day 1
303 miles
303 total
day 1 - gettin to Elko
get started late because I hung around to watch 49ers suck. Leave 2-ish, eat big late breakfast at Big Eds, really on the road 3-ish ... kill lotsa bugs on the late afternoon interstate.
get started late because I hung around to watch 49ers suck. Leave 2-ish, eat big late breakfast at Big Eds, really on the road 3-ish ... kill lotsa bugs on the late afternoon interstate.
day 2
277 miles
580 total
day 2 - over the Great Salt Lake to a quiet creek
SR 30 over the top of the lake is a long boring haul, but soon I am in Mormon farming country, also boring, then Logan UT, which I find delightful. A college community after all. These oases of culture in the middle of nowhere seem more intense about their culture. Anyway, I am two for two in having very pleasant times in my short stays in Logan, the Ibis Cafe + wifi.
SR 30 over the top of the lake is a long boring haul, but soon I am in Mormon farming country, also boring, then Logan UT, which I find delightful. A college community after all. These oases of culture in the middle of nowhere seem more intense about their culture. Anyway, I am two for two in having very pleasant times in my short stays in Logan, the Ibis Cafe + wifi.
day 3
192 miles
772 total
day 3 - Star Valley, Jackson WY
This is just a beautiful drive - down the hill and around Bear Lake, then up the scenic Star Valley
This is just a beautiful drive - down the hill and around Bear Lake, then up the scenic Star Valley
day 4
318 miles
1,090 total
day 4 - Wyoming is wide
nice drive across western Wyoming, looking but not finding a place to camp.
nice drive across western Wyoming, looking but not finding a place to camp.
day 5
272 miles
1,362 total
day 5 - Sioux Country
finally, made to the other side of Wyoming. Soon came upon Fort Robinson NE, which was very fascination and evokative for an impressionable fellow like me.
Check the blog for 'deets.
finally, made to the other side of Wyoming. Soon came upon Fort Robinson NE, which was very fascination and evokative for an impressionable fellow like me.
Check the blog for 'deets.
day 6
390 miles
1,752 total
day 6 - Nebraska-Iowa
Unremarkable day, although as I entered Iowa, the rivers were suddenly swollen and overflowing their banks. Big storms last week evidently.
Unremarkable day, although as I entered Iowa, the rivers were suddenly swollen and overflowing their banks. Big storms last week evidently.
day 7
233 miles
1,985 total
day 7 - silo sunset tour
ahh farm equipment in the road when you're tired and in a hurry, what fun.
ahh farm equipment in the road when you're tired and in a hurry, what fun.
day 8
276 miles
2,261 total
day 8 - sunday church dinner
I took the back way out of the campground, not just state roads, but county roads.
One of the little downtown churches was having a Sunday dinner, so I invested. Not a very good dinner really, but the experience was pretty cool. Standing in line and all took a long time, so I didn't go as far as I would've liked.
I took the back way out of the campground, not just state roads, but county roads.
One of the little downtown churches was having a Sunday dinner, so I invested. Not a very good dinner really, but the experience was pretty cool. Standing in line and all took a long time, so I didn't go as far as I would've liked.
day 9
285 miles
2,546 total
day 9 - making some miles across some boring countryside
great breakfast in a nice Kankakee diner, looking at the Kankakee River :)
Some mighty un-memorable driving.
great breakfast in a nice Kankakee diner, looking at the Kankakee River :)
Some mighty un-memorable driving.
10
311 miles
2,857 total
day 10 - entering truck-land
my first day of rain.
When I hit I-80 in eastern Ohio, the number and aggressiveness of the semis took a quantum leap ... just brutal.
Good call, stopped at the Interstate Info Booth, where the helpful kid wrote down the addy of a Walmart 200 miles away where I could sleep.
my first day of rain.
When I hit I-80 in eastern Ohio, the number and aggressiveness of the semis took a quantum leap ... just brutal.
Good call, stopped at the Interstate Info Booth, where the helpful kid wrote down the addy of a Walmart 200 miles away where I could sleep.
11
478 miles
3,335 total
day 11 - the stretch run
gack - a long, hard day.
80 across Pennsylvania is a horrible road. I-84 across the bottom of NY and into Connecticut is much nicer, fewer trucks. They are both actually quite pretty in the fall, mile after mile after mile of deciduous tree-covered hills.
Tony's about an hour after dark - I hate driving at night ... when I'm tired ... in a strange place ...
gack - a long, hard day.
80 across Pennsylvania is a horrible road. I-84 across the bottom of NY and into Connecticut is much nicer, fewer trucks. They are both actually quite pretty in the fall, mile after mile after mile of deciduous tree-covered hills.
Tony's about an hour after dark - I hate driving at night ... when I'm tired ... in a strange place ...
13
0 miles
3,338 total
day 13 - Harvard Reunion!
up at 7:30 to drive to Cambridge and get 'er done! I expound at length in the blog, but it was a lotta fun!
I did NOT drive.
up at 7:30 to drive to Cambridge and get 'er done! I expound at length in the blog, but it was a lotta fun!
I did NOT drive.
18
0 miles
3,472 total
day 18 - driving on Cape Cod
decamped from Tony's. Thought it would be a great idea to take side roads to the Cape, but I sat at too many traffic lights and got lost. Drove all the way to P-town, waded in the Atlantic. No matter what I plan to do I end up doing a lot of driving.
decamped from Tony's. Thought it would be a great idea to take side roads to the Cape, but I sat at too many traffic lights and got lost. Drove all the way to P-town, waded in the Atlantic. No matter what I plan to do I end up doing a lot of driving.
19
161 miles
3,633 total
day 19 - back to Tony's
took a couple of beautiful hikes in the national park. First was the Red Cedar Swamp trail, great bay views along with the swamp. Next was the White Pine Trail, which was nice, but which I messed up by coming out of a spur and going the wrong direction, so I went back the same way instead of finishing the loop, so I missed the second swamp - too late in the day to go back - drat!!!
took a couple of beautiful hikes in the national park. First was the Red Cedar Swamp trail, great bay views along with the swamp. Next was the White Pine Trail, which was nice, but which I messed up by coming out of a spur and going the wrong direction, so I went back the same way instead of finishing the loop, so I missed the second swamp - too late in the day to go back - drat!!!
20
126 miles
3,759 total
day 20 - Plymouth to Dave's
decamped Tony's again, took the main roads this time to get the heck out of the area. When I got to the Atlantic north of the Cape I went back to the country road strategy.
Ate a tasty meal of broiled bluefish at the best Plymouth seafood spot on yelp. yummie!
decamped Tony's again, took the main roads this time to get the heck out of the area. When I got to the Atlantic north of the Cape I went back to the country road strategy.
Ate a tasty meal of broiled bluefish at the best Plymouth seafood spot on yelp. yummie!
21
78 miles
3,837 total
day 21 - Dave's to Johnny's country home
Boston traffic still sucks. Not a relaxing trip, traffic jam for miles in Keene all because of a simple left turn on a 2-land road for the Pumpkin Festival for chrissakes!
Boston traffic still sucks. Not a relaxing trip, traffic jam for miles in Keene all because of a simple left turn on a 2-land road for the Pumpkin Festival for chrissakes!
24
14 miles
3,999 total
day 24 Johnny's to Dave's work home
the colors are past their prime, but still mighty nice.
the colors are past their prime, but still mighty nice.
26
187 miles
4,284 total
day 26 - scenic but too wet and cold to get out and enjoy
took the scenic but slow route, very pretty, but freezing and poor visibility for more of the day.
daylight is coming earlier ... duh, so I ended up again having to hurry at the end of the day, and ended up at yet another Walmart.
using the Barnse&Noble wifi right now, ahhh the shopping center life...
took the scenic but slow route, very pretty, but freezing and poor visibility for more of the day.
daylight is coming earlier ... duh, so I ended up again having to hurry at the end of the day, and ended up at yet another Walmart.
using the Barnse&Noble wifi right now, ahhh the shopping center life...
27
111 miles
4,395 total
day 27 - finding a meeting place for Dylan
i had to make an executive decision for where to meet Dylan
i had to make an executive decision for where to meet Dylan
29
0 miles
4,395 total
day 29 - what's the least annoying way to get from here to the Eastern Shore?
some very pretty countryside, Hudson River, etc., but driving through the east is not restful
some very pretty countryside, Hudson River, etc., but driving through the east is not restful
30
85 miles
4,480 total
day 30 - aaak! when does vacation re-start?
more non-restful driving with no noticeable vacation component to it.
more non-restful driving with no noticeable vacation component to it.
31
206 miles
4,686 total
day 31 - aaah, slowing down on the Eastern Shore
coffee and wifi, Chipotle burrito for later, spend the day at Bombay Hook Wildlife Refuge.
coffee and wifi, Chipotle burrito for later, spend the day at Bombay Hook Wildlife Refuge.
32
83 miles
4,769 total
day 32 - not much happening at the wildlife refuges
a two Wildlife Refuge day! Very humid and alternately stormy and very still . tornado watch in fact! bird must not like it, 'cuz I didn;t see many. The bugs however are very happy.
a two Wildlife Refuge day! Very humid and alternately stormy and very still . tornado watch in fact! bird must not like it, 'cuz I didn;t see many. The bugs however are very happy.
33
134 miles
4,903 total
day 33 - rural to urban
the eastern shore is really a different world. explore a little more on the way out, take my van to the truck place for its first 10000 mile checkup (it's first milestone), drive into the heart of DC to reminisce at my very first home owning experience, dinner with Peggy at the Burmese restaurant.
the eastern shore is really a different world. explore a little more on the way out, take my van to the truck place for its first 10000 mile checkup (it's first milestone), drive into the heart of DC to reminisce at my very first home owning experience, dinner with Peggy at the Burmese restaurant.
37
233 miles
5,223 total
day 37 - culture shock in Deliverance-land
escape DC just ahead of rush hour, see a lot of pretty leaves, drive down the middle of the Shenandoah Valley to the town of Buchanan, rebel flags a-flying.
escape DC just ahead of rush hour, see a lot of pretty leaves, drive down the middle of the Shenandoah Valley to the town of Buchanan, rebel flags a-flying.
38
163 miles
5,386 total
day 38 - blue ridge to Chapel Hill
beautiful tree-covered hills, 5 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, quaint Virginia towns, Tri-Cities rush hour
beautiful tree-covered hills, 5 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, quaint Virginia towns, Tri-Cities rush hour
43
163 miles
5,625 total
day 43 - heading east
get lost yet again in the Durham megapolis, pretty busy drive til the last few miles
get lost yet again in the Durham megapolis, pretty busy drive til the last few miles
44
164 miles
5,789 total
day 44 - struggling through the estuaries
great country restaurant in lovely Bath NC, very annoying road closure, get in a hurry again, sigh, pretty drive through the lowlands
great country restaurant in lovely Bath NC, very annoying road closure, get in a hurry again, sigh, pretty drive through the lowlands
45
101 miles
5,890 total
day 45 - two ferries and some hurryin'
had a relaxing time dawdling in a beach parking lot, but then the noon ferry was full (I was on time!), so I had 17 minutes to race the length of Ocracoke Island to catch the other ferry. Someday I will budget the extra day to really get into the Outer Banks.
had a relaxing time dawdling in a beach parking lot, but then the noon ferry was full (I was on time!), so I had 17 minutes to race the length of Ocracoke Island to catch the other ferry. Someday I will budget the extra day to really get into the Outer Banks.
46
123 miles
6,013 total
day 46 - around the Marine base
nice easy day - start late, eat, drive 100 miles of mostly unpleasant but uneventful traffic, settle into my campground with plenty of time to walk around and enjoy it.
nice easy day - start late, eat, drive 100 miles of mostly unpleasant but uneventful traffic, settle into my campground with plenty of time to walk around and enjoy it.
47
101 miles
6,114 total
day 46 - Fort Fisher and one more ferry
Fort Fisher is awesome! A fort made of sand, that laughed off a furious Union assault (20,000) cannonballs (bomb our sand all you want!), and which was the end of the South when it finally went down in Jan 1865.
Fort Fisher is awesome! A fort made of sand, that laughed off a furious Union assault (20,000) cannonballs (bomb our sand all you want!), and which was the end of the South when it finally went down in Jan 1865.
48
72 miles
6,186 total
day 48 - finding poorly marked stuf with the sun in your face
they are not much for road signs in this part of the country. The map and web sites all agree that this is a National Forest, and there is a campground around here, but where???
they are not much for road signs in this part of the country. The map and web sites all agree that this is a National Forest, and there is a campground around here, but where???
49
52 miles
6,238 total
day 49 - explore Charleston
crabcakes, eggs and grits at a nice place that was hoppin on Saturday morning (thanks yelp). Then a lovely day walking around town, walk long and far, sunset at a rooftop bar a nice kid turned me on to, then early evening dining in the student quarter, then head out to the burbs to my quiet walmart parking lot. Charleston is pretty sweet!
crabcakes, eggs and grits at a nice place that was hoppin on Saturday morning (thanks yelp). Then a lovely day walking around town, walk long and far, sunset at a rooftop bar a nice kid turned me on to, then early evening dining in the student quarter, then head out to the burbs to my quiet walmart parking lot. Charleston is pretty sweet!
50
165 miles
6,403 total
day 49 - seven weeks! - wandering aimlessly
I'm kinda tired of the beach thing, so for no particularly strong reason I went 120 miles out of my way to head inland to spend the night at Congareee National Park, which I had never heard of.
I'm kinda tired of the beach thing, so for no particularly strong reason I went 120 miles out of my way to head inland to spend the night at Congareee National Park, which I had never heard of.
51
57 miles
6,460 total
day 50 - just hang out in a strange place
so this is what permanent van-life would be like. The "plan" called for a campground with a shower tonight, but I want to watch the Skins game! So hang out in Columbia SC all day.
so this is what permanent van-life would be like. The "plan" called for a campground with a shower tonight, but I want to watch the Skins game! So hang out in Columbia SC all day.
52
80 miles
6,540 total
day 51 - easy drive to a real nice campsite
yet another Panera, got my wifi-ing done drove to my campground
yet another Panera, got my wifi-ing done drove to my campground
53
125 miles
6,665 total
day 52 - Savannah
lotta walking around this very pretty city with many, many squares, and SCAD!
lotta walking around this very pretty city with many, many squares, and SCAD!
54
195 miles
6,860 total
day 53 - Georgia to Florida
the Georgia lowands are very pretty, but not many places to stop. Strange lunch in a little town - all the creepy dudes at the restaurant were prison guards, so there you go.
the Georgia lowands are very pretty, but not many places to stop. Strange lunch in a little town - all the creepy dudes at the restaurant were prison guards, so there you go.
55
156 miles
7,016 total
day 54 - central Florida
very pretty drive around Ocala, big horse farms.
very pretty drive around Ocala, big horse farms.
58
0 miles
7,016 total
day 58 - middle of Florida
endless bad traffic, but got to my state park early enough to enjoy it!
endless bad traffic, but got to my state park early enough to enjoy it!
59
114 miles
7,130 total
day 59 - Everglades
Florida = a lot of driving. Everglades are amazing, but it's hard to get a feel for it going 60 mph down Alligator Alley.
Florida = a lot of driving. Everglades are amazing, but it's hard to get a feel for it going 60 mph down Alligator Alley.
60
207 miles
7,337 total
day 60 - back to Milly's in t-day traffic
I foolishly decided to drive a 26 mile Loop Road in the Everglades - very bumpy and hard driving in my top-heavy vehicle, couldn't really see very much since i was watching the road the whole time - dumb idea.
I foolishly decided to drive a 26 mile Loop Road in the Everglades - very bumpy and hard driving in my top-heavy vehicle, couldn't really see very much since i was watching the road the whole time - dumb idea.
64
311 miles
7,648 total
day 65 - sitting in Florida traffic
pretty horrible Thanksgiving Sunday traffic - I did not plan this day very well.
pretty horrible Thanksgiving Sunday traffic - I did not plan this day very well.
65
161 miles
7,809 total
day 66 - headin west
narrow road but pretty drive hugging the Gulf across the panhandle
narrow road but pretty drive hugging the Gulf across the panhandle
66
143 miles
7,952 total
day 67 - redneck riviera
prettiest drive of the whole trip
prettiest drive of the whole trip
67
223 miles
8,175 total
day 68 - Mobile Bay Ferry
failed to make a turn, lost time, missed my ferry again, rushing down I-10
failed to make a turn, lost time, missed my ferry again, rushing down I-10
68
190 miles
8,365 total
day 69 - cruising the Mississippi coast
met Annie for lunch, drove to the edge of Mississippi for a wildlife refuge, watch the W's in Gulfport sports bars
met Annie for lunch, drove to the edge of Mississippi for a wildlife refuge, watch the W's in Gulfport sports bars
69
143 miles
8,508 total
day 70 - more bayous
didn't start till 2:30, got to my expensive campground too late again
didn't start till 2:30, got to my expensive campground too late again
70
76 miles
8,584 total
day 71 - even more swamps
hung out at my expensive state park till 2-ish, it really was quite nice, with its wifi, swamp hike, beach, etc. Lucked into the best old N'awlins breakfast house not in N'awlins. Drive I-10 across the Atchalafaya Basin, which is otherworldly.
hung out at my expensive state park till 2-ish, it really was quite nice, with its wifi, swamp hike, beach, etc. Lucked into the best old N'awlins breakfast house not in N'awlins. Drive I-10 across the Atchalafaya Basin, which is otherworldly.
71
115 miles
8,699 total
day 72 - swamps to flatlands
Spent the morning tootling around cajun country, which really is quite distinctive. Oyster po-boy at the sports bar.
Entered Texas, eek.
Spent the morning tootling around cajun country, which really is quite distinctive. Oyster po-boy at the sports bar.
Entered Texas, eek.
72
177 miles
8,876 total
day 73 - refinery-land
another sandy peninsula, another ferry. Galveston was real nice!
another sandy peninsula, another ferry. Galveston was real nice!
73
194 miles
9,070 total
day 74 - flat land
so this is south central texas. Nice mexican lunch in Rosenberg
so this is south central texas. Nice mexican lunch in Rosenberg
76
40 miles
9,326 total
day 77 - Texas bottomlands
Escaping Austin was easy, suburbs quickly gave way to endless rolling hills. LBJ land (Lyndon Johnson, not Lebron James!)
Escaping Austin was easy, suburbs quickly gave way to endless rolling hills. LBJ land (Lyndon Johnson, not Lebron James!)
77
149 miles
9,475 total
day 78 - endless I-10
not many choices around here, get on the interstate, set cruise control to 78, and watch the miles and diesel melt away. Texas is still jsut too, too big.
not many choices around here, get on the interstate, set cruise control to 78, and watch the miles and diesel melt away. Texas is still jsut too, too big.
78
267 miles
9,742 total
day 79 - pretty mountains
geez, this in like Nevada, in terms of pure wide-open nothingness. McDonald Observatory however, was something!
geez, this in like Nevada, in terms of pure wide-open nothingness. McDonald Observatory however, was something!
79
194 miles
9,936 total
day 80(!) - into the New Mexico mountains
easy drive, recuperative stop in Carlsbad for restaurant and library wifi, then up and over to Cloudcroft NM, which a classic funky little mountain town.
easy drive, recuperative stop in Carlsbad for restaurant and library wifi, then up and over to Cloudcroft NM, which a classic funky little mountain town.
80
198 miles
10,134 total
day 81 - New Mexico desert
I'm nott quite ready for the real desert again
I'm nott quite ready for the real desert again
81
221 miles
10,355 total
day 81 - pretty highlands in high wind
100 miles of rolling grasslands and juniper trees, then the Mogollon Rim. scared of being caught in the snow in the passes
100 miles of rolling grasslands and juniper trees, then the Mogollon Rim. scared of being caught in the snow in the passes
82
241 miles
10,596 total
day 82 - snow avoidance
I pleasant drive through the rain, watching the external temp thermometer get down to 37, but no further!
I pleasant drive through the rain, watching the external temp thermometer get down to 37, but no further!
83
112 miles
10,708 total
day 83 - Colorado River valley
fancy breaqkfast at the fancy downtown Prescott hotel, then across the central Az plateau. Then down, down, down to a place that's very hot in the summer
fancy breaqkfast at the fancy downtown Prescott hotel, then across the central Az plateau. Then down, down, down to a place that's very hot in the summer
84
247 miles
10,955 total
day 84 - greater Las Vegas
cruise past Lake Meade, did not do the new bridge, southside LV, Old Spanish Trail to Tecopa
cruise past Lake Meade, did not do the new bridge, southside LV, Old Spanish Trail to Tecopa
85
200 miles
11,155 total
day 85 - Death Valley and rain
just had to do a drive-trhu on Death Valley as long as I'm in the hood. It did not disappoint, just beautiful in this stormy, dramatic weather. Drive thru Panamint Springs is pretty lonely.
just had to do a drive-trhu on Death Valley as long as I'm in the hood. It did not disappoint, just beautiful in this stormy, dramatic weather. Drive thru Panamint Springs is pretty lonely.
86
211 miles
11,366 total
day 86 - Martha's
long rainy day, but actually a pretty easy drive ... after 12 weeks of practice I can knock off 400 freeway miles pretty easily, in my sleep soo to speak :)
long rainy day, but actually a pretty easy drive ... after 12 weeks of practice I can knock off 400 freeway miles pretty easily, in my sleep soo to speak :)