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Tag: road trip

30 July 2019

Shopping road trip Bryce Canyon to Cedar City, and back

In early July there was still construction on SR12 to the west so also a slight delay for my morning road trip from Bryce Canyon to Cedar City for a long day of shopping.  Only the first of several incidents for the day.

cars arch SR12 West Red Canyon Dixie National Forest UtahYet it’s always pretty driving through Red Canyon and their blasted-tunnel arches.  Not a bad place to be stuck in construction traffic.

aspen SR14 Dixie National Forest Utah

meadow trees mountain SR14 Dixie National Forest UtahPlus the rest of the drive is scenic and I do like the curvy State Route 14 through a lava field, past the aspen (making note for fall color), and meadows with some flowers.

Past the Cedar Breaks National Monument turnoff, a literally cool location at almost 10,000 feet, and a tempting side trip for another time.

red cliffs trees moon SR14 Dixie National Forest UtahThen descending with a quick peak back at some hoodoos.

cliffs trees SR14 Dixie National Forest Utah

cliffs trees SR14 Dixie National Forest Utah

cliffs trees SR14 Dixie National Forest UtahThrough more curves surrounded by towering cliffs and some interesting looking geology.

cliffs trees SR14 Dixie National Forest UtahUntil many curves later and 5,000 feet lower Cedar City came into sight.

crunch on truck Cedar City UtahNow I’m not keen on shopping in big towns but sometimes the list gets long, so once a month I bite the bullet and then have several stops to make.  Pulling into a parking lot with a huge dip knocked off part of the sewer attachment, no leakage, and I was able to retrieve the piece. Second time this has happened but this time not as serious. Then, I creamed the passenger door on a short yellow cement post and left a crease.  The first mark I’ve put in this ole gal. Door still opens.

chicken Tom Yum soup Pad Thai & Satay at Sweet Basil Cedar City UtahThings got better after that with a delicious Thai lunch at Sweet Basil.  The best part about going to town is eating out.  Oh, and fresh produce.

cliffs trees moon SR14 Dixie National Forest UtahFinally after too many hours shopping I headed back on the pretty scenic drive with a waxing moon hanging over the landscape of Cedar Canyon.

Grand Staircase view South SR14 Dixie National Forest UtahMade a stop at the Grand Staircase viewpoint.  Sadly a bit hazy (could be smoke) to see the entire 80 miles south to the Kaibab Plateau.  However this is an interesting perspective of Zion’s white cliffs about 55 miles away.

Navajo Lake mountain Dixie National Forest UtahAlso stopped at the Navajo Lake overlook showing the lake fuller than I’ve ever seen with even the dike underwater.  Appeared to be quite a few campers along the far shore.

flowers meadow trees SR14 Dixie National Forest UtahBack past the lava flow which I’d like to spend more time exploring.  But as it was getting late enough I whizzed on by.   Thought about a side trip into Cedar Breaks for wildflowers but just didn’t seem like enough blooms yet.  I’ve heard they are in full bloom now so may return.

Sevier River meadows Paunsaungunt Plateau SR89 UtahI did explore a side road, maybe a piece of old SR89, I’ve been eyeballing for a while.

fence meadow Sevier River UtahRuns along the Sevier River as it winds like a serpent across meadows and through fenced grazing lands with views east of the Paunsaugunt Plateau where I live, work, and play.

fence meadow Sevier River UtahI always enjoy the rarity of seeing water in the Southwest.

arch red rock trees SR12 East Red Canyon Dixie National Forest Utah

hoodoos trees SR12 stopped for construction Red Canyon Dixie National Forest UtahThen back through Red Canyon, the arches, and the construction wait which gave me time to take a few photos out the truck window.

Sierra cat bag of thrift store clothesIt was a long day driving two hours each direction from Bryce Canyon to Cedar City plus way too much time shopping.  But Sierra seemed to approve of my thrift store purchases.

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Bryce Canyon National Park, Cedar City, Utah road trip, shopping, SR14 20 Comments
19 February 2019

My gypsy life started in the 1970s

USA map route 1975 road trip1975 road trip

I already have a series of my gypsy life since becoming a seasonal Park Ranger in 1992, so why not back up a little further to when this gypsy lifestyle began.

I appreciate all the suggestions to keep my 5th-wheel, and truth be told I lean that way also.  However, I’ve lived in so many different vehicles and they have all been perfect, for a while.  Yet as life changes so do our homes.

Truck going under camper Kanab UtahI don’t know what direction this gypsy life is going next.  If/when I accept a summer national park job it would be great to live in the big 5th-wheel, if there is that option in the park.  But then I have to take the camper off the truck to tow the 5er.  It’s a pain in the butt to get the camper off and on and I can’t do it alone.  Plus then store it somewhere until I can retrieve it.  That barely works from the North Rim being only 360 miles away.  It wouldn’t be convenient any further.  I’d rather not be without the comforts of camping/glamping in the truck camper.  So I could live in it full-time with a couple fixes and certain inconveniences like moving it every time I drive somewhere.

Camping at Braidwood with Denverdog Illinois 06-1975 This got me to thinking of all the rigs I’ve lived in over the years of my gypsy life, which is what this post was going to be about.  But then I started writing, and this story of the first home on wheels poured out.  And there weren’t really any conveniences but was one step up from a tent.

1974-Chevrolet-VegaMy first home on wheels

I started my gypsy life on the road in 1975 when I spent three months in a 1974 Chevy Vega hatchback.  Because my Dad was in the car business I scored a deal when the car, with only 1000 miles on it, was traded in for a Cadillac.  He co-signed a loan with me and at 21 years old I felt ready to travel and wanted to see the west and visit national parks.  I was a little worried about traveling alone so I got a large puppy and slept in the back with Denver dog on my feet.  Used magnets to drape mosquito netting off the lifted hatch but the dog could get out so that didn’t work.  An ice chest and one burner camp stove served well.   My Golden Eagle pass worked for park entries and campground discounts.  People I met were friendly yet concerned about my traveling alone.  I learned it was OK, listened to my intuition, and discovered I’m good company.  I mastered the fear of being alone.

Chicago to Colorado route 1975 road tripThe journey began driving freeways nonstop to Colorado because I knew there wasn’t a lot to see along the way.  Fell in love with the majestic Rocky Mountains while visiting my first national park.  I wanted to live there some day.  Hasn’t happened, yet.

Colorado & Utah map route 1975 road tripWith my trusty Rand McNally atlas I followed the ‘blue highways’ as two-lane roads were called back then.  Now interstates are blue on the map, I’ve always tried to avoid those.  I visited Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Mesa Verde National Parks.

Garry Brother 4cornersImage borrowed from Garry, friend and blogger, of his brother in about the right era

One late and dusky afternoon I stopped at Four Corners, a desolate and remote location where four states’ boundaries meet.  The only thing there was a concrete slab with lines and state names.  Much different from what I understand it is today.  The only sign of life, a mangy dog.

Lake Powell UtahTaken in 2011 from a boat

I drove into Utah and according to my map would follow a paved road to Lake Powell.  In reality, I drove two hours on what looked like the bulldozer had just pushed the red rock out of the way.  By the time I saw water my burgundy Vega was orange and so were the dog and I.  Hot and dusty, I parked on slickrock and we both fell into the refreshing water.  To this day, I have no idea what road that was or where we were exactly.

last light temples San Fransisco peaks sunset North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaTaken in 2017

Then I went to Canyonlands, Arches, and Capitol Reef national parks.  I vaguely remember these places as it was hot summer and I couldn’t hike because the dog would have baked in the car.  After a quick drive into Bryce Canyon National Park I ended up at the North Rim of Grand Canyon.  I remember standing on the Lodge verandah and thinking, oh boy another big hole in the ground.  I was on canyon overload.  Little did I know I would live and work there some day.  I left for Las Vegas via Zion National Park.  A couple days staying with friends in the summer heat of Vegas was plenty and I continued toward the California coast where I had relatives living east of Los Angeles.

west coast map route 1975 road tripAfter hanging out with cousins and meeting up with a high school friend living at a commune in Ojai I headed north up Hwy 101.  Because I had taken a leave of absence from my Illinois job at Vaughn/Jacklin Corp they agreed to pay me for a few days visiting other seed companies.  I loved eating out of the vegetable trial fields with a salt shaker in my pocket.  They would tour me around and buy lunch.  One time I had too much wine with lunch and later pulled onto the shoulder to sleep it off.  A cop knocked on my window waking me when the dog barked.  He made me walk toe heel and touch my nose.  I passed the tests and he let me go.

Washington map route 1975 road tripContinued driving the Highway 1 coastal route north camping along the way.  Then couldn’t afford the bridge toll at Astoria so headed east to the free I5 bridge crossing the Columbia River.  A quick stop in Olympia where I toured the brewery.  I was more of a beer drinker then and there weren’t any micro-brews around.  Next headed east over the Cascades to Wenatchee where a cousin went to school.  Got sick at her place and was running low on funds so my boyfriend wired me money and told me to get home without lollygagging along the way.  And that’s what I did, making it home in a matter of days.

1968 chevy van camper-conversionThis first solo adventure started my gypsy life and prompted me to save money, buy a van, and move to California, the land of golden opportunities, or so I thought.  This will  forever be one of my best road trips and sadly I have no photos from this journey.

 

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30 July 2018

A quick visit to the North Rim and Kanab

canyon storm sunset clouds Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaI made quick visits to the North Rim and Kanab so I could move on to Bryce National Park for full moon.  I definitely had mixed feelings about returning to the park after all the BS this winter.  Yet, the canyon will always hold a fascination for me.

signs & entrance station to North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaLeft Marble View early, for me, in the morning and enjoyed the slow drive through the forest.  Knowing the Ranger working the entrance station made it emotionally easier to enter the park.  Didn’t even have to show my Senior Pass.  Went to the visitor center and chatted with several people I know.  Then at the Lodge for more visiting.  And stopped by the administration building to fill water bottles and found more familiar faces.

Wotans Throne last light sunset clouds Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

last light canyon SF Pks sunset clouds Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaDrove out to the end of the scenic road to Cape Royal where I planned to photograph sunset.

Wotans Throne canyon sunset clouds Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

trees sunset clouds sunburst Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaA storm was brewing on the South Rim and as soon as the sun set another show began.

canyon sunset clouds lightning Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

canyon sunset clouds lightning Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaBoth colors and lightning kept me shooting.

canyon sunset clouds lightning Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

canyon sunset clouds lightning Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAnd shooting…

canyon sunset lightning Wedding site North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

canyon sunset lightning Wedding site North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

…and shooting.  I was SO excited!!!!  First time I’ve successfully captured lightning.  The above shot is available for print.  people cars Bison storm clouds SR67 North North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaBack by the campground I was able to dump tanks and take a shower.  Nice facilities, clean, and six minutes of hot water for $1.50 in quarters.  Believe it or not the first time I’d ever been in the place.  Then engaged in a little more visiting before heading out of the park.  I’d planned to camp on the forest somewhere near Jacob Lake but when I got there it was pouring and I had second thoughts about muddy forest roads.  So I stayed on level pavement near Jacob Lake Inn for the night.

trees Vermilion Cliffs SR89A North Kaibab National Forest ArizonaIn the morning I dropped off the Kaibab Plateau headed north to Kanab for a lunch date with a friend and a driveway to park in for the night.

Sierra cat in harness on leash Kanab UtahPlus I bought Sierra a harness and leash in town.  She tolerated me put on the harness without scratching or hissing.  Then we stepped outside.  I sort of let her lead me but also stopped her from going any place I didn’t want her.  We never got more than 10 feet from the camper but that’s OK, its a start.  Considering we’ll be in a campground at our next stop she might not get out again for a little while.

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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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