Florida to Moab` completed

skip371

Observer
Wifi!!

The group photo is myself with blue shirt on right and the Moreland family. 3 generations of unbelievably bright, educated and engaging darmers of more than 10,000 acres. Had great conversation with grandfather James and his son Matt. Be sure to stop by. Location is noted on sams map. Some examples of the flooding, washouts. That lady is Michelle who opened 2 gates that I mentioned ealier. I have not idea why pics are side ways. More later
 

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skip371

Observer
Total miles 1996/ today 185

Day 6
Another day on the TAT and more smiles. The drive from the Morelands farm to Alma is strange very straight, somewhat hypnotizing but because of the frequent 4 way intersection which I was warned
About by one of my hosts , you need to be vigilant. Also this is the first time I needed to drive for miles in 4WD/ HI. Deep ruts and mud. I was cruising at 30mph and almost lost it in a ditch as I unexpectedly hit thick mud. wheat is almost 2 feet and very green and it does wave:)
Alma is a good place to stop for food and fuel, lodging is available.
Oklahoma is geographically diverse. The east has rolling hills and winding roads, the central area is more undulating than flat. The west is what you were waiting for. Its like cowboy movies where you see the Indians across the ridge and come screaming down to the valley where the wagon train is circled . Spectacular vistas in every direction. Beware of open range and cows that just find their way "out".
They mostly move very slowly or not at all. Motorcycles , note- dust is BRUTAL. When a truck is coming the other way you may want to just stop until they pass. Spending the night outside Buffalo, OK at Doby Springs.. a municipal park/ golf course that has a few tent sites.
Managed to wash my hair with a solar shower i keep on top of my Xterra.
Remember live gps feed on my location at.
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0vOHqViVcdbdkT9sjxPXvKRMsOISvIxKq
 

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skip371

Observer
Panhandle

Day 7 2281 miles / 285 today
Woke up early and the road early, fasting. Determined to get out of Oklahoma. Although parts of it are fun now its as flat as can be and just as straight . Lots of rutted roads to contend with. They're grading them everywhere. I was told they had 17 inches os snow last week. Followed by 80 temps. Big storm now that sneaked in an unzipped flap. Put some serious miles down and stopped 8 miles from New Mexico. the Bunk House. Very very nice people , as usual. Cant want for some mountainsIMG_4421.jpg
 

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skip371

Observer
Panhandle

Day 7 2281 miles / 285 today
Woke up early and the road early, fasting. Determined to get out of Oklahoma. Although parts of it are fun now its as flat as can be and just as straight . Lots of rutted roads to contend with. They're grading them everywhere. I was told they had 17 inches os snow last week. Followed by 80 temps. Big storm now that sneaked in an unzipped flap. Put some serious miles down and stopped 8 miles from New Mexico. the Bunk House. Very very nice people , as usual. Cant want for some mountainsView attachment 399834 that lady is the proprietor of the bunk house. Nice people here. They have a bike lift , compressor.
 

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wagex

Adventurer
I Wow what a crazy day. Finally getting better at getting the roof top up and down faster. Had a visiter at 3 am reving his engine and taking his time to move on from the dead end i was camping at. A perimeter alarm woke me before i heard him. Quick breakfast and hot the trail. Miles , not acres, of ranches. endless rolling landscapes with ribbons of winding roads for miles. No **** so awesome it was hypnotizing drifting turns in 3rd gear. Missed a few turns doing that. Crazy open range in a few places, steer in the road . The calves ALWAYS run. Adults never move. Mmm - something there. Signs of flooding everywhere. Nice people, whenever I stopped to take in the view, someone would stop to check I was ok- cool rancher in a Cadillac escalade with Raybans, cowboy hat and string tie. The real deal.
All that beef made me want a steak..only place is a ****ty little casino - ribeye on the way. Passed on the 20oz. Btw forgot to mention some crazy cows sitting in the shade, they all seemed to like my music, first about 20... while I hung out having a snack more came running over and linned up for group photo shoot. Hard to see cause most were black. laughed out loud at that one.
Apparently you need wifi to get photos up, not sure why cause they pop right up on dacebook

that's crazy lol should have went next door to first council / 7 clans casino, flat water bar and grill in there has some good steaks. my wife works at 7 clans lol never figured id see something from Newkirk 'murika on here.

i actually just got back from a trip to texas on the same day of you posting this :) looks like you are having a good time though!
 

JSwanson

Observer
Great trip report! looks like a lot of fun. Hope to do at least some of the TAT someday! Jealously following along at work.
 

skip371

Observer
Yea, its a great experience. At times a blast, very challenging 4x4 stuff, others times just beautiful jaw dropping scenery.
 

skip371

Observer
Day 7 part 2

Day 7, 2330 miles
i got a very late start today . Sat around relaxing. Drinking coffee with Parker, Lindsey's dad. A retired rancher and rodeo cowboy, now in a wheelchair from MS. A really interesting guy, make a point of meeting him when you stay at the Bunk House. That was the ez part of the day. It got progressively more challenging, immediately. The rain left the roads ... MUD. Once out of the driveway it was 4WD slip sliding eventually had to go around a flooded road by going through a farmers field.. permission granted the night before. Not a golf course. Eventually left the Panhandle and man all that pain:) was worth it New Mexico is just phenomenal, mountains with craggy lines to them- antelope every where. Lots of them crossing in front of you, plenty of cows in the road ,, not to be missed.
The adventure got a little hairy today. I got a little careless, was having too much fun. gpsKevin-occasionally has a diversion off the route that is noted in red. More difficult, i went for it. For a 1.5 hours I climb up into the Moutan , very clear but faint trail, right on the gps track. Got a little harder to see , had to get out and walk around to find it.... then lost any semblance of a trail. Tried to follow the waypoints but not enough detail. 3 hours later , after climbing a tower to try to get "out" and find a road. Fuel is running low. Finally come upon two wacky horses, really beautiful so i figure theres a barn nearby... . Followed the fence line , crossed an arroyo in 4 whee lo/ locker on.. really wet and slippery .that got me on the other side of the fence and eventually to a dirt road. But fuel...is very low . I arrive in this little town Branson that gas a gas ⛽️ on kevins map. Noooo! First time I used the rotopax. Then hit snow!! For a short stretch. Yikes some jaw dropping scenery and my Xterra did everything I asked of it . If IMG_4497.jpgforgot to mention that to top off the day a larger bird decided. To try some new and wedged itself between by hoop bumper and off road driving light. Hit it so hard that the light bracket twisted . Dislodged him, really wedged in.. flew away minus a feather.
 

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skip371

Observer
Day 8 and 9. Arrived!

I'm writing this while under 2 blankets, sweatshirt and jacket, jeans. just east of Salida, CO. i'm camped just above a loud stream completely alone in a Nat Forest. By far the best spot so far and right off the TAT.
today or yesterday to you since I don't know when this will post
The day started cold and rainy, I'm going to stop there......where it got interesting was miles after the last turn , I turned a corner and made a sharp right into 4 cones blocking the road. A little investigation...... my bridge was swept away. You could jump to the other side- I briefly consider a stream crossing but then turned and walked away. Then back tracked and said enough rain and mud and I need to get to Moab on Saturday .
Made my way to the hwy and blue sky 100 miles northwest.
Now we're talking- dry ,'mostly and blue skies and winding perfect mountain roads with each corner revealing views more magnificent then the last corner. I was thinking today that comparing Colorado's snow capped mountains to anyplace else isn't fair. Its just inits own
Class
if you do this trip you will find that not every day is glorious. Sometimes the trail will test your skill or how you manage occasional periods of boredom, but remember just aroundthat next turn......something awesome!
One more night for me to moab. psyched about spending 3 days running the trails and hanging with my son Tyler.
We connected in Moab and camped out after 4 hours of epic Moab 4 wheelin with only 10 more to go.
 

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skip371

Observer
This adventure lasted a short seven weeks. Eventuallly went to Bryce, Zion,Coral Reef, North Rim Grand Canyon and so much more.. It was just a all around great experience. My new favorite place to visit in Southern Utah is the town of Kanab. The home of the TV show Gunsmoke and many more of our favorite childhood westerns. The bakery in town is a MUST stop for breakfast. Grerat camping, hiking and four wheeling right outside of town. Plans have been made for another trip to MOAB next spring. Thanks to all that visited this thread and hope you get the opportunity to experience your adventure soon!
 

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