OT: Leaving for Vacation

[jake42]

I know you'll all be crushed that I'm gone, but I'm leaving tomorrow for Colorado, NM and other points Southwest. 15 glorious days and nights in the car with a 2.5 year old ---it's a good thing he likes to drive.  

Wish I could bring the bike, but it's not in the cards this year. Any members in teh boulder, sante fe, AZ, Utah area with suggestions on places to visit besides the obvious national parks?

thanks
Jake

[JeffD]

"2.5 year old  ---it's a good thing he likes to drive. "

I heard about being ahead of the learning curve...but Damn.  

I at least waited until I was 10 b4 my mom let me drive her car.



oh and have fun.

[jake42]

"2.5 year old  ---it's a good thing he likes to drive. "

I heard about being ahead of the learning curve...but Damn.  

I at least waited until I was 10 b4 my mom let me drive her car.

LOL--he's pretty good with the wheel but he needs help with gas and brake.  He's like his dad though, he'd rather be on two wheels instead of 4.

[Cal Price]

If you find yourself in France go to a Macdonalds and try a Surly Meal.

[Kerry]

Here is part of a ride I did in January in Southern Utah:



It was all on good 2-lane roads.  UT Highway 12 (from point 1 to point 4) is legendary in these parts.  I was surprised at the variety of scenery on that road.  Bryce Canyon is near the west end of the road, and Capitol Reef is at the north end (between points 4 and 5).

There is a campground a few miles south of Boulder (point 3) that I wish I had stayed at.  A coworker highly recommended it, but I still had hours of daylight to go.  It's called Calf Creek Rec Area, and the location is totally unexpected - down in a protected canyon in the middle of a beautiful nowhere....


Pictures?  You want pictures?  Well, here are a few:

Entering Red Canyon.  Just east of point 1, and a few miles before the turnoff to Bryce Canyon.


Two "tunnels" a mile or two later.


A (reduced) stitched-together panorama near Boulder.


The Henry Mountains from Highway 12.  ABout halfway between points 3 and 4.


Almost to Torrey and the entrance to Capitol Reef National Park (point 4).


Outside Caineville (point 5) - another (poorly done) panorama.


Hite Overlook (point 7) - yet another panorama.  One of these days I'll learn how to adjust for the different exposures....  See my shadow in the lower left?  It is a LOT closer to me than the river is!


If you're going to "do" the Grand Canyon later anyway, you might see Arches National Park (near Moab) and then go up to Green River and down to Hanksville on UT 24 (instead of down to Blanding and up to Hanksville on 95).  That way you could stop in at Goblin Valley.  On the other hand, you would miss the National Bridges National Monument.

So much to see, so little time....

Good luck on your trip!

EDIT: Changed links from sisna.com to bbburma.net

[Cris]

Havva great trip!

Kerry, those are some great pictures!