Last hurrah

[Jhalko]

Let me know when you hit Colorado brother. Breakfast (or lunch) is on me.

If you guys plan something loop me in, if schedule allows I'd be interested.

Glad you got to drive on the parkway, I find it relaxing, fall of course is best but crowded as well.

 

[darrylj]

Some thoughts on your itinerary:

Fort Sumpter / Charleston: Charleston is gorgeous. I've heard Ft. Sumpter can be disappointing given the time it takes to ferry there and back.

Devil's Tower: worth it. It does have an unworldly feel to it.

Mount Rushmore: yes, but you may have great difficulty finding available lodging near Rapid City. They're building more hotels as fast as they can. Consider driving the Spearfish Canyon drive between Spearfish and Sturgis, it's amazing.

Yellowstone: Don't miss the Buffalo Bill firearm museum in Cody, WY. We stayed overnight then headed straight to Yellowstone and I found out later some of the guns they have there, and was sad. Yellowstone is big and it gets a hell of a lot bigger when a) there's little cell phone reception to book a hotel and all the park hotels are full, b) every exit road is clogged with tourists and RVs going 20 mph all day when they aren't stopped for an hour to point at bear cubs. I spent the afternoon terrified I wouldn't get out before dark. If it's open, the NE exit to Red Lodge, MT goes over the Beartooth Pass, the nation's most scenic and one of themost pants-filling-terrifying-in-rain-and-fog mountain pass you'll find (11,000 feet, frozen lakes and 10ft snowbanks in June. The fog was so thick we navigated by zooming in the GPS so we'd know which way to turn).

Crossing the Sheridan mountains in WY was awesome.

 

[3wbdriver]

Great to meet you and good luck with your travels. Looks like I have 8 pages to catch up on!

Thank you for taking the time Todd. The extra weight doesn't seem to be affecting handling at all. Just a small clunk every now and then over the hard bumps, and there were plenty of those along I-70. I'll need to rethink how to stow everything when I start trailing out west.

For those who don't know, I scored a full set of "slightly used" Budbuilt skid plates from Todd this morning. The stars just happened to fall in all the right places and it didn't even add 2 hours to my overall trip. This was't even in the plan for this trip and I won't get them installed until I'm home. But the price was right! And wife will have 3 more weeks to cool down after I told her about that little added expense...... :hug:

Anywho, I drove from Bedford, Pa to Dayton, Ohio today with a side trip to the Flight 93 Memorial. That is a large park and they are still building most of it. But the signage they had up was very compelling and it was an emotional visit. I'm glad I had the next 100 or so miles to drive through some beautiful scenery to lift my spirits after the visit. I forgot how pretty central Pennsylvania is even without leaves on the trees.







Tomorrow morning is the USAF Museum at Wright - Patterson AFB. Then on to Springfield, Ill for the night. After that will be a long couple of days driving through Des Moines, and up to Mount Rushmore. I'm going to have to stop somewhere during that time and do some laundry. I hope I can find an accommodating truck stop for that. I'll make a real effort to post some pictures up tomorrow night.

I did 3 states today (Pa, WV, OH). Yes WV was only about 8 miles wide at that point but it counts as a state!!! :becky:

 

[1engineer]

Thank you for taking the time Todd. The extra weight doesn't seem to be affecting handling at all. Just a small clunk every now and then over the hard bumps, and there were plenty of those along I-70. I'll need to rethink how to stow everything when I start trailing out west.

For those who don't know, I scored a full set of "slightly used" Budbuilt skid plates from Todd this morning. The stars just happened to fall in all the right places and it didn't even add 2 hours to my overall trip. This was't even in the plan for this trip and I won't get them installed until I'm home. But the price was right! And wife will have 3 more weeks to cool down after I told her about that little added expense...... :hug:

Anywho, I drove from Bedford, Pa to Dayton, Ohio today with a side trip to the Flight 93 Memorial. That is a large park and they are still building most of it. But the signage they had up was very compelling and it was an emotional visit. I'm glad I had the next 100 or so miles to drive through some beautiful scenery to lift my spirits after the visit. I forgot how pretty central Pennsylvania is even without leaves on the trees.

I got several pictures today, but I'm just not in the mood to upload them tonight. I'll try to get some done tomorrow from Illinois. Tomorrow morning is the USAF Museum at Wright - Patterson AFB. Then on to Springfield, Ill for the night. After that will be a long couple of days driving through Des Moines, and up to Mount Rushmore. I'm going to have to stop somewhere during that time and do some laundry. I hope I can find an accommodating truck stop for that. I'll make a real effort to post some pictures up tomorrow night.

I did 3 states today (Pa, WV, OH). Yes WV was only about 8 miles wide at that point but it counts as a state!!! :becky:

Nobody counts us as a state.
Love this thread man. Keep posting!

 

[3wbdriver]

Some thoughts on your itinerary:

Fort Sumpter / Charleston: Charleston is gorgeous. I've heard Ft. Sumpter can be disappointing given the time it takes to ferry there and back.

Devil's Tower: worth it. It does have an unworldly feel to it.

Mount Rushmore: yes, but you may have great difficulty finding available lodging near Rapid City. They're building more hotels as fast as they can. Consider driving the Spearfish Canyon drive between Spearfish and Sturgis, it's amazing.

Yellowstone: Don't miss the Buffalo Bill firearm museum in Cody, WY. We stayed overnight then headed straight to Yellowstone and I found out later some of the guns they have there, and was sad. Yellowstone is big and it gets a hell of a lot bigger when a) there's little cell phone reception to book a hotel and all the park hotels are full, b) every exit road is clogged with tourists and RVs going 20 mph all day when they aren't stopped for an hour to point at bear cubs. I spent the afternoon terrified I wouldn't get out before dark. If it's open, the NE exit to Red Lodge, MT goes over the Beartooth Pass, the nation's most scenic and one of themost pants-filling-terrifying-in-rain-and-fog mountain pass you'll find (11,000 feet, frozen lakes and 10ft snowbanks in June. The fog was so thick we navigated by zooming in the GPS so we'd know which way to turn).

Crossing the Sheridan mountains in WY was awesome.

Thanks for the tips. I'm sincerely hoping once I hit Mount Rushmore I will be able to camp in the parks more often than motel. I'm packed for camping, but it's frustrating how many "campgrounds" along the eastern half of the country only cater to RV's or want you to rent a cabin. And I think someone already told me Beartooth Pass will still be closed when I get there early next week.

Fort Sumter was sad in a way. But more because it was so damaged by both sides during the Civil War it lost almost 20' of its walls. And of course there is this big black concrete THING in the middle of it that was built during WWII. But that is the museum and gift shop now. There is enough to keep your interest for the 1 hour you are allowed to wander the fort. The ferry ride is about 35 minutes each way and it passes several highlights in Charleston harbor, including Fort Johnson on another island. This was the fort where the first shots were fired by the Confederates to begin the initial bombardment. And Fort Moultrie on the mainland is well worth the visit. It is in a much better state of repair because they were still using it as a coastal fortification up through WWII. It has gun emplacements representing 3 different eras.

 

[3wbdriver]

If you guys plan something loop me in, if schedule allows I'd be interested.

Glad you got to drive on the parkway, I find it relaxing, fall of course is best but crowded as well.

Will do to both you and [MENTION=29011]Blitzkrieg[/MENTION]. But we're still 2 or 3 weeks from that leg. Do me a favor and pm your contact numbers please. I'll try to let you know 2 or 3 days in advance if I am coming that way.

 

[3wbdriver]

I'm really glad so many of you are enjoying this thread. I was half worried you would get bored with my ramblings after about a week, I'll try to keep the energy up.

Please keep checking the first post occasionally. I am updating with where I have been and trying to forecast where I expect to be every couple of days. And by all means keep making suggestions. I may not act on all of them, but I have acted on enough to make this trip even more enjoyable.

 

[wanderMT]

May need to watch weather as you get into higher elevations in the west. Spring storms can be nasty - yesterday at 3PM it was 87* and today it was 33* with snow sticking on roads at abut 4000 ft. Not a day to cross any mtns. Looks like Rushmore is getting storm tonight. Sunny and in the 60s early next week so should be beautiful sunny spring weather. Nights will be cold so hope you have good sleeping bag if planning on camping. Beartooth highway out of Red Lodge, MT and east entrance into Yellowstone west of Cody, WY are both still closed. Plains Indian and Winchester museums in Cody are worth seeing.

Drive safe.

 

[3wbdriver]

[MENTION=117129]wanderMT[/MENTION], it looks like I'll be getting to Rushmore around the 19th. I WILL try to get by and see you on the 20th. I looked up your previously posted schedule last night to make sure when you would be working. IF I decide to do the Cody museum, how big a loop does that make me need to take to get back to an open road into Yellowstone?. I'm leaving for W-P now. Will check in again tonight.

 

[NoDak]

keep the updates coming. some of us are living thru you on this trip since we probably never be able to do this ourselves anytime soon.

 

[wanderMT]

Going up to ND and coming into MT on 94 I am about 45 miles out of your way and back to Billings would add about 70 miles total. If decide to see me, you could head south into WY, over the Bighorn Mtns. to Cody and north to pickup 90 at Laurel. That big loop from 94 at Custer,MT to Laurel,MT is about 320 miles.

A more direct route, (although it would mean missing ND) would be to enter MT from Rapid City via Belle Fourshe and highway 212.

 

[jfdallas]

You will get chills from the Murrah memorial in OKC. I lived in Edmond (just north of OKC) when that happened in 1995...I was in Moore at work that morning, about 20 miles south of downtown. We felt the explosion there...it was eerie and we first thought it was a gas leak explosion. It was chaos...the whole downtown area was basically shut down for weeks...I get a queasy feeling just thinking back about all the death, destruction, fear and all the little ones in that daycare. Hard to believe that Sunday is the 20th anniversary of that horrible event. So many memories and sad thoughts...but the memorial is top notch and was done in a very classy and respectful manner.

I've been in Dallas since 2002 but will never forget that day in OKC as long as I live. Enjoy your trip and keep up the postings.

 

[3wbdriver]

No posts tonight. Visiting an uncle in Illinois. Long post tomorrow from somewhere south of Sioux Falls.

 

[NoDak]

heads up.

Interstate 80 between Cheyenne and Laramie is expected to remain closed into tonight and possibly through the early morning hours of tomorrow (April 17th) as the investigation and cleanup continues through the evening. Weather will hold a strong determining factor for the investigators and cleanup crews as to when I 80 will be ready to reopen. Again, we ask motorists at the road closed gates in Cheyenne and Laramie to please be patient and check for updates at WYDOT Travel Information Service (Laramie) or by calling 1-888-WYO-ROAD (1-888-996-7623)

UPDATE 3:45PM: The latest update from Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. CRMC has treated 11 patients who have been transported from the accident on Interstate 80. A bus transporting up to 11 additional people is also en route to Cheyenne Regional's emergency department. The hospital is also expecting the arrival of a bus transporting up to 20 people who were stranded on the interstate but who are not injured. At this time, we don't have information on patient conditions. The American Red Cross is sending volunteers to the hospital to help those in need of shelter, food and other assistance. An American Red Cross phone number that community members can call will be set up and available within the next 30 to 40 minutes.

Three major vehicle pileups near mile post 342 on Interstate 80 on both the east and westbound sides currently have I 80 closed between Cheyenne and Laramie. Blizzard conditions were present at the time of the crashes that involved approximately 40 - 50 commercial vehicles and 20 passengers vehicles between the three pileups.

Multiple agencies from two counties have responded to assist in tending to the injured and assisting Patrol with the investigations. No fatalities have been reported at the time of this release but multiple injuries have been confirmed.

Cheyenne Regional Medical Center has also activated its Incident Command Center in response to this multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 80.
The initial event began around 11:22 a.m. Vehicles not involved in the crashes are being cleared from the crash scene at this time. I 80 will remain closed for an undetermined amount of time as WHP Crash Team Members are responding to help with the investigation.

We ask that motorists waiting at the road closed gates in Cheyenne and Laramie be patient and check WYDOT Travel Information Service (Laramie) for updates when the interstate will reopen.

 

[hangman]

Keep the posts and pics coming--what a great trip. Be careful--as mentioned above, there's some really unsettled weather today in the middle of the country.

 

[darrylj]

Thanks for the tips. I'm sincerely hoping once I hit Mount Rushmore I will be able to camp in the parks more often than motel. I'm packed for camping, but it's frustrating how many "campgrounds" along the eastern half of the country only cater to RV's or want you to rent a cabin.

Here's where we ended up for Rushmore, very affordable and it was far better than the motel we'd been looking for. The cabins in the hills (and the town of Keystone) had a great gold miner / mountain man / fur trapper feel that was like time travel. I'd step outside the cabin and expect to see a burro with saddle bags rather than a car.

Holy Smoke Resort - Home
Edit: Looks like they don't open till mid May, so that may not work for you.

Have fun and good luck. "We'll know where we're going when we get there" was a more exciting and unforgettable style of vacation travel than I'd expected. "What do you mean there's no available hotel rooms in Bismarck? It's ND, for god's sake! Oh yeah, Bakken. Forgot about that."

 

[3wbdriver]

heads up.

Thank you for that. Some folks I met tonight in Des Moines brought me a printed article of that crash. I'm bedding down in west Des Moines for tonight, then on up to Mitchell, SD via Sioux Falls tomorrow. Then hopefully I can make the last leg into Rushmore on Sunday. Gotta check on rooms in Mitchell, then gather my thoughts, and I'll get a post up about the past 3 days.

 

[4FL]

Do not forge to visit the corn palace! And 1880's town is pretty cool.

 

[3wbdriver]

It’s been a whirlwind 3 days from Virginia to Iowa. Here are some highlights and teasers.

I spent Thursday morning touring the "base" side of the runway displays at Wright-Patterson AFB. I had been unable to see this side during an earlier trip in 2011. They keep the 4 Presidential planes that flew everyone from Truman up through the Clintons on this side, as well as a hangar housing a bunch of X planes from when it was a research and flight test center.

This interesting little bugger was made by Piper Aircraft to be used in a low intensity ground attack role. It was obviously inspired by the P-51, but is a completely different turboprop driven design. Sadly it never went into production.


XP-75A. This was one of the fastest piston engine driven aircraft we ever produced. Again, it didn't go far beyond the prototype stage, but it was very interesting to look at the engine/driveshaft layout (mid fuselage).


XB-70 Valkyrie Bomber. This was my reason for coming back. The only survivor of 2 prototypes built, and one of the most graceful looking planes ever to fly. It dominated the hangar, but I could not get a single shot that could capture the entire plane.


This very well done display is sitting by the main gate for Wright - Patterson AFB. It appears to have been done in bronze, but I didn't get close enough to confirm. In the lower right of the picture you can see a new hangar being erected on the museum side of the runway. When this is completed all of the Presidential and X aircraft will be relocated there.


I met 4 friends from a different forum in 3 different cities Wednesday and Thursday and finished the day fuller than I have since beginning the trip. And finished yesterday at my uncle's house where I stayed the night in Springfield, Ill.

I was driving on a state highway (34) between Hannibal Mo, and Des Moine today when I saw a sign go by for the "American Gothic House". Being the modern techno rube that I am I was thinking about the tv series but I was intrigued. Imagine my surprise when I rolled up to this quaint little house in Eldon, Ia, and saw the sign in front! Still pretty cool to find stuff like this on my travels.




I passed back over the Mississippi River westbound today, 11 days almost to the minute after I crossed over it eastbound last week at the start of the trip. In that time I have traversed 16 states so far. La, Ms, Ala, Fla, Ga, SC, NC, Va, Md (yes, I still had to cross the western end of it), WV, Pa, Oh, Ind, Ill, Mo, and now in Ia, The trip has racked up the following statistics so far.

1. 3244 miles traveled in 11 days.
2. Avg mpg 18.4 (reset at beginning of trip), high of 21.3 in se Georgia, low of 15.0 in the Md, WV, Pa mountains. I’m trying to average 65mph on the interstates, and staying within about 3mph of the posted limit on any other open highways. I’ve had a couple of short 69mph runs to make up a little time but otherwise I’m trying to stay with that plan. This may go out the window when I start the western swing.
3. At 25,000 miles my General Grabber AT2’s are finally beginning to exhibit some medium road noise.
4. I’m still waking up each day wondering what I will get to see!
5. I really miss the personal pillows I forgot to pack.
6. I forgot my beard trimmer.
7. Can you feel the aura of enthusiasm just oozing off that face? :nerd:


Tomorrow I'm on to Mitchell, SD where it was just recommended that I see the Corn Palace!

 

[Antman]

This thread is just awesome!