Here we go....On the road again! Even Hurricane Harvey couldn’t stop us! Harvey pounded the Texas coast, not where we were heading, but visited ATL just as our plans had us leaving. The question, do we leave, or do we delay. We only had two days to make it to central Texas before running into Labor Day weekend, so go it was! We knew once we got through ATL we were good to go, but….the ride through ATL, holy cow! It felt like we were driving 60mph through a car wash, hauling 8500+ pounds behind us, not being able to see the hundreds of other travelers driving through this mess, wanting to start their holiday travel early too. Have no idea how we made it through because it was too scary to watch.
Labor Day weekend was spent at our friend’s ranch in central Texas. Always fun times when we visit them - especially this time target shooting and clay pigeon shooting for the first time! Great start heading west to our adventures in Colorado and Utah. Durango was up next, so many things to do and places to see. For years we talked about visiting Mesa Verde National Park, finally this was the time! Off the beaten path was the Moki Dugway, National Bridges National Monument, and of course who could skip the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Rail Road? The last part of our westward journey took us to Capital Reef National Park in Utah. What a surprise that was! This has to be the most beautiful place in the US. Bryce Canyon has always been our favorite, but Capital Reef put it to shame. The immensity of the beauty here was something you cannot describe.
Our final stop out west was Eagle Nest, part of the Taos Ski Valley area in NM. Very pretty area! As always, there is not much variation in routes heading home back east. With as many trips as we've taken out west, we always have to travel back through places we've already been. This trip, heading back I-40 through Oklahoma, we stopped to visit the Oklahoma City Memorial. We were there 15 years ago, but still, after all these years, it truly remains a very somber experience. One of our last stops, camping on the Mississippi River was the calm before the storm again. Driving through the crazy cities, Memphis has to be the worst. Never saw so many trucks in one city, ever. Knoxville, TN a close second. So, so happy to pass through the beautiful Nantahala National Forest, almost back at our farm!
Another great XC trip in the books…looking to head north again next year!
