Road Trip June 2026 - Wyoming - Part 1

We arrived at our final destination of Five Springs Campground near Lovell, Wyoming, where Andrew likes to paraglide. I love the terrain around here with the variety of colours, the mountains and looking out onto the flatlands. 

This notch in the distant ridge is a unique feature called a superimposition. "It refers to the Bighorn River cutting directly across the apex of the Sheep Mountain Anticline...effectively slicing the mountain in two. Millions of years ago, a meandering river established its path across a flat landscape. As regional uplift pushed the massive Sheep Mountain Anticline upward from deep below, the river maintained its original course, acting like a saw cutting through the rising rock. The river carved a steep, ~2,000-foot-wide gorge directly through the center of the anticline." (Nevada Bureau of Mining and Geology)

There were a lot of cow pies in the paragliding launch area. Luckily they weren't fresh so we were able to move them fairly easily using sticks and rocks. Good use of time while we waited and hoped the wind would cooperate. It was totally the wrong direction and quite strong. 

In the meantime, there are lots of short hikes in the area to keep us occupied. Rainbow Canyon is one of my favourites. Again, I love the varied colours. 

Cottonwood Canyon is another favourite. 

With the wind forecasted to continue to be too strong and wrong direction for paragliding, we decided to take a couple days and drive around to the other end of the Big Horn mountains, a route we hadn't been before. Ten Sleep is a well known rock climbing area and with these beautiful spires so close to the road, you can see why. 

A little further along, we hiked up to a fire lookout tower where we could see some of the higher peaks in the area, including Cloud Peak at 13,000+ feet. 

It was definitely full-on lupine season. So many of these colourful flowers to be seen. 

Tie Hack Lake was a great lunch spot and the butterflies liked it too. 

Road Trip June 2026 - Washington to Wyoming

We started our annual spring road trip with a roller coaster ride on the Coho Ferry. The large ocean swells made me a little queasy. 

After stocking up on fresh groceries in Port Angeles, we headed to Kalaloch, our first campsite of the trip. We always enjoy the nature trails, walking on the beach, and a nice supper at the Creekside Inn, a short walk from the campground. 

The morning brought a bit of fog with the sun trying to shine through the trees. 

We got some nice views of Mount Rainier. It brought back memories of our climbs there many years ago. 

A bit off the main path, we stopped in Connell, WA, for coffee and always get a chuckle out of this sculpture of the animals playing cards. 

It then rained for pretty much two solid days as we headed across Montana so I don't have any photos. After a couple more nights of camping, we stopped at the historic Sacajawea Hotel in Three Forks, before heading to our final destination of Five Springs Campground near Lovell, WY. 

Travelling on the Maya Train

We spent the last 10 days of our holiday travelling to other areas of the Yucatan Peninsula on the Tren Maya (Maya Train). The train is relatively new to the Yucatan Peninsula, with construction starting in 2020 and the first section between Cancun and Campeche opening in December 2023. Additional stages gradually opened with the final section open in December 2024. The goal was to redistribute tourism away from the busy coastal area to the inland cities and archeological sites. 

Maya Train route

Maya Train Station, Cancun

The whole system is more than 1500 km so we only had time for a short section from Cancun to Campeche, stopping in Valladolid, Campeche, then back to Merida, Izamal and Cancun. We chose first class each time as the cost really wasn’t that much more than coach and we correctly thought it would be quieter. What amazed us the most was the cleanliness. On our first trip, 1 ½ hours, between Cancun and Valladolid a cleaning lady came through twice to mop the aisle. When we had something to eat on another ride, I felt bad for leaving a few crumbs on the floor! The train was also impeccably on time. 

Maya Train Station, Merida

The stations and the trains were very clean!

Because most (if not all) of the stations are new, and also very clean, they are often some distance out of the cities or towns they stopped at. But Tren Maya buses were always there and, for about 35 pesos, would take us to the central bus station and we could usually walk the few blocks to our hotel. 

In Campeche, the new rapid transit system, with numerous stops into the city (including at the airport) between the Tren Maya station and the central area, just opened in July of this year. Great use not just for travelers but for locals as well. 

Maya Train Station, Campeche

Rapid Transit between Campeche Station and the Central area of the city.

Overall, it was a great experience and we would highly recommend travelling by Tren Maya to experience the Yucatan Peninsula. 

Izamal, Mexico

 

Our last stop of the trip was the small town of Izamal, one of Mexico’s designated a “pueblos mágicos” or magical towns, where we thought we’d find quiet streets and laid-back atmosphere. Little did we know that we arrived at the start of “its traditional fair honoring the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, better known around here as the Virgin of Izamal.” We didn’t “expect lively streets, music and plenty of local spirit” along with many food and craft stalls, carnival rides, and masses of people attending church services. 

Long line ups to get into an already packed church. I wondered how many people fainted in the heat and standing-room-only area of the church!

We were thankful our hotel was located several blocks from the main square until we realized we would just be getting a different type of nightly noise. Barking dogs, horses neighing, and roosters that don’t know they’re supposed to cockle doodle do only in the morning! 

T'u'ul in Spanish means rabbit.

Izamal is known as the “City of Hills” as there are several remains of temple pyramids. We started our day early and walked until we got to the largest one, Kinich Kakmó, and climbed the stairs to the top for a great view overlooking the city. We avoided the afternoon crowds but were still dripping in sweat by the time we left there. 

Taking a break in the shade, completely soaked in sweat!

Izamal is also known as the “Yellow City” as most of its buildings in the central area are painted yellow. 

The main building is the Convento de San Antonio de Padua and, from all sides, there are interesting features to look at. The atrium is the second largest in the world behind Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City. I managed to get a look inside the cathedral in the evening, after all the main church services. We visited the church museum, slipping in between large, guided groups.

Quiet courtyard inside the church on the way to the museum.

A room on the top floor at the back of the church. We thought the area under the red arch might be for displaying a casket, with a door opening to the main part of the church for people to see it during a funeral. 

The church has interesting architecture from all sides! I love the flying buttresses.

The church was much quieter in the evening.

The Arco de Izamal looked beautiful lit up at night and there were lots of unique doorways along the yellow buildings lining the streets. 

In the afternoon, both of us a sweaty and soggy mess, we collapsed in our hotel room for a siesta and then enjoyed cooling off in the hotel pool. 

Me: Immediately flopping on the bed when we got back to our hotel room.
Andrew: Are you ok? Are you not feeling well?
Me: I'm fine! I'm just hot and sweaty and miserable!