Blog http://localhost:8000/ Chucks Travels Kennedy Space Center http://localhost:8000/blog/2026-02-26/ I couldn't resist another Space Center. I know, I've been to two of them in the past year, but this is a slightly different space ...

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]]> Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Southwest September 2025 Wrap-up http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-10-01/ I always like to look back on my trips to see what worked well and what could use some improvement. Probably the biggest change on ...

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]]> Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 36 Years Ago http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-09-24/ As I continued home, I was able to schedule a visit with an old friend along the way. I have a list of people that ...

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]]> Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 66 http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-09-23/ Heading homeward again today. Much less of a triumphant return as a limp home wounded, but we kept moving. I inadvertently ended up following Route ...

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]]> Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 The Other White Sands http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-09-22/ Plan Continuation Bias is where you stick with your original plan despite new information that you receive. It has led to some pretty big disasters. ...

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]]> Mon, 22 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 White Sands http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-09-21/ Today could have been planned better, but I blame the internet. I had a few things on my list for the White Sands area - ...

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]]> Sun, 21 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Petrified Forest http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-09-20/ After resting my ankle for a couple days, I decided to move on to a couple of places that don't have uneven ground, giving it ...

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]]> Sat, 20 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 More Grand Canyon http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-09-17/ Today was my descent into the canyon. I know better than to descend 5000 feet to the canyon floor and try to come back up ...

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]]> Wed, 17 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Grand Canyon http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-09-16/ The Grand Canyon is another of the big draw National Parks, pulling 5 million visitors a year into a big hole if you will. It ...

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]]> Tue, 16 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Page Too http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-09-15/ It's another sunny day in Page, and by design it's a light day. I've hear that it's good to rest up occasionally so it's a ...

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]]> Mon, 15 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Antelope Canyon http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-09-14/ Today was intentionally a light day. My one thing to do was tour Antelope Canyon. Specifically I toured Lower Antelope Canyon. There is also Upper ...

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]]> Sun, 14 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Valleyed http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-09-13/ I woke up to beautiful scenery in Snow Canyon. The park is based at 3200 feet of elevation, so it's the lowest I've been since ...

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]]> Sat, 13 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Snow Canyon http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-09-12/ I rolled out of Cedar City this morning onto Interstate 15 and sped up to 80 MPH. That was the limit, and I find it's ...

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]]> Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Red Canyon and Cedar Break http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-09-11/ As I left Bryce Canyon, I stopped at Red Canyon. It's close and could have been done as a side trip from Bryce, but I ...

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]]> Thu, 11 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Bryce Canyon http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-09-10/ Today I hiked Bryce Canyon. I walked down among the hoodoos for 4 miles, then completed the loop along the rim trail for another 3 ...

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]]> Wed, 10 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Kodachrome http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-09-09/ Today I left Goblin Valley heading for Bryce Canyon, which is pretty much 100 miles on one road. I stopped at a scenic view so ...

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]]> Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Wild Horse Canyon http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-09-08/ I got started early this morning to tackle Wild Horse Canyon and Bell Canyon. I was on the trail by 7:00 to hike these slot ...

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]]> Mon, 08 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Natural Bridges http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-09-07/ Yesterday afternoon I decided to press on to Natural Bridges National Monument to spend the night, and that paid off today. I was able to ...

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]]> Sun, 07 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Monument Valley of the Gods http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-09-06/ In this section of country, they have what the call "Open Range" roads. On these sections of road there are no fences and the cows ...

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]]> Sat, 06 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Ancients http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-09-05/ I started the day with a recommended hike in Sand Canyon. The trail starts up a big rock face, but half a mile or so ...

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]]> Fri, 05 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Pueblos: The Buildings http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-09-04/ Today I shifted across the state of Colorado so that I could see some real pueblos. The first stop was Chimney Rock National Monument which ...

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]]> Thu, 04 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Pueblo: The City http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-09-03/ Today was an off day. I knew that I'd need my oil changed once I got across the country, and I decided to stop in ...

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]]> Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 The Big Egg http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-09-02/ This morning I headed around Kansas City in the morning traffic. I should have cleared it last night. In my defense, I had originally planned ...

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]]> Tue, 02 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Speedway http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-09-01/ The goal for today was to get to Kansas City to position myself to drive across Kansas tomorrow. The drive across Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri ...

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]]> Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Some Settling May Occur in Transit http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-08-31/ Like so many of these trips, I started by driving west. Labor Day Weekend had very little traffic on the PA Turnpike. Also, there wasn't ...

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]]> Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 The First Day http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-08-30/ The trip was supposed to start today. Spoiler alert: It didn't. I simply didn't get done in time. Also my prescription wasn't ready until 2:30 ...

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]]> Sat, 30 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 New Gear http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-08-27/ It wasn't too late to shop for some gear for the trip. Amazon is pretty fast, and only one food item was dubious and even ...

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]]> Wed, 27 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Planning the Next Trip http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-08-25/ It's time to start blogging again with another trip imminent. This one was suggested by Val, about the time she met my friend Josh who ...

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]]> Mon, 25 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Home http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-04-17/ Today I finished the trip home. Not much to say about it other than there are a lot of trucks on I-81. I thought starting ...

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]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Blue Ridge http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-04-16/ Today is heading homeward. My plan was simple; follow the Blue Ridge Parkway for a while, do a waterfall hike accessible from the Parkway, and ...

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]]> Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Crossing Tennessee http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-04-15/ The first stop for today was Fall Creek Falls State Park. It's located more or less in the middle between Nashville and Knoxville. It is ...

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]]> Tue, 15 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Nashville http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-04-14/ Nashville is a bit of a different city than others I have visited on this trip. While it has attractions, they are not ones that ...

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]]> Mon, 14 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 The (Other) End of the Trace http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-04-13/ I finished the Natchez Trace Parkway today. I can't claim that I covered 100% of it; my side trips didn't bring me back to where ...

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]]> Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Natchez Trace Digression http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-04-12/ Today I started back on the Natchez Trace Parkway, driving to the Pharr Indian Mounds. These are ancient burial mounds near what was a fairly ...

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]]> Sat, 12 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Natchez Trace http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-04-11/ I started off the day with a walk to Fort Rosalie, which google assured me was only a few blocks from the hotel. When I ...

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]]> Fri, 11 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Houston, we have 49! http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-04-10/ I started the day at Space Center Houston. This is where Mission Control is located for all manned space missions. They don't open until 10:00 ...

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]]> Thu, 10 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Battleship! http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-04-09/ I started the day at the USS Alabama, a South Dakota class battleship. That means it's a bit smaller than the Iowa Class ships like ...

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]]> Wed, 09 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Angels http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-04-08/ Today's trip to the Naval Aviation Museum didn't go quite as planned. First off, I made a rookie mistake. The museum opens at 9:00 and ...

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]]> Tue, 08 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Panhandling http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-04-07/ I started today with a stop at the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. The site is at Moton Field, where the pilots learned to fly ...

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]]> Mon, 07 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Auburn in the Rain http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-04-06/ Today was supposed to be a hike at Cheaha State Park; however, that didn't work out. A lot of the state park visits early on ...

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]]> Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Motorcycles http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-04-05/ Today's activity was a trip to the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum just inside of Birmingham. It holds the Guinness Record as the largest motorcycle museum, ...

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]]> Sat, 05 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Little River Canyon / Desoto http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-04-04/ Today I headed off to Little River Canyon National Preserve and Desoto State Park (roughly adjacent) to look at some waterfalls. It was another short ...

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]]> Fri, 04 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Cathedral Caverns http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-04-03/ Today was a light travel day, shifting only an hour or so to Cathedral Caverns State Park. I got there roughly when the park opened ...

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]]> Thu, 03 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Huntsville Rocket Day http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-04-02/ It was a warm Alabama day today, getting up into the low 80's. I figured that was normal, but I'm told it's warmer than usual ...

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]]> Wed, 02 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Huntsville the First http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-04-01/ Today is the cooler of the two days I have in Huntsville, so I decided to use it for a hike while tomorrow I can ...

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]]> Tue, 01 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Tennessee in the Rain http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-03-31/ It was a rainy morning. The weather apps predicted this, which is why I pushed to see the sights last night. I killed some time ...

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]]> Mon, 31 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Six State Day http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-03-30/ Today I began my road trip. Sure, I'm still suffering minor ailments, but this year it seems like a new problem crops up before I ...

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]]> Sun, 30 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Spring Road Trip http://localhost:8000/blog/2025-03-23/ Today was supposed to be the first day of my spring road trip. Unfortunately the cold I caught last week ended up being Covid. It's ...

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]]> Sun, 23 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 May We See the Cape? http://localhost:8000/blog/2024-11-30/ Today was our sight-seeing day. Nothing was open before 11:00 so we had a leisurely morning before heading over to the Cape May Lighthouse. I ...

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]]> Sat, 30 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Black Friday at the Beach http://localhost:8000/blog/2024-11-29/ We started out in the morning, headed to Roebling Museum in Roebling, NJ. We had called ahead to make sure that they were open on ...

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]]> Fri, 29 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000 The Return Trip http://localhost:8000/blog/2024-07-11/ Today we visited the Garnet Hill headquarters/outlet (which is right in Franconia) because Val gets catalogs from them and wanted to see what they had ...

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]]> Thu, 11 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Stormy Day http://localhost:8000/blog/2024-07-10/ In the morning, we decided to head down to Franconia Notch State Park. I really wasn't expecting this state park. First off, all the stops ...

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]]> Wed, 10 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Cogs http://localhost:8000/blog/2024-07-09/ I decided to buy tickets for the cog railway to the top of Mount Washington. Since I had some pains in my eardrum overnight we ...

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]]> Tue, 09 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 New Hampshire http://localhost:8000/blog/2024-07-08/ Due to some medical issues, the longer trip through Nova Scotia was scrapped for this year. Because it's a road trip, we were pretty much ...

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]]> Mon, 08 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 It's Hard Leaving the Big Easy http://localhost:8000/blog/2024-03-30/ Since we have an afternoon flight, we decide to walk a few miles around the French Quarter in the morning. We started with a breakfast ...

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]]> Sat, 30 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Floating http://localhost:8000/blog/2024-03-29/ This morning we decided to reprise the beignets and stopped at a Café Beignet which seems to be a local chain. The beignets were a ...

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]]> Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 The French Quarter http://localhost:8000/blog/2024-03-28/ Today was our chance to see the French Quarter. I think that a lot of people don't go beyond the Quarter for their entire New ...

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]]> Thu, 28 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 State 47 http://localhost:8000/blog/2024-03-27/ I've never been to Louisiana, so when it was suggested that we go to New Orleans over spring break I jumped at the chance. It ...

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]]> Wed, 27 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Road Trip 2023: By the Numbers http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-07-23/ I like to look back on my trips at once I've been home a week or three. It gives me a chance to think back ...

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]]> Sun, 23 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Homeward http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-07-21/ The trip was essentially over at Crater Lake, but we added Craters of the Moon and Grand Tetons as short stops on our way back. ...

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]]> Fri, 21 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Craters and Tetons http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-07-20/ This morning we hiked the North Crater for 3.1 miles (618 feet of climb). It is a combination of the primary types of lava: Pahoehoe ...

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]]> Thu, 20 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Sleeping on Lava http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-07-19/ Today was a relocation and maintenance day. We drove to Boise for the Subaru appointment I scheduled a couple weeks back. We got up and ...

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]]> Wed, 19 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Crossing Oregon http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-07-18/ It was another chilly night, getting down into the mid 40's in our tent. I think it gets so cool when we are above 7,000 ...

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]]> Tue, 18 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Volcanos http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-07-17/ Today started for us in The Dalles at an economical but well-kept hotel. Meanwhile, well south of us, a truck driver started his morning probably ...

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]]> Mon, 17 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Gorge Ourselves http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-07-16/ The plans for today were to do a long hike in the Columbia River Gorge, followed by a dam visit if we had energy. The ...

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]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Quarantine http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-07-15/ This morning we stopped by an urgent care to get a strep test as my throat is pretty sore, and it is worth resolving that ...

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]]> Sat, 15 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Skyline http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-07-14/ I felt much better this morning so we decided to tackle the Skyline Loop (not to be confused with the Highline Trail in Glacier or ...

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]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Cloudy Rainier http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-07-13/ Today my cold got worse and I didn't get much sleep overnight. It's only 3 hours or so over to drive to Mt. Rainier, but ...

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]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Hurricanes and Rain http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-07-12/ Our last day in Olympic started up on Hurricane Hill. It is so named because the wind blows strongly up there. We got there early ...

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]]> Wed, 12 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 As Far West As We Can Go http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-07-11/ Today started a bit late because of the tides. The Ozette Triangle is a 9.5 mile hike out on the coast. It is roughly an ...

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]]> Tue, 11 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Needle Day http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-07-10/ Today we left North Cascades behind. We could have stayed another week or two. The weather was great, the mountains beautiful, and the crowds weren't ...

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]]> Mon, 10 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 More Cascades http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-07-09/ We decided to have a low key day after yesterday and visit some of the easier sites and hikes. Of course that means crowds, but ...

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]]> Sun, 09 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Chain Lakes http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-07-08/ North Cascades is beautiful. It's sort of a cross between the Rockies and Appalachians. There are places of bare rock like the former, but lots ...

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]]> Sat, 08 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Double Dam http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-07-07/ Today was a relocation day. The North Cascades Inn seems to be well located for our visit to the North Cascades National Park, but they ...

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]]> Fri, 07 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Icebergs http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-07-06/ Contrary to the forecast weather, it was even colder last night getting down to 43 F at one point. There wasn't much practical difference between ...

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]]> Thu, 06 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Take the High Line http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-07-05/ Glacier National Park is really beautiful. Everywhere you look, the scenery is wonderful and with my proclivities I could easily spend a month here. Of ...

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]]> Wed, 05 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Grains, Trains, and Milk http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-07-04/ Today we went further west to our next National Park: Glacier. The trip across Northern North Dakota and Montana was on state roads rather than ...

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]]> Tue, 04 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 All That and a Cerulean Warbler! http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-07-03/ Today we headed to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Unit, in northwestern North Dakota. It was a few hours from Jamestown but we picked up ...

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]]> Mon, 03 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Graveyard or Cemetery? http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-07-02/ We started the day in southern Wisconsin at about 6:30 and we were on the road by 7:30 enjoying the light traffic at that hour. ...

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]]> Sun, 02 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Chi-town and beyond http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-07-01/ Today we are heading west, covering a lot of country. Early in the day we stopped at Cuyahoga National Park and hiked the Ledges Trail. ...

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]]> Sat, 01 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2023 Summer Vacation http://localhost:8000/blog/2023-06-30/ It's time for another road trip vacation. The destination for this trip is Washington and Oregon, staying to the north on the way out. It's ...

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]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Heading home from Vermont http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-10-10/ Monday we awoke to a rainy morning. Our plan was to hike Haystack Mountain which is in Southern Vermont, about an hour closer to home. ...

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]]> Mon, 10 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Vermont http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-10-09/ Today we had planned head north a ways to tackle Mount Abraham, one of the higher peaks in Vermont. The hike is about 2000 feet ...

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]]> Sun, 09 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Heading to Vermont http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-10-08/ We decided to have a long weekend in Vermont. It's one of the few states neither of us has been to, and Val was able ...

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]]> Sat, 08 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Road Trip 2022: By the Numbers http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-23/ I like to finish each road trip with a little introspection and some things to remind myself to think about for next time. One thing ...

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]]> Sat, 23 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Final Leg http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-22/ In the morning we packed the tent for the final time and made one last bowl of oatmeal to start our day. We then headed ...

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]]> Fri, 22 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 High Trestle Bridge http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-21/ Gas is much more expensive this trip than previous ones. If you are wondering, I have paid anywhere from about $4.30 to about $5.30 a ...

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]]> Thu, 21 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Starting Homeward http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-20/ Today we started home. It will take three days to get back if everything goes as planned. It is once again hard to say what ...

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]]> Wed, 20 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Theodore Roosevelt http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-19/ It was windy this morning. Really windy. We got up at some time in the morning, but our phones couldn't agree exactly what time it ...

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]]> Tue, 19 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Devils Tower http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-18/ Today we left the Hipcamp site at 7:00 after sleeping in a little (to 6:30). We needed a little extra rest, and it was so ...

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]]> Mon, 18 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Cave Day http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-17/ This morning we got up with the early birds. I mean this both literally (the Asian Doves were making a lot of noise) and figuratively ...

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]]> Sun, 17 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Badlands http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-16/ Badlands National Park is a dry place which only receives 16 inches of rain per year. We were "lucky" enough to catch half an inch ...

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]]> Sat, 16 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Custer's Critters and the Badlands http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-15/ We decided to start the day with a trip around the Wildlife Road. We saw Pronghorn Antelope, Buffalo, prairie dogs, and a lot of different ...

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]]> Fri, 15 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Custer State Park http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-14/ Today we started by taking the Needles Highway across the park. Since we were early in the morning, we got to see a lot of ...

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]]> Thu, 14 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Custer's First Stand http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-13/ Today is a repositioning day. We got up a bit later than usual, letting ourselves catch up on sleep. We also ate the "free" continental ...

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]]> Wed, 13 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Rocky III http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-12/ The plan for today was to hike Mt. Ida. It's a mountain hike that includes lakes and tundra on the west side of the park. ...

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]]> Tue, 12 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Rocky II http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-11/ Our second day in the Rockies started much like our first, as we got up in time to go through the entry gate at about ...

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]]> Mon, 11 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Rocky Mountain National Park http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-10/ Rocky Mountain is the big park on this trip, so we decided to stay four nights and have three days of hikes in the park. ...

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]]> Sun, 10 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Maroon Bells http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-09/ One of the premier hikes in Colorado is Maroon Bells, which was brought to my attention for this trip by my friend Chris who lived ...

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]]> Sat, 09 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Aspen http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-08/ We got to bed a little late last night taking sunset pictures, but we still got up around 5:30 to take some morning shots. We ...

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]]> Fri, 08 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Black Canyon of the Gunnison http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-07/ We started the morning with the Dunes hike that was postponed due to weather the night before. We hit the dunes early (driving this time), ...

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]]> Thu, 07 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Great Sand Dunes National Park http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-06/ Another early morning got us on the road before any traffic. We have had great luck (perhaps augmented with time zone changes) at waking up ...

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]]> Wed, 06 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Route 66 http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-05/ We began the morning with number four on the Hot Springs list: hike Hot Springs Mountain. The theory was to hike early before it was ...

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]]> Tue, 05 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Hot Springs http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-04/ Today was mostly spent as a driving day as we head west. We drove down to Memphis and west across Tennessee. Our planned walking stop ...

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]]> Mon, 04 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Mammoth Cave http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-03/ Today was all about cave tours. Mammoth Cave is the biggest cave system in the world, and the National Park has about a dozen or ...

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]]> Sun, 03 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Heading West http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-02/ Today we set off. We left the house at 7:00 AM heading for Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. The route took us acroos PA ...

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]]> Sat, 02 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Packed up http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-07-01/ After many months of planning, several weeks of ordering stuff online, several days of packing, and a few days of ordering last minute stuff online ...

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]]> Fri, 01 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Booking http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-06-21/ Booking gets a separate entry just because it was so bizarre to me. I started booking this trip in February, and at that time I ...

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]]> Tue, 21 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Planning the trip http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-06-20/ I started planning the trip in early February by picking the key points of the trip. This trip is once again centered around National Parks ...

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]]> Mon, 20 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Another Road Trip http://localhost:8000/blog/2022-06-18/ I'm going to try another one of my road trips. All my camping gear has been dormant for the duration of the Covid, but this ...

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]]> Sat, 18 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Prison, again? http://localhost:8000/blog/2019-12-31/ Alcatraz Island is also part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It didn’t surprise me that you need to book your tickets in advance; ...

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]]> Tue, 31 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000 A Long Walk http://localhost:8000/blog/2019-12-30/ My second-ever Lyft ride (also in a Prius) took us to Cliff House, which is a restaurant at the southern end of the Land’s End ...

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]]> Mon, 30 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000 San Francisco http://localhost:8000/blog/2019-12-29/ It was forecast to be a rainy Sunday so we went for more indoor-type activities. We started with a cable car ride up to the ...

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]]> Sun, 29 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000 The Only Floating National Historical Park http://localhost:8000/blog/2019-12-28/ The San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park claims to be the country’s only floating national park. Note that I use "national park" vs. "National Park" ...

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]]> Sat, 28 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Pacific Coast Highway http://localhost:8000/blog/2019-12-27/ Sea Glass Beach is a small section of beach in California that is mostly covered with glass. As you'd guess, it is really just the ...

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]]> Fri, 27 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000 San Francisco, Here I Come! http://localhost:8000/blog/2019-12-26/ Muir Woods National Monument is just north of San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge, so we rented a car first thing in the morning. ...

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]]> Thu, 26 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Road Trip 2019: By the Numbers http://localhost:8000/blog/2019-09-10/ There are always some fun numbers after a trip like this. There are more numbers that I have filled in later, like "pictures kept" and ...

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]]> Tue, 10 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Heading Home http://localhost:8000/blog/2019-09-09/ For my last day of the trip I woke up to the gentle sound of rain on the tent. It stopped after a bit and ...

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]]> Mon, 09 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Off to the Beach http://localhost:8000/blog/2019-09-08/ Today was the start of the trip home. My primary goal was to get past Chicago while it was still a weekend, which required about ...

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]]> Sun, 08 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Boat Trip http://localhost:8000/blog/2019-09-07/ The trains overnight came a bit too often for my taste. I was pretty tired, so it wouldn't have been a problem except that many ...

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]]> Sat, 07 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Heading West http://localhost:8000/blog/2019-09-06/ Most of my days are travel, hike, blog, sleep or hike, travel, blog, sleep. Today is pretty much a relocation day, and includes my first ...

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]]> Fri, 06 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Another Day, Different Peninsula http://localhost:8000/blog/2019-09-05/ Last night was a chilly camping night. It was 56 degrees when I got in bed, and 50 when I got up. I mention it ...

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]]> Thu, 05 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Back in the USA http://localhost:8000/blog/2019-09-04/ I finished the Canadian portion of my trip today, which gives me an opportunity for a few concluding remarks. First off, I traveled through the ...

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]]> Wed, 04 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Another Day on the Peninsula http://localhost:8000/blog/2019-09-03/ Last night was a bit interesting. I woke up around 3:00 and decided to get up to look at at the stars. It's very dark ...

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]]> Tue, 03 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000 The Great White North http://localhost:8000/blog/2019-09-02/ Today I crossed the border into Canada. Josh told me that morning border crossings were the easiest. After trying it this morning, I believe it ...

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]]> Mon, 02 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Heading for the Border http://localhost:8000/blog/2019-09-01/ Sunday is a filler day. Because I couldn't get a campsite until Monday, there's no reason to head across the border just yet. While there ...

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]]> Sun, 01 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000 The First Day http://localhost:8000/blog/2019-08-31/ Another Labor Day, and another trip begins. This year the route is different, but the goals are similar: See more country, hike, and take pictures. ...

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]]> Sat, 31 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Another Road Trip http://localhost:8000/blog/2019-08-29/ I'm putting together a road trip for this year. While there are still 28 National Parks I haven't seen, most of them in the Southwest, ...

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]]> Thu, 29 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Shenandoah Day 3 http://localhost:8000/blog/2019-06-28/ Today I have just one hike planned: White Oak Canyon Trail. This trail goes from Skyline Drive at the top to another road just outside ...

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]]> Fri, 28 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Shenandoah, Day 2 http://localhost:8000/blog/2019-06-27/ I had planned to start the morning with the Dark Hollow Falls hike, It's supposed to be a nice hike but very popular so I ...

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]]> Thu, 27 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Shenandoah National Park http://localhost:8000/blog/2019-06-26/ I took a few months off after my previous road trip, but I'm finally traveling again to places worth talking about. Shenandoah is the closest ...

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]]> Wed, 26 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000 By the Numbers http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-30/ There are always some fun numbers after a trip like this. There are more numbers that I have filled in later, like "pictures kept" and ...

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]]> Sun, 30 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 The Final Leg http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-29/ The last day of the trip started in Dayton with a visit to the National Museum of the USAF. The museum is on the Wright ...

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]]> Sat, 29 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 More Arches http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-28/ Today's stop was at another national park. It's currently the newest park (added February 2018) and smallest park at less than 100 acres. It's also ...

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]]> Fri, 28 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Back to the Salt Mines http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-27/ Today's goal was to get across the rest Kansas (most of it) and half way or so across Missouri. That would take me through Lawrence ...

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]]> Thu, 27 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 The Long Drive Home Begins http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-26/ Today the trip homeward started in earnest. I will need to drive 8-9 hours east each day to get back to PA. However, a few ...

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]]> Wed, 26 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Cliff Dwellings http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-25/ Last night it was windy. It blew hard all night, which is pretty noisy when you're in a tent. I will admit I slept very ...

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]]> Tue, 25 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 A Land of Canyons http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-24/ Today I headed for Canyonlands. I did some research online to pick my hikes, and found out that Canyonlands is really separated into three areas: ...

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]]> Mon, 24 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Arches, Arches Everywhere http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-23/ Today was the trip to Arches National Park. This one is not subtle about how it got its name; there are some 2000 arches in ...

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]]> Sun, 23 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 A Reef in the Desert? http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-22/ Today I toured Capital Reef. The whole area is so different from the Northeast that it is constantly surprising me. I suppose that if I ...

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]]> Sat, 22 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 No Caves For You! http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-21/ Great Basin is a smallish park and the only one in Nevada. It has Wheeler Peak which is about 13,000 feet and Lehman Caves. Unfortunately ...

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]]> Fri, 21 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 The Turn East http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-20/ Today I started back home. Apparently California wasn't too keen on the idea; when I got up Google told me that the road I was ...

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]]> Thu, 20 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 California Dude! http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-19/ Leaving a campground you have to yourself is always a little bittersweet. But I got up as usual at 6:00 and got ready, moving the ...

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]]> Wed, 19 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Crater Lake http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-18/ This morning I headed off to Crater Lake. Now that I've left the land of the Squatch, the sun was shining and the skies were ...

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]]> Tue, 18 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Heading South http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-17/ Today was a relocation day. The primary task was dropping my girlfriend off at the airport in Seattle (since some of us have to work ...

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]]> Mon, 17 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 It's Always Sunny in Seattle http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-16/ Today's journey took our intrepid travelers a few hours east to Mount Rainier National Park. We crossed the Tacoma Narrows bridge on the way. That's ...

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]]> Sun, 16 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Beach Trip http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-15/ Today's hike was a triangle out at Ozette. I don't think it was specifically a rain forest but it has the usual quantity of ferns, ...

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]]> Sat, 15 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Rainforests http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-14/ "This does feel rainforest-y." "Because we're in a forest and it's raining?" After living in your car for a couple weeks, adding another person is ...

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]]> Fri, 14 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Driving Day Heading West http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-13/ Today was a repositioning day as I drove to Seattle to meet my girlfriend at the airport. Hopefully the addition of someone with a better ...

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]]> Thu, 13 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Glacier National Park http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-12/ My friend Adam was enthusiastic about huckleberries during his time in Montana, so I really wanted to try some. If you've never tried huckleberries that ...

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]]> Wed, 12 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 A Day Off? http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-11/ Today was a planned day off. It sounds really weird to talk about taking a day off while on vacation, but sooner or later you ...

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]]> Tue, 11 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Back on the Road http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-10/ While I will grumble about the long traffic jams caused by viewing wildlife, I understand that is what a lot of people are most interested ...

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]]> Mon, 10 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Yellowstone http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-09/ I chose to spend some additional time in Yellowstone because there is so much to see, and because a lot of other people are trying ...

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]]> Sun, 09 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Adjacent Parks http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-08/ I spent last night in a hotel. I had originally planned to camp, but checking the weather a week back it was supposed to be ...

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]]> Sat, 08 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Heading West Again http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-07/ Today was mainly a travel day. I had to get all the way across Wyoming, and they don't have a turnpike so it was maybe ...

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]]> Fri, 07 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Caves and Towers http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-06/ Waking up in Rushmore just made me feel touristy so I was itching to hit the road. I called an audible and toured through Custer ...

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]]> Thu, 06 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 So Much to See in this Area http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-05/ Today started at 6:00 AM like most of my mornings. It took about 40 minutes to break camp and eat breakfast. Afterwards I headed to ...

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]]> Wed, 05 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Keep Moving http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-04/ Today my schedule consisted of two things: hike at Theodore, and drive to Badlands. For the hike at TR I opted for the Petrified Forest. ...

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]]> Tue, 04 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 My First Park http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-03/ It's day 2.5 and I arrived at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. As Julius Caesar would have said, "Theodorus est divisa in partes ...

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]]> Mon, 03 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Another day driving http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-02/ Day 2 is the longest planned driving day on the trip. Because I decided that the trip really begins in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, I ...

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]]> Sun, 02 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 And so it begins http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-09-01/ Friday night I loaded up the car with all the stuff I've packed. No doubt too much of it will never be used, and yet ...

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]]> Sat, 01 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Sleeping - the other half of camping http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-08-30/ I mentioned previously that the things which make camping different than just a normal vacation are eating and sleeping. Once you're fed and ready to ...

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]]> Thu, 30 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Picking a Route http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-08-28/ I knew when I was going to travel, and for how long. By coincidence, September 2018 starts on a Saturday and ends on a Sunday ...

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]]> Tue, 28 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Learning to Camp http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-08-26/ Before I head off across the country I needed to learn how to camp. I will just be car camping so I don't need to ...

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]]> Sun, 26 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Before the Trip http://localhost:8000/blog/2018-08-25/ What is he thinking? I am going to take a month off and visit some of our National Parks. I decided to camp as much ...

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