Just like the Johnny Cash song says, “I’ve been everywhere”. My wild west Texas adventures have wound down and it’s on the road across America back to the Pacific Northwest.
I left Texas on a warm, overcast spring day. All along the way, spring wildflowers were in full bloom
In a couple weeks, these beautiful flowers will be gone, baked by the Texas sun in what is most likely to be another hot, drought inducing summer.
After a long drive through west Texas, next up is New Mexico. Heading west, you chase the sun and get to see prolonged sunsets
After driving though New Mexico, mostly at night, where I got pulled over twice because the plastic wrap I put on my bikes to protect them from road grime was blocking my taillights. Thankfully, both of them let me go without a ticket. Then, it’s into Utah and what has to be one of the most spectacular places on earth; Utah’s canyonlands.
This area is heaven to mountain bikers, off road enthusiasts and photographers
I’ve lived by the ocean, in the Rocky Mountains and the Columbia River Gorge, canyon country in Utah is right up there
Passing through Moab, I wish I could have stopped for a few days on gone bike riding, but my truck was full of my stuff, loaded to the gills and did not want to take it off pavement. It was Easter week and there was a big off road event in town, it was packed
Out of Moab, and headed towards Idaho
Drove through Idaho at night and arrived in eastern Oregon to see 4-6″ of fresh snow with ice in the Blue Mountains. Sketchy driving with a loaded down truck and no snow tires. Luckily, no slipping or sliding and made it through Cental Oregon and back to the Hood River Hideaway. The view from the back porch has not changed
I was dismayed to find gas at $4.10/gal., $.50 more per gallon than in Austin. At least the sun has come out, it’s not too cold, maybe spring has finally come to the Gorge.