Reset search
2026 West Coast Loop
  • The Wandering Walkers
Current
  • The Wandering Walkers

2026 West Coast Loop

An open-ended adventure by The Wandering Walkers Read more
FollowInsightsInsightsCalendarCalendarPhotosPhotosShareShareBucket list
InsightsCalendarPhotos
  • The Wandering Walkers2026 West Coast LoopTraveler

    A Mark in Time 🐄📍

    June 13 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 90 °F

    Spotted this on a building in Cañon City: Fremont Cattlemen’s Association Brand Board since 1897. A simple sign, but a cool reminder of how deep the ranching roots run in this area. Pretty interesting little piece of Colorado history. 🐄✨Read more

  • The Wandering Walkers2026 West Coast LoopTraveler
    Dino footprints! 😳

    Riding the Edge on Skyline Drive 🏔️🛣️

    June 13 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 91 °F

    On our way back to the RV, we decided to take a quick drive along Skyline Drive above Cañon City—and “quick” is accurate, but not the views.

    This short ridge road hugs the top of a narrow limestone spine with steep drop-offs on both sides and incredible overlooks of the valley below. Along the way, we also stopped at the famous dinosaur footprint site, which adds a pretty wild twist to an already dramatic drive.

    Short road, big views, and just enough “hold your breath” moments to make it memorable. 😄🏔️🦖    Read more

  • The Wandering Walkers2026 West Coast LoopTraveler

    Step Back in Time at Starlite ✨🚐

    June 13 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 88 °F

    Just down the road from Royal Gorge, we stopped at the Starlite Vintage Resort—and what a cool concept this place is. We walked through the resort and got to see rows of vintage RVs and retro campers that you can actually stay in, along with all kinds of nostalgic collectibles scattered throughout the property.

    It was such a fun throwback vibe, like stepping into a living postcard from another era. We wish we could have peeked inside some of the rigs, but even just walking around was worth the stop.

    If you’re curious, you can definitely find more photos online—but seeing it in person made it even more fun. 🚐✨    Read more

  • The Wandering Walkers2026 West Coast LoopTraveler
    Cloudscraper ZiplineThey "really" had to post a sign!?!Royal Rush SkycoasterThat looks like fun!!Do you see the climbers or are they hikers?

    Bridging the Gap at Royal Gorge 🌉

    June 13 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 88 °F

    Spent a couple of hours exploring Royal Gorge Bridge & Park located near Cañon City, CO. We can definitely see why it draws millions of visitors each year. We rode the gondola across the gorge for incredible views of the Arkansas River far below, then walked back across the famous suspension bridge, which was once the highest bridge in the world.

    One of the coolest things we learned about was the old Incline Railway that once carried visitors 1,550 feet down to the bottom of the gorge on a 45-degree slope. It was known as the world’s steepest railway and operated for decades before being destroyed in the 2013 Royal Gorge Fire. We both agreed that if it had been restored and running today, we definitely would have been first in line for a ride!

    The park also offers the Cloudscraper Zip Line and the Royal Rush Skycoaster—where you’re hoisted 100 feet in the air and then dropped into a 50 mph swing over the gorge. We didn’t want to wait over an hour for the zip line, and we collectively decided the gondola was more our speed than the “please launch me into the canyon at high velocity” option. 😆

    After taking in all the views, we enjoyed a picnic lunch just outside the park before heading off to our next Colorado adventure. 🌉🏔️🚐    Read more

  • The Wandering Walkers2026 West Coast LoopTraveler

    Big Hole. Big Trucks. Big Gold. ⛏️😆

    June 12 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F

    Just outside Cripple Creek is the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mine, and “huge” doesn’t even begin to describe it. This massive open-pit mine is Colorado’s largest active gold mine and looks like someone took an ice cream scoop to a mountain.

    From the overlook, the giant haul trucks looked like Matchbox cars crawling around the terraced pit. It’s hard to believe this area was the center of Colorado’s last great gold rush, drawing thousands of hopeful miners in the 1890s.

    Fun fact: the mine sits inside an ancient volcano—the same geology that helped create one of the richest gold-producing regions in the world.

    We stared at a giant hole in the ground for quite a while… and honestly, it was pretty impressive. 😄⛏️💰    Read more

  • The Wandering Walkers2026 West Coast LoopTraveler

    Cripple Creek: Gold Rush to Jackpot Rush

    June 12 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 72 °F

    Cripple Creek, CO — where the gold rush never really left! ⛏️💰

    Spent the afternoon exploring this historic mining town tucked high in the mountains west of Colorado Springs. Walking down the streets felt like stepping into the late 1800s—except now the old buildings are filled with mostly casinos, some shops, restaurants, and people wearing much better shoes than the miners did.

    Of course, we had to test our luck, so we donated a few dollars to the local casino and enjoyed a drink while pretending we had struck gold. 😆

    The town has done an amazing job preserving its history, and everywhere you look there are reminders of the gold rush days that put Cripple Creek on the map.

    Next stop: the mines themselves, where we’ll see firsthand how a whole town was built on the dream of finding gold.

    No gold nuggets found today… unless you count the memories. 😉    Read more

  • The Wandering Walkers2026 West Coast LoopTraveler

    What is this place? Really? - North Pole, CO

    June 12 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 81 °F

    On our way down Pikes Peak, we spotted the roadside sign for North Pole Home of Santa’s Workshop (in Colorado?) and couldn’t resist pulling over.

    Turns out it’s a quirky Christmas-themed stop—North Pole – Santa’s Workshop—tucked into the foothills near Cascade. Bright, whimsical, and completely unexpected in the middle of the Rockies… a little slice of Christmas in June.

    Definitely not planned, but that’s the fun of road-tripping.    Read more

  • The Wandering Walkers2026 West Coast LoopTraveler

    Race to the Clouds 🏔️🏁🚗☁️

    June 12 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F

    As we climbed higher on Pikes Peak, we could see crews preparing for the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Known as the “Race to the Clouds,” this annual event challenges drivers to race nearly 13 miles up the mountain, climbing over 4,700 feet and navigating 156 turns on their way to the 14,115-foot summit. Just seeing the preparations underway added an extra level of excitement to our visit.

    At the historic Glen Cove Inn (elevation 11,450 feet), rangers stop vehicles to check brake and wheel temperatures, helping prevent overheated brakes on the steep descent. Thankfully, we passed with flying colors! 😎

    Between the stunning scenery, the history, and the behind-the-scenes glimpse of one of the world’s most famous mountain races, our day on Pikes Peak just kept getting better.    Read more

  • The Wandering Walkers2026 West Coast LoopTraveler
    The “Weeping Woman” (sometimes called the “Indian Woman”)Marmot @ Devils PlaygroundView at Devils PlaygroundView from Devils PlaygroundDevils PlaygroundThis one is for you Karla! 😉Yes ... they have a cog rail that goes to the summit! 😊

    Pikes Peak – “America’s Mountain” 🏔️🇺🇸

    June 12 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 63 °F

    Just. Wow! 🤩

    Today we drove to the summit of Pikes Peak, and it was every bit as amazing as everyone says. With sunny skies, light winds, and perfect visibility, we couldn’t have asked for a better day to visit “America’s Mountain.”

    The drive up was an adventure all by itself. We stopped at Glen Cove, explored Devil’s Playground, and even found enough snow for a summer snowball fight! ❄️☀️ We also got to see crews preparing for the famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (next post).

    Don got quite a kick out of my reaction to the drive up Pikes Peak. Every sharp turn and steep drop seemed to trigger a squeal, a gasp, or a quick closing of my eyes. 😂

    Meanwhile, he was laughing and enjoying the scenery while I muttered, “You know what this road needs? More guard rails!” 🤪🏔️ Thankfully, he kept his eyes on the road while I focused on perfecting my mountain-driving survival techniques, which mostly involved not looking down.

    At 14,115 feet, the views from the summit were absolutely breathtaking. We enjoyed lunch, sampled the famous Pikes Peak doughnuts (good, but maybe not quite worth all the hype 😜), and soaked in the incredible scenery.

    One thing that definitely lived up to the hype was the altitude! Headaches, shortness of breath, and a little nausea were quick reminders that we were standing over 14,000 feet above sea level.

    Between the perfect weather, summer snow, spectacular views, and unforgettable drive, Pikes Peak easily exceeded our expectations. ❤️🏔️    Read more

  • The Wandering Walkers2026 West Coast LoopTraveler
    Ziplinesrs getting ready to repel.Mountain tunnel to an elevator."Swinging Bridge" to a zip line platform.Inspiration Point

    Seven Falls & Inspiration Point

    June 11 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    Another Colorado Springs favorite—Seven Falls, often called “The Grandest Mile of Scenery in Colorado.” This series of seven cascading waterfalls is tucked inside a stunning 1,250-foot box canyon and drops a total of 181 feet.

    The canyon was incredible, with towering rock walls surrounding us as we made our way toward the falls. After taking in the views and the sound of rushing water, we decided to climb up to Inspiration Point.

    The hike was no joke—633 stairs plus an uphill climb—but the views from the top were worth every step.

    And honestly… good thing we didn’t attempt the Manitou Incline earlier. Between all those stairs and Don’s already “battle-tested” shin (thanks to an earlier bike pedal incident 🫣), we were probably right at our daily “leg limit” anyway. 😆

    We did get a bonus show, though—watching zip liners glide across the canyon while we happily stayed on solid ground.

    Seven Falls ended up being a perfect mix of scenery, adventure, and a good workout—another unforgettable stop on our Colorado journey.    Read more

  • The Wandering Walkers2026 West Coast LoopTraveler
    Our lunch spot!
    Our lunch spot!Don found a moose!!!These were hilarious.A couple more.Manitou Incline

    Manitou Springs & the mighty Manitou Incline

    June 11 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Next stop: Manitou Springs! We spent some time exploring the shops, galleries, and restaurants before enjoying a delicious lunch at Toasted Bistro—and it did not disappoint.

    From there, we checked out the famous Manitou Incline. With nearly 2,800 steps packed into less than a mile, it’s one of Colorado’s most challenging hikes. Standing at the bottom and looking up was quite impressive!

    With Don’s leg still healing, we decided this wasn’t the day to attempt it. Sometimes being smart wins over being stubborn. 😆

    We’ll have to save this adventure for another trip—but that’s just one more reason to come back!    Read more

  • The Wandering Walkers2026 West Coast LoopTraveler
    Pikes Peak and Manitou Incline in the background.Beth trying to hold up or push over this rock!Maybe she can push it over this way!One more try?Trading PostThe ScotsmanThe Scotsman from a different angle.Pikes Peak and the Manitou Incline

    Garden of the Gods 🚴‍♂️🚴‍♀️⛰️

    June 11 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    Our first Colorado adventure took us to Garden of the Gods—and yes, we rented bikes! We quickly learned we could explore the park by bicycle, only to realize our own bikes were still back at the RV park. Oops!

    No regrets, though. Renting bikes turned out to be the perfect way to experience the park. We cruised past towering red rock formations, stopped whenever a view caught our eye, and soaked in the incredible scenery at our own pace.

    With bright blue skies, stunning red rocks, and mountain views in every direction, Garden of the Gods was the perfect way to kick off our Colorado Springs adventure.

    Bonus challenge! 😁
    A friend challenged me to find faces hidden in nature during our travels. I spotted my first one today at Garden of the Gods! 👀🪨

    See if you can find it in the photos—and let me know if you spot any others! 😊

    🌄 About Garden of the Gods:
    This free public park is one of Colorado’s most iconic attractions, featuring dramatic red sandstone formations set against the backdrop of Pikes Peak and the Rocky Mountains. Covering more than 1,300 acres, it offers spectacular scenery, hiking, biking, rock climbing, and wildlife viewing.    Read more

  • The Wandering Walkers2026 West Coast LoopTraveler

    We made it! 🚐🎉

    June 10 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    We rolled into Peak RV Resort and were reassigned to an even better site! 🎉

    Jack was a trooper through it all and patiently waited for Don to return to the coach so we could get to our site—and, more importantly, so he could be fed! 🐾😄

    Once everything was set up, we grabbed a few groceries and mapped out our plans for the days ahead. Colorado Springs, we’re ready for you! ⛰️🚴‍♀️🥾    Read more

  • The Wandering Walkers2026 West Coast LoopTraveler

    Sleeping in!

    June 10 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    Jack enjoying a few extra Z’s before today’s adventure. 🐾😴 After a good night’s sleep, we departed Oakley, Kansas, and made our way to Colorado Springs. 🚐

  • The Wandering Walkers2026 West Coast LoopTraveler

    Stop for the night!

    June 9 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 99 °F

    We finally arrived safely at our destination—105° and still blowing! 🥵

    And honestly, after everything we’d been through, we’ll call that a win.

    Grateful that the day’s biggest challenge was simply keeping the coach between the lines.

    Funny how quickly your standards change. A five-hour, white-knuckle battle with 50 mph crosswinds somehow counts as a good day after the previous days’ chaos! 😆🤣😆

    Bonus: The RV park may not have had many amenities, but the Tres Hermanos restaurant right out front definitely helped end the day on a high note! 🌮😋. Sometimes, the suspect hole-in-the-wall places are simply The Best!    Read more

  • The Wandering Walkers2026 West Coast LoopTraveler
    We're off ... hoping for a better travel day. 🤪
    We're off ... hoping for a better travel day. 🤪Don thinks this is a sign to get off the interstate!Going with the flow ...A quick break...

    Kansas Winds & White Knuckles: We’ll Take It💨

    June 9 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F

    After very little sleep, we woke up determined to put yesterday behind us.

    After all, we’d already survived what ranks as one of the worst travel days we’ve ever had—stitches, phantom bay doors, bug swarms, warning lights, and enough unexpected excitement to fill an entire trip.

    Surely today would be different.

    The plan was simple: drive a little over 300 miles across Kansas.

    How hard could that be?

    The answer came almost immediately.

    Leaving Topeka, we discovered I-70 was shut down through downtown, forcing a quick reroute. The fallen freeway signs scattered along the detour made it pretty clear the previous night’s storm had left its mark.

    Once we got moving again, everything seemed normal…for a few miles.

    Then Kansas introduced itself.

    Crosswinds of 30–50 mph hammered the coach for the next five hours. Driving became less about transportation and more about wrestling a large, expensive kite across the prairie. Every passing semi became a new physics experiment, and “relaxing travel day” officially left the conversation.

    By the end of the day, we’d accumulated enough white-knuckle miles to count as an upper-body workout.

    But unlike yesterday, there were no warning lights, no urgent care visits, no bug invasions, and no parts of the coach trying to escape.

    Just relentless Kansas wind.    Read more

  • The Wandering Walkers2026 West Coast LoopTraveler

    🌩️ Can Someone Please Hit Pause on Today?! 🌩️

    June 8 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    This day just doesn’t seem to be stopping!

    After a day that felt determined to keep us on our toes, we finally rolled into Deer Creek Valley RV Park in Topeka, KS and got settled in.

    Having stayed here before, it felt a bit like coming home. The park is beautifully maintained, peaceful, and exactly what you appreciate after the day we’ve had!

    Now it’s well past midnight, and we’re currently sitting through what may be the worst storm we’ve ever experienced in the RV. The rain is pounding, lightning is flashing nonstop, thunder is shaking the sky, hail is rattling the roof, and the wind is rocking the coach. We've never experienced anything this severe... Wind gusts hit 80 mph!

    After urgent care, a swarm of bugs, an open storage bay, and the check engine light… Mother Nature apparently decided she wanted a turn too. 😳

    At this point, we’re almost afraid to ask, “What’s next?”

    For now, we’re buckled in, staying put, and hoping the storm moves through quickly.

    Without a doubt, this has been the WORST travel day we’ve ever had.🧵💉🦟🚐⚡️⛈️    Read more

  • The Wandering Walkers2026 West Coast LoopTraveler

    The Yellow Light of Doom

    June 8 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F

    As if the day hadn’t provided enough excitement already, we were cruising along near Odessa, bouncing across some of the roughest stretches of interstate pavement, when the coach suddenly got our attention.

    Without warning, the engine stumbled, lost power, and the dreaded Check Engine light illuminated on the dashboard.

    YIKES!!! 😳

    Nothing raises your heart rate faster than a warning light in a 40+ foot motorhome at highway speed. In seconds, our minds ran through every worst-case scenario.

    Fortunately, the coach was still drivable, so we carefully drove to the next exit and pulled over.

    After a few tense minutes of checking and diagnostics, the mystery revealed itself: a fuel level sensor warning. Even better, by the time we stopped, the fault had already cleared itself.

    So after all that drama, the coach basically said, “Never mind. I’m fine now.” 😆

    We reset our blood pressure, made a note to keep an eye on it, and got back on the road.    Read more

  • The Wandering Walkers2026 West Coast LoopTraveler
    The Calm Before the Flap!
    The Calm Before the Flap!Our Tiffin Angel ❤️🚐

    As If 15 Stitches Weren’t Enough… 😳

    June 8 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    Two Truckers, One Bay Door, and a Tiffin Angel ❤️🚐

    As if we hadn’t had enough excitement for one day…

    About an hour after Don’s urgent care adventure, truckers started passing us, waving frantically and pointing toward our coach. Not exactly reassuring!

    We took the next exit and checked everything—tires, Jeep, tow bar, safety chains, braking system, and compartments.

    Nothing.

    Just as we were scratching our heads, another Tiffin owner happened to pull over behind us. The men exchanged numbers, and he kindly offered to follow us for a few miles to see if he could spot the problem.

    Within minutes, the mystery was solved.

    One of our bay doors near the front driver’s-side tire was periodically popping open and then closing while we were driving! 😳 It wasn’t open enough for us to notice, but it was enough to catch the attention of every trucker on the highway.

    We secured the door and thanked our new friend, Jorge, who was traveling with his wife and four children. He could have gone on his way, but instead took time to help complete strangers.

    Between the truckers who warned us and Jorge stopping to help, we’re feeling especially grateful today. It’s amazing how people step up for one another on the road and a reminder that we have someone watching over us. ❤️

    After 15 stitches, a tetanus shot, antibiotics, and now a phantom bay door, this trip is turning into quite the adventure—but thankfully, this mystery had a happy ending!    Read more

  • The Wandering Walkers2026 West Coast LoopTraveler

    The Windshield Massacre 🐜😳

    June 8 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 75 °F

    As we continued west after Don’s 15-stitch adventure, something happened that we’d never experienced in all our years of RV travel.

    Somewhere along I-70—likely near Warrenton, Missouri (between St. Charles and Millersburg)—we drove straight into a swarm of some sort of bug… were those bees? 😳

    My immediate reaction? “OMG! What the heck was that?!” 😆

    The windshield was suddenly completely covered. The impact sounded like heavy rain, and for a few seconds we had no idea what had just hit us.

    The timing couldn’t have been worse. Just a few hours earlier, we had cleaned the windshield and polished the front of the coach. The wipers didn’t stand a chance and simply smeared bug debris into an even bigger mess.

    Once we stopped for the day, I had to know what we had driven through. After a little research, I discovered the culprits were Delphinia picta. What?!

    Just another unexpected adventure on a day that was already keeping us on our toes. 🚐🐜    Read more

  • The Wandering Walkers2026 West Coast LoopTraveler
    All set ... good to go!

    Don vs. The RV Stairs

    June 8 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 72 °F

    ⚠️ WARNING: If you’re squeamish, STOP after the first photo. The remaining photos are not for the faint of heart! 😬⚠️

    We waited for the storm fronts to move through and finally hit the road, feeling pretty good about our timing. About 6 miles later, we made our first stop for fuel. What could possibly go wrong in six miles?

    The storm was still hanging around, and between the wet RV steps and diesel on the ground, Don’s foot slipped as he stepped up into the coach. At first, he thought it was just a scrape. A few minutes later, he looked down and realized his shin had lost a serious battle with the RV stair. 😳

    One look told us this wasn’t a “slap a Band-Aid on it and keep going” situation. So I went into roadside nurse mode, grabbed a towel, cleaned it up as best I could, applied gauze, and wrapped it well enough for us to get moving.

    Now we had a new mission: find an urgent care that could accommodate a motorhome and Jeep in tow. After a little searching, we found a Bass Pro parking lot about 15 miles away, unhooked the Jeep, and headed for urgent care.

    Thankfully, there was no wait. They took one look at his leg and brought him right in. After a thorough cleaning, the verdict was delivered: 15 stitches, a tetanus shot, and a bottle of antibiotics. 🩹💉

    Ninety minutes later, Don was patched up, officially roadworthy again, and we were back on the road.

    Not exactly the start to the travel day we had envisioned. Most people collect souvenirs on their trips; apparently, Don collects stitches. 😆

    Considering how easily this could have turned into a much bigger ordeal, we’re grateful everything worked out and that we were able to continue our journey with nothing more than a scar and another crazy RV travel story to tell.    Read more

  • The Wandering Walkers2026 West Coast LoopTraveler
    1
    1

    When the View Outlives the Venue

    June 7 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 86 °F

    This is our third stay here, and our site still has a fantastic view. That part never disappoints. The park itself, though, is starting to show its age and feels a bit more worn each visit. The same goes for the casino next door, where we walked over for dinner. The burgers were excellent, but the rest of the place is clearly fading a bit around the edges.

    We enjoyed the stop, but this will likely be our last stay here. Sometimes the view stays five-star while everything around it quietly slips into retirement.    Read more