Towards Cuba, NM

So, I left my calm and quiet BLM spot right across from one of the many gas line stations in this region. From behind my RV there was a beautiful view of the  gray and white variegated cliffs. The other side showed the gas line port. This is BLM land, but I’m rather surprised there’s no restrictions to park right next door to this operation. No one came around, nobody bothered me at all. After a quick and pretty view of Angels Peak, the Badlands, I moved on to the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness. It was an 11 mile drive down a pretty good dirt road with just some washboard effects. I got to the trailhead, had light lunch, and then headed out for what I would hope was to find a whole array of hoodoos. I left just after noon, and put a time limit of 45 minutes to turn around. I went hill over hill, and wash into wash, and enjoyed the petrified wood. This isn’t the same colorful wood that you would see in Arizona, but nonetheless textured wood in shades of gray, black, tan and ivory. I came across the last or first hoodoo, a mushroom shape. It was a fun shape, and just tall enough to stand underneath. It was hot, I had to turn around and by the time I got back it was an hour and a half hike, and now 91°. I guess for now I’m done with hiking the desert in this heat, as I need to seek higher ground in the forest. So I continued south east for a while towards the south town of Cuba. Using my many apps, I was hoping for one spot, but noticed a turn, which I took. I passed by several cows, several cattle guards, and wondered where I would wind up. As I entered cow country and a pond I decided to pull back slightly to a place I passed that was a rock face high off the ground, and a space where I could fit. By some miracle I did well parking it fairly level. I don’t have leveling blocks, as I’ve never felt like I needed them, and I don’t mind if I’m slightly askew. I still had Internet reception, and this time around television reception, where I enjoyed a variety of PBS shows. What a peaceful night among the yellow rocks, these sandstone cliffs, in the pines, for a nice cool evening and morning. 





























Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bryce Canyon National Park, then almost home

Image
​ A great night in the Utah desert, and a rather chilly morning, surprisingly, but I got up and hurried out of there with the intention of getting to Bryce Canyon National Park. I wondered if I would have enough time and decided it was only 20 minutes one-way, out-of-the-way as I continued on my route home. This would be my third time visiting Bryce and I’m so glad I did. As with any National Park, there are some new changes and the Ranger told me that because I’m over 20 feet I would have to park in the main parking lot and take the shuttle bus in to see the viewpoints. She gave me a tag to hang in my window. My heart sank to the bottom, since I know the shuttle buses will not except pets, and I was not willing to leave Jo Jo. However, upon examining the tag, it indicated vehicles over 23 feet to park and shuttle. My Travato is 21 feet. Hmmmm, I was annoyed. So I ignored the directions and went straight to the parking area at the sunrise amphitheater and not only did I see other campe...
Read more

At home now… from the great 2023 Alaska Road Trip!

Image
​ Jo Jo and I are home, from the trip of a lifetime! 106 days, 11,539 miles, 675 gallons of gasoline, a ton of fun, beautiful views, and amazing experiences. Other than a brief head cold, no other mishaps, except my souvenir windshield chips. The Sylver Gypsy performed wonderfully. She kept me safe and warm. My last days were drive heavy, but I managed a quick stop at Bryce Canyon National Park. My last night was in the Coconino Forest near Flagstaff, where I also made a brief stop at Sunset Crater. I’ll need a few moments to adjust being back to reality, but it’s nice to be home!
Read more

Montana to Blackfoot, Idaho

Image
​ Well, other than spending the day driving I didn’t do much else. Unless you consider the excitement of filling up my gas tank for $80.00. It’s the first time in a long time when I looked down I saw my gauge in the red and the yellow warning light came on indicating low fuel. I never do these things, but I must’ve been in “the zone” while driving. Either way, I made it to the next gas station and I also have 2 gallons as a spare mounted to my ladder. I wound up staying in the same place that I stopped in May, as I was traveling up north. It’s Rose Pond Park near the town of Blackfoot, Idaho. I even recall exactly where I stayed and it was open and available. However, there was a radio concert going on right around the corner. I wasn’t into listening to the “boom boom.” I found another spot just as a truck came with three ATV, mini bikes and kids who spent the next two hours driving around, mostly in the parking lot. I was actually concerned that they would come by too closely or lose ...
Read more