U.S. National Parks: America's History (Part 3)

Fast forwarding to the 20th century, my epic 25 day SW road trip did take in some U.S. National Park Service (NPS) sites including the homes of two United States' Presidents (Hoover #31 and Truman #33) as well as a couple of historically significant times in our American history.

The birthplace of Herbert Hoover is located in West Branch, Iowa.  While I had previously been there as part of my visit to his Presidential Library and Museum next door, I had been unable to visit inside the buildings that make up the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site.  This was an early morning stop . . . the first in fact . . . after leaving Milwaukee earlier that day.  A good place to get out, take a walk (and a few photos), eat breakfast and head on down the road!

The next morning was targeted for Independence, Missouri and the Harry S Truman National Historic Site.  While I had also been to Truman's Presidential Library and Museum a couple of years back, I was unable to secure a ticket for the tour of his family home, where he returned after his presidency until the time of his death.  Unfortunately, no photography was permitted inside the home . . . but I thoroughly enjoyed by private 9:30am tour, as there were no other visitors there at 9:00am on a Thursday morning.

In addition to the film back at the visitor center, the Trumans' story is told in the house across the street, which does not require tickets for admission and photos are permitted.  I would highly recommend spending a couple of hours visiting all three of these sites.  If you are also considering including his Presidential Library & Museum, you will need at least four or five hours and should start with the Visitor Center and Presidential Home since tickets are limited and only available in the visitor center on the day of your visit.

While in New Mexico, I wanted to check out Los Alamos and the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.  Having recently watched the movie "Oppenheimer" I was curious about the town and life of those working on the first atomic bomb.  I had hoped to learn more about the top secret project, but I guess much of that is . . . well . . . still top secret!  The NPS visitor center is located in the Los Alamos Visitor Center and doesn't have much to see there.  I was especially disappointed there was no film to tell at least some of the story.  The walking tour of the area where folks lived was interesting and there was a community museum in the area.  Since it was late in the afternoon, and I still wanted to visit Bandelier National Monument before they closed, I pushed on.  All in all, this was a let down, but it was also my own fault since I made a (bad) choice to make time for Bandalier.  To do it over again, I should have skipped that and done the museum!

My final "history lesson" experienced thanks to my NPS visits was also the last of my journey . . . Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park in Topeka, Kansas.  This was planned as the reason to come to Topeka while also wanting to watch the professional women bowlers in their first tournament of the year.

This landmark U.S. Supreme Court case rendered segregation in public schools based on race as unconstitutional.  The 1954 decision came as five separate lower court decisions were brought forward and collectively known as "Brown v. Board of Education."  The case was largely constructed by the NAACP with Thurgood Marshall arguing as lead attorney.  Later (1967) he would become the first African American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.  This NPS visitor center and exhibits are located in the former Monroe Elementary School, which was one of four African American segregated schools in Topeka. The exhibits and films throughout did an excellent job of telling the stories and sharing the impact of segregation on a number of people, families and communities.  I was very happy to have made the decision earlier in my trip to return to Milwaukee via Topeka.

U.S. National Parks: America's History (Part 2)

Fort Union NHS (NM) Exhibit

The Santa Fe Trail was the primary route for settlers as well as transportation of commercial goods in the mid 19th century. It was interesting how much of my road trip crossed the trail . . . with historical landmarks dotting the five-state region.  This was quite by accident, although looking back at the events of the time, it all makes logical sense that so much of my journey would include the telling of how America was shaped between 1820 and 1900.

Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop, Farm & Museum (KS)

My first interaction with the Santa Fe Trail was on day #3 of my adventure, in Olathe, KS.  I was just passing through town on the interstate highway when one of those large brown "ATTRACTION" signs caught my eye.  I had no idea what the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop, Farm & Museum was about, but I was ready to stop to stretch my legs, so off I went.  It was less than a couple of miles from the exit so the detour seemed reasonable.  Unfortunately the place was overrun with school kids on a field trip, so I only browsed the museum and exhibits.  I did enjoy reading more about the Santa Fe Trail and the route taken from Missouri to New Mexico.  Somewhere else to return when I have more time to explore the grounds and buildings.

While I had booked two nights at the KOA campground in Santa Fe, I of course expected to have some historical visits to learn more about the importance of Santa Fe and the route taken back in the 19th century.  Honestly, I knew little about the forts built along the route to assure safe passage of settlers, as well as those set up as trade post destinations where goods were traded with local natives as well as the travelers heading west.

This photo is of Bent's Old Fort (CO) and Fort Union (NM) . . . both of which were used as trading posts on the western frontier.  Bent's Old Fort was largely used to trade for bison hides; while Fort Union was more of a community within itself.  The photo below (right) is what is left standing of the Fort Union hospital.  On the day of my visit, it was cold and rainy, so I didn't explore out on the trails to see the rest of the fort's ruins.  As for the Bent's Old Fort (left), the grounds are currently off limits to visitors due to restoration work going on this summer.

Bent's Old Fort (L) and Fort Union (R)

 

I also visited the Fort Larned (KS) National Historic Site.  Knowing this one would be fully accessible and one of the best restored and preserved sites of this era, I planned ahead and camped nearby so as to allow for a first of the morning visit the next day.  I was not disappointed with all there was to see and do there!  Two hours went by quickly, while I also ran my mobile device (camera) to less than 10% battery juice.

The sandstone buildings were constructed in the late 1850's, it served as the "Guardian of the Santa Fe Trail" during the time in history known as "the Indian Wars era."  Today 9 of the original buildings remain and are open for visitors to see what life was like at an Army outpost.  From the NPS park brochure, the fort even had a bowling alley, "The many wood and adobe buildings outside the central parade ground (hospital, laundry, stables, mail station, bowling alley . . .) quickly deteriorated and do not survive."  WOW what I would give to see THEIR bowling alley!  In addition to the well preserved and maintained buildings and authentic furnishings, NPS continues to provide historical and interpretive services throughout the grounds.  During my visit, I enjoyed talking with the ranger doing the blacksmith exhibit. I hope such will continue long beyond the DOGE era of government cutbacks!

Sights from Fort Larned NHS (KS)

While in Larned, Kansas I paid a short (hour) visit to Santa Fe Trail Center, which was less than 15 minutes away from the fort.  As with most community historical society museums, I found the exhibits well done with authentic items from life back when America was being settled.  There were also a number of original buildings on the grounds, but once again, I didn't have hours to spend viewing all of the items on display.

Santa Fe Trail Center (KS)

U.S. National Parks: America's History (Part 1)

Abo Ruins in New Mexico

Before the expansion west, the land to become known as the United States of America was home to many native people . . . tribal villages and pueblos were scattered throughout the American West and South West.  Fortunately for us today, many of them remain to help tell the stories of the indigenous people predating the white man's discovery and westward movement of the 18th & 19th centuries.  I believe the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) has done a good job of bringing to light much of the "dark history" of how the United States came to be at the expense of America's first native inhabitants.

During my journey across America, I was able to visit what are the remains of several native people's culture, particularly in New Mexico, Utah and Colorado.  My photos don't do justice to all there is to learn and experience, and yet, it is my hope they may inspire others to explore this region and its history.

Museum @ Canyon of the Ancients (CO)

On one of my days moving to my friend Debbie's in west-central New Mexico, I stumbled upon the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument.  Not an "official" NPS site, but rather part of the vast Bureau of Land Management (BLM) holdings administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior (the same government agency responsible for the NPS).  While this region holds the history of over 12,000 years of human existence, my limited time passing through only allowed for a short (90 minute) visit to the museum.  The exhibits and short film are excellently done and definitely worth a stop if passing through the area.

Ironically Hovenweep National Monument, where I had camped the night before just over the Utah border, is part of the vast 176,000 acres with more than 8,300 documented archaeological sites.  Earlier that morning I did a short walk from the visitor center to the overlook but those images pale in comparison to some of the others I would see later in my travels that day, including these three . . . Aztec Ruins (NM), Mesa Verde (CO) and Pecos (UT).

Later in our history, when the westward push across the land infringed upon the tribes already living in the region, the post Civil War Army was utilized to manage and control how the land would be taken over for settlement largely thanks to the Homestead Act of 1862.  Several treaties with the Indians were broken, time and again.  Atrocities to villages, often inhabited by women, children and the elderly was sadly how our country was expanded and settled.  During my trip, I visited the location of two particularly heinous actions against the Native Americans . . . Washita Battlefield National Historic Site in Oklahoma and Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site in Colorado.  Both left me saddened for the loss of innocent lives at those locations.  The story of Cheyenne Chief Black Kettle spans both of these sites.  He was a man of peace, attempting to maintain co-existence with the U.S. Government.  While he (and his family) survived the attack at Sand Creek in 1864, he was slaughtered four years later when his small village was ambushed by the Army and the men of Col. George A Custer's 7th Cavalry at Washita.

Washita Battlefield NHS (OK)

Sand Creek Massacre NHS (CO)

 

 

 

Retired? From "WORK" - YES . . . From "Bowling" - not so much!

As just about anyone who knows me knows, bowling has been an integral part of my life, including much of the last 30 years of my career.  Since 2014 I channeled my love and passion for the game working for the Bowling Centers Association of Wisconsin (BCAW).  Having failed retirement from BCAW twice, I was genuinely looking forward to this road trip as a final cutting of the chord after I completed my last contract project for them in early April.

I'm fortunate that David has always been supportive of me and my life choices . . . but especially over the last 10 years with BCAW!  He has also seemed to enjoy the ride and the people we interacted with both professionally and socially.

Even my sister Pam became a key member of my "team" especially on our Wisconsin Vintage Alleys Tours.  I feel so very blessed to have the love & support of so many great people.

Because of my deep interest in most things "bowling" that I seemingly can't just walk away . . . forever.  Road trips often include an element of small rural towns that remind me of how bowling flourishes in Wisconsin in spite of the harsh winters and glorious summers.  Any trip down Main Street USA could include a small town bowling alley . . . even better if it still looks like it did back in the 1960's (or earlier).

As with each of my prior retirements (May 2022 and May 2024), I was committed on THIS TRIP to avoid looking for bowling distractions along the way.  It's not unusual for me to use my GARMIN GPS (aka TOOTS) to do a search to see if there might be a bowling center in a town I'm passing through.  But for this 25 day SW Road Trip, I knew if I allowed myself to get caught up in such, I would never get to where I was needing to be on any given night.

But when you're driving literally down Main Street and pass this sign, how can I just keep on going without curiosity getting the better of me?  So yep, I turned around and went to check it out . . . especially when I then used TOOTS and didn't see that Fairview, OK had a bowling center.  Sometimes these "former bowling alleys" are some of the best vintage era finds.

When I walked in GB's Grill & Lounge, there was so signage or mention of bowling anywhere.  I asked the bartender who started to tell their story, but realized from my questions, she needed to ask the guy in the kitchen.  He was so very nice and gracious to take me around the 12 lane center, explaining how bowling had pretty much died coming through COVID in 2020 and that the owner was already selling off some of the machinery for parts.

I reminisced with him about these old AMF "Lazy Susan" ball tables, which were just like what we had in my home center back in Virginia in the 60's & 70's.  As much as I had hoped maybe I could help the proprietor make a connection or two to bring this old girl back to life, a month later (to the day in fact) I learned "GB" had closed his business for good.

As much as in the moment that day I was a little disappointed in my lack of discipline to drive right past this place, I was glad I did turn around and go back to spend the hour or so seeing and photographing this place.  Too many towns and villages are losing bowling centers, so any time I get to document one before it ceases to exist is time well spent.

A couple of weeks later I was driving through the high Colorado plains heading for Great Sand Dunes National Park.  My routing took me zigging and zagging through the town of Walsenburg.  I don't know why, but this place just "felt like" it should have an old bowling alley, so I did use TOOTS to do a search . . . Crown Lanes popped up and it was less than .5 miles away.  Well of course I had to do a drive by, even if it was early in the afternoon on a Wednesday.  It was closed, as expected and an internet search and phone calls to the listing phone number provided no insight as to operating hours or if they had already closed for the summer with league season over.

So I continued on my way to the national park, keeping in the back of my mind, I would no doubt have to come back through Walsenburg to head on north to the next general area on my itinerary.  I enjoyed my visit to the Great Sand Dunes and on my way back towards town (more than 90 minutes away) I tried the phone number again . . . and got an answer.  I was excited to be speaking to one of the two owners.  He told me he was just getting ready for the 7pm league and to feel free to stop by.

With a name like Crown Lanes, I could only HOPE they would have vintage era Brunswick Gold Crown equipment.  They didn't disappoint!  I enjoyed my conversation with Ron who told of the history of bowling here . . . how the lanes were installed in the 1960's into an old 1940's car dealership building and that his parents bought the place in 1963. Ron & his brother Fred have been continually operating the family business since 1978.  As the league bowlers started arriving, it was fun to interact with them, including some of the old-timers who have been bowling here for decades.

This random stop (twice!) didn't come without a price however.  The lost time (probably close to 2 hours for the full day) set me well behind my goal of reaching Eads, CO by nightfall.  Heck, it was nearly dark when I finally pulled myself away from Crown Lanes!  My next couple of hours of adjusting my itinerary resulted in a rainy slog trying to find overnight accommodations (hotel or campground) somewhere near La Junta.  With intermittent cell coverage, David was able to provide an assist from back home.  Finally at around 9pm, I settled on a campsite at the local KOA.   It was a stark reminder why I can't allow myself to be distracted by bowling alleys along the way . . . but this one was surely worth the time and effort! 

So learning my lesson . . . I did pass by this place which was literally a block away from the campground I visited to shower in Cortez, CO the next day.  It is doubtful they were even open but I didn't invest any time to research the inside or their operating hours.  Heck for all I know, they too might be permanently closed.

PBA super star Kyle Troup

Still a fan of bowling and some of the professional players I enjoy following, I was fortunate to catch the early rounds of the PBA Playoffs while staying at my friend Debbie's ranch.  Having their "guest house" all to myself in the evening, allowed me some wind-down time after our full day of exploring the beautiful New Mexico mountains.

PWBA Tour Stop in Topeka, KS
Diana Zavjalova & Verity Crawley

I did have a couple of options for my return home to Milwaukee the last days coming through Kansas and possibly Nebraska.  I decided that I would swing east through Kansas and stop by one of the qualifying rounds of the PWBA tournament in Topeka.  I enjoyed watching the Friday evening 6-game block . . . THESE LADIES CAN BOWL!  Their talent never ceases to amaze me.  I wish them all a great upcoming tour season.

This all played out well since there is a US National Park Service site there too.  Booking a hotel was easy and using my Wyndham Rewards points, very affordable.  It also set me up for a pleasant 12 hour/650 mile drive home the next day.

Never Boring - Not Going to Go Hungry!

When on the road, even PB&J is a yummy delight!  This was day #6 on the road, making a late lunch in Saguaro National Park near Tucson, AZ.  The small condiment packets made for a change of pace from the cooler and dry box of food.

Typically when I start out on any road trip, my cooler has some basic items . . . 4 or 5 hard boiled eggs, prepared tuna salad, several pre-cooked slices of bacon and a small jar of mayonnaise (or Miracle Whip).  This will generally get me through the first several days without having to hit a drive-thru or grocery store.  For this trip, David also prepared sausage gravy and a couple of biscuits for me to try out my new "heated lunch box" bought on Amazon a couple of months ago.

My dry box of groceries included a loaf of bread, potato chips, apples, Lance cheese & peanut butter cracker snack packs, trail mix, crackers (saltines and Ritz), several cans of soups and tuna fish . . . and of course, David's famous homemade cookies.  Sometimes I still pack Nilla Wafers, but the last few road trips, they've been omitted from my grocery list.

The way my schedule worked out for this trip, I was on the road eating from my provisions for the first four days . . . and then was at my sister's followed by my friend Dawn's for a couple more nights.  Having some home cooked meals plus a nice dinner out, was really a special treat.  All of this made planning a little bit easier in terms of how much food I would need with me, before hitting a grocery store.  After my time with them, a stop at the local Fry's (a Kroger affiliate in Arizona) for the next assortment of food times including cereal, milk, bananas, roast turkey lunch meat and yogurt.  Saving these more perishable items for later in my trip allowed for a nice change of pace too.  A week later, leaving Moab, UT would be my final grocery store shop of the trip. A few more yogurts, a "half loaf" of bread, potato chips and a couple of bananas would get me home!

One of my favorite home breakfast meals is greek yogurt with granola and blueberries.  After my first breakfast with the single serving Chobani yogurts, I lamented not thinking to bring a small bag of granola with me.  But I quickly realized that one (and a half) of David's homemade oatmeal raisin cookies crumbled into my yogurt cup would probably taste pretty good.  AND it did . . . in the strawberry and peach flavors . . . blueberry not so much!

In addition to the time spent with friends/family, I did plan for a couple of nights in hotels throughout my adventure, which provided for additional breakfast and dinner options.  While some of the hotel choices for breakfast were rather lame, I didn't mind picking up a packaged muffin and some breakfast condiments along the way.  And rarely will I pass up the waffle maker when available.  Unfortunately the Hobbs (NM) Best Western didn't have much to accompany the waffle but I did enjoy it.  By far, the best hotel dining experience was the buffet at Ruby's Inn, a Best Western property in Bryce Canyon.  The hot breakfast buffet was included in the price of the room ($130/night) . . . and the lunch/dinner buffet was full of great options at a very fair price.  I enjoyed both of my meals there!

Admittedly, by the third week on the road, I was starting to crave certain meals . . . especially a decent burger & fries with a creamy chocolate milkshake.  When in Larned, KS I asked the young lady at the Santa Fe Trail Museum for a recommendation OTHER than the Sonic Drive-In up the street.  She was spot on with her suggestion, even if I did drop nearly $20 for my lunch.

These are just a few of the cool places I enjoyed meals at while on the road!

The Adobe Cafe & Bakery (Reserve, NM)

Cafe 247 (Lucerne Valley, CA)

Macayo's (Surprise, AZ)

But as much as I enjoy a good meal in a diner or restaurant, sometimes there is just nothing better than a picnic lunch in a nice park with a view. This was my view in Saguaro National Park (AZ).  That PB&J at the top of this page was marvelous!

Here are a couple of collages of photos of just a few of my meals on the road.  Again, I owe a big THANK YOU to Cindy, Dawn & Debbie for the wonderful hospitality and home cooked meals, as well as some pretty fabulous dining experiences while we were together.

Breakfast from cereal to eggs & bacon

Lunch/Dinner were wonderful too

 

 

Car Camping Across America

Hovenweep NM (UT)

What's not to enjoy when this is your view?  Hovenweep National Monument is a NPS site with a small 30 unit campground in the high (5,300 ft) Colorado Plateau on the UT/CO border.  It was one of the few campgrounds I could book rather last minute, largely in part to its remote location.

Hovenweep like all of the US National Park Service campgrounds I stayed at, provides guests with the Senior or Access Pass a 50% discount on camp fees.  Many require advance booking online at www.recreation.gov.  This particular site was just $10 since there are no hook-ups or showers at Hovenweep.  There was, however running water and flushing toilets so it wasn't totally roughing it while camping there.

Joshua Tree NP - Jumbo Rocks CG (CA)

Zion NP - Watchman CG (UT)

Arches NP - Devil's Garden CG (UT)

 

 

 

These three national park campgrounds are situated within the park boundaries, and provide well maintained restrooms (with flush toilets) and picnic areas. At Zion NP sites with electric hook-ups are available for an added fee.

Perhaps the best thing of all are the very dark skies!  This was sunrise over Arches National Park . . . simply amazing as first light silhouettes the surrounding mountains.

Also booked on Recreation.gov was Big Bend Park in Canton, OK which I believe is administered by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. This was a random "find" when researching campgrounds along my route in Oklahoma.  I wasn't sure what to expect when I read this was generally an area known for fishing and hunting . . . but boy was I pleasantly pleased when I arrived and realized I had my end of the campground (away from the fishing boat launch area) all to myself.  And what a great view too!  This campground provides an exceptional value at just $9/night (non-electric site w/ Access Pass) although I booked a site with electric hook-ups ($12.50/night w/Access Pass) mainly to be right next to the bathrooms which also had nice showers.

Another campground I had all to myself was Park Pawnee in Larned, KS.  The early part of my road trip was easy to plan for especially being set to visit several national parks.  After the third week, however, most of my trip was sorta winging it without reservations booked for campgrounds after leaving New Mexico.  Having run into a challenge in La Junta, CO the night before, the day I was heading for Fort Larned National Historic Site I felt some pressure to find a convenient campground for the following morning's visit at Fort Larned.  With only 14 full hook-up sites @ $20/night, I feared spaces would go quickly . . . so I made sure to arrive well before nightfall.  I couldn't believe the park was open and that other than day visitors enjoying a warm spring evening, the place was deserted.  With a decent bathroom with running water, what more could I want?  I've stayed in local county and municipal campgrounds before with mixed reviews . . . but this one was exceptional.

The only "commercial" campgrounds I stayed in were two KOAs . . . one prebooked for two nights in Santa Fe, NM and the other in the aforementioned La Junta, CO.  KOAs are generally well regarded among the RV community, especially if you are a member of their reward program.  For no more camping than I do in any given year, it doesn't make sense for me to pay a membership fee for the nominal discount received.  I can remember when really nice tent sites could be had for around $20 to $25 at just about any KOA in the country.  But like everything else, prices have been steadily climbing.  I paid $48/night in Santa Fe a just a little under that in La Juanta . . . but only because the night clerk apparently quoted me the wrong price.  To be honest . . . upwards of $50 for a dry tent site, even if there are nice showers, feels like highway robbery.  My favorite KOA of all time is in Cody, WY where at least they provide guests with a complimentary made-to-order pancake breakfast each morning.  I just love that KOA!

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the nice amenities provided by Xanterra for guests staying at their Fiddler's Campground in Death Valley National Park.  As the official concessionaire operating the two resort properties in Death Valley, having access to the swimming pools at either resort was a nice bonus, specially since they have a wonderful pool house with showers available to all guests.

While the rack rate for the campground was a pricey $59/night (for full hook-ups, no dry/tent sites available), I did score a 50% off internet special.  So at just $29/night . . . this was a very fair price especially since the Furnace Creek Campground operated by the National Park Service was going to be $15 for a dry site (with the 50% off Access Pass rate), PLUS I was planning to pay the $10-$15 for a "day pass" to have access to the pool and showers at the nearby Oasis Inn Resort (photo to left).  I loved my early morning swim followed by a relaxing shower before heading on Utah.  And extra added bonus . . . free WiFi on the grounds at the resort.  I was able to log-in from their main property parking lot as well as out by the swimming pool.  It was nice to catch up with David by text after being off the grid for the better part of the afternoon and evening before.

Just a couple more camping photos!

Early morning view out the back of my SUV - Arches NP

  

Movie Time @ Joshua Tree NP

How to Prepare for Four Weeks on the Road?

Almost every road trip begins with the research necessary to create a game plan of desired destinations or sights to see.  For me, knowing hours of operation, sunrise/sunset and average daily temps are all important things to know when cobbling together my itinerary.  This is just one page of the work that went into my framing out my anticipated 25 days on the road.

The other key piece of information necessary to have is the travel route and time/distance between destinations.  I still find MapQuest to be the best online tool for my purposes.  Sometimes it feels like information overload, but time and again, I find myself thankful for the amount of research and detail I document before leaving home.  This is especially important when audibles are necessary due to unforeseen situations like weather, illness or just spending more time in one place than originally expected.

For this trip, here's how my mapping looked . . . I know it's very busy but all of the data was helpful while out on the road.

For those who followed along via Facebook, you probably recognize that I did in fact do a big end-of-trip audible working my way home through Topeka, KS rather than heading up into Nebraska.  That was somewhat of a mid-trip decision as to whether or not I wanted to stop in on the Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA) tour stop or check out the Ashfall Fossil Beds State Park in central Nebraska.  My love for bowling won out!

Once the research and routing have been completed, the next step is deciding where to overnight and whether car camping or some other overnight accommodations are preferred.  Calendaring was essential to organize my day-to-day plans, as well as to provide David with something to follow along as he monitored my trip to make sure I was safe.

Again this trip was unique not only in the number of days/nights on the road, but also the fact that I had friends & family along the way who had invited me to stay with them.  These were wonderful opportunities to spend quality time with some people who are very dear to me.  Their homes were a nice comfortable break to not only sleeping in my SUV, but also to share enjoyable meals with them.  Thank you Cindy, Dawn & Debbie for sharing your homes and local communities with me.  I will fondly look back on this trip and my time spent with you as highlights.

I realize that this may be way more planning and detail than most people do for a road trip.  I also know that sometimes you just want to get in the car and go.  But given my interests in specific US National Park locations and the fact that I was heading out during spring break and traveling over Easter weekend, I knew that to stay inside many of the top national parks in the country, I would need to book campsites when they first become available . . . which is generally six months prior.  So for many of my camping plans, I was booking back in October/November.  This was the case for Joshua Tree NP, Zion NP and Arches NP.  Some parks' campgrounds were on a first come-first serve basis which created other challenges.  In the case of Death Valley NP, I booked a campsite at the adjacent Xanterra property . . . and for Bryce Canyon NP, I reserved a nice room at the local Best Western hotel.  Some campgrounds were wide open even late in the planning stages, like Hovenweep NM which I booked just a week prior to hitting the road.

As much as I too would like to wing it on most road trips, it did bite me in the butt the night I was heading into Colorado after an early spring snow storm heading out of New Mexico.  My unplanned side trip (and hour long visit) to a vintage era bowling alley had me looking well into the evening for a campground.  Thankfully David was able to provide an assist, although the local motels I was considering booked up quickly, causing me to settle for a KOA with a less than desirable set up for me car camping in the winter weather.  But at the end of the day, it all worked out and set me up for a wonderful morning in La Junta, CO where I met some nice folks and had a great blueberry pancake breakfast!

About my SUV car camping set up . . . I have been car camping now for over 10  years in my Hyundai Santa Fe.  When we bought it back in 2014, I specifically wanted to be sure it would be comfortable enough to sleep in.  David & I have worked over the years to perfect my bedroll, and this trip was no exception in terms of a new learning curve.  That said, I believe my next trip out (July to NY) will be even better that last year's!

I've had folks ask me about my specific bedroll set up . . . so here it is!  We use a packing blanket underneath the lower half of the sleeping area.  With my 60/40 split back seat, the 60% side is the perfect width for my body.  The packing blanket helps to level out some of the steepness from the head to foot, leaving what I feel is a perfect amount of incline for my upper body & head.  I have a 2" camping air mattress as the bottom layer, with a 3" memory foam mattress pad added for comfort.

As far as my bedding, I have used just a sleeping bag . . . and I have also made the bed like at home with a sheet, blanket and comforter/quilt on top.  My latest version is a hybrid with a sheet used to cover the bedding (memory foam mattress) folded in such as way as the bottom acts as a cover sheet and then top is over me as the first layer of covers.  I have a nice fleece blanket to put over me if I get chilly at night . . . and then if I really get cold, I can unzip and open my sub-zero sleeping bag and lay it over me as I would a top comforter or bedspread.  It dropped into the mid 30's several nights and I stayed toasty warm!

Planning for eating on the road is a major process too.  Thinking about what general meals to have eating out of a cooler and dry box, rather than the drive-thru or restaurants is a major consideration.  As much as I enjoy a good meal in a diner, I don't like taking time out of my day to stop and eat.  Often my preference is to make a quick bowl of cereal or a sandwich while sitting and enjoying nature around me.

I do pack a box with the stuff I need to grill while on the road, but I have never round it very convenient to do.  That said, I will probably always carry what I need (charcoal, starters, lighter and grill utensils) even if they aren't used.  You can see "that box" of supplies in the photo above, to the right of my bedroll.

The box in the photo to the left is my "dry box" which general has snack items, cans of soup, crackers, bread and trail mix.

In the front passenger floorboard is my Kooltron cooler which runs AC/DC and is a wonderful improvement over regular ice dependent coolers. When I first start out on any road trip, I almost always have some precooked bacon and hard boiled eggs in the cooler.  They make a nice breakfast, and a day or two into the trip, I enjoy making egg salad for lunch.

There are times when I need to supplement this cooler with ice, since the refrigeration doesn't run when the car engine is off.  Generally if the nighttime temps are below 50° F this cooler will keep things safe.  But for nights like in Death Valley when it was still in the 70's overnight, I did add a bag of ice to help keep my milk and yogurt cold.  For nights spent in a hotel, I can take the cooler into my room and plug it into the wall outlet to run it through the night.  It really is a very versatile cooler which I'm glad to have.

I will have a separate blog post about dining on the road, with a lot of photos of some of the "meals" I had while on this trip.

In the meantime, I will close this entry with a photo of perhaps the most important meal prep that happens before I hit the road . . .