Summer is not by any means my favorite season. To be honest I don't like summers at all. Hot temperature, bugs, crowded roads and overflowed tourist destinations are a few of the external reasons. There are many internal reasons as well, but I digress. Having said that, after bunkering for a couple of months, I saw no other option than hitting the road again.
First step was to decide where to go? Well, after years of choosing destinations based on their natural attractions, a few recent years of random traveling (by throwing dice), this time I used a heat map. Basically I looked at the heat map at hottest time of day and searched for the coolest places in the US. Highlands of Montana, Wyoming and Colorado were obvious winners.
I should mention this trip had two beginnings. The first attempt was a day long drive to Tennessee, and I realized I forgot to bring Twyla's heart worm pills, I returned the next day. These pills are prescription required and I thought it will be a headache to find another vet and get the pills or an injection in a different state.
It turned out this return was good. I got the car title I was waiting for a long time, when I arrived home. I hit the road again after a couple days. My plan was to drive long and quick during first couple of days so I can make through the heat wave and the Great Plains, and slow down when I am in Wyoming. This would be my first time in Wyoming and despite my higher than usual gloominess, I was kind of excited about it. I haven't been to high elevations in many years and I was missing my mountain life days badly! I ended up spending weeks next to highest mountains of the United States. I am, from the bottom of my heart grateful for this opportunity and I sincerely wish everyone could go out and experience these majestic places. A summary of this trip follows, just to share my experience. Hopefully it will encourage you and is helpful in your planing.
Twyla in the first camp. She never misses a chance of getting in water, especially in hot days.
Summary of trip in one sentence: Feeling good was good enough for me
Horse: My new, used Tacoma
Where did we sleep? Truck bed, all nights. No hotel, motel or camp fee.
What I took with me:
I tried to minimize items. The core was backpacking gears (nesting cooking, small French press and coffee grinder, my hand made one layer synthetic blanket, thin sleeping foam and home made wool base layer, light rain gear, water filter and Aquaria water treatment, tarp and bug tent, down vest). Twyla had her food and her backpack with a few necessary items such as her first aid, nail trimmer, ear cleaner, warm cloth and photography package). In addition to these I had camping items (axe, saw, stove and fuel, small rechargeable light and bug zapper, reflective and no see mesh, water containers) and a few items for car maintenance. I carried my packrat but never used it, as well as a radio that didn't receive a clear signal in mountainous campgrounds, so it wasn't useful at all.
Foodwise: I carried regular bear bag and my criteria was I will carry as much as I can fit inside the bag, which is not a lot. I had a few extra items every now and then, but in general never had a problem finding something to eat. I should mention it wasn't as diverse and as healthy as it could be.
Day1- Sunday, June 23
Camp: Lake Mauzy Dock, KY.
I drove 500 miles from home to the first campsite, between Kentucky and Missouri. We had nice rain near Nashville. Twyla seemed to be comfortable with the newish bed I made for her and she sure had more space than previous trips. She also had a nice powerful fan for herself, besides the car AC.
I can rest in the shade, I will appreciate the post-modern art behind me, later!
Day2- Monday, June 24
Camp: ?, NE-
Very hot day to drive through the Great Plains. Driving north-west has the advantage of going to higher latitude, and cooling down a little bit but it also makes it longer. That cooling down part didn't work very well, since most of the country was in heat. The night didn't bring much comfort either, and camping near the river I could feel the humidity, like sleeping in a sauna. Mosquitos started showing up and man they are noisy and annoying.
Day3- Tuesday, June 25-
Camp: Vedauwoo road, WY-
We made it to Wyoming today. Long summer days helped with long drives and it was faster than I expected. But eastern Wyoming is still Great Plains! However this campsite is in the middle of dispersed mountain range and high elevation. It is nice and quiet, mosquitos are in full bloom, wind is strong and I am happy it helps with mosquitos. I take this wind over mosquitos any time! perfect temperature, a little rain and thunderstorm.
Interesting rock formation.
The heat map proved we were in the best place we could be!
Day4- Wednesday, June 26
Camp: Vedauwoo road, WY
Nice and quiet, mosquitos, wind, perfect temperature, a little rain and thunder
After a light rain. A partial rainbow is still a rainbow!
Day5- Thursday, June 27
Camp: Vedauwoo road, WY
Nice and quiet, mosquitos, more wind, perfect temperature, a little rain and thunder
Today was quiet. I spend the day cleaning up, washing clothes, washing my hair and taking a sponge bath. It was cool except around afternoon. It was windy but I think I should be happy about winds because it keeps mosquitos at bay. There was a little light rain late afternoon. And the sunset was orange. Today I consumed all battery power and I think I should plan for a little more juice either by adding a new high capacity battery or adding solar. I am leaning toward the first now. My campsite is conveniently far away from other campsites. Although they were empty for the last couple of days, the two nearby campsites are filled now. One is a family of multiple and the other appears to be a solo guy with a rooftop tent. It was a few nice resting days here and tomorrow I will start heading north-west and finally see some mountains.
This camper setup has many upgrades but there are still many problems. A new system is coming soon!
Interesting rock formation.
Mother Nature in her full glory. It is scenery, sound, scent and touch (weather). Sadly I can only deliver the scenery (not in its best I should add)
Twyla absorbing the sunshine. Moments like this I feel insignificant seeing how animals connect with nature and its rhythm.
Day 6- Friday, June 28
Camp: Soda Lake, WY
Did groceries at Laramie Walmart, Drove all day, passed through the red desert, saw a thru-hiker above the bridge, very windy and unfortunately all head wind. Made it to Soda Lake, beautiful, no shade but cold this time. Beautiful cute little lake. Not feeling okay, don’t know why. Twyla likes the campsite. Spectacular view of the Wind River Range. One of my bucket list hikes.
Wind River Range is calling!
Day 7- Saturday, June 29
Camp: Soda Lake, WY
Today I explored around the Soda Lake, The Willow Lake was nice and much larger but not as clean and secluded as Soda Lake- Green River campsites were very organized, tried a rough off-road but it didn’t seem to work- Went to town (Pinedale) for grocery, didn’t find any of those big stores but the local grocery was nice and they even had water refill, not one but two! Although prices were higher than normal- Made it back to Soda Lake, it was baking heat oven. One of my solutions for the heat was a big reflective blanket that worked very well in the previous campsite but I noticed somehow I have lost the reflective blanket!
Old Dogs & Old People
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