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User Content => Road Trips => Topic started by: Roadgeekteen on October 05, 2017, 10:54:05 AM

Title: 2018 road trips
Post by: Roadgeekteen on October 05, 2017, 10:54:05 AM
What do you guys have planned? I might be flying and driving to the grand canyon in april.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: pumpkineater2 on October 06, 2017, 03:03:39 AM
I have this planned for July:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4508/37268372410_c02ee7749f_c.jpg)

Planned stops/ sights to see:
-Hoover Dam
-Las vegas
-Zion Natl. Park
-Arches Natl. Park
-UT-128 scenic byway
-I-70 through Glenwood Canyon (Duh)
-Rocky Mountain Natl. park
-Royal gorge bridge
-Albuquerque
-White sands Natl. monument
-possibly El Paso
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Roadgeekteen on October 06, 2017, 11:27:17 AM
I have this planned for July:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4508/37268372410_c02ee7749f_c.jpg)

Planned stops/ sights to see:
-Hoover Dam
-Las vegas
-Zion Natl. Park
-Arches Natl. Park
-UT-128 scenic byway
-I-70 through Glenwood Canyon (Duh)
-Rocky Mountain Natl. park
-Royal gorge bridge
-Albuquerque
-White sands Natl. monument
-possibly El Paso
Looks like a very fun trip.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: cl94 on October 06, 2017, 12:31:13 PM
I'm planning a cross-country trip next August. Get down to Indianapolis some way, then I-70 > I-15 > I-10 > I-5 > I-90. Stopping at a few state high points along the way, visiting several national parks, and finally grabbing clinches of 70 and 90.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: hbelkins on October 06, 2017, 02:41:04 PM
For me, it depends on when and where meets are scheduled. I might try to take a non-meet-related journey out to finally visit North Dakota, because by then I should be recovered from my "was this ever boring" jaunt through Illinois that I took a couple of months ago. I might be up for another trip along I-74 and I-39 by then.  :-D
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Takumi on October 07, 2017, 12:50:05 PM
Tail of the Dragon in August.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Roadgeekteen on October 08, 2017, 08:25:21 PM
For me, it depends on when and where meets are scheduled. I might try to take a non-meet-related journey out to finally visit North Dakota, because by then I should be recovered from my "was this ever boring" jaunt through Illinois that I took a couple of months ago. I might be up for another trip along I-74 and I-39 by then.  :-D
Glad you are in a better money situation now.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: D-Dey65 on November 30, 2017, 11:28:57 PM
Another trip back to the New York Tri-State area for the Summer, probably June.


As expected, it will involve another Wikipedia photography crusade, with visits to relatives, and friends of the family.





Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: US 41 on December 02, 2017, 09:53:15 AM
So far this has been discussed, but nothing has been set in stone yet.

Spring- Key West with my mom.

Summer- Williston, ND for a family reunion with my dad. I will go to Saskatchewan and Manitoba if this happens.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: US 89 on December 02, 2017, 10:22:17 AM
I have this planned for July:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4508/37268372410_c02ee7749f_c.jpg)

Planned stops/ sights to see:
-Hoover Dam
-Las vegas
-Zion Natl. Park
-Arches Natl. Park
-UT-128 scenic byway
-I-70 through Glenwood Canyon (Duh)
-Rocky Mountain Natl. park
-Royal gorge bridge
-Albuquerque
-White sands Natl. monument
-possibly El Paso

If you have some extra time when going through the St. George, UT area, I would recommend Snow Canyon State Park.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: paulthemapguy on December 10, 2017, 09:31:50 PM
My girl and I are most likely going on a trip in April or May.  We're trying to tackle all the National Parks.  This trip will take us to Great Smoky Mountains, Congaree in SC, and the three in south Florida.  In summary, this is essentially a trip to the Florida Keys and back.

What do you guys have planned? I might be flying and driving to the grand canyon in april.

Where would you fly to?  My gf and I did this last April, what a coincidence!  We flew to Las Vegas, and visited Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, and Petrified Forest before stopping at the south rim.  The south rim of the Grand Canyon is much more fleshed-out with amenities, and be advised that the north rim doesn't open until mid-May each year.

I have this planned for July:

Planned stops/ sights to see:
-Hoover Dam
-Las vegas
-Zion Natl. Park
-Arches Natl. Park
etc.

If you go to Arches, I highly recommend the Tapestry Arch all the way in the back of the park.  It's a mile or so to hike to it, but it's worth it.  Everyone crowds around the arches you can drive to, like the Delicate Arch featured on the Utah license plates.  So the Tapestry Arch is far less crowded--plus the hike is fun and includes two other overlooked arches, one of which you hike straight through.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: epzik8 on December 14, 2017, 05:55:03 PM
I'm going to Raleigh, North Carolina and back for the day. I also have a NASCAR-themed trip where I'll stop in Martinsville, Virginia, then Charlotte, North Carolina, and finally in Darlington, South Carolina, and then I'll make a bonus stop to see my grandmother in the Myrtle Beach area.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: kphoger on December 14, 2017, 05:58:10 PM
We had toyed with the idea of driving to Anaheim (CA) next summer, but we've nixed the idea.  At this time, we have no road trip planned except our usual mission trip to México.  Chicago is a possibility, but it's a remote possibility.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: doorknob60 on December 28, 2017, 11:56:41 AM
Got this one probably planned for late April:

(http://i.imgur.com/w79qFpz.png)

Primary purpose is a convention in Calgary, but I figured I might as well route along some scenic routes along the way (original plan was to go through Great Falls both ways, but this is more fun and actually less miles). Plan is one night in Cranbrook, 3 nights in Calgary, and 1 night in Great Falls. Won't really have time to stop and sightsee inside the parks (I'd like to do that another time though), but it should be a scenic drive, at least in the front half (the way back we'll just want to gun it through the easy roads and get back quickly).
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: 1995hoo on December 28, 2017, 01:18:15 PM
We’ve kicked around the idea of a golf trip to New Brunswick and PEI, but it’s far from certain.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: HazMatt on December 28, 2017, 03:28:49 PM
Planning on a trip to Florida (never been).  Hitting up Charleston -> Savannah -> Jacksonville -> Tampa.  On the way back I plan on clinching I-85 and visiting some extended family near Atlanta.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: JMoses24 on December 28, 2017, 11:22:30 PM
Multiple trips from OKC to Cincinnati to visit family. If I can swing it later in the year, Atlanta is a possibility. Otherwise, I've got nothing planned. Wherever big storms and tornadoes pop, I'll likely be there.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: cl94 on December 29, 2017, 02:20:40 PM
I have 2 big and 2 medium trips planned for 2018 so far:

Early January (medium): to DC for TRB. Main purpose is the TRB Annual Meeting, so only a short portion of the trip will be roads. Pretty direct route down (though I plan to clinch NJ I-295 and a couple things in MD), but heading back, I'll be doing a lot of detouring to clinch in the Baltimore area and Delmarva. Visiting a couple museums in Baltimore and I should be able to finish Maryland's Interstates (only missing a few things right now). May do some more foot-clinching in DC proper if weather cooperates. I actually have a decent amount of DC's US routes clinched on foot right now.

Spring Break (March, big): Shreveport for the meet. Ton of new mileage here and I'll be combining this with one of my other passions (hiking), as I'll be visiting 7 state high points on the way down and back. 5 new states planned (MS, AR, OK, TX, FL) and I intend to clinch US 13 on the way home, including my first trip over the CBBT.

Late April (medium): Central PA for the meet. Will be taking a circuitous route out so I can visit the 5 PA counties I'm missing, will probably spend the day after the meet hiking at Ricketts Glen if weather cooperates.

August (big): cross-country trip. It will be my first time visiting MO, KS, CO, UT, AZ, NV, CA, OR, WA, ID, MT, WY, SD and I will clinch I-70 and I-90, along with California SR 1 north of San Francisco and some of the fun roads around Zion, Rainier, and Glacier NPs and in the Black Hills. Ton of hiking and I plan to visit the KS, SD, and IA high points
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: kphoger on December 29, 2017, 02:30:22 PM
I plan to visit the KS ... high point

Wahoo!!!
[/sarcasm]
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: cl94 on December 29, 2017, 02:33:34 PM
I plan to visit the KS ... high point

Wahoo!!!
[/sarcasm]

Yeah, it's boring, I know. But I'm a highpointer, and part of highpointing is visiting those boring flatland ones. Has to be more interesting than a couple of the flatland county ones in New York.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: kphoger on December 29, 2017, 02:37:41 PM
I plan to visit the KS ... high point

Wahoo!!!
[/sarcasm]

Yeah, it's boring, I know. But I'm a highpointer, and part of highpointing is visiting those boring flatland ones. Has to be more interesting than a couple of the flatland county ones in New York.

I just read some of the Google reviews of Kansas' high point.  So many of them are sarcastic, warning people about altitude sickness and such.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: corco on December 29, 2017, 03:08:12 PM
The Kansas highpoint is badass - highly underrated. I wouldn't make a trip out of just going there, but if it's on the way within a couple hour detour, it's a worthwhile trip, if only because it contributes a little bit of interest and provides a reason to get off the interstate and out of the car in what is otherwise a ridiculously flat and abandoned part of the country.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: kphoger on December 29, 2017, 03:26:29 PM
abandoned part of the country.

Hey!  That's where I grew up! (https://goo.gl/maps/prGXW7cHY3R2)
 :sleep:  :nod:
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: corco on December 29, 2017, 03:30:01 PM
abandoned part of the country.

Hey!  That's where I grew up! (https://goo.gl/maps/prGXW7cHY3R2)
 :sleep:  :nod:

And now you don't live there!
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: kphoger on December 29, 2017, 03:34:41 PM
abandoned part of the country.

Hey!  That's where I grew up! (https://goo.gl/maps/prGXW7cHY3R2)
 :sleep:  :nod:

And now you don't live there!

Touché.



August (big): cross-country trip. It will be my first time visiting MO, KS, CO, UT, AZ, NV, CA, OR, WA, ID, MT, WY, SD ... Ton of hiking

What sort of high-elevation hiking have you done?  I-70 has some excellent out-and-back hiking opportunities in the Colorado Rockies, accessible from rest area parking lots.  But the best of them are the most strenuous.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Marf on December 29, 2017, 06:22:38 PM
Is this like the "2018 Roadmeets" thread?
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: kphoger on December 29, 2017, 07:37:50 PM
no
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Hurricane Rex on December 30, 2017, 04:47:53 AM
I actually might be able to do the great Washington traverse in June/July. Highly unlikely though due to my upcoming college carrer and my parents likely not being able to afford it.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: 1995hoo on December 30, 2017, 09:45:34 AM
Is this like the "2018 Roadmeets" thread?

No. Someone’s roadtrip will usually have nothing to do with a roadmeet. Personal examples: I’ve never attended a roadmeet, but this year I had three roadtrips, one a 2499-mile drive focused on a business meeting my wife attended near St. Louis (driving instead of flying allowed us to visit multiple friends on the way home) and the other two were trips to Florida to visit relatives.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: US71 on December 30, 2017, 10:26:44 AM
What do you guys have planned? I might be flying and driving to the grand canyon in april.
Nothing set in stone, per se, but may explore the old National Road in Indiana and Illinois, or old Route 66 in Oklahoma and Texas.  Also continue my research on US 71 and its connection to the Jefferson Highway.  There are some old sections of US 62 west of Lawton, OK I want to investigate as well.

I plan on attending the Shreveport Road Meet and the Jefferson Highway Conference. I may try to go to the Route 66 conference in Shamrock Texas, but I'm still on the fence about the RMCA meet. Other than that, probably lots of day trips or overnight trips to random locations.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: hbelkins on December 30, 2017, 02:10:23 PM
A thought that hit me while I'm laid up (for those who aren't friends with me on Facebook, I'm down with another gout attack in my knee and can't stand or walk) -- I think it was last year that we had a thread about tracing your state's borders by highway. I extensively researched how to do that for both inside and outside of Kentucky. I think it would be neat to start at at a certain spot -- say, the intersection of US 23 and KY 8 in northeastern Kentucky along the Ohio River) and trace that route inside the state, then when I arrive back at the starting point, cross the state line and do it on the other side of the border.

Then I realized how unpleasant some of that drive would be -- namely trying to get around the KY-WV-VA tripoint in the neighboring states, and just how much I don't like US 52 between Horsepen Mountain and Iaeger, or the section of VA 63 outside Haysi that's required -- and thought "maybe not."

Still, it would be fun to take GPS tracks of each route and see if anyone could tell what was being outlined just from looking at them.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: cl94 on December 30, 2017, 04:13:00 PM
A thought that hit me while I'm laid up (for those who aren't friends with me on Facebook, I'm down with another gout attack in my knee and can't stand or walk) -- I think it was last year that we had a thread about tracing your state's borders by highway. I extensively researched how to do that for both inside and outside of Kentucky. I think it would be neat to start at at a certain spot -- say, the intersection of US 23 and KY 8 in northeastern Kentucky along the Ohio River) and trace that route inside the state, then when I arrive back at the starting point, cross the state line and do it on the other side of the border.

Then I realized how unpleasant some of that drive would be -- namely trying to get around the KY-WV-VA tripoint in the neighboring states, and just how much I don't like US 52 between Horsepen Mountain and Iaeger, or the section of VA 63 outside Haysi that's required -- and thought "maybe not."

Still, it would be fun to take GPS tracks of each route and see if anyone could tell what was being outlined just from looking at them.

I have considered a similar thing for NY, either doing the closest state/US route or Interstates or just the closest through road parallel to the border. The former is MUCH easier than the latter, as long sections of NY 5, 17, 18, 22, 25A, 27, 97, and 417 are the closest thing to the border. Though in the vicinity of Elmira/Waverly, a ton of backtracking is required to avoid entering PA because of NY 17's short dip south of the border. This is the route required to avoid entering PA while staying on state highways (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/42.0836629,-76.8643913/42.0079892,-76.6281531/42.2171585,-76.5909163/42.0251747,-76.3779137/@42.0360128,-76.7776379,11z/data=!4m26!4m25!1m10!3m4!1m2!1d-76.8005265!2d42.0577131!3s0x89d015a1bafaaa95:0x7ecb6ee0a4f287bb!3m4!1m2!1d-76.7378294!2d42.0211522!3s0x89d01406e940973d:0x6e63ee6df8e08515!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-76.8004828!2d42.1832041!3s0x89d0698a6bdb9fe9:0xb57991f6b4ed84f9!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-76.4708849!2d42.034963!3s0x89d00a911d19bc41:0x908119fe6b4304cf!1m0!3e0). Another funky maneuver is required to avoid the section of NY 120A in Connecticut (and the level of funkiness depends on whether you consider the SB side of the section on the state line south of the Hutchinson/Merritt Parkways to be in New York). Regardless of how I did it, it would take a few days and probably a good 2,000 miles or so of driving. Unpleasant? Certainly, as a large amount of looping is required to get the borders of Long Island and some of the Lake Ontario peninsulas, but it would be interesting.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Roadgeekteen on December 30, 2017, 04:58:21 PM
Is this like the "2018 Roadmeets" thread?
No. This is for any road trips, the meet thread is for just roadmeets.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: vdeane on December 30, 2017, 06:24:46 PM
I'm planning on a couple of one-day clinching trips to finish up Region 9, so mostly focusing on Tioga County and western Broome County, but will also net me everything in Chemung County and dip into Tompkins County (and hopefully grab a piece of NY 12 that I've only seen at night in the daytime).  Both are weather dependent, since they're planned to take advantage of the three day weekends around Martin Luther King Day and Presidents Day.

In April I'm hoping to attend the CSVT meet, which would allow me to clinch a few things in northeastern PA.  Current plans call for this to be a weekend trip.

The week before Memorial Day is my cousin's wedding in Jacksonville, FL.  Naturally, I'm planning on driving.  I'm thinking of heading down to Key West while I'm there, and then head back further west to minimise deadheading.  Here's a VERY approximate version of the route I'm looking at. (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Latham,+NY/Key+West,+FL/Fort+Myers,+FL/Nashville,+TN/Akron,+OH/Harrisburg,+PA/Twelve+Corners,+Brighton,+NY/@36.1007501,-85.6669584,5.25z/data=!4m44!4m43!1m5!1m1!1s0x89de0dd1ddaaf189:0x21f90d817863ebcd!2m2!1d-73.760537!2d42.7477661!1m5!1m1!1s0x88d1b134ad952377:0x3fcee92f77463b5e!2m2!1d-81.7799871!2d24.5550593!1m5!1m1!1s0x88db420189a85429:0xc62908530aba258a!2m2!1d-81.8723084!2d26.640628!1m5!1m1!1s0x8864ec3213eb903d:0x7d3fb9d0a1e9daa0!2m2!1d-86.7816016!2d36.1626638!1m5!1m1!1s0x8830d7958b2efab7:0x29c96c95fd266d04!2m2!1d-81.5190053!2d41.0814447!1m5!1m1!1s0x89c8c116b8079e97:0xbb6e42c8128d46d5!2m2!1d-76.8867008!2d40.2731911!1m5!1m1!1s0x89d6b55ec4b625bd:0x506f7651c87cff77!2m2!1d-77.5655546!2d43.127007!3e0)  It runs straight into my usual trip to visit family around Memorial Day.

I don't presently have anything planned after that, and likely won't until the NY state budget is done (I'm getting worried by Cuomo's talk of the deficit).  I usually do some kind of clinching trip on Black Friday, and the July 4 holiday looks like a good opportunity for one or two as well.  I also like to have a fall weekend roadmeet (though that didn't happen this year).
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: kphoger on December 30, 2017, 06:32:30 PM
A thought that hit me while I'm laid up (for those who aren't friends with me on Facebook, I'm down with another gout attack in my knee and can't stand or walk) -- I think it was last year that we had a thread about tracing your state's borders by highway. I extensively researched how to do that for both inside and outside of Kentucky. I think it would be neat to start at at a certain spot -- say, the intersection of US 23 and KY 8 in northeastern Kentucky along the Ohio River) and trace that route inside the state, then when I arrive back at the starting point, cross the state line and do it on the other side of the border.

Then I realized how unpleasant some of that drive would be -- namely trying to get around the KY-WV-VA tripoint in the neighboring states, and just how much I don't like US 52 between Horsepen Mountain and Iaeger, or the section of VA 63 outside Haysi that's required -- and thought "maybe not."

Still, it would be fun to take GPS tracks of each route and see if anyone could tell what was being outlined just from looking at them.

I mapped out Missouri's border route (including SSRs) in depth and then saved it to the computer.  But it would be a grueling drive.  I think I deleted the file a little bit ago.



the meet thread is for just roadmeets.

Like grilled skunk on toast.  No, wait, that would be roadmeat.  How did I not realize until just now, reading your post, the roadmeet→roadmeat→roadkill connection?  We should totally have a roadmeat roadmeet.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: vdeane on December 30, 2017, 06:42:30 PM
Oddly enough, I recall a discussion about the roadmeet/roadmeat connection at the Watertown meet.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: MNHighwayMan on December 30, 2017, 08:27:14 PM
the meet thread is for just roadmeets.
Like grilled skunk on toast.  No, wait, that would be roadmeat.  How did I not realize until just now, reading your post, the roadmeet→roadmeat→roadkill connection?  We should totally have a roadmeat roadmeet.

I'll take one roadmeat on wheat, please. With cheddar and mayo, preferably.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: froggie on December 30, 2017, 09:47:52 PM
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/7160FVqR6hL._SY450_.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: pumpkineater2 on December 30, 2017, 09:56:59 PM
If you go to Arches, I highly recommend the Tapestry Arch all the way in the back of the park.  It's a mile or so to hike to it, but it's worth it.  Everyone crowds around the arches you can drive to, like the Delicate Arch featured on the Utah license plates.  So the Tapestry Arch is far less crowded--plus the hike is fun and includes two other overlooked arches, one of which you hike straight through.

 I'd like that, I definitely plan on doing at least some hiking on this trip, It all depends on how much spare time I've got. I think I did pretty good with planning out my stopping points for each day, so as to give myself enough of a time cushion to actually stop and see places.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: US71 on December 30, 2017, 11:25:47 PM
Oddly enough, I recall a discussion about the roadmeet/roadmeat connection at the Watertown meet.

There was a story just a day or so ago about people collecting roadkill :

https://deadspin.com/over-3-300-pennsylvanians-requested-a-permit-to-eat-roa-1821624697
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: US 89 on December 30, 2017, 11:33:22 PM
Oddly enough, I recall a discussion about the roadmeet/roadmeat connection at the Watertown meet.

There was a story just a day or so ago about people collecting roadkill :

https://deadspin.com/over-3-300-pennsylvanians-requested-a-permit-to-eat-roa-1821624697

Locally sourced venison!  :bigass:

On a more serious note, you’d be surprised how much roadkill is on US 40 in northwest Colorado. The last time I was on it, I must have passed more than 30 dead mice, rabbits, deer, birds, skunks, etc.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: 1995hoo on December 31, 2017, 12:21:18 PM
I seem to recall reading that West Virginia enacted a statute guaranteeing motorists the right to keep the meat from any roadkill they cause, unless the roadkill is human. I found it more than a bit disturbing that it was deemed necessary to include that exception!

Part of the reason for the overall law was the idea that motorists taking the roadkill would save the state the expense of cleaning it up.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: US71 on December 31, 2017, 12:36:07 PM
I seem to recall reading that West Virginia enacted a statute guaranteeing motorists the right to keep the meat from any roadkill they cause, unless the roadkill is human. I found it more than a bit disturbing that it was deemed necessary to include that exception!


What about with fava beans and a nice chianti ;)
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: cl94 on December 31, 2017, 03:33:31 PM
It's actually illegal to keep deer or bear (possibly other animals) in New York unless you have a tag for it. I only know that because my dad is a claims agent for an insurance company and he has had multiple clients upset that they can't mount the bucks they hit.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: MNHighwayMan on January 01, 2018, 08:18:19 AM
I seem to recall reading that West Virginia enacted a statute guaranteeing motorists the right to keep the meat from any roadkill they cause, unless the roadkill is human. I found it more than a bit disturbing that it was deemed necessary to include that exception!

Part of the reason for the overall law was the idea that motorists taking the roadkill would save the state the expense of cleaning it up.

I don't want to get all philosophical on this thread, but… can roadkill be human?
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Eth on January 01, 2018, 09:57:25 AM
Only thing I have planned right now is a trip up to the Raleigh area in April. If I'm not mistaken, that'll be my first time in North Carolina since I moved back to Georgia in 2011. I already have all of I-85 north of Auburn, AL clinched, so I may look for an alternate way to go. Depending on my exact itinerary (may be visiting family in the area) I might have an opportunity to see how I-42 is progressing.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: kphoger on January 01, 2018, 04:44:50 PM
I seem to recall reading that West Virginia enacted a statute guaranteeing motorists the right to keep the meat from any roadkill they cause, unless the roadkill is human. I found it more than a bit disturbing that it was deemed necessary to include that exception!

Part of the reason for the overall law was the idea that motorists taking the roadkill would save the state the expense of cleaning it up.

I don't want to get all philosophical on this thread, but… can roadkill be human?

In West Virginia, perhaps, the line gets really blurry.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: HazMatt on January 01, 2018, 05:29:28 PM
I seem to recall reading that West Virginia enacted a statute guaranteeing motorists the right to keep the meat from any roadkill they cause, unless the roadkill is human. I found it more than a bit disturbing that it was deemed necessary to include that exception!

Part of the reason for the overall law was the idea that motorists taking the roadkill would save the state the expense of cleaning it up.

I don't want to get all philosophical on this thread, but… can roadkill be human?

There ain't no party like the Donner Party.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: froggie on January 16, 2018, 01:48:30 PM
I seem to recall reading that West Virginia enacted a statute guaranteeing motorists the right to keep the meat from any roadkill they cause, unless the roadkill is human. I found it more than a bit disturbing that it was deemed necessary to include that exception!

Part of the reason for the overall law was the idea that motorists taking the roadkill would save the state the expense of cleaning it up.

I don't want to get all philosophical on this thread, but… can roadkill be human?

Technically, hit-and-runs where the pedestrian dies could be considered this.  We had one here in northeastern Vermont right after Thanksgiving.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: kphoger on January 16, 2018, 02:08:28 PM
I seem to recall reading that West Virginia enacted a statute guaranteeing motorists the right to keep the meat from any roadkill they cause, unless the roadkill is human. I found it more than a bit disturbing that it was deemed necessary to include that exception!

Part of the reason for the overall law was the idea that motorists taking the roadkill would save the state the expense of cleaning it up.

I don't want to get all philosophical on this thread, but… can roadkill be human?

Technically, hit-and-runs where the pedestrian dies could be considered this.  We had one here in northeastern Vermont right after Thanksgiving.

Can always freeze it till Christmas.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Roadgeekteen on January 17, 2018, 06:19:55 PM
I seem to recall reading that West Virginia enacted a statute guaranteeing motorists the right to keep the meat from any roadkill they cause, unless the roadkill is human. I found it more than a bit disturbing that it was deemed necessary to include that exception!

Part of the reason for the overall law was the idea that motorists taking the roadkill would save the state the expense of cleaning it up.

I don't want to get all philosophical on this thread, but… can roadkill be human?
Well, they were something that got killed on the road.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: webny99 on January 20, 2018, 01:04:16 AM
Just the usual trip to to the Midwest (MN and ND) planned for 2018. At some point, I'd like to do a Texas road trip, but at this point it doesn't look like it will happen in 2018.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: kphoger on January 22, 2018, 12:59:32 PM
Stupid government shutdown.

Our friend's parents have been planning to drive to Mexico with us in March for our annual mission trip.  They dragged their feet on getting his birth certificate from South Dakota.  Now that they finally have it in the nick of time to apply for a passport, the federal government stops working.  No passport applications being processed.  Grrrrrr......
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: webny99 on January 22, 2018, 01:29:16 PM
Stupid government shutdown.

Our friend's parents have been planning to drive to Mexico with us in March for our annual mission trip.  They dragged their feet on getting his birth certificate from South Dakota.  Now that they finally have it in the nick of time to apply for a passport, the federal government stops working.  No passport applications being processed.  Grrrrrr......
Will that affect your plans, or not necessarily yet?
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: kphoger on January 22, 2018, 02:32:02 PM
Stupid government shutdown.

Our friend's parents have been planning to drive to Mexico with us in March for our annual mission trip.  They dragged their feet on getting his birth certificate from South Dakota.  Now that they finally have it in the nick of time to apply for a passport, the federal government stops working.  No passport applications being processed.  Grrrrrr......
Will that affect your plans, or not necessarily yet?

I now have to redo the budget for multiple scenarios (this affects the number of hotel rooms, possibly the number of vehicles, etc), plus I don't know what manpower I'll have for the projects we're doing.  The trip will move forward, I just hate unknowns this close to departure date.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: J N Winkler on January 22, 2018, 02:49:29 PM
Stupid government shutdown.

Our friend's parents have been planning to drive to Mexico with us in March for our annual mission trip.  They dragged their feet on getting his birth certificate from South Dakota.  Now that they finally have it in the nick of time to apply for a passport, the federal government stops working.  No passport applications being processed.  Grrrrrr......

I had to smile.  I applied for a passport last July and my application is still technically in process.  I have had the new passport (52-page book) and passport card in hand since late August, but do not have my old expired passport (I had sent it in as citizenship proof since this was a standard DS-82 renewal), and I have gotten a letter saying I either failed to apply or failed to sign my passport application.  I have a copy of the form and proof of mailing, but no signature proof since I did not cut-and-paste my signature in the PDF I printed out or take a photo of the signed form before I sent it.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: hbelkins on January 22, 2018, 02:53:20 PM
Shutdown's over. I wouldn't think what will amount to a one-working-day closure will delay any passport applications significantly.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: 1995hoo on January 22, 2018, 03:37:01 PM
No guarantee there won't be another shutdown when the new continuing resolution expires, of course. If you need a passport for a trip in March, it may be a good time to pay the extra for the expedited service if that's an option.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: texaskdog on January 22, 2018, 04:01:02 PM
Yellowstone (from Austin Texas).  might have to drop our daughter with her dad who is from Wisconsin so may swing through South Dakota
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: wanderer2575 on February 18, 2018, 06:57:31 PM
I’m just starting to think about a route for an eight-day roadtrip to North Carolina in mid-April.  Mrs. wanderer wants to stop by a dinnerware exchange replacement place in Greensboro and also visit the Biltmore Estate mansion in Asheville, so we’ll be doing a route incorporating those stops.  I'm hoping to come across good opportunities for sine salad photos.  Right now my plan is:


Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: leroys73 on February 18, 2018, 10:44:23 PM
By motorcycle:
Moonshine, IL
Prudhoe Bay, AK
Houston
Probably a trip to south FL
Probably a trip to the Cincinnati area
I am sure one or two trips to Lawton, OK these are hardly a trip, only 200 miles
Maybe one to the Black Hills or some other place of at least 1000 miles one way

By car:
Denver
The Grand Canyon and several of the parks in Utah
Maybe one to South FL
Houston
Maybe a run up to Lawton, OK
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: US71 on February 22, 2018, 11:24:28 AM
I'm planning an impromptu road trip this weekend. Tired of the rain, tired of being stuck in the aparement, tired of dealing with idiots.

I've yet to decide which way I'm going.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: webny99 on February 22, 2018, 01:46:31 PM
I'm planning an impromptu road trip this weekend. Tired of the rain, tired of being stuck in the aparement, tired of dealing with idiots.

I've yet to decide which way I'm going.

Away from the rain?
That could be a deciding factor.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: noelbotevera on March 02, 2018, 09:06:26 PM
I'm dead set on going to Cedar Point and Detroit this year. It'll be for nine days, from June 8th to June 16th. Here's the plans so far:

June 8th: Travel to Cedar Point, using the fastest route possible. This means having to use the Pennsylvania and Ohio Turnpikes, which in total is roughly $27 in tolls. Find lodging and unpack things when we arrive in Sandusky.

June 9th - June 12th: Ride coasters/water slides in Cedar Point. Three days riding coasters/thrill rides, one day in the waterpark. Buy a Fast Pass to help clear the lines.

Night of June 12th: Travel to Detroit, again using the fastest route possible. Check into lodging there, and unpack.

June 13th - June 15th: Go around the city of Detroit and surrounding suburbs.

June 16th: Return home from Detroit, still using the fastest route possible.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: hbelkins on March 02, 2018, 09:42:12 PM
My brother's after me to ride the California Zephyr with him sometime this year. The only road trip it would involve would be me driving to his home in Owen County, then us going up to the Cincinnati area to catch the train. We'd then ride to Chicago, switch trains, and then head out to California.

Of course there's the whole "flying back east" thing that's keeping me from doing it. I guess I could always rent a car, but I doubt I'll have enough vacation days anytime soon to do that.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: ce929wax on March 02, 2018, 11:15:31 PM
I'm curious, how close to the Colorado border is Mount Sunflower?
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: CNGL-Leudimin on March 28, 2018, 08:12:00 AM
Having already done the Rioja road trip this year, I'm now planning the one to Soria pine forests next week. I have already mapped the way out (https://www.google.es/maps/dir/Huesca/Illueca,+50250,+Zaragoza/Cabrejas+del+Pinar,+42146,+Soria/Covaleda,+42157,+Soria/@41.7688874,-2.7669503,8z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m26!4m25!1m5!1m1!1s0xd584449d1d84db5:0x2c8dfd864aa74791!2m2!1d-0.4078058!2d42.131845!1m5!1m1!1s0xd5b96ef846d6fb1:0x7e293fcd986740b8!2m2!1d-1.6262936!2d41.5385462!1m5!1m1!1s0xd44e6afb95c6985:0x823a2e66c2a1f2b!2m2!1d-2.8496069!2d41.7969036!1m5!1m1!1s0xd451c45cdd10ddf:0xedaaa8921648788e!2m2!1d-2.8831158!2d41.9354883!3e0) and back (https://www.google.es/maps/dir/Covaleda,+42157,+Soria/Rivas,+50619,+Zaragoza/Huesca/@41.9596342,-2.7667722,8z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m20!4m19!1m5!1m1!1s0xd451c45cdd10ddf:0xedaaa8921648788e!2m2!1d-2.8831158!2d41.9354883!1m5!1m1!1s0xd598c0a5b529fa7:0xc338be2c3898fa04!2m2!1d-1.1347024!2d42.1683474!1m5!1m1!1s0xd584449d1d84db5:0x2c8dfd864aa74791!2m2!1d-0.4078058!2d42.131845!3e0). Northwest Navarre is happening again in May, but I don't think I'll take any new roads.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: J N Winkler on March 28, 2018, 11:23:51 AM
I'm curious, how close to the Colorado border is Mount Sunflower?

Less than a mile.  Perhaps the more relevant distance is 12 miles to the nearest paved road, US 40 just west of Weskan.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: US 41 on March 28, 2018, 09:01:08 PM
Update for me.

It's a sure thing that I'm driving to Key West in June. Already been approved for the time off.

Not set in stone yet, but there's also a pretty good chance that I'll be taking a 4 day road trip to Louisiana to go to the delta and to drive across the big lake.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: cl94 on March 28, 2018, 11:59:55 PM
I'm curious, how close to the Colorado border is Mount Sunflower?

Less than a mile.  Perhaps the more relevant distance is 12 miles to the nearest paved road, US 40 just west of Weskan.

Yeah, I've got 22 miles on unpaved roads each way from I-70 when I do it later this year. Middle of bleeping nowhere.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: D-Dey65 on March 29, 2018, 01:10:48 AM
Believe it or not, there's a possibility I may end up taking two road trips to and/or from Metro New York.

In the meantime, at some point, I want to drive down to St. Petersburg, so I can get more pics of I-175 and I-375 to add to Wikipedia. The same goes for rest areas along I-4, and some other places nearby that road.

 
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Mark68 on March 29, 2018, 03:05:13 PM
This was essentially the trip I completed earlier this month. I wanted to catch some spring training games, but some of the trip was impromptu (like Tucson, then coming back thru Jerome, Sedona, and Monument Valley--then taking the "back road"--CO 83 from Colo Springs to Parker).

https://goo.gl/maps/dU2h3AMXHS92
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: cjk374 on March 31, 2018, 07:52:34 PM
I went road scholaring today. Enjoy.

https://flic.kr/s/aHskvuzZJ2
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: froggie on April 01, 2018, 03:52:04 PM
^ As did I....trying to plug some holes in my New Hampshire travels.  Not sure when my next multi-day trip will be.  Probably at some point this summer when I attempt to head back to the home state...
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: hbelkins on April 01, 2018, 10:33:35 PM
I got out this weekend for the first time this year. My knee is finally to the point where it doesn't hurt to drive. The only places I'd been so far this year other than to work were Lexington for a doctor's appointment, Frankfort for a meeting and Hazard for a training class.

I knocked out six more routes in my attempt to clinch all Kentucky state routes 1-100. Got KY 73, KY 84, KY 86, KY 96 and KY 100 done yesterday, and drove the new portion of US 79 in Russellville. Today, I finished KY 79 and also KY 48. I thought I'd done 48 many years ago, but wasn't positive, and it's been extended a bit due to the relocation of US 31E/US 150 north of Bardstown.

I still need portions of KY 8, KY 39, KY 61 and KY 69 to finish up.

Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: oscar on April 03, 2018, 09:54:14 PM
As I mentioned in connection with last month's Shreveport meet, I used my "round 2" mob-rule.com account to show how I got to and from the meet:

http://www.mob-rule.com/user-gifs/USA/oscar-rd2.gif

The ultimate plan is to add to the U.S. map the counties I re-visited since I completed the U.S. counties in July 2010. However, that will take awhile, since I would need to reconstruct my 2010-2017 U.S. travels including multiple cross-country trips, plus add my other 2018 travels (both several day and overnight trips in VA, DC, MD, DE, and PA, and also forthcoming longer-distance trips).

The "round 2" Canada map is complete, but it only covers Canadian travels since my completion of its counties in July 2016, so that was less work.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Nanis on April 14, 2018, 11:21:28 PM
until today I had a road trip plan for a whole week. It was for waffle house but we ended up exploring southern Bethlehem and stopping in Plumsteadville, PA
Springtown Hill road is extremely scenic.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=15pzSGUsCjf8z5h3pjn_H1Fau5R4dEY2r&usp=sharing the entire trip along with an older trip from April 1st is on here
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Eth on April 23, 2018, 10:58:54 AM
Only thing I have planned right now is a trip up to the Raleigh area in April. If I'm not mistaken, that'll be my first time in North Carolina since I moved back to Georgia in 2011. I already have all of I-85 north of Auburn, AL clinched, so I may look for an alternate way to go. Depending on my exact itinerary (may be visiting family in the area) I might have an opportunity to see how I-42 is progressing.

I got back from this trip yesterday. While I did drive my own car there and back, it was as part of a convoy (this was a group trip), so I stuck with the direct route of I-85 and I-40, though I did divert onto Business 85 through Spartanburg (not previously covered) to avoid construction. As a passenger at the destination, I picked up a few more pieces of I-40, I-440, I-540, US 15/501, US 70, and US 401.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: adwerkema on April 23, 2018, 06:10:54 PM
Planning on a family vacation to Hilton Head Island, SC this summer. 2 days to travel down, 5 days in SC, and then 2 days to travel back. Deciding if we should take the clockwise route or the counterclockwise route. Anyone know if US 33, I-77, I-40, or I-75 offers better views coming from one direction or another? Particularly thinking of the mountain views. Open to other fun detours as well.

(http://farm1.staticflickr.com/840/27787951788_6bc0455a8a_b.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: hbelkins on April 24, 2018, 10:30:19 AM
There are two great southbound views on your trip. Unfortunately, you'll have to choose one of them.

I-77 south at Fancy Gap (VA/NC border) is great. So, too, is I-26 eastbound heading from NC toward SC.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: MNHighwayMan on April 24, 2018, 09:28:03 PM
Planning on a family vacation to Hilton Head Island, SC this summer. 2 days to travel down, 5 days in SC, and then 2 days to travel back. Deciding if we should take the clockwise route or the counterclockwise route. Anyone know if US 33, I-77, I-40, or I-75 offers better views coming from one direction or another? Particularly thinking of the mountain views. Open to other fun detours as well.

Why not take one route on the way there, and the other on the way back?
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: adwerkema on April 25, 2018, 12:23:01 AM
Why not take one route on the way there, and the other on the way back?

Great minds think alike  :D I'm planning on doing that - just don't know which one to take there and which to take back.

There are two great southbound views on your trip. Unfortunately, you'll have to choose one of them.

I-77 south at Fancy Gap (VA/NC border) is great. So, too, is I-26 eastbound heading from NC toward SC.

Thanks for the advice! Sounds like a win-win either way.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: J N Winkler on April 25, 2018, 01:01:54 AM
My suggestion would be to preview StreetView through the areas of interest and then use that, possibly in combination with Google Earth's sun shadow function and a rough outline of each driving day, to form a judgment as to which sequence of the two routes (clockwise or counterclockwise) yields more opportunities to take scenic photos looking north.  Southbound views can be enjoyed without a camera, but northbound views are infinitely easier to document.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: adwerkema on April 25, 2018, 08:45:00 PM
My suggestion would be to preview StreetView through the areas of interest and then use that, possibly in combination with Google Earth's sun shadow function and a rough outline of each driving day, to form a judgment as to which sequence of the two routes (clockwise or counterclockwise) yields more opportunities to take scenic photos looking north.  Southbound views can be enjoyed without a camera, but northbound views are infinitely easier to document.

Even photo advice - nice! Thanks for the suggestions. I'll have to try out that sun shadow feature.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: webny99 on May 02, 2018, 09:26:37 AM
I did approximately this (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Penfield,+New+York+14526/Dunkin'+Donuts/Union+Hill,+NY/@43.0509004,-77.8215131,9.73z/data=!4m25!4m24!1m10!1m1!1s0x89d6cb7b31bf14a5:0x22f02964af6e4d8b!2m2!1d-77.475551!2d43.1303407!3m4!1m2!1d-77.5116784!2d43.1536517!3s0x89d6cbadf5fc6d03:0x557360fa849ed94b!1m5!1m1!1s0x89d167a564b894a3:0x2d466bf07abc21ae!2m2!1d-77.7815601!2d42.8000378!1m5!1m1!1s0x89d6d0221642216b:0xfeb0ced50f2202a1!2m2!1d-77.3716577!2d43.2228409!3e0) this morning, does that count as a road trip?  :D

Google says it should take 1hr26min... and I pulled it off in exactly 1hr10min. I'm mildly impressed, considering morning traffic (lol), and the time I wasted in the line at Dunkin. That yields an average of 69.8 mph.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: CNGL-Leudimin on May 28, 2018, 03:29:23 PM
Northwest Navarre is happening again in May, but I don't think I'll take any new roads.

This was originally planned as a day trip, but ended up being expanded to a week-end trip which also went into Guipuscoa, and as such I had the opportunity to clinch new roads. It included a unpaved goat track on the way back, and I was unlucky to get caught by a hailstorm in that section and I got stuck all afternoon.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Thing 342 on June 10, 2018, 09:21:14 PM
Just booked a solo trip to Chicago for late July. Instead of driving, I'm taking AMTRAK, following the Northeast Regional to DC then the Capitol Limited overnight to Chicago. I most likely won't have a car, but I may try and rent one for a day to clinch a few roads.

On a related note: does anyone have any advice for a first-time AMTRAK traveler?
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: MikeTheActuary on June 10, 2018, 10:38:19 PM
In a week, the wife and I will set out on a bit of a road trip -- Hartford CT - Champlain NY (for the wife's NEXUS card interview) - La Malbaie, QC (conference for work) - Hartford CT

The scenery beyond Quebec City looks to be very pretty.  And, I'm hoping that the wife will be up for a stop to check out the Haskell Library and Opera House in Derby Line.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: MNHighwayMan on June 11, 2018, 11:04:42 AM
Next month, my family's going on a camping trip to the US Army Corps campground at Federal Dam, MN for a week. I plan on spending most of my week driving around and getting pictures of all the nearby state highway termini (both ends of 84, east ends of 87 and 34, end of 371 in Cass Lake, the still weird MN-197 in Bemidji, the south ends of 89, 46, and 38 (probably will drive out to the north end of 38, too, and snag the short 286 along the way). My highest priority targets, even though they're the furthest out, are MN-222 and 223. They're on MnDOT's short list of whack-a-mole turnback desires, and I dunno if/when I'll ever manage to get out to that part of the state again, soon.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: paulthemapguy on June 11, 2018, 04:54:51 PM
In an otherwise quiet year for me, my girl and I are going on the most ambitious road trip we've ever accomplished:  Driving all the way to the Pacific Coast.  I've never done it.  We're trying to expand our capabilities, because one day I hope to drive the Alaska Highway.  On this 15 day trip, we will see Theodore Roosevelt NP, Glacier NP, Columbia River Gorge, Astoria, and Yellowstone.  We travel west by way of Fargo, ND; Dickinson, ND; Glasgow, MT; Columbia Falls, MT; Spokane, WA; Portland, OR; and Astoria, OR to Seaside, OR.  Then we return home via Boise, ID; Pocatello, ID; Cody, WY; and Mitchell, SD.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Brandon on June 13, 2018, 09:51:38 AM
Now that's pretty darn funny as I was planning a similar trip this August.

Only a 10 day trip, but no less ambitious to go west to Seattle, the Olympic Mountains, Mt. St. Helens, the Oregon Coast, Crater Lake, & Portland.

Route
- I-355, I-290, I-90 to Eau Claire, WI.  then north on US-53 to Duluth, MN.  West on US-2, stopping by the Mississippi River headwaters on the way to Grand Forks, ND.
- I-29 south to I-94 at Fargo, ND, then west to I-90 at Billings, MT.  A stop at Theodore Roosevelt NP along the way.  Then along I-90 to Missoula, MT.
- I-90 west via Spokane to it's beginning in Seattle, WA.  Across Puget Sound on a ferry to Bremerton, WA, then back to DuPont, WA via Olympia, WA.
- Across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and around the Olympic Peninsula with stops in Olympic NP.  Then back down to Mt. St. Helens (Johnston Ridge Observatory) to Kelso, WA.
- From there, along the Columbia River (across a bridge and ferry for the sake of county counting) to Astoria, OR.  Then south on US-101 to Bandon, OR with may stops on the way.
- South along US-101 to Crescent City, CA to the redwoods along US-199.  US-199 up to Grants Pass, OR, then over to Crater Lake NP.  North from there to Bend, OR.
- Across the Cascades to Corvallis, OR, then north to Salem, OR (more counties).  And north to Portland, OR with a stop in Vancouver, WA.
- East along I-84 through the Columbia River Gorge to Ogden, UT.  Stops include Shoshone Falls and possibly Antelope Island SP.
- East out of Ogden via Logan, UT through Wyoming on US-89, WY-28, and east to Casper, WY along the route of the Oregon Trail.  No, I do not plan on dying of dysentery.  Then east to Chadron, NE.
- East from Chadron, NE via US-20 and NE-12, then across the border through South Dakota to I-29.  I-29 to US-77, across the river to I-129 (and complete all of Nebraska's interstates).  Then east on US-20 to I-380, I-80 to home.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Mapmikey on June 13, 2018, 10:15:13 AM
Just booked a solo trip to Chicago for late July. Instead of driving, I'm taking AMTRAK, following the Northeast Regional to DC then the Capitol Limited overnight to Chicago. I most likely won't have a car, but I may try and rent one for a day to clinch a few roads.

On a related note: does anyone have any advice for a first-time AMTRAK traveler?

The only time I traveled AMTRAK was in 2000, following your route plus then out to Montana.  If you are not getting a cabin (I had not), what took some getting used to when sleeping next to the window is another train coming by in the other direction...kept waking me up.

I assume that for whatever reason you couldn't work it out doing directly to Chicago from Charlottesville?  The layover in DC can be long.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: froggie on June 13, 2018, 04:50:36 PM
In a week, the wife and I will set out on a bit of a road trip -- Hartford CT - Champlain NY (for the wife's NEXUS card interview) - La Malbaie, QC (conference for work) - Hartford CT

The scenery beyond Quebec City looks to be very pretty.  And, I'm hoping that the wife will be up for a stop to check out the Haskell Library and Opera House in Derby Line.

Holler when you're in the neighborhood.  My lunch schedule can be pretty flexible...unless you'll be taking a route other than I-91 south from Derby.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: D-Dey65 on August 07, 2018, 07:51:35 PM
Did I mention that my proposed summer trip to Metro NYC has been delayed again? Because this time it's looking more towards Mid-September 2018.

Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Thing 342 on August 09, 2018, 08:34:43 AM
I assume that for whatever reason you couldn't work it out doing directly to Chicago from Charlottesville?  The layover in DC can be long.
Not long enough, it turns out. My returning train from Chicago to DC was so late that I missed my NE Regional transfer despite having a nearly 5-hour layover. :banghead: (I would have missed the rebooked trip as well, as my checked bags took nearly 45 minutes to come out of the carousel. I eventually got a ride home from some friends.)

I planned a somewhat short-notice trip to San Antonio for a weekend late September to cash in on a random special by Delta. Will likely be spending a day in and around San Antonio, then will make the drive up to Austin for the next day.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Takumi on August 12, 2018, 12:26:26 PM
I took a trip to Virginia Beach yesterday. My brother went with me, so we started off from his place in Midlothian. The route down was US 60 - VA 76 - VA 146 - VA 195 - I-95 - I-64 - I-664 - VA 164 - US 58 - VA 337 - Princess Anne Road (unnumbered) - VA 404 (clinch) - VA 166 - US 58. At the time we were heading down there was a major delay at the HRBR, and only a minor one at the MMMBT, so I opted for the latter, thinking I’d take 664 to 164 (which would have been a re-clinch) to 264. When I got to 164, however, the VMS said there was a disabled vehicle inside the tunnel on 264, so I instead took the Midtown tunnel over the Downtown. I then missed where 58 turns onto itself so I headed to Princess Anne Road through Ghent, and continued through its VA 404 portion until I got to VA 166, which only had a short distance separating Princess Anne from US 58 at that point. We continued down 58 (not 264, because we had to make a stop) until the oceanfront. The route home was simpler: 264 to 64 to Richmond, since there was much less traffic. Some notes:
-64 has two construction zones between Richmond and Hampton: one just east of I-295 and the other east of Williamsburg into western Newport News. I assume these are both part of the much-needed long-term widening project. Where 64 has been widened is so much better than before!
-The erroneous West banner on a reassurance shield on southbound VA 76 on its bridge over the James River has been removed; it’s now just a bannerless shield.
-My 2012 TL’s GPS still shows VA 167 and the 4xx routes in Virginia Beach as current routes. All were decommissioned long before the car was built. I just found this amusing.
-There are, of course, no US 58 postings at either Atlantic or Pacific. The easternmost one is, I believe, on one of the side streets at the roundabout a couple blocks west.
-In addition to the VMS’s that show travel times eastbound on 64, there are corresponding ones for Richmond. One is on 264 (showing which of the 64 or 664 tunnels would be faster) and the other is west of Williamsburg and shows whether I-64 or VA 30/US 60 would be faster to I-295 (I assume 30/60 would only be faster during severe construction delays).
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: US 41 on August 20, 2018, 09:08:54 PM
Never posted anything about it yet, but I drove to Maine in June. While I was out there I drove to Charlottetown, PEI and to Halifax, NS. Got my state count up to 41 and got my province count up to 5.

https://goo.gl/maps/KtsyxE7m7Ty
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: froggie on August 22, 2018, 06:50:57 AM
Quote from: Takumi
-64 has two construction zones between Richmond and Hampton: one just east of I-295 and the other east of Williamsburg into western Newport News. I assume these are both part of the much-needed long-term widening project. Where 64 has been widened is so much better than before!

Yes, both are 6-lane expansion zones...the one "just east of 295" goes from 295 to the Bottoms Bridge exit.

Quote
-There are, of course, no US 58 postings at either Atlantic or Pacific. The easternmost one is, I believe, on one of the side streets at the roundabout a couple blocks west.

Did you check along 30th and 32nd Streets?  Reason being is because the city, about 5 years ago, built that roundabout in part to encourage to use 30th and 32nd to get to Pacific proper instead of staying on Laskin the entire way.

------------------

Meanwhile, I'm about to begin my own big roadtrip of the year.  Heading out to Minnesota starting this weekend.  If I can time it right, most of the trip will involve new route mileage.  Returning shortly after Labor Day.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: jon daly on August 22, 2018, 10:21:39 AM
I have a twisted sense of humor so I got a couple of laughs when reading about human roadkill.

This year, my wife and I drove out to Gettysburg and Okemo in Vermont. Those are the overnight trips and I think that going through the Lehigh Valley and seeing all of the distribution centers triggered me to stop by here after a long inactive period.

If weekend jaunts qualify, we've been driving a lot up and down the borders of Connecticut and Rhode Island. It is a surprisingly wooded area.

Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: jon daly on August 22, 2018, 10:49:54 AM
On second thought. I think some re-signing on I-95, particularly the part I use on my commute, prompted me to revisit here.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Takumi on August 22, 2018, 12:38:58 PM
Quote
-There are, of course, no US 58 postings at either Atlantic or Pacific. The easternmost one is, I believe, on one of the side streets at the roundabout a couple blocks west.

Did you check along 30th and 32nd Streets?
I checked on 30th, yeah, and didn’t see anything. I just checked both on Street View and it looks like the first westbound reassurance shield is leaving the roundabout.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Naked.Driver on August 23, 2018, 05:47:38 AM
some notes: i never sleep in public accommodations except if i find the place interesting. i therefore sleep in the car in rest areas, truck stops, or on-ramps.
i wash up in rest rooms, or in lakes or streams.
i never wear anything on my feet.
i always check the gasbuddy app for cheapest gas in the area i plan to be in.
i always am looking for new counties or highways while on my travels.
my biggest road trip of the year:
may 14 (start delayed by almost two weeks, forcing me to make a number of cuts to my route), left home and went south on u{s}-65, remaining on that road after 69 splits off and going into mo to slate rd, that to mo-sec-y, to the cemetery where my parents are buried to put flowers on the graves since i knew i would be unable to be there for mem day, and then retraced the route back to 65, going back north to u-136 wb and the day changed en route to bethany.
may 15: after going through a heavy rain, i stopped at a truck stop in bethany and slept until after daylight, then got back on 136 to u-71 nb. i picked up the brs of u-71 and ia-2 at clarinda, then continued wb on ia-2, eventually reaching i-29 which i ran north to i-80 into omaha. i wanted a nebraska map but was unable to find the visitor center so got back on 80 wb. there was a visitor center in sarpy co and i got my map there.
at milford i stopped for a bath in the big blue r. i then returned to i-80 and proceeded to exit 279. along the way, the day changed.
may 16: slept in a truck stop at that exit. then on to i-76, exiting at julesberg, getting a new map of the centennial state, and then hitting u-138 to u-6 and then to u-34, getting a new segment of that road to i-25 and staying on it to u-287 sb to co-52 (new segment of 287) and that east to u-85 nb to wy where it meets i-180, getting a new part of 85. then west on i-80, not sure where i slept but was in a rest area as the day changed.
may 17: moved farther west and eventually hit ut. got all of ut-201 and a bit of ut-154. then on to nv, getting there after dark and picking up the bl at wendover. the day changed and i slept in a rest area.
may 18: across the state after stopping at another rest area for a nap, hitting ca in the evening and sleeping in a parking lot in sacramento.
may 19: got to the bart terminal on university in berkeley, took the train to sf (the embarcadero) and riding bike to pier 35 to pick up my packet for the bare to breakers. then i biked across the city to golden gate park, stashed the bike in the woods so as to be able to ride it after the race, and walked to the bart terminal near ocean st. i then returned to berkeley, got the car, brought it into sf, parked near the beginning of the race, walked around a bit, and returned to the car as the day changed.
may 20: painted my feet bare-to-breakers yellow, ran/walked the race, getting a time of almost two hours(!) due to fatigue and all the driving. hung out at the end for an hour, then found the bike and rode back to the car. slept in the evening.
may 21: back to berkeley. checked out a place i wanted to visit but was too tired so stayed in the car, then drove to san jose, picking up ca-13 in the process. then to the bart at millbrae and back to sf. checked out another place, then left at night and took bart back after getting lost on the bike.
may 22: slept in the car in the bart parking lot, then tried to get back to sf to find a free t-shirt for a friend, but the place closed too early so i left and returned to sacramento where i spent another night.
may 23: spent a fair amount of the day in sacto, then headed out. my goal was to get all the rest of i-5 and ca-99 i needed north of there.
may 24: nothing much, driving and gaining roads, but had to sleep more than i had planned.
may 25: reached oregon just as the day changed.
may 26: intense fog as i went into or. proceeded north on i-5 to u-20 and east on that as the day changed.
may 27: slept in parking lot at bend (20 from i-5 to there was new). then went to church. crossed state on 20 (completing that in or). day changed.
may 28: slept in rest area near brothers. into idaho. back and forth a few times between the two states getting highways (or-201, a piece of i-84, and u-26). the last road provided my path back across the state, and i gained wheeler county (first new county of the trip!). i entered crook co and the day changed.
may 29: spent the night in a rest area near sandy. then got jefferson county. stayed on 26 to i-205, completing 26. south to i-5 and marion co, which was the last one i needed, but the day changed before i drove out of it.
may 30: toured state capitol building after a fiasco trying to find cheap gas according to gasbuddy only to find the station no longer in operation! the trip was not entirely wasted as i got a bath in the farmhill river and picked up the rest of or-22 and some of or-18. the day changed as i went back to bend and slept in the parking lot again.
may 31: i spent the day gaining u-97 and 197 (completing that) before going into wa. there, i drove in yakima co, then kittitas as the day changed.
june 01: slept in a rest area, not sure where. got on some state roads eventually ending on wa-240 and coming back to u-97 (now that highway was done) on i-82. where that highway ends at i-90 (i now had all of 82), i went into idaho, spending the night at the rest area at post falls.
june 02: south on u-95 to lewiston after nap on city street in moscow (picking up benewah and latah counties and giving me all of u-95 n from las vegas), going into wa on u-12 and picking up u-195 spur, wa-128 and id-128 and spur, and wa-129 spur. then east on 12 (getting clearwater co) as the day changed near the mt line.
june 03: got to i-90, slept at rest area, took that into butte. church, then south on i-15 to gain a piece of that, back to id. clark, jefferson, and bonneville counties were conquered. i was too tired to find a rest area so stopped on a ramp off the interstate.
june 04: bingham co (i-15), and madison and fremont (u-20) were my acquisitions before exiting into yellowstone park (park co, wy), where i got to see old faithful erupt for the first time since i was six years old! out the south gate (u-189/191 i believe that road is) through teton np and teton co, wy to u-26 and back to the gem state. i reached id-33 and the day changed.
june 05: teton county. back to wy, where the highway becomes wy-22. i returned to 89/189 (i believe those are the two there) to evanston, east on i-80 to u-191 nb and that to sublette co. another piece of u-26 got me back to u-89 which i took south into id as the day changed.
june 06: flat tire south of paris! i went to change it, but was unable to remove the lug nuts! so i called for help and napped for a while. they told me it would be a few hours. in daylight i bathed in bear lake after someone tried to help me but only succeeded in breaking off one of the studs. the guy showed up and got the tire changed. i continued south into utah and climbed a small mountain at a park. on to logan where i got on u-91. preston, id saw me get the tire and stud replaced. then back to i-15, picking up franklin co on the way and finishing 91. the day changed, not sure where i slept.
june 07: butte and custer counties were gained, on u-93 and 26. i then got on id-33 (and got some of id-28) and returned to u-20 for another pass at yellowstone np. this time, i planned to stay on the road that u-20 would follow (some people count u-20 through the park, but i do not as that road is a park road and not a highway), but turned the wrong way and missed a small piece thereof. i exited on e entrance rd to cody, stayed on u-14 to u-310, went into mt on that to mt-72 and back to wy on wy-120 (gaining carbon co in mt) as the day changed.
june 08: i slept in a truck stop in cody, then went east again, i decided to take u-16 to i-90 and i-25 south for washakie co. i took the interstate south to douglas, where the day changed.
june 09: got on wy-93 to wy-95 and back to u-20/26; slept somewhere. this time, i went to where 26 splits off for fremont co, and north to hot springs co, the last one in wy. the day changed and again i fail to recall where i slept.
june 10: went to church in thermopolis. north to u-14/16 to complete the county and east from there this time going on u-14 the rest of the way to sheridan and picking up a small loop of u-16 before getting on i-90 toward mt. there, i exited onto u-212 as the day changed.
june 11: a truck stop in alzada provided my sleeping site (powder river and carter counties also were added). on through a corner of wy and into sd. came back into wy later to gain a piece of u-14. day changed.
june 12: slept on ramp to i-90. back to sd, gaining pieces of u. s. 85 and 18. picked up i-190 in sd before getting the end of u-385 as the day changed.
june 13: i forgot where i slept. eventually i made my way back to u-18 to gain another piece of that. day changed.
june 14: slept on parking area along that road. finished it and headed home, gaining ia-37 and 191 before reaching my house late at night and falling into bed.
the trip covered about 12500 miles, gained 27 counties and completed two states, and added to and/or finished a number of highways.
that will end this post.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Rothman on August 23, 2018, 08:26:55 AM
You're always barefoot?  Pretty extreme measure to attract attention to yourself. :D
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Naked.Driver on August 23, 2018, 11:51:07 AM
You're always barefoot?  Pretty extreme measure to attract attention to yourself. :D
yes, always, usually with painted toenails and/or feet.
i added some to the previous post as i found i had omitted a few necessary items.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: 1 on August 23, 2018, 12:09:46 PM
Naked.Driver, I just want to point something out, since you've done it in more than one thread: The default font size on this forum is 10, and that's what you should be using. There is no reason to make it 12-size font.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Thing 342 on August 23, 2018, 12:42:22 PM
Had to make a short-notice trip from Blacksburg to Atlanta this past weekend. However, since I wasn't in too much of a hurry I took a different route there and back that got me some new mileage:

Friday:
I-81 S to I-26 near Johnson City, TN
I-26 W to I-40 in Asheville, NC (plus a few other stops in the area)
I-40 W to US-74 in Clyde, NC
US-74 W all the way to TN-68 in Ducktown, TN
TN-68/GA-60/GA-5 S to US-76 in Blue Ridge, GA
US-76/GA-515/I-575 S to I-75, I-75 to Atlanta

Sunday:
I-85 to I-985 in Suwanee, GA
I-985/US-23/US-74 N to I-40 in Clyde, NC
I-40 E to US-64 in Morganton, NC
US-64/US-321 TRUCK to US-321 in Lenoir, NC
US-321 N to US-421 in Boone, NC
US-421 S to I-77
I-77 N to I-81, I-81 to Blacksburg
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: hbelkins on August 23, 2018, 03:13:16 PM
Had to make a short-notice trip from Blacksburg to Atlanta this past weekend. However, since I wasn't in too much of a hurry I took a different route there and back that got me some new mileage:

Friday:
I-81 S to I-26 near Johnson City, TN
I-26 W to I-40 in Asheville, NC (plus a few other stops in the area)
I-40 W to US-74 in Clyde, NC
US-74 W all the way to TN-68 in Ducktown, TN
TN-68/GA-60/GA-5 S to US-76 in Blue Ridge, GA
US-76/GA-515/I-575 S to I-75, I-75 to Atlanta

Sunday:
I-85 to I-985 in Suwanee, GA
I-985/US-23/US-74 N to I-40 in Clyde, NC
I-40 E to US-64 in Morganton, NC
US-64/US-321 TRUCK to US-321 in Lenoir, NC
US-321 N to US-421 in Boone, NC
US-421 S to I-77
I-77 N to I-81, I-81 to Blacksburg

I've done quite a few of those routes; I'm looking for an excuse to go to the Atlanta area so I can use US 19 south all the way from the state line. I've done most of the other state line crossings, including the connector from Blue Ridge to Ducktown.

Is the four-laning of 321 south of Blowing Rock finished? They've been working on that for years.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Thing 342 on August 23, 2018, 10:42:42 PM
Had to make a short-notice trip from Blacksburg to Atlanta this past weekend. However, since I wasn't in too much of a hurry I took a different route there and back that got me some new mileage:

Friday:
I-81 S to I-26 near Johnson City, TN
I-26 W to I-40 in Asheville, NC (plus a few other stops in the area)
I-40 W to US-74 in Clyde, NC
US-74 W all the way to TN-68 in Ducktown, TN
TN-68/GA-60/GA-5 S to US-76 in Blue Ridge, GA
US-76/GA-515/I-575 S to I-75, I-75 to Atlanta

Sunday:
I-85 to I-985 in Suwanee, GA
I-985/US-23/US-74 N to I-40 in Clyde, NC
I-40 E to US-64 in Morganton, NC
US-64/US-321 TRUCK to US-321 in Lenoir, NC
US-321 N to US-421 in Boone, NC
US-421 S to I-77
I-77 N to I-81, I-81 to Blacksburg

I've done quite a few of those routes; I'm looking for an excuse to go to the Atlanta area so I can use US 19 south all the way from the state line. I've done most of the other state line crossings, including the connector from Blue Ridge to Ducktown.

Is the four-laning of 321 south of Blowing Rock finished? They've been working on that for years.
My memory of US-19 in NC and GA is kind of foggy (and I've never done the portion between I-26 and Elizabethton) but I remember it being a somewhat annoying drive, switching off rather quickly from aggressive Atlanta commuter traffic to slowpoke tourist traffic headed for the mountains once the expressway portion ends near Dahlonega.

The US-321 widening project finished up earlier this year, making US-321 four lanes from Boone to the SC state line.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Naked.Driver on August 29, 2018, 02:32:44 AM
Naked.Driver, I just want to point something out, since you've done it in more than one thread: The default font size on this forum is 10, and that's what you should be using. There is no reason to make it 12-size font.
okay, got that changed. sorry it took me so long.
i made it larger so i could read it more easily.
bummer! no colors, no special fonts, how boring!☻
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Naked.Driver on August 29, 2018, 02:53:35 AM
my second trip of 2018 was to eureka, mo, the end of the bam (https://www.bigbamride.com/).
june 16: started very late with former housemate following in his car. day changed shortly after getting underway.
june 17: several safety naps. arrived in eureka around 1500. parked car, took bike off it and put in his. he and i then shared the driving to joplin, the beginning of the ride.
i rode off and on the next several days on the route they gave us. it was a grueling effort, and i suffered a number of misfortunes. but i had fun anyway.
i arrived in eureka around 1500 on the 22nd.
june 22: rode to car, mounted bike on rack, headed home. along the way i got most of the business loops on i-44.
in springfield i switched to u-160 as i needed a small piece of that to have all of it in mo, and from i-25 in co to end at u-67. the day changed with me parked at a gas station in willard.
june 23: finished the piece of 160, got the rest of mo-39, then made my way back, arriving around 1830.
i was too tired to start out for my next adventure, and that delayed me enough that i had to forgo part of it.
total driving distance was around 1200 miles. biking was around 300 but i did less than that.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Naked.Driver on August 29, 2018, 03:28:47 AM
my third major road trip of 2018
june 24: underway around 0430. alas, i had to nap several hours while en route. i had planned to go to chi for their parade, but that idea proved unworkable so i altered the route after stopping in davenport for a bit.
i picked up the rest of u-61 i needed in ia (had flat tire at zwingle), then got all of that road i needed in wi, plus most of u-14 there. the day changed with me on 61, not sure exactly where.
june 25: after sleeping at coon valley, i headed out and stopped in la crosse to get a new insurance card as mine had been damaged during the bam. was on u-51 heading north when the day changed.
june 26: slept on a side road near hazelhurst. drove to mi, picked up u-2, and was taking that east to complete it in mi when i had a misfortune. i was stopped for a nap on a residential street in wakefield (gogebic co) in midafternoon when the county mounties came by and woke me up. because i was so tired, i failed their tests and they arrested me (charge was driving under the influence of drugs; i told them the only drug they would find in me was caffeine)! they took me to jail where i spent most of the night; the day changed.
june 27: they released me around 0400 and took me back to my car. i then proceeded to drive to where u-45 meets 2 and went north on that but napped a little in watersmeet. from there i drove to mi-28 and proceeded across the u. p.
in the middle of nowhere, the convenience spare tire failed! it took four hours for the roadside assistance to reach me and tow me to ishpeming! there, i got the tire replaced but got no spare.
the day changed, and i slept.
june 28: on to sault ste. marie. i crossed the international bridge to gain the end of i-75, then went south on that road, crossing into the mitten later in the day. having lost almost a whole day between the jail time and the tire, i knew my county hunt, which i had planned to complete the state, would fail. i did get nine of the fourteen i needed, mostly along i-75 with a side trip to pick up oscoda and montmorency. the day changed before i completed the latter.
june 29: finished the counties on 75 north of bay city, then went to u-127 and gained gratiot before switching to i-69, then 96.
i was now racing against time to make it to trek fest in riverside. the day changed while i was in illinois.
june 30: i had hoped to run in a 5k race in riverside, but my body was too tired to get me there in time. i made it to the trek fest parade, then headed home. tried to nap in a rest area but was unsuccessful. got to my area around 1930, but stayed in a store parking lot using wi-fi as my phone got no signal for some reason. after doing what i needed, i arrived home around 2130 just as a huge thunderstorm arrived. i stayed in the car waiting for it to pass, then took the bare essentials into the house and slept in the car as my bed got wet in the storm.
total mileage was around 3000. i completed wi-16 and mi-28, now have i-75 from south of atlanta to end at the international bridge, u-2 from duluth to end at st. ignace, and a piece of u-127.
it took the gogebic county hospital about six weeks to get the blood test results back! then the charges were dropped.
i had one more drive, which will be reported later.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Naked.Driver on August 29, 2018, 04:17:03 AM
i rode in ragbrai® (https://ragbrai.com/) july 21-28, but did no driving. i gained lots of new highways and counties on the bike though.
the event is logged on dailymile (http://www.dailymile.com/people/davethebaref). worst bummers were wearing out and taking a small hit from a car (damaged the vehicle more than me).
before that i drove to a chess tournament in cedar rapids on 07/13. i got there just as it was to begin, and found no one there! i had arrived twenty-four hours too early! so i just slept in the car and hung out in c. r. until the event got underway. no new highways. mileage was about 300.
on 08/24 and following i had a busy weekend planned.
august 24: first was another chess event in coralville. i was delayed by numerous last-minute snafus, and on the way had a major one: the bike rack broke and the cycle fell off! it dragged on the pavement for a ways before i stopped, and i found the rear wheel was destroyed. see photograph.(https://dnetd3r67cewl.cloudfront.net/GuwKnITwko5Dq5RBqUiJ_oS9hb8=/fit-in/640x640/https://d2d6zexjsynj7u.cloudfront.net/photos/989925/9b851d7bac2afd8a23b40af08d280b50.jpg)
i played in the tournament, tied the trunk lid down, and headed out. the day changed about then.
august 25: the ratchet strap came loose and a county mounty stopped me to tell me so just outside mechanicsville on ia-38. i got it tied and drove to olin for a nap.
when i got up around 1000, i finished ia-64 (or at least thought i needed it as it had not been recorded as being done, but in looking back though my records i found i had completed it years before!) and 38, plus got a big chunk of ia-136 i needed. stopped in waterloo for cedar valley pride fest. on to near ames for an event called the full moon hike at peterson pits.
after that, i came back home though spent some time downtown as the day changed; i pulled in my drive around 0200 on the 26th. mileage was about 500. i had hoped to gain all the highways i needed in northeast iowa but there was not enough time therefor. i need to set aside a whole weekend and should be able to complete all the rest of the highways i need in the state.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: hbelkins on August 29, 2018, 11:45:05 AM
Hopefully, you insisted on a blood test to prove that you were not under the influence of any intoxicants after you were arrested.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: froggie on August 29, 2018, 11:50:49 AM
Got to Minnesota late last night (like, almost midnight late) after 3.5 days of occasionally-marathon-style driving.  Until I hit US 45 outside Joliet, IL, most of it was NOT on 4-lane highways but largely on 2-lane state routes I had not traveled before.  Got new state and/or US route mileage in 6 states, and new Interstate mileage in 3.  Also unexpectedly got new state mileage while trying to figure out a way to get past the flooding outside Madison, WI (which had shut down I-90/94 between Tomah and Portage, along with several state routes, US 12, and US 14.  Total mileage just under 2K (1,978).  Have not figured out yet how I'm heading back East....just that it'll be next week.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Naked.Driver on August 29, 2018, 12:36:59 PM
Hopefully, you insisted on a blood test to prove that you were not under the influence of any intoxicants after you were arrested.
of course. that was what took them six weeks! they kept pushing back my arraignment date and finally said the charges were dropped.
six weeks to analyze a blood sample?! something tells me i would not want to go to that hospital! its link is gogebic county hospital (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=10&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjswvmH2JLdAhUB04MKHYlBCcEQFjAJegQIAhAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.michigan.gov%2Fmdhhs%2F0%2C5885%2C7-339-73970_5461_66805-287670--%2C00.html&usg=AOvVaw16ECwCoFKfbgLbFp-IAwSh).
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Naked.Driver on August 29, 2018, 12:50:45 PM
Got to Minnesota late last night (like, almost midnight late) after 3.5 days of occasionally-marathon-style driving.  Until I hit US 45 outside Joliet, IL, most of it was NOT on 4-lane highways but largely on 2-lane state routes I had not traveled before.  Got new state and/or US route mileage in 6 states, and new Interstate mileage in 3.  Also unexpectedly got new state mileage while trying to figure out a way to get past the flooding outside Madison, WI (which had shut down I-90/94 between Tomah and Portage, along with several state routes, US 12, and US 14.  Total mileage just under 2K (1,978).  Have not figured out yet how I'm heading back East....just that it'll be next week.
ugh! floods. well, at least you got to drive on a fairly pretty road (14). i have yet to drive on 12 in that area. i still need most of 10 in wi and a bit in mn (from where it leaves i-694 to i-39) before it goes into the clinched book (i have all of the mi segment, and the rest w of msp).
on the michigan adventure, i found that tomah was the nearest place on my route that had a franchise for ljs®. so i stopped there and got two pieces of fish without all the other stuff.
if you need any of interstates 94, 57, or 74 western (88 western goes away from the direction you want), you might consider picking those up on your way home. u. s. highways include 10, 31, 41, 231, and 421.
do you collect counties also? you should have picked up a bunch on that route.
happy and safe travels!
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Mark68 on September 06, 2018, 03:03:01 PM
Just did a (relatively) short road trip for Labor Day weekend: Parker, CO to Deadwood, SD (by way of Devils Tower) on Saturday. Then around the Black Hills (including Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse) on Sunday. Spearfish Canyon, Sturgis & Rapid City on Monday, then home on Tuesday.

Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: froggie on September 06, 2018, 04:41:59 PM
Just completed 5,279 miles.  A 12-day journey out to Minnesota and back to visit family and a few friends along the way.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: D-Dey65 on October 05, 2018, 09:43:26 PM
The NYC Tri-State excursion quest is on as of Next Saturday.


I haven't set a date yet on when I'm returning, but it will be before Halloween.


Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: US71 on October 08, 2018, 09:59:29 AM
I just finished a 4200 mile strip to the RMCA meet in Hershey, PA, the Mentor Bridge meet, and a quick visit to Chicago (south suburbs) to visit my cousin. Almost all of it was 2-lane road, including the old National Road.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: D-Dey65 on October 10, 2018, 06:43:41 AM
Now Hurricane Michael is putting my road trip plans on the fence!


Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Roadgeekteen on December 19, 2018, 10:33:20 PM
What do you guys have planned? I might be flying and driving to the grand canyon in april.
Well, that didn't happen. I went to Philadelphia in April. I did get a lot of new road mileage on my trip to Quebec City that I went on in July.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: US 41 on December 30, 2018, 12:06:16 PM
The week before Christmas I drove to Key West. I was able to add Florida and South Carolina to the list of states I've drove in. I'm now up to 36.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Roadgeekteen on December 30, 2018, 12:19:16 PM
In late August, I went to Vermont. I had been there before but this time I went into NY and almost into Canada.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: sparker on January 02, 2019, 01:20:07 AM
I just got back from what (obviously) was my last road trip of 2018 -- home (San Jose) to various SoCal points and back in 2 days (12/30, 12/31).  Rode with a friend from the audio business -- the purpose of the trip for both of us was dropping off and picking up various pieces of gear; his in Buena Park, and mine out in the desert in Hesperia and Apple Valley.  The trip actually started and ended in Hollister at his place; I simply ferried my share of stuff down and back from San Jose.  So the route was (or ended up being):

West on local roads and CA 156 to US 101, US 101 all the way to its southern terminus, I-5 south to I-605, I-605 to CA 91, CA 91 east to the Buena Park destination (right off the Valley View exit), CA 91 east to CA 57, CA 57 north to I-10, I-10 east to Ontario (Haven Ave. exit, where the hotel was located); once checked in, back east on I-10 and north on I-15 to Bear Valley Road (actually the dividing line between Hesperia and Victorville), east to my storage area on BV Road right at the Mojave River crossing, and back via south "I" Street in Hesperia to Main Street, west on Main to the Wood Grill restaurant, where we had dinner, then back west to I-15, south to I-10 and Haven, then back to the hotel.  The next morning repeated the previous day route-wise, but extended east on BV into Apple Valley, then north to the audio-repair business owned by my friend down there near CA 18 and Navajo Road.  After a couple of hours exchanging equipment and talking shop, we headed back through Victorville on CA 18 and eventually made it over to US 395 in Adelanto.  From there was simple:  395 north to CA 58, CA 58 west to CA 99, CA 99 north to CA 152, CA 152 west to CA 156, and CA 156+local roads back to Hollister.  The following is, in order seen, what I saw road-wise along the way:

>  The US 101 improvements through Prundale were decidedly "done on the cheap"; some retaining walls and interchanges with county roads G11 and G12 (with very narrow alignments under the overpasses); the substandard west CA 156 interchange remains "as is", along with the section of 4-lane "quasi-conventional" south into Salinas:  private access points remain, but a continuous K-rail is now down the middle, turning crossing roads into RIRO's.  Let's put it this way:  for those fictional dreamers who envision US 101 as a potential Interstate, this "upgrade" doesn't help their cause much.
>  Lots of construction between Camp Roberts and Paso Robles; looks like they're upgrading some of the narrow bridges left over from the original '50's freeway segment as well as doing preliminary work to upgrade the expressway section just north of Paso Robles to full freeway (the influx of tourists to the wineries along that stretch is probably providing impetus for such a project).  Widening and bridge replacement continues south down to Atascadero, ceases for a bit down through SLO to Arroyo Grande, then construction picks up again south from there to the beginning of the Santa Maria freeway section at Nipomo.  More construction (widening shoulders and repaving) from Los Alamos down to CA 154 and again over Nojoqui Summit between Buellton and Las Cruces as well as spot construction through Gaviota Canyon.  No new projects visible along the Santa Barbara coast -- although traffic was a problem (we were on a deadline -- Buena Park by no later than 2:30) -- congestion continued on and off all along US 101 and I-5 in ELA.  But one thing did strike me -- the 6-laning reconstruction of US 101 in west Ventura County past Rincon Point; D7 managed to squeeze 6 lanes between the adjacent UP tracks and the shore AND add a separate bike lane along the ocean side of the road.  Low-speed almost-RIRO access to the businesses along the ocean side and the La Conchas community on the landward side -- but cross-traffic and private access has been completely eliminated.  Concrete railings separating the bike lane from the SB carriageway and the bike lane from the beach look remarkably similar to the cast railings common to '50's CA freeway construction!   
>Some things confounded me in Ventura County -- there are still only 4 through US 101 lanes (2+2) at both the CA 33 and CA 126 interchanges; this was the cause of much of the congestion.  And still no mention of CA 1 at the Rice Ave. interchange in Oxnard.  D7, get your shit together!  And nothing to report through L.A. proper, except that construction on the new 6th Street Bridge east of downtown L.A. is proceeding well; the art-deco type bents are in place, and the deck is presently being extended west from the anchorage above the US 101 freeway; right now the beams cross the freeway lanes but no further as of 12/30.  The rest of L.A. and Orange counties remained essentially as they were 6 years ago.
> Lots of new development along I-15 between CA 210 and I-215; new Rialto housing extends all the way out to the freeway just west of the Glen Helen event center.  This was my first time using the newly-configured I-15/215 Devore interchange; let's just say it's a vast improvement over the previous scheme, particularly by providing separate I-15 truck lanes in both directions that place that traffic well to the right side of the carriageway.  Although there are room for 5 lanes in either direction on I-15, the carriageway is only striped for 3; it's likely express and/or HOV lanes are in the works for later deployment.  Also saw for the 1st time the new Ranchero Road interchange on I-15 in Hesperia; it was U.C. when I left.  Nothing spectacular; it just breaks up a long stretch of roadway. 
> On the return trip, I did notice that there is grading parallel to and north of Air Parkway between Victorville and Adelanto; this is the planned route of the long-delayed CA 18 connector between I-15 and US 395 north of Victorville (with a planned extension bypassing Apple Valley to the north).  Have to check on that to see if it's coincidental or actually part of that project.  Also, the very busy stretch of US 395 between Adelanto and Kramer Jct., which features plenty of rough pavement, is getting a spot upgrade at the top of the hill about 5 miles south of Kramer; looks like the present 2-lane + directional truck climbers is being replaced by a segment of 4-lane; right now they're just shoring up the sides of the cut; no indication whether this will be a full 2+2 or simply 4-lanes with a K-rail.  OK, folks, this is the piece de resistance of the trip:  the CA 58 Kramer Bypass is trucking right along; although the 58/395 interchange is only in the grading stage, west of there to the beginning of the Boron segment of existing freeway is already paved!  Heading west on the old road, the final curve that until recently divided into the freeway lanes now extends as a 2-lane facility along the EB lanes, with WB traffic diverted onto its own lanes just east of the Boron Rd. interchange; they're in the process of cutting the newly-paved lanes into the existing facility.  For a second, I thought that D8 was planning on temporarily rerouting CA 58 up US 395 to the new alignment to eliminate the RR crossing on 58 west of Kramer -- but that would put the reroute on the US 395 grade crossing, which would undoubtedly create even more problems at the intersection.  So I'm guessing that the interchange -- and the grade separation east of there -- will be built later in the contract; the paved section will likely be unused until the entire project is completed.  Heading west on CA 58, the 4-lane stretch in central Bakersfield is being widened to 6 lanes, likely pending the completion of the connection to the Westside Parkway. 
> Once on CA 99, there was only sporadic activity (spot fixes, including paving the previously gravel inner shoulders in several locations, were seen up to just north of Tulare.  From about 4 miles south of CA 198 all the way to the previously-widened Kingsburg/Selma segment, CA 99 is now 6 full lanes (although they retained several under-16' overpasses).  One thing I did notice:  there is no mention of Visalia at the CA 137 interchange in Tulare (historically, NB traffic was directed to Visalia there over a combination of CA 137 and CA 63); Visalia-bound NB traffic doesn't see a reference until before the CA 198 junction. 
> HSR construction dominates the scenery over and east of CA 99 from south Fresno all the way to Madera.  My friend looked at the huge structure south of Fresno and asked "what the fuck is THAT?" (I had to answer "your taxpayer dollars!").  The San Joaquin River bridge is no less impressive, dwarfing both the original RR trestle and the widened CA 99 bridge.  Once we turned onto CA 152, there was nothing significant to mention save the repaving of the section of 152 around the north side of San Luis reservoir (which was quite full!). 

Most of my current work projects will be essentially done by April; except for a trade show in late July that I need to prepare for, I may actually for once have a bit of free time to get out on the road(s) again.  On the tentative agenda:  the CA 7/111/86 continuum down south (I'll take my nice Pentax that I use for product photography with me and try to get some nice pix along the way) -- and maybe even traversing the potential I-11 corridor from south of PHX all the way up to I-80.  No pix this trip; my buddy who drove this trip had but one credo: "I fucking HATE to stop", so I didn't press the matter (and he was averaging 80-85 on the way home anyway).  Till next time..................
 
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: 1995hoo on January 02, 2019, 02:05:33 PM
We went to Florida for Christmas, as we often do, but this time we drove both ways. Total came to 2,533.6 miles. My wife swears she'll never do it again.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Roadgeekteen on January 02, 2019, 02:50:42 PM
We went to Florida for Christmas, as we often do, but this time we drove both ways. Total came to 2,533.6 miles. My wife swears she'll never do it again.
Yeah, never been on it but I heard that the drive to Florida is quite boring. Not a lot of interesting things to see.     
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: 1995hoo on January 02, 2019, 03:26:56 PM
We went to Florida for Christmas, as we often do, but this time we drove both ways. Total came to 2,533.6 miles. My wife swears she'll never do it again.
Yeah, never been on it but I heard that the drive to Florida is quite boring. Not a lot of interesting things to see.     

Especially when you've done it before. In her case, though, it wasn't so much boredom as it was being sick of sitting in the car. We took one of her cars because it's the newest and it's the best of our cars for a long road trip, but she kept insisting I do all the driving. Then she complained that she was sick of sitting in the passenger seat. Hey, every time we stopped I asked her if she wanted to drive instead!

I got in enough new roads in the northern part of Florida that I found some of the drive interesting. But the part between Virginia and Florida doesn't lend itself to a lot of new routes at this point because the only Interstate routes we haven't used are quite far out of the way, and my wife gets annoyed on the US highways when I slow down to pass through the towns that have lower speed limits.


(Edited to remove duplicate quote)
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: kphoger on January 02, 2019, 03:51:58 PM
In her case, though, it wasn't so much boredom as it was being sick of sitting in the car. We took one of her cars because it's the newest and it's the best of our cars for a long road trip, but she kept insisting I do all the driving. Then she complained that she was sick of sitting in the passenger seat. Hey, every time we stopped I asked her if she wanted to drive instead!

On any drive over about 300 miles, my wife and I switch off every time we stop–which is once every two hours or so.  That prevents either one of us from getting too road-weary, and it allows both of us to nap every so often too.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: webny99 on January 02, 2019, 07:23:55 PM
On any drive over about 300 miles, my wife and I switch off every time we stop–which is once every two hours or so.  That prevents either one of us from getting too road-weary, and it allows both of us to nap every so often too.

My parents do this too (or at least used to), but our stops are usually closer to every 3 hours/200 miles.

Now that I can drive, it's me and my dad (and sometimes my sister) that do the rotating.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: US 41 on January 02, 2019, 08:32:57 PM

Especially when you've done it before. In her case, though, it wasn't so much boredom as it was being sick of sitting in the car. We took one of her cars because it's the newest and it's the best of our cars for a long road trip, but she kept insisting I do all the driving. Then she complained that she was sick of sitting in the passenger seat. Hey, every time we stopped I asked her if she wanted to drive instead!

I got in enough new roads in the northern part of Florida that I found some of the drive interesting. But the part between Virginia and Florida doesn't lend itself to a lot of new routes at this point because the only Interstate routes we haven't used are quite far out of the way, and my wife gets annoyed on the US highways when I slow down to pass through the towns that have lower speed limits.

I try to stay off of the interstates as much as possible anymore, especially in the eastern US. One small hiccup and your sitting in a parking lot for an hour at least which is way more annoying than slowing down for small towns.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: kphoger on January 02, 2019, 08:57:58 PM

On any drive over about 300 miles, my wife and I switch off every time we stop–which is once every two hours or so.  That prevents either one of us from getting too road-weary, and it allows both of us to nap every so often too.

My parents do this too (or at least used to), but our stops are usually closer to every 3 hours/200 miles.

Now that I can drive, it's me and my dad (and sometimes my sister) that do the rotating.

300 miles on a tank of gas is a reasonable benchmark in our Pathfinder (as well as in the Grand Caravan we used to own), so pushing on to 200 miles has no advantage over stopping at 140 miles.  Except for other contributing factors, we fill up at every other stop, which makes the stops approximately 110 to 160 miles apart on average.  We frequently get more than 300 miles to a tank of gas (more like 330), but the cargo box in a stiff head wind can drop fuel economy down by several mpg, to the point that even 300 is pushing it.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: 1995hoo on January 03, 2019, 08:50:46 AM
We made it 515 miles on a tank this past weekend, though an overnight stop was involved. We don’t generally stop at any particular times unless we have a hotel reservation made in advance or we know of something we want to stop to see along the way (the New River Gorge Bridge being an example from a past trip). In general, we just stop when one of us feels the need or when the car needs gas.

515 miles on a tank is pretty good for a 3.5-litre V-6!
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: jeffandnicole on January 03, 2019, 09:15:33 AM
We went to Florida for Christmas, as we often do, but this time we drove both ways. Total came to 2,533.6 miles. My wife swears she'll never do it again.
Yeah, never been on it but I heard that the drive to Florida is quite boring. Not a lot of interesting things to see.     

It's interesting until you get to DC (which for 1995hoo is meaningless).  Then from DC to Richmond isn't bad.  After Richmond though, it's boring as hell until Florida.

We drive this once a year because we bring a dog with us.  At least he's great in the car, and even needs fewer bathroom breaks than us!
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: vdeane on January 03, 2019, 01:01:02 PM
Yeah, I-95 through the Carolinas and Georgia is probably one of the duller drives I've done in my life.  Richmond/DC is interesting if you catch it at a rare time when you can actually move faster than a complete stop (and which marks the transition between South and Mid-Atlantic), but south of there, literally the only interesting thing on the entire nine hour drive (aside from the odd bit of concrete pavement and southern-style rail, if you're into those things; there are also some guide signs covered in pine sap, which really set the mood) is the bridge over Lake Marion in Santee, SC.
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: 1995hoo on January 03, 2019, 01:40:02 PM
The points all y'all are making are one reason why I miss the old very un-PC South of the Border billboards. They broke up the boredom. Now there aren't all that many billboards for South of the Border at all. The place is still there, but I haven't stopped there in an extremely long time (I say "I" rather than "we" because my wife and I have never stopped there on any of our trips together).
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: webny99 on January 03, 2019, 03:17:01 PM
Yeah, I-95 through the Carolinas and Georgia is probably one of the duller drives I've done in my life.  Richmond/DC is interesting if you catch it at a rare time when you can actually move faster than a complete stop (and which marks the transition between South and Mid-Atlantic), but south of there, literally the only interesting thing on the entire nine hour drive (aside from the odd bit of concrete pavement and southern-style rail, if you're into those things; there are also some guide signs covered in pine sap, which really set the mood) is the bridge over Lake Marion in Santee, SC.

Despite that, I would love the opportunity to take I-95 from Richmond to Florida.
Traffic flow and so forth would be very interesting to study. Similar to the Thruway: the road is boring, but the drivers make it interesting!
Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: leroys73 on January 05, 2019, 09:26:10 PM
I didn't get in all i planned but still managed a few miles.

First are motorcycle trips:  Iron Butt Association www.ironbutt.com Saddle Sore 1000 (1000 miles in 24 hrs or less) all in Texas (Sierra Blanca and back), Saddle Sore 3000 (Dallas to Fargo, ND to Billings, MT to Colorado Springs to Santa Rosa, NM to Dallas) in less than 72 hours, Saddle Sore 1000 Dallas to Cincinnati, Saddle Sore 1000 Cincinnati to Dallas.  These along with my Solar Eclipse Saddle Sore 1000 (had to be at a total eclipse site for the start of it) in 2017 qualified me for the IBA Mile Eater Silver.  Then there was the trip to Moonshine, IL (Off I-70 near Casey) ride to eat.  An aborted (tropical storm) trip to Key West but made it to Mobile.  A ride to the Black Hills.  Several other shorter trips in Texas and Oklahoma.

Second are 4 wheel trips other than several in Texas and Oklahoma:  Return from Detroit Jan. 2, 2018; most National Parks in Utah and the North Rim Grand Canyon, Arizona; West Palm, Sarasota, and Plant City Florida; Louisville, KY; Smoky Mountains Nat'l PK.

Just turned 70 on Jan 2 and plan to keep those wheels rolling for a long time.

Title: Re: 2018 road trips
Post by: Max Rockatansky on January 05, 2019, 09:31:12 PM
2018 was a little bit of an oddball year as I only traveled out of state twice which probably is the lowest number of times I've done since circa 2010.  BUT, I did do a ton of day trips and overnight travel throughout California.  To that end I ended up fleshing out my road album collection quite a bit and got a lot of stuff off my wish list that had been bugging me.  My last major project of the year was the El Camino Viejo in San Emidgio Canyon which really is just a hiking trail now but holds major significance given it predated not only the Ridge Route but even the Stockton-Los Angeles Road.  I'm planning on following up with a drive down San Francisquito Canyon, Newhall Pass, CA 14, CA 138 and possibly Forest Route 95 before I head out to Florida.