[GutsyGibbon]

I recently hit a few important milestones in life. I decided to take a break of 6 months from work. I wandered in Costa Rica for a few weeks with my kids, couple months in India, then I decided to get back to work. Once I had an offer on hand, I decided to get in my truck and drive off on a longish drive. I told my wife I would be back after 15+ days. I stopped by the Indian stores for some groceries, fruits and drinks. Rest of the stuff like toiletries, sleeping stuff, utensils, batteries, etc always stay in my truck, so little or no prep there. I wanted to hit as many National parks and hiking trails as I could. This would be a photolog of the things that I saw. I think I did some 4500 miles (7200kms). I headed out west without a plan nor any reservations.

My first stop was Joshua Tree National park. A symbolic pic of a Joshua Tree.


I hiked the Maze loop trail, and couple tiny ones adding up to some 6 miles. It was chilly and started to rain a little which is unusual for this area.


North View panorama from the trail


Heated up some water in the parking lot for some instant noodles. I needed to go find a good spot for the night.


The next stop was Grand Canyon National park. This is again a place that have been to countless number of times, but it always amazes me. Each time I have been here, I head to the main visitor center, and walk on the Rim trail towards Yavapai point. This time I skipped the main village and started driving on Desert View drive.


The clouds and the sunlight create an interesting light show.


Its hard to get an idea of the scale of the canyon from the pictures.





The mighty Colorado river.


Most of my hikes were around view points. It was too windy and cold to venture too far out.


I picked a picnic area around Moran point to make myself some lunch. I had some rice cooking in the 12V cooker, I heated up some instant Sambar for a nice meal.

[GutsyGibbon]

The next stop in Arizona was the Horseshoe bend in Page AZ. I had decided to get a Motel in Page so that I could take a shower.

Horseshoe bend is in Indian owned land, the short trail is always infested with Instagrammers.


The lure of good camera angles always sends them off the trails. They do give a sense of scale in my pictures.


View points



I was stopping too many times.


The mighty Colorado


Interesting Rock formations


Lake Powell as seen from Big Water, UT. I did a hike around Big Water area, before calling it a night.


The next stop on my drive was Antelope Canyon. Also on Indian land, it is accessible through private operators who own high ground clearance 4x4 vehicles. Private vehicles are not allowed. I had a early morning tour booked.

Some patterns at the entrace


Yours truly for scale


The light patterns are mesmerizing








If you squint you may see a heart. Humans want to see patterns even when there is none. We romanticize known patterns.


Light show

[GutsyGibbon]

I was now in the areas that I set out to be in. No humans, just blue skies, fair weather, hike anywhere, eat anywhere, and just admire the openness.



Exiting Arizona, somewhere on US98


Entering Utah




Monument Valley


A little late to audition for Forrest Gump, Run Forrest Run!


I made some MTR Puliyogare (Tamarind Rice) in front of Mexican Hat. I never saw any humans the whole time I was here making lunch.


I spent the night near Monticello (Canyonlands National Park). Stopped by Wilson arch.


This arch is out in the wild thouroughly vandalized, you can sit in it, walk in it, etc.


Feet dangling through Wilson Arch, not so smart of me.




Mesa Arch, Canyonlands NP




Murphy Point Overlook




Grand View. There is pickup truck at the bottom of the canyon, its less than a pixel.


A gif with some zoom action

[GutsyGibbon]

Arches National Park. I was one of the first few vehicles to enter the park after it opened. This was on a weekend, I was expecting a circus, and it certainly was.


Park Ave


Courthouse towers


Courthouse towers





Delicate Arch


Too many people at the base of the arch, I picked a distant trail that had a view of the arch. The dots behind the arch are the people lined up to go see it up close. Thanks but no thanks!


Broken Arch


Landscape Arch


On the way out of Arches, I spent some time admiring the distant La Sal mountain range.



Onward I made my way to Grand Junction, Colorado. I camped at Colorado National Monument.

Saddlehorn campground. Heated up some instant Sambar, slurped it up with some freshly made rice. With the distant snow cap mountain view, I was on cloud nine.

[GutsyGibbon]

I looked at the weather forecast of Rocky Mountain NP, and I was not feeling it. I changed my direction and started driving towards PNW. Some 1400miles of driving, and I could go say hello to my son in Seattle.








Flaming Gorges Bridge


Flaming Gorges dam, back waters.




I think these are Uinte mountains, looks pretty while inside the truck.








White alien matter on my truck


Nasty white stuff in Jackson, WY




Near Boise Idaho. Sleeping inside the truck is comfy as well. I have a decent sleeping bag, and a heated blanket if needed. It gets toasty in 5 minutes.

[GutsyGibbon]

I spent the next 2 days in Seattle, chit chatting with my son and going out for dinner with him. He just started working for a Seattle firm, and his energy about life/work is really amusing to me. Reminds me of my younger self.

The people of Seattle are awesome too. With all the rain and greyness around, they are so cheerful to talk to. These guys were para sailing, & kite surfing. Amazing spirit.




Cityscapes




I hiked both days in Discovery Park. It was a nice 5 mile loop by the beaches and lots of green trees.


A refreshing change for a person from the So Cal desert.


So much green

[GutsyGibbon]

I thought of driving into Canada, I had my passport ready. Then sense prevailed, and I decided to drive back down on the coast to spend some time among the Redwoods.


The coastal roads were going to take me a lot longer, but a lot more scenic




So many pretty view points


Oregon State park, Carl Washburne state park. Had free hot showers


Such a cozy campsite.


I slept so well, the hikes around here are perfect mix of trees, ocean views, and comfy temperatures.


More ocean views


Great lunch spot


The area of the big guys, the monsters










Perfect temperatures, blue waters, blue skies, & green trees. So easy to take good landscape pics.


The CA campsites are so very well chosen. Nothing is free, the showers also need quarters. Welcome to CA!


Weekdays at CA state parks are the best. Entire trails just for the brave.


The size of these old growth Redwoods always leave me speechless. There are simply huge!


There are signs that the branches are "widowmakers". The wind can dislodge old dry branches that fall from heights of 200ft, its game over if one lands on the head.




Another lunch spot among the Redwoods.


The famous drive through tree. My truck could not make it through. The camper shell started scraping the top, and I had to chicken out.


After such a long drive, I am not sure if I want to go back to work now. So many of the things that I love are free.

[V.Narayan]

Beautiful pictures and a happy journey communicated through photos instead of long tedious prose one often encounters. Would love to see pictures of the interior of your truck especially the working/living space you have created at the rear.

[Rohitthebest]

Awesome photologue, mate. One of my close friends stays in Chandler, AZ, and we plan to do a cross-country drive after landing in NYC later this year. You just piqued my interest a few notches with beautiful pictures and your special comments

BTW I expected a closing picture with your son too to end the log.

[Miyata]

Beautiful! There's nothing you've not touched / toured - snow, sand, water, hills, valleys, giant trees, small shrubs, desert like regions, the human touch, the isolated regions of solitude...one big trip with just about everything rolled in!

The Grand Canyon is something I never miss visiting whenever I'm in the region / thereabouts.

Thanks for sharing.

[GutsyGibbon]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Beautiful pictures and a happy journey communicated through photos instead of long tedious prose one often encounters. Would love to see pictures of the interior of your truck especially the working/living space you have created at the rear.

Thanks for your comment. When I first started the build, I had created a thread with a hotchpotch of pictures.
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/trave...4x4-truck.html (Seeking comfort in the SoCal desert | Tenting with a Motorcycle & a 4x4 Truck)

Since then, I have added an electrical switchboard panel and additional lighting. Rest of it is still the same. Its a simple platform to sleep with some storage underneath. While I was in India, I got zippered covers custom stitched for the mattress foam. Makes it look a little cleaner.

[suryaj1990]

Do share some details about your truck too! Would love to know!

[GutsyGibbon]

Originally Posted by suryaj1990

Do share some details about your truck too! Would love to know!

It is a 2016 Chevy Colorado Work Truck extended cab 3.5L V6 with trailering package. 7500lbs tow capacity, with 4WD. There is a spray on bed liner. It has a 6ft bed. Rest of it is very basic, cloth seats, manual AC etc. I bought it used and I paid around $20k.

Before it became a camper, I used to haul compost, dirt, wood etc. These days I use buckets with lids, or a big plastic tarp to protect the mattress from any smells.

The truck is rock solid in dirt, and on thick ice. It takes regular gas, and is super easy to service. I did an oil and oil filter change today in under 30 minutes. Its a no non-sense work truck. Insurance costs are also very inexpensive.

[AKTransAM]

Great pics! Looks like a really fun trip. Saw your Chandelier Tree pic, and I had to post a few pics from this past October from my roadtrip, when my 1988 GTA did make it through the tree