Canyonlands National Park has 4 districts, all of which are far drives from one another, and my first stop is the Needles Visitor Centre. When I arrive I wonder if I’m lost: I don’t see a line of cars at the entrance; HWY 211 that brings me here is likewise abandoned – I only pass […]
Author: Aga
Utah and Arizona’s Valleys and Bridges
I’m up early because when on holiday I want to see every sunrise. I’m driving west to Utah. Quite suddenly, the landscape changes. Everything is drained of colour bar various hues of beige. Everything gets a little flatter. Then, red earth appears; in the distance cliffs raise; in the valleys carved out by rivers […]
Mesa Verde N.P and Comforting Mancos
The altitude, hyper-alert driving, hiking and fresh air cause such exhaustion that by the end of my second week on the road, once I’ve sat down in my camping chair with a book in one hand and a cuppa in the other, I can’t recall the morning. I know I must have risen early and […]
The Million Dollar Highway, Silverton & Durango – Colorado
The brochures and info sheets say the Highway 550 will test my nerves with sharp turns and narrow roads. It is a beautiful stretch of road, with lovely views, but I can’t drive at the speed I want because, even though it is morning, I usually have someone in front of me setting the pace, […]
Where the heart is: Ouray, Colorado
It’s supposed to be monsoon season, but so far, there’s only been one rainstorm. I wake up to the wet, fresh air and pack. The tent’s fly is wet, so it sits at the back of my car, fanning, as I drive with my windows open. It’s early, so the drive is a dream, cruising […]
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
It’s early on Sunday. 6 am and already people are awake, tent poles click as camps are taken down; pick-up trucks rev their engines and drive away, pulling their boats to shore. It is going to be a busy day, but my unexpectedly long drive yesterday means that I’m close to Black Canyon of the […]
Campground hunting on a Colorado Saturday
Sometimes the road kicks my ass and I wonder if having a staycation wouldn’t be better. Things can get a little hectic, especially if it’s a sunny Saturday, fairs are going on, and I haven’t got a clue where I’m really going because I’m mostly making up the trip as I’m driving along, perching at […]
A long drive and Rocky Mountain National Park
There are images of Utah everywhere. National Geographic. Calendars. Instagram. Computer wallpapers and screensavers. In films. In literature. So, it’s been on my mind for a while to visit, and I’m eager to see it in real life. On the way, I have to explore Colorado, too. Because I think I can, I decide to […]