because I can.
This trip didn’t last as long as I planned, but I have a good Dr at home that will take care of my back so I can get back out as soon as possible. One more drive-thru.
Only an hour north of the Death Valley Junction.
Rhyolite is well cared for, definitely going back for a walk around.
I woke up to the fact that I am a young person in an old body. I have had an iffy back for many years due mostly to being stupid and thinking I can do things I shouldn’t. So I woke up to limited movement, but I tried for another day, because I was so close to Death Valley.
Darwin
There is a great documentary on Darwin,CA on YouTube.
Art everywhere but no other services for miles.
My drive through of Death Valley is not much, all the good stuff picture wise is a hike I could not do.
I spent the night just outside the park at the Pads on blm land. Lots of room but no signal.
Adding this for Solo Travelers. I live with my daughter, and I caused her a little anxiety by staying in a no-signal zone. The saving grace is that we use the 360 service on Google. She knew where I was, but was still worried since I hadn’t talked to her since the night before. I got in touch as soon as I got a signal, but I had caused her unnecessary worry. Most of the West has a lot of areas, especially in National Parks and Monuments, with no cell service. Be aware that your family will worry, so check in often if you fall Ill or hurt yourself as I did.
Why AZ, why not? Just a few miles north of the park is a big blm area where I stayed the night before. Lots of room and a great T-Mobile signal. Make sure you do what you need to because there is no service in most of the park.
I took the Ajo mountain loop, pay attention to the length restrictions and prepare to spend at least 2 hours driving time. This is a one-way loop with a potty 2/3s of the way. Next time I will plan to spend the whole day on the other loop it is a lot longer.
The song below touched my heart the first time I came to the desert Southwest.
Man walks among us.
2 weeks
Joshua Tree National Park
Beautiful
Anzo Borrego sculptures.
Stretches across the road.
That’s it for this trip.
January 11,2025
Too windy to go up the hill, one step forward and 2 blown back.
Stays on the list.
The road is rough but accessible to most vehicles.
And on to Joshua Tree.
Joshua tree north blm for the night.
The Crows of White Sands National Monument are a joy to interact with on the dunes.
Of course, it is impossible to look at them and not think of Edgar Allen Poe and quote the Raven “Nevermore” but these birds love to mess with the maintenance volunteers.
They sit on top of the picnic tables and wait for people to put there trash in the bins.
Soon as no one is around they double team the trash cans, one holds the swinging flap open and the other picks out the trash.
And when they are done they just leave it, you can’t teach crows to pack it in and pack it out.
Seriously though these guys are part of the White Sands experience and should be treasured.
and healing.
November-December 2018
Leading up to my first gig volunteering I was excited as a kid in a candy store. It turned out to be everything I expected and more.
The six weeks that I spent at White Sands National Monument was the 1 year anniversary of the hardest six weeks of my entire life. The time that my husband spent in CCU before passing away.
After orientation, my maintenance duties on the sands became my healing tool. All by myself cruising the park picking up trash I cried, re lived and cherished the twenty years I had with my husband. And came away in a much better frame of mind.
If you have never visited White Sands you must add it to your list and you have to experience it early in the morning when the Sands look like diamonds, as the day warms the sparkle is harder to see but it’s still there.
I met the owners and restorers of this VW van named Leroy Brown on their maiden trip from Colorado. They did a great job restoring this beauty.
Thinking about Volunteering? Do it. It is rewarding to help and what a great way to get to know our National Treasures.
September 2018
I love the San Luis Valley of Colorado and the ride to The Great Sand Dunes National Park from Blanca is below Mt Blanca and as you approach the Park you begin to see the Dunes off in the distance.
I did not stay at the Pinon Flats campground but I did check it out and the views are stupendous.
The visitor center has a film and exhibits and a great deck.
You can walk among the dunes and at certain times of the year there is water from Medano Creek to wade in.
Definitely worth it if you are anywhere near.
July 2018
For most travelers this is a one day drive, but not me. A two-day trip gives me time to go slow and take in the scenery, traveling without a co-driver means I have to stop to get a good look.
This trip to Cheyenne I am staying at AB Camping Park, a good sam park with a wonderful BBQ Restaurant. Even if you don’t park here, you have to come to eat.
While waiting for a decision to be made on my toad, my insurance policy gives me a rental so it’s off to Rocky Mountain National Park for the day.
One thing that I learned on this drive is that I would not like to drive the Ridge Road in my RV, it is narrow, it is high, and I wouldn’t fit in every pull off which I could in my rental car. I also had altitude problems at the Alpine Station.
I did get to capture some nice pics though. This beautiful valley.
And this overlook.
I went back to Cheyenne through the Roosevelt National Forest.
One high point of the day is seeing Elk. I didn’t get to stop to take a pic because the Rangers were herding them away from the highway but it was the first elk I have seen that wasn’t behind a high fence in Texas.