of only 70, I was more than curious about this Halloween event. We talked to so many locals and found that the community of Baker loves to party!

The next day we toured Lehman Cave. We had to make advanced reservations to explore this limestone cavern. The tour included about 20 people and it was the only tour for the day. In the summer there are several tour times to choose from, but they had just rotated to just one a day. The ranger led tour took about an hour and we were able to wander into several “rooms” in the cave. Before the National Park Service protected the cave it was privately owned – the original explorer told patrons that “if you can break it, you can take it”. Leaving the cave with broken pieces throughout. The formations of stalagmites and stalactites were still incredible. There is even a room where early explorers would mark the walls and ceilings by holding their candles close to the stone inscribing their names and dates. Limestone caves are truly a treasure! Go see one that is close to you. We then drove the scenic drive up to the Wheeler Peak trail head that features a campground and a forest of bristlecone pines that are thought to be over 5000 years old. The glacier on Wheeler Peak is the only one is Nevada sitting at over 13,000 feet.

That night we went to Kerouac’s — a restaurant attached to the Stargazer Inn. We met one of the owners at the Halloween party and she was surprised to see us when we walked in. Kate and her husband bought the Inn just last year and renovated the entire thing and opened it early 2017. We enjoyed delicious craft cocktails and creative wood fired pizza which was such a surprise for this tiny gem of a town. Baker, Nevada that gives you a feeling of community and is filled with friendly faces that want to tell you a story.

We left Baker and headed to Panaca to camp at Cathedral Gorge State Park. This park gave us an opportunity to hike with weenies since they had been cooped up in the camper while we galavanted around Great Basin. We wandered the 4 miles the park had to offer through Hoodoos and a dry wash. The Park was unmanned and everything was self pay stations; which we had not encountered before. Built in the 1930s the park had some old structures including a water tower that you could explore. We left the next day and found a Capriotti’s outside Las Vegas, making Brennan a very happy hiker!

This was the first time I had visited this state and it really surprised me!

Johnson Lake Trail

Johnson Mine

Lehman Cave

Lehman Cave

Baker Sunset

Cathedral Gorge

Cathedral Gorge

Sandwiches

#hiking #nevada #nationalparks #greatbasin #bakernevada #homeiswhereyouparkit #wanderlustweenies #cathedralgorge #hikenevada #limestone #cavetour

Capitol Reef National Park

“The light seems to flow or shine out of the rock rather than to be reflected from it.” Clarence Dutton, Geologist, 1880

The Petroglyphs on the bluffs above Freemont River illustrate hunting, farming and community; they are attributed to the ancestors of the Zuni, Hopi and Paiute Tribes dating back to the Common Era (600-1300). But the Mormon settlement at the confluence of the Freemont and Sulphur Creek tells a different story; a narrative including Pioneer life and orchards dating back centuries. One of the structures than remains is the Gifford House, built in 1908 and features baked goods and ice cream for sale. The cinnamon rolls are delicious but the mini pies did not satisfy this pastry chef.

We hiked up to Navajo Knobs at only 9.2 miles it’s the longest developed hike in the park with a 1670 foot elevation gain. This hike actually follows a sinuous bluff of Navajo Sandstone first featuring an overlook of Hickman Bridge – a stone arch and The Castle – Sandstone spires. Eventually climbing to the Knobs with rising above the most amazing geologic feature of the park. A wrinkle in the earth’s crust extending over 100 miles. It was created over time by deposition, uplift and erosion dating back 280 million years!

We stayed the night at Wonderland RV Park in Torrey, Utah right outside the park. This was overall a fantastic RV Park that even had a sheepskin wagon you could camp in, disc golf, places to hang your hammock to overlook Boulder mountain and the best showers we have experienced this whole trip. The owners at Wonderland were extremely friendly and happy to be shutting down for the season at the end of October.

The following day we hiked into a true slot canyon! An unmarked route into Sheets Gulch. The dry river bed was filled with so many cool rocks and boulders including large black chunks of petrified wood. We saw volcanic tuff and sandstone pieces that were veined with white cement or black magnesium making for a variegated stripe on the boulders and in the canyon walls. Hiking through this water pocket fold in the earth’s crust is truly spectacular; the one sided fold in the otherwise horizontal rock layers is visible here. Making for an amazing experience for an avid hiker climbing chockstones and dry waterfalls into a narrow sandstone canyon.

This land was protected in 1937 as a National Monument and became a Park in 1971. Priding themselves on the ancient orchards and protecting wildlife Capitol Reef is a real treat. Dozens of wild turkeys graze under the fruit trees and the young bucks rutting at sunrise made a truly magical autumn experience.

Hickman Bridge from above

A Wrinkle in Time

The Castle

The top of the Knobs

Navajo Knobs Hike

Freemont River

Disappointing Mini Pie

Rutting Bucks

Turkeys

Sheets Gulch

Wonderous Sandstone

Slot Canyon

Love and Peace! Happy Trails!

Okay one more of Morgan!

#utah #nationalparks #capitolreef #slotcanyons #hiking #rvlife #turkeys #wanderlustweenies

Moab and the Slick Rock

A history rich in outdoor adventure from uranium mines and Cowboys, to offering 4×4 tours and river adventures for generations, and recognizing present day Arches as a true natural gem. Making Moab a destination for outdoor enthusiasts from all over the world.

We arrived at Portal RV Resort and plugged in the camper for the first time in over 7 days which meant showers and laundry. This resort in Moab seemed to be under new management or ownership and making some great updates. This was going to be a great place to hang out for a several days considering we had not seen an actual grocery store in over a week. The first day we just used as a recharge day. Literally – plugged everything in. This resort even had a dog run and swimming pond, just for dogs. The weenies definitely approved.

The following day we went into Arches National Park. We started early because the crowds at all the Utah parks can be overwhelming. We did the Devils Garden hike which was recommended to us by a young Dutch couple in the Grand Canyon. This 7.2 mile loop takes you to 7 arches that you would not otherwise see: Landscape, Double O, Partition, Navajo, Private, Pine Tree and Tunnel Arches all unique in their own way. Landscape is the world’s longest arch with the stone spanning 306 feet with it only being 11 feet thick at its center. Part of the Devils Garden is a primitive trail meaning you have to careful follow the rock cairns through sand and slick rock. This trail is my favorite hike thus far throughout this whole trip. The trail environment changes constantly making it fun. It was easy to find solitude; we even saw a group of does. Hearing their hooves clap on the slick rock and navigate through the trees and dry washes was really amazing.

We also took the smaller trail to see Delicate Arch which is a the largest free standing arch and is featured on the state’s license plate. The overlook is just one mile out and back with a small climb. Arches became a National Monument in 1929 and a Park in 1971. There are over 2000 arches catalogued throughout the park, the majority of them made of the Entrada Sandstone formation. Talk about observing erosion at it’s finest. Water and wind are constantly changing these natural structures.

Double O Arch

Landscape Arch

Does on the Slick Rock

Someone took our picture

Pine Tree Arch

Delicate Arch

Deadhorse Point State Park is a short drive from Moab and a must visit recommendation from a friend. The park gets it’s name from a Point where horses were once corralled and left to die of thirst towering 2000 feet above the Colorado River. We hiked the 8 mile loop with the weenies! They were allowed because it is a state park. The overlooks are absolutely breathtaking and at “the point” the rock bottlenecks with a view of a horseshoe bend in the river. After dropping the weenies off at the camper we went to check out Moab Brewery where enjoyed some cold local beer and some great sandwiches. Utah has some crazy liquor laws so this place has found some unique ways around them. You could purchase growler fills of 3.2% beer or buy full strengths packs to go. Which I know doesn’t sound like anything we are not familiar with but for Utah it’s blowing minds!

Weenies at Deadhorse

Colorado River overlook from the point

Beauty at Deadhorse

Brennan

Also from Moab we went to Canyonlands National Park. The first day we took a trek to the Island in the Sky section. First we checked out the Upheaval Dome, a 2 mile hike to an unexplained crater. Scientists say that it was formed from meteor impact or from a collapsed salt dome. The mystery is still unsolved but the presence of quartzite may conclude a meteor impact. Then we decided on Gooseberry a 5.4 mile out and back with 1400 foot climb that was not for the faint of hearts. The switchbacks are tight and intense. We even saw two rangers working on maintaining the trails integrity. The trail involves descending to the White Rim bench and is the steepest hike in this section of the park. We also stopped at the Grand View Overlook as well as the Wooden Shoe Arch. After returning to the camper, Brennan ventured 8 miles up the road to partake in some of Moab’s mountain biking trails. Enjoying riding on the infamous slick rock he can now check it off his bucket list.

Upheaval Dome

Sandstone Seat

Baby Window

Gooseberry Trail

End of trail is the edge of another canyon

Grand View Overlook

Grand View – all the way to the left edge at that 4×4 Road is where we hiked to from Gooseberry

Wooden Shoe Arch

On our last day we drove to the Needles section of Canyonlands. It was over 40 miles from Moab. The park actually has three sections but we only made it to two. The Ranger at this visitor center recommended the Chesler Park Loop with the Joint trail. It is a 11 mile loop with 2200 foot elevation gain. The hike is a roller coaster trail of sand and slick rock including a deep crevice in narrow fractures in the rock with a ladder to climb over the chockstones. This trail was definitely the most challenging hike we have done – maybe with the exception of the Grand Canyon. I felt like Lara Croft: tomb raider for about 15 minutes on the joint trail; but I also felt like I wanted to die for the last 1.5 miles. It is beautiful there with a landscape of spires and needles as well as balanced boulders and slot canyons. On our way back to town we decided to order take out from Atomic Grill and practically inhaled the bison meatloaf with Mac and cheese and a mushroom steak burger and fries!

Needles

Joint Trail

Lara Croft

Rock Cairn Mecca

Slot Canyon

Needles Landscape

Overall Moab is an amazing place to love on the outdoors. The ridiculous Jeep parades, UTV loaded 4×4 trails and mountain biking on slick rock is what Moab thrives on. Even spending almost 5 days in this Utah gem we did not see it all; making it a place to come back to.

Happy Trails. Love and Peace!

#utah #hiking #nationalparks #arches #canyonlands #islandinthesky #needles #deadhorsepoint #moab #camping #wanderlustweenies

Black Canyon and Mesa Verde

“Our surroundings were of the wildest possible description. The roar of the water was constantly in our ears, and the walls of the canyon, towering half mile in height above us, were seemingly vertical. Occasionally a rock would fall from one side or the other, with a roar and crash, exploding like a ton of dynamite when struck bottom, making us think our last day had come.” -Abraham Lincoln Fellows, 1901, explorer and pioneer

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park captures your attention as you gaze down into the darkness. It is so narrow that very little sunlight reaches the bottom. Becoming a National Monument in 1933 and declared a National Park in 1999. Even though no other canyon in North America combines depth and narrowness as Black Canyon it is in the bottom 10 of all National Parks visited. Creating solitude and wonder.

We camped within the National Park here. With zero crowds and affordability we could plug in here for just $14. This is only the second time we have camped in a National park – the first being Shenandoah. We saw young bucks wandering through the thick oak brush of the campground as we set up at B13.

Before arriving at Black Canyon we drove through a National Recreation Area called Curecanti, where the Gunnison River is dammed three times. Creating Blue Mesa Reservoir, a beautiful shade of water with Dillon’s Pinnacles towering behind making for a stunning drive before our arrival in the park.

The water spigots were turned off in the campground so we could only fill up our jug and nalgenes in the visitor center. All the water is trucked in from over 14 miles away. We spoke with the ranger about what the park had to offer. We walked the Rim Rock Trail with the pups and drove the South Rim Road to several overlooks. The dogs were welcome on all the overlook trails as well. At Chasm View you can see the most narrow part of the canyon stretching only 1300 feet from rim to rim. The canyon walls are made of pre-Cambrian metamorphic gneiss with igneous intrusions creating veins and swirls that some even say look like dragons.

The next day Brennan wanted to explore the wilderness of the Black Canyon. He decided to get a permit from the ranger to hike to the bottom of the canyon. He took the Gunnison Route. The distance is only two miles round trip but drops 1800 feet to the river with an 80 foot chain at the bottom that is tied to the tree to help get back out. Brennan completed the hike quickly and efficiently and said it was one of the most challenging but rewarding hikes. He was also the only one to request a permit that day so he was the only one down at the river.

After his hike we went into the town of Montrose to find Horsefly Brewing Company where their claim is “no crap on tap”. We enjoyed a spicy Chile lager and a winter warmer ale. As well as some delicious hot food including soup, salad, soft pretzels and of course buffalo wings for the wilderness hiker.

Our next stop was Mesa Verde the first National Park to be established to protect an ancient culture in 1906. The dwellings here are the most notable and best preserved archeological sites in North America.

We parked the camper on BLM land about 2 miles from the entrance of the park. We ventured down Wetherill Mesa. At the end of the 27 mile one way road there are pit houses that are part of the Badger House Community. We could walk around with the weenie dogs in this part of the park.

The following day we drove down Chapin Mesa Road where the overlooks included Square Tower House, Sun Temple, Cliff Palace and Spruce Tree House. The last two are the largest and the most famous dwellings in the Park. Cliff Palace includes 150 rooms. The structures are absolutely breath taking and it’s hard to imagine what life was like in the year 1200 when the Ancient Pueblo people started construction. The tribes only lived in these dwellings for 100 years and then for reasons unknown left; creating a mystery for the ages.

Square Tower House

Sun Temple

Cliff Palace

Spruce Tree House

There are ranger guided tours that lead you up to the dwellings. All the tours require tickets and sadly the Spruce Tree House and Cliff Palace are closed due to structural damage and unstable conditions. There are also many places where former forests have burned in wild fires and have changed to grasslands because of invasive plants. Some areas in this park are in de stress. Are we loving our parks to death?

Views from our campsite

It’s nice to camp and hike with the weenies again! Love and peace!

#camping #hiking #wanderlustweenies #nationalparks #blackcanyonofthegunnison #mesaverde #colorado #gooutside #blm

Colorful Colorado

If you have ever spent any time in Colorado you know how incredibly amazing and beautiful it can be. We have friends in Golden, and spent a bit of time there in October. From Golden you have access to so many great hiking opportunities. Brennan partook in South Table Mountain several times when we stayed in Golden on this trip, as it was within walking distance from our friend’s front door.

We also made the venture up to Indian Peaks Wilderness outside of Boulder. We hiked on the Lake Isabelle trail to a beautiful and scenic alpine lake. This was our first opportunity to hike in our new boots we picked up while in Golden. We chose Lowa and Soloman brand. We also strapped on our new crampons for this hike because the trail was mostly frozen and icy from previous precipitation but the sun was shining that day. This trail is really beautiful and the area has plenty of hikes to explore.

Lake Isabelle

From Golden we attempted to hike a 14er. This is a hike – for those of you who don’t know that involves hiking a peak that reaches or exceeds 14,000 feet elevation. We set out early, Brennan and Adam (our good friend) with high hopes and no expectations. We decided on Mount Bierstadt at 14,065 feet! We made it to about a mile from the summit. Once we reached 13,000 feet the winds were blowing with 60 mph gusts and our footsteps in the snow were disappearing behind us. We decided to call it even though my male compadres were willing to summit, our gut feeling told us we may have blown off the top.

Video of crazy winds

Mount Bierstadt Also while in Golden we had a chance to eat out at some pretty awesome places. I️ had the best banana bread French toast at a breakfast joint called Goodies. We had an amazing craft cocktails at Miner’s Saloon and even better absinthe cocktails at The Golden Moon Speakeasy with superb mixologists, Max and Carl. We checked out Golden City Brewery and a Farm to Table hipster spot called The Preservery.

Speakeasy trouble Of course as we are leaving Golden the camper decided to help pull the gutter off the side of Adam’s house. Which happened to be filled with water, the snowmelt from the previous Monday making it a dramatic exit!On way to Great Sand Dunes National Park in Southern Colorado we also had the chance to change a flat tire on the side of a two lane road outside of Alamosa. It was a day in the life of a gypsy that’s for sure. This would be the third tire we would buy for the trailer! We found a great camp spot right outside of the National Park at San Luis Wilderness Area. It is a campground in an old state park that is not maintained. So we couldn’t hook up water but we could still plug in! With views of the dunes and a reservoir filled with plenty of birds this free campsite could not be missed!

Views from our site We made it The next morning we went into Great Sand Dunes National Park. Once declared a park since 2000 it’s easy to see why these ginormous sand dunes provide a majestic environment among the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. We drove along the Medano Pass Primitive Road until we reached the first creek crossing. We went to Medano Creek where the ripples in the water seem to surge as it passes in front of the towering 750 feet of sand.

Views from the Jeep Road Mule deer enjoying the scenery People for scale in front of these majestic dunes Medano Creek The Sand Dune Area is known for its intergalactic and alien activity. We unfortunately did not encounter in UFOs but settled for the bizarre habits of the trailer giving us all the excitement we could ever ask for.

Happy Trails!

#colorado #hiking #camping #greatsanddunes #mountbierstadt #indianpeakswilderness