Road Trip

[hugh]

The wife and I just finished up a road trip of about 4500 miles. It took us from our hometown to Lethbridge Alberta the first night, then on the Highway to the Sun in Montana the 2nd day. Then we stopped in Idaho, and went on to Utah where we had a 5 day rented cabin. Then a trip through Colorado, with a 1 day stopover in Durango. I had saved up and bought a used 1992 Mazda Miata convertible for this trip so we stayed in hotels each night on the road. The little Miata was driven most of the trip with the top down so it was an excellent viewing platform, although a bit small. Along the way we saw some amazing scenery, The Southwest United States has tons of beautiful country with some amazing roads - we tried to avoid interstates as much as possible. Along the way I saw maybe a dozen Teardrop trailers, the wife would point and say, there,s another teardrop. Now this trip was on what I call my "bucket list" and while I had a great time, especially once while we were gonna look at a ghost town and wound up on a gravel road at 10.400 feet in a rain storm on our way to Escalante, Utah. The road turned kinda red muddy and we were sliding around the corners going downhill,I havn,t had so much fun in a long time. If I were to go again the TTT I built would be the only option. Checking the camping availability through the computer most sites were booked in National Parks so we decided to hotel it. Turns out the trailer would have been a great way to go, there were lots of smaller campsites available, so the next big trip will be pulling my little tent on wheels.

[eaglesdare]

wow, that trip sounds like fun. i was just trying to convince my hubby to take 2 weeks off next summer so we could do something like that. just get in and go, see where the road takes us. i know 2 weeks isn't too long, but it will have to do for now.

do you have pics to share from your trip?

[Kevin & Sandy]

That's the plan for next summer, we plan to head that way for two weeks and just bum around and see some sights!!

[rebapuck]

I did a coast to coast back in '70. Don't remember any Interstates to take.

[hugh]

I do have pictures but for some reason my photobucket account is not available, when i fix it I will post up some pictures. Some of the interesting spots we visited include - Highway to the Sun in Montana, Craters of the moon in Idaho, Bryce Canyon Nat Park, Capitol Reef Nat Park, Moab and Canyonlands Nat Park all in Utah along with Zion Nat Park. Also the north rim of Grand Canyon and Durango and Ouray Colorado. Great trip, met a lot of real nice people, quite a bit of long driving though. One pass was Monarch Pass elev 11300 ft, I had the Miata in 2nd [it,s an automatic] going uphill, revving at 6500rpm pretty much all the way, even managed to pass a few slower drivers.

[hugh]

Heres a few pictures of your beautiful american soutwest
arches national park near Moab in Utah

Craters of the moon in Idaho

Back to Arches Nat park

Think this was Capital Reef park

Bryce Canyon nat Park where we rented a cabin for 5 days

Heres the road into Zion

Red canyon near Bryce

Steam train from Durango Colorado to Silverton

We took over 500 pictures and while doing the trip in a sports car fufilled one of my few "bucket list" items, I do wish i had taken the trailer and stayed a bit longer.

[S. Heisley]

Beautiful pictures! Thanks for reminding us that there are other national parks in the mid and south west besides Yellowstone and plenty of gorgeous scenery.

[goramsey]

Great to see the photos. Hell of a trip. Glad you took it. How many of us only dream of doing this or say they plan to but never get around to it. Sometimes you just have to say screw it and go.

[Mojave Bob]

In 1982, I was graduated from high school in the Chicago area. I still can't believe my parents went along with this, but for my present to myself, I borrowed my uncle's car (a 7-cylinder Mercury Cougar with only the remnants of tires and a radiator leak) and my parents' camper (a Boler 13'), grabbed two of my best friends, and we headed for Arizona and all points in between. We logged 5,047 miles in 15 days, and went everywhere that sounded interesting.

I was only 17 at the time, but the memories that I still have are priceless. If you have not done a Great American Road Trip, you really should. When I retire, my wife and I plan to hit the road with the tear (whatever tear we have at that point) and spend at least a year touring this great country.

[hugh]

do it by all means, Your country and mine - canada have some real beautiful sights, life is short, don,t wait too long.

[Ratkity]

Oooo, I loved Craters of the Moon when I went in 1986. Thanks for the memories and picts!!!! It's my bucket list to do the 1986 trip again, with more knowledge and experience and a better camera. The 1986 trip took 7 weeks and we camped in state and national parks.

Hugs,
Ratkity