I had to take my kids to Adventure Camp last week, but I only had a day to get them there. I wish I’d had a full two days, at least, so I could have made a couple of pit stops to do some fishing along the way, but that wasn’t in the cards.
At least I had a great vehicle to drive for the trip. I was testing a Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, which is Toyota’s top-end off-road package. Because this truck was built for places that lack pavement, I made sure we left Cheyenne early enough to take some detours.
On those BLM and forest roads, the Tundra TRD Pro performed as advertised. Its suspension took the sting out of even the worst bumps; it had plenty of power to claw through mud holes; and the higher clearance let it cruise right over stuff that would have been a problem with most other trucks.
Better yet, that Tundra gave us the opportunity to see some sights we wouldn’t have seen if we’d stuck to the paved roads. The boys and I found plenty of antelope, which wasn’t much of a surprise. We also saw six or seven herds of mule deer, and even some wild horses. And the wet spring left the countryside greener than I’ve seen it in a long time, so it was absolutely breathtaking.
It’s drives like this that make me glad I live in Wyoming. Sure, it would have been better if I didn’t have to drive all the way to Lander and back to Cheyenne in one day, but the scenery made the long drive worth it. And it sure didn’t hurt that I got to take such a nice truck for that glorified soccer mom errand.
Next time you have to drive across the state, take the roads less traveled. Don’t just stick to the Interstates and highways. It’ll take longer, but turn off on some county roads, or cut through on some forest roads. Especially in the spring, when it’s still green. And if you can, stop and do some fishing along the way.
