3 months in the SMB rig through pictures

[Blackeye]

What follows is a very brief pictorial of our last three months in the rig (Sportsmobile).

http://blackeye.smugmug.com/Travel/Rocking-R-Sportsmobile/DSC0105/633152970_PsBDJ-L.jpg

Phantom Canyon between Canon City and Victor, CO.

http://blackeye.smugmug.com/Travel/Rocking-R-Sportsmobile/DSC0006/633150269_zD7Eb-L.jpg

Between Silverton and Animas Forks, CO heading toward Engineer Pass.

http://blackeye.smugmug.com/Travel/Rocking-R-Sportsmobile/DSC0023/633150586_kuy9G-L.jpg

Heading up Engineer Pass in the Alpine Loop.

http://blackeye.smugmug.com/Travel/Rocking-R-Sportsmobile/DSC0040/633151217_ioxZq-L.jpg

The rig at the summit of Engineer. I am so impressed with the capability of the SMB.

http://blackeye.smugmug.com/Travel/Rocking-R-Sportsmobile/DSC0036/633151031_zuvfj-L.jpg

Oh! Ridge.

http://blackeye.smugmug.com/Travel/Rocking-R-Sportsmobile/DSC0026/633150780_2ecL2-L.jpg

Looking back.

http://blackeye.smugmug.com/Travel/Rocking-R-Sportsmobile/DSC0076/633152638_bfVk4-L.jpg

Cinnamon Pass.

http://blackeye.smugmug.com/Travel/Rocking-R-Sportsmobile/STP60499/633161454_5MBdp-L.jpg

Breakfast on the Yellowstone River, MT before a flyfishing session with my wife.

http://blackeye.smugmug.com/Travel/Rocking-R-Sportsmobile/DSC0045/633162220_GSinQ-L.jpg

City of Rocks, ID.

http://blackeye.smugmug.com/Travel/Rocking-R-Sportsmobile/DSC0141/686666515_d22w2-L.jpg

Valley of the Gods, UT.

[Blackeye]

...more Valley of the Gods.

http://blackeye.smugmug.com/Travel/Rocking-R-Sportsmobile/DSC0097/686665307_6iRfd-L.jpg

http://blackeye.smugmug.com/Travel/Rocking-R-Sportsmobile/DSC0074/686664566_4A4Jy-L.jpg

http://blackeye.smugmug.com/Travel/Rocking-R-Sportsmobile/DSC0081/686664912_ZTneU-L.jpg

http://blackeye.smugmug.com/Travel/Rocking-R-Sportsmobile/DSC01212/686755671_fVreC-L.jpg

then to Lake Powell, UT.

http://blackeye.smugmug.com/Travel/Rocking-R-Sportsmobile/DSC0191/686667204_jqzkB-L.jpg

http://blackeye.smugmug.com/Travel/Rocking-R-Sportsmobile/DSCN9853/686734618_rYBNu-L.jpg

All in all, our travels took us through Williams AZ, Four Corners CO, Mesa Verde CO, Haviland Lake CO, the Alpine Loop, Lake City, CO Springs, Curt Gowdy State Park WY, Wind Caves N.P., SD, Mount Rushmore SD, Wall Drug (had to just to say we did), numerous trout streams and rivers in MT, Beartooth Hwy MT, Mesa Falls Byway ID, City of Rocks ID, Bend OR, Seattle WA, Moab, Comb Wash, Valley of the Gods, Lake Powell, Coral Pink Sand Dunes SP, Zion NP in Southeastern UT.

[gjackson]

Awesome Andy! Thanks for posting these.

cheers

[LandCruiserPhil]

Nice photos

[PJPR01]

Simply stunning...the more I see the SMB, the more I like it...

[mtnbike28]

I love all the pictures. The SMB looked like a great mobile camp for you!

[dzzz]

oh man, that's a beautiful thing. any inside pics?

[1leglance]

Andy thanks for posting pics that show what expo is all about....less talk & more travel.
Very cool and I think I like your rig enough to copy it :)

[haven]

Andy,

I'd be interested in your comments about what a 3 month journey is like, versus the typical one week trip that most of us take. Did you find the length of the journey liberating? Were there unexpected issues or problems?

On a practical note: When driving, did you store the camp chairs and table you used outside the vehicle, or in the space inside the van?

Chip Haven

[Blackeye]

Thanks to all for your kind words. I'll try to give feedback to some of the questions...

"oh man, that's a beautiful thing. any inside pics?"

Cockpit
http://blackeye.smugmug.com/Travel/Rocking-R-Sportsmobile/Interior-009/341249916_7RRYW-L.jpg

Kitchen
http://blackeye.smugmug.com/Travel/Rocking-R-Sportsmobile/Interior-008/341248841_mAhCh-L.jpg

Living / Bedroom
http://blackeye.smugmug.com/Travel/Rocking-R-Sportsmobile/DSCN9788/341985293_TwEJt-L.jpg

"I think I like your rig enough to copy it."

We are honored by that and please let us know how we can help. Looking forward to a side-by-side comparo in Baja!

"I'd be interested in your comments about what a 3 month journey is like, versus the typical one week trip that most of us take. Did you find the length of the journey liberating? Were there unexpected issues or problems?"

We have found that just as with almost any extended trip, we need to take a n entire day once a week or so to regroup. It can take the form of a "no driving day" or a just slow down and get "settled". If we don't, we can feel like we are in a race.

Some "down time" on Bainbridge Island WA.

http://blackeye.smugmug.com/Travel/Rocking-R-Sportsmobile/DSC0017/633163911_yAuwq-L.jpg

And in Seattle WA.

http://blackeye.smugmug.com/Travel/Rocking-R-Sportsmobile/STP60565/633164066_aEGvG-L.jpg

Liberating? Heck yeah! We always ask ourselves when heading home at the end of any trip..."can't we just keep going?"

No real issues or problems. I did manage to head into some really deep sand at Lake Powell prior to airing down. All was going so well. So nice though to jump out, slap on the Stauns, and float over the stuff. Thanks to the Overland Training, I am much more confident and knowlegable. My wife if more at ease too.

"On a practical note: When driving, did you store the camp chairs and table you used outside the vehicle, or in the space inside the van?"


We keep everything inside the rig, chairs, stove, firewood, etc with the exception of the bikes. We don't always bring both sets of chairs (Kermit and beach) but we had room and so I brought them.

We really enjoy southeastern Utah.

http://blackeye.smugmug.com/Travel/Rocking-R-Sportsmobile/DSC01762/686666856_bbkSe-L.jpg

[KSJeep]

Nice!!!

[adventureduo]

Right on man! I've been wondering where you've been lately..

[ttora4runner]

:victory::drool:

[rctr03]

great shots!

jimmy

[Trail Monkey]

spectacular stuff.! Now your just totalling killing me with expectation of my new rig. Looking forward to meeting you on the trail.

Have you found your Garmin GPS to be ample for all uses? Road and Trial, or are you using a dash mounted road gps for address location on streets?

also it looks like your GPS mount is in the way of your mirror, is that an illusion in the photo, or do you not use the mirror in the van??

thx

[ChuckB]

Simply stunning...the more I see the SMB, the more I like it...

x2!!! Great pics!

[Blackeye]

spectacular stuff.! Now your just totalling killing me with expectation of my new rig. Looking forward to meeting you on the trail.

Have you found your Garmin GPS to be ample for all uses? Road and Trial, or are you using a dash mounted road gps for address location on streets?

also it looks like your GPS mount is in the way of your mirror, is that an illusion in the photo, or do you not use the mirror in the van??

thx

James,

Hang in there...the waiting is the hardest part. I look forward to meeting you out there as well.

We use the Garmin 376c primarily for the off-tarmac routes. It does routing and topo and has more detail and better resolution than the Kenwood in the dash. We use the Garmin aspect of the Kenwood for streets, shopping issues, etc. Both have the track back feature which we like.

The Garmin is up in the general area of the mirror but the mirror could still be used if you wanted to. We like the big side mirrors so much that we don't feel the need for the rear view mirror. We keep the rear shades drawn all the time to reduce the visibility into the rig from both the rear windows and also it makes it more difficult to see in through the windshield when they are drawn.

We are excited for you. It seems like just the other day that we were in your shoes. Congratulations. Take your time and enjoy the delivery process. There is a ton of info and it is more effective if you just take it one step at a time. You gotta love the folks at Sportsmobile West!

[ujoint]

Ditto on all the great comments. Pics & details of an adventure like this are what keeps me motivated!

[Cypher]

Absolutely spectacular! Wow, the places I would go in 3 months... Great pics and thanks for sharing!