Dec 2022-Jan 2023 Winter Road Trip

Monday, December 19th 2022 - Saturday, January 14th 2023

As mentioned under the framing, heating, and electrical section, Josh was working on the van right up until we departed for our road trip on Monday night, December 19th.  We loaded the mattress from our bedroom out to the van along with all the items we wanted to take with us and headed out.  During our four week road trip (although one week was spent spending time with family and friends in New Mexico) we ended up going to seven states and five national parks (Arches, Canyonlands, White Sands, Saguaro, and Joshua Tree). 

Our trip from Seattle to Mexico took five nights as we worked during the day.  Our route was:

• Seattle to Pendleton, OR

• Pendleton, OR to Boise, ID

• Boise, ID to Salt Lake City, UT

• Salt Lake City, UT to Moab, UT

• Moab, UT to Durango, CO

• Durango, CO to Albuquerque, NM

The drive from Seattle to Pendleton took over 7 hours.  The pass was snowy and icy and I've never seen so many semis on the side of the road or on off ramps and on ramps.  Part of the highway in Oregon was closed so we had to take a detour. We didn't arrive in Pendleton until 2am! Thankfully we made it safely and the van handled well as it has four wheel drive. It helped immensely that Josh is familiar with driving in snowy and icy conditions.  

While in Moab we were able to work from the parking lot of the Arches National Park Visitor Center.  Josh set up the Starlink and we were able to take some calls and check email.  After work we hiked to Delicate Arch. 

Christmas in New Mexico was nice.  We met up with a lot of family and friends.  Lucky loved having a yard to play in at Josh's mom's house. 

We departed New Mexico on New Year's Eve morning.  We drove to White Sands National Park where we sled down the sand dunes and watched the sunset. We boondocked outside the camp entrance and drove in New Year's Day morning for the sunrise. 

Our route back to Seattle from Albuquerque was as follows:

• Albuquerque, NM to White Sands National Park, NM

• White Sands National Park, NM to Tucson, AZ

• Tucson, AZ to Cottonwood Campground at Joshua Tree National Park, CA

• Cottonwood Campground at Joshua Tree National Park to Indian Cove Campground at Joshua Tree National Park, CA

• Joshua Tree, CA to Temecula, CA

• Temecula, CA to Solvang, CA

• Solvang, CA to San Simeon, CA

• San Simeon, CA to Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay, CA

• Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay, CA to Klamath Falls, OR

• Klamath Falls, OR to Bend, OR

• Bend, OR to Seattle   

Places of note were Saguaro National Park in Tucson, the cholla gardens at Joshua Tree, Doffo winery in Temecula, Hearst Castle in San Simeon, and the elephant seal beach in San Simeon.  Overall we had a fantastic trip, although I got tired of showering in public restrooms and wearing flip flops in the shower.  We look forward to building out the van further so it's even more comfortable.