Bucket List Bonanza

A few years back, I stumbled across a bucket with cute cards inside to create a bucket list. The cards have a place to write the activity as well as the date accomplished. Our routine is to review and add to the bucket list once a year… on New Year’s Day. I take it one step further and code the cards as his/mine/both bucket list activities. Yes, there is a difference, as I will not be skydiving!

When the bike came into our lives, the bucket list began to include national parks, as they are a big part of our motorcycle trips. To date, we have visited 21 of the 63 national parks and will add six this summer. It is a work in progress.

II found a list online that breaks national parks into “regional” categories. Alaska (8) and California (9) are listed in a category of their own due to the number in the state. The remaining are true regional categories: Northwest, Southwest, Rockies, South, Northeast, Midwest, and Islands. Clearly, I need to spend some time in Alaska, Hawaii, and the Virgin Islands, as I have none from either of those lists. I foresee adding those to our bucket list on the next New Year’s Day.

Our major accomplishment is the Southwest region (makes total sense as we are in Texas). While we have seen 12 of the 13 national parks in this category, the one missing is in Texas (smack my head!). I guess we will be taking a trip to the Guadalupe Mountains.

Our first major long-distance trip encompassed five states in eight days and included the Grand Canyon, Zion, the Great Sand Dunes, and the Petrified Forest. While I had previously been to the Grand Canyon, the experience was quite different on a motorcycle, plus we were riding with another couple (the same couple as shared in my previous article "Double Date with The Three Sisters"). To date, the Grand Canyon has been my husband’s favorite.

Grand Canyon, Arizona

Zion National Park came about due to one of my last-minute additions on a trip. I literally saw the sign and said, “We are this close, let’s go.” If you read my article “Compromising Trips,” there is no doubt that he compromised! Zion blew me away. I had never seen anything like it. It took us 3 1/2 minutes to go through a tunnel! Yes, I timed it.

Zion

Much like White Sands, the Great Dunes seem to appear out of nowhere. Our trip there was a little wet, but still an awesome experience. Riding through the Petrified Forest National Park is a bit surreal. It seems very awkwardly quiet. We did get off the bike to explore and made a little noise!

Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

We picked up another national park on our trip to Key West. Read all about that trip in my previous article, "Rain Won't Stand In Our Way...Key West or Bust." On our return home, we rode through the Everglades. It was sheer excitement for me, as I so wanted to see an alligator. Python, yes… alligator, no. Florida's Biscayne and Dry Tortugas National Park were not visited and may prove to be quite difficult on a motorcycle!

Our most recent summer ride included 12 National Parks: White Sands, Saguaro, Joshua Tree, Redwoods, Crater Lake, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Arches, Great Basin, and Mesa Verde. Whew… that was a trip. The standouts for me were Joshua Tree, Crater Lake, and Arches, as seen below.

On our first evening at Joshua Tree, we dashed out to Keys View to watch the sunset. The ride was absolutely beautiful. In my opinion, the Joshua Trees look best at sunrise or sunset. The next day, we explored Skull Rock, finally found Heart Rock (it is a bit of a hike), and the Arch (a baby version of what you would see at Arches National Park). Many reviews talk about the disappointment of Joshua Tree National Park, but you must explore the whole park, otherwise you will only see rock formations and there is so much more.

I wlll be honest, I had never heard of Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. As we rode up the mountain, the temperature dropped, and we began to see snow under the trees. We had a cabin inside the National Park, and once we checked in, we immediately headed to Crater Lake. The twists and turns up the mountain were quite enjoyable, but reaching the top and seeing Crater Lake was second to none. A large majority of the lake was still frozen, and the outer banks of the crater were lined with snow. There was so much snow on top that we were unable to ride around the rim because it was blocked off. So sad, but now we must return to have the full expereince (I am happy to return). Nevertheless, the view was breathtaking. One surprising thing was the presence of mosquitoes! Yes, it was June, but we were surrounded by snow. Mind-boggling.

Crater Lake, Oregon

Arches National Park is very well known and photographed quite a bit. It is as beautiful as any picture you have seen of the park. A fun fact shared by a park worker: Delicate Arch and Landscape Arch names were accidentally mixed up in a publication, and the names have since been referenced incorrectly. Arches is quite a bit of hiking. I love to hike so it makes sense that this park was one of my favorites.

This upcoming summer we have a trip planned to include Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier, Theodore Roosevelt, Badlands, and Wind Cave National Parks bringing our total to 27 of the 63 national parks. Bucket list, here we come!

The Blonde Backpack