5th gen 4Runners in scenic locations

After 6,817 miles, India reached her turn around point on this trip at the Low Point Lighthouse in Nova Scotia, Canada. Up to now India visited 18 states, 7 presidential libraries, walked into the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, kayaked in 6 different bodies of water , including rivers, lakes and the Atlantic Ocean , got on the bicycle 3 times, and crossed an international border 6 times. All to turn around and repeat a similar journey of taking the long road home.

 

That is so friggin cool. Good for you for doing that. Is that time accurate on the top left? so 26.9 days about?

Any lessons learned? any changes you want to make from your rig? anything work really well?

 

Epic! India is a well-travelled pup!

What navigation app did you use?

 

Very cool. Safe travels sir.

 

Thanks for your encouraging words.

As to the accumulative time, closer to 37 days. My only complaint about GAIA GPS (which I have shared with them numerous times) is there is not an Auto Start/Stop option, which a number of other apps I use have. I mention this because I forget to start the recording once pause and miss recording time and the route a few times, since, I have left it recording.

As to lessons learned. For me, every trip starts out rusty as I forget where I have things and what are the steps of common task routines. It take me 2-3 days to getting into the rhythm of jumping in the vehicle, heading down the road, arriving to spending the night, rinse and repeat. Things like deploying the kayak and bicycle and then storing them when done take the longest recalling the sequence, but even simpler things done more often like making meals or showering take me a few set ups to getting into things again. Once doing those things 2-3x they all get quicker.

A few things continue to be challenging:
1. Controlling inside condensation continues to be a hit and miss but I've learned to manage it better with different configurations of air flow while sleeping.
2. Climate control (A/C or heating) and heating the shower water continues to challenge battery (800ah) management--and solar is not the solution as not willing to give up more space. On this trip, I've changed to showering around 12-1pm instead of after dinner at camp. Once showered, the drive will charge the battery bank without the water heater's draw. However, as daylight gets shorter (a personal choice to not drive once dark) it too becomes challenging to recover enough charge for heating for sleeping. In the summer, not an issue as daylight is another 3-4 hours of charging with driving.

The limited space is a challenge but I'm not willing to give up on the vehicle's small footprint and capability over a larger vehicle that will not get me where I want to go or it's stealthiness that allows me to park anywhere without notice that I'm sleeping inside. But working on a major project that may (or not) be a solution.

The water filtration system has been flawless. Its purpose is to not have to carry potable water, which adds weight and takes up significant space. I have pulled water from various sources without issues. That said, in the desert (home) random sources of water are few and far in between. On this trip, random sources of water have been plentiful.

I'm sure there are others. For now, hope that helps.

If you're not familiar with my build here is that link https://www.4runners.com/threads/4runner-converted-to-go-anywhere-rv.36487/#post-546459

 

India has been a champ on this trip and, while slowly, she's finding that the passenger seat is hers but she prefers the center console.

I haphazardly plotted the route on GAIA GPS (which is all too common for me and while I don't appreciate the locked gates I appreciate other surprises) and mostly follow that plotted route. When I want to get somewhere specifically I then use Google Maps and choose to avoid tolls, ferries, and highways or not per need. As comic relief, on this trip I visited with my 82 year old uncle who is well traveled and when I told him I use Google Maps he advised me against the choice telling me the choice could mislead me. My reply, "You are correct. However, that's what I'm looking for, the surprises." On the New Mexico BDR trip there was one particular Google Maps suggestion that had but a handful of travelers in years and quite the challenging surprise, which I appreciate.

My only dislike with GAIA GPS is that it doesn't have an Auto Start/Stop option which I have with other apps, like Map My Run and Relive. Hope that helps.

 

I appreciate the feedback! When I’m navigating my way to a place, I just use the built in Toyota navigation the majority of the time, but I always have Gaia running in the background and tracking my trip for posterity. When I’m finding a place to stop for the night I use a combination of Gaia and iOverlander. The one thing I’ve never done is make route plans in advance, at least on multi-day trips. I like playing it by ear when it comes to hotels, camping, or sleeping in the truck, because I may get tired after 350 miles or I may feel energetic at 600+, so I just never plan in advance. Haha

 

Oh yeah

 

On and off the Burr trail, near Boulder Utah. Capitol Reef Country.

 

My daughter had her wedding way out on the Burr Trail. Being the brides father, I was treated like a rock star. Must have been 70+ make shift campsites. We were out there for 3 days and nights getting things set up. Very cool vibe to the area.

Our first time there 20-ish years ago, the road wasn't paved.

 

What a great place for a camp wedding. I think I know where your site would have been.
It’s strange that the road is paved in BLM land but once you’re in the national park it reverts to dirt. There are some interesting unmaintained dirt roads to explore off the main Burr trail. And the area is not crowded like the UT national parks.

 

Stunning photos!

 

Work doesn't usually count as "scenic," but considering I took this a little after 0315 CST, it's about scenic as I could get. Full moon next to water tower for this side of town (near by my PD HQ).

 

Not strange at all. It is that way on purpose.

I have long noted this phenomenon - excellent or very good roads until you come to a National Park or National Monument Boundary. In the Park or Monument the roads are simply awful. Being retired, I travel all over Nevada/Utah/Arizona/Oregon and it is the same everywhere. I was told by a National Park Ranger that rough roads "enhance" the wilderness experience. Personally I think it is because good roads are not a priority in National Park Service budgets. And rough roads slow traffic down.

Worst paved road I have ever been on leads to Gold Butte National Monument in southern Nevada. Huge potholes, so numerous as to be unavoidable. Where it turns to dirt, this is what it looks like:

 

Camped in the desert ️

 

Nice. Reminds me of out near KOFA wilderness.

 

You eat better than I do at home!

 

If they would just stop messing around, maybe predators wouldn’t get so angry at them.

 

The local “Tacomaworld Wisconsin-Tacos, 4runners, and Occasional Land Cruiser” gang got together earlier this fall. We went on safari in the Pine Barrens of the national forest way “up nort.” Very beautiful area. There is a 4runner in a scenic place in the pic below… @Thatbassguy is way up near the front of the line.


The area is an interesting change of pace compared to the typical forestry roads we’ve tend to run on our trips on. Lots of sand on this trip. Our local guide even found us a nice hill climb.






The winds on the “savannah” are pretty intense. The day everybody packed up to go home, I went back to the barrens, found a nice tree, and just hung out for an hour and listened to the wind. Didn’t want to leave, so I spent the rest of the morning driving this beautiful area before starting on the long drive home.

 

Took a small day trip to Fort Pillow near Henning, TN yesterday. It's an old earth fort constructed by Confederate troops in June 1861-2 on a bluff overlooking the MS River.

Not much remains of the original fort, but they have a really nice museum on the premises with a lot of found artifacts from the time. Only downside of going there is you have to pass the West TN State Pen.

If you wanna read more, here's a brief history on Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Fort_Pillow

 

Besides the amazing fall colors and sharp looking Runner ( I was really close to going with white). Thanks for posting. I'm a lover and reader of history and this is the first I've heard of the Battle of Fort Pillow, at least in detail. (Pretty sure anyway.). I have both Confederate and Union ancestors and would love to see more of the places I read about but Washington State isn't the closest. LOL.

 

I've got some extra pics I'm going to attach here so you can see some the stuff that has been recovered from this battle. Obviously there is a lot of history in area due to the Civil War. If you ever get a chance to get down here, I recommend going to several places in the area Shiloh, TN, Corinth/Iuka, MS, and Vicksburg, MS. Battles of Shiloh and Corinth/Iuka all lead up to the battle of Vicksburg. Confederate defeat at Vicksburg secured the MS River for the Union to control. But I digress. Here's some extra pics you may appreciate:

 

Work can be scenic, right?

 

The 4Runner in its natural habitat

 

Scenic

 

That’s a great picture!

 

Word! (Needs a photoshop dinosaur)

 

Very nice!
Where is this?

 

So we're posting AI generated images now? Just generated this one on my phone with Google Gemini.