Trip Maiden Voyage

This was my first solo trip after having completed the buildout of my truck. It allows me to have better access to the places I want to photograph animals, gives me flexibility in not having to stick to a predetermined plan, and saves me a chunk of change when doing art shows around the country.

It was a successful maiden voyage as I sold some work, acquired wood for new frames, and took some lovely photographs along the way. Not to mention I got to visit some beautiful places and experience Yellowstone National Park at a different time of year than I ever have before.

I hope you enjoy following along with my adventure in the slideshow to the right as well as seeing exactly where I was on the map below. Please reach out if you have any questions or tips about where I should go or what I should seek out on my next journey!

PICS OF THE TRIP

Completed Truck Buildout

First Meal in Camp Spot

Kielbasa, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes.

Breakfast Tacos

Spaghetti and Meat Sauce and a Salad

In the Act

Set up near my camp spot on Shrine Pass Rd.

Taco Salad at my Shrine Pass Camp Spot

Shrine Pass Valley

Photographing Beaver

Photographing Beaver in the Shrine Pass Valley

American Beaver Up Close and Personal

In the Act

Cooking Shepherd's Pie in the Truck to avoid the massive amount of mosquitoes even though I'm camping at 11,000 ft.

Breakfast Tacos

First Repair on the Road

This is the internal gear of the Throttle Body. It is made of plastic and as it is in one of the hottest parts of the truck it can easily get damaged.

The inside of the Throttle Body itself where the little gear is housed.

Camp Spot on Shrine Pass Rd.

Looking out from camp spot on Shrine Pass Rd.

Scrambled Eggs with Ham and Jellied Toast

Lunch Smorgasbord

In the Act

Booth Setup

My booth in the village of Beaver Creek, CO

Max

The best show dog ever.

Camp Spot for the Beaver Creek Show

The Day After

Drying out everything for my booths after a torrential downpour while packing up the night before. The joys of doing outdoor art fairs.

In the Act

Driving to Yellowstone from Colorado.

In the Act

Driving to Yellowstone from Colorado.

In the Act

Driving to Yellowstone from Colorado.

Yellowstone National Park

Following a Wolf on my way out of the park one evening.

In the Act

Cooking after getting back to my camp spot late one night.

In the Act

Photographing Bison in Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone National Park

Yummy

Yellowstone National Park

Lunch in Lamar Valley

Dinner in Gardiner

Gardiner, MT Camp Spot

Yellowstone National Park

Grand Tetons from my Camp Spot

In the Act

Traveling

One of My Last Camp Spots of the Trip

A. Memphis, TN
B. First camp spot in Clayton, NM
C. Art Show #1 - Salida, CO
D. Wood slab connection - Canon City, CO
E. Beautiful camp spot a few miles up Shrine Pass Rd.
F. Art Show #2 - Keystone, CO
G. Art Show #3 - Beaver Creek, CO
H. Yellowstone National Park East Entrance Camp Spot
I. Yellowstone National Park North Entrance Camp Spot
J. Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park
K. Art Show #4 - Jackson Hole, WY
L. Theodore Roosevelt National Park
M. Audubon National Wildlife Refuge
N. Fargo, ND
O. Vermillion, SD
P. Big Muddy National Wildlife Refuge
Q. Memphis, TN

TRIP MAIDEN VOYAGE ROUTE

TRIP FUN FACTS!

34 Days on the Road
6083 Miles Driven
14 States Visited
9 New Camp Spots Found (3 Previous Ones Used Again)
My journey would have taken a minimum of 8 months by covered wagon.
3 National Parks Visited (Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Theodore Roosevelt)
12 National Wildlife Refuges Visited (Audubon NWR, Des Lacs NWR, Devils Lake Wetland Management Area, Kellys Slough NWR, Silver Lake NWR, Stump Lake NWR, Tewaukon NWR, White Horse Hill National Game Preserve, Huron Wetland Management Area, Waubay NWR, Big Muddy NWR, Loess Bluffs NWR)
2174 Photographs Taken
Peru, the 19th largest country in the world by size, could fit inside the map of my route.