November felt like an unusually domestic month for us. There was lots of working and cooking and going out to dinner with friends and getting cozy on the couch to watch a good show. (What is it about the shorter, colder days that seem to grant permission for a good tv binge session?) We savored every bit of it knowing that soon enough our wheels would be turning once again and the road would take us south.
By mid-month we were on the move again and it felt good to be back in motion. We pointed the truck south with one goal in mind, find flip-flop weather. It didn’t take long and the desert welcomed us in its warm embrace and reminded us why love the ability to follow the weather. We hope you’ll enjoy this recap of a few of the month’s highlights…
What made November unforgettable
We’ve always longed to see the Aurora Borealis with our own eyes but we certainly never thought that opportunity would present itself in Colorado. It’s now weeks later and we’re still in awe and disbelief of what we witnessed in the sky that night. The natural world never ceases to amaze and delight us. For that, we feel like there will never not be a reason to spend more time outside.
Taking our chances in utah
The end of November was creeping up on us by the time we were ready to migrate south and yet the temps were still unseasonably warm for Colorado. Typically we would blow through Utah to hurry up and get to warmer weather in Arizona but this year the forecast looked pleasant enough that we decided to take our time. That was until we realized that a recent storm had gotten Utah’s red dirt roads wet enough to make them questionable in regards to whether they were ready to be traversed safely.
On a sunny, 50 degree day we made our way to Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, an area of Utah that we love. We briefly considered tackling the 80 mile long Smoky Mountain Road, a track I’ve wanted to do for years, but our instincts told us the possibility of getting stuck wasn’t worth it. And the BLM field office wasn’t open to check in on the latest conditions. Instead we went for Cottonwood Canyon Road, a benign 40 mile route we’re familiar with that would eventually connect us to Arizona’s highway 89.
Nearly halfway into Cottonwood Canyon Road the type of dirt we were traveling on changed and turned to sludge. Mark knew immediately that we would likely end up in a predicament if we kept going. We turned around, found a great campsite two miles away, and hoped that the road would be passable the next day.
At noon the following day we gave it another shot. A couple of hours later we made it to highway 89 without issue but the twenty-five miles of dirt that we tackled were still bordering on being impassable if you didn’t have the right vehicle or proper driving skills. After that little unexpected micro-adventure we decided to book it to warmer pastures. Southern Utah is phenomenal when it’s dry but when it’s even remotely wet, exploratory travel can go sideways pretty quickly.
One perfect week in Nevada
After deciding to pass on more adventures around Utah, we high-tailed it to a favorite spot on the shoreline of Lake Mead, Nevada. We rounded out November with one week of perfect, sunny, 70 degree weather. When the weather is that good you don’t waste the days driving and so we sat still and soaked it up until it was time for a restock.
Where Have You Been? Podcast Interview
A few months ago I was interviewed by Bill for the Where Have You Been? podcast and I’m so excited to share that the episode is now live. Bill asked some great questions and encouraged me to really get into the details of some of my most memorable experiences from life on the road. You can find the episode on the Where Have You Been? website or on Spotify at the link below.
In case you missed it
In case you missed it, these are the posts we shared in November:
- How comparison robs us of the ability to be content
- A-Z Guide to Full-time RV Living: Quartzsite
- Our latest book is now available for purchase
That’s all for November! We hope your holiday season is off to a great start!
Cheers,
Michele & Mark.
The Aurora Borealis is amazing! So great you got to experience that! Utah has some beautiful scenery. The mountain shots are spectacular! Your camp spot at Lake Mead looked wonderful. I hope the weather remains rain free as you head South. Love you both.