The Elklund Hotel – Clayton, NM

Written by Kyle

I’m a huge fan of Western history, so anytime I get a chance to stay in an 1800s hotel I take it. While passing through New Mexico, decided to stop for the night in Clayton, a New Mexico town near the border of the Texas panhandle. After reading this on the hotel website, I decided to stay at the Elklund Hotel: “The original part of the structure, now serving as our saloon, was built in 1892 and operated as a saloon and gambling hall; the property was purchased by Carl Eklund in 1894 and during the following years was expanded in phases to its present configuration. The historic Hotel Eklund currently has 24 guest rooms, as well as 2 dining rooms and one of New Mexico’s most iconic bars. We serve delicious steaks, authentic New Mexican dishes, and classic comfort foods, along with an excellent selection of regional beers and wines. For over 100 years The Eklund has been Clayton’s premier boutique hotel, dedicated to preserving the Wild West Experience for the modern traveler.”

Walking into the gorgeous Gorgeous lobby did feel like a step back in time. I admired the original switchboard while waiting for my key (an actual physical key, of course), then went up to my room to clean up.

The rooms have been updated, personally I like it when they feel more untouched, but I do appreciate having a bathroom (they were not originally part of the standard rooms, and you shared a bathroom down the hallway).

I headed down to the restaurant and asked for a table, while waiting I walked over to the bar to admire the gorgeous antique bar back. The barkeep let me know that unfortunately there was no music tonight, but recommended a few local whiskeys to try.

I was seated and ordered the NY strip steak ($26!?!?) and enjoyed the atmosphere (pretty sure there are a few bullet holes in the ceiling), then enjoyed my meal! I asked about the pie I saw other tables feasting on, but unfortunately they had just run out so I ordered the Texas sheet cake instead. So I have never had this before…and I do not know if this was a standard example or something special…but Wow! I retreated back to my room with a full belly and hit the hay, back on the road in the morning!

American Basin – Lake City, CO

Written by Kyle

You have probably seen photos of American Basin in a calendar, on instagram, or a magazine at some point before. Located near Lake City, Colorado in the Gunnison National Forest this high alpine basin is surrounded by cliffs up to 14,000 feet in elevation, and is absolutely stunning.

You can get to the American Basin from the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway which starts in Lake City. Since that is only an hour away from our cabin we decided to make the drive over Slumgullion Pass early on the weekend. This winter has been remarkably dry so far and because of the time of the year there was almost no other traffic…..very different from the summer months! Bee’s son was visiting and came along as well, so we had an excuse to show him the sights and of course grab some lunch at the Sportsman’s BBQ Station in Lake City. We made our way up the loop, enjoying the sights along the way – mountains, waterfalls, and a bit of wildlife. Most people aim for the wildflower season in the summer, which is beautiful, but the fall and winter seasons here offer beauty and quiet most people never get to enjoy. The loop itself is a fun all day adventure (this is just one stop on the trip), but 4WD is required.

We made our way to the American basin trailhead (only the last mile is really bumpy, but if you do not feel up to the off roading, or your vehicle is not high clearance, you can always park at one of the earlier turnouts and walk to the trailhead), took a few minutes to stretch after the long drive, and enjoyed the views.

We were greeted by a dusting of snow on the mountains, and the view from the trailhead was perfect. We started to hike up the basin and were able to see several waterfalls, as well as one we stopped at for a quick cool down. 

If you are in the area, the Alpine Loop is absolutely worth the trip, and seeing the American Basin is an experience to remember, whether in the summer months or shoulder seasons!

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum – Cleveland, Ohio

Written by Kyle

Last time I was back home visiting family in Cleveland, Ohio, I took Beulah to some of the local sites, including the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum. I had actually not been to the museum since it opened back in 1995, so I was looking forward to going back and seeing how it had changed. It was, of course, a beautiful grey day on the lake in Cleveland, Ohio when we arrived, but we took a couple minutes to admire the rock hall architecture, and of course, took a couple pictures at the Long Live Rock sign.


We entered the museum and were immediately greeted by an overwhelming amount of rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia. We decided to start on the lower level and make our way through rock ‘n’ roll history. Many of the exhibits had been there since the museum opened, but this was not a disappointment at all, especially for B who had not ever been there before.


It’s pretty amazing to be able to see the guitars and apparel worn by classic artists like Elvis, Buddy Holly, and instruments played by Prince, Johnny Cash, and Jimmy Page. There was also a really neat Cleveland rocks exhibit with local music history – something that definitely has extra meaning to somebody from the mistake on the lake.


The current special exhibit was revolutionary women in music. Bee was excited to check out some of the costumes and equipment from many of the women from the 70s to today.


We also took a minute to go into one of the jam rooms where Beulah practiced her best bass face while slapping the strings. Check out those snakeskin boots.

We absolutely recommend going to the museum if you’re ever in town, or if you’re lucky enough catch one of the live concerts often held there or even the induction ceremony for the next year‘s class!

The Big Texan Steak Ranch – Amarillo, Texas

Written by Kyle

I have been to The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas a few times over the years, but recently on the way back from South Carolina the timing lined up and I was able to stop not only for a steak dinner, but to stay the night!

I was planning my stop for the night and looked for a hotel near the restaurant, and to my suprise the Big Texan Motel came up! It was very reasonable, and only a walk across the parking lot from the rooms to the steakhouse. I arrived in Amarillo and checked in and headed to my digs for the night. The room was clean and decorated in what I can only assume was “Big Texan” style. 

I decided to clean up and head over to grab some dinner, with a quick stop to pet the goats who were hanging out at the Horse Hotel!

I was seated near two sisters on their way cross country via Route 66. I did not feel prepared so I skipped the 72oz “Free” steak and decided to just get a 12oz steak and some fried pickles.

Dinner was good and fast, and I took a spin around the gift shop, past the shooting galleys, had my fortune read, and headed to the bar for a nightcap.

It had been a long day of driving so I decided to call it a night. The bed was comfortable, and once I tuned out the I-40 freeway noise I fell right asleep. This was a reasonable and convenient stop, but I suppose if I ever stay again I may need to try the 72oz steak challenge!

Mesa Verde National Park – Montezuma County, CO

Written by Kyle

A couple weeks ago we had planned to go to visit Mesa Verde National Park in Southwest Colorado. At that time we were hoping the government shutdown would be over, but at the time I am writing this it is still dragging on. We were not sure what to expect but as we already made arrangements for the trip and booked a hotel, we hit the road as planned.

The drive from Creede, CO to the park was beautiful weather and the Pagosa Springs side of Wolf Creek Pass was still showing fall colors. We even spotted a few of our bighorn neighbors on the drive out.

We grabbed some lunch in Cortez (Delicious, but insane portion sizes Loungin’ Lizard!) and headed to the park entrance. We were surprised to find there was a park ranger manning the gate, they were not collecting entrance fees or checking park passes, and he informed us most of the roads in the park were closed except the main route. All the museums, visitor centers, and guided tours of the cliff dwellings were shut down, however you could still visit the Spruce Tree House.

We headed into the park and enjoyed the beautiful, traffic free drive, and made our way to the Spruce Tree House. We arrived and were happy to find the restrooms were still open and clean, and there was a park ranger present. Mesa Verde is full of petroglyphs and archeological sites, so it was good to see there was someone watching over them. We have definitely seen horror stories of people causing damage or running free at other national parks during the shutdown.

The view of Spruce Tree House was pretty amazing, especially knowing this is one of the smaller existing cliff dwellings in the park. We headed out of the park, glad to have seen what we could, and we definitely want to visit again when the full park is open and guided tours to the dwellings are available. We thanked the lone ranger for looking over the park and headed home.

Ray Wylie Hubbard Live in Red River, New Mexico

Written by Kyle

When I saw Ray Wylie Hubbard was playing over my birthday weekend back in August, we decided to take a little wiggle down to Red River, New Mexico. We’d never been there before, so we weren’t exactly sure what to expect, so we jumped on the bikes and headed out!

Our trip started smoothly with clear weather, and we stopped at the Wagon Wheel Saloon in La Jara, CO for lunch. We’ve driven and ridden past this place a bunch of times, and it always seems to be full so we gave it a shot. It did not disappoint, it definitely seemed like more of a local restaurant and had good food. Guess we went just in time, evidently the restaurant is now permanently closed!?!?!

As we were nearing New Mexico, we saw thunderstorms on the horizon.

We got thoroughly soaked and cold, but luckily rode out of it and into the sun as we headed towards Taos. As we got closer to Red River, the terrain became more mountainous again and the weather began to get a bit colder and we caught a bit more rain. The last 10 miles or so of twisty mountain roads was pretty wet, but luckily nothing we have not encountered before. For the record we did have rain gear with us, but decided not to put it on both times….

We arrived at our hotel, cleaned up, and headed into town for dinner. We decided to grab a little Mexican and saw the real life Hank Hill having dinner as well.

We walked over to the Mother Lode Saloon, which was taking part in the yearly 8750 Festival, a celebration of music and barbecue. Although there were some other great bands this weekend, we specifically came in for this one event which was held independent of the main festival. I’ve loved Ray Wylie Hubbard for a long time and finally got a chance to see him live. No better excuse for a road trip right?

His first song or two started a little shaky, but his voice just got stronger and better as the show went on. He played the best of the best out of his large catalog, told stories, and played for about a hour and a half ending with a drunken singalong of Up Against The Wall, Redneck Mother…I was not disappointed!

After the show we headed across the street to the Bull O’ The Woods Saloon (in operation since 1939!) to shoot a little pool.


The next morning, on my actual birthday, we hit the road and passed through Taos and into Carson National Forest. We’ve ridden this stretch before, but on this particular day, there was almost no traffic and we were just able to really enjoy the roads and clear warm weather.

We headed up past Chimney Rock National Monument and into Pagosa Springs.

We decided to end the trip with a stop at Rachel’s Keep On Keepin Onfor some delicious sliders and mac ‘n’ cheese before heading up the valley towards home.


A fun trip to another little mountain town, good food, great music, and open roads. What more can you ask for?

Phoenix Park Waterfall – Creede, Colorado

Written by Kyle

Bee and I decided to head up to check out Phoenix Park Waterfall, only of the many waterfalls in the Creede, CO area, but one we had not yet visited. We did a quick map download on AllTrails and headed towards Willow Creek.

We read that it was about 2.5 miles to the falls from the trail head, but that a 4×4 could drive to 2/3 mi from the falls….so we aired our tires down and hit the trail!

It started out a bit rocky and bumpy but about halfway in definitely became a bit more technical! We took our time on the trail and passed a few side-by-sides headed out as well as some hikers sharing the road. We didn’t have any real issues but I am glad I had skid plates in a few of the more narrow rocky areas on the trail! After a water crossing we came to the trails end and caught up with a cool old Toyota FJ. 

We started hiking and caught glimpses of the falls, and after an easy hike we were standing at the base of the falls and treated to a cool mist.

It was starting to cloud up and we knew some afternoon rain was coming in, so we headed back to the runner and started making our way back towards town. All in all a fun few hour trip and we crossed the last waterfall in the area we had not been to off the list!

A Mushroom Foray in South Fork, Colorado

Written by Bee

I visited the South Fork Colorado Visitors Center last week and joined up with a mushroom foray group. We met at 8:00 a.m. and went over the game plan for the day. The group leader let us know where we going and what we were hoping to find. We were going to visit three locations, so we all got in our cars and followed the leader to our first location, Big Meadows Reservoir. We pulled over to the side of the road and fanned out into the forest. When anyone found a mushroom we would call out so those in the vicinity could check out the finds.

We learned a little bit of the anatomy of mushrooms and the different types of caps and stems and how they released their spores. We also learned how to gather ethically by making sure to leave some behind and not just scoop up all the mushrooms and clear out the patch.

The second location was off of Park Creek Road. I had a little less luck here and ended up peeling off from the group at this point. The third location was going to be in Del Norte and instead of following them, I headed back home to Creede.

I wanted to take the class to get tips on gathering, where and when to find certain species and most important of all, which ones are safe to eat! There are many types of mushrooms and many look alike so the safest bet if you’re unsure is not to eat them. I can now go confidently in to the forest and harvest Oyster Mushrooms and Chanterelles for sure, I found a patch on a hike here in Creede last year and I want to go back and see if I can find them again.

They offer a few classes through the summer, next up is an herb gathering class and you can find info through the South Fork Visitor Centers Facebook page. This class was free and they had mushroom hunting guides for sale and many other maps and info available. I live here year round so I never thought of myself as a visitor and had never thought of going in to the visitors center! Lots of info, friendly folks 10/10 would recommend.

24 Hours in Rocky Mountain National Park

Written by Kyle

After seeing Charley Crockett at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado, we hit the road early the next morning and headed up towards the East entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes, Colorado

Originally this trip had been planned to be a motorcycle trip, so originally we actually didn’t have much of a plan other than riding through the park. Because of the weather necessitating a drive, we brought our hiking boots and gear.  We had planned ahead and had timed entry passes (required May-October), and on the way to the park, we did a little cursory research to find some trails to hike on our way through the park. Knowing we just had the day, we wanted to be able to hike and explore a little bit in different areas and landscapes of the park.

We kept most of our hikes to only a few miles long, whether the trails were loops, or in and out trails. We were able to hike through some of the lower elevation pine forests, see beaver ponds, hike up in the tundra area where there was still was snow here and there, and were treated to the site of some elk up on a mountain top watching us go by! On the way down to the West entrance at Grand Lake we did a short hike along the Colorado river and had a picnic. (Pro Tip: There is only one restaurant in the park called the Trail Ridge Store – So unless you want to spend a long time parking and waiting in line, bring your own food in!)

All in all we hiked a total of around 8 miles throughout the day, and of course enjoyed all of the scenery driving through one of the most beautiful national parks. We decided to cap the night off with a stay in Grand Lake at the historic Grand Lake Lodge and enjoyed a delicious and well earned dinner!

I know I have written it before, but even if you don’t have time to spend days or a week in the national parks but are passing by, make the detour! You can still see what they are about and get the general lay of the land if you ever decide to go back for a longer trip!

Carson Colorado Ghost Town

Written by Kyle

A couple weeks ago Bee suggested an impromptu trip to Carson, a ghost town located outside of Lake City, Colorado. At almost 12,000 feet near the top of the Continental Divide Carson was one of the most inaccessible mining camps in Colorado. I pulled up the location on Gaia (super helpful off-line GPS maps app) and we jumped in the truck and headed over to Lake City, always a gorgeous drive. From Lake City, you drive past Lake San Cristobal and start heading along the Alpine loop. From there you take a side spur up Wager Gulch, about a 3.5 mile drive to Carson. I was aware this was an off-road situation, so at the start of the spur we aired the tires down for a more comfortable ride.

Right at the beginning of the road, we were greeted with a sign “4×4 only”. About 500 feet past the sign we found out why! This is definitely a high clearance road, and one of the rare times I’ve had to use four wheel low, many times I feel the offroad signs are overkill. 

The road was not overly technical, but you do have to pick your correct line, and because it is narrow with some tight turns, you definitely need to watch out for other traffic. We only saw a handful of side-by-side, an old C7 jeep, and a couple dirt bikes on the entire trip.

As soon as we got to Carson, we could spot the town and after a small stream crossing we were able to park right in front of the remaining structures, get out, and have a picnic lunch and explore.

All in all, it’s a very cool trip and the views from Carson are worth the drive. You could probably expect to spend about 40 minutes drive time each way from the trailhead, but again make sure you have a high clearance vehicle and four-wheel-drive! You need it in dry conditions, if there was any mud or snow this would definitely be a more challenging journey. Enjoy!