Last camp spot, same wildlife management area in Arkansas we spent the first night (but different spot) – 47 nights camping on this trip and only spent $5 total.
We made Nashville around lunch, and tried to find a spot to picnic, we had leftovers from last night… every park on map was closed or filled with homeless… finally found a spot and hit Whiskey Row
HOME!!! 8500 miles in 7 weeks. I am ready to go back…..
Free camping at McBride Canyon. We left Palo Duro and raced the dark to find a camp spot, as we set up it started raining so I had to set up the Kelty tarp too, then dinner and bed. Another cool place, but needed to head east and make miles, so we didn’t get to explore.
Texas Farm to Market road FMxxxx – long, straight and empty. That’s fine, but I didn’t get gas last night trying to beat the night and finding camp.
No stress…..
Funny thing is the road dumped us at the Slug Bug exit on I-40.
Before the trip, I researched, ask friends and looked at maps, my buddy JD said stop at Palo Duro Canyon State Park if near Amarillo, Texas.
We tried all day to get a camp spot there, but could never get anyone to answer, but we still went and drove the loop…
Hiked to the big cave
One of the things I wanted to see on the trip was a wild tarantula, leaving the park, I spotted one in the road
very cool
Finally it had enough of photos and went to attack/defense mode.
Along I-40 in New Mexico is the town of Tucumcari along the classic Route 66. The movie “Cars” was in the town Radiator Springs, inspired by Tucumcari.
The outskirts feel like a ghost town
But there are still some awesome art deco businesses, I wish I could have stayed longer.
Sad day, day 45 of my trip and we said good bye to James and Elizabeth. Deb and I started east as they waited for a flight to Raleigh and to pick up their truck at my house before visiting family in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Indiana before they head back west – follow them at Flight of the Crows Wing – https://flightofthecrowswing.com/
As Deb and I headed east on I-40 I saw this ghost town, so we did a U-Turn to explore Cuervo, New Mexico. It’s got an interesting history, and at least one TV news story of a sinister side.
Just driving around
A bunch of empty houses
and cars
We ate lunch and walked around
I’ll hold it….
A 1915 Catholic Church was just finishing Sunday services, so we got to look inside.
Santa Fe, New Mexico and Canyon Road (over 100 artist galleries)
Today was supposed to be an art filled day, including stopping in Madrid on the way home, but my stomach said not today and I was left scrambling for facilities, glad I have some in my truck 24/7. I could tell this wasn’t good, so I left James and Beth to enjoy the day and started back for camp, I knew I would need to stop and had sweaty cycling cloths, so I stopped in the most run down laundry mat and “hung out”
Breaking Bad was filmed in this area and I think I found the real thing while waiting…
The new campsite
A drive through the Gilman Tunnels
which lead to this great swimming hole and lunch spot.
Then Beth found an awesome “short cut” back to camp that passed Sandia Man Cave, so we had to explore it. The cave has an interesting history and what was found in it and by whom, as I tell my students, Google is your friend.
Moving day. Colorado to New Mexico
Cibola National Forest
Busy day. Started with a sunrise ride at RAT
Then off-roading Engineer Pass
Michael Breen Mine ruins
As we got above the tree line and onto the shelf road, a hail storm hit – Watch the video here
but it cleared up on top, notice the hail on the windshield. Lunch spot!
Since the pass isn’t the top of Engineer Mountain, we hiked last 1/4 mile up to the 13,218 foot summit.
The actual pass…
A waterfall
Ute Ulay ghost town
A big hole in the dam
We took the long way home, something like 12 hours over the mountain and through the woods.
Two majestic elk and one derpy elk
After yesterday’s long hike, we wanted an easy day, so we made the long drive to the ghost town of Pagosa Junction, sadly despite all the info on the web, every building and post has no trespassing signs. We decided not to ignore the 100 red signs and didn’t leave the road, too bad the area looked amazing.
