A vehicle-based adventure from Texas throughout the western U.S.

I came to a point in my life when I realized that waiting for the right time to do anything was useless. I dreamt of exploring the American Southwest for most of my life, yet I had done nothing about it. I wanted to pack up my 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser and hit the road, which is exactly what my wife, Megan, and I did in the Fall of 2017.

Preparation
There was very little planning involved for our trip. We wanted to live spontaneously while stopping at National Parks and anything else that grabbed our attention. We wanted to feed our wanderlust.

Packing was simple. We laid our belongings on the living room floor, removing what we thought we did not need. We still overpacked.

As for sleeping arrangements, we decided to buy a Maggiolina AirLand Plus rooftop tent. I quickly learned these were not stocked products available for pickup; instead they are shipped from Italy. We caught a break, learning the manufacturer had a spare tent sitting in a warehouse in Santa Cruz, California and it was for sale.

We purchased the tent and planned to drive west to pick it up. There was only one small obstacle. The tent needed to be picked up and stored three days before we arrived in California because the warehouse was closing for Thanksgiving holiday. I found a nearby business owner, Jordan, at Idea Fab labs, who agreed to help us out. We were ecstatic over the next 48 hours as we packed the truck and prepared for the adventure.

California Bound
From Texas we began our way to California, averaging eight hours per day driving and finding Airbnbs for sleeping at night. Everything else we needed was at our fingertips: Gas stations, fuel prices, and food were all found using Google and Yelp.

Megan and I often talked about how much easier traveling had become with technology. One product I found extremely helpful while driving was a ScanGauge. It’s a plug-and-play device that indicates how far you can drive before running out of gas. It was accurate and saved me a lot of worries.

Our days were long, but they were far from boring as we hiked and explored for hours. Places like the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park, the Mojave Desert, Pinnacles National Park, and Point Lobos State Natural Preserve were havens for our nature cravings. We even managed to fit in a cruise down the Pacific Coast Highway in California.

On Day Four, we made it to Santa Cruz where we met Jordan. Megan and I spent part of our afternoon installing our new tent, in addition to visiting with Jordan and touring his business. We ended our day watching the sunset on the Pacific Coast.

Life was good and it just kept getting better.

Sierra Nevada Mountains
The Sierra Nevada Mountains became our home for the next seven days. Our first stop was Yosemite National Park, which coincided with the week of Thanksgiving. The park was not crowded, but the campgrounds were full. We found a quaint spot to stay outside the park where we experienced rooftop tent living for the first time.

For three days, we hiked and explored Yosemite from the valley floor to the top of Glacier Point. We found ourselves cooking meals with captivating views of El Capitan and Half Dome and enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner in our tent on top of Glacier Point. We made the best of every moment.

At night, the air was crisp and cool as we climbed into our tent and wrapped in wool blankets. We relived the day as we drifted off to sleep at night. We were content, and grateful to be experiencing this.

While in Yosemite, I ran into Basil Lynch, photographer and overlander from San Diego, California. We started talking and eventually hanging out for hours photographing the park under a half-lit moon. We learned Basil was on a spur-of-the-moment trip too as he shared his stories about his overlanding lifestyle.

For the next few days, the three of us traveled together as we made our way south from Yosemite National Park to Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park, and Sequoia National Forest. None of us had a plan, and that led to many spontaneous moments as we navigated what seemed like hundreds of switchbacks throughout the parks.

At night, we sat around campfires and shared stories about the outdoors as we gazed up at the stars. I remember thinking to myself, “Can it get any better than this?” We eventually parted ways with Basil and headed south to Barstow, California for a night. We needed to regroup and figure out where our next adventure would lead us.

Betting on Red
Megan and I were at a crossroads in Barstow. There were so many intriguing places to visit within a few hours’ drive. We decided to head north to Las Vegas, Nevada for the night so we could see Red Rock Canyon and the Hoover Dam.

The following morning we drove through Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area where we watched the landscape come to life at sunrise. I found myself having a photographer moment, excitedly saying to Megan, “Wow, look at that!” It was a stunning sight.

Later that same day, we arrived at the Hoover Dam. It was nothing short of amazing, but I found the northeast view from the dam to be as intriguing. The bleached canyon walls and blue sky reflecting off the water appeared surreal.

That evening, we stayed at a campground south of the dam near the Colorado River.

Desert Nights
The following morning we headed for Sedona, Arizona where we spent three days. One of the highlights was driving Highway 89A south to Sedona.

We did not know where to go or what to do while in Sedona, so we stopped by a local mountain bike shop to get a map. One friendly guy marked it up with his suggestions for camping. I felt I was starting to get the hang of things. Stop and ask locals for suggestions because most friendly people will share what they know.

We soon found ourselves going down the roughest roads of our entire trip. It was a teeth-rattling experience and had Megan ready to upgrade the suspension on our FJ Cruiser immediately. The drive was so worth it as we found ourselves in the middle of the desert surrounded by red rock buttes.

During the day, we spent our time in and around town replenishing supplies and sightseeing. The landscape in Sedona is inspiring. Red- and white-striped features riddle the landscape as far as the eye can see. We spent most of our afternoons exploring the Coconino National Forest, where we also camped. At night, we would settle into our tent and fall asleep to the howl of coyotes and, on one occasion, a fellow playing a didgeridoo.

After 16 days and over 2,600 miles together, we headed south to Phoenix so Megan could fly home. She was heading back to Texas to celebrate a friend’s engagement. Despite the time and distance we traveled together, her departure came too soon.

Pressing On
For the next nine days, I covered an additional 3,000 miles by myself.

My first stop was Utah where I spent a few days visiting Zion National Park and Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. While in Utah, I realized I miscalculated the weather and found myself in a cold front with temps of 15 degrees Fahrenheit. My wool blankets did not prevent me from waking up in the fetal position, my lower jaw trembling from the cold. Even my Nalgene water bottle was frozen. It was my first experience being that cold, but I solved that problem by purchasing an electric blanket. This meant future campsites needed electricity.

I departed Utah and worked my way southeast back into Page, Arizona to catch a sunset at Horseshoe Bend. I made my way to Oljato-Monument Valley, Utah the following day. Accepting I was going to be cold any direction I went, I decided to head to Colorado for my own enjoyment.

I made my way into southwestern Colorado and found myself in Mesa Verde National Park. I was fascinated by the ancient cliff dwellings and remember feeling so fortunate for all the comforts life today provides.

I soon pressed on to Durango, Colorado for an overnighter and to wash clothes. After wearing the same clothes for a while, I was beginning to despise myself.

The next day I headed east for Alamosa, Colorado, putting me close to Great Sand Dunes National Park. Upon entering the following morning, I realized I had this park to myself–not a soul around! I trekked up the dunes and sat down to observe for hours. It was hypnotic watching the clouds overhead dissipate into thin air. The wind was gentle as I listened to the faint call of coyotes in the distance. At that moment, I felt so alive and so free.

After spending the entire morning on the dunes, it was time to start my journey home. I left and traveled 349 miles south to Amarillo, Texas for the night. The next day I drove the last 358 miles home.

On the way home hit me: It was not the destination I had yearned for all along, it was the experience! That’s what 5,500 miles and 23 days on the road taught me.

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