Over Thanksgiving weekend we traveled to Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park. Furnace Creek campgrounds do have some full hook-up sites (recreation.gov). Though we stayed in a dry site. I wanted to take advantage of the dark sky's, so I took some long exposure pictures of the stars.

I also wanted to comment on 2 other campgrounds in Furnace Creek, these being Sunset campground and Texas Springs campground.

As you can see this is a big parking lot style campground that I am assuming never is completely filled. Bathrooms and water are available along with a dump station just outside the campground.

Texas Springs on the other hand is a very nice little campground just up the hill from Sunset CG.  I highly recommend this campground. Reservations are required for Texas Springs and well as Furnace Creek.

Boon-docking is available out side the park is a few areas but make for a long drive into the valley for sight seeings. The most notable is Dumont Dunes (http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/barstow/dumont.html). Another nice option that is the close is just out side Beatty NV. on the road to Titus Canyon right before you get to the cattle grates. 36.85910 -116.84620

Enjoy your trip!

Stella in Yellowstone National Park (A Video)

Just a quick video of Stella romping in Yellowstone National Park last summer.

Enjoy!

Just had to post this awesome picture of Stella at Arbor Dog Park in Seal Beach, Ca this morning.

The part you cant see is me throwing the ball then grabbing the camera and focusing and framing this super sweet pic.

And yes she is flying!

Lets take a look at the rig

So I was thinking about people coming to this blog and wondering what kinda rig does this guy have.  So I decided to post some photos of our trailer.

Our trailer is a a 2006 250 Weekender. It replaced our 2004 T@B which we loved. 

The inside is huge. It has a 12 foot slide-out that create massive room inside. 

It has one bedroom with a non-standard size bed. Bigger then a full but smaller than a queen, but sleeps the wife and I very well.

 On the back of the trailer are stickers of most of the places we have traveled. Soon i will get one of those state maps that you put the stickers on for each state visited.

 We had this made at the travel shot in Quartzsite, AZ a few years ago. I say this trip is a must for every traveler. Millions of people camping all over the desert. http://www.quartzsitervshow.com/

 This is the front with our new travel logo. :-)

 This is the side compartment and of course our logo.

 Just a peak at the rear of the trailer from our last trip. Notice how many more stickers...

 And a bonus are these new shelves. These were made by Chad Compton a friend of mine that does custom wood work and cabinets. If you need this kind of work done please email me and I will put you in contact with him. 

Stella having one hell of a great time

This was taken outside Gardiner Mt during one of our many exercise jaunts.

This is a still pic plucked from our GoPro camera

The real truth about Death Valley's Racetrack Playa (camping)

Over the Thanksgiving holiday (2013) I will be visiting Death Valley National Park. Over the years I have been too scared to visit Racetrack Playa due to rangers telling me how rough the road is. I now have a high clearance vehicle (Dodge 2500 HD Diesel 4x4) and am ready to tackle this challenge. So over the holiday I will be taking pictures and video of the road and any camp site opportunities for RV's and trailers.

Keep posted and subscribe to this blog for updates.

Upcoming Yellow Post site reviews

The following areas are on my list of Yellow Post sites to scout out and document. If you have others you want me to check out, just comment on this list. My focus is on RV/Trailer locations but if I am in the area I will document car/tent sites.

Big Bear
Lytle Creek
Angeles National Forest

Lets get this country documented!

Idyllwild Yellow Post Sites

I will be heading to Idyllwild, Ca next weekend to check on some yellow post sites. I will be taking pictures and taking notes on how to get to each one..

A Yellow Post site is a free camping location that allows 8 people, 2 vehicles and has a 14 day limit.  In California you will most likely need an adventure pass. Most require a fire permit for anything that has a flame including charcoal. Remember pack it in pack it out. Practice Tread lightly.

http://treadlightly.org/

Stay tuned.

This is a video my wife took with our new GoPro camera.

On our way out of the west entrance of Yellowstone I stopped to take this picture. A winter wonder land near 7 mile bridge. 

Slough Creek Sept 2013

While driving over the new bridge in Lamar Valley we found a hundred or so people on the bridge looking down to the river so we stopped to find out what all the fuss was about and we saw this grizzly bear. He was on a bison carcass just below in the fallen trees.

The wife and I visit Yellowstone about once a years for 2 weeks each trip, and this last trip in September we finally saw 2 badgers. I did get off a few pics before he got away. Both sitings were in the Lamar valley. One on the trail up the hill to Trout Lake and the other on Slough Creek road.

Wow, what a great sighting!

Our first day we camped near Grassy Lake in the forest outside of the John D. Rockefeller Parkway.

The next morning we woke up early to get some good picture of the Tetons from Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton National Park

Then off to Mormon row. I love this old barn.

These tress are in Yellowstone National Park on the Blacktail Plateau

Swans on the Snake River

 and of course Old Faithful

Let this be the first post. One of my favorite places in the park, Grand Prismatic. This is the from the hill side across the road. Note this is a great place to spot marmots.