Day 20- Friday, July 12,
Camp: Flat Tops Wilderness, CO
A long driving day from Idaho to Colorado- Teton pass and sticker wrapped Wyoming sign, took one last picture with the Grand Teton, it was getting busy again so heading south to avoid the crowd, driving through the Red Desert, no service next 120 miles! It was one of the most desolate gravel roads I have ridden, there was only one car going the same way as I was. A few other cars in the opposite direction and nothing else! This desolate gravel road between Wyoming and Colorado reminded me of another desolate road between Colorado and New Mexico. The surprising discovery of Irish Canyon was the highlight of the road. First real civilization was cute little Maybell and its park. Camping at this elevation with very hot temperature was out of question so I looked for campgrounds at higher elevation and I found one, although it was a rough road, dirt steep road to the lake and camping at a little below 9000 ft.
Did they instal the picnic table before the tree was there or after?
Day 21- Saturday, July 13,
Camp: Hot Sulphur Springs SWA - Joe Gerrans, CO
The camp was nice but I started hearing gunshots and shouting not far away. After breakfast I explored around and I noticed, there is actually another more popular campsite next to mine and it is full and overpopulated. That explained the noise I was hearing last night. I continued to central Colorado. This was another day of driving, mostly exploring and unexpectedly visiting the Rocky Mountain National Park, hitting the max elevation of 12231 ft! A few campsites close to the park were in terrible shape, over crowded, burn in a fire (probably a couple years ago), people had left any piece of crap as their spot saver so they can return. I had a few driving up and down and had a hard time finding a suitable camp.
Oh, hi there! Who are you?
Day 22- Sunday, July 14,
Camp: Hot Sulphur Springs SWA - Joe Gerrans, CO
A day of cleaning and exploring, started today with cleaning then it got hot so we drove all the way to the city nearby. Then I looked for campsites and it looked like there are a few campsites near Silverthorne, and it was big and very busy city especially because it was Sunday and everybody was out biking, running, driving camping and so on. The campsite I tried to reach was very very bumpy road not easy to drive and it was funny because in campsite description, other campsites, that I looked for were described as 4 x 4 required bad road except this one and it turned out this one is very bumpy and very challenging drive. It wasn’t a big deal to drive with care but after a while, I realized it doesn’t worth it. There were very nice campsites in this spot, but they all were full and they were kind of not comfortable situation. All parking lots, they’re kind of in slope between trees and the actual campsite was far away from the parking lot and it was full with off road drivers and campers and bikers so we simply drove back. I checked another campsite near Silverthorne and unfortunately it was close to a big city and you can imagine what kind of people will camp there. There was a few empty spots right in the middle and another one in the way in but it wasn’t nice and I didn’t feel good so I came back to my previous campsite and my last night camp was taken but the next one was empty and actually next one was nicer so tonight will be sleeping in the same area but just next campsite.
Now I have an evidence she can't deny she is sleepy! Right when she is yawning!
Day 23- Monday, July 15,
Camp: South Fork/Clear Creek Trail, CO
I started today by looking for Walmart in our way so I can pack up some groceries. I haven’t been in groceries store since Idaho. First Walmart was very small and basically the main item I was looking for was water and they didn’t have water refill station so I went to another one on my way and I packed up all required items, then my next step was to find a campsite and I noticed there are multiple campsites around one specific area in Granite so I simply draw and looked for these campsites. On my way, I passed through Tennessee pass. Then first campsite was kind of busy. It was beautiful next to a river, but most sides were filled but there were plenty of room for tent camping and I could park there and the main problem was generator. One was running generator so I gave it a pass. Then I tried another campsite, but at the GPS location there was only one spot and there was a truck parked in there. Next one was a paid campground $27 a night and the other free campsite with generator had much better view and it was free then I checked another campsite close to them. It wasn’t impressive but I had very good cell service, and finally I moved here this is spectacular. Basically I am surrounded by six 14ers of Colorado. The road is a little rough. It’s not a bumpy road but it’s mostly gravel and dirt and the moment we arrived rain started so I didn’t go deep I simply parked in first available spot, the view from here is spectacular. I’m looking through the valley I can see a waterfall in one of those mountains. There is a river down there and everything is gorgeous. It rained cat and dog so I guess everything is wet now and temperature dropped early evening it was like 58 degrees. I cooked something and I decided instead of going back-and-forth between campsites I can stay here. I really need reliable Internet to finish some jobs and hopefully tomorrow I can hang around and find a place and finish the job. Probably spend a little more time here just learn about this majestic place, it’s very close to the path I draw first time I got my car. I drove to Aspen and hiked Four Pass Loop and we are close to that area. Today I had a sense of belonging, gloomy and happy at the same time was strange sense and I think the main reason is I missed the days I climbed I haven’t climbed in a very long time and somehow, I lost myself and I lost my dream.
Day 24- Tuesday, July 16,
Camp: South Fork/Clear Creek Trail, CO
Spent most of the day chasing for internet connection, even drove down to Buena Vista and finally called customer service. They had a few tips but basically anytime I am disconnected or I switch from one tower to another tower. It appears it takes about one hour to reconnect again finally I’m moved back and I got my connection and I was able to grade student assignments, double check, coursework and my emails I got typical Wells Fargo annoying mail again this time more serious. I also spent a little time at different campsites or they use areas around here and finally I moved back to my previous spot this time I drove a little higher and visited Dawson cabin moved back to close to last night spot but between trees this time and camp had nice food and longer cooking time. Then we walked a little a hiker walked by he was tired, and apparently he had missed his connection. It appeared his friend who was supposed to pick him up had missed him so he had to walk two more miles. He was asking for a ride but unfortunately I am packed full and I already set up canceled it. It was real paint to collect everything back. Make space for him and give him a ride fortunate. There was another car passing by and he was able to get a ride, there is decent traffic this road so I don’t think getting a ride is a big challenge. I also requested a quote for MX topper.

Day 25- Wednesday, July 17,
Camp: South Fork/Clear Creek Trail, CO
After breakfast, I drove down to twin Lakes for Internet and I spend most of the morning catching up with Internet work. Then I decided maybe I can move a little south and find another campsite. I drove to Buena Vista and then headed south. The highway was very busy and elevation declined and I noticed sudden increasing temperature after a while I realized probably this is the best place to be in this extreme heat so I head back to Buena Vista again and I saw a car wash on my way so I took the opportunity and washed the underneath of my car and then drove to Granite and checked my Internet one more time mostly for emails I also replied to ARE topper confirming that I am interested in their MX topper, then headed back to the camp again. The weather was a little warmer today but here is the most amazing temperature for this time of year it’s around 70 degrees max early morning it goes down to like 47 just not bad and late afternoon nothing above 70. There will be a few days with high temperature but specially this spot is under trees and well covered and not many mosquitoes.
Day 26- Thursday, July 18,
Camp: Hayden Creek, CO
After breakfast I stopped at Walmart for some groceries and then I headed out to find another campsite in Southern Colorado. The road was beautiful spectacular Canyon not very high elevation, but it wasn’t in good shape. There were two patches under construction, so it slowed down everything a little, and finally, I made it to Hayden Canyon and everything was as described driving up. I was able to find a nice place under trees. It was difficult to get the car. It was tight spot, but I was able to squeeze the car off that I was in complete shade, there was very nice creek and the temperature was fine. A little sunny not a lot of mosquitoes. There was another paid campground down the road and to be honest I didn’t see much of a preference. This one was free. I also saw the new starlink dish. I was sure it is starlink dish, but it didn’t have that typical stand, later, I remembered stalling has launched new type of satellite communication and I checked their website and it turned out they have a mini version. It’s very nice with a lot of interesting features and the monthly payment is very low so I am leaning towards it and I will likely get one.
Day 27- Friday, July 19,
Camp: Lake Meredith, TX
Today finally I started driving back home so taking long day drive this was the first one from Southern Colorado all the way to Texas. The main highlight of this trip was Raton pass because one of my favorite songs by Towns Van Zandt is snowing on Raton so I was curious to see this region. It was nice transition it’s basically transition from canyon mountain region in north to more desert high elevation desert in south. I had different campsite in my mind but later in the day it turned out that it will take longer so I cut my driving shorter and made it to this campsite. Lake Meredith has many campgrounds first one I visited was full with a lot of boat and RVs. I made it to the second one which was higher elevation, and it was mostly tent camping and I managed to find nice spot. There were two birds playing around and later in the evening when it was dark, a deer walked by we had very heavy rain, so habitat everything inside camper got wet, but we managed it was a lot of thunderstorm as well.
Day 28- Saturday July 20,
Camp: Fairview Campground, AR
Long day of driving across Oklahoma. Second time in OK and still the least travel friendly state I have ever been. The entire I40 front west to east has a couple of parking areas called rest area but no facilities and one real rest area, a lot of casinos though, in Indian reservations, and I have heard they are very camping friendly. Made it to Ozark late afternoon, as beautiful as always. Nice weather as well. There is Indian Creek Road dispersed camping and Indian Creek Campground! I checked the campground earlier by coincidence and it was nice but full. The road however didn’t seem to be viable camping. Finally made it to this abandoned (soon to be closed) campground. It is a trailhead and tomorrow is Sunday so it might be busy. If it is quiet tomorrow, I’ll stay here and I will replace spark plugs.
Day 29- Sunday July 21,
Camp: Fairview Campground, AR
Day of rest. I didn’t move anywhere today. The main job today was replacing spark plugs. I was planning to do this for a long time, but I was afraid to do it far away from home in case something happens, and something breaks down because with car electricity this happens very often, but fortunately everything worked just fine. As far as I can say without driving for a long time at least car starts and the main surprise was three spark plugs were Denso and other three were NGK. This is typical factory setting for Toyota. I’m not sure why they do this, but they use two different brands of spark plugs on factory cars and this is surprise because up until 150,000 miles these spark plugs haven’t been replaced. I doubt someone has replaced with the same factory settings . When people replace spark plugs they usually go with one brand only. They were also completely worn out so I’m glad I changed it and I tried to follow everything step-by-step. Use my past experience and make sure everything is correct. The rest of the day was quiet. We had a little bit of rain around noon was nice rain we had to shelter inside, but it didn’t take very long time we had a few short walks and couple of people stopped by probably just to check the campground. Tomorrow will be last day of this trip. I will have very long day of driving back home and hopefully will be home late evening or early night.
Day 30- Monday, July 22,
Camp: Wolfpen hunt camp, AL
Back to my old camp after a very long time. I had planned to drive all the way home today. With more than 600 miles it would have taken whole day. It wouldn’t be a problem because I would arrive home late, but after I made it to Alabama, I was tired and it didn’t make sense pushing another 300 miles. So I made it to this campground. Actually weather wasn’t as hot as it could be. At max 85, it not bad at all. Twyla had a couple of hot hours but adding water and the fan helped ti manage it. Bugs are very loud tonight.
And I can't believe I spent a month in nature, with minimum distraction, nothing other than my job.
This was the last part of this trip. Use the links below for previous parts:
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