Travelogues
2016 New Mexico & Utah Trip

Wednesday, November 2

Home

We got a fairly early start this morning and cruised south to San Diego. Except for some nasty wind gusts below Cajon Pass, it was an easy drive. We got home about 3:15, and then the work began. It didn't take us too long to unpack, but we had tons of laundry to do. No matter where we go, it's always good to get home.

We took a quick tour of the back yard and followed the Three Foot rule. Any weed over three feet tall got pulled. And there were some HUGE weeds that have taken over our flower beds. It doesn't look like we lost a significant number of plants this year. Last year, we lost a lot of irises to heat and gophers. Being gone for nearly 8 weeks during some of the hottest months of the year is always putting the plants at risk. We are very fortunate to have Joe our gardener and two of our neighbors who are willing to keep an eye on our plants and provide some extra watering when it's needed.

Epilogue

For the second year in-a-row, our fall trip wasn't anything like the trip we planned. This was supposed to be an 8-week trip to Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and the Black Hills. And like last year, I spent a good portion of every evening checking forecasts and maps trying to figure out where we should go next. Partly because of the weather and partly because of the chaos, we spent more time in camp than on any other trip we've taken. We had wonderful, cool, clear weather for hiking, but we also lacked the clouds and weather that provided so many memorable images last year.

On the good side of the equation we had no problems with the motorhome, and our "good and faithful" Explorer did great on its final trip. The Explorer is nearing 200,000 miles, but it still ran great and has never left us stranded.

I try to make our trips a combination of our favorite parks with a few new locations thrown in. This year we discovered two great new areas on our trip. Alien City had some of the strangest and unique formations I've ever seen. I'm sure there is nothing like Alien Throne anywhere on earth. Alien City was one of the most isolated places we've ever hiked, but it was well worth all the effort and research.

Edmaier's Secret was much easier to find, but it was just as amazing in its own way. The landscape was a contrast of textures that included sandstone pillows of brain rock, ribbons of contorted sandstone, crossbedded sandstone teepees, lace rock, and sand dunes swept by the wind and etched by stems of grasses blowing in the breeze. Every turn and every ridge promised new surprises.

Interspersed with the highlights of the trip were apple pies and turkeys at Capitol Reef, the rattle snake at Hovenweep, the gentle pinging of raindrops on the motorhome roof, the amazing (and sometimes humorous) petroglyphs around Cedar Mesa and Capitol Reef, and the voices of the Anasazi as we sat on the porch outside Fallen Roof ruins.

Trip Favorites

Best Day of the Trip

Favorite Image of the Trip

Favorite Destination

Favorite Hike

Favorite Petroglyph

Favorite Campground

Favorite New Destination