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User Content => Road Trips => Topic started by: US 41 on December 19, 2015, 11:28:03 PM

Title: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US 41 on December 19, 2015, 11:28:03 PM
Spring (week of February 21st) = Even though February is still Winter this is my Spring trip as it is much warmer in Texas than Indiana. I'm going back to the Big Bend Region of Texas. This time I will finish what I started. I will be driving into Chihuahua, Mexico, via the Ojinaga POE. Definitely going to see the Peguis Canyon. I will also be going to the Big Bend Nat'l Park again. My mom is planning on going with me. Last time I went by myself.

Summer (date undecided) = I will be driving to Williston, ND (to see my uncle). I will also be going up to Canada while I am up there. My dad is going with me on this one.

Fall- Undecided

Winter- None (I don't take long road trips in the winter.)
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: AlexandriaVA on December 20, 2015, 12:01:10 AM
Sort-of inverted, but I'm looking to continue to stay under the median VMT for my age/gender category. Last year will probably be my all-time record due to shift work I was doing, resulting in working only 7 days per two-week cycle (7 days *12 hrs vs. 10 days * 8 hours). I often filled up only once a month during that time!
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: Rothman on December 22, 2015, 11:41:26 AM
Really hoping to get out to Utah to visit the in-laws for this upcoming summer.  Trying to plan out how to get there and back in a "reasonable" amount of time (a couple of weeks).  Headed out, I'm hoping to hit the new Pullman NPS site in Chicago, visit a friend in the Quad Cities and revisit Nauvoo (abandoned Mormon city that was once the size of Chicago).  Cut across MO to Saint Joseph and then visit Homestead National Monument.  Looking forward to revisiting Rocky Mountain NP and Dinosaur NM, especially now that the quarry building's been refurbished.  That's more-or-less set.

The way back from Utah is much less set.  We'll be swinging south, but the question is how far south.  We'll definitely hit Great Sand Dunes in CO and Capulin Volcano in NM, but from there out, I've got some things to work out.  Might head to Fort Worth to visit another friend.  We'll see.

Of course, it depends on avoiding financial disasters, such as having a roof leak like we did last year.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: rawmustard on December 22, 2015, 01:44:14 PM
I'm giving strong consideration to going to Milwaukee MLK Day weekend as part of another Chicago Blues outreach trip, although I may spend one or two nights in Door County. But I may scrap that if I decide to attend the North American International Auto Show in Detroit that weekend. I think I'm pretty much set on the York meet (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=17104.0) and am giving strong consideration to Birmingham (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=17101.0) as well. I might also try to get to cities I haven't yet been on my own, and spontaneous trips are always possible if I have the time and resources.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: hbelkins on December 22, 2015, 03:40:18 PM
None unless it starts raining money.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: Thing 342 on December 22, 2015, 04:24:49 PM
I don't have much non-requisite driving set in stone. However, I may get to drive to St. Louis in April, or fly out to San Francisco in May. I'll probably have a job this summer, so I won't have as much time to go on trips as I used to.   
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: noelbotevera on December 22, 2015, 09:33:40 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on December 22, 2015, 03:40:18 PM
None unless it starts raining money.
(in a weak attempt at humor, which I fail at in this forum) There was Rain Rock, Ohio, where people thought it rained rocks, and rocks were left there. Maybe Rain Money, Kentucky starts existing then quickly becomes a ghost town cause of the hundred dollar bills left on the grass.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US71 on December 22, 2015, 10:26:27 PM
I'm hoping to make at least a couple road meets this year, maybe the Gasconade bridge meet.

Otherwise, I want to explore US 71 north of Kansas City, all the way to Minnesota.

Maybe finish US 79 west of Carthage, TX

Beyond that, see where the roads take me.  :wave:
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: JMoses24 on December 23, 2015, 01:34:30 AM
Probably another northeast excursion in June. Beyond that, maybe South Bend for the planned road meet, if I can swing it.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: SignGeek101 on December 23, 2015, 02:18:58 AM
Will probably be working next summer on a job that I will have few days off. But if I can get away, it would either be Northern Canada (Yukon) or Northern Ontario. The Northern US (North Dakota) is also a possibility, though unlikely unless I renew my passport.

Quote from: US 41 on December 19, 2015, 11:28:03 PM
Summer (date undecided) = I will be driving to Williston, ND (to see my uncle). I will also be going up to Canada while I am up there. My dad is going with me on this one.

Guess you'll be in my neck of the woods then.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US71 on December 23, 2015, 09:07:24 AM
Quote from: JMoses24 on December 23, 2015, 01:34:30 AM
Probably another northeast excursion in June. Beyond that, maybe South Bend for the planned road meet, if I can swing it.

I'm hoping to make that, as well. Maybe an opportunity to check the old National Road along the way.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: D-Dey65 on December 24, 2015, 05:29:01 PM
I'm not sure when, but it will involve another trip to the New York Tri-State area, with a detour in the Philly area.

Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: The High Plains Traveler on December 24, 2015, 05:51:20 PM
Time's passing by and I absolutely want to get to Alaska. So, I'll be checking cruises, preferably on the edges of the travel season. If I get there, I'd like to do a one-way cruise where I rent a car and do some tripping around Alaska. Then, fly back to the point of departure (Seattle or Vancouver). It's entirely possible we could drive to the starting point.

I also expect to make a trip to Minnesota where, I'm told, I should have twin grandsons by Spring.

Also, I hope to have a cabin fever trip in late February. Normally, that would take us places like California or Texas. This depends, though, on how the El Nino weather is behaving; I have no desire to drive into torrential rains and mudslides.

A roadmeet is also a possibility, I have thought about Duluth, with Minnesota being our old home.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: wanderer2575 on December 24, 2015, 07:03:02 PM
Mrs. wanderer and I have a cruise out of Baltimore in early May and we will make a roadtrip driving between home (metro Detroit) and the port.  Last time we did this we drove US-30 out much of the way; I'll have to find another route (maybe US-40).  I welcome any suggestions.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: texaskdog on December 24, 2015, 07:04:15 PM
Austin to Yellowstone via Colorado.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: leroys73 on December 26, 2015, 12:12:33 AM
Sounds like some good trips several of you are going to undertake.  I am always partial to the Rockies, eastern Utah, western Canada, and Big Bend country.  I'll probably make it to Big Bend again in the fall by motorcycle.

Solo motorcycle trips:
     I hope I can make it to Jacksonville, FL in March for the Iron Butt annual party.  I have had to cancel three times because of different reasons. 
     I'll be in 41's neighborhood about mid April for the Moonshine Lunch Run (Casey, IL).  It is a ride in by people on all types of motorcycles from all parts of the US and Canada.  Big fund raiser for local charities.
     Around June 6 I head out for three weeks riding to the northeast with my turn around on Newfoundland after a short visit to Labrador.  After this trip my motorcycle will have taken me to 49 states (missing HI), DC, and all provinces/territories except Nunavut. 
     Then at the end of July I will fly to Alaska to take an Ayres Adventure tour by motorcycle from Anchorage, AK up the Dalton Highway on their motorcycle. 
     I am sure there will be some other motorcycle trips in the year.  Maybe even one to Key West as it has been in my thoughts for awhile.

Then of course I am sure The Wife will come up with some road trip by car for the two of us or maybe even one to include my daughter. 

I really would like not to take both the Dalton and Newfoundland rides in the same summer but at my age I am running low on birthdays.  Plus those two trips have been put off for at least three years and I have to ride the Dalton before my buddy does.     
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: slorydn1 on December 27, 2015, 02:30:08 AM
Sometime early next summer I would like to take my wife up to southwestern lower Michigan and northeastern Illinois where I grew up. She would also like to see the Museum of Science and Industry and Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. So far that's the only somewhat planned road trip for 2016.

I'm sure there will be plenty of 1 and 2 day jaunts up to the mountains and back as well, we just cant seem to stay away from eastern Tennessee/western NC.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: dgolub on December 27, 2015, 09:50:13 AM
In terms of meets, I'm planning to go to Central PA, Corridor H, and Albany.  Corridor H will definitely be overnight, and the other two will probably be so as well.  My company is also having an off-site in the Poconos, so I'll be going to that, too.  Plus a whole batch of to-be-determined day trips, as usual.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: mefailenglish on December 27, 2015, 11:48:53 AM
Well, in February I'll be in Arizona / Nevada / Death Valley for ~10 days.  And in September I have a work trip to Salt Lake (which is somewhat unfortunate for me since I was just there this past year).  I plan to either go out a week early or stay a week late to tour some national parks in the southern part of the state.

I hope to take a couple of weeks off in the early summer for a road trip, but I haven't figured out a destination.  One thought is I might fly to MSP and explore around Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and the Dakotas.  Another possibility is to fly to DEN, and explore more out that way.  A third possibility is heading toward upstate New York and northwest PA to finish up the counties in that neck of the woods.  No matter which way I'm going I'll be visiting NPS units and hopefully some minor league baseball.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: leroys73 on December 27, 2015, 12:30:36 PM
Quote from: mefailenglish on December 27, 2015, 11:48:53 AM
Well, in February I'll be in Arizona / Nevada / Death Valley for ~10 days.  And in September I have a work trip to Salt Lake (which is somewhat unfortunate for me since I was just there this past year).  I plan to either go out a week early or stay a week late to tour some national parks in the southern part of the state.

I hope to take a couple of weeks off in the early summer for a road trip, but I haven't figured out a destination.  One thought is I might fly to MSP and explore around Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and the Dakotas.  Another possibility is to fly to DEN, and explore more out that way.  A third possibility is heading toward upstate New York and northwest PA to finish up the counties in that neck of the woods.  No matter which way I'm going I'll be visiting NPS units and hopefully some minor league baseball.

DV is a very different drive but I enjoyed it even with the heat in May and again in July.  February should make for an extremely enjoyable time.

Southern UT will be another awesome UT trip. 
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: hbelkins on December 27, 2015, 08:20:15 PM
The same conference that I attended in Annapolis, Md., this past September is going to be in Charleston, WV next year. I can be in Charleston in about three hours -- it's closer than about half of Kentucky is -- so unless there's a ban on out-of-state travel, I plan to attend. The only strange territory will be the streets leading to the hotel, since I don't know where it will be held and I've never stayed at any of Charleston's convention hotels.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: KEVIN_224 on December 27, 2015, 08:31:37 PM
Depending on money and weather, I hope to touch 4 states on New Year's Day. I usually do a day trip to Portland, ME or Philadelphia (I live in central Connecticut). The quickest way to do 4 states would be by going north on I-91 to Brattleboro, VT. From US Route 5, you can walk into either Hinsdale, NH via VT/NH Route 119 (from downtown) or Chesterfield, NH via VT/NH Route 9 (north end). The most states I've been in with the first week of the year is 5. 1995 started with a day trip to Baltimore (CT/NY/NJ/DE/MD).
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: corco on December 27, 2015, 09:41:07 PM
I've got some travel plans on the docket, but it'll be limited in quantity (though very high in quality) next year.

I'm expecting to keep it fairly light until the spring - right now the docket is:

1. February - Flying to Portland, Ore. for a conference for work that ends as Presidents' Day weekend begins, but taking an extra day off in addition to Presidents' Day, so I'm planning to spend three days driving around western Oregon/northern California.
2. April - The big highlight of the year. Taking a three week roadtrip through the Balkans next April and May.
3. Summer - I have four daytrips and one overnight trip worth of driving left to finish the Montana state highway system, and will plan on doing that this coming summer. I'd also like to get to the Duluth meet, which, as far as meets go, is relatively easy from here.
4. Fall - TBD. Hoping a roadmeet will pop up somewhere back east in September or October to give me an excuse to get back there for a few days. I may go to South Carolina for work for a few days in September for the TRB Tools of the Trade Transportation Planning Conference, and would likely add a few vacation days onto that trip, if I get to go.

After that, I'll be pretty much out of commission until May 2017.

Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: Thing 342 on December 27, 2015, 11:42:29 PM
Quote from: Thing 342 on December 22, 2015, 04:24:49 PM
I don't have much non-requisite driving set in stone. However, I may get to drive to St. Louis in April, or fly out to San Francisco in May. I'll probably have a job this summer, so I won't have as much time to go on trips as I used to.
Adding on to this post: I do have a few general goals that I'd like to reach: one is to clinch all of the counties in VA (Bath, Highland, and Dickinson, which can all be done in a pair of day trips out of Blacksburg). I also have my eye on the ADHS corridors, with A, B, and K as part of a possible way back from Atlanta in January, and L, G, and Q as part of a potential day trip whenever the new portions of Q open. I'm also thinking about a trip up to Cedar Point this summer, if the money's there.

Nexus 6P

Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: rawmustard on January 02, 2016, 05:44:53 PM
I'm in Indianapolis for the night after finally getting down to see the Hoosier Heartland Corridor between Logansport and Lafayette. This is a very nice stretch of road. I also made a loop through the Purdue campus and took the "new" routing of 52 through town. I also saw just how fast Whitestown is booming, probably as a result of an Amazon Fulfillment Center. The true purpose of the trip is to catch the Chelsea match tomorrow morning (8:30 ET start) at Chatham Tap.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: TravelingBethelite on January 02, 2016, 06:33:26 PM
This is not definite-but I am planning in July to RAGBRAI with my father, so we'd drive out there in late July.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: froggie on January 11, 2016, 10:39:03 AM
I just finished a 4-day roadtrip down to DC for a short transportation conference.  Nothing else currently planned outside of New England or Saratoga Springs, NY...
Title: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: Pete from Boston on January 11, 2016, 05:57:45 PM
Thinking about driving to Toronto just for the hell of it, but airfares are so damn cheap I may just end up flying and renting a car or bike out there.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: freebrickproductions on January 12, 2016, 03:01:46 PM
I know I'm going to be taking a trip down to Guin, AL next week, and over the summer I'll be going down to Port St. Joe, FL and Auburn/Opelika, AL.
I also have plans to go to Birmingham, AL; Chattanooga, TN; Gadsden, AL; Fort Payne, AL; and Atlanta, GA this year.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: 1995hoo on January 12, 2016, 08:31:52 PM
Quote from: The High Plains Traveler on December 24, 2015, 05:51:20 PM
Time's passing by and I absolutely want to get to Alaska. So, I'll be checking cruises, preferably on the edges of the travel season. If I get there, I'd like to do a one-way cruise where I rent a car and do some tripping around Alaska. Then, fly back to the point of departure (Seattle or Vancouver). It's entirely possible we could drive to the starting point.

....

If you're interested in driving, look into Holland America's Glacier Discovery cruise. It's a one-way seven-day itinerary from Seward to Vancouver or vice versa. They also operate the "Cruisetrain," a glass-topped train that runs from the airport in Anchorage to the port in Seward. So you could fly into Anchorage, rent a car and drive around Alaska, then drop the car back at the airport and take the train to the ship. Then fly home from Vancouver. We did something similar for our Alaska cruise in 2005 except we didn't have the time to drive around. Ms1995hoo had won two Delta tickets as a prize at her office Christmas party, so we got an open jaw where we flew out from Reagan to Atlanta to Anchorage on a Saturday, took the Cruisetrain on Sunday and boarded the ship that afternoon, arrived in Vancouver the following Sunday morning, and then spent three days there before flying home on Wednesday going Vancouver to Salt Lake City to Reagan. Worked great. We'd have loved to have explored the Interior before the cruise, but when you're working with free airfare....!




Regarding our roadtrips this year, we don't know yet, mainly because replacing the roof of our house is on the to-do list and I haven't figured out how that will affect the budget. We've considered either a golf trip to PEI and New Brunswick or else a two-week drive to Florida in late June. Maybe I can figure out some way to detour to Alabama to play some of the RTJ Golf Trail courses.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: leroys73 on January 22, 2016, 07:00:05 PM
1995hoo
....
[/quote]

If you're interested in driving, look into Holland America's Glacier Discovery cruise. It's a one-way seven-day itinerary from Seward to Vancouver or vice versa. They also operate the "Cruisetrain," a glass-topped train that runs from the airport in Anchorage to the port in Seward. So you could fly into Anchorage, rent a car and drive around Alaska, then drop the car back at the airport and take the train to the ship. Then fly home from Vancouver. We did something similar for our Alaska cruise in 2005 except we didn't have the time to drive around. Ms1995hoo had won two Delta tickets as a prize at her office Christmas party, so we got an open jaw where we flew out from Reagan to Atlanta to Anchorage on a Saturday, took the Cruisetrain on Sunday and boarded the ship that afternoon, arrived in Vancouver the following Sunday morning, and then spent three days there before flying home on Wednesday going Vancouver to Salt Lake City to Reagan. Worked great. We'd have loved to have explored the Interior before the cruise, but when you're working with free airfare....!




Thanks for the great info. 

The wife and I were planning for a trip to AK to visit her nephew this summer and drive around AK.  Then she was flying back home and work  :-D while I would take a motorcycle trip up the Dalton to Prudhoe Bay. But he nephew will not be in Alaska so we were looking at some options.  This sounds like a good choice.  Thanks.

Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: noelbotevera on January 22, 2016, 10:07:44 PM
Planning to go to Ocean City or Kings Dominion....what do you guys recommend? Also it's sometime in late Junne, so either way the traffic is hell in every possible dimension.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: Jbte on January 26, 2016, 02:08:37 AM
Mi road trips for this year:

-This summer, I plan going back to Durango-Tepic road, totally loved it, I promise bring more pictures than last time
Here's last year trip:
https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=14964.0

-Sierra de las cumbres road trip (Las Cumbres National Park), between Real de Catorce and Monterrey, in canyon road like this:
https://goo.gl/maps/mZn7dwPuwWz

-Hopefully going to the Northwest this summer, probably Oregon, Washington state and British Columbia, only if I get enough cash :P
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: TheHighwayMan3561 on January 26, 2016, 10:51:28 AM
I thought I already threw my two cents in here but I guess not yet  :pan:

I'm hoping for two trips, one back to the Mountain West and the other back to New England (specifically Maine) where I have not visited since 2007.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: TravelingBethelite on January 26, 2016, 10:57:27 AM
Quote from: noelbotevera on January 22, 2016, 10:07:44 PM
Planning to go to Ocean City or Kings Dominion....what do you guys recommend? Also it's sometime in late Junne, so either way the traffic is hell in every possible dimension.

Hypothetically, is there not a dimension with ok traffic?  :sombrero:
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: noelbotevera on January 26, 2016, 11:57:45 AM
Quote from: TravelingBethelite on January 26, 2016, 10:57:27 AM
Quote from: noelbotevera on January 22, 2016, 10:07:44 PM
Planning to go to Ocean City or Kings Dominion....what do you guys recommend? Also it's sometime in late Junne, so either way the traffic is hell in every possible dimension.

Hypothetically, is there not a dimension with ok traffic?  :sombrero:
That's our dimension, but trash overtakes those ok drivers and traffic.

Side note here: I talked with my dad, I picked Kings Dominion  :biggrin:
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US 41 on January 26, 2016, 01:18:17 PM
Quote from: Jbte on January 26, 2016, 02:08:37 AM
Mi road trips for this year:

-This summer, I plan going back to Durango-Tepic road, totally loved it, I promise bring more pictures than last time
Here's last year trip:
https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=14964.0

-Sierra de las cumbres road trip (Las Cumbres National Park), between Real de Catorce and Monterrey, in canyon road like this:
https://goo.gl/maps/mZn7dwPuwWz

-Hopefully going to the Northwest this summer, probably Oregon, Washington state and British Columbia, only if I get enough cash :P

I typed in Zacatecas to Seattle on Google Maps and it says that you'd probably enter in El Paso or Santa Teresa, NM. You could however save between $80-$90 if you used the Ojinaga/Presidio POE. (These prices are in USD)

Torreon - Las Cruces using cuotas
Time / Distance= 9 hrs 31 min, 577 miles
Gas= $53 (30 mpg @ 2.75 per gal)
Tolls= $52 (948 MXN)
Total= $105

Torreon - Las Cruces via Ojinaga/Presidio using libres
Time / Distance= 11 hrs 39 min, 646 miles (+2 hrs 8 min, +69 miles)
Gas= $60 (+$7)
Tolls (Puente Ojinaga)= $2 (24 MXN) (-$50)
Total= $62 (-$43)

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

To add to this I have driven on I-10, US 90, and US 67 from Las Cruces to Presidio, TX. I-10 southeast of El Paso has a speed limit of 80 (130 km/h), US 90 has a speed limit of 75 (120 km/h), and US 67 has a speed limit of 70 (110 km/h). It appears that most of CHIH 67 and MX 49 Libre has a speed limit of 50 mph (80 km/h). If you went this way twice you would save $86 based on my calculations. Also gas prices in most of the US are less than $2 per gallon right now so the sooner you get into the US and the longer you stay in the US, the cheaper the gas will be. The prices should stay down since it is an election year.

In less than a month I will be down in Ojinaga. I plan on driving to Coyame (to see the caves and soak in hot springs) and down to Camargo (just to drive). I'll let you know how it goes (border crossing / road conditions). Just west of Ojinaga, about 20 miles there is also the Peguis Canyon which you might want to check out if you go to this area. It is right off of MX 16 and is free to visit. (The overlook is actually located at a rest area on MX 16.) Ojinaga is also supposedly a safer border town to visit since it is so remote. I can almost guarantee it is safer than Juarez. Often times on http://bwt.cbp.gov/?com=0&pas=1&ped=0&plist=2403 the Presidio POE has no delay. The longest delay I've ever for this crosssing was a 20 minute delay. FYI this crossing is open 24/7 and there are also offices in Ojinaga that sell American Auto Insurance. If you have any more questions feel free to ask.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: Takumi on January 26, 2016, 06:31:50 PM
I plan on going to the Outer Banks at least once, Charlottesville at least once, and perhaps Roanoke and/or Baltimore for potential drum & bass shows. Otherwise my trips are mostly around the Richmond-Hampton Roads area exploring back roads.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: coatimundi on January 27, 2016, 04:07:47 PM
On the larger scale, we'll be driving from Tucson to Monterey in April to bring back some furniture. Taking advantage of the annual rental car migration sale that comes up after Spring Training. Last year, Hertz had it for $1 per day if you picked it up at PHX and I used it for two road trips. Hoping it will be just as attractive this year.
I'm also planning a revisit of some of my favorite river cities in the Midwest, probably in May: Louisville, Cincinnati and probably St. Louis. It just depends on the prices of flights, and Frontier just added an SFO to Cincinnati non-stop. My wife has a conference in Tampa in May though, and they typically run a one-way rental car deal at about that time from Florida, so I may try to combine the trips to minimize cross-country air travel.
I may also take the easy flight to Vegas to rent a car and visit some national parks over there since I have a valid pass right now. That would probably be next month, but it depends on Allegiant's pricing. I've only been to Zion in the summer and early fall.
And there will be another trip down to Southern California at some point to see some US 6 sections.
I'm not totally sure what to check out on these trips, road-wise. I know they have a newer bypass of St. George, Utah I'd like to check out, and maybe some Interstate 11 work closer to Vegas. On the Tucson trip, we usually roll through Bakersfield, so I'll check out the work on the Westside Parkway/CA 99 connection, if it's even started by then, but I've already "clinched" the Westside Parkway to the end of its latest extension back onto Stockdale Highway.

On the smaller scale, I plan to get out to some of the isolated sections of the old El Camino Real. One near King City runs through NFS land and into Fort Hunter-Liggett but, last report I read, it was open. All of the fort is open, but they have a history of randomly closing roads on their land. Another is a section north of Salinas that may or may not be closed. I read something about the county dropping it and closing it off. I would also like to get over the partially paved La Gloria Road, which traverses the Gabilan Range just north of Pinnacles NP. It looks beautiful on StreetView, and we've had good rain this winter, so the hills are making it look like true paradise right now, especially in the afternoon light.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: Alps on January 27, 2016, 06:33:59 PM
Quote from: coatimundi on January 27, 2016, 04:07:47 PM
On the larger scale, we'll be driving from Tucson to Monterey in April to bring back some furniture. Taking advantage of the annual rental car migration sale that comes up after Spring Training. Last year, Hertz had it for $1 per day if you picked it up at PHX and I used it for two road trips. Hoping it will be just as attractive this year.

How does one find out about this and get in on it? How would I find out which origin/destination pairs are discounted? I have a spring trip to PHX...
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: coatimundi on January 27, 2016, 08:28:50 PM
Quote from: Alps on January 27, 2016, 06:33:59 PM
How does one find out about this and get in on it? How would I find out which origin/destination pairs are discounted? I have a spring trip to PHX...
They do it every year but don't publish it until about late February, I think to not get the people who are actually going for Spring Training excited (because the prices are crazy during that period). You typically have to return to either Reno or California, but Hertz opened it up to Colorado and Texas last year. It won't start until early April, when the games are over.
Budget/Avis and Hertz always do it. You'll sometimes see it for National, Thrifty/Alamo and Dollar. I've never seen it for Enterprise.
To find it, you just have to keep looking at the offers section of their web sites. The city pairs and dates change every year but are posted in the terms.

====edit====
I knew I was going to type something out and then something would happen to prove me wrong: Avis has put up their one-way out of Florida for this year. 4-1 to 6-30, starting at $10 per day, dropping off in the Northeast, Central & Piedmont regions, 14 days maximum. Details (https://www.avis.com/car-rental/deals/deals-usca-US_en-022644/deals-usca-US_en-022645/florida-oneway-US_en-046266?ICID=dl_floridaoneway).
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: AsphaltPlanet on March 23, 2016, 03:56:31 PM
By the way this deal is legit.

I was just able to book a rental car from Phoenix to Portland Oregan for $ 189 CDN, including tax,  for 11 days, unlimited mileage with enterprise.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: NWI_Irish96 on March 25, 2016, 12:46:35 PM
Road trip to Myrtle Beach, SC, next week.  First road trip with the kids exceeding the 6 hour mark.  Starting out at 4am in hopes that they sleep for the first third to half of the trip.  Going to take two different routes down and back--partly because of the I-75 rockslide but partly because I want to clinch as many new interstate miles as possible.  Trip down will get 40 from Knoxville to Asheville, 26 from Asheville to Columbia and 20 from Columbia to Florence.  Return trip picks up 74 in North Carolina, and 77 from 74 to Beckley, WV. 

Biggest chunks of new interstate coverage for me in a long time.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: D-Dey65 on April 23, 2016, 11:31:34 PM
An update in my previous message, I want to try to take my NYC and Long Island trip in May. Honestly, I don't care what it costs. It's something I feel I have to do before OPEC jacks up the price of gas around Memorial Day.

Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: JJBers on May 07, 2016, 11:25:15 AM
I may be going to upstate New York some time this summer
Just more of a seeing I-90 and I-87
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: TravelingBethelite on May 08, 2016, 03:31:45 PM
My RAGBRAI trip will not be happening ( :-( ), but I will be going on this one, which I mentioned in a different thread (of its own): I will be going around the eastern & middle thirds of the US, by way of Binghamton, Cleveland, Toledo, Dayton, Indy, Peoria, Des Moines, Omaha, KC, Salina, Wichita, OK City, Fort Worth, Waco, Austin, Houston, Mobile, Jacksonville, Savannah, Richmond, DC, Baltimore, York, Allentown, and Peekskill, NY.

I just hope OPEC doesn't raise gas prices too high. We might need to cut back on it if we are, as my mom (Happy Mothers' Day!) and I are running this on a relatively shoe-string budget (~$1,215) Whew. I need a beer after that.  ;-)  :cheers:
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: CobaltYoshi27 on May 08, 2016, 03:34:49 PM
I am doing college tours, so I am driving from Long Island to Nashville, TN to visit Vanderbilt University (via I-68 and I-64), then to DC for George Washington University (via I-81 and I-66), then to Baltimore for Johns Hopkins University (via I-95, joy), to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA (via I-83 and I-78), and finally back home. This will happen the week of July 11, but I am leaving Saturday.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: mariethefoxy on May 08, 2016, 11:02:41 PM
going to Pittsburgh with a side trip to Ohio so I can add it to the list of states I have been to.

Somehow I want to get to Vermont as well, its the only state the Northeast I haven't been to. Its usually one of those places I set out to go to and then when it comes down to getting there I get too tired/lazy.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: texaskdog on May 09, 2016, 07:52:53 AM
We're leaving Austin to go to Zion, Bryce, and Grand Canyon (North Rim) National Parks for a week in July.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: AsphaltPlanet on May 09, 2016, 09:24:21 AM
All of those parks are amazing.  I've never been to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, but it looks pretty spectacular.  I seem to recall there being some travel restrictions during peak times at Zion.  I think for some of the areas within the park, you have to park at specific parking lots and be shuttled around using park buses.  I may be wrong though, it's been a few years since I went, and I wend during off-peak.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: Bickendan on May 17, 2016, 08:27:06 PM
Planning a Portland-Rochester/Twin Cities trip in August to visit some friends.
Routing is still very much in the air.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: D-Dey65 on May 22, 2016, 10:17:29 AM
The NYC-LI trip is delayed once again. A bunch of circumstances at home threw off my plans, so now I'll probably have to set a date for sometime in June.

Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: HTM Duke on May 22, 2016, 05:55:29 PM
I have the potential for four trips this year; two major, two minor.  As follows:

1) South Atlantic League (low A)all-star game in Lexington, KY, which opens up the opportunity to completely clinch I-64 and US-460.  I'm also considering following the final routing of old US-460 from St. Louis back to Frankfort, but the prospect of a drive through East St. Louis doesn't exactly fill me with glee.  Once back over the VA line, I would be looking to clinch the remaining primary routes in SW VA I have not done yet.
2) AAA all-star game in Charlotte; would also include a clinch of at least I-85 and US-29 in NC.
3) Following the JMU football team up to Orono, ME, and continuing on I-95 and US-1 to their respective termini.
4) Usual post-birthday mini-roadtrip, with this year's destination set for Hampton Roads, with the goal to finally clinch all non-facility state routes in VA.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: froggie on May 28, 2016, 10:31:11 AM
Minor roadtrip down to the Boston area this weekend.  Wife is along, so won't be able to do too much roadgeeking (dilly-dallying as she puts it), but it gets me out of Vermont for a couple days.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: wanderer2575 on May 28, 2016, 11:03:45 AM
Quote from: froggie on May 28, 2016, 10:31:11 AM
Minor roadtrip down to the Boston area this weekend.  Wife is along, so won't be able to do too much roadgeeking (dilly-dallying as she puts it), but it gets me out of Vermont for a couple days.

My wife is pretty tolerant of my roadtrip detours/stopping for photos/turning around and going back for another pass if I'm not happy with the moving photo I just took.  She always brings some needlepoint or cross stitch, several word puzzle books, and her Zune player on road trips to keep occupied while I'm wandering around in traffic.  Still, I try to be judicious because there eventually will be a point after a long day where she will say "Enough!" and want to just get the miles done.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: KEVIN_224 on May 28, 2016, 06:47:05 PM
I'm from central Connecticut. I'm typing this out right now in Brattleboro, VT, in a hotel room along US Route 5/VT Route 9 (south of the Exit 3 rotary). Maine was out, due to the sky high hotel prices on this holiday weekend (although my brother is there now with a friend). The long term construction is still going on with the high bridge over the West River and VT Route 30. The bus I was on took Exit 1, since their agent is a Shell station a short distance up US Route 5.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: Max Rockatansky on May 28, 2016, 06:54:21 PM
Looking at heading up over Tioga Pass to Bodie in about 10 days if the weather stays good.  Tioga Pass opened early this year and it would be nice to get up over the hill on CA 120 before the tourist brigade hits in full force.  Probably going to check out what's left of Manzhar on the way home on US 395.  Basically I'm planning taking CA 41 into Yosemite to get over to CA 120 and Tioga Pass, US 395 and CA 178 to get home...have some hotel points to burn in Bishop.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US 41 on June 01, 2016, 10:16:50 AM
I finally figured out my route for when I go to Williston, North Dakota in August. The trip will also include a detour into Canada.

Terre Haute - Williston (US Route) https://goo.gl/maps/obA1AGsLzTH2

Williston - Terre Haute (via Canada) https://goo.gl/maps/4AhHi7XkLV32

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I also might be going to Ontario, Canada for 4 days later this month or early next month along this route. https://goo.gl/maps/5HjBcm3KzgN2
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: froggie on June 01, 2016, 12:08:27 PM
QuoteTerre Haute - Williston (US Route) https://goo.gl/maps/obA1AGsLzTH2

Plan on a detour west of Mankato.  US 14 will be closed in the Nicollet vicinity.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: noelbotevera on June 01, 2016, 03:44:48 PM
Goin' to Doswell (Kings Dominion), Petersburg, and Richmond, Virginia this summer!
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US 41 on June 01, 2016, 05:57:55 PM
Quote from: froggie on June 01, 2016, 12:08:27 PM
QuoteTerre Haute - Williston (US Route) https://goo.gl/maps/obA1AGsLzTH2

Plan on a detour west of Mankato.  US 14 will be closed in the Nicollet vicinity.

Thanks for the info. If that's the case I will probably just take MN 68 from North Mankato to New Ulm as my detour.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: 1995hoo on June 01, 2016, 09:16:15 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on January 12, 2016, 08:31:52 PM
....

Regarding our roadtrips this year, we don't know yet, mainly because replacing the roof of our house is on the to-do list and I haven't figured out how that will affect the budget. We've considered either a golf trip to PEI and New Brunswick or else a two-week drive to Florida in late June. Maybe I can figure out some way to detour to Alabama to play some of the RTJ Golf Trail courses.

I said this back in January. We decided to do the two-week drive to Florida, but we're going in July instead of June and, unlike our usual routine, we're driving both ways instead of taking the Auto Train. Since the travel between Virginia and Florida (and vice versa) will be on weekends, I think I may be using some more westerly routings to avoid beach traffic. But we need to make a stop near Green Cove Springs on the way down, so we have to cut east at some point. Strikes me as a good reason to use FL-9B to avoid all the traffic lights on the west side of Jacksonville south of I-295. Then we go from there to Venice, so it'll be a chance to explore some areas down the middle of the state that I haven't seen yet.

I'm thinking for the trip home, which will originate in Viera, it might be a chance to cut west on the Bee Line, bite off the last segment of the Turnpike mainline, then head home via some form of I-75 routing. Just haven't decided how to go once we reach Macon. Last time we passed through there, we were heading south and we'd come down the Fall Line Expressway from Augusta, so I imagine I'll find a different route this time.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: kinupanda on June 05, 2016, 11:56:42 PM
I haven't had time to think about roadtrips, thanks to graduate school full-time, but I do have some time off the week after July 4, since my course doesn't meet that week, and might go to Memphis to visit a friend. I've done that trip several times, but I plan on taking US 79 (for the most part) to sight-see and to pick up a few counties in central Texas, northern Louisiana, and southern/eastern Arkansas. I might check out northern Mississippi while I'm there (both as a tourist and a roadgeek who needs to see I-22 and I-269 progress). I'd likely be coming back through Dallas to visit another friend, and would likely take my time across western Arkansas and extreme southeastern Oklahoma, once again to sight-see (Hot Springs?) and to county-collect.

Other than that, there might be a couple of trips to the Valley (Harlingen, McAllen, etc.) for my part-time job, but that's still in the discussion phase.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: D-Dey65 on June 15, 2016, 10:45:17 AM
My trip officially begins on June 20 and ends on June 30. There's no turning back now.

I also bought the I-95 Exit Info Guide app, despite some outdated info on both that and the webpage it originated from.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: noelbotevera on June 15, 2016, 04:31:08 PM
For me, my trip is beginning on the 20th to the 26th. I just need to do some last minute planning however...
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: CNGL-Leudimin on June 22, 2016, 10:15:52 AM
I'm now planning to do a roadtrip across the USA... on Street View :sombrero:. I'm not sure where it will start, I was thinking somewhere in New England (Either Boundaryline Road in Hamlin ME, which is the closest point of the US to Europe; Boston or Cape Cod); nor where it will go.

As for actual roadtrips, next Saturday I'll be taking a day trip up to the mountains.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: kphoger on June 22, 2016, 10:50:24 PM
Our annual Mexico trip:  Google Maps link (https://goo.gl/maps/8xzFyfSu83G2)

Leave Wichita on July 30
I-35 to Oklahoma City
I-44 to Wichita Falls
US-277 to Del Rio (except for a San Angelo bypass)
Stay the night in Del Rio
Fed-29 to near Allende
Get tourist cards & import vehicles near Allende
Fed-57 through Monclova
Coah-114 (potholes!) and Fed-40 to Paila
Coah-112 to Parras (exact home base not mapped)

That's the easy part.  We'll stock up on groceries, water, and propane in Parras.  The next day, it's off the beaten path to the village of La Constancia, population 278.  The long way, which is mapped in the link, includes 38 miles of unpaved desert roads.  The short way, which is impossible to link to (and which I'm not entirely sure of), is entirely unpaved and goes directly through the mountains by way of a combination of desert roads and dry creek beds.  I probably won't know which way we're going till we get to Parras and talk it over with the locals.  Either way, it should take between three and four hours.

At La Constancia, we (and some ministry partners from Parras) will be tent camping for three days (two nights).  In the Chihuahuan desert.  In August.  Our friends' baby will be five months old.  Our youngest child isn't yet two years old.  Yes, we're crazy.  And we're super excited.

We'll be leading a three-day vacation bible school thing-y in partnership with the local church there in Parras.  The church has recently begun reaching out in La Constancia, and they've asked us to lead a VBS there, similar to what we did last year in Parras itself.  La Constancia is a very poor town in a very dry area.  Very little grows there; I've seen a picture of a refrigerator with a single tomato as its only contents.  One year, the water tower ran dry and the people had to get their water from the tanque along with the animals.  We'll also be donating some hand-made pillowcases (along with pillows), some clothes, and probably some food while we're there.

The lesson materials were all developed by a friend of ours at church and translated into Spanish by yours truly.  Other than groceries, water, and propane, we'll be hauling pretty much everything down with us from Wichita.  This is why we bought a 4WD Pathfinder in February, and also an old rooftop cargo box (the big kind, like this one (http://www.x-cargocarriers.com/images/carrier_2.png).  I probably could have squeezed another year out of our old minivan (204k miles), but there's no way it could make this kind of journey.  The Pathfinder and cargo box just got a good test run for a family vacation in Nebraska earlier this month.  With a tailwind, I got about the same mileage as city driving.  With a moderate headwind, it dropped by a further 2-3 mpg.  I don't bother with crossbars, which happens to help reduce air turbulence:  less turbulence means less drag, which means better mileage.

For the return trip...
Leave La Constancia late on August 4
Leave Parras on August 6
Same route in reverse, this time staying the night in Sonora, TX
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: Tom958 on June 27, 2016, 06:07:22 AM
I'll be leaving Atlanta on the 1st to help my daughter and son-in-law move to Austin. We'll be taking the inland route via a pet-friendly motel in Tyler, so not much in the way of obvious roadgeek interest other than the impossibly badass I-35-TX  interchange in Waco (https://www.google.com/maps/@31.4928677,-97.1519149,3a,75y,82.14h,84.08t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sl80Qr4nIMeSNtKZK0_JZIw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dl80Qr4nIMeSNtKZK0_JZIw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D89.509155%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656), unless someone has some suggestions.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US 41 on June 27, 2016, 09:01:42 PM
Quote from: kphoger on June 22, 2016, 10:50:24 PM
Our annual Mexico trip:  Google Maps link (https://goo.gl/maps/8xzFyfSu83G2)

Leave Wichita on July 30
I-35 to Oklahoma City
I-44 to Wichita Falls
US-277 to Del Rio (except for a San Angelo bypass)
Stay the night in Del Rio
Fed-29 to near Allende
Get tourist cards & import vehicles near Allende
Fed-57 through Monclova
Coah-114 (potholes!) and Fed-40 to Paila
Coah-112 to Parras (exact home base not mapped)

That's the easy part.  We'll stock up on groceries, water, and propane in Parras.  The next day, it's off the beaten path to the village of La Constancia, population 278.  The long way, which is mapped in the link, includes 38 miles of unpaved desert roads.  The short way, which is impossible to link to (and which I'm not entirely sure of), is entirely unpaved and goes directly through the mountains by way of a combination of desert roads and dry creek beds.  I probably won't know which way we're going till we get to Parras and talk it over with the locals.  Either way, it should take between three and four hours.

At La Constancia, we (and some ministry partners from Parras) will be tent camping for three days (two nights).  In the Chihuahuan desert.  In August.  Our friends' baby will be five months old.  Our youngest child isn't yet two years old.  Yes, we're crazy.  And we're super excited.

We'll be leading a three-day vacation bible school thing-y in partnership with the local church there in Parras.  The church has recently begun reaching out in La Constancia, and they've asked us to lead a VBS there, similar to what we did last year in Parras itself.  La Constancia is a very poor town in a very dry area.  Very little grows there; I've seen a picture of a refrigerator with a single tomato as its only contents.  One year, the water tower ran dry and the people had to get their water from the tanque along with the animals.  We'll also be donating some hand-made pillowcases (along with pillows), some clothes, and probably some food while we're there.

The lesson materials were all developed by a friend of ours at church and translated into Spanish by yours truly.  Other than groceries, water, and propane, we'll be hauling pretty much everything down with us from Wichita.  This is why we bought a 4WD Pathfinder in February, and also an old rooftop cargo box (the big kind, like this one (http://www.x-cargocarriers.com/images/carrier_2.png).  I probably could have squeezed another year out of our old minivan (204k miles), but there's no way it could make this kind of journey.  The Pathfinder and cargo box just got a good test run for a family vacation in Nebraska earlier this month.  With a tailwind, I got about the same mileage as city driving.  With a moderate headwind, it dropped by a further 2-3 mpg.  I don't bother with crossbars, which happens to help reduce air turbulence:  less turbulence means less drag, which means better mileage.

For the return trip...
Leave La Constancia late on August 4
Leave Parras on August 6
Same route in reverse, this time staying the night in Sonora, TX

Wow La Constancia is way out there. Good luck with your new vehicle.

I'm highly considering traveling to Mexico again sometime this winter when work is slow. I only work part time and in the winter when things are slow I usually only get between 15-20 hours a week (I work at a hardware store), so they have no problem giving me time off in the winter. I'm thinking about driving down MX 57 from Piedras Negras all the way down to Queretaro and back. I know by the time January hits I'll be tired of sitting around inside and I'll want to feel some warmer weather. From what I've heard MX 57 is a pretty safe drive, so it seems like something that I could probably do by myself without too much concern. It would also give me a chance to see my friend in New Braunfels, TX, again.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: kphoger on June 28, 2016, 12:17:40 PM
Quote from: US 41 on June 27, 2016, 09:01:42 PM
Wow La Constancia is way out there. Good luck with your new vehicle.

Thank you.  Plans are still coming together, got the propane and drinking water situation figured out recently, finishing up the budget this week.  My only wrinkle right now is that our companion is still trying to buy a new vehicle before we leave.  Not sure that his 1999 GMC Sierra would survive the trip, plus someone stole the license plate off of it recently and replaced it with an expired tag from a different county.  The exchange rate is off the hook right now, consistently above 17 pesos to the dollar.  I remember it being 9 to the dollar back in the 1990s.

Quote from: US 41 on June 27, 2016, 09:01:42 PM
I'm highly considering traveling to Mexico again sometime this winter when work is slow. I only work part time and in the winter when things are slow I usually only get between 15-20 hours a week (I work at a hardware store), so they have no problem giving me time off in the winter. I'm thinking about driving down MX 57 from Piedras Negras all the way down to Queretaro and back. I know by the time January hits I'll be tired of sitting around inside and I'll want to feel some warmer weather. From what I've heard MX 57 is a pretty safe drive, so it seems like something that I could probably do by myself without too much concern. It would also give me a chance to see my friend in New Braunfels, TX, again.

I'd like to travel to the Querétaro area at some point with my parents, because I think they would enjoy it, especially points a little farther north like Guanajuato.  One of our friends and ministry partners in México lives in Querétaro with his family, so I've got a built-in tour guide and possible accommodations.  Still haven't approached my folks about the idea yet, though.  If we ended up planning that kind of trip, they would probably fly to México while we would drive down and meet them there.

As for safety, most of México is safe, especially for just driving through.  The narco-violence is highly concentrated in specific areas (although it has shown some sign of dispersing a little bit), and overall crime remains decently low.  But yes, among American ex-pats living in México, the 57 corridor is considered the safest option for cross-country driving.  Coming from New Braunfels, it's not a bad option to cross at Colombia and skirt around Monterrey; we've talked about that crossing before.  That route to Querétaro is 50 miles shorter than through Piedras Negras.  The toll road from Laredo to Monterrey is only about 7 USD more expensive than the one from Allende to Nueva Rosita, but it's a smoother highway and (last I knew, two years ago) they still hand out free 7-day tourist cards at Colombia, unlike at Allende.  I know you dislike toll roads, so I'll say that the free Monterrey bypass and 40 to the west are both decent-enough highways.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US 41 on June 29, 2016, 12:16:01 PM
Quote from: kphoger on June 28, 2016, 12:17:40 PM
As for safety, most of México is safe, especially for just driving through.  The narco-violence is highly concentrated in specific areas (although it has shown some sign of dispersing a little bit), and overall crime remains decently low.  But yes, among American ex-pats living in México, the 57 corridor is considered the safest option for cross-country driving.  Coming from New Braunfels, it's not a bad option to cross at Colombia and skirt around Monterrey; we've talked about that crossing before.  That route to Querétaro is 50 miles shorter than through Piedras Negras.  The toll road from Laredo to Monterrey is only about 7 USD more expensive than the one from Allende to Nueva Rosita, but it's a smoother highway and (last I knew, two years ago) they still hand out free 7-day tourist cards at Colombia, unlike at Allende.  I know you dislike toll roads, so I'll say that the free Monterrey bypass and 40 to the west are both decent-enough highways.

The (lack of) toll roads is why I was planning on entering at PN rather than at Colombia. There's also the added benefit of being able to avoid Monterrey. Strangely enough, as cheap as I am, I'd actually rather have the $20 180 day FMM than the free one just in case something happened (like a breakdown). I think the TIP end date matches the FMM end date, so I'd hate to risk losing $300 if I had a breakdown. As much as I don't like taking toll roads I do plan on using the Saltillo Eastern Bypass (57D). It's 90 pesos (about $5) and the libre option through Saltillo just looks way out of the way. Plus there's a tunnel on the bypass if you're heading northbound. https://goo.gl/maps/hmA9uAbABZk
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: inkyatari on June 29, 2016, 04:54:54 PM
Nothing but a short trip from the far SW Chicago suburbs to the Illinois side of the St. Louis Metro for a charity bike ride.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: kphoger on June 30, 2016, 08:40:11 PM
Quote from: US 41 on June 29, 2016, 12:16:01 PMThere's also the added benefit of being able to avoid Monterrey.

We've talked enough for you to know that I have switched away from driving through Monterrey, but that's in order to avoid Fort Worth not Monterrey. I find driving the bypass around Monterrey no more of a headache than driving straight through Monclova, with the added benefit of there being zero stoplights. Both roads are full of diesel exhaust, services along both have entrances right on the road (read: tricky to pull out from), both are well signed, both are toll-free. And, actually, I've been reading on skyscrapercity that the main drag through Monclova will be under various stages of road construction for a while as they convert stoplighted intersections into grade-separated interchanges.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: oscar on June 30, 2016, 09:38:45 PM
Quote from: US 41 on June 01, 2016, 10:16:50 AM
I finally figured out my route for when I go to Williston, North Dakota in August. The trip will also include a detour into Canada.

Terre Haute - Williston (US Route) https://goo.gl/maps/obA1AGsLzTH2

Williston - Terre Haute (via Canada) https://goo.gl/maps/4AhHi7XkLV32

The Canada part of your route mostly bypasses the Trans-Canada Highway, on highways where lodging is scarce until you get to Winnipeg, and even gas availability is thin on some stretches. Also, make sure you leave Williston on a full tank of gas, as you might not be able to refuel until Weyburn SK (in particular, don't count on gas in Fortuna ND, last town before the border). EDIT: I saws a Pilot travel center north of Williston at the US 2/85 split, which might be your last chance leaving Williston to refuel before crossing the border. Also, on SK 13 east of Weyburn there's a large Co-op gas station (open to non-members) on the west side of Carlyle.

Before crossing the border, check road conditions in SK, where even the paved primary highways like the ones you plan to travel can have crappy pavement. The MB highways on your itinerary are better-maintained. EDIT: I've driven this month or last most of the SK part of your itinerary, except SK 13 east of SK 9. No worries on pavement quality.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: SignGeek101 on June 30, 2016, 11:28:51 PM
Quote from: oscar on June 30, 2016, 09:38:45 PM
Quote from: US 41 on June 01, 2016, 10:16:50 AM
I finally figured out my route for when I go to Williston, North Dakota in August. The trip will also include a detour into Canada.

Terre Haute - Williston (US Route) https://goo.gl/maps/obA1AGsLzTH2

Williston - Terre Haute (via Canada) https://goo.gl/maps/4AhHi7XkLV32

The Canada part of your route mostly bypasses the Trans-Canada Highway, on highways where lodging is scarce until you get to Winnipeg, and even gas availability is thin on some stretches. Also, make sure you leave Williston on a full tank of gas, as you might not be able to refuel until Weyburn SK (in particular, don't count on gas in Fortuna ND, last town before the border).

You'll get to see the advanced freeway system here in Winnipeg.  ;-)  :rofl:

Admittedly, the south side of the Perimeter (MB 100) is in much worse condition than the north side (MB 101). It would be a bit of a detour, but at least you wouldn't be sitting at traffic lights every 4 km or so.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: rawmustard on July 01, 2016, 08:43:29 AM
I decided yesterday to attend the St. Louis meet next weekend. I will likely use I-55 on the way out while either taking I-70 to Indiana or a less-direct I-64 so I can see the portions of I-69 which were completed since the last time I was in that corridor. At least the weather out there looks to be good, so hopefully the drive out and back will be pleasant.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: D-Dey65 on July 01, 2016, 09:24:28 PM
On my June 2016 road trip to NYC, which I just got back from last night, I found that the BGSs at 48th Street/Rocky Hill Road and I-295 were replaced. I don't remember if that had button copy before, but it's not there now.

I also took an additional road trip to northern Westchester County and Brewster, using parts of the Taconic State Parkway, Saw Mill River Parkway and I-684. The two rest areas along I-684, which are encouraged for the use of drivers who wanted to text looked surprisingly accommodating for a New York rest area that isn't on the thruway. If I didn't know any better, I'd think I was on I-95 in the Carolinas or something like that.

Also on the way back, I noticed a disturbing dip in the side of the road on southbound I-95 between Exits 8 and 5 in South Carolina. I hope that's not the formation of a sinkhole there.


Not planning anymore big road trips for the rest of the year right now.

Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: Max Rockatansky on July 01, 2016, 09:58:45 PM
I'd like to head up to Lassen Peak maybe via CA 1 north of San Francisco...  I "COULD" do it this weekend....but....yeah rather save it up for a weekend or a couple days off that don't include a holiday...maybe later this month or early August.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: swbrotha100 on July 01, 2016, 10:57:04 PM
This summer, family planning a road trip from Arizona to the Northeast US (New York or New England). Partly work related, partly to get out of the desert heat. Last summer we went from AZ to North Dakota.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US 41 on July 03, 2016, 07:22:35 AM
To Oscar and Signgeek:

Hopefully I can still go up to North Dakota. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to get the time off work yet or not. Summer's are our busy season. I might just have to take 4 days off and go up to Ontario instead. Regardless I plan on going to Canada sometime within the next two months. Canadian weather in the summer is very delightful compared to muggy hot Indiana.

To Kphoger:

Knowing how I am I'll probably end up trying both routes (via Eagle Pass and via Colombia).

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

EDIT 7/7/16: The North Dakota / Saskatchewan trip is now officially cancelled. I will be be traveling to Ontario via Sault Ste Marie next month instead. I'm planning on clinching ON 129 and then after that whatever happens, happens. I can easily get 4 days off in a row to do this trip. After some reconsideration I decided I didn't really want to take that much time (7-10 days) off of work at this time. This winter I'll be able to do a weeklong road trip without too much concern. (I work a part time job and the summers are when I make most of my money and all of my vacation is unpaid.) Right now I'm considering driving to Zacatecas, but I may do a trip to New Mexico / Chihuahua instead. I still have plenty of time to think that over.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: kphoger on August 08, 2016, 12:05:04 PM
Well, we just returned yesterday from our trip to México, and I thought I'd share some pictures from the trip.  The first several pictures are to give you an idea of what we were doing, and then the last several are driving pictures.

Our family of five, another family of three (including a baby), and one other lady from our church (but not her husband, as this would not have been his kind of travel) went on the trip.  We left first thing on Saturday July 30 and returned yesterday evening.

In February, we sold our 2004 Dodge Grand Caravan (204k miles) and bought a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder with 4WD.  Our friend Adam sold his 1999 GMC Sierra pickup (288k miles) three weeks before we left and bought a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder with 4WD.  We did so specifically with trips like this in mind.  Adam also bought after-market skid plates and bolted them to the bottom to protect the undercarriage; I didn't do that, so I had to be a little more careful than he during the trip.

Total miles on the trip odometer:  2390
Total time in the car:  61½ hours


Our Pathfinder.  Both vehicles had these old Sears X-Cargo boxes on top, and we were still packed to the gills on the way down.  Adam took his off while were in México and didn't need quite so much space; I kept mine on the whole time.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1092.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi410%2Fkphoger%2FPathfinder1_zpsd2eaewlu.jpg&hash=fd76b6f47325cfdfc7a87d391e1fd920ff69abde)

My wife and three sons.  Josiah is super happy because we'd just told them we were stopping for lunch on the second day of the return trip.  My kids are road trip champs!
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1092.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi410%2Fkphoger%2FPathfinder3_zpshtonjbfh.jpg&hash=0994c14ade36b9d31c86c10a411137eb5dd32f25)

Our ministry base was Parras, Coahuila.  But our actual destination was a village named La Constancia, further south into the desert.  Here is our ministry partner Emigdio (and me) along the way to La Constancia.  His family and two other members of the church in Parras led the way in their ancient van.  Having mapped out the route in detail ahead of time, I think there was only one spot where I wasn't sure which way to go.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1092.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi410%2Fkphoger%2FConstanciaSign_zpsubdpq0xu.jpg&hash=20e38e63632be90e34e90365e6d5ed5265c115bb)

This is a typical street in La Constancia, which has a population of between 200 and 300 people.  Mud brick construction, lots of dirt and rocks and cactus.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1092.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi410%2Fkphoger%2FConstanciaStreet_zpsectzhvct.jpg&hash=fda5e6f8d27086b872fa1772201685d49fa4ee69)

Here's the house where we led a VBS (vacation bible school) for three days.  We hauled all our food and water and other supplies down from Parras, but we had electricity with which to cook.  Powdered Gatorade is a godsend!  Stick some spoonfuls in a 20-liter jug of water and shake a while; it was a hit with everyone.  No running water means flushing the toilet with a bucket, brushing your teeth from a cup, and bathing with a bucket and small pail (we Americans actually went without bathing the whole time).
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1092.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi410%2Fkphoger%2FVBS1_zps2z9g8t2t.jpg&hash=3fa04b8289863f4e9c2ef73b64daaef4d7151d64)

Here we are getting ready for craft time.  My class (in the foreground, ages 8—14) ran about 20 kids per day.  The little kids' class (in the background under the tarp) ran about 20 as well.  Unlike VBS here in the USA, adults turn out for it too; the youth/adult class (behind the camera) had at least 30 each day.  If you think about it numerically, we had one-fourth the town at the house.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1092.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi410%2Fkphoger%2FVBS2_zpsjzloeppc.jpg&hash=d29b06363f88664ef47962754daf62397e7dd525)

Five of our six tents.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1092.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi410%2Fkphoger%2FTents_zps2zii59et.jpg&hash=e27ef556f6af77314f6cb054bea056de8cdc9f7f)

The kids slept great.  The adults, not so much, because the donkeys kept braying through the night.  Good grief, donkeys are annoying!  Honestly, the kids did better at being in the desert than we adults did.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1092.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi410%2Fkphoger%2FTentsBoys_zps9cgrr0nz.jpg&hash=50ffaf2ccc7e7ada4671d495b71dc30606cb2ba3)

We went the long way around from Parras to La Constancia (https://goo.gl/maps/S6n5n8LqYCH2), because the roads are safer.  It's a total of 102 km, but only 40 km are paved.  Due to the rough roads, it was about a four-hour drive each way.  At the end of our time there, Adam's family and our family decided to see how much of the short way we could do, directly through the mountains.  We got to see why Emigdio didn't want to try it in the van, what with the tight turns and steep grades.

Here's a very typical view of the road.  Just a two-track through the desert.  I enjoyed the rocky, gravel sections much more than the rutted, dirt sections.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1092.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi410%2Fkphoger%2FDesertDriving9_zps5m3ezzqj.jpg&hash=fff074ef5c2c32e405cfb2f26a2ecdbe3d843221)

Adam coming up a hill.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1092.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi410%2Fkphoger%2FDesertDriving5_zpsphmlonfh.jpg&hash=4084c4c9b12f5fcf2ef3a9bb046c6e37c759d9c4)

The road behind us.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1092.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi410%2Fkphoger%2FDesertDriving7_zpsflkrkj2n.jpg&hash=c54ebb03b296a1363056030ecfe7a6d680b5f71a)

Don't go over the edge!  And don't meet any oncoming vehicles...
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1092.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi410%2Fkphoger%2FDesertDriving2_zps6x7p1kfr.jpg&hash=b4d19fea000fb3f15cb64e750382b234ccd95999)

Sometimes the road was rather tricky.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1092.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi410%2Fkphoger%2FDesertDriving1_zpsuroakeok.jpg&hash=18d2f233479b3901f2d2d638387c4fbefdfe806b)

And sometimes the road was a lot of fun!!
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1092.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi410%2Fkphoger%2FDesertDriving6_zps0tvigztq.jpg&hash=642d350d1430d9e08abc083e3c4ede4e9b02c94b)

And sometimes it was easier to avoid the road altogether and use the creek bed instead.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1092.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi410%2Fkphoger%2FDesertDriving4_zpsrd2st4ih.jpg&hash=dfa325b436d6789e8b337f0191df6d88839e43e8)

This was one of the best views along the way.  Emigdio, being a lover of all things agricultural, amazed us every so often by picking fruit from cactus during potty breaks and offering it to us to try.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1092.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi410%2Fkphoger%2FDesertView4_zpscnecciry.jpg&hash=b8ce0d570bc379b91ad72eaffb45a34803fcd520)

The short way down, directly through the mountains, afforded the best views however, and I'm so glad we did part of it just for fun after returning to Parras.  (Some of the pictures above are actually from the short way, but I saved the best for last.)  Here we are almost to the top of the sierra.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1092.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi410%2Fkphoger%2FDesertDriving8_zpsbhzdsiww.jpg&hash=56d63ed2c2ae7ffa91da4fa2f25de33ff620aa83)

I mean, seriously, are there any better views than this in all of México?
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1092.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi410%2Fkphoger%2FDesertView2_zpsxzsissj4.jpg&hash=30df3c6c01e240c64a7fc610e5b123e30289b0c2)

By this point it was time to turn around and pick somebody up in town.  So I said:  "Here's the part we're not going to do!  Let's find a spot to turn around and head back."  Well, there was no good spot to turn around until several switchbacks down the mountain.  Nothing but loose rocks for pavement, a mountain on one side and a sheer expanse on the other, hairpin turns...
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1092.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi410%2Fkphoger%2FDesertView3_zpscwz9z53b.jpg&hash=907803c7ce38c29b55dbf86b76fcd7d660dc0ecd)

Finally we found a hairpin with room enough to do a three-point turn and head back up again.  Whew!
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1092.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi410%2Fkphoger%2FDesertDriving3_zps5x60jcd7.jpg&hash=a0e85a064c5cb2d652c7e7da0f79485fc6a968c8)

Good-bye, México!  See you next year!
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1092.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi410%2Fkphoger%2FDesertView1_zpszreqrxsb.jpg&hash=9583bcf6e7caab6efc1459107fed5d3a5575699e)
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US 41 on August 08, 2016, 01:42:31 PM
Looks awesome. Those pictures remind me a lot of when I went to Boquillas. They had a hundred donkeys there too although I slept amazing that night. We drove on gravel roads and down in dried up creek beds near Boquillas too. Boquillas does have running water (surprisingly) and the hot spring I swam in for hours was a good enough bath for me.

How was the drive down to Parras? Same as usual?

I also have to admit, I always imagined you being a lot older than what you appear to be.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: kphoger on August 08, 2016, 02:16:02 PM
Quote from: US 41 on August 08, 2016, 01:42:31 PM
Looks awesome. Those pictures remind me a lot of when I went to Boquillas. They had a hundred donkeys there too although I slept amazing that night. We drove on gravel roads and down in dried up creek beds near Boquillas too. Boquillas does have running water (surprisingly) and the hot spring I swam in for hours was a good enough bath for me.

How was the drive down to Parras? Same as usual?

I also have to admit, I always imagined you being a lot older than what you appear to be.

Technically, there was water at the house. In lieu of pipes and faucets, there was a hose that popped up from underground in the front yard with a tap at the end. Under the end was a large tub. There were also two other large vessels of water, although I'm not entirely sure how those get filled. But no running water inside the house. Going to the bathroom meant filling a bucket from a vessel outside, hauling it inside with you, then emptying the bucket into the toilet bowl to flush when you were done. You could rinse your hands off in the water outside, but hand sanitizer was a requirement afterwards. We were all a combination of sweat, dust, and sanitizer by the end of the three days.

There were donkeys just probably twenty yards away from our tents. When one would start braying, invariably at least one other donkey within earshot would bray back. Combine that with a slow-leaking air mattress, roosters, and a distinct lack of body fat to keep me warm at night...

Driving to Parras was great. We were smuggling quite a lot of clothes over the border, having mixed them in with our own clothes and hiding them inside blankets inside space bags and that sort of thing. The border agent barely even looked at our stuff and didn't open the cargo boxes at all. Coah-114 appears to have had a lot of its potholes filled in. With two kids in diapers and one breastfed exclusively, the trip down and back was very smooth. Our friend's baby did have two amazing diaper blowouts. One required disassembling and laundering the car seat later, and there other somehow ended up on her head. I remain a huge fan of crossing Texas on US-277 and the border at Del Rio.

How old did you think I was? I'm 35 years old.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US 41 on August 08, 2016, 05:34:37 PM
Quote from: kphoger on August 08, 2016, 02:16:02 PM
How old did you think I was? I'm 35 years old.

I imagined you being around 45 for some odd reason.

BTW how old do you think I am? 
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: Max Rockatansky on August 08, 2016, 10:45:41 PM
God that looks so much like the desert roads I used to go off-roading on near the Goldwater Range out in Arizona.  Those were some of the best trips that I used to take camping in the winter time...well it was until being near the border got kind of dangerous.  Nice pics though of the road and vistas.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: kphoger on August 09, 2016, 07:50:52 AM
The flora reminds me a lot of southern Arizona and southern California: ocotillo, prickly pear, lechugilla, century plants, mezquite. The roads remind me of backcountry Big Bend: rocky, rutted, cattle guards, 20 mph max.

BTW, 41, I imagine you being around 18 years old. I had your same reaction upon meeting Jonathan Winkler: where's the old erudite gentleman?
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US 41 on August 09, 2016, 08:34:06 AM
Quote from: kphoger on August 09, 2016, 07:50:52 AM
The flora reminds me a lot of southern Arizona and southern California: ocotillo, prickly pear, lechugilla, century plants, mezquite. The roads remind me of backcountry Big Bend: rocky, rutted, cattle guards, 20 mph max.

BTW, 41, I imagine you being around 18 years old. I had your same reaction upon meeting Jonathan Winkler: where's the old erudite gentleman?

You are correct. I'll be turning 20 later this month.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: vegas1962 on August 10, 2016, 11:57:59 PM
I am not much of a roadtripper any more, but soon I'll be taking a long weekend trip to Kansas City for a ballgame.  I'm flying into KC on Saturday and renting a car for the weekend.  On the non-game day, I'll be in the car and knocking off Kansas and Iowa from the list of states I haven't been to (and maybe work in the corner of Nebraska since my wife has never been there).  Just need to plot out a loop to get it done....I'm sure I-29 will be prominently involved.  Any suggestions from folks who know the area (decent and/or scenic roads, a good lunch spot, etc.) are greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: kphoger on August 11, 2016, 11:29:42 AM
Quote from: vegas1962 on August 10, 2016, 11:57:59 PM
I am not much of a roadtripper any more, but soon I'll be taking a long weekend trip to Kansas City for a ballgame.  I'm flying into KC on Saturday and renting a car for the weekend.  On the non-game day, I'll be in the car and knocking off Kansas and Iowa from the list of states I haven't been to (and maybe work in the corner of Nebraska since my wife has never been there).  Just need to plot out a loop to get it done....I'm sure I-29 will be prominently involved.  Any suggestions from folks who know the area (decent and/or scenic roads, a good lunch spot, etc.) are greatly appreciated.

The best reasonably priced Chinese restaurant I've been to in a very long time is the Red Dragon House, downtown KCMO on 8th Street just east of Broadway.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US 41 on August 11, 2016, 02:21:53 PM
To Kphoger:

I just thought of something I meant to ask you. Have they started construction on MX 57 in Monclova yet?
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: kphoger on August 11, 2016, 02:46:13 PM
Quote from: US 41 on August 11, 2016, 02:21:53 PM
To Kphoger:

I just thought of something I meant to ask you. Have they started construction on MX 57 in Monclova yet?

They've redone the intersection with Francisco Madero to include a monument in the center.  Other than that, I don't believe any new work has begun yet.  From Skyscrapercity, I gather that several projects have been announced and/or funded, but I didn't see any other projects actually underway.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US 41 on August 11, 2016, 03:22:37 PM
Quote from: kphoger on August 11, 2016, 02:46:13 PM
Quote from: US 41 on August 11, 2016, 02:21:53 PM
To Kphoger:

I just thought of something I meant to ask you. Have they started construction on MX 57 in Monclova yet?

They've redone the intersection with Francisco Madero to include a monument in the center.  Other than that, I don't believe any new work has begun yet.  From Skyscrapercity, I gather that several projects have been announced and/or funded, but I didn't see any other projects actually underway.

Thanks for the update. I'm still considering driving down there this winter. I'm still undecided on whether or not I will though.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: tckma on August 12, 2016, 06:01:07 PM
My wife wants to go visit a friend of hers in Houston; we would be driving from Maryland. 

This would be a better-planned version of a road trip we took about a year and a half ago on which Houston was kind of an afterthought.  The robotics team I volunteered with had made it to the World Championships in 2015, which are in St. Louis.  So we made plans to go there and my wife to come with, stopping in Chicago on the way back home.  We drove to St. Louis using I-68 to I-79 to I-64, stopping overnight in Kentucky, wherein we decided to make a random impromptu trip to one of the bourbon distilleries in the area; we chose Maker's Mark, but didn't go on the tour as we didn't end up having time.  Then we went on to St. Louis via I-64.

Something happened where we ended up not having enough money for the hotel in Chicago, I think?  I don't remember.  For some reason we cancelled Chicago and drove to Houston, where we stayed for a week -- We stayed in a hotel, so the budget couldn't have been a factor.  I don't remember why this was a last minute decision.  We took some desolate US highway through Missouri and most of Arkansas, picking up I-30 in the Little Rock area, driving to Texarkana, and taking another set of US and Texas state routes down to Houston (mostly at night; we arrived at 2 AM after leaving St. Louis around 8 AM that morning).

Then at the end, we drove back to Maryland via I-10 to I-59; it was a drive that was taking MUCH longer than expected -- we'd had a hotel reservation somewhere in Alabama, but as it got later and later at night we changed that hotel reservation to one in Hattiesburg, MS, a night I got for free from my hotel rewards points.  As a result of this, we ended up taking a detour to Raleigh (I-20 to I-85) so we could spend a night with my father-in-law and not spend more money on a hotel, and then back home via the usual, boring I-85 to I-95.

I think if we end up making a trip to Houston again, number one, it will be just to Houston and back, since it will likely be in the fall and robotics doesn't therefore enter the picture, and, number two, we'll have a better idea of how long the trip is and where to plan overnight hotel stops along the way.  I'd like to take I-81 through Virginia and Tennessee; but I think my wife wants to stop in Kentucky again and actually do one of the bourbon distillery tours instead of merely hanging out and buying booze and trinkets in the gift shop.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: kphoger on August 12, 2016, 06:04:35 PM
Quote from: tckma on August 12, 2016, 06:01:07 PM
My wife wants to go visit a friend of hers in Houston; we would be driving from Maryland. 

This would be a better-planned version of a road trip we took about a year and a half ago on which Houston was kind of an afterthought.  The robotics team I volunteered with had made it to the World Championships in 2015, which are in St. Louis.  So we made plans to go there and my wife to come with, stopping in Chicago on the way back home.  We drove to St. Louis using I-68 to I-79 to I-64, stopping overnight in Kentucky, wherein we decided to make a random impromptu trip to one of the bourbon distilleries in the area; we chose Maker's Mark, but didn't go on the tour as we didn't end up having time.  Then we went on to St. Louis via I-64.

Something happened where we ended up not having enough money for the hotel in Chicago, I think?  I don't remember.  For some reason we cancelled Chicago and drove to Houston, where we stayed for a week -- We stayed in a hotel, so the budget couldn't have been a factor.  I don't remember why this was a last minute decision.  We took some desolate US highway through Missouri and most of Arkansas, picking up I-30 in the Little Rock area, driving to Texarkana, and taking another set of US and Texas state routes down to Houston (mostly at night; we arrived at 2 AM after leaving St. Louis around 8 AM that morning).

Then at the end, we drove back to Maryland via I-10 to I-59; it was a drive that was taking MUCH longer than expected -- we'd had a hotel reservation somewhere in Alabama, but as it got later and later at night we changed that hotel reservation to one in Hattiesburg, MS, a night I got for free from my hotel rewards points.  As a result of this, we ended up taking a detour to Raleigh (I-20 to I-85) so we could spend a night with my father-in-law and not spend more money on a hotel, and then back home via the usual, boring I-85 to I-95.

I think if we end up making a trip to Houston again, number one, it will be just to Houston and back, since it will likely be in the fall and robotics doesn't therefore enter the picture, and, number two, we'll have a better idea of how long the trip is and where to plan overnight hotel stops along the way.  I'd like to take I-81 through Virginia and Tennessee; but I think my wife wants to stop in Kentucky again and actually do one of the bourbon distillery tours instead of merely hanging out and buying booze and trinkets in the gift shop.

Distillery tours (and winery, brewery) are really cool, and they definitely make the visit more worth it than just doing a tasting and buying stuff in the gift shop.  On our honeymoon, my wife and I took a day trip to the José Cuervo distillery in Tequila (Jalisco), and it was one of the highlights from our trip.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: noelbotevera on August 12, 2016, 06:22:14 PM
I want to go to New York City on December 31st to see New Years 2017. Probably not gonna happen.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: 1995hoo on August 13, 2016, 10:59:28 PM
We made our trip to Florida from July 16 to 31. Total distance 2,908.0 miles. Took the direct route down I-95. Intended to come home via I-75->I-675->I-285->I-85->US-29, but a traffic jam on I-85 led to a detour via back roads to Eatonton, then up past Athens to I-85. The direct route home is 860 miles and the way we went came to 1,130. Finished off I-75 in Florida, the mainline of the Turnpike, the Bee Line, Florida's x75s, the new FL-9B, and I-475 past Macon. Started whittling away at portions of US-41, but I'm realistic and I know I'll never finish that road. I've been to the other end in Copper Harbor, at least.

We did encounter a rather scary situation in Georgia:

Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: D-Dey65 on August 13, 2016, 11:10:19 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on August 12, 2016, 06:22:14 PM
I want to go to New York City on December 31st to see New Years 2017. Probably not gonna happen.
I'd be just fine with going in late-November and jumping on the old Arnines they bring out every Christmas shopping season. Hell, I 'd be just as happy going there for the opening of the Second Avenue Subway. I have as much of a chance as you to do either one.


Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: jwolfer on August 14, 2016, 11:46:04 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on August 13, 2016, 10:59:28 PM
We made our trip to Florida from July 16 to 31. Total distance 2,908.0 miles. Took the direct route down I-95. Intended to come home via I-75->I-675->I-285->I-85->US-29, but a traffic jam on I-85 led to a detour via back roads to Eatonton, then up past Athens to I-85. The direct route home is 860 miles and the way we went came to 1,130. Finished off I-75 in Florida, the mainline of the Turnpike, the Bee Line, Florida's x75s, the new FL-9B, and I-475 past Macon. Started whittling away at portions of US-41, but I'm realistic and I know I'll never finish that road. I've been to the other end in Copper Harbor, at least.

We did encounter a rather scary situation in Georgia:


What was the scary situation?
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: 1995hoo on August 14, 2016, 03:39:09 PM
Quote from: jwolfer on August 14, 2016, 11:46:04 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on August 13, 2016, 10:59:28 PM
We made our trip to Florida from July 16 to 31. Total distance 2,908.0 miles. Took the direct route down I-95. Intended to come home via I-75->I-675->I-285->I-85->US-29, but a traffic jam on I-85 led to a detour via back roads to Eatonton, then up past Athens to I-85. The direct route home is 860 miles and the way we went came to 1,130. Finished off I-75 in Florida, the mainline of the Turnpike, the Bee Line, Florida's x75s, the new FL-9B, and I-475 past Macon. Started whittling away at portions of US-41, but I'm realistic and I know I'll never finish that road. I've been to the other end in Copper Harbor, at least.

We did encounter a rather scary situation in Georgia:


What was the scary situation?

The guy driving on the wrong side running people off the road and blowing a stop sign in front of an oncoming tractor-trailer. The camera makes objects look further away than they are.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: noelbotevera on August 14, 2016, 07:05:58 PM
Quote from: D-Dey65 on August 13, 2016, 11:10:19 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on August 12, 2016, 06:22:14 PM
I want to go to New York City on December 31st to see New Years 2017. Probably not gonna happen.
I'd be just fine with going in late-November and jumping on the old Arnines they bring out every Christmas shopping season. Hell, I 'd be just as happy going there for the opening of the Second Avenue Subway. I have as much of a chance as you to do either one.
Second Avenue Subway sure isn't opening in December of course (http://ny.curbed.com/2016/7/26/12287238/second-avenue-subway-consultant-delays).
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: D-Dey65 on August 15, 2016, 09:38:17 AM
Quote from: noelbotevera on August 14, 2016, 07:05:58 PM
Second Avenue Subway sure isn't opening in December of course (http://ny.curbed.com/2016/7/26/12287238/second-avenue-subway-consultant-delays).
Aww, Dammit! Well, at least they're still doing serious work on the thing.

Hey, maybe I can save it for a 2017 road trip.

Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: OracleUsr on August 15, 2016, 07:45:36 PM
Heading to Charleston twice this year, thanks to the generosity of my in-laws.  They had a timeshare they're not using so I am going to be taking an extended Labor Day vacation (Sept 2-7), including an already-planned trip to Asheville Sep 2-4, so I get to see the upgrades on I-26 including that monstrosity at the I-77 interchange (SC's,IMHO, feeble attempt at a left-bannered exit sign...) and to see what's new en route to the coast.

THEN, we also will go there on Dec 21-23 and head BACK to the Smokies for Christmas.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: Rothman on August 19, 2016, 08:40:49 AM
Taking two little trips over the weekend and next week:

Saturday:  Day trip from Albany, NY out to Rhode Island to take my wife on a tour of The Breakers and to see a couple of sites in the recently designated Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park.  Hoping to walk through Purgatory Chasm, as well.

Tuesday through Thursday:  Albany, NY out to Watkins Glen, Letchworth and...Duff's for wings (outside Buffalo).  Staying in the Jamestown area, since the Missus wanted to see a couple of sites there (including the Lucille Ball comedy museum, but without the festival crowds).  On the way back, we'll swoop down to Kinzua Bridge, clinch NY's portion of I-99 and probably get a spiedie or two in Binghamton.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US 41 on August 19, 2016, 11:13:32 AM
I'm not going anywhere until at least November, which means that I'm not going to go to Canada. My car has something wrong with it and I've been having it worked on and every time I get it back it still has the same issue. It has some really loud and annoying vibration going on once I get up to 2000 RPMs. I know it has something to do with a motor mount, tensioner, timing, or the engine not being lined up. I'm guessing it is probably a combination of the first two (motor mount and timing). I think the mechanic probably messed up something right there, because it didn't do it before he started working on it. The engine is supposedly lined up perfectly and I don't think that is the issue. The noise somewhat goes away when I go over a hump in the road so I don't think timing is the issue either. I think I've got it narrowed down, but then again I could be totally wrong. Who knows.

Last November I had a blast in New Mexico so I'll probably go back there this winter. I might even drive into Chihuahua at Ojinaga and drive up to Puerto Palomas / Columbus, NM (via MX 16, 45, 10, 2). That would be 9 hours of driving, but I'm pretty confident I could get it done in one day. If not I could always get a cheap motel in Nuevo Casas Grandes.

Whatever I do I just want to make sure I drive where I don't end up in some snow storm. :)
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: ET21 on September 19, 2016, 10:33:13 PM
I'll be doing another trip to the Twin Cities for a college game in 3 weeks. Going to be taking a slightly altered route as I have yet to clinch I-94 in Wisconsin. There's a segment between Milwaukee and I-39/90 that I've yet to drive. Otherwise same route as last time, plus peak colors should be in for the hills of western Wisconsin
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US71 on September 19, 2016, 11:40:34 PM
I just got back from a week in Illinois. It was somewhat spontaneous, but I was trying to find info on one of my mom's cousins. Only found half of what I was looking for, but got lots of photos :)
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: JMoses24 on September 21, 2016, 07:29:15 PM
Well, June came and went without a big roadtrip (though I did storm chase in central Indiana on two separate occasions). Of course, part of that has to do with me having moved into a new apartment and out of my parents' home.

However, Boston is a lock for October 27-November 1 via Greyhound. In on Friday, out on Monday because I need to be back in town that Wednesday and due to resource constraints.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US 41 on October 03, 2016, 04:18:45 PM
Alright so I'm planning on entering Ontario at Sarnia towards Sunday (Oct 9th) evening. I just realized that Canadian Thanksgiving is going to be on October 10th. I imagine that the banks will all be shut down and I assume that like in the US most of the major gas stations will remain open, but practically everything else will be closed.

The big big question is that will they accept US dollars in Canada in a pinch? I know the banks will be closed on the 9th and the 10th and I'm kind of doubting that I'll make it to the Sarnia bridge by 6 (when that money exchange closes) and I'm not sure if the money exchange is open on the 10th. I'm guessing it is, so I might be smart just to stay the night in Sarnia (I'm guessing I'll get to Sarnia somewhere around 8) and go back the exchange at 7:30 in the morning.

Any thoughts? (I will fill up near Port Huron on the US side where the gas is cheaper. I might eat on the US side too just in case.)
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: oscar on October 03, 2016, 05:08:26 PM
Quote from: US 41 on October 03, 2016, 04:18:45 PM
Alright so I'm planning on entering Ontario at Sarnia towards Sunday (Oct 9th) evening. I just realized that Canadian Thanksgiving is going to be on October 10th. I imagine that the banks will all be shut down and I assume that like in the US most of the major gas stations will remain open, but practically everything else will be closed.

The ATMs won't shut down, if you end up having to convert, though the fees (the ATM's bank and/or your own) might be pricey, especially for relatively small amounts. Many restaurants and C-stores should be open too.

Depending on how far east you're going on 402 and/or 401, you should encounter onRoute service plazas, with a full set of services, as I found when I drove through Ontario on Canada's Thanksgiving day a few years ago.

Is there a money exchange place on the U.S. side, with longer hours that might work for you?
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US 41 on October 03, 2016, 06:29:12 PM
Quote from: oscar on October 03, 2016, 05:08:26 PM
Quote from: US 41 on October 03, 2016, 04:18:45 PM
Alright so I'm planning on entering Ontario at Sarnia towards Sunday (Oct 9th) evening. I just realized that Canadian Thanksgiving is going to be on October 10th. I imagine that the banks will all be shut down and I assume that like in the US most of the major gas stations will remain open, but practically everything else will be closed.

The ATMs won't shut down, if you end up having to convert, though the fees (the ATM's bank and/or your own) might be pricey, especially for relatively small amounts. Many restaurants and C-stores should be open too.

Is there a money exchange place on the U.S. side, with longer hours that might work for you?

Well the big problem with me using an ATM is that I don't have any way of using one. I only use cash and the only other thing I use is a checkbook.

I think I'll probably just stick with my wait until 7:30 A.M. plan. It seems reasonable. I probably won't cross until late at night (10 or later) anyways since I know that I'll just be stranded until 7:30 anyways. I plan on exchanging enough money that I'll have some extra CAD left over so I don't have to worry about this in the future.

I didn't find one (exchange place) on the US side. The one on the 402 on the Canadian side supposedly doesn't charge a fee to exchange your money either. If they do it's not much. Currently they'll give you $1.28 CAD for every 1 USD. The actual rate according to Google is $1.31 CAD = $1. So you can't get a much better deal than that.

QuoteDepending on how far east you're going on 402 and/or 401, you should encounter onRoute service plazas, with a full set of services, as I found when I drove through Ontario on Canada's Thanksgiving day a few years ago.

My plan is to go to North Bay and then up to northern Ontario and maybe into Quebec a little, so I'm sure I'll see them. I'll probably leave Canada through Sault Ste Marie, but I wanted to go a different way up than I did over a year ago. That and I figured I have a better chance of finding gas stations that are actually open on Thanksgiving.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDITION:

An additional question I have is do most people in Quebec know at least some English or is it pretty much 100% French? I mean I know enough Spanish to (barely) get by in Mexico, but I have never had 1 day of French and I honestly don't even know one word. Well I do know that Terre Haute is French for high ground, but you get the point. The answers I've gotten online have ranged from they don't know it at all to they only know it if you're an American, but if you're Canadian they won't talk to you. I was hoping to get some answers from some people that have actually been there before and hung around for a while. I've been there before, but I never stopped at any businesses or talked to anyone there before.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: AsphaltPlanet on October 03, 2016, 07:35:42 PM
You shouldn't have a problem getting by in Quebec.  A lot of people in Quebec do have some comprehension of English, but not everyone does.  Best practice is to try and speak French. Often times if a store clerk is comfortable with English, they'll respond back to you in English, if not you'll just have to make do.  French is a pretty similar language to Spanish, so it shouldn't be that foreign.

I was up in northern Quebec last weekend and when buying gas just outside of Val d'Or, the clerk recognized my accent and spoke to me in English, after I started the conversation in French.

I do speak some French, but I find my first interaction in Quebec can always be tricky, because my French tends to be pretty rusty from lack of use.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: wanderer2575 on October 03, 2016, 08:29:49 PM
The Mrs. and I never did a multi-day roadtrip this year, but I am hoping to be able within the next two weeks to make a mega one-day trip from metro Detroit to Vincennes IN and back.  Primary purpose is to drive IN-37 south of Indianapolis and see it in mid-transition on its way to becoming I-69.  Looks like some opportunities for good gantry photos outside of Vincennes, so why not?  From there I might take US-41/US-150 to Terre Haute, I-70 east back to Indianapolis, US-31 north to South Bend to see the new freeway between Plymouth and South Bend, the IN Toll Road east to I-69 to see if it's as bad as some folks here have suggested, then I-69 to I-94 and back home.

Question:  How is the drive along US-41/US-150 between Vincennes and Terre Haute, and also along US-31 between Indianapolis and Plymouth?  The AAA map shows both as divided highways but also dots for lots of towns right on the road, which I presume means slower speeds and traffic signals going through every one of them.  That might affect my routing plan as the hours pass by.

Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: Rothman on October 04, 2016, 07:53:56 AM
RE: Quebec and FWIW:

In my experience, English is commonplace in Montreal and I've never had any trouble getting around despite only knowing a few phrases of French.  Although I've never been to Quebec City (might get up there later this year), my colleagues at MTQ tell me that English is much less common up yonder.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US 41 on October 04, 2016, 09:14:26 AM
Quote from: wanderer2575 on October 03, 2016, 08:29:49 PM
The Mrs. and I never did a multi-day roadtrip this year, but I am hoping to be able within the next two weeks to make a mega one-day trip from metro Detroit to Vincennes IN and back.  Primary purpose is to drive IN-37 south of Indianapolis and see it in mid-transition on its way to becoming I-69.  Looks like some opportunities for good gantry photos outside of Vincennes, so why not?  From there I might take US-41/US-150 to Terre Haute, I-70 east back to Indianapolis, US-31 north to South Bend to see the new freeway between Plymouth and South Bend, the IN Toll Road east to I-69 to see if it's as bad as some folks here have suggested, then I-69 to I-94 and back home.

Question:  How is the drive along US-41/US-150 between Vincennes and Terre Haute, and also along US-31 between Indianapolis and Plymouth?  The AAA map shows both as divided highways but also dots for lots of towns right on the road, which I presume means slower speeds and traffic signals going through every one of them.  That might affect my routing plan as the hours pass by.

US 41 / 150 from Terre Haute to Vincennes is one of my favorite drives. Once you're south of SR 641 it's smooth sailing to Vincennes. There are some small towns like Farmersburg (45 mph), Shelburn (50 mph), and Sullivan (55/50 mph); but they are painless to drive through. There is only one stop light in each town, so the towns won't slow you down much. The speed limit is 60 mph for most of the drive. There is also an "Old US 41" from Sullivan to Vincennes. It's worth checking out if you have the time. There's no posted speed limit (so its 55) and it's easy to do 55 mph on.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: vdeane on October 04, 2016, 12:58:07 PM
Quote from: US 41 on October 03, 2016, 06:29:12 PM
My plan is to go to North Bay and then up to northern Ontario and maybe into Quebec a little, so I'm sure I'll see them. I'll probably leave Canada through Sault Ste Marie, but I wanted to go a different way up than I did over a year ago. That and I figured I have a better chance of finding gas stations that are actually open on Thanksgiving.
I think the OnRoute service plazas are mainly (entirely?) on ON 401.  I know ON 417 doesn't have them and I wouldn't expect them in northern Ontario.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: oscar on October 04, 2016, 05:09:23 PM
Quote from: Rothman on October 04, 2016, 07:53:56 AM
RE: Quebec and FWIW:

In my experience, English is commonplace in Montreal and I've never had any trouble getting around despite only knowing a few phrases of French.  Although I've never been to Quebec City (might get up there later this year), my colleagues at MTQ tell me that English is much less common up yonder.

I've been pretty much everywhere in Quebec. I know about as many basic French phrases as Rothman does, and rarely had serious trouble getting by (no extended conversations, but basic tourist-transaction stuff like ordering food at a fast-food restaurant, paying for gas, finding the washroom, etc.). The most trouble I ever had was at a post office in Matagami in far northern Quebec (last town before the James Bay Highway), but fortunately I knew what the stamp I needed looked like and was able to point it out to the clerk.

i didn't push the limits in Quebec city, though. My only extended conversations there, other than on a road meet where our entire group spoke English, were on a guided tour of the National Assembly (provincial legislature) building, where I waited for one of the tours conducted in English.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US 41 on October 05, 2016, 05:29:39 PM
Well I just called the currency exchange place that is located on the Canadian side of the Port Huron / Sarnia bridge to make sure they are open on October 10th (Canadian Thanksgiving). They said they will be, so that is where I'll be exchanging money. I will be spending the night somewhere in Sarnia. On the 10th my goal is to make it to at least North Bay. From there I will likely continue on to Rouyn Noranda, QC and explore some French country for a day or so, before returning home via Sault Ste Marie. I still plan on clinching ON 129. I really don't have too much planned out yet, but I do know where I'm getting my Canadian currency at.  :spin:
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: inkyatari on October 06, 2016, 11:40:41 AM
Thinking about doing a short roadtrip to downstate Illinois this November. Extra paycheck that month.  Woo hoo!
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US71 on October 06, 2016, 11:57:29 AM
Quote from: inkyatari on October 06, 2016, 11:40:41 AM
Thinking about doing a short roadtrip to downstate Illinois this November. Extra paycheck that month.  Woo hoo!

I was in Marion a few weeks ago :)
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: wanderer2575 on October 07, 2016, 08:27:31 AM
Quote from: US 41 on October 04, 2016, 09:14:26 AM
Quote from: wanderer2575 on October 03, 2016, 08:29:49 PM
The Mrs. and I never did a multi-day roadtrip this year, but I am hoping to be able within the next two weeks to make a mega one-day trip from metro Detroit to Vincennes IN and back.  Primary purpose is to drive IN-37 south of Indianapolis and see it in mid-transition on its way to becoming I-69.  Looks like some opportunities for good gantry photos outside of Vincennes, so why not?  From there I might take US-41/US-150 to Terre Haute, I-70 east back to Indianapolis, US-31 north to South Bend to see the new freeway between Plymouth and South Bend, the IN Toll Road east to I-69 to see if it's as bad as some folks here have suggested, then I-69 to I-94 and back home.

Question:  How is the drive along US-41/US-150 between Vincennes and Terre Haute, and also along US-31 between Indianapolis and Plymouth?  The AAA map shows both as divided highways but also dots for lots of towns right on the road, which I presume means slower speeds and traffic signals going through every one of them.  That might affect my routing plan as the hours pass by.

US 41 / 150 from Terre Haute to Vincennes is one of my favorite drives. Once you're south of SR 641 it's smooth sailing to Vincennes. There are some small towns like Farmersburg (45 mph), Shelburn (50 mph), and Sullivan (55/50 mph); but they are painless to drive through. There is only one stop light in each town, so the towns won't slow you down much. The speed limit is 60 mph for most of the drive. There is also an "Old US 41" from Sullivan to Vincennes. It's worth checking out if you have the time. There's no posted speed limit (so its 55) and it's easy to do 55 mph on.

Is the entire IN-641 cuttoff between US-41 and I-70 (southeast of Terre Haute) open?  My AAA paper map says "yes," the Google Maps overlay says "no."
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US 41 on October 07, 2016, 08:32:56 AM
Quote from: wanderer2575 on October 07, 2016, 08:27:31 AM
Quote from: US 41 on October 04, 2016, 09:14:26 AM
Quote from: wanderer2575 on October 03, 2016, 08:29:49 PM
The Mrs. and I never did a multi-day roadtrip this year, but I am hoping to be able within the next two weeks to make a mega one-day trip from metro Detroit to Vincennes IN and back.  Primary purpose is to drive IN-37 south of Indianapolis and see it in mid-transition on its way to becoming I-69.  Looks like some opportunities for good gantry photos outside of Vincennes, so why not?  From there I might take US-41/US-150 to Terre Haute, I-70 east back to Indianapolis, US-31 north to South Bend to see the new freeway between Plymouth and South Bend, the IN Toll Road east to I-69 to see if it's as bad as some folks here have suggested, then I-69 to I-94 and back home.

Question:  How is the drive along US-41/US-150 between Vincennes and Terre Haute, and also along US-31 between Indianapolis and Plymouth?  The AAA map shows both as divided highways but also dots for lots of towns right on the road, which I presume means slower speeds and traffic signals going through every one of them.  That might affect my routing plan as the hours pass by.

US 41 / 150 from Terre Haute to Vincennes is one of my favorite drives. Once you're south of SR 641 it's smooth sailing to Vincennes. There are some small towns like Farmersburg (45 mph), Shelburn (50 mph), and Sullivan (55/50 mph); but they are painless to drive through. There is only one stop light in each town, so the towns won't slow you down much. The speed limit is 60 mph for most of the drive. There is also an "Old US 41" from Sullivan to Vincennes. It's worth checking out if you have the time. There's no posted speed limit (so its 55) and it's easy to do 55 mph on.

Is the entire IN-641 cuttoff between US-41 and I-70 (southeast of Terre Haute) open?  My AAA paper map says "yes," the Google Maps overlay says "no."

Not yet. It's not supposed to be open completely until December.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: SignGeek101 on October 07, 2016, 11:07:07 AM
Quote from: vdeane on October 04, 2016, 12:58:07 PM
Quote from: US 41 on October 03, 2016, 06:29:12 PM
My plan is to go to North Bay and then up to northern Ontario and maybe into Quebec a little, so I'm sure I'll see them. I'll probably leave Canada through Sault Ste Marie, but I wanted to go a different way up than I did over a year ago. That and I figured I have a better chance of finding gas stations that are actually open on Thanksgiving.
I think the OnRoute service plazas are mainly (entirely?) on ON 401.  I know ON 417 doesn't have them and I wouldn't expect them in northern Ontario.

There's four on the 400 (two for each direction), all south of Barrie. The rest are on the 401.

Quote from: US 41 on October 03, 2016, 06:29:12 PM
My plan is to go to North Bay and then up to northern Ontario and maybe into Quebec a little, so I'm sure I'll see them. I'll probably leave Canada through Sault Ste Marie, but I wanted to go a different way up than I did over a year ago. That and I figured I have a better chance of finding gas stations that are actually open on Thanksgiving.

If you're into construction projects, there is the 69 twinning near French River going on. That stretch between Parry Sound and Sudbury will eventually be ON 400.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: 1995hoo on October 07, 2016, 07:28:50 PM
Quote from: Rothman on October 04, 2016, 07:53:56 AM
RE: Quebec and FWIW:

In my experience, English is commonplace in Montreal and I've never had any trouble getting around despite only knowing a few phrases of French.  Although I've never been to Quebec City (might get up there later this year), my colleagues at MTQ tell me that English is much less common up yonder.

My observation in Montreal is that restaurants will give you a menu based on the language you use when you go in. If you say "bonsoir" to be polite, good chance you'll get a French menu. Not a big deal because, as you say, most people speak English.

The place where I struggled a bit was in the Saguenay valley, especially near Lac St-Jean. I understood fewer French words than I do now and once I had to mime like I was taking a whiz to get directions to the men's room. (At the time, I was unaware of the ubiquity of the word "toilet" outside of the USA.)




Our remaining roadtrip for this year will be a Christmas trip to Primland Resort near Meadows of Dan, Virginia. Haven't decided what roads to use (weather will factor into that, of course). It'll be new territory for me.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: Jbte on October 08, 2016, 03:42:53 PM
For those who travels to Mexico by Mexico 85 (Laredo-Monterrey highway), despite its a common route to use for most visitors to inland Mexico and US, there have been recently numerous incidents of extortion by criminal groups. They ask about 500 US dollars to allow pass or otherwise risk yourself of being mugged or kidnapped. This just happened yesterday to some of my close family members (an uncle), he was forced to pay the extortion to be allowed to continue his trip from US, he's ok and safely in home, but a CAUTION for those who have plans to travel to "anywhere" in Mexico it's not safe, better use other methods of transportation such as air travel to well known tourist destinations.

Many "paisas" (mexican-americans living in US and visiting relatives in Mexico) are victims of extortion each year by this route, worst time to travel is December, but cases are like this are chances of 20% risk... the risk is greater in December, but same as rest of the year, because in December the traffic is high of paisas going in or out from Mexico-US, at low seasons still dangerous because you can be the only victim traveling in route but same 20% risk, its the same for Americas, Mexicans, Canadians, whoever uses this route.

The area where my uncle was extorted was just 30 kilometers south of Nuevo Laredo, at the "aduana" area (30 km border checkpoint), where past the checkpoint he was forced to pull over by a series of armed vehicles and asking for the money.

Other incidents have occurred lately in many areas in Mexico involving known people close to me, such 6 months ago some friends were mugged in a remote area close to Zacatecas-San Luis Potosí highway (Mexico 49), they lost their SUV vehicle, iphones, ipads, watches and many valuable things.

Violence in Mexico is not getting anything close to disappear, as violence events continue to be a common thing in many mexican cities, example just yesterday two creepy clowns were killed in Ecatepec, they were just intimating kids and someone had a gun... that extreme the criminal activity is going... despite other recent events I will not mention in here...

Me as Mexican I have to risk all time when I travel, the chances of being extorted, mugged or even worst kidnapped or killed is a reality, lately I rather travel to US for avoid my own country insecurity, US areas such National Parks, National Monuments are  safer and visited by many, otherwise Mexican National Parks, are empty where you risk for being a victim of a crime, the only pros in Mexico you get all the National Park for you (without tourists all lonely) aside in US it's full of tourists and always everywhere full! anyway... as for this situation in Mexico I don't see when it's going to end, there's so much wasted potential.

So that's the advice... stay away from driving in Mexico, if you want to go there, just buy airline tickets, or if you want to risk it... stay in toll routes, avoid showing expensive things, luxury cars, jewelry, and such and you may have a great experience, which a great chance nothing will happen but the same low chance something bad can happen.

Cheers.
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: wanderer2575 on October 09, 2016, 09:39:38 PM
Quote from: US 41 on October 07, 2016, 08:32:56 AM
Quote from: wanderer2575 on October 07, 2016, 08:27:31 AM
Quote from: US 41 on October 04, 2016, 09:14:26 AM
Quote from: wanderer2575 on October 03, 2016, 08:29:49 PM
The Mrs. and I never did a multi-day roadtrip this year, but I am hoping to be able within the next two weeks to make a mega one-day trip from metro Detroit to Vincennes IN and back.  Primary purpose is to drive IN-37 south of Indianapolis and see it in mid-transition on its way to becoming I-69.  Looks like some opportunities for good gantry photos outside of Vincennes, so why not?  From there I might take US-41/US-150 to Terre Haute, I-70 east back to Indianapolis, US-31 north to South Bend to see the new freeway between Plymouth and South Bend, the IN Toll Road east to I-69 to see if it's as bad as some folks here have suggested, then I-69 to I-94 and back home.

Question:  How is the drive along US-41/US-150 between Vincennes and Terre Haute, and also along US-31 between Indianapolis and Plymouth?  The AAA map shows both as divided highways but also dots for lots of towns right on the road, which I presume means slower speeds and traffic signals going through every one of them.  That might affect my routing plan as the hours pass by.

US 41 / 150 from Terre Haute to Vincennes is one of my favorite drives. Once you're south of SR 641 it's smooth sailing to Vincennes. There are some small towns like Farmersburg (45 mph), Shelburn (50 mph), and Sullivan (55/50 mph); but they are painless to drive through. There is only one stop light in each town, so the towns won't slow you down much. The speed limit is 60 mph for most of the drive. There is also an "Old US 41" from Sullivan to Vincennes. It's worth checking out if you have the time. There's no posted speed limit (so its 55) and it's easy to do 55 mph on.

Is the entire IN-641 cuttoff between US-41 and I-70 (southeast of Terre Haute) open?  My AAA paper map says "yes," the Google Maps overlay says "no."

Not yet. It's not supposed to be open completely until December.

I'm putting this roadtrip on hold for a few weeks.  I've decided to first do a couple day trips to northern Michigan to see the fall colors and do some dayhiking.  Thanks, US 41, for the notes!
Title: Re: Your planned 2016 Roadtrips
Post by: US 41 on October 17, 2016, 01:04:16 PM
I just went on my Canadian road trip this past week (Sunday-Thursday).

Day 1 (Sunday Oct 9): I left my hometown of Terre Haute, Indiana, Sunday afternoon and headed for Sarnia, Ontario. I got to Indy and realized that I forgot my camera. So I bought a really cheap digital camera ($18) at Walmart. It sucked. The pictures I took were horrible and it wasn't me, because with my normal camera I can take some pretty awesome pictures. Anyways I drove on I-69 up to Ft. Wayne before cutting over to Toledo on US 24. On US 24 I saw a semi truck on fire with ambulances and fire trucks arriving at the scene. I'm not sure if any other vehicles were involved or not. Later I drove through Detroit for the first time. I was surprised at how dark I-75 is until you almost get to the center of Detroit. Entering at Sarnia that night was a pain. The lines weren't long, but I had to pull off to the side while they searched my car, then I had to go into some office and answer additional questions. The whole process probably took about 20 minutes. For some reason they didn't seem to think that going on a road trip with $600 was enough money and they kept asking me where I worked at and if I had been to Canada before. When I said that I planned on sleeping in my car on this road trip they accused me of living in my car (really?). I had a paper in my folder with details of the Ojinaga POE and they were questioning why I didn't have one for Sarnia. They even went through my Tracfone that doesn't do anything but allow me talk and text. The whole thing was ridiculous, but they let me in after probably searching through my criminal past (I've never been arrested or even ticketed for anything ever).

Day 2 (Oct 10th): This was my very first Canadian Thanksgiving. Looks like I'll be celebrating it twice this year! I went back to the Sarnia POE currency exchange and I exchanged $250 USD and got back $322 CAD. Then I almost clinched 402 except that the last 2 miles was blocked off for some reason. I had to take a detour south to 401 and I took that all the way to 400. I took 400 north to Barrie and then continued north on Highway 11 to North Bay. I stopped at the lake there, took some photos, and continued on. I took ON 63 / QC 101 to Rouyn Noranda where I eventually stayed the night. QC Ontario's ONRoute rest areas are pretty awesome, but th101 was a nice drive. The rest areas in Quebec were very nice. e rest are just outhouses and in all honestly I'd rather go take a leak in the woods than in an old stinky outhouse. I filled up that night in Rouyn Noranda and that was the first time I've ever actually ran into French speakers. Almost everyone I ran into did speak at least some English. I kind of felt bad for not knowing the language. At least in Mexico I can order stuff in Spanish and at least attempt the language, but I've never had any French lessons ever. I can't even count to five in French. That's literally how much I know.

Day 3 (Oct 11th): So my second day in Quebec I decided to continue on to Val D Or. From there I drove to various towns like Amos and La Sarre. At the gas station in La Sarre I was a little confused. I pulled up to a pump that didn't have the #87 on it, but the price on the pump matched the "Ordinaire" price on the sign. There was a conservation officer also filling up, so I asked him if I had pulled off to the correct pump. He looked and assured me that it was the "ordinaire". We had a little conversation and when I told me where I was from, he was like "Wow, you're a long way from home." It was a very friendly exchange. I noticed that about Quebec, everyone did seem very friendly even though there was a language gap. I had a very pleasant time in Quebec, but I decided to continue on back into Ontario. I drove up Rte 11 through Cochrane, Kapuskasing, and Hearst. I crossed the 49th parallel and took a picture of the sign. I always thought the border out west was on the 48th parallel, but I guess it's actually on the 49th parallel. The French language is also still very common along Rte 11. I eventually cut down and stayed the night in White River, ON where it was warmer. Rte 631 was very remote, but an enjoyable drive.

Day 4 (Oct 12th): That morning I had decided that I had had enough of eating junk food like McDonalds, potato chips, pretzels, etc, and decided to eat a good breakfast at A&W. They actually have real food which was nice. After that I continued south on ON 17. There was a sign for an Ontario 519 that went to some town called Debruilville, so I decided to clinch it. I'm very happy I did because I saw a moose along the route. This was the first (and only) time that I have ever seen a moose. I took a couple of pictures of it and of course they turned out terrible. I was only about 60 feet away from the thing and it was pretty calm and stayed there a couple of minutes before walking off into the woods. I took ON 17 south along Lake Superior all the way to Sault Ste Marie. I decided I wasn't ready to leave just yet and I clinched Rte 548 before leaving. I stopped at an Esso station and they still pumped the gas for you. That was also a first for me. When I crossed back into the US I answered a few basic questions and I was let back in. It was a lot simpler and easier than going through Canadian customs. About an hour later, I crossed the Mackinac Bridge. I hate driving on the grading. What an annoying noise that makes. You always have to though, because the trucks are limited to 20 mph on the bridge. I continued south on I-75 until I got to the town of Gaylord. Then I took the Alba Highway over to US 131 and took that south to a rest area a half hour north of Grand Rapids where I stayed the night.

Day 5 (Oct 13th): An easy day of driving. I made it back home at around 12 noon.

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Notes: For now on I'm making a list of things I need to bring rather than trying to just remember everything in my head. Forgetting my camera was awful.

I drove a little over 2500 miles and I only spent $202 on the whole trip and Canadian customs didn't think $600 was enough. They underestimate my skill of being a skinflint.

My new Garmin GPS that covers all of North America (US, Canada, and Mexico) worked great.