GO HOME OLD MAN – WANDERING WHYTES

CAVE LAKE STATE PARK, NEVADA

We booked 2 nights here and planned a day trip to Great Basin National Park

The hiking was good but the camp site and access road were both on dirt. Lots and lots of dust. I must be getting old but I don’t like campgrounds with dirt roads, dust gets into everything and I mean everything.

STEPTOE CREEK AND TWISTED PINES TRAIL

This is the first night we had a fire. There was wood left at an empty campsite so we put it to use.

Sunday night is popcorn night! Leann likes the new stove.

GREAT BASIN NATIONAL PARK, NEVADA

Great Basin camping is first come first serve. We checked out the campground and found a nice site at Upper Lehman Campground and decided not to go back to Cave Lake.

LEHMAN CAVES

Leann really likes caves and was able to book us on a last minute tour of Lehman Caves

Lehman Cave dates back to 600,000,000 years ago when this area was covered by a warm shallow sea.

It’s hard to fathom the time it took dipping water to make these formations.

ALPINE LAKES & BRISTLECONE PINE TRAIL

We did the Alpine Lakes loop when the girls were young. We did not do the Bristlecone section since that might have been a bridge too far for 3 little kids.

I had to show this picture from our first time here with the 3 J’s.

Bristlecone Pine tree, one of the trees was measured to be 4,850 years old.

CORAL PINK SAND DUNES STATE PARK, UTAH

This was another off road vehicle park but we decided to take a chance since it was a good stopping point on the way home. The campground was nice, the dunes were pretty and the off road vehicles were quiet.

Leann commented on our shadows from the top of the dune, we both took pictures

Going down the dunes was a lot easier than going up.

VERMILLION CLIFFS NATIONAL MONUMENT, ARIZONA

We did not see trails so this was a drive by. We will check it out more on a later trip.

CLIFF DWELLERS STONE HOUSE, ARIZONA

This is one of those places you stumble upon on a road trip. We had no idea it was here but stopped and were glad we did.

From the web site Ghost-town Arizona:

The story of Cliff Dwellers begins during the Great Depression, when Blanche Russell gave up a highly successful dancing career back East to tend to her husband, Bill, who was suffering from tuberculosis. The couple packed up and moved to the Southwest, crossing the recently completed Navajo Bridge across the Colorado River south of Lees Ferry about 1927.

The Russells only made it a few more miles, however, before their car broke down near the big rocks. Blanche got it in her head that it wouldn’t be a half-bad place to live and the couple threw up a lean-to of tarpaper and boards against the largest rock. Then, she started serving food to passers-by in return for labor as the house got larger.

Pretty soon, the couple had a full-scale restaurant on their hands and added a hand gasoline pump for some of the earliest motorists to the Canyon’s North Rim. They also catered to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in wagons who were taking the Mormons’ nearby Honeymoon Trail to have their marriages sanctified at the temple in St. George, Utah.

WUPATKI NATIONAL MONUMENT, ARIZONA

During it’s time this was the largest and tallest pueblo. Population density reached it’s peak in 1100 and by 1250 the people were gone.

SUNSET CRATER NATIONAL MONUMENT, ARIZONA

There were no trails to the top so we kept on driving.

BOONDOCKING IN COCONINO NATIONAL FOREST, ARIZONA

We planned to meet our friend in Arizona and were going to do our first “Boondock” camp.

Boondocking is camping with no access to water, sewer, or electrical hookups. This can mean parking in the backcountry or pulling over to spend the night at a rest stop or parking lot. The “campsite” is free to use and are typically on public lands: National Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and Department of Fish and Wildlife all offer free camping. There are not established campsites so you park where you want. Cracker Barrel, Walmart and various truck and rest stops also offer free overnight camping.

One of my goals in retirement is to spend a night at Cracker Barrel and walk to breakfast in the morning. Eggs on a raft, hash brown casserole and endless coffee sounds like an awesome way to start your day.

Our friend Aaron petting Sammy and he does not like dogs. Before Facebook and MeetUp Aaron built a web site where you could post a backpacking trip and have people sign up. Communication was via e-mail and problem free, after the trip you could post a a trip review with pictures. It was awesome. His efforts led us to like minded people and amazing trips in the wilderness. He did this by himself and his web site is better than what MeetUp provides 20 years later. It was great seeing him. His dream was to build a van and live in it full time, he made his dream come true.

BoonDockers, they follow the weather north to south based on the seasons. The majority of boondocking is west of the Mississippi.

WALNUT CANYON NATIONAL MONUMENT, ARIZONA

Walnut Creek has been carving the canyon for 60 million years. The canyon is 20 miles long, 400 feet deep and 1/4 mile wide. The area was populated from 1100 to 1250 with a peak population of approximately 100 people.

ISLAND TRAIL

HOMOLOVI STATE PARK, ARIZONA

This park was just outside of Winslow, Arizona. We were in Winslow on an earlier trip and I did stand on the corner. I did not see a girl in a flat bed Ford slowing down to take a look at me but I did take it easy.

There is a festival in Winslow based on this song:

http://www.standinonthecorner.org/

Site was good, trails were a mess and only half of the facilities worked

This guy/girl was yapping at us. Not sure if the message was get out or welcome.

no doubt, this is the best sunset of the entire trip.

THE ECLIPSE

Leann learned there was going to be an annular eclipse in the area. Annular eclipse is when the moon passes in front of the sun. If you are in the right place you will see a ring of fire.

The state park was handing out viewing glasses provided by NASA (AKA taxpayers). We had to make sure Sammy could also see it.

BISTI BADLANDS

Leann thought we should see the eclipse at Bisti Badlands. I told here it was going to be a mess and maybe we could swing by after the eclipse. We did stop after the eclipse and it was still packed. We plan to go back when there is not an eclipse.

PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK

The polished petrified sections are beautiful

BLUE MESA TRAIL

PAINTED DESERT

I got my kicks on Route 66.

This display honors Route 66 that went through the park before it was re-routed.

ONYX BRIDGE TRAIL

This was a fun hike, the trail varied from well defined to nothing. The map was laid out like a treasure map. Look for this feature then do this.

We did make it to Onyx bridge but sadly no treasure.

Put the pedal to the metal, let’s get home

NAVAJO LAKE STATE PARK, NEW MEXICO

PECOS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

This pueblo was built on a ridge that provided a great defense. Apparently this allowed the pueblo to grow and become more powerful. They had no issues raiding other pueblos and taking what they wanted. They also had an extensive trade network extending to the great plains. Slaves were on the list of trade items.

I thought this an interesting view of a kiva with Spanish mission behind it.

It was interesting to actually go inside the kiva.

STORRIE LAKE STATE PARK, NEW MEXICO

They have primitive camping in addition to the sites, just pull out by the lake and you are good to go.

WASHITA BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, OKLAHOMA

On November 27, 1868, Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer led the 7th US Cavalry on a surprise dawn attack on a Cheyenne village led by Peace Chief Black Kettle.

FOSS STATE PARK, OKLAHOMA

We were here 2 nights, we were the only one’s there on night 2.

STOCKTON LAKE STATE PARK, MISSOURI

Another great place to take the bikes and kayaks.

The 24,900 acre lakes was created in 1970 when Army Corps of Engineers completed a dam across the Sac River.

LIEBER STATE RECREATION AREA, INDIANA

Last night of the trip.

The buzzards are swarming, time to go home.

What we learned: 4-6 hours of driving seems to be the right amount. Could occasionally be more or less based on where we happen to be. We agreed that all of the 1 night stops got old, next trip we will spend a minimum of 2 nights at each park. Stay tuned to see how that plan works.

HAPPY TRAILS, STEVE

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