2019 Road Trip Photos

[Max Rockatansky]

I just got back from a substantial road trip in the Mid-West and Ontario.  Below is the links to the road related photo albums that I took.  I'll be updating these on Gribblenation over the next month with all the usual route/historic stuff that I do:

I-190 and I-90/I-94 Kennedy Expressway

https://flic.kr/s/aHskTLGLS5

-  Its been years since I've given the Kennedy Expressway, suffice to say the eastward view into downtown is quite worth it.  Traffic was every bit as bad as I remembered from two decades ago.


Downtown Chicago

https://www.flickr.com/gp/151828809@N08/1172ao

-  I took a ton of infrastructure related photos while in downtown Chicago.  Of note I took numerous photos of Michigan Avenue/former US 41 and the original end point of US 66.


I-90/I-94 Van Ryan Expressway

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmxp8UUE

-  Again, not much has changed with the Van Ryan over the past couple decades.  Traffic isn't as bad as the Kennedy Expressway but it isn't all that good either.


I-94 from the Indiana Toll Road east to Woodward Avenue/M-1 in Detroit

https://flic.kr/s/aHskTLHJof

-  I used to drive this segment of I-94 frequently when I lived in Michigan and semi-regularly commuted to Chicago.  I-94 hasn't changed much but seemed infinitely smoother than I remembered aside from the extremely haggard section in Jackson.


Woodward Avenue/M-1 in Detroit (Old US 10)

https://www.flickr.com/gp/151828809@N08/32n1ZL

-  It was interesting to see how much Woodward Avenue in Detroit has really been renovated since Commerica Park opened.  Woodward essentially has been completely repaired and Campus Martin has razed the traditional endpoint of US 10 in downtown.  What I thought was interesting was the light rail line running on the roadway below the People Mover.  M-1 is well signed up to it's southern terminus at Grand Circus Park.


I-375 in Detroit

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmCSwH25

-  I figured I-375 would be worth seeing given the freeway is likely doomed.  There was virtually no traffic on I-375 despite it being rush hour, the justification for a road diet was easy to see.  I also drove the I-375 Business Spur to the Lodge Freeway.


M-10/Lodge Freeway

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmbzhx6R

-  The Lodge has significantly improved from when I lived in Metro Detroit.  The freeway is very smooth and well surfaced, the 70 MPH zones really ought to extend somewhat south into Detroit in my opinion.


I-696

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmCSwWgG

I used some of my older photos to complete a I-696 album.  I really impressed with the road quality that is now present on I-696.  Really with my recent trips over the last couple years I'd say Michigan has dropped off the shit list for bad maintenance...or at least I can say I can think of several states in far worse shape.


I-94 to the Blue Water Bridge

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmCTrhKd

-  I took I-94 to the Canadian Border on my way to Niagra Falls via the Blue Water Bridge to avoid rush hour traffic over the Ambassador Bridge.  Suffice say I made the correct decision as I encountered sparse traffic.


ON 402

https://flic.kr/s/aHskTMxK7J

-  My first highway in Canada was ON 402.  The freeway seemed a little off to me and really not all that much different from what I recall from decades ago.  The signage standards in Ontario seem closer to European specs than the American MUTCD.  The weird lack of inside shoulders has a strange feel.  Ontario on the whole has a ton of signed County Highways that far more organized than what I'm used to seeing.


ON 403 to Hamilton

https://flic.kr/s/aHskTMSwZQ

-  Really there wasn't much different than ON 403 aside from more traffic.


Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway and Red Hill Valley Parkway

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmApRgSp

-  This was a strange freeway bypass of Hamilton.  The curves are very odd and seemed similar to the Baltimore-DC Parkway (which probably makes sense since it is maintained by Hamilton).  The speeds were absurdly slow at 90 KM and 80 KM respectively with heavy speed enforcement.


Queen Elizabeth Way from Hamilton to Niagara Falls

https://flic.kr/s/aHskTMUajm

-  QEW seemed the most similar to an American Interstate out of all the Ontario freeways I drove.  Really there wasn't a ton special about it but it had some decent views of Lake Ontario.


ON 420 to Niagara Falls

https://www.flickr.com/gp/151828809@N08/D485Z4

-  I did almost the entire route of ON 420 aside from driving over the Rainbow Bridge.  The border crossing looked easy and could be seen from the drive down to the falls.


ON 401 from ON 403 to Windsor

https://flic.kr/s/aHskQvqybP

-  ON 401 has to be one of the most boring stretches of freeway I've ever driven west of ON 403.  At minimum the OnRoute stops are kind of nice to stop at to wake back up after a long slog of empty farm land.


ON 3 to the Ambassador Bridge

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmApYJLF

-  The Ambassador Bridge was undergoing heavy repair on the bridge deck.  Traffic headed into Detroit was pushed up against the barrier to the Detroit River, it was kind of nice to get some decent views of downtown.  Not hard to see why a replacement span is desired here.


M-14

https://flic.kr/s/aHskQvtC5e

-  I used M-14 as a short cut to get out of Metro Detroit.  I'd speculate M-14 between I-275/I-96 west to US 23 is up to Interstate specs.  The section west of US 23 in Ann Arbor are still very substandard and narrow to traverse.


Former US 12 in Jackson

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmbAzdxP

-  I-94 in Jackson was shut down to the weekend.  That being the case I was forced to detour onto former US 12 in Jackson on the I-94 Business Route.  Fortunately Jackson is somewhat scenic and has a cool looking downtown.


Indiana Dunes National Park and State Park

https://www.flickr.com/gp/151828809@N08/Kn6r70

-  I stopped by due to Indiana Dunes National Seashore being elevated to a National Park.  I captured most of the oddball retro-style IN 49 shields near the entrance of Indiana Dunes State Park.


I-55 North Terminus

https://flic.kr/s/aHskQvwHs2


Lake Shore Drive US 41 from I-55 to Navy Pier

https://flic.kr/s/aHskQvxcNF

-  I wasn't passing up on a trip up Lake Shore Drive to Navy Pier from I-55 given the kick ass views of downtown Chicago and Lake Michigan.


Pena Boulevard

https://flic.kr/s/aHskQvxMZg

-  I had a long layover in Denver which allowed me an opportunity to capture all of Pena Boulevard traveling back to DIA from I-70 westbound.

[nexus73]

Some day I hope you can see the Oregon dunes formation that runs from Florence to Coos Bay.  It is the second largest dune formation on the planet, large enough to inspire Frank Herbert to write the "Dune" series.  Just wait until you are several miles north of Florence on US 101 driving south.  The view from this elevated position is stunning!

Rick

[Max Rockatansky]

Some day I hope you can see the Oregon dunes formation that runs from Florence to Coos Bay.  It is the second largest dune formation on the planet, large enough to inspire Frank Herbert to write the "Dune" series.  Just wait until you are several miles north of Florence on US 101 driving south.  The view from this elevated position is stunning!

Rick

I'm looking at parts of southern Oregon in May.  I have a ton of unused vacation time and I've never seen my brothers's house in Boise.  I'm probably going as far north as Bend but it doesn't look like I'll get anywhere close to coast until US 199. 

[nexus73]

101 and 199 are about a 2 1/2 hour drive from there to my place in North Bend.  Be sure to gas up in Oregon at the Fred Meyer in Brookings instead of any of the California gas stations to save beaucoup bucks!  Should you make it here and enjoy eating a big meal at 1 PM, I will see that your guts are stuffed with great food.  Home field advantage and all that plus some hospitality.  See sections of the original 101 and how narrow they are too.  It would be a pleasure and a privilege to welcome you along with your wife to my home area Max. 

Rick

[Max Rockatansky]

101 and 199 are about a 2 1/2 hour drive from there to my place in North Bend.  Be sure to gas up in Oregon at the Fred Meyer in Brookings instead of any of the California gas stations to save beaucoup bucks!  Should you make it here and enjoy eating a big meal at 1 PM, I will see that your guts are stuffed with great food.  Home field advantage and all that plus some hospitality.  See sections of the original 101 and how narrow they are too.  It would be a pleasure and a privilege to welcome you along with your wife to my home area Max. 

Rick

On the California side I've actually driven every mile of 101 excluding north of CA 197.  I'm looking at knocking out a couple National Monuments on this trip which is why US 199 is likely on the list given it is the common access point for the Oregon Caves.  I have some stuff I want to see heading north to Boise From Fresno, I should have a better idea on what I'm doing in a week. 

[nexus73]

101 and 199 are about a 2 1/2 hour drive from there to my place in North Bend.  Be sure to gas up in Oregon at the Fred Meyer in Brookings instead of any of the California gas stations to save beaucoup bucks!  Should you make it here and enjoy eating a big meal at 1 PM, I will see that your guts are stuffed with great food.  Home field advantage and all that plus some hospitality.  See sections of the original 101 and how narrow they are too.  It would be a pleasure and a privilege to welcome you along with your wife to my home area Max. 

Rick

On the California side I’ve actually driven every mile of 101 excluding north of CA 197.  I’m looking at knocking out a couple National Monuments on this trip which is why US 199 is likely on the list given it is the common access point for the Oregon Caves.  I have some stuff I want to see heading north to Boise From Fresno, I should have a better idea on what I’m doing in a week. 

Boise is the first destination for the June trip my best friend and I take annually.  There will likely be more but they are unknown at this time.  Here are the best places to eat in Boise that I could find. YMMV...LOL!

Did you say fries?  This is the place!

http://www.boisefrycompany.com/menu/

Best breakfast in Boise with a wait to match.

http://www.goldysbreakfastbistro.com/Default.aspx

Belgian waffles made with a Belgian recipe?  Ya' sure, you betcha!

http://www.wafflemeup.com/

Sandwich, salad and brunch prepared as if made at home found here.

http://www.thehighnotecafe.com/

These places look to be the best of the lot which are not franchises.

It would sure be fun to give you the tour all the way from Crescent City to here!  There are hidden gems galore to be seen.  Hope you find some!

Rick