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| ('Nellie', my Navigator is the decal on camper sitting with a map) |
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| (My Nav, she always got me there, sooner or later that is) |
So wandering around like a loose cannon trying to find something to do with all this.
Looking for that Lotto Moment to get the next one..
Polaris XP 1000 Rock Special Edition.
Sometime in the future or more than likely, "Next Life"...
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| (Next one planned with trailer of course) |
and lest we, I, forgot "Li'l Nel" as the retirement truck camper rig package, game plan was to travel around to different ORV (Off Road Vehicle) rallies and explore the various trails around the states, stopping by unique state features highlights.
Named "Lil Nel" as younger, smaller sister of 'Nellie', so I called her my "Social Director". Polaris ACE 900, a fun one, but bumpy as hell due to small wheelbase, thus the preference for the larger XP 1000.. easier on this ole body..
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| (Li'l Nel - Social Director) |
Having said that, I've compiled a few pics of places that were kinda kewl to see over the last 2 years
Coming from a background with a Camp Inn Teardrop, aka "Le Droppe" 6 years, which was perfect for the "Dive Campouts" we used to do. Good for 3-seasons but will get cabin fever if wind and rain are happening at the same time.
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| (Le Droppe) |
Here's how I started out, staying at Wanapum SP, Vantage, WA. Oct 1, 2015
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| (on the Columbia River and I-90 Hwy) |
First overnighter, met up with fellow Tear Drop camper, Rich P, he upgraded too, for a "Test Nighter", a continuing process
Just one of many gorgeous sunsets (also sunrises) Dome Rock, Quartzsite, AZ.
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| (Quartzsite, AZ - Dome Rock) |
And the BBB Event at Havasu, AZ for the VW Busses... visiting old time friends and their Wagon Bugs.. heheh, Wow, what a selection they had.. An annual event in Jan.
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| (Busses By the Bridge, Havasu, AZ - Jan) |
More Pics here...
Fortuna Pond, Yuma, AZ was a nice surprise, a little pond away from it all, well sorta, it was pretty crowded.
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Mittry Lake, Yuma, AZ was a nice one too, dirt road to get there north of Fortuna. Felt like I was on a dive trip to warm waters.
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Monument Valley, AZ was a fun one to drive though.
Nice N Easy...
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Palm Canyon, AZ was a nice place to camp. Palm trees? were way up in the slot.. but view was nice.
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Petrified Forest, AZ.. enh? not really impressed, but had to see it...
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Death Valley, CA, I wanted to spend Christmas here for the Irony of it all. Only able to do the northern half, coming back for the Southern Half next time. Mosiac Canyon, Death Valley, CA
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Jumbo Rock, Joshua Tree, CA was interesting camping among the "Rocks"..
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Lassen Volcanic area, No Calif. Crowded, but nice loop drive. Got caught in the beginning of a snow storm.
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Red Rock Canyon, CA. Interesting rock formations. Visiting old friends with their Micro Busses.. (See above BBB)
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Redwoods in Calif. Nice beautiful trees, but after 30 mins then what?? heheh, Yah, I might have a short attention span...
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Sequoia, CA was nicer, IMNSHO, stayed several nights. Couldn't really get around to explore but big ole trees they are..
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Trona Pinnacles, CA.
Really kewl place, wierd rock formations. Liked this one a lot, plan on coming back to it.
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Westport, CA - Union landing.
Luv'd this place right on the ocean bluff. Just really nice to sit and watch the waves. Unlike Trees, Rocks, waves move..
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Bishops Castle, CO was a fun one to see. All hand made by one man only. Each rock handled at least 7 times before put in place.
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Dinosaur Nat'l Mnt, CO
Interesting stop for the day. Apparently quite the "Bone Dam" as the bones/fossils were all dammed up in one block. But? where are the Dinos...
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Great Sand Dunes, CO
Largest Dunes in No America, they don't look too big until you get up close and personal-like.. and the colors... with a river/stream running through it.
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Red Canyon, Flaming Gorge, UT
Just south of the Flaming Gorge, up top on the plateau, makes for a great view.
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Taylor Park, CO,
I was able to do a rally just north of Gunnison, CO.
That was blast, but "Li'l Nel" had a hard, literally, time on the rocks, which about 80% of the ride. I'm glad I was able to do it. Since the ACE was smaller in size, doing 40mph is like doing 60mph in the XP1000 buggy. Great views and trails through little dirt road towns. Long rides and was limited on size and gas.
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Durango Train, CO
This was something the just had to be done. Nice ride up to Silverton and back. A little long on the train, 3-hrs each way, but great views.
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Craters of the Moon, ID
Just a stopover on way to WY. Nice to see, interesting campsite among the lava rocks.
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Rally in the Pines, Mackay, ID
Lucky to do this ORV rally again, missed last year, no buggy, but did this with "Li'l Nel" and did quite well as it mainly trails, not much rock which was nice.
They have many different rides among which is a Haunted Trail Ride.. fun..
They've changed locations now up to Salmon, ID. It's still early yet, but would luv to make it there..
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St Anthony Dunes, ID
Great place for buggies that like the dunes. Big ole ones... I just drove around a little with "Li'l Nel" as getting stuck going solo can be a PITA... but good to see.
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Los Algodones, MX
This is a big Dental/Eye's happening. Why? cheaper and many good ones down there, US Trained. Something that would cost me some $600+ is apx $110 so you can see the reasoning, and again, it's the same work, finding a good one counts.
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Aguirre Springs, NM
Great campsite, Dry, with a great view of the White Sands, NM area.
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City of Rocks, NM
Nice unique campground with Rocks. heheh, camping in among them.
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Ice Caves and Bandera Volcano, NM
Land of Fire & Ice. Interesting stop over. Short hike to Volcano and then to the Ice Cave used in the old days for keeping stuff cold. No Ice Skating allowed, heheh.
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Kartchner Caves, NM
Yo, Listen UP
While I didn't actually go into the 'Caves', pretty pricey $$$ for each of two caves, it would be something to see. Campground right there, walking distance.
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Berlin-Ichthyosaur SP, NV
Interesting park, old mining shacks restored and they had? some great fishing back in the days. How the hell a "Fish Fossil" got up a mountain in the middle of Nevada is beyond me.. heheh, luckily I don't 'Fish' so not a problem. I would note, this would be a good 'Catch n Release'..
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Cathedral Gorge, NV
Interesting place to visit. Two trails, long one is just up one side of Valley and back down the other, good if you like hiking, not long, but the shorter one up through the narrow valley to the Vista Pavilion is the better one.
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Lehman Caves, NV
Great Basin area, nic stop, several campsites and great cave. Sorta like a "Mini-Cave" compared to others.
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Valley of Fire, NV
Out in the middle of nowhere, looking for "Fred & Wilma Flintstone" just around the corners. Can get windy, but a unique camping area.
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Christmas Valley, OR
Surprisingly a lot to do here in Central OR.
Sand Dunes, Hole in the Ground, Crack in the Ground along with some Ice Caves a little further north.
Sand Dunes, nice, great riding area to be sure
Crack in the ground. Wouldn't hang around if the Earth started moving.
Hole in the Ground, yep, it's a big Ole hole.
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Malaquite, Padre Island, TX
Liked this place, several campgrounds around, but this one was right next to beach. You can go out on the sand a little further down. Also, inside bay looked good to.
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Gooseneck SP, UT
A unique look at a river winding around through the canyon. Monument Valley is just south, 1-hr, away and Mexican hat along the way. Nice, can get windy at times.
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Coral Pink Sand Dunes, UT
This was nice to see. Just the colors etc. Buggy riding allowed in certain areas as is "Surfing" down the sand dunes. Camping right there.
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Carlsbad Caverns, NM
Just had to "Do" this. This was more like trip report. Elevator was down for repairs so I was "Lucky" (sigh) to get to hike down and worse, hike back up. Amazing to say the least, something that has to be done. Big ole Cave in the Ground. Stayed up the way at a nice Reservoir. (Hard to get good pics due to light, flash was too c-c-cold on the pics)
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Devils Tower, WY
Another 'Have to See, if in Area' so did. Good to see, spent apx 30 min and moved on. Listened for the "Tones" and "Bright Lights" Nada.. nut'n Honey..
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There were many more, remember, every night is camping somewhere, but these are most of the highlights.
All Gallery pics and campsite pics here.
On to the next year, 2017...
Cheers..
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