Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2005 07:25:04 -0800
Reply-To: Jeffrey Earl <jefferrata@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeffrey Earl <jefferrata@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Need suggestions for SW trip
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Dan wrote:
>> My honey and I are taking our 89 Westy 4speed on a
month-long trip to parts of the South and southwest.
We would appreciate any and all suggestions for places
to visit or avoid.
Dan,
You may be interested in checking out "Southwest by
Westy", the travelogue of our visit to that region a
couple years ago.
http://www.vanthology.com/1Layout/Journeys/southwest1.html
In addition to such obligatory highlights as Mesa
Verde, Bryce Canyon and Zion NPs, we also found some
interesting and lesser known places along the way.
Giving yourself a month should allow you to find even
more. I understand that in the Durango/Gunnison region
there are many backcountry hot springs that are
natural and free (and I mean that literally and
figuratively).
Of note to motorists–especially those traveling by
Westy–is the unique topography of southern Colorado
and Utah. It seems this entire region of the Southwest
is comprised of a series of tilted plateaus, now
carved by numerous rivers into a seemingly
never-ending landscape of canyons and mesas. These
require tight and twisty turns both to climb and to
descend, so one finds it takes much longer to get
around out there. Throw enough 25-mph switchbacks into
your day and it can really slow you down.
The locals well know this, and will tell you that a
75-mile drive takes 2 hours. Believe them. We ended up
spending much more time driving than we wanted, with
less time to see our various destinations. Plan your
visits accordingly, and intersperse your long driving
days with days spent lounging in camp, hiking in one
of our great National Parks, or taking in a museum or
other attraction. You can always come back for a
second trip.
On your way back to Wisconsin, be sure and swing in
off I-80 in Nebraska to take in the 2,000-ton pile of
burning cow manure.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/01/28/cow.fire.ap/index.html
Have a great trip!
"OK, I'll leave it at that since I've already gone on
for far too long about something I don't know a whole
lot about ..."
Jeffrey Earl
1983 diesel Westfalia "Vanasazi"
http://www.vanthology.com/
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