Early, before the sun even breaches the horizon, I’m up and packing: I don’t want to pack with the desert sun. I have no chores this morning, just the road that leads to Capitol Reef National Park. On the stunning Hwy 24 the earth’s geology changes again – I leave the red and beige of […]
Tag: small towns
Spontaneous Friendships: Canyonlands N.P and Dead Horse S.P
The sun’s just risen, and I’m wide awake, scrambling my eggs, remembering yesterday’s adventure, and thinking about spontaneous friendships, when Ricardo comes over to my campsite with a, “Good morning,” and an invitation to join him and Ben for breakfast. Since my eggs are already done and quickly getting cold, I spoon them into my […]
Little Red Cabriolet in Arches National Park
It’s Saturday, and because I’m headed for Arches National Park, I get up extra early, have a quick breakfast of 3 eggs and a coffee, and down the mountain I speed to avoid the crowds. Heading towards the park I tune into Arches’ info station on AM radio and feel discouraged when a message warns […]
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 […]
Cinque Terre
Riomaggiore It’s the middle of July, and hot. Italy is experiencing a heat wave, but when I get off at the Riomaggiore train station I don’t notice. There are other things to take note of: the village’s harbour, the sea, and the splash of colour that stands against the green of the surrounding Parco Nazionale […]