Day 1

Locked up my casita, el nido, and headed out in Euri (VW Eurovan) by way of Oracle and Morenci, driving through a sea of yellow palo verdes and flower topped saguaros. Departing this route is the shortest road to Arizona wilderness with no express ways.

Winding roads through Winkelman and Superior expose big mining in full operation, big copper country. Camped early on the Mogollon Rim, a gentle 67 degrees (40s at night), in the pines. Forests are cleared of brush in preparation for summer forest fires. A short 230-mile driving day. Feels good to be on the road.

Morning room with a view, sipping café to course correct to my current surroundings of lovely cool, fragrant pines.

Day 2

Navajo and Hopi country – dry and barren except for the monolith rock formations, mesas, ghost rain, red sandstone and glowing orange globemallow lining the roadways. Headed through the pueblos of Indian Wells, Chinle, Many Farms, Round Rock and Mexican Water crossing the border into Utah.

Utah, along with northern Arizona is one of the most diverse geological areas of the world. 

Listening to audio book Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, botanist, professor of plant ecology and native Potawatomi woman. A fascinating review of evolutionary biology of plants and animals and our reciprocal relationship with earth. Apropos for this strand of the journey.

Camped in Bears Ears National Monument on the border of Canyonlands National Park – one of the most scenic and desolate areas in southern Utah. A tributary full of muddy water dumps into the Green River downstream. A meandering 340-mile day.

Day 3 

Beautiful scenery around the canyonlands, Arches and northern Colorado. Lots of traffic delays and check engine light came on at higher altitude, a common event with the Eurovans – resolved. 

Listening to Fox Across America – the commercials tell it all about the target market: Viagra, Ford Ram trucks, get your GED…

Camped at Yampa River State Park, on the Yampa River in northern Colorado. Robins and magpies are in camp. Chilly and thunderstorms in the area, but a wonderful hot shower. First in 3 days and I feel like a new woman.  Listening to Tina Turner sound track and celebrating her life and music with wine (RIP TINA). 

400 miles today. Euri and I plan to make miles tomorrow.

Day 4

Woke early from a good night’s sleep. Got up, made coffee and hit the road early for a big drive. 500 miles of blacktop once I hit I80. Mind numbing expressway driving, listening to Louise Penny mystery novel and I picked up a good NPR station out of Laramie, Wyoming – throw back Thursday, playing the Moody Blues, Eagles, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and more of my favorite oldies.

Pushed Euri to almost empty – yes the bell was going off…get gas, get gas soon. $4.29/gal in the middle of nowhere Nebraska – $3.09 at my next stop.

Camped at Lake Melody State Park just south of North Platte, Neb. Would not recommend it as it is too close to I80 and town. Lots of kiddos and families here to party for the start of Memorial Day weekend.

Day 5

Sitting out the morning in a downpour, a major cell passing overhead. Sipping coffee and pondering route. Glad I have mini toilet as I didn’t need to leave Euri – other than to bring it inside as I left it outdoors last night. It hit me this morning, I still have 1300-1500 miles to go. Hmmmm, another long day of endless miles.

I thought I’d be sleeping in an I90 rest area tonight due to traveling on Memorial Day weekend. However, my DYRT app performed brilliantly and found a nice, tidy, little county campground in the fairgrounds at Blue Earth, Minnesota. A 600 miles day.

Day 6

Another 500-mile day through Minnesota, into Wisconsin and yes – the UP (upper peninsula of Michigan). Located my favorite little beach and campground on the shores of Lake Michigan and they had sites available.

Those geese are heading my direction.

Day 7

Awoke to beautiful, sunny, calm lake day and drove the north shore of lake Michigan. Stopping for a fresh pastie lunch lakeside and walk along the beach. Nothing like coming in over the magnificent Mackinaw Bridge and Straights of Mackinaw.

A stop at Stone Bay Fishery for a hello to Jay and Jim and picked up fresh perch and whitefish dip.

Took my fist dip from the dock as there is algae all along the shoreline – nasty stuff. Water not too, too frigid as I dipped quickly in and out. A wonderful way to recover from all that driving.

2673 total miles. Happy to have arrived safely at the lake house (Euri performed solid the entire trip!). Nirvana in the north woods.