Leaving the Pavement

We loved our RV weekend to Zion and Bryce so much (see The Beauty of a Basecamp), we bought one!

Let me introduce you to Toto, the newest member of our family!

We took ours on its maiden voyage two weekends ago to Moab, also in southern Utah, and home to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. We have been there a few times before, including once for the Moab Folk Festival two years ago, when we rented a Teardrop trailer from Red Rock Base Camps. Highly recommended, in that they deliver the teardrop to your site, set it up, and pick it up when you’re done. No towing necessary! Wendy at Red Rock is terrific.

Cute, fun, but limited. It was FREEZING in the mornings when I had to brave the cold to make the coffee.

So…we now have a “luxurious” (not really) Airstream Basecamp, with an indoor galley and bathroom.

But…the weekend was not all smooth sailing. I guess that’s what shakedown cruises are for!

Our plan was to meet some friends who camp in Moab each year in a specific location (I could tell you where, but then I’d have to kill you). We had directions to the spot, but frankly, I didn’t write them down with enough specificity, and I focused on a particular, rather rough, road, and we wound up miles from where we should have been. Many of the landmarks that we were looking for were identical to the ones we saw on the wrong road, so we were confident we were on the right track. Ultimately, we found ourselves on a wash that looked promising. However, after struggling a mile down the wash, and getting stuck in sand once (from which we were able to extricate ourselves), the road just ended.

Fortunately, the end was comprised mainly of slickrock, a surface, despite its name, that is tacky and yields great traction, and we were able to turn around and head back. Unfortunately, we got stuck in sand again, on the way back, and this time, we were unable to escape. We were just about to give up, disconnect the trailer and leave it abandoned so that we could get to a spot with cell service, to call for help, when Chris, a good samaritan with an ATV and a winch, stumbled upon us. In reality, it was not totally serendipitous. We had run into him earlier, and asked him directions, and he correctly suspected that we might have taken the turn onto the wash, so he came looking for us, just in case!

After a long struggle, including using cow patties for traction (without much success), he was able to pull us out, with the help of the truck’s 4-wheel drive, and Gail’s pushing from the rear. Chris was kind enough to stick with us until we made it back to the “main” road (still gnarly), and it was a good thing, as we got stuck yet again, and he helped once more. Thank you Chris for being our savior. In your words, you’ve got lots of good karma coming your way.

Everything was covered with red dust from the sand, but we were out and safe.

Two more mishaps during the weekend: a small leak in the trailer and a flat on my mountain bike when we finally got to ride, but both remedied quickly. And despite it all, we loved the experience.

But as I mentioned in our last post, it’s not about the RV, it’s about what it can do for us, and the places it can take us. And last weekend was no exception. Moab is an amazing place. The town itself can be crazy with people, especially in the spring and fall, and particularly this year when lots of road construction is happening. But just outside the town, the opportunities are endless. In addition to the two spectacular National Parks, there is BLM land (Bureau of Land Management) and State parks around every corner.

On Friday, we hiked in Canyonlands National Park. The Grand Canyon’s got nothing on Canyonlands.

On Saturday, we mountain biked at Navajo Rocks, just a short drive from our campsite. It was breathtaking (up to the point where I flatted!).

It’s hard to believe these landscapes are real. And they never stop. The next day, before we headed home, we biked at Dead Horse Point State Park. Neither Gail nor I are accomplished mountain bikers. We lack confidence on rocky, technical trails. So we seek out tamer rollers, and we are not beyond dismounting and walking our bikes over sections that are beyond us. We may be Senior Rippers, but we use discretion in our ripping! Dead Horse is perfect for us.

Awesome vistas around every corner, and terrain we can handle without fear!

What’s next?