backwoods

Here is the trip report from 2 years ago on my first JK adventure: First big trip in my 2012 JKU Rubi

In the past 2 years, I have added 33" Federal Couragia's, ProComp 7005 wheels, Smittybilt front and rear bumpers, and a few other bits...

Daughter #1 is now 22, Daughter #2 is now 19, and the JK has over 50K miles on it!

So let's try for one last family trip before the girls are to "big" to hang out with their old dad...

Now that they have been there before, they both have specific requests of specific things they want to do, but there is another change. D#2 has been working her first real job this summer, so finding a windows of opportunity was difficult. I have also been self employed since January 1st, so I'm not constrained with vacation requests. So here is what we worked out...

D#1 and I head out this morning and D#2 will fly out and join us later, thanks to an uncle with skymiles, who got her cheap ticket! Otherwise we still wouldn't make it work!


Here we go:

As is our tradition , first fuel stop / road break is here: Texas Best Smokehouse



Discovered that Panera in Denton TX has iPad self ordering and food was faster than McDs!!!! (Which isnt saying much)



Around 782 miles on the day. Since I am not limited with vacation windows and available vacation days anymore, we decided to break the drive up and not do the 24 hour straight thru run... So we are in Amarillo, TX.


We have gone from around 500ft above sea level at my house to around 3700 ft, so far. Also drove for a while with the dash showing 105 degrees F!!


After a few hundred miles of scenery that makes the Mississippi Delta look exciting...


We decided to have a good supper (Hoffbrau Steak House)


And then had a little daylight left, so we drove out to the Cadillac Ranch (In case you have not heard of it, click here for more info)




The layers of graffiti and spray paint are so thick, the cars have a plasticy / molded look...




Had to add my own little "tag"...


After Cadillac Ranch, we stopped at a Gander Mountain on the way back into town and I discovered someone is using my name without permission!!! :rofl

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Yep, it's nice be self employed. Don't have to do the 24 hour drive straight thru like last time to conserve vacation days!!

Got an early start (left motel at 7, which became 6 when we crossed border)



Made our usual stop at Russell's Truck and Travel center


A little steak & eggs for breakfast:


Had to check out the museum at Russell's. .



Love their 58 Impala...




Reminded me of the one I was driving around last week with JeffRides:



The museum attendant told me he heard those Impalas were rare enough that if they could find an oil spot from one, they would build a car out of it!! And I saw 2 in one week and even got to drive one of them!!!

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Me and D#1 in the museum attendants booth:



Had a little GPS trouble with the Zumo GPS this morning. It was like the routing aoftware could not connect to any of my waypoints in NM... I finally realized that when I last installed map updates, I didnt highlight NM, CO, AZ! Duh! Quick link with laptop and at least the older maps are back and I-40 exists again! Lol

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So hours and hours of this today...







We finally get to Mexican Hat and some supper...

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Wifi is about useless at the motel, so I can't upload my pics from good camera, just cell phone...


Our motel has a great view:

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Day 2 from the good camera!
So we now return you to previously scheduled content...

We leave Russell's Travel center after breakfast and tour of their car museum, and continue west...




As we pass Santa Rosa, I spy the Hampton Inn where I spent a while repairing the sway bar on the Wrangler 2 years ago...


Checking the GPS, we have gotten over 5000 ft of elevation.
I guess the snow in winter is bad enough the Interstate can close?


When you get out in the "dead zone" as I call it, all you see if ghost towns, Route 66 relics and the advertisements for the tourist traps!


And painted overpasses


And long, long, straight sections of highway...




Clines Corners is one of D#1's favorite stops, so we stretch out legs, top of the tanks,




Soon, after I take back over driving, we are pulling through ABQ. I knew to take a right turn at Albuquerque!!!


We pull over to get food, and all of a sudden I am having allergy problems. We run in a RX store and get allergy medicine for both of us (non-drowsy) and roll on. Soon I am getting weak feeling and have itchy watery eyes and more. So D#1 gets back in the driver seat.








And on up US550 we go... past many casinos...

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I guess the Native Americans have elections, too..


We soon make it to Bloomfield for another gas fill up...


We hang a left and drive on




And another casino and racetrack




In case anyone hasn't noticed, there are a lot of rocks out here!


There is even a Shiprock


And a drunk indian in the back of a truck yelling at the world..


A little closer to Shiprock




It sure was nice of the Palefaces to move the Natives from the lush green forest of the south, full of animals, water, streams, etc and give them this nice expanse of nothing... (sarcasm)


And soon we finish our trip thru NM and enter a little corner of Arizona

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ARE WE THERE YET?!?!?! :eek1




And UTAH!!!




Still not THERE?!?!?!


Which way do we go? And don't be a MORON!!! :lol3


This is the oddest road bed I've ever seen... I wonder if it is all natural or man made / modified








Hey, there's that Mexican Hat Rock!!




D#1 is still driving, long day and we are ready to be "there"!!!


I see buildings!!!


Well that isn't our place..


There it is!!!




And there is our room!


And the Jeep is unloaded and parked, time for supper, which I already covered a few posts back...

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Day 3 began with us getting up and packing, then being out the door and in the Jeep by 7(ish)! We drive up to THE gas station and fill-up Jeep, grab some more water, drinks, ice, and snack breakfast.

We ride out to the edge of town and eat our breakfast by the Mexican Hat Rock:






And we head for our first destination, Goosenecks State Park!




Check it out on Google Earth / Maps/ Streetview has been right to the end, but NOTHING compares to seeing it in person!!! :eek1


The van you see in this shot was an older Navajo lady selling Jewelry and craft stuff. We bought a necklace / bracelet thing from her. I started to take a picture of her pretty craft works but she begged me to "no take picture thank you" over and over. Don't know if she was afraid I'd steal her soul with the camera or rip off her jewelry designs!!








They had a sign in log at the GooseNecks and I was surprised to see way more international travelers come to this middle-of-nowhere place...








And the Jeep is patiently waiting for us to move on


It is just so hard to fathom the size and view of this place!




For scale, here is D#1 in a couple... And note the clouds forming in the distance...

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We return back to the hwy and loop back to the beginning of Valley of the Gods...










After what seems like a really long time, and some great scenery, we finally run back out into pavement...