Day 1 - Southwest National Parks Adventure

9/24/2025

We are off on another adventure in our tiny Tab 400 camper. We’re heading to the Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, Arches and Canyon Lands along with stops at some state parks. The goal is to bike ride at trails along the route west.

We loaded up the camper and were on the road at 1:00 pm. Our first bike trail stop was the Maumee Pathway along the Maumee River. We parked at a trail head in Kreager Park and rode west toward Fort Wayne. The trail is paved and pretty. It follows the river and is mostly wooded. At one point we could see what remained of an old canal. As we approached Fort Wayne the trail was on top of a levy that separated the river from neighborhoods. The bike trail turned into city sidewalks near downtown so we decided it was time to turn back. It was a 11.6 mile ride total. Only downfall was that it was a little smelly in spots. We were glad we were riding rather than walking.

We decided to have dinner in downtown Fort Wayne so we could explore what we missed on our bikes. The hamburgers at The Desk restaurant were good. It has outside seating right on the river. After dinner we walked over a pedestrian bridge to the Old Fort. Very neat, and appropriate that there’s an old fort in Fort Wayne.

We stopped for the night at the Harrah Hoosier Park/Casino/Race Track. Basically a huge empty parking lot by a big casino. We are situated about 1/2 mile from the casino next to a corn field. I feel like I’m in a Stephen King movie. Good Night!!!