Moab, UT - Amarillo, TX
I have the kind of mother who will always have her babies.
Yes, I remembered to bring water to the desert.
No, I’m probably not drinking enough of it.
No, I’m probably not drinking enough of it.
I've become preoccupied with crushing imaginary Strava segments on these mountain bike climbs.
I can’t get the Pawn Shop Peugeot to shift the front derailleur, so I have to climb in a cruising gear, which means standing on the pedals and cursing at myself like I’m a High School Track Coach.
I’ve left my cycling gear in Houston, so I’m dressed like a character from The Sandlot.
Plus, I ate like three servings of tortellini last night, so I’m carbed to the nines.
After seeing how relatively tame the biking is, I decide to test the Tacoma on some of the off-road trails. The trail map comes with lots of warnings for each trail about necessary tire diameters and vehicle modifications needed.
They haven't adopted the "Corolla-Scale" yet, and I don't have a cross-over chart, so I figure I'm probably fine in a stock truck.
It's like a Corolla + 32" tires and a 6 inch lift!
The experience is sort of like being 2 inches too short for the roller coaster, but being waved on by the well-meaning carnival worker.
They haven't adopted the "Corolla-Scale" yet, and I don't have a cross-over chart, so I figure I'm probably fine in a stock truck.
It's like a Corolla + 32" tires and a 6 inch lift!
The experience is sort of like being 2 inches too short for the roller coaster, but being waved on by the well-meaning carnival worker.
“Close enough."
“What’s the worst that could happen?”
So excited. So not getting closer.
A stock 2004 Tacoma on 32’s is enough to do Fins and Things, if you're real careful.
Corollas need not apply, unless supremely modified. This ain’t no dove hunt.
Notice the tiny arrow telling me to (yes) drive off the ledge.
Notice the tiny arrow telling me to (yes) drive off the ledge.
It’s getting to be early afternoon, and we have a lot of ground to cover between here and Amarillo. Flipping the truck or getting stuck between obstacles would make that difficult, so we hit the road.
I’ll need to come back here, but something about it only lasting a short while makes it sweeter in my memory.
We didn't get to see any of the negatives.
Once we make it to Colorado, Rodney puts in his first official stop request.
He’s had his head buried in his memoir, and I’ve promised to take his “Meet the Author” photo for the back cover.
He spots a reservoir. There's a storm rolling in.
He thinks it will look moody and sophisticated.
Ok, he just saw people and got excited. Either way, we are stopping. I have to pee.
He’s had his head buried in his memoir, and I’ve promised to take his “Meet the Author” photo for the back cover.
He spots a reservoir. There's a storm rolling in.
He thinks it will look moody and sophisticated.
Ok, he just saw people and got excited. Either way, we are stopping. I have to pee.
Done.
Back in the truck.
Drive till you can’t drive no more.
Realize too late that you’ve driven past all of the National Forest pull-offs in Colorado.
Past all of the forests, really.
Past Colorado.
Past Colorado.
We find a parking area in New Mexico with a couple of van-lifers already set up and pop-top
(They wear their sun shades at night).
Easily could have turned this into a #secretcampinglocation but, Rodney and his ethics... always trying to ruin a #liveyourbestlife time.(They wear their sun shades at night).
Amarillo by morning.
Or at least lunch.Sean Paul has a new album on Tidal, and I accidentally use it to get my mind back up to interstate speeds. And by accidentally, I think you know what I mean. #doallkindahtricksponit