Rivers, Ruins, and the Open Road
It has been an eventful few days on the road. For us, these posts are more than just updates; they act as a digital diary of our journey together, capturing the moments that make this lifestyle so rewarding.
Blanding and High-Altitude Views
Our time in Blanding was a mix of productivity and breathtaking scenery. After the usual routine of laundry and restocking the fridge, we took a drive up toward Abajo Peak. At 10,000 feet, it was a cold and windy experience, but the panoramic views were absolutely worth the chill.
While in town, we visited the local museum, which houses an incredible collection of ancient pottery and well-preserved Puebloan structures. We also made the trek out to Four Corners—it’s one of those “check it off the list” spots, though perhaps not worth a massive detour. However, the drive to Hovenweep and the Holly Ruins was the true highlight; the architecture and history there are simply amazing.
Holley Ruins 
Finding Our Way in Bears Ears
Leaving Blanding, we set our sights on Natural Bridges. We suspected the campground might be a tight squeeze for our rig, and we were right—it just wasn’t going to happen. Thankfully, the visitor center pointed us toward dispersed camping off Burch Canyon Rd in Bears Ears National Monument.
We landed a fantastic spot and spent two nights there. We explored the loop drive, and I took a 6.5-mile hike down into the canyons to get a closer look at the massive stone bridges.
The “Out of This World” Goblin Valley
The journey continued through the scenic stretches of Capitol Reef on our way to Goblin Valley State Park. We rolled into Hanksville just as the only coffee shop in town was closing. We managed to snag a large coffee and some local advice on dispersed camping, which led us to an awesome spot just north of the airport.
BLM land near Hanksville, UT
Goblin Valley itself felt like stepping onto another planet with its bizarre mushroom-shaped rock formations. That evening, we enjoyed a nice dinner in town and some live music by a solo artist named Rod. A retired state worker, Rod plays once a month just for the love of entertaining, and we had a great time chatting with him. On Sunday, we took it easy for Mother’s Day, enjoying some local street tacos.
Watch out for the Goblins
Mothers Day lunch with a mountain view, Hanksville, UT
Happy Mother’s Day
Maintenance and the Long Haul to Idaho
After a quick “utility stop” at an RV park to refresh our water and dump tanks, we headed to Springville, UT. We visited Johnson Tire Pros, a 5th-generation shop that’s been around for 102 years. They did a great job servicing the truck and installing TPMS sensors on the trailer tires.
Ruby making her self right at home at Johnson’s
Though we originally planned to stop for the night, we decided to push through all the way to Idaho Falls. We needed to restock on food for Ruby, so we stopped at a TSC. After asking a local for camping tips, we headed east on US-26 toward the Grand Tetons.
It was a longer day than our usual 200-mile limit—clocking in at 350 miles—but the payoff was spectacular. Following a dirt road along the Snake River, we stumbled across a hidden gem of a campground, Falls Campground that made every mile worth it. And what a deal with the senior pass only $10/night.
Snake River, Falls Campground
Next Stop: Visiting friends in Idaho Falls and exploring the river!
