Last hurrah

[3wbdriver]

Day 11 and the scenery begins to get interesting. Badlands NP, and Mount Rushmore, then I drove through Sturgis, SD on the way up to Bowman, ND

https://plus.google.com/10931235834...6146952002134516498&oid=109312358341805965335

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[Blitzkrieg]

Hey CJ - if it's any consolation we have not had more than about 6 hours sunshine since you were here. It is definitely monsoon season here in the Rocky Mountains and there actually has been some flooding this week.

So.... Good thing you didn't wait out the weather to see Pikes Pike. We'd still be sitting in Manitou Springs LOL.

And they are saying we will see snow in some places tonight. Crazy Colorado weather. I love it!

 

[3wbdriver]

Hey CJ - if it's any consolation we have not had more than about 6 hours sunshine since you were here. It is definitely monsoon season here in the Rocky Mountains and there actually has been some flooding this week.

So.... Good thing you didn't wait out the weather to see Pikes Pike. We'd still be sitting in Manitou Springs LOL.

And they are saying we will see snow in some places tonight. Crazy Colorado weather. I love it!

Wow!!!

 

[3wbdriver]

Day 12, Yellowstone NP and Mesa Falls, Idaho.

https://plus.google.com/10931235834...6146988138449850770&oid=109312358341805965335

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[wanderMT]

Enjoying all the pics.
Thanks for posting Flight 93 Mem. pics. - a morning I remember well. I'm sure I will never see in person.

 

[3wbdriver]

Day 15, San Raphael Swell, Utah. This was suggested to me since I had about a half day of spare time before I needed to head south. I'm really happy I had this recommendation from [MENTION=49649]KidVermicious[/MENTION].. I only did roughly the northern half of the Swell. There is more to it south of I-70. I just wish I hadn't given up on my navigation and skipped the Wedge Overlook.

https://plus.google.com/10931235834...6147075436547601410&oid=109312358341805965335

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[3wbdriver]

Day 16. morning, Bryce Canyon NP. Spectacular........

https://plus.google.com/10931235834...6147247133064677218&oid=109312358341805965335

Then on to Zion NP. And Monument Valley, Ut.

https://plus.google.com/10931235834...6147280999775255938&oid=109312358341805965335

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[3wbdriver]

Day 17, Arches NP, Utah. I got to drive a 16 or so mile off road loop that went by the Tower Arch to complete the park. Moderately rocky 4 Lo stuff for about 3/4 mile, then soft red sand single wide trail.

https://plus.google.com/10931235834...6147319713047231490&oid=109312358341805965335

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[2014 Warthog]

Day 17, Arches NP, Utah. I got to drive a 16 or so mile off road loop that went by the Tower Arch to complete the park. Moderately rocky 4 Lo stuff for about 3/4 mile, then soft red sand single wide trail.

https://plus.google.com/10931235834...6147319713047231490&oid=109312358341805965335

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Sweet I did the tower arch trail last time I was there. Nice way to get off the well beaten path in the rest of the park

 

[3wbdriver]

Day 17 was spent running a couple fairly easy trails and taking in the sights around Northern Moab with @Jhalco. After about 40 miles of trails over 2 days and with rain in the forecast I departed Moab to get a start toward the fabled, mythical, non-existent Pikes Peak. Thanks for meeting me there Jhalco, and I do still plan to upload some videos. Just haven't got there yet.

https://plus.google.com/10931235834...6147617618470012354&oid=109312358341805965335

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[Jhalko]

Day 17 was spent running a couple fairly easy trails and taking in the sights around Northern Moab with @JHalco. After about 40 miles of trails over 2 days and with rain in the forecast I departed Moab to get a start toward the fabled, mythical, non-existent Pikes Peak. Thanks for meeting me there Jhalco, and I do still plan to upload some videos. Just haven't got there yet. r:

Look forward to the video, while you are uploading pics, do you mind either posting or pm'ing a pic of the back of your trail rocker? Basically open one of the rear doors and at the back of the rocker want to see what that small cover pice looks like.

 

[3wbdriver]

Look forward to the video, while you are uploading pics, do you mind either posting or pm'ing a pic of the back of your trail rocker? Basically open one of the rear doors and at the back of the rocker want to see what that small cover pice looks like.

I'll try to get you one tomorrow.

 

[3wbdriver]

Day 18 was the drive down from Frisco to Manitou Springs, Co, where I met Blitzkreig and my nephew for lunch. I tried spotting Pikes Peak during the drive, but the weather was a no-go. Beautiful drive though.

https://plus.google.com/10931235834...6147955704455405042&oid=109312358341805965335

The morning of Day 19 dawned just as bad weather wise, so I moved on. Drove by the Royal Gorge Bridge, and then over to Dodge City, Ks, to visit the Boot Hill museum.

https://plus.google.com/10931235834...6147960398748893938&oid=109312358341805965335

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[3wbdriver]

Day 20 dawned bright and clear. Of course! I was no longer trying to see Pikes Peak! The Boot Hill museum was actually much more interesting than I had half expected it to be. I spent most of the morning walking the buildings and reading the history. But the Kansas Aviation museum was a bit of a disappointment. So much potential, but the aircraft being displayed outside on the ramp were in a pretty deteriorated condition. They could really use some funding to help restore the planes.

https://plus.google.com/10931235834...6147961706853901522&oid=109312358341805965335

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[3wbdriver]

Day 21 began with a visit to the Oklahoma National Memorial. It's a very moving memorial and actually the first place on this trip where I had to sit down and dry my eyes at one point.

https://plus.google.com/10931235834...6148100024160466498&oid=109312358341805965335

 

[3wbdriver]

Day 21, National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, OKC

https://plus.google.com/10931235834...6148332375573294770&oid=109312358341805965335

 

[wanderMT]

Sooooo -- How was it? A month long road trip in your 4Runner. Ready for another month? I always think I could travel around 'forever' - but not sure I could.

BTW - haven't seen it yet but bought a gray/blk int. Limited last Friday - they have to bring it in from somewhere and install auto start - 7-10 days for delivery.

 

[3wbdriver]

Sooooo -- How was it? A month long road trip in your 4Runner. Ready for another month? I always think I could travel around 'forever' - but not sure I could.

BTW - haven't seen it yet but bought a gray/blk int. Limited last Friday - they have to bring it in from somewhere and install auto start - 7-10 days for delivery.

After a week at home I'm ready to do it again. Lol. Not to get out of the house, but because of some of the stuff I missed due to such short prior planning. It's a shame I don't have the funds to do it again immediately! Congrats on your new Limited.

Anywho, I finally got around to editing and uploading some videos. These first 3 are from the first couple miles of the 10 mile long Tower Arches Trail in Arches NP. The first 1 1/2 mile or so was about a lower class 3 rocky section. After that it was a single lane soft red sand trail that you could run parts of at the posted 25 mph limit. For those with more stockish rigs the Tower Arch and the Eye of the Whale are both accessible from the South side without having to run the more difficult section of the trail.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wn3f8EYVIhY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bP_i0XoYhr0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7j9SaZDEcPU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[3wbdriver]

And this is a photo album of the Lone Star Toyota Jamboree where I finished the trip. I thought I had already posted this.

https://plus.google.com/photos/109312358341805965335/albums/6148354803870540465

 

[Jhalko]

Now you just need to add some cool soundtrack to the vids!