Taking the Road Less Traveled

Friday 10/15Beautiful morning. When I started Bill this morning i still hadn’t made up my mind which way to turn. Stopped for a few moments at the campground exit and turned left towards Blanding, Ut. and Natural Bridges NM. Fueled, groceried, and got some ice.Big flashing sign that US95 to Natural Bridges is closed at…

Thursday 10/14It was chilling this morning, high 30’s. Had the heater on. installing this Wave 6 Catalytic Heater is working out. No power. High is 9000 btuh and low is 3500 btuh. There is 21,000 btu in a pound of propane and i carry 20#. Do the math. And it’s quiet. Putzed around this morning…

Wednesday 10/13Okay the refer is down. Had to waste some food because i didn’t last time and i paid, for two days. Storing some stuff in outside compartment. Got plenty of rice and potatoes, tortillas, apples, bananas, enough for a few days. I have a large bucket that fits nicely inside the refer to hold…

Tuesday 10/12Well not a great start to the morning. Small crack on hatch cover over bed and small leak. The *@#! refer is going warm. Not much i can do here in the rain and cold. Put a pan under the leak and verified the refer flame was going. I think it’s the thermostat….big pain…

Monday 10/11Sully’s birthday! I’m sure she is excited! But besides that it’s bike day. I have 4 bars but i think i’ll lose one fairly quickly. The ruins are 7-8 miles away. Four on pavement and four on dirt. Plus i went down every side two track and road. Blaze is a good tool. It…

Sunday 10/10Town day. Left Hovenweep about 9am to do laundry, groceries, a safety stop and see a couple of pueblos. Cortez is a hour away and some sights to see on the way. Population: 8500. Didn’t see a Walmart. Nice laundromat. Busy. One load in the commercial machine and $3.25 later….i’m wondering were the start…

Saturday 10/9Hovenweep NM is one of my favorites! So much to think about. Took a morning hike around the village. It’s interesting to see it from all angles and try to grasp the whole picture of a village of maybe 50-75 people totally self sufficent. Builders and masons. Why build on top of these slabs?…

Thursday 10/7Another early start. Since i left Montana it seems like i’ve been on a busman’s holiday. Drive everyday find a place to stay, sleep, then up early again. Hwy92 is a currrrvey road that follows the edge of the canyon for 75 miles. Slow 20-30 mph for the vast majority and almost nowhere to…

Wednesday 10/6 Nice to have a non travel day! This road closure has worked out. Because thr highway is only open certain times, you have a small caravan for a hour or so then one or two cars a hour. Campsite is very nice. The weather has been a little bit of everything but it…

Friday 10/8This area is really pretty. The trees are changing and the mountains are steep! But with nowhere to stay without spending my day trying to find a place to overnight means Hovenweep National Monument here i come.Almost broke my fuel vow about not getting down on fuel. Actually turned around and backtracked to fill.…