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Fall Camping Trip 2026
  • PW and JKW's trips
  • Phil Woodford
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  • PW and JKW's trips
  • Phil Woodford

Fall Camping Trip 2026

Visiting lots of places in the US southwest that atr too hot for us in summer. Read more
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    Last seen in
    Montezuma County
    Fall Camping Trip 2026
    Trying to show the rain and sleet mix on the car hood.
    Trying to show the rain and sleet mix on the car hood.Mesa Verde just across the highwayThey do have showers and electricity here. Yay!

    Backtracking to Mesa Verde

    Yesterday in the United States ⛅ 52 °F

    It rained again heavily overnight. In addition, I had misfigured our dates and locations and we were one day over our stay at Natural Bridges. We were embarrassed when the ranger had to come out last evening. We showed our paperwork and indeed, we were not really supposed to be there last night. We were in someone else's reserved spot.

    The rangers worked it out and we were able to stay put, but Phil and I rechecked all our reservations and I am a day off at Big Bend, too, if we ever get there.

    Due to flooding in the San Juan River valley, there are many road closures. Tours are suspended Monument Valley and it seemed foolhardy to try to go to Canyon de Chelly since the road was also flooded that way.

    We came back to Cortez, CO, in hopes of getting around the flooding from the east by going through Farmington, NM. We are staying tonight at an RV park back near Mesa Verde. Its raining and was sleeting. We will see what tomorrow brings, but for now, we are back where we were a week ago.    Read more

  • Fall Camping Trip 2026
    Campsite remote and beautiful
    Campsite remote and beautifulRainy day

    Rainy day

    October 24 in the United States ☁️ 52 °F

    We got up and made the decision today not to risk the mud or flooding. We saw 2 ranger talks and the movie at the Visitor's Center. Mostly just stayed close to the campsite and enjoyed the wildness of this place. Tomorrow we will go on further south and see what happens.Read more

  • Fall Camping Trip 2026
    Small campsites
    Small campsitesAll set upFirst bridgeName of bridgePotholes in the rocksLiving crust of microorganismsLizard on the trailHorse collar villageThe other side of the villagePeoples lived there 1050 tp 1200.Second bridgeThird bridge hiding in plain site.Last bridgeBears Ears. The Bridges monument is inside the Bears Ears Monument.Pair of ravensMorning walk through the rain

    Natural Bridges Nat'l Monument

    October 24 in the United States 🌧 50 °F

    No post last night as we are at a place with no connectivity. I am at the Visitor's Center working on our post. Yesterday was beautiful and Phil and I drove the 9 mile loop and took some short hikes to see the 3 bridges and the horse collar homes from the ancient Pueblo peoples.

    We spent a lovely evening sitting outside and then put away our chairs. It rained over night and this morning, We are trying to to go to Monument Valley today.    Read more

  • Fall Camping Trip 2026
    Newspaper rock has petroglyphs from at least 3 different tribes over a long history.
    Newspaper rock has petroglyphs from at least 3 different tribes over a long history.More of the petroglyphsAnd some wet from the rain, too.This is in Bears Ears National MonumentA sign to let people know how to behave!Spontaneous waterfalls all around today.Twin 6-shooters in the distanceWild turkeyWhere we ate lunch

    Rain and flooding

    October 22 in the United States 🌧 59 °F

    It rained all night and then rained all day today. Our plan had been to drive 65 miles to the Needles district of Canyonlands. The wind and rain were pretty fierce, but we had stopped and talked to a ranger who said we would be fine.

    At our first turn off we had to drive through a little water flowing across the road. Then at another place the water was deeper than Phil expected and our pickup was bathed in a red muddy water wave.

    By the time we were about 10 miles in, we were getting alerts about flash flooding. We stopped at Newspaper Rock where there are many petroglyphs from 3 different tribes of peoples over the years.

    It didnt seem like the rain was getting worse so we continued on down the Cottonwood Creek canyon looking at spontaneous waterfalls and amazing formations of buttes and mesas and spires. As we got closer to the park we could see heavy rain falling ahead and Phil was getting alerts on his phone to "move to higher ground immediately " and "flash flooding in your area" so we turned around and started back. We did see several large flocks of wild turkey though.

    We had lunch at a pizza place and came back to the hotel to write postcards. Tomorrow we head on the Natural Bridges Nat Monument. We hope to visit Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelle this weekend.    Read more

  • Fall Camping Trip 2026
    A chance flower getting ready to bloom in late October.
    A chance flower getting ready to bloom in late October.Today in MoabThe city museumNice patio!

    Moab Element Hotel

    October 21 in the United States 🌧 59 °F

    We had a lovely warm evening yesterday. We enjoyed chicken brats with saurkraut for supper. At dark We put everything away so we could be prepared for the morning rain. The half moon didnt allow us to see as many stars, but it was still warm enough that Phil turned off the electric blanket.

    I awoke at dawn to the patter of raindrops. We made our morning coffee, got dressed in the bathroom at the campground and packed up.

    Despite the rain the 40 minute drive was still stunning. We left our camper in the hotel parking lot and went to breakfast at the Moab Diner across the street from the Cactus Jack's Diner from yesterday. It was a good breakfast and $5 cheaper. I had an omelet covered with green chili sauce.

    Afterwards we went to the Moab city museum which told the story of a small ranching community which became a Uranium boomtown overnight. In the 1950's 25% of the world's uranium was from this region. Prices declined and left only a town without an industry when all the mines and mills closed.

     The old mining trails are now a draw for mountain bikers, off roaders, and all kinds of outdoor enthusiasts. Even the popular White Rim road in Canyonlands was originally an ore road for a huge uranium mine at the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers.

    We're sitting in the lobby of the hotel now waiting to check in. They were full last night, so no rooms ready early.

    We'll take a shower and maybe do laundry this afternoon. Depending on the rain and any flooding tomorrow, we'll maybe drive to the Needles District of Canyonlands.    Read more

  • Fall Camping Trip 2026
    Sunrise over the La Sal Mts.
    Sunrise over the La Sal Mts.So many arresting views on our drive into town.Here's anotherSelfieAt the parkThis one is called the 3 gossipsUsed to be an arch hereSign explaining it.More viewsThis is called "The Furnace"Delicate Arch is the most famous.This petroglyph is called "TV Sheep".This pictogragh is called "Intestines Man"

    Arches NP and course correction

    October 20 in the United States ☀️ 70 °F

    It was probably the most restful sleep we've both had since got on the road! We have the electric blanket dialed into the right temp and it was quiet. We slept not quite 10 hours! Of course we seldom have a campfire to sit up and watch since we cook mainly with gas on our grill or campstove. We are asleep by 8 pm.

    Today we were up at 6:30 and decided to go into town for breakfast, a few groceries, and fuel. We also checked the weather and Wednesday and Thursday this whole area is under a flood watch. We decided to cancel our camping reservations at Utahraptor and instead will stay in a hotel in Moab for 2 night. We'll check the weather after that to see about travels this coming weekend to Natural Bridges, Monument Valley Tribal Park and Canyon de Chelle.

    It was the perfect time to go to Arches today though. The sun was out, but it was not crowded. It got up to 73 degrees so we did drink extra water.

    Arches, like Canyonlands and Dead Horse, is just beautiful everywhere you look. We hiked to the upper viewing site for a look at the famous Delicate Arch. Last time we were here it was snowing, 10 years ago we hiked out and back to the actual arch site.

    On our way home, we stopped and looked at some art from early peoples. We saw both a pictograph (painted on a rock) and a petroglyph which is scratched onto a rock.

    We'll pack.up tonight so in the morning we only have to hook up and go (after coffee, of course). Tonight we are having brats on the grill. I think tomorrow we'll see how the weather goes, but it may be a museum day.    Read more

  • Fall Camping Trip 2026
    Rabbitbrush in bloom
    Rabbitbrush in bloomMore astorsWild sunflowersBlooming sagebrushOur campsite tonight.A panorama of the canyonPotash mining belowThe Green and Colorado rivers combine here.View from the State Park Visitor's CenterView from the National Park Visitor's Center

    Dead Horse State Park

    October 19 in the United States ☀️ 64 °F

    It rained early this morning so we had to wait a bit for our folding shelter to dry a little. We stopped at the Visitor's Center once more at Mesa Verde and I took a few photos of blooming plants. They've just gotten a lot of rain here so the Rabbit brush and Sage are blooming despite the oncoming cold weather.

    The 160 mile drive is stunning and of course around Moab the landscape is particularly stunning. We stopped for a quick lunch at Wendy's and got to our campsite right at the 3 pm checkin.

    We explored the State Park a little and also drove out to the Canyonlands Island in the Sky Visitor's Center. The State Park also has a nice Visitor's Center and Phil used the free WiFi to do his online Spanish lesson.

    The campsite is great. Near flushing toilets. A covered picnic table. Plenty of room and good views.

    The State Park name story is sad. Apparently in the late 1800's some cowboys herded wild horses onto the furthest point. They sorted off what they thought were the best and penned the remaining ones at Dead Horse Point and left them to die.

    Tomorrow the weather will be good so we are going to go to Arches National Park. It is nearby and every other time we were there it rained or snowed.    Read more

  • Fall Camping Trip 2026
    1A beautiful morning before sunrise.
    1A beautiful morning before sunrise.1The sun reflects off the opposite side of the valley.The original Park Headquarters built by the CCC.Sign telling about it.Phil and I with Spruce Tree House below.1This is as close as you go now.🥲A big raven cruising for picnic leftovers.One of our typical dinners.

    Last full day at Mesa Verde

    October 18 in the United States ⛅ 61 °F

    Today started on a not so great note. We were preparing to head out for the day's sightseeing and pulled into the campstore area for a quick check of messages. My credit card had been hacked (again). Seems like it happens every time we travel and when it is most inconvenient. I called Chase and we worked out some details, but we'll be using one of Phil's cards for most of the rest of the trip.

    After that setback, we headed for Spruce Tree House. It is the most intact of the cliff dwellings and in 2004 we were able to visit it. I think we also visited in 2016. Now it is closed due to an earthquake making a large Crack unstable. You can still view it from above, but not visit as before.

    This is a special place for us. It was our first vacation together when we were dating. We bought a signed print together here 22 years ago called "Spruce Tree House: through the doorway of time." We had it framed and it has been in our living room since and people always admire it. Today we bought a print poster of "Nevada Horses" which was commissioned by the Park Service to a Navajo artist in 1933. The original is in the Spruce Tree House Museum. We'll have it framed to go with our other poster.

    We watched the park service movie which focuses on dispelling the myth that the Ancient Ones just "disappeared" , but moved away further south to become 23 different related tribes. Their oral stories tell of these ancient ancestors and many customs still are celebrated today.

    After a picnic, we came back to get a shower and run a last load of laundry. Tomorrow we will move on the Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. We have 2 nights in Dead Horse State Park and 2 at Utahraptor. Only Utahraptor has showers, but both have electricity. Utahraptor also has fossilized raptor footprints. Both are north of Moab near the National Parks and have more services for campers.    Read more

  • Fall Camping Trip 2026
    A sculpture representing the "ancient ones" who would have to climb into their homes carrying goods.
    A sculpture representing the "ancient ones" who would have to climb into their homes carrying goods.Phil in front of the Visitor's CenterStill a few fallacious in bloom here.Baby rattlesnake out on the walkway

    Mesa Verde Visitor's Center

    October 17 in the United States ☀️ 61 °F

    It has been chilly at night and we discovered our electric blanket wasn't working properly. The controller just blinked and would not let you set a temperature. The blanket did get warm, but it seemed like an accident waiting to happen so rather than chance it, we made a trip to town today for a new one.

    In Cortez, we were able to eat a big breakfast at Beny's Diner. Then we got gas (4.29, but I have a 10 cent discount with the App). We stopped at Walmart and were able to get all our purchases knocked out.

    On the way back we stopped at the "newish" Visitor's Center which is near the highway and not deep in the park like the old one. I think the new one is about 10 years old because it was here when we last vosited in 2016. There was a local Hopi artist there this weekend showing her paintings.

    We also saw a baby rattlesnake outside on the sidewalk. It was being closely monitored by a Ranger to insure neither it or some person came to harm.

    Afterwards we took a shower, washed dishes and put the new blanket on our bed. It seems to work and has a timer.

    We'll eat an earlier supper since we skipped lunch. It gets dark pretty early so it is good to have everything put away by dark.

    Tomorrow we'll visit the Museum, Spruce Tree House, and take a short hike or two.    Read more

  • Fall Camping Trip 2026
    Our first sighting of Cliff dwellings today.
    Our first sighting of Cliff dwellings today.Rugged country!A Kiva. Round and this one was probably ceremonial.1Cliff Palace from across the canyon.Grain storage and houses in the cliff alcoves.More of the remains of homes and store rooms.There are buildings along both sides of this canyon.The canyon was like a highway to visit all the neighborhood.1Selfie with the cliff dwellingsA 2 story alcoveSun templeRight before our tour of the Cliff PalaceSelfie of us before all the climbingHalf the climbing done

    700 years tour

    October 16 in the United States ☀️ 57 °F

    Today we got up and took showers and ran a load of laundry. We ate lunch at the Far Point Lodge dining room were among only 4 tables. Everything closes for the winter on Monday when we take off again.

    We had a 4 hour bus tour which included the ranger led Cliff Palace tour. This was the first place that Phil and I visited together in 2004 so we have really fond memories. I must say though that the Cliff Palace tour with its many steps and 4 wooden ladders was harder than it was for us more than 22 years ago!

    Our guide took us through the history and the changes of the way the native peoples evolved here. The started in round earth type homes called kivas, they progressed to towers and stone built homes above the ground with towers and apartments. The final phase of their habitation was the Cliff type dwellings. They stored grain there, used them for home and for ceremonies. In the end, probably climate change made farming here more difficult and they moved away to the south.

    In any case, they were marvelous builders. The Ute tribe always knew of the dwellings, but avoided them due to spirits and ghosts. When White men came, there was a longer history of looting until 3 women campaigned to protect the area. It was named a National Park in 1906 by Teddy Roosevelt and is the only National Park created to protect archeology.

    We will make a run to Cortez tomorrow morning for gas and a few supplies. The night sky here is magnificent.

    Again, sorry for the delay. No cell or wifi at our campsite.    Read more

  • Fall Camping Trip 2026
    Chilly at the Sand Dunes
    Chilly at the Sand DunesNew snow on the mountains.1Colors really changimg.Muddy campsite.All set up.

    Mesa Verde arrival

    October 15 in the United States ☀️ 55 °F

    It was a crisp morning when we left the Sand Dunes. We stopped for a full breakfast in the town of Del Norte and didnt eat lunch.

    The trees are really turning and it was a pretty drive. There was a tree across the highway at one point. Looked like it had just fallen and we were able to go around. It was dangerous, but there's no cell service there or near so I hope it was taken care of soon.

    There was quite a bit of snow at Wolf Creek Pass. Traffic was pretty light though.

    We arrived at the Park around 3:30 pm. Showers look good and so does the laundry, but we have to drive there. Our bathroom is several hundred yards up a hill and around a curve so for overnight we have decided to break out our "luggable loo" just in case. (It is very dark here at night.) Its a bucket with a special bag liner and a plastic toilet seat. The bags have special powder that absorbs fluid. The next day you close the bag with a ziplock and discard it.

    Tomorrow we will take a morning shower and we have a 4 hour tour in the afternoon to the "Cliff Palace".

    Tonight, we've put up our bug hooch since we will be here 4 nights. We also have a space heater for the hooch if needed. I also put the electric blanket on our bed for the night. Our campsite is very muddy, but no rain is forecast thankfully.

    Sorry a day late on this. No wifi at our site. Only at the shower point.    Read more

  • Fall Camping Trip 2026
    Pinon pine nuts
    Pinon pine nutsOut breakfast spotA neighborIn front of the Visitor's Center. Leaves turning in the backgroundMore of our quieter neighborsSnow on the mountain this afternoon

    Rainy, cool day

    October 14 in the United States ☁️ 46 °F

    Yesterday evening we cooked a steak between showers and turned in before 8 pm. During the evening we were annoyed that a nearby camper decided to run his generator during our mealtime. He repeated the loud generator use this morning. I am glad we just use batteries.

    It was about 42F this morning. When I got up around midnight to walk to the bathroom the night sky was fantastic without other ambient light to ruin the view.

    We had coffee and breakfast and then went to the Visitor's Center to watch the park service movies. It was raining afterwards so we drove into Alamosa for a few supplies and our lunch.

    It is late afternoon now and it is quite cold, but no longer raining. We'll have soup for supper and turn in early. There is a freeze warning for tonight. We are at about 8,200 feet elevation. The mountains above us are now covered in new snow.

    Tomorrow, we go to Mesa Verde for 4 nights. We have a tour booked one of the days.    Read more

  • Fall Camping Trip 2026
    View from our nearby restroom.
    View from our nearby restroom.Changing Aspen leaves.Our little campsite.Video in the rain from the Visitor's Center.

    Great Sand Dunes NP

    October 13 in the United States ⛅ 55 °F

    A quick report before the Visitor's Center closes. We are here and parked in our very short and tight campsite. Google took us on a detour so added an hour to our drive.

    Very busy for a Tuesday in October. More tomorrow. If I cant post, due to service limitations, I will send an email on our Spot device to family so you know where we are.Read more

  • Fall Camping Trip 2026
    A new chunk out of our windshield today!
    A new chunk out of our windshield today!Glass fragments ended up falling on me.View from the outside.Stafford rest area is very clean and nice for a 2 lane road!A lot of flat Prairie views today.Camp is set up at John Martin SPThe dam in the backgroundOur bug repelling lantern

    John Martin Reservoir

    October 12 in the United States ☀️ 84 °F

    It was a pretty morning and a longer drive today. We gained an hour and are now in MDT.

    I am feeling better from my cold, but still not 100%. The weather is great and it is actually in the 90's here in Colorado.

    Around Stafford, KS, a big truck threw a rock and hit our windshield leaving a crater. The chips of glass inside actually hit my leg! That's a new windshield when we get home.

    There are lots of nice rest areas on this stretch of Highway 50/400. The Colorado one was closed. Otherwise all is well. Lots of open land today. Lots of feed lots and mega dairies out here where there's little regulation and few neighbors to complain. We even saw a large game farm where ring neck pheasants are raised.

    This campground is below the dam of a Corps of Engineers reservoir. We have electricity and coin op showers. There is also a laundry and dishwashing sink.

    The only drawback is that there are of a lot of flies wanting to come into the camper. I have a bug lantern that seems to working by our chairs.

    Tomorrow after we charge up all the batteries, we head to Great Sand Dunes NP for 2 night about 160 miles away. No electricity there, but the price is good with our SR discount.    Read more

  • Fall Camping Trip 2026
    Camped on a concrete pad.
    Camped on a concrete pad.A little fishing lake across the driveway.Supper!Windy Kansas. There are also tornado shelters here, just in case!

    Made to Wichita

    October 11 in the United States ☀️ 88 °F

    It was a rough start. I am experiencing a late summer cold and in the midst of our packing, we forgot one of the food boxes. No problem as there are actually stores in Wichita, but who knows yet what else we've forgotten?

    In any case, we are at FamCamp#1 at McConnell AFB, sitting in the shade of the camper. Winds at 15 to 20 mph. Too windy to grill or cook with gas so we are having a cheese and crackers night. Quiet here. Warm, but not hot.

    Tomorrow we are headed for John Martin Reservoir State Park in Colorado. My brother's first and middle name are John Martin so I hope it will be really nice.    Read more

    Trip start
    October 10, 2026