I leave for Utah in three days. Moab first I think and then it’ll be Hanksville and maybe Escalante. 27 hour drive to Moab from my little home here off of N main. I’ll be constructing a grazing table this Saturday morning and once I’m done we head west. I’ll be taking an old companion of mine who used to transport luggage with me up to all five floors of the Hyatt regency downtown in the early 90s. Life has a fun way building relationships with folk who you hit it off with immediately. Shane is just a good ol soul that makes me smile. We are going to really get to know each other again after 9 days of traveling and reflecting on the old days of flirting with front desk clerks and checking in B list celebrities from the 90s.

I’m extremely excited. It’s been almost 2 years since my last long trip. These can be exhausting. You can notch up almost 5-6k miles in 9 days. Sleeping in cold tents, desert winds and random apex predators sniffing your toes while you sleep. I would love to see a mountain lion. From at least 500 yards away.. pspspsps.

I found a pic online of a rock structure a couple of years ago in Utah and my brain said “we must go see this monument in person”. So away I go.

This is my passion. These are my dreams I chase. My dopamine, my high, my drug. The drive is part of the journey. Sometimes the roadside beauty is just as amazing as the main attractions. I love small town general stores, broken old gas stations and Navajo markets. Real tumbleweeds rolling along Route 66, rest stops surrounded by cacti.

I live for this stuff

I intend to hike, hover in a hammock and one random night I plan to hang and talk to the crows and natives 🍄‍🟫. I’ve done it once before out there. 10/10 recommend.

Shane if you’re reading this you’ll still have to get your own water.

Inside joke

Last time out west it was a tad chilly and snowy. Weather seems to be smiling favorably on us this time around. Fingers will remain crossed until arrival back home. Trailer is packed, truck has received all of its updates. The only city I have to really deal with is Atlanta. Once you get past Birmingham you could ride a skateboard all the way to AZ. No hills were planted in the Midwest. Gives those tornadoes a wide path to do their thing. Once you get outside of Little Rock there’s not too much to see that’s aesthetic to the passerby unless you like giant wind turbines that litter the highways along northern Texas. And maybe a whattaburger if you like mustard on your burger. Gas stations about every thirty miles as opposed to 2. Once you cross over into New Mexico you’ll begin to see random burnt out vehicles roadside I imagine the heat and dry climate plays hell on some old water pumps and engines. Drunk drivers mid day are abundant as well out there. Not much to do in rural New Mexico. Your first clue will be the dozens of redundant billboards dotting along the highways about DUIs. Northern AZ you get a real feel of what poverty can feel like. Old Native American reservations, multiple vehicles perched atop their permanent graves bricks in the front yards, trailers resting on the roadside with tires on the roof to keep the tin from blowing away. Again not much commerce out here unless you’re herding tumbleweeds. If you’re lucky you might have roadside stand within 10 miles of a tourist trap.

I’ve been through Utah three times but I’ve only spent two nights there. One night in Beaver, Utah in a cheap motel with a dried out pool and a breakfast buffet that had no eggs and another time I camped next to a gas station that looked like a flying saucer. Utah has an abundance of public land (for now). There are areas you can pull off the highway and camp as long as the wind doesn’t blow you back on the road. You think the weather gets wild here try driving while minding your own business in the middle of Utah, 95° sunny. Sky opens up and you get 2 inches of hail and the temp drops to 55°. 20 minutes later it’s back to 90° again and the highway is littered with trucks lying on their side. This is why Mormons don’t need caffeine. It gets exciting out there.

National parks will not be my theme. Not saying we won’t see one but my itinerary is back roads unplugged. I want to stay off your world for a few days. The weatherman has not been kind to me for camping here. I need to make peace with this drive. The trip to glacier broke my patience for driving long distance last time. With wrecks, construction and traffic I was delayed an extra 6 hours on an already long drive. Also willing to bet it thunderstormed for around 1000 miles. Kept me on my toes.

Not sure if we’ll push through nonstop I don’t try to be a cowboy I’ll pull over before I start hallucinating but I hope to make it to at least Little Rock before I need a break. If you’re looking for a safe spot to pull over for the evening I’d suggest Cracker Barrel. You won’t feel alone it’s a well known stopover for overlanders. Cracker Barrel’s are for the most part built in safe areas, surrounded by gas stations and commerce. The parking lot is quiet at night and breakfast is waiting on you when you wake up. The only thing missing is a shower. I’ve taken many a sink baths there. Walmart works too but imagine picking a Walmart in Berea as a place to stop for the night.. Hard pass.

Midwest route through I-70 I usually end up around St. Louis area. I prefer not to camp within 50 miles of St. Louis. The further away the better. If you can make it to Kansas then take a nap. It’s an 9 hour drive across Kansas and there’s nothing to keep you awake while you drive. You know that stretch of the I-85 between Spartanburg and Gaffney? Relatively flat, sparse trees? That’s Kansas on a good day for 400 miles. Sprinkle some random thunderstorms and tornadoes and you’re good to go. “Theres no place like home” – go to bed Dorothy you’re drunk. I’m showing my bias here. I’ve driven through Kansas about a dozen times. It just makes you appreciate Colorado more.

If you choose to partake in some legalized medicine in Colorado then I’d suggest not driving south through Texas on your way back. What’s legal in one state is a felony in Texas. The biggest asshole I’ve ever met was a cop in Texas. Not a good combination. I’m not a mule yall just letting you know what’s up.

I’m hoping for some clear skies and good vibes. My itinerary is loose as a goose and it’s intentional. If I saw snow or inclement weather I’d pull further south to AZ. If the whole Midwest went underwater I’d bring my beach towel. I’m just here to find my way.

Looking forward to some western sunsets, campfire coffee and conversations in the twilight. Maybe a med rare ribeye grilled, baked potato baking in the ash, cliff side overlooking Moab. I wouldn’t complain about that.

Gonna be a good trip yall. These are the memories that build you. I’ll try not to find a Grazeland location around Moab but no promises..

Peace and elbow grease.