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    • United States
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        • Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
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          • Toroweap
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        • Jerome
        • Kaibab National Forest
        • Lee’s Ferry
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        • Painted Desert
        • Pipe Springs National Monument
        • Prescott
        • Quartzsite
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Tag: California

03 September 2014

I’m thinking fall road trip

Darlene Yucca Valley fleamarket CaliforniaI am compelled to visit a very special person, a life mentor, who lives in Washington.  If you’ve been around for a while you may remember my dear friend Darlene, who I traveled with over a couple of winters. So I’m thinking fall road trip.

Truck camper at Crazy Jug Point FS292 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaI do not want to haul my large RV home for various reasons.  Instead I want a cab-over camper similar to what I’ve had before, not too old or long but with the basic comforts: toilet, stove/oven, sink, hot water, bed, fridge, table, heat.  Been checking on Craigslist for months starting with the nearest option three hours away in Saint George, Utah, then Flagstaff, Arizona at four hours.  Doable on my three day weekends.  Dang these things sure do hold value, or at least the owners think so.  Really, do you think I’d pay $1000 for a 35+ year-old camper?  A new one can cost up to $30,000.  That’s more than I paid for the 36 foot 5th-wheel with three slides that I live in.  I’ll keep looking.

Anyway, back to the road trip idea.  My season at Grand Canyon is over October 17th, then it usually takes me a couple days to pack it up and roll with at least a one day layover in Flagstaff on the return to Yarnell.  Where I’d like to be for at least a week to visit with friends unseen over summer.  But I don’t want to dally too long as winter will be chasing fall out of the Pacific Northwest.  I don’t like to be cold.

Columbia river from Sternwheeler  WashingtonWorking on a tentative plan to take about a week to get to the Columbia River Gorge where Darlene lives.  Don’t know how long I’ll stay there.  Then, weather permitting, continue north and west before a slow ride south along the coast.  All this with visiting people and places along the way.

With that said, I’m open to suggestions.  I’ll want to visit parks and forests along the way, national, state and local.  Think moderate hiking, hot springs, rockhounding.  Plus any unusual places you might know and where to find some good grub.  (Bear in mind I can’t eat seafood.)  If you’ve been there, tell me more.

Plus I’d love to meet up with you if you’re located near my route.

Tentative route to Washington:  Keep in mind I want to do this in 7 days, about.  (In Red)

US93 north from Wickenburg, AZ, thru NV to US50 west to Great Basin NP then east to Austin, north NV305 to I80 west, and north on US95, OR78 northwest, Mahleur Cave, Mahleur Lake to Burns; US395 north Mahleur NF, John Day Fossil Beds NM, Umatilla NF, hot springs at Ritter, to Pendleton; I84 west to Biggs, US97 cross Columbia River to WA14 west.

Badwater Basin off Hwy 190 Death Valley National Park CaliforniaFrom there:  Weather permitting and the money don’t run out.  (In Blue)

North into WA, central or eastern, cross Cascades, ferry to Port Townsend, loop Olympic Peninsula, south on US101, side trip to Cave Junction and Oregon Caves if still open, then back to CA south US101, coastal 1, SF, 1 & 101 to Oxnard, or earlier to Death Valley NP then south to Mojave NP, or east to Joshua Tree NP…

Map of tentative road tripHere’s a rough map for folk like me that love maps.

Of course this all hinges on me finding the right camper.

And would someone tell me please how to make a better map than this Scribble thing.  Can’t seem to get to Google with my slow connection.  Anybody?

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road trip Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington 24 Comments
17 November 2008

The gypsy life of a seasonal Park Ranger Winter 1997

 

Columbia River & bridge to Hood River WashingtonColumbia River & Bridge to Hood River, Oregon

The cash award I received from the temporary job with Fish & Wildlife along the Columbia River Gorge allowed me to buy my first RV, a slide-in cabover camper for my old Ford, and return to the gypsy life.

Oregon coastOregon Coast

Nov 1st, 1996, I hit the road, taking a month to travel down the west coast on Hwy 1, from the Washington peninsula to Los Angles. The wet windy weather found several major leaks in the camper eventually fixed with silicon. I stopped at every park and historic marker along the way.

Sunset Salton Sea CaliforniaSalton Sea, California

After a visit with my brother’s family in Los Angeles I went to the Salton Sea.  Here I met a man at a flea market and we caravanned together for a couple of months.

Imperial Sand Dunes CaliforniaImperial Sand Dunes, California

He showed me many remote & beautiful places as we followed the “Gem Trails of Arizona” gathering rocks and camped for free on BLM and other public land all over the desert.

Mittry Lake near Yuma ArizonaMittry Lake, Arizona

After we parted ways I spent a week camping in Joshua Tree National Park. It was a quiet time for me to be alone and regroup. But it started getting hot.

Camper in Joshua National Park CaliforniaMy camper in Joshua Tree National Park

Time to head north for the summer. Yet I needed a quick forest fix so went to the San Bernardino National Forest before the long haul back to Washington.

San Barnardino National Forest CaliforniaSan Bernardino National Forest, California

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My gypsy life, road trip Arizona, California, gypsy life, Oregon, travel 15 Comments

Hi, I’m Gaelyn, the Geogypsy

I retired after 29 summer seasons as a Park Ranger, traveling solo for 40+ years. My passions include travel, connecting to nature, photography, and sharing stories.

I started exploring US National Parks in 1977 and 20 years later became a seasonal Park Ranger.  I’ve lived full-time in a RV for 30 years working summers and playing winters.  I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow old, other than grow up.

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