After restricting my circle of travel to the American Southwest for many years now, I should be excited about returning to the northern states. After all, I have a new tow vehicle now, and am on Medicare -- with nationwide coverage -- rather than an ACA plan that was tied to one state. And on top of all that, gasoline prices are low. So I am free to truly experience the 'freedom of the open road' again.
But wait a minute. Won't I just rediscover the reasons that made me a Southwesterner in the first place? North American geography has an unfortunate quirk: as you go north from the Colorado Plateau, the average altitude (for camping) declines. Therefore a thousand miles of northering doesn't cool you off, at all -- except during the shoulder seasons.
Northering also separates you from ponderosa forests, and gets you into spruce, lodgepole pine, and other dismal and thick boreal forests.
And the mosquitoes are terrible in the northern states!
If you stay five miles from the Pacific Ocean you can stay cool, but at the expense of crowds, high prices, and an unappealing culture.
So I am doing a pretty good job of talking myself out of the 'freedom of the open road', aren't I? Maybe I am overlooking something. I certainly hope so.
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OK, I have overlooked something. Years ago, I deliberately developed a disinclination for "brand name" spectacularly scenic tourist traps, and learned to love moderately scenic non-brand-names.
That has always been my secret weapon. Let's hope it works this summer.
But wait a minute. Won't I just rediscover the reasons that made me a Southwesterner in the first place? North American geography has an unfortunate quirk: as you go north from the Colorado Plateau, the average altitude (for camping) declines. Therefore a thousand miles of northering doesn't cool you off, at all -- except during the shoulder seasons.
Northering also separates you from ponderosa forests, and gets you into spruce, lodgepole pine, and other dismal and thick boreal forests.
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| Typical northern scenery. |
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| More northern scenery |
If you stay five miles from the Pacific Ocean you can stay cool, but at the expense of crowds, high prices, and an unappealing culture.
So I am doing a pretty good job of talking myself out of the 'freedom of the open road', aren't I? Maybe I am overlooking something. I certainly hope so.
_________________________________
OK, I have overlooked something. Years ago, I deliberately developed a disinclination for "brand name" spectacularly scenic tourist traps, and learned to love moderately scenic non-brand-names.
That has always been my secret weapon. Let's hope it works this summer.
Comments
SE Washington state, eh? Sounds like it could have been hot as a firecracker, if you were close to the Snake River trench.
But I agree how your paired Utah with Colorado. They are both overcrowded tourist traps.
I really sound enthusiastic, don't I?