RoamingWithRusty

We have been quiet lately because we are between adventures doing boring grown-up stuff, and also because 16yo Pilgrim is winding down and we are soaking up every minute with him. But tonight he was playing. My heart is bursting. This guy has my whole heart. #seniordogs #rescuedogs #adoptdonshop

There’s a gross and yet somewhat cute symmetry in the fact that the last place we dumped our black tank was where we first met 😂🤣

This is what moving an RV into a bedroom looks like 🤣. Mom and Mike surprised me with a much-belated birthday celebration. It’s good to be “home” for a spell.

Last night in Rusty. Tomorrow we dock. But stay tuned for the next adventure 😊🤘🏻 #48states #rvlife #missionaccomplished

Pulled into a rest area for the night and this little coyote is just hanging out like he owns the place. Not aggressive, not afraid, just keeping a healthy distance from humans and wandering about waiting for someone’s Yorkie to get loose. #Arizona

We have seen #NationalPark number 43!! And our last of this trip. #GrandCanyon! Officially headed back to San Diego for some resetting before the next adventure. I can’t believe Little Dude made it through this whole journey. But we’re so lucky he did. #seniordogs #rescuedogs #48states

Dipped back up into #Utah (State 48) one last time only to drop back down into #Arizona (State 2) one last time. The final countdown has more than begun. #48states #missionaccomplished

I think I failed to mention we were also in State 48, #Utah, again. And met these cute cows. #48states

Back into State #2, #Arizona, again! And some highlights from my LAST long hike and recovery hike on this adventure. After this, I’ll be doing laps in mom’s neighborhood till we head out on the next adventure. #48states #missionaccomplished

Through a whole lotta nothing to reach (again) State number 33- #Nevada, and #NationalPark number 42– #Great Basin! I kid you not, at one point GPS literally said aloud, “Turn right on the loneliest road in America.” #48states

The town of Beaver, #Utah is just begging for sophomoric jokes. The Beaver Taco taco shop even more so. #48states #rvlife

#NationalPark Number 41, #Canyonlands, was more like Crowdedlands. Relatively few opportunities to stop and see the views, but caught a few of the good ones! #Utah

#NationalPark number… wait for it… 40! Four oh. Forty. #Arches did not disappoint. Three more to go on this wild and crazy adventure. #Utah #48states #rvlife #retired

Just when you thought it was safe to breathe again, another breathtaking #NationalPark. And it’s number 39 for us! #CapitolReef. Followed by lunch and a walk in some cool surrounding desert. Now hunkered down and expecting a storm. #Utah #rvlife #48states

Spectacular day for #NationalPark Number 38– #BryceCanyon! Cool weather, breathtaking views, some cool arches we could drive through. #Utah #48states

Much nicer day today, much nicer hike. #Utah #48states

Today’s #caminotraining hike entailed extreme heat, wicked steep inclines, trails with a sense of humor, a sweet donkey named Baby, beehives, and an introduction to the Transylvanian Naked Neck Chicken. Yes, it’s real. And fun fact, they don’t cluck, they scream. #Utah #48states

Celebrating LD’s 16th birthday in #NationalPark #37–#Zion!! J made lamb burgers for everyone (LD is in a food coma now) and there is tiramisu and wine. We are contented 😊 #48states #rvlife #seniordogs #Utah

Little Dude is 16 today!!!! We celebrated with a trip to Zion (post to follow), some quiet time in the AC, and J is making a feast for all of us. Happy birthday to the best best boy, and my longest-term roommate of any species ever. #seniordogs #rescuedogs #adoptdontshop

Back in State #48, #Utah. This time to stay a while. #48states #rvlife

Back to #Utah, then back to #Arizona, and now staying at our all-time hands-down favorite RV park of the whole trip. A few maintenance days planned before we hit more #NationalParks. #48states #rvlife

“Who you calling old?” This little dude walked four states in ten minutes. He turns 16 on Wednesday! #seniordogs #rescuedogs #adoptdontshop #fourcorners #48states

Fascinating #petroglyphs and an amazing hike in #Utah. I wrestled with the decision for 20 minutes before bowing out of the rock-climbing-to-a-ladder part of the “hiking” trail. #caminotraining

So we drove from #Colorado to #NewMexico, walked around the #FourCorners monument, drove through #Arizona, and landed in #Utah- thus both walking and driving the four states in one day.

Here come some belated posts because we have been signal-less 🤣. Drove back to #NewMexico to visit #FourCorners. Walked the perimeter with LD, thus making it to State #48 - #Utah, the last new state on this journey and the only one we walked into!! #48states #missionaccomplished

Long #caminotraining hike day today was 11k in #MesaVerde #NationalPark, up a mountain starting at 7800 feet, carrying more than 10 percent body weight, and running to beat the sunset. 💪🏻 Views well worth it. #Colorado

#NationalPark number 36!! #MesaVerde is so cool. LD made it up the hike to the highest point, 8572 feet, and we got to glimpse the largest cave dwelling in North America, Cliff Palace. #Colorado #48states

Can you even believe this little dude turns 16 next week ❤️ #seniordogs #rescuedogs #adoptdontshop

Dipped back into State Number 47, #Colorado, for a couple days

Late in posting, but a couple days #boondocking here didn’t suck. #NewMexico #48states

#Taos #NewMexico is cute. I love that every single building is a traditional adobe. Adobe McDonalds. Adobe Starbucks. Adobe Albertsons. The one exception? Walmart stays on brand. 🤣 #48states

Amazing hike along Rio Grande Gorge, and met these guys who ChatGPT says are juvenile Big Horn Rams 😁 #NewMexico #48states #caminotraining

#NationalPark Number 35 - #GreatSandDunes! And passed this beautiful herd of wild horses crossing the road (them, not us) before dipping back into State #3 again - #NewMexico. #48states

You can’t see them in the starless dark sky, but that sound is the cows around our #boondocking site going bonkers. I suspect they’re organizing a cow-de-tat.

#Caminotraining long hike day was 10k up and down a mountain from 7700 feet to 9000, on *this* monstrosity of an ankle-breaking obstacle course stony road. Record slow time 🤣 and the poles saved my bacon, but my ankles are thanking me for the caution. #boondocking

I’m pretty sure they are on the Cowmino de Santiago. #boondocking

#Boondocking for the first time in ages! Expecting some great weather and cool hikes. LD is into peeing followed by sleeping in the AC. #Colorado #48states #rvlife #seniordogs

Today is our one year (and only! lol) anniversary of living full-time in the RV. To commemorate it, here are some pics of the first day. Everything was so clean 🤣😂. Missing the Chonker today. She made it to 17 National Parks, exactly half of our current tally. #rvlife #seniordogs

Can’t figure out why they’re called the #RockyMountains? 🤣 #Colorado #48states

We did the #NationalPark challenge on #NationalPark day *IN* #RockyMountain #NationalPark! Number 34 on this trip!! And LD is no dummy… he sees a picnic table, he looks for food under it 😂🤣. #seniordogs #48states #Colorado

Hello #RockyMountains!! Passed through the adorable little touristy town of Estes Park where this *ginormous* herd of elk was just walking the streets like tourists. Some even went to the library (photographic evidence attached.) #Colorado #48states

#GardenoftheGods did not disappoint. Bonus that LD was allowed everywhere. Someone said he was surprised he doesn’t bark at the fake dinosaurs. I said he hasn’t barked since 1974 🤣. #seniordogs #rescuedogs #Colorado #48states

What a lovely and expansive park for long hike #Caminotraining day in #ColoradoSprings. Resident deer everywhere, cute and curious. #48states

Did a drive-by through #DodgeCity #Kansas and found State Number 47– #Colorado!! Having been to Utah previously (albeit not yet on this trip) we have all three officially been to all #48states (contiguous ones.)

This sweet girl adopted us for our entire stay in Dodge City, #Kansas. She’s obviously well cared for and we assume her family is staying here, but she wants to be Pilgrim’s girlfriend (he’s Just Not Into her) and she slept outside of our RV last night. We put water out for her. #pitties

Do you see the deer? 😊 #Kansas turned out to be a surprising wildlife find, between yesterday’s close encounter with a bald eagle and today I saw a fox!! Finally! J saw one back in Delaware and I’ve been looking ever since 😂 #48states #rvlife

Long hike day for 12 km in #Kansas in mid-August is waking up at 5am and leaving before dawn when it’s still just a chilly 78 degrees Fahrenheit 🥵 #caminotraining #midwest #48states