2024 Travel Highlights

 

WOW, I did not realize how much I have covered until reviewing the whole years travel map. Of course, one detour to central Canada for a RV Factory repair was totally unanticipated and did add allot to the map.

Details of each month on the road are in other posts. To find them look on the right side of this page and see a column listed by year and when you select a year it expands to have more posts. Select each post one at a time to read the blog containing pictures and narrative of what I have seen or done in that area of the country. Although I have been RVing for 30 years I started journaling in 2002 and traveling full time 8 years ago.

My wife Tanya was able to work remotely for 4 years and traveled with me. It was so great to share these adventures with her. 2 years ago while wintering over in Key West, FL she steps out of the RV just crying so very hard, she had received an email stating for everyone to return to the office by February. Since then I continue to travel in the RV and when we talk every day and I share what I have seen or done she can visualize it herself and share vicariously my travels for she has had similar experiences while traveling.

This years summary of travels also starts out in Key West, FL. My friend Gene Miller from the WIN's (Wandering Individuals Network) and I spent parts of January and February in Key West. Eating allot, soaking up the sun and he and I are both sunrise aficionados!

Going back to the mainland I purchase a Ford Maverick to tow behind the RV. I love this truck! It allows me to carry my toys and have a dry warm vehicle to tour around in. Of course, it means no more motorcycle for I will not load one into a truck nor will it fit with kayaks overhead. Met another WIN member John who came over and spent the entire day installing the baseplate to tow the truck with. Later John was with me to go to Alaska!

Leaving Florida to slowly go west in preparation for Alaska I connect with more WIN's in Texas to see the Solar Eclipse, while there meet other WIN's who go to Alaska with me Ken Geibe. Also reconnected with Steven Weiler, Marsha Bloodsworth, Linda Funkhouser, Jennell Jones who had traveled to Canadian Maritime together.

In Nevada I discovered a Gemstone Mine and the nearby town of Goldfield, NV with great attractions. This stood out also because similar to Cadilac Ranch near Amarillo, TX they had allot of vehicles nose first into the sand!

Also in Nevada was memories of driving through a cattle drive with Tanya a few years previously. 

A months stay in Oregon visiting family before meeting up with other WIN's and beginning our Alaska journey.

All of the stories of bad roads, broken windshields, flat tires is from many years ago when the roads were still gravel. Now it is paved 99% and only when detouring off main roads have had gravel roads. No one in our 9 member group had vehicle issues except one travel trailer and that was not due to road conditions.

My most enjoyable portion of traveling to Alaska is the vast amount of wilderness and wildlife. Including a herd of approximately 1200 Caribou caught on a drone video, the video is posted on the blog page for you to see.

Denali wildlife 

15 Dall sheep
3 bear
6 caribou 
1 arctic ground squirrels 

Whole trip wildlife 

11 Black bear
1 Grizzly bear, 1 cub
1 Red Fox
14 Humpback whale 
4 Sea Otter
7 Puffins a
3 Eagles 1 baby
2 Mountain goats , chased by black bear 
16 Moose 
9 Trumpeter swans 
20 Sea Lion 
16 Wild horses 
6 Rabbit 
11 Ptarmigan 24 chicks
2 Artic ground squirrels 
1200 Herd of Caribou
3 deer
82 Bison

A on water cruise and saw whales feeding. They dove deep, swam in a circle blowing bubbles to compact baitfish, then swam up through the fish pod with mouths open breaching the surface! Theres a video of this too!

Both the trip north through Canada British Columbia and the trip south there was allot to see and do. Jasper National Park was on fire when we were there so we did not see Jasper or the Icefields Highway.

Towards the end of the trip my brother drove up and joined me for some flyfishing in BC. I'm hoping that future years we spend more time fishing BC.

Returning to Oregon for another month to see family and I received a recall on my RV. When the local shop could not fix it, I was offered to go to the factory for repair. So, a 1600-mile detour to the factory then another 1600- mile to return to my itinerary of going to Mexico for the winter.

I spent November in Puerto Penasco, Mexico with other WIN's friends. Then back up to the states to fly and visit Tanya before going to Quartzsite, AZ for the annual WIN's get together. In January my brother comes down to Quartzsite and we return to Mexico for January and February.

A very, very long travel year for me and loving every moment! I hope everyone has a happy Holiday season and enjoy living vicariously through my travels.

2024 December Calif, AZ, NV,

Anza Borrego State Park, CA The WIN's Winter Western Circuit. This is metal sculptures scattered throughout the desert.

 

I was only there 2 days before flying out to see Tanya.

I spent a week with Tanya and was very cold! Caught a cold, stayed bundled up most of the time. My Honey is worth every moment!

Returning to the Southwest I poked around Yuma, AZ a few days and was feeling better nearly right away. A day trip to wildlife refuge and short hike is the most I could manage.

Traveling up to Phoenix and caught up with some other WINs. Taking a overnight trip 100 miles to see Tonto cliff dwelling National Monument. This hike was more strenuous but I managed it ok by going slow.

I had not had the opportunity to actually walk through but one other cliff dwelling before so I did enjoy this one even though it was rather small by comparison to others.

The common thing between other cliff dwelling and pueblos is the midden mounds demonstrate the reduction in food available throughout time.

What amazes me is as you walk through ancient dwellings you earn an appreciation for how humankind developed from the survival basic needs to what is present now. 

I mean that it gives me a great feeling for the Era I currently live in. 

We are so blessed to have the advantages we currently have. Safety, food, clothes all of the basic needs are automatically met! Unlike our ancestors who continues to struggle to meet those same needs.

I love my life!

On the trip back to Phoenix along a different route is a small mining town of Miami, AZ. The small museum is set inside a former Segregated School. Apache, Mexican children were thought to be retarded because they didn't speak English very well, so segregation school. Before the Federal government 1955 outlaw segregation this town changed and did away with segregation 1951.

Slavic alcohol still

Collection of native American dolls

Local artist murals 

Clay tiles 

Mine blasting equipment 

Converted Model T to a air compressor for mining

Back in Apache Junction, AZ at the lodge. Felt like coming home!

Just down the road from the lodge is Lost Dutchman State Park, a commercial ghost town and a museum. Interesting things at the museum about gold mining, Indian wickiup, and a former movie studio from the 50's.

Superstition mountain, I'm camping at the base of the mountain. This picture is taken from my chair outside of the RV.

Movie set sign

Story about the movie set

Famous actors that worked here

Gold stamp mill

Spending Christmas time in Arizona has a very special appeal to me - WARM ! Especially with Elks and WINs friends.