The DeTour Trip Report - As Told by Blackdawg

[Blackdawg]

Water does interesting things out here..


IMG_4312 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4313 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4314 by mike digirat, on Flickr


We then started to cover ground faster. Enjoying the smooth compacted sand from the light rain which still had not gotten muddy.


The DeTour-56.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_4318 by mike digirat, on Flickr

The DeTour-57.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_4319 by mike digirat, on Flickr

The DeTour-58.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Freakin Dan ruining pictures with opened doors


The DeTour-59.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-60.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


The rain had let up a bit and it was chilly but we still were having fun being out in the middle of it all.


IMG_4320 by mike digirat, on Flickr

The DeTour-61.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-62.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-63.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-64.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

 

[Blackdawg]

After a few miles we pulled up on an old homestead or mine site. Little bit of both likely and walked around the couple of structures for a bit.


The DeTour-65.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_4323 by mike digirat, on Flickr

2017-09-30 - 00037 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr

IMG_4324 by mike digirat, on Flickr

The DeTour-66.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_4327 by mike digirat, on Flickr

The DeTour-67.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Was always cool to see these kinds of things. Would have been hard to live out here.


The DeTour-68.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

2017-09-30 - 00038 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr


Dan noticed that the wood of the walls were railroad ties and hammered together will rail spikes it looked like.


The DeTour-69.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

2017-09-30 - 00039 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr

IMG_4332 by mike digirat, on Flickr

The DeTour-71.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_4333 by mike digirat, on Flickr

The DeTour-72.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


The rain started back up though and we got back in the trucks still heading north.


The DeTour-70.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

2017-09-30 - 00040 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr

IMG_4335 by mike digirat, on Flickr

 

[Blackdawg]

Not long after the road entered a wash. It looked like it had flowed pretty well possible. The water was going pretty good but didn’t look deep. We weren’t exactly worried about a flash flood at this time either and continued on through the water.


2017-09-30 - 00041 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr

2017-09-30 - 00042 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr

The DeTour-73.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-74.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-75.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


The road continued going in and out of the wash, a classic road feature of many roads in Utah.


The DeTour-76.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-77.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Then something amazing happened. The water disappeared!


I think realized, that the wash had just started running and we were now infront of the flow! This somehow was very cool to me. And I stopped at the next point it would cross through us and waited.


The DeTour-78.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-79.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-80.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-81.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-82.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-83.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_4345 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4346 by mike digirat, on Flickr


It was very cool to see the start of a wash flow. Now granted this can be very dangerous, but seeing has now we had driving through the wash for a few miles before here we knew a tidal wave wasn’t about to slam into us.


From here we climbed out of the wash and once again broke out into a wide open area. Alas, the bentonite mud was back with vengeance and we slopped our way back towards the highway.


2017-09-30 - 00043 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr

 

[Blackdawg]

The mud was back.. Damn.


The DeTour-84.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-85.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

2017-09-30 - 00044 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr

The DeTour-86.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

2017-09-30 - 00045 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr


Traction was a slight issue in a few spots. But didn’t stop us from climbing the hills back to the highway.


The DeTour-87.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


We them popped out back onto highway 128 and turned south back to Dewey bridge. Now a pinicale point of the trip.


A quick stop at the restroom and another photo(not sure why, I have like 6 of these photos now) before heading out.


At least the sun had come back out for a moment to smile on us.


The DeTour-88.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


We then headed up and over toward the Dolores Triangle route. Took us through a nice area that was very popular for camping. And then got to the river crossing of the Dolores River.


Didn’t seem too bad and I took off across.


2017-09-30 - 00046 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr


Thankfully it was not deep and Dan and Mike followed with ease.


The DeTour-89.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_4348 by mike digirat, on Flickr

The DeTour-90.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-91.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-92.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-93.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-94.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

2017-09-30 - 00047 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr

The DeTour-95.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

2017-09-30 - 00048 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr

 

[Blackdawg]

Now of the north side of the river we followed it for a while the road conditions so far fine but muddy in spots.


The DeTour-96.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-97.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-98.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

2017-09-30 - 00049 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr


Then we started to climb and the road got quite mukky.


The DeTour-99.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Once up the seemingly larger hill I asked if it would be cool to go check out a potential overlook for a lunch spot. Everyone now hungry agreed since we were for the moment back in sunshine and the views were worth it!


The DeTour-100.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_4351 by mike digirat, on Flickr

The DeTour-101.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-102.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-103.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

 

[Blackdawg]

Soon we were overlooking the area we had just driven through including the river crossing. Not a bad spot for a good sandwich.


The DeTour-104.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-106.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

2017-09-30 - 00050 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr

IMG_4352 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4353 by mike digirat, on Flickr

The DeTour-107.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_4355 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4356x by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4357 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4360 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4361 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4362 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4364 by mike digirat, on Flickr


I always enjoy seeing river confluences. While not as dramatic as the Green flowing into the Colorada, it was a familiar look with the Dolores flowing into the Colorado.


The DeTour-105.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_4368 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4371 by mike digirat, on Flickr


Of course Dewey bridge was still in view as well.


IMG_4372 by mike digirat, on Flickr

 

[Blackdawg]

So many roads..so little time..


IMG_4375 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4376 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4377z by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4378 by mike digirat, on Flickr


Food in our bellys we set back on the road only to encounter some very bad mud again.


The DeTour-108.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-109.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Our trucks were not multiculturally muddy


2017-09-30 - 00051 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr

The DeTour-116.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-117.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Thankfully it was only a few miles of slop and we came over a ridge to look down into a lovely valley.


The DeTour-110.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_4379 by mike digirat, on Flickr

2017-09-30 - 00052 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr

The DeTour-111.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-112.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_4381 by mike digirat, on Flickr


Its always fun to see where you’re going.


The DeTour-113.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-114.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-115.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

 

[Blackdawg]

The valley was quite lovely and there were offshoots here to explore, alas not for us. It was getting into the end of the day and we still had no idea where we would be camping tonight. The scenery was lovely though.


The DeTour-118.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-119.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-120.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-121.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

2017-09-30 - 00053 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr

2017-09-30 - 00054 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr

The DeTour-122.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-123.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Mud was definitely a major part of this trip no matter where we seemed to go..


2017-09-30 - 00055 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr


None now though thank god! We continued down the road as its wound through some lovely country with some great cliffs.


The DeTour-124.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

2017-09-30 - 00056 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr

The DeTour-125.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


And then..it stopped.


Suddenly we were not in the backcountry again but in ranch country. Properties where everywhere now and we were suddenly on a county road. Which soon turned into pavement.


Damn.


Seemed our dirt adventure had come to a rather sudden end. We pulled over and aired up once again Dan and Mike helping me and filling up a tire or two.


The DeTour-126.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

2017-09-30 - 00057 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr


The adventure was done..


2017-09-30 - 00058 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr


Well not really..


We had little idea of where we were and no idea where to camp. So we just starting driving. We were in beautiful country by had little clue on what was public land. Looking at the maps suggested a spot off the highway but after some exploring, we came up empty.


Back on the highway we realized we were right on the edge of the Colorado National Monument. There were some roads there and we set off. Was quite pretty!


The DeTour-127.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


However we realized this was not going to be a place with dispersed camping. At least near by. We wound our way through and turned off at Black Ridge Road which at least on the map looked promising. We drove a long ways before coming out on top of a mesa. I went left and Dan and Mike went right to find us a spot.


By now the sun was setting and doing wonderful things with the light.


The DeTour-128.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

 

[Blackdawg]

My spot came up short but Dan and Mike found something promising and called me back to them.


The DeTour-129.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-130.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-131.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


The spot they found was a ridge overlooking a valley of some house’s just South of Fruita. It would do just nicely. Mike and Dan had already gotten comfortable.


IMG_4383 by mike digirat, on Flickr

2017-09-30 - 00059 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr


I arrived and quickly approved.


2017-09-30 - 00060 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr

2017-09-30 - 00061 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr


We then setup and watch one hell of a sunset with storm cells traveling north and south of us.


IMG_4384 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4385 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4387 by mike digirat, on Flickr

The DeTour-132.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_4388 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_4389 by mike digirat, on Flickr

The DeTour-133.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-134.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

2017-09-30 - 00062 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr

2017-09-30 - 00063 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr

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2017-09-30 - 00065 - The De-Tour - Day 14 by Dan, on Flickr


This would be our last night together. It had be a glorious trip with so many ups and downs. And plenty of problems to overcome and adapt too. Mike and I joked that Dan would never want to come on another trip with us with all the ******** that had gone not as planned. He of course laughed it off and had loved it all.


We all had. Dan had fit in out group perfectly and we knew he would be coming on more trips. The last campfire was a cold one but a jolly one with sad undertones as they always do. But we soon all turned in for the night, none of us really looking forward to the next day. Though we had come full circle just about from our unplanned Detour back near Loma near the start of the Kokopelli. And we finished it as we started, covered in mud.

 

[Blackdawg]

The fact it was rainy and cold in the morning didn’t help either..


The DeTour-135.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Packing was slow for us. But naturally, once we had packed up, the weather broke!


Figures..


We then set off to get to Furita our final farewell point.


The morning drive blew us away though.


We came down from the mesa and back on the main road through the monument and quickly got to see why it was a monument. It was beautiful here.


The DeTour-136.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Sadly, and regrettably, we didn’t stop for photos but continued down the goregous canyon walls to the bottom where we suddenly were at a toll gate.


“******** did we have to pay to get in here?” I asked.


Of course we had seen no toll to get in the way we had entered.


I pulled up to the booth and the elderly women smiled and asked for my pass.


“I don’t have one, we came in from the south west side from Utah, do we need to pay to get out?” I asked.


She shrugged her shoulders “I have no idea” she said with a laugh. “Go on through!”


Cool beans!


We headed into town, got gas, washed the windows. Then said our farewells.


It would be a few month till we got to see eachother again. I headed north and Dan and Mike headed Northwest.


What an awesome trip.


Plus this happened just outside Craig:


The DeTour-137.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The DeTour-138.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


I can’t think of a better way to hit 200k on a tacoma than on an adventure.


And what an adventure it was, more than half of it was totally unplanned.


One thing is for certain, Mother nature sure knows how to derail plans and is always the winner. Or is she? We still had a good time and everything worked out even better than I thought it would. Goes to show that sometimes even if you spend all the effort to plan something out. You should always be ready for anything and be ready to take a few detours to make it happen.


Is that what being adventurous is all about?


Hell, one could even say there is no such things as..



DeTours.









Thanks for reading my story.

Enjoy the De-Tour story? There's more - @turbodb also wrote up a version. Check out his version of this chapter here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/posts/19161719
Read the full story:
As told by @turbodb: [Chapter 1] [Chapter 2] [Chapter 3] [Chapter 4] [Chapter 5] [Chapter 6] [Chapter 7] [Chapter 8] [Chapter 9] [Chapter 10] [Chapter 11] [Chapter 12] [Chapter 13]

As told by @Blackdawg: [Chapter 1] [Chapter 2] [Chapter 3] [Chapter 4] [Chapter 5] [Chapter 6] [Chapter 7] [Chapter 8] [Chapter 9] [Chapter 10] [Chapter 11] [Chapter 12] [Chapter 13]​

 

[Blackdawg]

Credits:

Narrated, Photos, Photos compiled by:

Monte, aka @Blackdawg driving Frankenstein and Igor:
​

Photos and second narration by:

Dan, aka @turbodb :


Photos by:

Mike, aka @Digiratus Driving the Red Head
[/URL]


Photos by:

Ben @m3bassman and Kirsten



Friends who joined us:

Zane, aka @SpeedyTech



Dan, aka @drr



Mark, aka Derp, aka @IDtrucks



Glenn, aka @Glenn_R



And my lovely lady

Devin





See you on the trail!

Other Trip Reports:

August 2014: The S.O.S Report: The Full Story
August 2015: Fires, Tires, n Bears. OOH YEEA!
August 2016: Alberta Bound & Beyond
March 2017: ImpromptU-ah! Back to Utah We Go!
September 2017: The DeTour​

 

[Blackdawg]

Finally done!

Way over due and way late!


Have two more to write about now. More to come!

 

[Aussie Iron]

Great. Thanks again.

Dan.

 

[ttora4runner]

Nice report and great photos.

 

[Blackdawg]

Great. Thanks again.

Dan.

Thanks for reading and commenting.

Nice report and great photos.

Thank you!