2nd Long Haul - 2011 Loop Out West

Arches 01

Bryce 01

Bryce Hoodoos 02

Bryce Deer 03

Bryce 04

Camp Inn Camp Outt 2011

Canyonland 01

Canyonland Mase Arch 02

Capital Reef 01

Capital Reef 02

1st night WV

Mamouth Cave KY 01

Mamouth Cave 02

Campsite Moab UT 01

View Moab 02

North Rim 01

North Rim 02

Painted Desert 01

Painted Desert 02

Painted Desert 03

Painted Desert 04

Petrified Forest 01

Petrified Forest 02

Rocky Mountain 01

Rocky Mountain 02

Rocky Mountain 03

South Rim CG 01

South Rim CG 02

South Rim 03

Williams SRCG 04

Zion UT 01

Zion 02

Zion 03

Zion 04

Names: Jim H & Sue Z
Our 560 Ultra #278 Raindrop is #33
2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited
Estimated point to point distance was 5911.3 miles Actual total distance 6684.4 miles over three weeks.

We left Maynard MA early on the morning of Sept. 8th heading south arriving that evening at the Flatwoods KOA off of interstate (I-79) in Sutton WV. (686.4 miles). On our way there we had traffic delays in New York and heavy rains in Pennsylvania. The next morning we got back on I-79 heading South to the Horse Cave KOA in Horse Cave Kentucky (363.4miles) where we spent our second night. Since we had left early that morning and we had crossed into the central time zone gaining an extra hour, we were able to visit Mammoth Cave National Park that afternoon. We got up very early the next morning so we could cover some distance and still get in before the sun went down. We drove to Canute Oklahoma where we had reservations at the Elk City/Clinton Lake KOA (874 miles). This was our longest drive of this trip. The campground was just off I-40 and had what looked to be a piece of the old route 66 out front with an antique gas pump in front of the camp store. The weather was hot but there was no threat of rain so we had dinner in camp that night. The next morning we left early with plans to drive through to Holbrook Arizona (672.3 miles) away. Since we would gain another hour when we crossed into New Mexico we thought we could spend some time at the Painted Desert & Petrified Forest National Parks. It was about twenty miles before the end of our driving day where we would check in at the Holbrook KOA. Holbrook is another one of the old route 66 towns that if it wasn’t near a national park (approximately 20 miles away) it might not be there anymore. The down town area looks pretty much like it did in the 50’s. The area just north of I-40 is showing some sign of new development mixed in with what was out of town in the past. What we did not realize was that Arizona does not go to daylight savings time but remains on Mountain Standard Time, so we actually gained another hour which gave us even more time to spend at the National Park. Since Williams Arizona our next stop is only 121 miles away we spent the next morning spending more time in the Painted Desert & Petrified Forest before heading West on I-40. We had reservations at the Circle Pines KOA just East of Williams Arizona (121 miles). Williams is another old route 66 town which like Holbrook, only Williams is about 60 miles South of the Grand Canyon. It is the exit off of I-40 that you take to get on State highway 64 to go to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, or where you might stay if you were to visit the canyon via Grand Canyon Railway via a train ride and bus tour. In our case we planned for the train ride to the rim and then the bus tour so we could take it easy for our first day in the area. One of things that we noticed that was a surprise to us folks from the East is that around the Canyon many places have to truck their water in. After two nights in Williams it was time to drive to the North Rim but not without some more time on the South Rim on our way there. So we took State road 64 North to the South Rim of the Canyon and then East along the South rim doing some additional sightseeing till we eventually got to State highway 89 which goes north till its junction with 89 Alternate which cuts back to the West and eventually to Jacob Lake around 200 mile from Williams. Jacob Lake is at 89 Alternate’s junction with highway 67 which is the road to the North Rim. Not much at Jacob Lake except a campground, a gas station and a restaurant and Motel. Its only advantage is that we would be taking 89 North to Zion National Park in two days. We spent the better part of a day on this short drive due to our additional sightseeing. We pulled into the campground as the sun was going down. One of the really nice things about a teardrop trailer is that there is not a lot of setup required. Since it was getting dark we decided to drive the mile or so back to the junction and try the one and only restaurant. The next morning was overcast so we took our time driving to the North rim. Most of our time at the North rim was spent trying to stay dry and at the same time get some nice pictures from the North rim of the Grand Canyon. Most of the first morning there we spent at the Hotel or in the coffee shop on the north rim waiting for the clouds to lift. Eventually they did and we got some interesting pictures looking down at the cloud drifting through the canyon. After a full day on the North rim we hit the sack early so we could see Zion the next day. The trip to the east gate of Zion is a little over an hour from Jacob Lake so we did not get up that early. I also thought I would be able to get a cup of coffee and a pastry at Mt. Carmel Junction before making the left turn toward the park.
One of the things we were not sure of was the regulations for the long tunnel which you pass thru in the middle of the park on your way toward the Springdale gate at the Southwest edge of the park. There are actually a few tunnels which you pass through when traveling in the park. If your trailer or RV is too wide or too tall (the walls are sloped toward the center) they make you wait for a time and then empty the tunnel and then let you thru with a guide vehicle. Our Raindrop fits completely behind our Highlander Hybrid tow vehicle so we were not required to wait. Shortly after entering the park we came across a group of mountain goats which stood above the side of the road watching us tourists drive in. One of the interesting things about the park road was the red color in the paving materials used in the park. The road is steep and winding with several hairpin turn between the switchbacks. When finally arrived at the far end of the park we were able to get out and go to the gift shop to get our passport book stamped and take shelter as one of the short strong rain storms was approaching. After the rain we boarded one of the parks free buses to travel up the Zion Canyon Road which is closed to most cars. From the bus you see some of the special places in the park and can get off at anyone you want and when you are ready the next bus is only a few minutes away, and eventually it will bring you back to the South entrance at Springdale. On our way back out of the park we stopped and took a picture of one of the instant waterfalls that appear after the rains, last for a few moments and then disappear when the runoff stops.
Once out of the park it was time to find our way to the campground in Glendale UT around 65 miles from Jacob Lake. Here we are about 40 miles South of Bryce Canyon NP. We have planned a two night stay here in Glendale because we were still not sure which way we would drive to Moab in central Utah, either by interstate or past Bryce, up a scenic highway through the Grand Staircase and Capital Reef areas. Early the next morning before sunrise we are on the road in an effort to get into Bryce and see how the sun light and shadows color the park. The drive to the park has its own interesting arches that you drive through. The reds and tans change as the sun slowly climbs into the morning sky. The park has many different views across its canyons with walls of hoodoos looking out over the low lands. There are also several hiking trail along the rims and down to the floor below. We also saw some of the local wildlife which had little fear of us tourists. One of the other things that was being presented at the Gift shop was a program to adopt a stuffed prairie dog which would fund some of the research being done in Southern Utah. We got one of the stuffed toys and named him Bryce P. Dog on his birth certificate. Back at the campground we had decided we would take the slower scenic drive up past Bryce again and then thru the Grand Staircase area and through the Capital Reef National Parks where we would stop. It will be longer but more fun with plenty of scenery which could not be matched by the interstate. Mid-morning during our drive we stop for breakfast and gas in the town of Boulder. Then we headed toward Capital Reef Nation Park. The scenery along route 12 is truly remarkable because of the time we were taking we decided to take route 24 North to the Interstate and then 191 south into Moab. Here we were in the Moab KOA (300+ miles) for a few days. We had a very picturesque site which served us well while we were there. This was our base for viewing both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. We went to Canyonlands Island in the sky section of the park first. This is a section raised above the canyons floor with roads that you can choose to take if you have four wheel drive. Eventually we head back to our campground, but not before having a late afternoon appetizers and a couple of draft beers at a local microbrewery. The next morning it is off to Arches National Park, which is just the other side of town to the north. Once you enter the Park the road starts a steep climb onto a plateau at one of the first lookouts you can look back toward Moab down below. The different shapes and sizes of the arches and other stone works are amazing. We did a couple of the shorter hikes and ate our lunch at one of the shaded rest areas. Finding shade is a trick in this busy park. Now we have been traveling in September when the tourist season is supposed to be slow but there was plenty of traffic, I would not want to be visiting during July and August. Eventually we head back to Moab and another stop at the brewery. After dinner we started to pack some of our stuff up so we can get an early start after breakfast the next morning.
Breakfast here was always interesting because of the visitors we had each day, the rabbits who freely roamed the campground. Once we got everything packed we headed North then East into Colorado and toward the South entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park. This drive even on the interstate was through some very interesting scenery, with tunnels and river views all along the way. Around late morning we got to route 40 which took us away from the interstate and up to Granby and the South entrance to the park. We stopped at the visitor center to see what they had and get any weather info about the summits ahead. Our goal was to drive through the park on our way to our stop for the night at the KOA in Estes Park (407 miles), a tourist town on the Northeast side of the park. Our drive through the park was a constant climb up into the Rockies and the continental divide at over 14,000 feet. Just under the high point is the Alpine Visitors Center where we stop for a small lunch and to visit the gift shop there as well. When we walk back out to the parking lot we are greeted with snow flurries. Driving in the park is interesting with no guardrails and many hairpin turns. As the road dropped in altitude, the weather starts to improve with the sun staying in front of the clouds that were struggling to climb over the mountains. Just before reaching the east entrance of the park we stop to take photos of an elk just to the right of the road. After leaving the park we find our way to the campground and get parked. Next we drive into town to find a restaurant for dinner since we want a real early start the next morning so we could make Adel Iowa in good time the next day. Walking around downtown Estes Park looking for a nice place to eat was interesting to say the least. What we finally did was drive to a recommended place we passed on our way into town. The food was good and the wait was not that bad. The toughest thing was finding a parking spot. One thing we saw was that the peaks we had left with just flurries were experiencing a full scale blizzard. The morning drive to Loveland North of Bolder was interesting with fog and twisty descending road. Finally we reach the city and we stop to fill up our gas and get a coffee and a pastry. Then it is onto the interstate 76 and up 80 in Nebraska and onto Iowa where we will stop just west of Des Moines. The next morning we drive to the “Camp Inn Camp Outt” gathering around Necedah, Wisconsin. This will be the third time we made the gathering since buying our raindrop. Here we spent the next three days relaxing before our last two stops on our way home in New England.

 

Jim and Sue: What a great trip. Thanks for the picture and such a thorough description of where you went, the challenges you faced, and how you dealt with them. We had wondered whether or not the TD was going to be able to handle the Zion road through the tunnel; good to hear you were able to do it. Also, liked the idea of the bus. The Utah/north rim GC areas are on our "to do" list - hopefully in the next year or so. We were behind you by about two months at the KOA in Holbrook, AZ - were there in November, 2011!

We're planning to attend the CI-CO in September. Hope you are, too, so we can meet you.

Bob and Kathy

 

Great story and pictures.Steve

 

Good morning Bob & Cathy

Glad we did our trip last year because of the fires they are dealing with this year. Sorry to say we will not be making the CI-CO this year because of a local event here in New England this year. Hopefully we might make it next year when we will try for our third long haul out west.

 

Thanks for sharing. Love the photos. When we passed through Williams it was covered in snow. Nice to have sunshine.

Keep sharing...

And we like your names.

Camp On,

Jim and Sue (the other two)

 

Hello to the other Jim & Sue

Glad you enjoyed the photos. One of the problems I had was trying to choose which photos to include in this post. When we go back was we found we had shot over 1500 12mbit photos. Williams AZ & Moab UT were our two favorite stops on this trip. My other problem was with so many stops it took a while to write it up, which is why it just got posted. Anyways I glad folk have enjoyed it

Jim & Sue

 

Hi Jim and Sue,

Yes so many photos. We took over 900 shots when we were traveling through there in April. Valley of Fire,Nv. Zion, Red Canyon, Bryce, Kodachrome Basin, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon. Hard to pick favorites, but I think this trip it was Bryce and Monument Valley. Each park had its unique character. As you leave one park and think you have seen it all the next one leaves you in awe. Southern Utah it definitely on our radar for a return visit to see what we missed.

Jim and Sue