Summary.... Thoughts...It's a Wrap

Been home for a couple weeks....my Casita is still at Camping World, and I haven't downloaded all my photo's to the Apple.....so its been "vegan" time...and I don't feel guilty. I suppose its time to provide some "stats. and money" figures......let me say I haven't done the best job with this part of the adventure, so it's kinda like "Kentucky Windage"....plus or minus this and that:

Horst Kelly photographer

Total Miles on Xterra..6070
Total miles on Casita...4500 + or - some
Gas expenditures..$1019.51
Camp Grounds..$603.29
Misc( food, oil change, photo stuff,  meals out, laundry, other sundry stuff)...$741.16
5 weeks on the road..but who's counting

Could I have done it cheaper...yup, especially on the Misc. stuff.....in addition, I put a lot of miles and gas  chasing the light..... would I have done it differently...probably not.....
Lessons learned...SLOW DOWN,  There was no reason to go from one location to another every 2 or 3 days....it did wear me down....especially with the numerous adrenalin highs...and then not allowing for down time in between....

Horst Kelly Photographer

The Journey was a fantastic experience....I find it difficult to describe the various emotions I experienced with each new area that I went through......maybe I should leave my lack of ability to convey my emotions with a quote from Ansel Adams:

"When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence."

I think the quote "nails" the way I'm struggling with trying to find a way to verbally express my "Kodachrome Memories" that are cataloged in my mind...


Sound Bite memories.....
Smiling for the opportunity!!!;  poverty of a large part of the South West; Trains 1.5 miles long; large vastness of empty space; the beauty of different Natural Murals of Terrain in the area; the instant friends you make with the Camping/RV community; the lack of snakes I saw; the amazing sunrises; the crisp "morning air" of Colorado; the "palette" of the Colorado mountains in the fall;  number of "eclectic" towns; possible ET landing spots; number of towns with a population of 100 or less;  best hiking/exploring I have experienced; Sand Dunes in Colorado...wow;  Wolf Creek Pass....my personal speed bump and the SUPER out come;  Best "Petroglyphs" I have seen; wishing I had my "Grand Kids" with me; Smiling at a sunset....

Horst Kelly Photographer

I want to thank everyone that took the time to venture onto the journal....and especially for those that left a comment or two.....This trip was the most extensive one I have taken with the Casita, and it was also the one that gave me that John Denver "Rocky Mountain High".......I can't wait for the next one....thanks for stopping by!!!


I should have the photo's downloaded, sorted, darkroom stuff completed and posted on website within two weeks......