[Cheekymonkey]

Hey guys, long time no see. Just got back into modding the FJ, and I'll be going back to working on my old build thread. http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/member-build-ups/143886-cheekymonkeys-cheekymonkey-build.html

Right now my friend and I are planning an expedition to a number of national parks starting next Wednesday and lasting between 45 and 60 days. The exact itinerary is under construction, and suggestions are welcome and encouraged. Along the way I also have plans for my first Moab stop, and I would love to have some other FJ's come join us and show us the ropes. Please follow us and give any suggestions you have, especially for things to do and places to see along the way.

Currently the primary stops (8600 miles 150hrs) include:

The Garden of the Gods
Rocky Mountain National Park
Badlands National Park
Mount Rushmore
Devils Tower National Monument
Glacier National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Grand Teton National Park
Arches National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Capital Reef National Park
Zion National Park
Monument Valley
Petrified Forest National Park
The Grand Canyon
Las Vegas (can’t leave that out)
Yosemite National Park
Sequoia National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
Big Bend National Park


We will be / are blogging our travel on both the FJ forum and our website. traveltogether

 

[Hannibal]

8600+ Mile Expedition

Hey, Welcome back! Sounds like a great trip! :cheers:

 

[Cheekymonkey]

The dirtyparts kit arrived today. I'll be doing the install on Monday, as well as rewaterproofing my camping labs tent, and reenforcing its seams, I can't believe its coming up on 6 years old already. Anyone have advice on doing that? I was thinking about using aquaseal the waterproof glue that normally gets used on waders, wetsuits etc.

 

[07TxTRD]

There is a group of 20+ FJs/ Toyotas that will be in Moab October 7-12th, if you can make it that far west by then you are more than welcome to join the group! There is a thread here, somewhere, if I was on a computer I could post the link.

Edit: just saw you found the thread! :wave:

Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

 

[Cheekymonkey]

Yes I did, I think we may change up our roadtrip to go there right after Colorado, Basil is calling me shortly so I can ask 101 questions.

The initial path we had planned was like this:

National Park Roadtrip Travel Blog

 

[07TxTRD]

There will be a convoy from the Denver area to Moab. Where are you stopping west of DFW? I grew up west of Ft Worth.


Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

 

[Cheekymonkey]

I'm picking up my lady friend in Dallas for the start of the roadtrip, I get there October 1st. Well I'll be seeing you guys in Moab!

 

[Cheekymonkey]

Just updated the blog. Here it is: National Park Roadtrip Travel Blog

It includes the dirtyparts dual battery kit install, and some trouble with the winch.

 

[Cheekymonkey]

Finally about to depart.

Link the blog National Park Roadtrip Travel Blog

This week Ashley and I finished preparing for the trip, we think anyway. With more time we are sure we could have thought of more crucial things to bring. Sometime today once a final package arrives we will be setting off on our journey, headed to the Great Sand Dunes national park.

So far we've planned our places to sleep for a little over two weeks. We found an app called Allstay Camp and RV that allows you to limit what sort of accomodations or lack there of you are searching for. You can filter from national parks, county parks, free bureau of land management areas, rest stops, and anyplace else you can think of where it might be legal to spend the night. The app has helped tremendously in keeping the budget low.


During our preparations this week:
Waterproofed and bug proofed the rooftop tent.
We found a small backup tent.
Fixed the air compressor hose which exploded on me earlier this week.
Assembled a very ******* canopy out of a blue tarp and tent poles, pictures to come.
Found a wonderful water jug for the car, broke it, and fixed it with igloo cooler parts.
Had an unsuccessful trip to the REI garage sale, who needs a leaking sleeping pad anyway?
We grocery shopped ($193) and built our pantry.
Seasoned our thrift store cast iron pans.
Started a scrapbook in a physical atlas.
Finished packing the car.

 

[Cheekymonkey]

Two-week itinerary.

Below is a tentative itinerary for the first couple weeks of our trip. We plan on making a blog post following each location. So come back and check often.

(9/5) To the Great Sand Dunes
Dallas TX -> Great Sand Dunes National Park CO ~11h
Camping in Russel Lakes SWA Campground (FREE)

(9/6) Great Sand Dunes
Explore Great Sand Dunes National Park
Great Sand Dunes -> 1/2 to Moab 4h17m
Camping in Mineral Creek Dispersal Area Campground (FREE)

(9/7) To Moab
Campsite -> Moab UT 3h34m
Camp in BLM 38 48' 38.4"N, 109 40' 29.1"W (FREE)
Meet the rest of the FJcruiserforums.com group

(9/8) Rock Crawling in Moab
Camp in BLM 38 48' 38.4"N, 109 40' 29.1"W (FREE)

(9/9) Rock Crawling in Moab
Camp in BLM 38 48' 38.4"N, 109 40' 29.1"W (FREE)
Nightime trail run to get starscape photos

(9/10) Rock Crawling in Moab
Camp in BLM 38 48' 38.4"N, 109 40' 29.1"W (FREE)

(9/11) Heading to Garden of the Gods
Moab UT -> Garden of the Gods CO 6h18m
Do a drive through of the one road in the park.
Camp at the Garden of the Gods RV Resort ($28.50, times for a shower)
Walk into the park to enjoy it and the starscapes until closing at 11pm.

(9/12) Nature Walk and Travel
10am nature walk in Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods CO -> Rocky Mountain National Park 2h30m
Drive through the park several times looking for moose and elk.
Camp at the first come first serve Moraine Campground ($14)
We are told the elk will be incredibly vocal through the night here.

(9/13) Headed to the Badlands
Morning exploration of the park.
Rocky Mountain National Park CO -> Badlands National Park SD 6h23m
Camp Sage Creek Campground (FREE)

(9/14) Explore the Badlands
Hike Castle Trail 10miles
Hike Saddle Pass 1/4mile intense
Camp Sage Creek Campground (FREE)

(9/15) The Big Sites
Badlands SD -> Mount Rushmore SD 1h28m
Mount Rushmore SD -> Crazy Horse 35m
Crazy Horse SD -> Devils Tower National Monument WY 2h16m
Camp at Bell Fourche Camground ($12)

(9/16) Glacier National Park (we hope, Theodore Roosevelt National Park as a backup)
Devils Tower WY -> Glacier National Park MT
Trip dependent on continued opening of park due to fires, and sun road due to snow
Camp Two Medicine Site ($10)

(9/17) Going to the Sun
Confirm saftey and openings of the going-to-the-sun route and drive open sections.
Afternoon hike
Camp Two Medicine Site ($10)

(9/18) Hiking Glacier NP
Full day hike per ranger suggestion.
Camp Two Medicine Site ($10)

(9/19) Headed South
Glacier National Park MT -> Sawtooth Mountains ID 8h30m
End the day in hotsprings (Russian John, Elkhorn, Sunbeam, Sunflower, or Barth)
Camp East Fork Baker Creek Campground (FREE)

(9/20) Sawtooths
Begin the day with laundry at Suds Yer Duds a combination laundromat and dog wash.
Visit Sawtooth National Forest for the rest of the day.
Camp Cottonwood Dispersed Area (FREE)
Visit warfield hotsprings 2miles away.

(9/21) To the Moon
Sawtooth National Forest ID -> Craters of the Moon National Monument ID 1h45m
See about cave permits and explore bat caves.
Camp Craters of the Moon Campsites first come first serve ($8)

(9/22) Craters of the Moon National Monument
Continue exploring the park.
Camp Craters of the Moon Campsites first come first serve ($8)

(9/23) To Yellowstone
Craters of the Moon ID -> Yellowstone National Park WY 3h3m
Details to come...

 

[BlindWilly]

This looks like an epic road trip!
and unless I'm reading it wrong, you're a month behind! :O

 

[Cheekymonkey]

Hahaha, no I big mistake, those should be 10's. Need to fix on the blog!

 

[BlindWilly]

There is a group going to meet up in Big Bend over the Thanksgiving week.
The gal who heads it up is knowledgeable about the area and a ton of fun to wheel with!

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/texas/485513-2015-thanksgiving-week-texas-big-bend-trip.html

 

[Cheekymonkey]

Thanks for the info Billy, i'll see if I can swing that.

Hey guys added some blog posts. Still haven't uploaded most of the GoPro footage though.

Great Sand Dunes National Park
National Park Roadtrip Travel Blog

LaSal Pass and Sevenmile Rim
National Park Roadtrip Travel Blog

Fins & Things and Hell's Revenge
National Park Roadtrip Travel Blog

Top of the World and Onion Creek
National Park Roadtrip Travel Blog

 

[Cheekymonkey]

So, I am without a travel partner leaving from Denver for the next 6 weeks or so of the trip. The next location planned is the Badlands national park. If you are interested in joining there is room for another if you bring your own tent. Otherwise I'm packing back to Orlando to travel again when I have someone to split fuel. So yea, contact me if you are interested.

 

[Moocher]

What? What happen to the lady friend? You can't end that trip because you'll never get a chance to do it again.

 

[windstarfj]

Newer to Florida. I would be interested in some shorter excursions in the future.

 

[FJPDX]

Ah man, sorry to hear that, Josh. I hope you don't have to cut your trip short... It was great meeting you in Moab!