As a former tour bus driver, I can tell you that I really loved it when I got lucky and was scheduled to take a group to Mesa Verde. We'd spend the night there after a couple of tours, then visit Monument Valley on the way back to Flagstaff. Truly spectacular; I am not Native American but something in me still draws me towards this ancient lands and the people who came before.
Thanks Marc for taking us with you on these tours. It’s a bonus that your videos are not just looking at your RV, but also looking around the areas that surround it. I also enjoy your bits of history that you include. Not sure why you have one “thumbs down”....must be a troll!
This is a fantastic park to visit. I've been telling my husband for a few years now that he has to see it (he's never been there). We loved watching your video! Hoping we can go visit someday.
Grand Adventure yep! 😆 So we’re headed up towards Mt Rushmore (hoping to be there by beginning of May) so any hot spots on the way from Taos- let us know!! Thanks, Marc!!!
@@christinamcmillan6814 if you stay East of the Front Range along the most obvious route, there's basically a whole lot of grass the entire way. To hit anything interesting you'd have to duck Westward here and there into the mountains, which have a metric crap ton of snow right now.
I don't know how this episode slipped through, but I've only just gotten around to watching it. It's a great episode too. I really like the locations, but particularly the pace of the video. Reckon you've got it just right on this one.
Thank you Mark for another fantastic film. Looks a beautiful place to go and see. The train looked good a bit like the one at North Conway but stream. Thanks again Juliet and Phil
TY Juliet and Phil! The Durango & Silverton RR is one of this country's most famed heritage scenic railways, and in addition is narrow gauge rather than standard gauge. It features much more prominently in our next episode.
We've visited the Mesa Verde 3 times since our honeymoon motorcycle tour in 1983. The last time in '98 we got 'stranded' in Cortez. Although the stranding event eliminated our visit to Moab and its associated wonders, Mesa Verde was a great place to spend the 4 days with 2 young teens . My daughter was in a walking ankle cast and she trudged up the ladders without a complaint. We had to wait for our rig to be cleaned of a coating of tar and chip tar courtesy of the CO road contractors that spilled tar on the lane and then led us through it! It's an adventure we'll all remember
Unfortunately no. I stopped at a campground and called their DEP and explained. As I watched other cars with beards of tar hanging along the length of the vehicle, they told me to use soap and water. Our insurance agent sent us to a detailer and reimbursed most of the costs. The saga continued that night - the hotel lost water pressure that night due to a water main braking. It's a tale we'll talk about forever!
Another great film Marc Thankyou , we’ve just finished watching Better call soul on net flicks and Mesa Verde is one of the accounts handled by the lawyers I never knew it was a national park Thankyou for the education! But if you are in trouble best not call soul 😂😂
Hello! Love the work you have done making these videos. I found you because I am planning a southwest honeymoon. I have a fear of heights when there is no rail. I really push myself though. I hate having the fear. Do you think I would be alright touring the Cliff Palace like you did in this video? I would really want to take a tour like you advised. I would appreciate your time to let me know! Barbara from New Jersey
Hi Barbara! Cliff Palace isn't that big a deal, I think you'd be fine. It's more like stairs with railings to get down, and a ladder in a very protected crack (seen in the video) to get back up to the rim. Now, Balcony House -- no way. That one is definitely not for those with a fear of heights with big exposure. Have fun, thank you, and congratulations in advance for your pending nuptials!
Those folks led a rugged life. We have it made with our self contained RVs. Your video shows the park off well and it looks like it would be an interesting place to spend at least a few hours. My two favorite UA-cam RV travel channels are your channel and a channel called Slim Potatohead. Maybe you follow his channel. His last video had him traveling south on Colorado 550 through Ouray headed your way. You may have crossed paths but I suspect you two are about a week or so apart. It looks like your videos are two to thee weeks behind and his look to be about a week. I am thinking you made it though the San Juan area before any of the snow and caught the fall colors just right. I am looking forward to seeing the travels up the Million Dollar Highway. That is some spectacular country. As usual, I really enjoyed the video.
Thank you Bruce! Actually, I'm not familiar with Slim's channel but I'll now go check him out. From your description of the weather, I suspect that we crossed through the San Juans a bit ahead of him. For most of the summer, while we were publishing twice a week prior to Labor Day we were a week or two ahead of our videos. Now that we're back to publishing once a week, it's now about a month out. We've basically got content to take us through the rest of 2018 before I have to figure out what's next. The San Juan vid is already done and scheduled in UA-cam, and while it's long (22 minutes) I believe it's one of the best ones we've done yet. Beginning with that video I adopted a different editing technique, starting with the music to time the transitions to the measures in the song rather than adding the music at the end of the editing process. It's a much lengthier editing technique (that 22-minute video took 14 hours to edit), but I truly believe that it made a wonderful difference in the flow of the video.
I am musically challenged so choosing the right music for a scene would probably be the most difficult part for me to produce a quality UA-cam video. You must be musically inclined as you have a great selection of tunes to match the occasion. We shall see if I pick up on your changes in the next video of the San Juan range!
Hey there...enjoying your videos so much! Is it ok if I ask what kind of equipment you use to get WiFi? I’m researching now, and I’m overwhelmed by all of the info! Thank you so much and safe travels! 😀
Of course it's OK! As we're seldom in campgrounds, and also because campground WiFi is typically horrendous, we rely on three Verizon devices: my phone, Mrs. Grand Adventure's phone, and a tablet. All three are on a shared unlimited data plan. When tethering the speed gets throttled after 15 GB, but as we have three devices we have 45 GB combined tethering until the speed gets cut. And we try to do as much as possible (including uploading videos to UA-cam) using our devices to limit tethering. To improve our signal we use a cell phone booster: ua-cam.com/video/sRMMyiu1WIg/v-deo.html
Jean, that definitely rules out Balcony House, but if the mobility issues are truly minor I suspect that you'd be fine with Cliff Palace which is really not strenuous. There are two other tours besides those, but I confess that I haven't looked at those too closely.
We were there on the 4th through the 7th this month and if you take a good pair of binoculars you can see a lot of the ruins with minimal stairs or hiking. My favorite was square tower house. Thanks Mark for such great quality videos.
You'll love it, Steven! Alas, we really didn't look at campgrounds, save for the one within the Park which left us a bit wanting. We were much happier where we boondocked.
Yep, Chris, that's the one! We always link to our campsite(s) in the video description; just click "show more" on a computer or click the little downward-facing triangle on a mobile device to show the full description.
No worries. We're on Verizon and it was solid 4G LTE -- you had a clear line of sight to the tower right across the valley. We actually uploaded a 6 GB video from there.
Great highlights of Mesa Verde and Durango! We had a thunderstorm over the National Park when we visited in July this year and captured some pretty intense lightning in our vlog from the day: ua-cam.com/video/8S6_myyYH_k/v-deo.html
Just amazing thank you Marc
You're very welcome, Gary, and thank you for watching!
As a former tour bus driver, I can tell you that I really loved it when I got lucky and was scheduled to take a group to Mesa Verde. We'd spend the night there after a couple of tours, then visit Monument Valley on the way back to Flagstaff. Truly spectacular; I am not Native American but something in me still draws me towards this ancient lands and the people who came before.
We feel the same way, Thomas. It's just another kind of history, but it's largely an oral history replete with legends and metaphors.
So wonderful view.👍👍👍
Thanks Marc for taking us with you on these tours. It’s a bonus that your videos are not just looking at your RV, but also looking around the areas that surround it. I also enjoy your bits of history that you include.
Not sure why you have one “thumbs down”....must be a troll!
Thrilled to have you along as always, bud!
This is a fantastic park to visit. I've been telling my husband for a few years now that he has to see it (he's never been there). We loved watching your video! Hoping we can go visit someday.
Thank you Cheri! We're sure he'll love it too.
Awesome! Now I see what you were talking about! Bandelier was amazing but Mesa Verde looks INCREDIBLE!
Well, we'd never say "We told ya so!" but, well... we actually did. 😎
Grand Adventure yep! 😆
So we’re headed up towards Mt Rushmore (hoping to be there by beginning of May) so any hot spots on the way from Taos- let us know!! Thanks, Marc!!!
@@christinamcmillan6814 if you stay East of the Front Range along the most obvious route, there's basically a whole lot of grass the entire way. To hit anything interesting you'd have to duck Westward here and there into the mountains, which have a metric crap ton of snow right now.
I don't know how this episode slipped through, but I've only just gotten around to watching it. It's a great episode too. I really like the locations, but particularly the pace of the video. Reckon you've got it just right on this one.
Thank you so much Colin! We sincerely appreciate that.
Great episode Marc! Looking forward to seeing these in person!
Thanks Homie! There's certainly a wonder.
Such a beautiful area. Thanks
It certainly is. Thanks so much for watching!
Thank you Mark for another fantastic film. Looks a beautiful place to go and see. The train looked good a bit like the one at North Conway but stream. Thanks again Juliet and Phil
TY Juliet and Phil! The Durango & Silverton RR is one of this country's most famed heritage scenic railways, and in addition is narrow gauge rather than standard gauge. It features much more prominently in our next episode.
We've visited the Mesa Verde 3 times since our honeymoon motorcycle tour in 1983. The last time in '98 we got 'stranded' in Cortez. Although the stranding event eliminated our visit to Moab and its associated wonders, Mesa Verde was a great place to spend the 4 days with 2 young teens . My daughter was in a walking ankle cast and she trudged up the ladders without a complaint. We had to wait for our rig to be cleaned of a coating of tar and chip tar courtesy of the CO road contractors that spilled tar on the lane and then led us through it! It's an adventure we'll all remember
Oh my! That's quite a tale, I presume that they did the right thing with removing the tar?
Unfortunately no. I stopped at a campground and called their DEP and explained. As I watched other cars with beards of tar hanging along the length of the vehicle, they told me to use soap and water. Our insurance agent sent us to a detailer and reimbursed most of the costs. The saga continued that night - the hotel lost water pressure that night due to a water main braking. It's a tale we'll talk about forever!
@@davepritchard4101 😳 this sounds like the trip from hell!
Gotta ride the train it’s awesome. Also do the petroglyph trail at Mesa Verda. I believe it starts at the spruce tree house. Freaking sweet
Thanks for the tip on the petroglyph trail, Brian! As for the train, we returned this spring to ride it: ua-cam.com/video/Uw087seVq_o/v-deo.html
Very very nice, Marc
Thank you as always, Blake!
Going to the Mesa Verde today😀
Enjoy! Be sure to let us know what you think.
Super, thanks!
Thank you, Tom, and thanks for watching!
beautiful. Thanks for the great video
And thank you for the wonderful comment! We appreciate you watching.
Another great film Marc Thankyou , we’ve just finished watching Better call soul on net flicks and Mesa Verde is one of the accounts handled by the lawyers
I never knew it was a national park Thankyou for the education!
But if you are in trouble best not call soul 😂😂
LOL! Appreciate the comment as always, Gavin! Make sure to catch tomorrow's new episode, it's one of my favorites.
What a great video as always.
Hows your eye doing?
Thanks
Thank you, Mark! It seems to be doing great all things considering, I appreciate your asking.
Hello! Love the work you have done making these videos. I found you because I am planning a southwest honeymoon. I have a fear of heights when there is no rail. I really push myself though. I hate having the fear. Do you think I would be alright touring the Cliff Palace like you did in this video? I would really want to take a tour like you advised. I would appreciate your time to let me know! Barbara from New Jersey
Hi Barbara! Cliff Palace isn't that big a deal, I think you'd be fine. It's more like stairs with railings to get down, and a ladder in a very protected crack (seen in the video) to get back up to the rim. Now, Balcony House -- no way. That one is definitely not for those with a fear of heights with big exposure. Have fun, thank you, and congratulations in advance for your pending nuptials!
@@GrandAdventure Thanks Marc appreciate your reply and your boost of confidence!
Those folks led a rugged life. We have it made with our self contained RVs. Your video shows the park off well and it looks like it would be an interesting place to spend at least a few hours.
My two favorite UA-cam RV travel channels are your channel and a channel called Slim Potatohead. Maybe you follow his channel. His last video had him traveling south on Colorado 550 through Ouray headed your way. You may have crossed paths but I suspect you two are about a week or so apart. It looks like your videos are two to thee weeks behind and his look to be about a week. I am thinking you made it though the San Juan area before any of the snow and caught the fall colors just right. I am looking forward to seeing the travels up the Million Dollar Highway. That is some spectacular country.
As usual, I really enjoyed the video.
Thank you Bruce! Actually, I'm not familiar with Slim's channel but I'll now go check him out. From your description of the weather, I suspect that we crossed through the San Juans a bit ahead of him.
For most of the summer, while we were publishing twice a week prior to Labor Day we were a week or two ahead of our videos. Now that we're back to publishing once a week, it's now about a month out. We've basically got content to take us through the rest of 2018 before I have to figure out what's next. The San Juan vid is already done and scheduled in UA-cam, and while it's long (22 minutes) I believe it's one of the best ones we've done yet. Beginning with that video I adopted a different editing technique, starting with the music to time the transitions to the measures in the song rather than adding the music at the end of the editing process. It's a much lengthier editing technique (that 22-minute video took 14 hours to edit), but I truly believe that it made a wonderful difference in the flow of the video.
I am musically challenged so choosing the right music for a scene would probably be the most difficult part for me to produce a quality UA-cam video. You must be musically inclined as you have a great selection of tunes to match the occasion. We shall see if I pick up on your changes in the next video of the San Juan range!
You didn't show any interior shots of the structures. It's like Family Vacation with their visit to Grand Canyon.
LOL! Those would be very difficult to film on the fly without video lights, etc. And the tour afforded very few interior views anyway.
Hey there...enjoying your videos so much! Is it ok if I ask what kind of equipment you use to get WiFi? I’m researching now, and I’m overwhelmed by all of the info! Thank you so much and safe travels! 😀
Of course it's OK! As we're seldom in campgrounds, and also because campground WiFi is typically horrendous, we rely on three Verizon devices: my phone, Mrs. Grand Adventure's phone, and a tablet. All three are on a shared unlimited data plan. When tethering the speed gets throttled after 15 GB, but as we have three devices we have 45 GB combined tethering until the speed gets cut. And we try to do as much as possible (including uploading videos to UA-cam) using our devices to limit tethering. To improve our signal we use a cell phone booster: ua-cam.com/video/sRMMyiu1WIg/v-deo.html
Great tour. Are there any tours for us seniors that have minor mobility issues?
Jean, that definitely rules out Balcony House, but if the mobility issues are truly minor I suspect that you'd be fine with Cliff Palace which is really not strenuous. There are two other tours besides those, but I confess that I haven't looked at those too closely.
We were there on the 4th through the 7th this month and if you take a good pair of binoculars you can see a lot of the ruins with minimal stairs or hiking. My favorite was square tower house. Thanks Mark for such great quality videos.
Thank you coop!!
Thanks for the information , we are making the same trip in
June, any recommendations on campgrounds, we have a pop up .
You'll love it, Steven! Alas, we really didn't look at campgrounds, save for the one within the Park which left us a bit wanting. We were much happier where we boondocked.
Marc, my wife is in a wheelchair. Could she see any of the cliff dwellings from a distance like from a viewing area?
Absolutely! Park roads lead to numerous viewing spots along the rim. Only the tours would be off-limits.
Thanks for the reply Marc. We really look forward to your videos.
How far in from the highway did you have to go to find good spots?
Only about a half mile.
@@GrandAdventure thanks. I was there a few weeks ago, the road didn't look that friendly for an MDT and a big 5er much past that.
Is this the 316 road off the main highway? at 37.334388, -108.209962
Yep, Chris, that's the one! We always link to our campsite(s) in the video description; just click "show more" on a computer or click the little downward-facing triangle on a mobile device to show the full description.
Ok.. i'm having a little trouble finding 'show more'. Any cell service there?
No worries. We're on Verizon and it was solid 4G LTE -- you had a clear line of sight to the tower right across the valley. We actually uploaded a 6 GB video from there.
Great highlights of Mesa Verde and Durango!
We had a thunderstorm over the National Park when we visited in July this year and captured some pretty intense lightning in our vlog from the day: ua-cam.com/video/8S6_myyYH_k/v-deo.html
Fabulous, thank you Marc 👍
Thank YOU. Petra!