Back to the West!!!!

April 2017

The West was calling, so after almost two weeks in Maryland we said goodbye to family and drove straight west on I-70. A couple of long days and nights of truck stop camping brought us to Flagler, Colorado and the local reservoir. We enjoyed the free camping on Easter Eve. So quiet, and peaceful with just a few ducks, meadowlarks, and cattle breaking the silence.

Easter sunrise over Flagler Reservoir

The next day we drove a few hours to Monument, Colorado south of Denver. My brother Brian has been on his own sojourn in the West. The “Man in the Van” was waiting to meet up with us for a week of caravanning. We were invited to Easter dinner with old friends of his, Doug and Diane. It was so nice to be welcomed by strangers into their home for a great meal, and they turned out to be fun company. We found a local campground to spend the night, and showered before dinner! Dry camping really is dry when we truck stop camp and need to conserve our water!

Crossing the Rockies

The next day we ran errands, while Brian prepared to join us. We found a really nice and quiet Walmart. Shocking! Except for the street sweeper at 4 am, we spent a quiet night. Tuesday morning the caravanning began as we drove over the Rocky Mountains headed for Moab, Utah. The still snow-covered peaks were majestic and coming down on the western side brought us to Grand Junction, Colorado. We reached Rabbit Valley in the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area before dark. A short drive off the interstate a few miles from the Utah line, we found an almost empty, free campground with amazing views. Greg and I had boondocked there a few years ago and found it to be a quiet spot to sleep on the way west. This stay was not as quiet! The wind gusted to at least 35 mph all night. It was warm but we couldn't keep the windows open without sandblasting the interior. We rocked and rolled all night!

Rabbit Valley camp

Moab was a short drive away. Spring and Fall are the high seasons for this outdoor recreation mecca. Summer's heat drives the crowds away. Camping spots are hard to find and the public ones are first-come first-served. The Colorado River flowing down to town has the prime spots with at least 10 small BLM campgrounds lining its banks along a probably 30 mile stretch. We arrived in the area that has six campgrounds together. The strategy is to drive the river checking campgrounds until you snag a site. Most people are driving north from Moab to hit the most popular ones first. We were driving south passing the farthest away sites first. At 10 am we lucked into a site at Big Bend campground. The sign said full, but we drove in anyway. We knew campers would be leaving during the morning. Our strategy paid off.

Heading towards Moab along the Colorado River

Nice site mere feet above the Colorado

The public campgrounds in Moab don't have water, so there are a few options to fill your jugs. The one we used is a roadside spring we used 15 years ago when we first visited Moab with our daughter. Then we went into town for the vital hiking trail information. If you don't slickrock bike in Moab, you better hike. There is so much beauty to see! Brian did his first hike up the cliffs across the road from us, while Greg and I sat in the shade and watched the Colorado River flow by. We ended the day watching the sun set behind the cliffs across the river, and watched the stars pop out in the darkening sky, while a few bats swooped overhead.


The next day we suited up for a hike up Negro Bill Canyon. The name has been changed to his last name so it is now the Granstaff Trail. Greg and I hiked it on our last visit here. The trail ends after 2 ¼ miles at the Morning Glory Natural Bridge. It was dog day today. We were some of the few people hiking without dogs. This canyon has a perennial stream, so there were a lot of wet dogs covered in the red sand of the trail! The weather was glorious, the company amiable, but the trail kicked my butt! A few years older, a few pounds heavier, and too many months at nearly sea level in flat Florida! Good benchmark to help me get motivated to get back in shape.

Grandstaff trail

Cooling off at the in the plunge pool at top of the trail

Ferocious wildlife

Claret Cup Cactus in bloom

Morning Glory Arch seen from below

We have very little connection here, even with our booster antenna, so I don't know how soon this post will go up. Our plan is to keep exploring this area until Brian needs to head back to Monument for a job. Then Greg and I will decide where we go next. We have lots of ideas, too many! It is so great to be back in the West soaking up the beauty and energy!