Planning That Road Trip..

[Welshwizzard]

How do all,

Well, it's finally becoming a reality, we're off to Iceland for a short weeks holiday just before winter, that should be magical. Took a lot of thought to go there instead of somewhere hot this summer! Especially considering how crap our British weather is!

So my missus and I will have a typically cold summer and an even colder winter jaunt!

We, or a I should say I am onto planning my spring/ summer get away.

She wants to do Costa Rica, and I want to to the west coast of US driving, and hiking in some silly big hills. I think I can swing it if we go on a warm one the holiday after.

My plan so far is, fly to Denver, then drive up to Portland, catching a bit of the Yellowstone Park, then once in Portland, make our way to SF if time will allow it.

We are both into our outdoors, will no doubt be camping a night or two weather permitting, and maybe Airbnb a few spots. We dont have unlimited cash but want to see and do anything thats really memorable, big forests and waterfalls are where it's at for us. Big hikes, long drives and awesome people.

We are both pretty heavy smokers too, so how much of an issue will this be in any states>? I've not bought anything off a street guy for a fair number of years!

We will have between 3 and 4 weeks, so I understand if it's worth starting and finishing a different place.

Around March April next year we're thinking and want to start planning over the next month, so any places or things that are a must see or any input in general would be ace, also any 'foreigner' whose visited the US as a tourist of sorts

Thank all!

Welsh

 

[LocalGrowGuy]

How do all,

Well, it's finally becoming a reality, we're off to Iceland for a short weeks holiday just before winter, that should be magical. Took a lot of thought to go there instead of somewhere hot this summer! Especially considering how crap our British weather is!

So my missus and I will have a typically cold summer and an even colder winter jaunt!

We, or a I should say I am onto planning my spring/ summer get away.

She wants to do Costa Rica, and I want to to the west coast of US driving, and hiking in some silly big hills. I think I can swing it if we go on a warm one the holiday after.

My plan so far is, fly to Denver, then drive up to Portland, catching a bit of the Yellowstone Park, then once in Portland, make our way to SF if time will allow it.

We are both into our outdoors, will no doubt be camping a night or two weather permitting, and maybe Airbnb a few spots. We dont have unlimited cash but want to see and do anything thats really memorable, big forests and waterfalls are where it's at for us. Big hikes, long drives and awesome people.

We are both pretty heavy smokers too, so how much of an issue will this be in any states>? I've not bought anything off a street guy for a fair number of years!

We will have between 3 and 4 weeks, so I understand if it's worth starting and finishing a different place.

Around March April next year we're thinking and want to start planning over the next month, so any places or things that are a must see or any input in general would be ace, also any 'foreigner' whose visited the US as a tourist of sorts

Thank all!

Welsh

Costa Rica is now the only non-US destination I will ever go back to. Fuck mexico, no thanks europe. We flew into CR and have stayed near and in Jaco, a family friend retired and bought several hundred acres just outside one of the major preserves. He struck gold when he developed a product that replaces the need for real stone when building houses, a lighter cement based product that still looked original. He was trying to move his 20+ car collection down there but no shipping companies would ship his cars across mexico. He was strongly urged not to drive them down himself, he would get car jacked and ripped off, he settled on shipping golf carts direct lol. We stayed on the western side of the country, there is no shortage of things to do and there are some good lookin natives.

I think it's a tough call as the US and CR have a lot to offer, just different. If money wasn't an issue I would go south.

As a medical patient I have had difficulties finding herb outside medical states. I haven't dealt with drug dealers for years, I'd rather not start now. I would try and find someone in the community wherever you are going. You can never go wrong asking the help, or if you are paying for it a concierge might not be offended at the suggestion. My biggest hurdle when trying to buy devil's lettuce is accusations of being a cop.

 

[BudBogart]

Getting smoke once your in Colorado shouldn't be a problem. About Yellowstone, beautiful place but it is huge! It seemed to take hour just to reach lodgings once we entered the park.. There are two seemingly small roads that form figure eight in the middle of the huge expanse...I believe it was 200 miles to complete this figure 8 drive through the park. Worth every minute of a once in a lifetime trip, but you can't do Yellowstone in a couple of days.
Yosemite is like a day park in comparison to Yellowstone.
The Humboldt National forest has mind altering absolutely huge trees you can hike through. I have lived in California all my life, love the forests and Humboldt stands out.

 

[scoop]

The CO folks will help you out all around. We usually have ample smoke and there are a few nice camp spots next to the creek right outside the door.... Hope it pans out for ya!

 

[xavier7995]

Since you are thinking of flying into Denver...something tells me you will not have much of an issue getting all the mj you could want, I would guess various farmers would help out or heaven forbid...you may have to go to the weed stores. Might was well just stock up for the trip. From what I have heard, the drive from denver towards the PNW is exceptional.

 

[gravekat303]

How do all,

Well, it's finally becoming a reality, we're off to Iceland for a short weeks holiday just before winter, that should be magical. Took a lot of thought to go there instead of somewhere hot this summer! Especially considering how crap our British weather is!

So my missus and I will have a typically cold summer and an even colder winter jaunt!

We, or a I should say I am onto planning my spring/ summer get away.

She wants to do Costa Rica, and I want to to the west coast of US driving, and hiking in some silly big hills. I think I can swing it if we go on a warm one the holiday after.

My plan so far is, fly to Denver, then drive up to Portland, catching a bit of the Yellowstone Park, then once in Portland, make our way to SF if time will allow it.

We are both into our outdoors, will no doubt be camping a night or two weather permitting, and maybe Airbnb a few spots. We dont have unlimited cash but want to see and do anything thats really memorable, big forests and waterfalls are where it's at for us. Big hikes, long drives and awesome people.

We are both pretty heavy smokers too, so how much of an issue will this be in any states>? I've not bought anything off a street guy for a fair number of years!

We will have between 3 and 4 weeks, so I understand if it's worth starting and finishing a different place.

Around March April next year we're thinking and want to start planning over the next month, so any places or things that are a must see or any input in general would be ace, also any 'foreigner' whose visited the US as a tourist of sorts

Thank all!

Welsh

Maybe we can do lunch or something co fire crew plus Welsh lol

 

[Welshwizzard]

Costa Rica is now the only non-US destination I will ever go back to. Fuck mexico, no thanks europe. We flew into CR and have stayed near and in Jaco, a family friend retired and bought several hundred acres just outside one of the major preserves. He struck gold when he developed a product that replaces the need for real stone when building houses, a lighter cement based product that still looked original. He was trying to move his 20+ car collection down there but no shipping companies would ship his cars across mexico. He was strongly urged not to drive them down himself, he would get car jacked and ripped off, he settled on shipping golf carts direct lol. We stayed on the western side of the country, there is no shortage of things to do and there are some good lookin natives.

I think it's a tough call as the US and CR have a lot to offer, just different. If money wasn't an issue I would go south.

As a medical patient I have had difficulties finding herb outside medical states. I haven't dealt with drug dealers for years, I'd rather not start now. I would try and find someone in the community wherever you are going. You can never go wrong asking the help, or if you are paying for it a concierge might not be offended at the suggestion. My biggest hurdle when trying to buy devil's lettuce is accusations of being a cop.

Hey dude thanks for the reply and your input! I'm a little intimidated by Mexico as I would not doubt WANT to wander off the beaten track and surely get myself beaten at least haha. My missus is way more sensible than I so she would hopefully not let me go wandering too much :)
She really does like everything wild, it was a very close call between CR and Sri Lanka, the bio diversity on offer in CR is something we will no doubt do, if not this round then certainly the next. Money is not so much an issue, not as if we have loads but its going to be a super pre midlife, pre children,pre marriage trip!

 

[Welshwizzard]

Getting smoke once your in Colorado shouldn't be a problem. About Yellowstone, beautiful place but it is huge! It seemed to take hour just to reach lodgings once we entered the park.. There are two seemingly small roads that form figure eight in the middle of the huge expanse...I believe it was 200 miles to complete this figure 8 drive through the park. Worth every minute of a once in a lifetime trip, but you can't do Yellowstone in a couple of days.
Yosemite is like a day park in comparison to Yellowstone.
The Humboldt National forest has mind altering absolutely huge trees you can hike through. I have lived in California all my life, love the forests and Humboldt stands out.

Awesome, this is exactly what I'm after, Yellowstone seems to be one of the places we absolutely have to see, I want to spend a good 4 or 5 days just here which I'm sure wont been enough at all, we will probably camp or find lodgings prior to arriving of course.
Yosemite is something I've only seen on Attenboroughs BBC Documentaries, it looks like it will be an overwhelming place to go, just to feel it, absorb it all.
I have never heard of the Humboldt Forest, is that where all those giant Redwoods are? We have a couple of big forest here but they are not that old, an ancient forest here is 400 or so years old, I want to get lost in microclimates!
Thanks for the reply man

 

[Welshwizzard]

The CO folks will help you out all around. We usually have ample smoke and there are a few nice camp spots next to the creek right outside the door.... Hope it pans out for ya!View attachment 596586

Thanks dude, everyone I talk to on here seems super cool so I'm just going to imagine its all like this. I hear amazing things about CO peoples hospitality all good :)

 

[Welshwizzard]

Since you are thinking of flying into Denver...something tells me you will not have much of an issue getting all the mj you could want, I would guess various farmers would help out or heaven forbid...you may have to go to the weed stores. Might was well just stock up for the trip. From what I have heard, the drive from denver towards the PNW is exceptional.

I think Denver would be a good place to start, as a place we can start from, and then head to one of so many National Parks. The more I zoom in the more amazed I am. Dont get me wrong, I will but from some random dude if needs be, but I'd much rather carry on knowing where the stuff I'm ingesting or inhaling has come from to an extent. I'm sure I'll speak to a few friendlies on here for advise if nothing else. The PNW drive is supposed to be breathtaking, and one of the main reasons I pushed to start in CO and go from there. Thanks for the reply dude!

 

[Welshwizzard]

Maybe we can do lunch or something co fire crew plus Welsh lol

Haha man, that would be unreal. Your own Welsh mascots. Would most certainly be an epic thing to do! No dabs though man they mes me up so so much

 

[Nomadic]

How do all,

Well, it's finally becoming a reality, we're off to Iceland for a short weeks holiday just before winter, that should be magical. Took a lot of thought to go there instead of somewhere hot this summer! Especially considering how crap our British weather is!

So my missus and I will have a typically cold summer and an even colder winter jaunt!

We, or a I should say I am onto planning my spring/ summer get away.

She wants to do Costa Rica, and I want to to the west coast of US driving, and hiking in some silly big hills. I think I can swing it if we go on a warm one the holiday after.

My plan so far is, fly to Denver, then drive up to Portland, catching a bit of the Yellowstone Park, then once in Portland, make our way to SF if time will allow it.

We are both into our outdoors, will no doubt be camping a night or two weather permitting, and maybe Airbnb a few spots. We dont have unlimited cash but want to see and do anything thats really memorable, big forests and waterfalls are where it's at for us. Big hikes, long drives and awesome people.

We are both pretty heavy smokers too, so how much of an issue will this be in any states>? I've not bought anything off a street guy for a fair number of years!

We will have between 3 and 4 weeks, so I understand if it's worth starting and finishing a different place.

Around March April next year we're thinking and want to start planning over the next month, so any places or things that are a must see or any input in general would be ace, also any 'foreigner' whose visited the US as a tourist of sorts

Thank all!

Welsh

If you are planning on driving from Denver to Portland via Yellowstone in March or April.....I have the following advise from past mistakes er.....experiences.

One....everytime I drive through Cheyenne I have gotten caught in a blizzard. Last time, LEO locked the gate just as I passed through it! So be sure and check the weather forecast for Cheyenne.

Two, I tried the East Yellowstone entrance in early May and it was still closed. Make sure Global Warming is in full effect if your coming in March/April...

Good Luck and make reservations.....camping in Yosemite was fun but not a good way to get to Portland. Better if you have time and like scenery.....come out the North Yellowstone into Montana and go to Missoula and then head for LoLo Pass in Idaho.....then onto Portland via WA to Hood River, OR.

If you do end up in Southern Oregon....you can look me up.

 

[BudBogart]

Awesome, this is exactly what I'm after, Yellowstone seems to be one of the places we absolutely have to see, I want to spend a good 4 or 5 days just here which I'm sure wont been enough at all, we will probably camp or find lodgings prior to arriving of course.
Yosemite is something I've only seen on Attenboroughs BBC Documentaries, it looks like it will be an overwhelming place to go, just to feel it, absorb it all.
I have never heard of the Humboldt Forest, is that where all those giant Redwoods are? We have a couple of big forest here but they are not that old, an ancient forest here is 400 or so years old, I want to get lost in microclimates!
Thanks for the reply man

Yes, land of the giant trees. Definite micro climate experience. It can be 90 f outside and 70 f along the walks under the trees. Totally prehistoric feel. We have a few ancient groves in California, big basin, calavaras big trees but I think even they pale to a walk in the Humboldt redwoods. Huge place here " out west". Plenty of incredible natural beauty. Enjoy.

 

[scoop]

If you are planning on driving from Denver to Portland via Yellowstone in March or April....

Nomadic is right. I missed the time frame you said you might be targeting. If you can...move it back a month or more. May is great....Warmer overall....far less chance of snow...mountain locations/Parks will be somewhat open (but not completely)....all of the kids are still in school...etc. (unless you also want to ski) How quickly things open up will depend on the weather we see next Winter/spring. This year there will be a lot of areas closed til well into June in the higher elevations/Parks because there's an above average snowpack in many areas of the mountains of the Western US.

There's no shortage of things to see. An English buddy of mine was here years ago and he was completely blown away by how BIG of an expanse the US truly is.

 

[LocalGrowGuy]

Nomadic is right. I missed the time frame you said you might be targeting. If you can...move it back a month or more. May is great....Warmer overall....far less chance of snow...mountain locations/Parks will be somewhat open (but not completely)....all of the kids are still in school...etc. (unless you also want to ski) How quickly things open up will depend on the weather we see next Winter/spring. This year there will be a lot of areas closed til well into June in the higher elevations/Parks because there's an above average snowpack in many areas of the mountains of the Western US.

There's no shortage of things to see. An English buddy of mine was here years ago and he was completely blown away by how BIG of an expanse the US truly is.

Rocky Mountain and Trail Ridge Road would be open later and worth the drive, and I think the traffic makes it worth it as well. It is very very popular though, so you won't be alone. Your camera would enjoy.

The Denver Welcome Wagon can be ready and waiting for visitors, and there are extension offices all around the state that would welcome you with open arms. It's nice to be in a legal state. I think every single relative of mine between the ages of 18-40 have road tripped out here for 'skiing' or a 'ball game' or to 'hike', and interestingly, they all wanted to tour the dispo's too. Silly pot tourism.

 

[jumpincactus]

How do all,

Well, it's finally becoming a reality, we're off to Iceland for a short weeks holiday just before winter, that should be magical. Took a lot of thought to go there instead of somewhere hot this summer! Especially considering how crap our British weather is!

So my missus and I will have a typically cold summer and an even colder winter jaunt!

We, or a I should say I am onto planning my spring/ summer get away.

She wants to do Costa Rica, and I want to to the west coast of US driving, and hiking in some silly big hills. I think I can swing it if we go on a warm one the holiday after.

My plan so far is, fly to Denver, then drive up to Portland, catching a bit of the Yellowstone Park, then once in Portland, make our way to SF if time will allow it.

We are both into our outdoors, will no doubt be camping a night or two weather permitting, and maybe Airbnb a few spots. We dont have unlimited cash but want to see and do anything thats really memorable, big forests and waterfalls are where it's at for us. Big hikes, long drives and awesome people.

We are both pretty heavy smokers too, so how much of an issue will this be in any states>? I've not bought anything off a street guy for a fair number of years!

We will have between 3 and 4 weeks, so I understand if it's worth starting and finishing a different place.

Around March April next year we're thinking and want to start planning over the next month, so any places or things that are a must see or any input in general would be ace, also any 'foreigner' whose visited the US as a tourist of sorts

Thank all!

Welsh

Make it a point to hit AZ and my missus and I will make sure you have plenty of smoke for your trip. That way you dont have to risk buying just any ole weed from god knows who and the risk involved..... Also have a spare room you can overnight in to catch your wind........
That a promise from the Cactus Clan :D

 

[LocalGrowGuy]

Make it a point to hit AZ and my missus and I will make sure you have plenty of smoke for your trip. That way you dont have to risk buying just any ole weed from god knows who and the risk involved..... Also have a spare room you can overnight in to catch your wind........
That a promise from the Cactus Clan :D

Where in AZ are you? Do you mind waiting in line for me at the wave? Thanks.

 

[jumpincactus]

Where in AZ are you? Do you mind waiting in line for me at the wave? Thanks.

Well a fellow desert rat. Kool.......... The Wave is very similar to the chasms in Antelope Canyon. :cool: I love the 4 Corners area.!!!! Heres a pic from some years back , since they all say "pics or it didnt happen"!!!! This particular shot can only be had during a certain time of year ( mid march) and it happens between 11:40 n 11:45. as noted, as the sun continues moving 5 mins later it's gone. The beam of light originates from a small hole at the top of the chasm. The density of the particulates in the light shaft has to do with the wind above as it varies and it knocks sand into the chasm and is illuminated by the sun. Pretty awesome shit when its really windy the shaft looks opaque. By no means did or was my intent to hijack your thread. I apologize and will keep it on topic for the OP. Peace

 

[LocalGrowGuy]

I love Antelope and the slots. It would be nice to do the wave but it's a long drive from everywhere for a slight chance, and even then if you have a big party you could still get shafted. The 'rents have a home in Sedona, and it's glorious. I have an uncle in phoenix, a few years ago we came down the last year picacho peak was open. That was an adventure. Camelback, A mountain, and squaw peak, then we hiked Humphries in flagstaff, visited the booth at the grand canyon during a snow storm, interesting that they don't use gravel or chemical de-icer, just crushed lava rock. Went to moab and mountain biked slickrock next to dinosaur footprints in the rocks along the trail. Four corners right after fires exposed new sites, then through durango up to the junction and back to denver. I wish I was old enough to appreciate it, but it would be hard to appreciate as I am not bulletproof like I was when I was younger.

There is a spot around four corners where the light shines into a room for a few seconds each morning. I remember speaking to a photographer and he took a metric assload of pictures over a few minutes, and one single picture created the perfect beam of light. That picture you posted is wonderful.

Tell me you get Arizona Highways. Great mag.

 

[jumpincactus]

I think Denver would be a good place to start, as a place we can start from, and then head to one of so many National Parks. The more I zoom in the more amazed I am. Dont get me wrong, I will but from some random dude if needs be, but I'd much rather carry on knowing where the stuff I'm ingesting or inhaling has come from to an extent. I'm sure I'll speak to a few friendlies on here for advise if nothing else. The PNW drive is supposed to be breathtaking, and one of the main reasons I pushed to start in CO and go from there. Thanks for the reply dude!

Coastal route 1 is a bucket list type trip if you havent ever seen and done it yourself. Great romantic places to stop for you and the missus and neat little BnB all along the way. Its most indeed Gods Country..... :D