We were packed and ready to go by 10:30 Saturday morning. I’d spent the last week shoring up all the critical supplies to insure I didn’t forget anything vital. We both packed a little lighter than last year’s trip. I had my trailer last year storage wasn’t a big issue. As far as big gear the only thing I really sacrificed was my Honda generator that we used in the middle of Escalante to power up my ecoflow. I had two coolers last year and opted for one big Dometic fridge. It’s bulky but it’ll hold Shane’s one gallon of tea, milk and orange juice (inside joke)

Shane is the ying to my yang on these trips. I’m always in a hurry he’s Captain Mosey. Shane’s laid back unless you’re talking shit about Jesus then you get to see his 6’4” frame swell. (Another inside joke). He observes my moods and compliments me when he sees me overcome my tiny fits. He bought me dinner last night and I need to remember to thank him for it although we didn’t talk that much around dinner he was completely absorbed into a conversation with a braless woman from Ukraine. We’s spent the last 30 hours in the truck together a conversation pause was healthy.

The drive was uneventful for the most part. I-40 bridge construction is always fun we spent over an hour in queue status and then crawled through the one lane twist and turns. Got clogged in Nashville and hit a little congestion in “Padooky” Kentucky. We got on I-70 at 9:30 pm and got off of it at 5pm the next day. A drizzle here and there but nothing close to the storms and floods from last year.

The truck has mileage was as expected. It got a little poopy in Kansas climbing the western plateau while a head wind pulled my truck back like stirrups. The ride over the Rockies was majestic as per the norm the back nine of Colorado is much more fun to play than the front nine. The first 60 miles of Utah have no gas stations, no sign of life except for one rest area. WiFi in the truck comes in handy. Speed limit is 80 mph out here and with the crosswinds and all upsie daisies ain’t no way my truck is reaching that speed. The road into Moab was majestic as always. If you get bored stop at the gas station by the exit it resembles Area 51. Don’t buy gas there unless you want to spend over $6 a gallon.

We Airbnb’d last night to soften up after the long ride and get our one real shower for the first part of the week. I’m gearing up for a Dead Horse Point sunrise hopefully the clouds will be polite this morning there’s a chance of a little rain in the region and that impacts a lot of activities up here.

Dry – offroad good

Wet- offroad really bad

We aren’t doing anything technical by any means I’m driving a Tacoma turtle with 600 lbs on her back. I’m also not carrying a compressor to air down my tires. A humpty hump we go.

It’s a 45 minute drive to Dead Horse and sunrise is in 70 minutes. I’m taking my time I’m not sure what kind of critters like to cross the road in these parts. This will be my fourth time in Moab. I usually pop in for supplies and head out but today we are hanging and decompressing. We”ll scout for a camping spot this afternoon or head to Canyonlands down the street. I had Hanksville down for this evening but I think it can wait. It’s supposed to rain there tomorrow we may try to catch in on the flip side. I don’t want to pull up for the night and look over my shoulder for rain while we are surrounded by bentonite clay. I don’t care how good your 4WD is you’re screwed amigo.

I’ve gotta put my Dead Horse Point digs on and ride.

Cheers