Van-Tramp adventures

[Van-Tramp]

Hello all, <br><br>After nearly 6 months of urban van dwelling while I hung out with my son during his summer break, I finally get to get back on the road. And with that, I wanted to share my adventures as I go... right here in the Captain's Logs<br><br><br>

 

[Van-Tramp]

<img rel="lightbox" src="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/100_9173-150x150.jpg" class="bbc_img">&nbsp;August 18th, 2013 - <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/fueled-up-and-ready-to-go/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fueled and ready to go</a></span><br><br>Well… that’s it. Saturday was the final full day in Colorado. I am packed and ready to go with all the final todo’s completed. I spent the first half of this month using (abusing?) King Sooper’s double fuel points promotion. We worked up over 600 fuel points, good for 60 cents off a gallon ($2.79 a gallon). I am now fully laden with 45 gallons of sweet gasoline.

 

[rvwandering]

&nbsp;Have a good trip Van-Tramp!

 

[Van-Tramp]

<a href="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/grave-of-sacajawea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/IMG_9175-150x150.jpg" class="bbc_img"></a> August 19, 2013 - <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/grave-of-sacajawea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Visiting Sacajawea</a></span><br><br>On the way up to Teton National forest, I stumbled upon the <a href="http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/25561" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">grave of Sacajawea</a>, who has to be the most amazing woman of all history. I’ve always been amazed by her accomplishments; traveling on foot for thousands of miles with an infant child… so to be able to see where she is today is pretty cool, at least in my eyes. And as it turns out, her two sons are buried right beside her. I can not think of a better place for the three of them.<a href="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/grave-of-sacajawea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><br><br></a>

 

[Van-Tramp]

<img rel="lightbox" src="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/IMG_9228-150x150.jpg" class="bbc_img"> August 20, 2013 - <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/jorge-the-butterfly/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jorge the Butterfly</a></span><br>Today, while lounging in the shade of the van’s awning, I made a new friend; a tiny butterfly that visited with my a few times over the afternoon. I decided to all him Jorge. He was quite persistent at hanging out with me. He sat here on my fist for 5 minutes before I to shook him off. He returned a minute later to settle on my arm. I shook him off again only for him to return a few minutes later on my head. The little guy had no fear at all.

 

[caseyc]

Hope you have a great time!&nbsp;One&nbsp;of these days, I will develop wander-lust like the rest of you! &nbsp;I'm also planning a week long road trip myself next week. Will be doing a combined camping and fishing trip&nbsp;to various parts of upper Northern California. If I happen to catch a large fish, I wouldn't know what to do with it, haha!

 

[Van-Tramp]

August 21st - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/a-grand-bike-ride/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">A Grand bike ride</span></a><br><br>Wednesday morning, after waking early, completing my morning work load and grabbing a quick breakfast, I jumped on my bike to go for a ride. Instead of the normal dirt road or trail, I opted for asphalt this trip.<p>Hwy 191 runs North and South through the Grand Teton Nation Park. Since I am parked about 1 mile off the highway, and I know the scenery from the road is amazing, I did not want to pass up the opportunity to ride this road. I had no real destination other than the road itself, but after completing more than 10 miles, I was only a few more miles from the Moose entrance to the National Park. There, I relaxed with a sugary-drink and a granola bar to regain the energy to ride the 14-15 miles back to camp.<br><br><a href="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/a-grand-bike-ride/100_9174/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/100_9174-1024x431.jpg" class="size-large wp-image-4651 bbc_img" alt="The scenery made all the pain worthwhile."></a><br><br></p>

 

[Van-Tramp]

<br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/swimming-in-String-lake-150x150.jpg" class="bbc_img">&nbsp;August 23rd - <a href="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/swimming-under-the-tetons/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Swimming under the Tetons</span></a><br><p>Friday would be my final weekday near the Grand Teton National Park so I decided to spend the afternoon at Jenny Lake… at least to beat the heat that has visited me each afternoon in the forest. It was ironic that the moment I came to a stop in the Jenny Lake parking area, the clouds opened up with a 15 minute deluge. No heat to be found.</p><p>Following the rain I hiked the short distance out to the lake. Originally I was planning to just hang out with my book, but after feeling the water I desperately wanted to go for a swim. A quick check with the Ranger and I was off to find a better area to bathe… err, swim.</p><p>I chose String Lake, just the the North of Jenny Lake, as there was a canoe launching area which meant I could park within a few feet of the water itself. String Lake is not as large as Jenny Lake and only as deep as my thighs, but once I sat down in the water I could feel all the filth from this past week washing away… only to be replaced with sand in all the wrong places! It was worth it nonetheless.</p><p>When I returned to camp, it began raining again which did not stopped all night. At least I got out and did something before being forced to spend the rest of my day indoors… outdoors.</p><img rel="lightbox" src="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/String-Lake-1024x680.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/newly-moist-plants-1024x768.jpg" class="bbc_img">

 

[Douglas]

Nice pics!

 

[wagoneer]

That my friend is some beautiful stuff.

 

[yesican]

Thanks for sharing your experiences.&nbsp; The Tetons are so beautiful.&nbsp;

 

[Van-Tramp]

<div id="attachment_4644" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 520px;">August 25th - <a href="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/boondocking-in-teton-national-forest/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Boondocking in the Teton National Forest</span><br></a><a href="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/boondocking-in-teton-national-forest/img_9189/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><br><img src="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/IMG_9189-1024x682.jpg" class="size-large wp-image-4644 bbc_img" alt="Our camp site on our first night"></a></div><p>Just across the road from the Teton National Park, up an unmarked gravel road leading into the forest, is one of the best boondocking locations I have ever been too. I’ve camped here before, <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/camping-in-the-teton-forest/" target="_blank">back in June of 2011</a></span>, and enjoyed it so much I was happy to repeat the adventure. This was a planned stop where I stayed for 6 days before moving on through Yellowstone and towards Glacier National Park.</p><p>This time we would not be alone. Other RV’ers were already occupying the site that has the premium view, but since we had camped there in the past it was our turn to camp one site over. We still had a view, just that they were part of it.</p><p>This afternoon I roll into the Grand Teton National Park to shower and do some laundry. I may stay a single evening in the main campgrounds but otherwise I will be continuing North through Yellowstone (no sight seeing planned), into Idaho and finally Glacier National Park by next weekend.</p><div id="attachment_4643" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 520px;"><a href="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/boondocking-in-teton-national-forest/img_9234/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/IMG_9234-1024x682.jpg" class="size-large wp-image-4643 bbc_img" alt="The sunset on our second night"></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The sunset on our second night</p></div><div id="attachment_4676" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 520px;"><a href="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/boondocking-in-teton-national-forest/100_9182/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/100_9182-768x1024.jpg" class="size-large wp-image-4676 bbc_img" alt="100_9182"></a><p class="wp-caption-text">An Indian ceremony was performed a few camps down from us</p></div><div id="attachment_4642" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 520px;"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/IMG_9219.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/IMG_9219-1024x682.jpg" class="size-large wp-image-4642 bbc_img" alt="The Tetons are ever present"></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The Tetons are ever present</p></div><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/IMG_9239.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/IMG_9239-1024x682.jpg" class="size-large wp-image-4677 bbc_img" alt="A storm builds on one of my final mornings"></a>

 

[Van-Tramp]

<a href="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/?attachment_id=4688" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/IMG_9265-150x150.jpg" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4688 bbc_img" alt="IMG_9265"></a> August 26 - <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/bakers-hole-campground/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Baker's Hole Campground</a></span><br><div class="entry-content"><p>Just 3 miles north of West Yellowstone, Baker’s Hole Campground fit my need for a place to stay the night. Baker’s Hole consists of 73 campsites all within a short walk to the Madison River… and actually, if I could cross the river, I’d have been back within the Yellowstone National Park.</p><p>As luck would have it, some of the sites even had power, so I went ahead and paid the extra few dollars to get everything charged up to their max before returning to the road Monday afternoon.</p><p><a href="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/?attachment_id=4686" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Madison-River-1024x681.jpg" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-4686 bbc_img" alt="Madison River"></a></p></div>

 

[Patrick46]

Man....you're killing me with these photos!!! (Beautiful work!!!)&nbsp;<BR><BR>I can't wait to get back on the road!!<BR><BR>Be careful out there, and have a wonderful journey!!

 

[Curtis]

Thanks Van, nice photos!

 

[Don Genaro]

Very nice! This gets me motivated for my cross country trip in 2 days...

 

[daminc]

great photos

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Wow, those places look so amazing.&nbsp;&nbsp; Awesome pic of the tetons in the 'sky'!&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/redface.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[Van-Tramp]

With the forum migration, a big chunk of my 2013 travels did not make the move from the old forum thread.

Starting anew
After spending a month in Crescent City, CA hanging out with family and building up the little fiberglass trailer, I get to restart my adventures for one last spurt of travel before the end of the year. I will arrive in Colorado just in time to celebrate my 2-year anniversary of leaving the brick-and-mortar house behind and full-timing in a van.

While I originally planned to head into Quartzite for the RTR, the month here with family has made me homesick enough to decide to turn East before the end of the month to get back into Colorado before my son's school break begins. I was looking forward to meeting up with some of you at RTR, but the call to be with my son for the holidays is too strong.

I'm not sure what 2014 brings. Maybe I will get right back on the road, or maybe I will hang out in Colorado for a few months to save up for the summer-trip to Alaska that I have wanted to do for years (I see Bob is planning the same trip, maybe we will cross paths).

I will post my final 2013 adventures here and start a new thread for my 2014 adventures.

 

[Van-Tramp]

Crescent City Harbor

Crescent City is the only incorporated city in Del Norte County, California. Named for the crescent-shaped stretch of sandy beach south of the city, Crescent City had a total population of 7,643 including the inmates at Pelican Bay State Prison. Crescent City Harbor serves as home port for numerous commercial fishing vessels and a great place to relax and sun-bathe if you are a sea lion.

We enjoyed our final meal together at the Chart Room restaurant on the harbor. After parking your vehicle, you step out to a potent smell of fish and sea lion urine (just think on that for a moment). The sea lions climb right up onto a concrete dock that stretches out from the parking lot itself, only feet away from the sidewalk. In fact, special care is required not to accidentally step on a sea lion tail… who knows how they might retaliate to that. With the wildlife so close it made for spectacular photos as long as you can stand the smell.

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