Friday, June 16, 2006
Life on the Road
Granted, the title of this posting may be somewhat pretentious given that this is only a once a year excursion on our part. Our asses callous up pretty quickly though, and 12-14 hour shifts at the wheel are not unheard of.
Everyone that isn't reading this is still probably wondering why the hell we do this. To us, it's like Mt. Everest. The country is there, get out there and see some of it. By see it, of course, we generally mean through the windshield at high speeds, but this year we took a different route.
U.S. 50 is slow. The towns are small. Everything is just a little bit different. Metal isn't as prevalent across the plains as it is in Cleveland or Columbus, and Country music tends to dominate. That said, it's not extinct. Every once in a while, if you're careful, you can spot a headbanger on the peripheral. Maybe you dismiss him as just another traveler, until you see the hands ball up into a fist at your passing, index and pinky extended in your wake. A solid reason to forego the A/C, and drive with the windows down, speakers ablaze.
Anyway...
- J.T.
Everyone that isn't reading this is still probably wondering why the hell we do this. To us, it's like Mt. Everest. The country is there, get out there and see some of it. By see it, of course, we generally mean through the windshield at high speeds, but this year we took a different route.
U.S. 50 is slow. The towns are small. Everything is just a little bit different. Metal isn't as prevalent across the plains as it is in Cleveland or Columbus, and Country music tends to dominate. That said, it's not extinct. Every once in a while, if you're careful, you can spot a headbanger on the peripheral. Maybe you dismiss him as just another traveler, until you see the hands ball up into a fist at your passing, index and pinky extended in your wake. A solid reason to forego the A/C, and drive with the windows down, speakers ablaze.
Anyway...
- J.T.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Day 5 - Wyoming and Nebraska
Yep. We landed in Cheyenne the night before, and woke up to check out the city. The highlight? Mike taking a dump in the state capital. Cheyenne is NOT representative of the rest of the state. Cheyenne is very nice in that they managed to plant a great number of trees, but otherwise the city is very sad.
That said, a mere 10 minutes west and the scenery becomes interesting. 10 minutes from there you find Laramie and the University of Wyoming. Laramie is honestly rather nice. Fantastic stadium, a ton of football, and friendly people.
Anyway... following this we began the trek from Laramie, Wyoming to Lincoln, Nebraska.
There's a fantastic picture that explains well the method by which we arrived. Or rather nearly didn't. There was enough gas, according to the Jeep, to get us ~ 20 miles past North Platt. That said... between the 60 mph winds and 101 degree heat, we only just made it to the pump (sweet pic to come).
Mike can write more about reaching Lincoln and such. He's been enamored of the place for as long as I can remember.
- J.T.
That said, a mere 10 minutes west and the scenery becomes interesting. 10 minutes from there you find Laramie and the University of Wyoming. Laramie is honestly rather nice. Fantastic stadium, a ton of football, and friendly people.
Anyway... following this we began the trek from Laramie, Wyoming to Lincoln, Nebraska.
There's a fantastic picture that explains well the method by which we arrived. Or rather nearly didn't. There was enough gas, according to the Jeep, to get us ~ 20 miles past North Platt. That said... between the 60 mph winds and 101 degree heat, we only just made it to the pump (sweet pic to come).
Mike can write more about reaching Lincoln and such. He's been enamored of the place for as long as I can remember.
- J.T.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Days 2 - 4
Wow.
We've driven a lot.
We've taken a ton of pictures, and here's the best one. This is La Junta, Colorado. ~30 miles East of Pueblo. Wow?
We're off of US 50 by ~ 250-300 miles now, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Plans change, right?
Right.
"Where did it all go astray?" you may ask, assuming you're reading. It was somewhere between the temperature in Colorado hitting 100, and seeing Golden, Colorado tantalizingly close to us on our side step to Colorado Springs. Mmmmm. Coors.
We found some very cool places prior to heading North to the aforementioned cities, however. Here's a shot of Mike on the tracks just outside of Dodge City, Kansas.
And here's me on the Santa Fe Trail.
So, yeah. On the way to Coors, we found ourselves seeing all of the beauty that was Colorado Springs and Colorado City. Those pics get to stay elsewhere. You need to see it for yourself.
Also took a tour of Coors Field, very nice. The best pic is below:
States that I'm adding to the never return list:
Kansas (one of us, not named J.T., loved this state)
Indiana (might be tough to swing, have to go through it on the way back)
Ok, this hotel has a bar, and I've got notes that go on for pages. This post may well mysteriously disappear in a swamp of updates. Enjoy!
- J.T.
We've driven a lot.
We've taken a ton of pictures, and here's the best one. This is La Junta, Colorado. ~30 miles East of Pueblo. Wow?
We're off of US 50 by ~ 250-300 miles now, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Plans change, right?
Right.
"Where did it all go astray?" you may ask, assuming you're reading. It was somewhere between the temperature in Colorado hitting 100, and seeing Golden, Colorado tantalizingly close to us on our side step to Colorado Springs. Mmmmm. Coors.
We found some very cool places prior to heading North to the aforementioned cities, however. Here's a shot of Mike on the tracks just outside of Dodge City, Kansas.
And here's me on the Santa Fe Trail.
So, yeah. On the way to Coors, we found ourselves seeing all of the beauty that was Colorado Springs and Colorado City. Those pics get to stay elsewhere. You need to see it for yourself.
Also took a tour of Coors Field, very nice. The best pic is below:
States that I'm adding to the never return list:
Kansas (one of us, not named J.T., loved this state)
Indiana (might be tough to swing, have to go through it on the way back)
Ok, this hotel has a bar, and I've got notes that go on for pages. This post may well mysteriously disappear in a swamp of updates. Enjoy!
- J.T.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Day 1: Part I
Not going to be able to upload the pictures this evening (a mixture of technical difficulties, and lack of will to do anything beyond the impending shower), but it's been a pretty good start to things thusfar.
Last night, Mike rolled down to Columbus, and we hit up Donerick's Pub just up the road from my place. $3 32 oz domestics and $5 fish 'n chips. Wonderful.
Anyway, woke up, hit the airport to get the car, and after sufficient incompetence at the car rental place, we got back on track. Hold on a second! No satellite radio! Denied!
Distraught at the thought of local radio in addition to the liklihood that we'd grow weary of the limited permutations of mixed metal listening, we made a side trip to Best Buy. Sirius, get!
Right then!
Back on track, we headed to Cincinnatti to make a quick stop at my friend's place, and a fantastic picture in a terrible downpour at a sign commerating the dedication of the Ronald Reagan Highway. Friends like these, eh Gary? You said it, Dude.
Aaaaaaanyway... I'll let Mike take over from here, time for a shower, and to pull out the sofabed. I lost the coin toss tonight.
- J.T.
Will add some more pics tomorrow sometime, so look back for updates.
Last night, Mike rolled down to Columbus, and we hit up Donerick's Pub just up the road from my place. $3 32 oz domestics and $5 fish 'n chips. Wonderful.
Anyway, woke up, hit the airport to get the car, and after sufficient incompetence at the car rental place, we got back on track. Hold on a second! No satellite radio! Denied!
Distraught at the thought of local radio in addition to the liklihood that we'd grow weary of the limited permutations of mixed metal listening, we made a side trip to Best Buy. Sirius, get!
Right then!
Back on track, we headed to Cincinnatti to make a quick stop at my friend's place, and a fantastic picture in a terrible downpour at a sign commerating the dedication of the Ronald Reagan Highway. Friends like these, eh Gary? You said it, Dude.
Aaaaaaanyway... I'll let Mike take over from here, time for a shower, and to pull out the sofabed. I lost the coin toss tonight.
- J.T.
Will add some more pics tomorrow sometime, so look back for updates.
Friday, June 09, 2006
20 Hours
until we leave. Been getting a lot of good suggestions for things to do once we get to San Fransisco.
Here are a few that have been repeated by a number of people, and will most likely find their way onto the unofficial agenda:
The Stinking Rose
The Buena Vista
Edinburgh Castle Pub
Pier 39
Other places that we'll be hitting, but with no real plans yet (from following the route on Google Maps): I'd have put in a break here, but Blogger seems to hate me. I'll get the hang of this sooner or later.
Cincinnati
(East) St. Louis
Kansas City
Pueblo
Great Basin Nat'l Park
US Naval Reservation - Target Area (Nevada)
Carson City / Lake Tahoe
Folsom
Sacramento
(Turn around in SF, 80 back)
Reno
Bonneville Salt Flats
Salt Lake City
Cheyenne
Lincoln, Nebraska
Omaha
South Bend
straight shot home!
Here are a few that have been repeated by a number of people, and will most likely find their way onto the unofficial agenda:
The Stinking Rose
The Buena Vista
Edinburgh Castle Pub
Pier 39
Other places that we'll be hitting, but with no real plans yet (from following the route on Google Maps): I'd have put in a break here, but Blogger seems to hate me. I'll get the hang of this sooner or later.
Cincinnati
(East) St. Louis
Kansas City
Pueblo
Great Basin Nat'l Park
US Naval Reservation - Target Area (Nevada)
Carson City / Lake Tahoe
Folsom
Sacramento
(Turn around in SF, 80 back)
Reno
Bonneville Salt Flats
Salt Lake City
Cheyenne
Lincoln, Nebraska
Omaha
South Bend
straight shot home!
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Blarrgh!
Stumbled across SloshCon on Valleywag, and kinda hoped we'd make it.... but it's tonight instead of, say, next Saturday or so. I've always wanted to crash a drunken valley web party (outside of that lame Yahoo! thing at SES a couple of years ago). Would be an amusing way to introduce my brother to the awkward world of web geeks.
Anyway, lined up a place to stay for the night with a friend when in Kansas City, and expecting some delicious BBQ.
I'd provide a map of US 50, but Google Maps and MapQuest both seem to want us to take a mixture of routes that does not include 50.... Anyone have any suggestions for stops that we NEED to make on our way?
Anyway, lined up a place to stay for the night with a friend when in Kansas City, and expecting some delicious BBQ.
I'd provide a map of US 50, but Google Maps and MapQuest both seem to want us to take a mixture of routes that does not include 50.... Anyone have any suggestions for stops that we NEED to make on our way?
Monday, June 05, 2006
The What
List of things that we need to bring with us:
- Laptops
for iPod manipulation, blog posting, checking email, misc. work. Reminds me, I need to get the wireless adaptor fixed on my machine, or get a new one anyway.
- iPods
with car plugs, wall plugs
- Speakers
for rocking out in any room that we lay claim to
- Cell Phones
with car plugs, wall plugs. These may well prove to be worthless in some areas, but that's kinda the side point, I suppose
- Clothes
there's the expectation that we'll crash in some burb on the way out to do laundry, read the paper, talk to locals, so only 4-5 days worth apiece
- Cooler
beer, sandwiches, ice
- Fan
for those rooms without suitable white noise or A/C
- Misc Supplies
toothbrushes, toothpaste, shaving cream, razors... you get the picture
- AAA
damn, I need to get a membership ASAP. Screw messing around with a flat on The Lonliest Road
Anything else? I'm guessing we'll find a map, but probably no detailed plans.
- Laptops
for iPod manipulation, blog posting, checking email, misc. work. Reminds me, I need to get the wireless adaptor fixed on my machine, or get a new one anyway.
- iPods
with car plugs, wall plugs
- Speakers
for rocking out in any room that we lay claim to
- Cell Phones
with car plugs, wall plugs. These may well prove to be worthless in some areas, but that's kinda the side point, I suppose
- Clothes
there's the expectation that we'll crash in some burb on the way out to do laundry, read the paper, talk to locals, so only 4-5 days worth apiece
- Cooler
beer, sandwiches, ice
- Fan
for those rooms without suitable white noise or A/C
- Misc Supplies
toothbrushes, toothpaste, shaving cream, razors... you get the picture
- AAA
damn, I need to get a membership ASAP. Screw messing around with a flat on The Lonliest Road
Anything else? I'm guessing we'll find a map, but probably no detailed plans.
