2017 trip

We are home with 1827 miles on the trip odometer. The tour of Southern Utah provided us with different vistas, each one better than the last. 

The trip was unusual for us because it was so crazy busy. We had to make reservations in order to have a place to stay, especially on weekends. This did provide the benefit of staying in campgrounds we would otherwise have ignored. Kodocrome and Coral Pink Sand Dunes are two Utah State Parks well worth the extra 20 or so miles off the main track to reach them. 

About midway through our trip we got word of wildfires and raging fire storms in Mendocino, Sonoma and Napa countries. We are subscribed to the Sheriff emergency Nixle alert system. There were mandatory evacuation orders, closing main highways and burning entire neighborhoods. There are friends who have lost everything.  We didn't go to Yosemite as planned because of smoke in the air. That combined with mid 20's at night discouraged us from coming home that way. There was heavy smoke even in Nevada. 

The van performed as expected, stopping less often for fuel and going farther per tank. The inside set-up held up well, with our turnbuckles and bungee cords. 

Safely home, all the laundry is done and the mail is sorted.  No idea where we will head to next.