IN to UT, AZ, CO in a stock JK Unlimited

[scarysharkface]

Getting close to the home stretch with Tracy's pics...

But.... it's EARLY!....

Loading up the Jeep, ready to bug out a day early..

The road to Escalante..

Kids, avoid this man...

I know this is kind of messed up, but I have a thing for road cuts. Could be because I do my outdoor climbing in Indiana on a road cut south of Bloomington. Could just be because I have a thing for road cuts...

I think she may be starting to come around to liking the Canon more than the Nikon.. Maybe..

John

 

[bmh]

is your kid making a prison shank?

Great photos, glad I can follow your trip!

 

[scarysharkface]

is your kid making a prison shank?

Great photos, glad I can follow your trip!

That is exactly what he's making.

I've got more photos to post, but we're getting to the bottom of the pile. Glad you're enjoying it!

John

 

[Hanley Noel]

Where in Indiana are ya from? I live in Zionsville.

 

[scarysharkface]

Where in Indiana are ya from? I live in Zionsville.

Terre Haute area..

John

 

[MATTY291]

I look back at this thread every week & just stare at the pictures. You and your family had a really good vacation & take some of the best pictures I have ever seen on here. Good job.

 

[scarysharkface]

I look back at this thread every week & just stare at the pictures. You and your family had a really good vacation & take some of the best pictures I have ever seen on here. Good job.

You are kind. Thanks. There are lots of great pics on this site, and lots of great things to see! Another excellent travel pic-to-be-drooled-ever site is advrider.com. Check out the Ride Reports section and be prepared to waste some time.. :bike_rider:

John

 

[02TahoeMD]

John
I have enjoyed your photos of this trip immensely. I have traveled much of the same areas many times over but your photography captures the scenery so much better than mine, I have loved them all.

Also, dont worry too much about the stress of a family trip like that. We took a family trip West when I was 17 or 18 ( a LONG time ago ) and, in spite of 6 of us crammed into a van and doing a marathon sprint to the Grand Canyon and back to MD, it is one of my favorite memories. True, there were the usual events of sibling rivalry, etc, but that has never made the memories bad. And, indeed, it was that trip that planted the seeds that turned me into the explorer I am today.

Looking forward to seeing your next trip report, whenever and whereever that may be.

 

[Cabrito]

I really enjoyed your trip report. At times I felt like I was along for the ride.

Fantastic pictures. Thanks for taking the time to post your journey.

One question about your hitch rack. Early on in the story when you were following the green jeep did you have the rack on the back? Some of those roads seemed a little bit technical and I wondered if you had any clearance issues with the rack.

Thanks again for a wonderful story. I spent the last two mornings reading through the whole trip, and it was time well spent..

..

 

[scarysharkface]

Thanks, guys, for the positive feedback.

I'm certain they'll carry this adventure with them.. Not sure they'll realize it or not, or when, but it's all good..

The hitch rack wouldn't have been a problem anywhere we went except possibly the Four Wheel Drive Road in Arches. It only saw action on travel days. If I'd had one of those adapters that raises it a couple of inches, it could have gone anywhere we went.

I've got more pics to post, as time allows. Life gets in the way... :ylsmoke:

As an aside, I just got home from the Red River Gorge in Kentucky (unplanned spur of the moment overnighter) and it's lovely. Not much of a vehicular adventure, but spectacular scenery and looks like some really great rock climbing...

John

 

[scarysharkface]

More of Tracy's pics .. Mesa Verde..

So dry and desert-like up top, but very green near the bottom of the canyon. Just a little moisture makes a huge difference...

Times like these remind a fella that he eats too much and labors too little..

Doesn't look like such a tight fit here, but believe me it was close...

Peyote?

John

 

[scarysharkface]

I can see why they're concerned about people touching this stuff. They run a lot of folks through these ruins all day long, every day..

Look in:

Look up. Way up. This is what you see:

John

 

[Larry]

WOW John, you and your family really a got lot of great photos of your trip. I also think it is great the entire family got into this and appeared to have really enjoyed their time out in the wild. Keep the pictures coming!

 

[skibum69]

I'm waiting for your next KLR themed adventure there John? I'm headed out to my place on mine this afernoon.:REExeSwimmingHL:

 

[scarysharkface]

Starting to run out of stuff to post from this trip. May have to dig into the kids' stuff, some of which is pretty good..

At the crag in Durango..

One of our favorites:

John