10,892 Mile M850 Trans-Continental Journey (and Return)

[snowbimmer]

Post 11 of 17


Day 26: Pittsburgh to Covington, Kentucky - 349 Miles


Today we make some westward progress - and travel in 4 states: Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.

We are about 20 minutes north of Pittsburgh and an early start gets us downtown by 7 o'clock. We've seen Pittsburgh before, but never got out on foot at Point State Park. It is early Saturday morning and traffic is light everywhere.


The Pittsburgh skyline is really cool, covering a multitude of architecture types spanning it's rich history as an early 20th century industrial powerhouse (think steel) and then having to reinvent itself as the population was more than halved from 670,000 at the end of WWII to the present. There are 9 buildings taller than 500'.

The Performing Arts Center


Penn Avenue


Gateway Center


The Wyndham Grand Hotel


We make our way to Point State Park and stroll over the Allegheny River

Fort Duquesne Bridge - one of about two dozen bridges in just the downtown area.


Looking downstream toward the Ohio River


The Steelers House


The Monongahela River flows from the left and meets the Allegheny River on the right - Forming the Ohio River


The Fort Pitt Bridge on the Monongahela River


We head back to the car, cross the Fort Pitt Bridge and and climb up Mount Washington to the Grandview Overlook on Grandview Avenue


And the best view of the Pittsburgh skyline




It would have been nice to see more of the bridges and buildings, but the road calls. We find I-70 and 45 minutes later pass into West Virginia and come out of the hills into Wheeling, population just under 30,000. Wheeling is another once prosperous industrial city along the banks of the Ohio River, having once had several steel mills. The wealthy built fine houses on Wheeling Island.


After peaking at 60,000 in the 1930s, the population was halved due to the great depression and the restructuring of heavy industry following WWII. Currently, the Wheeling Streetscape Project is capitalizing on its rich architectural heritage and they are trying to revitalize Main Street and Market Street downtown.

They have a ways to go. But the potential is enormous.










The Wheeling Suspension Bridge was completed in 1849 and was the first bridge to span a major river west of the Appalachian Mountains. Designed for horse and buggies, it eventually had severe weight restrictions and was finally closed to all traffic in 2019 after drivers failed heed the limits. It will be repurposed solely for pedestrians and bikers.


Back on I-70, we blast westward and arrive in Columbus, Ohio at noon. Columbus is the capital and largest city at just under a million. After a quick lunch we head for the state capitol building in a very nicely kept downtown.


The "These Are My Jewels" statue, honoring Salmon P. Chase, James A. Garfield, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, Philip Sheridan, William Tecumseh Sherman and Edwin Stanton - Ohio icons.


South High Street in front of the capitol.


The Huntington Center


The Peanut Shop - opened 1930


Skyline mix of three architectural styles and eras.




The LeVeque Tower - opened in 1926


Many street facades are of this vintage


The Columbus Dispatch - first issue published July 1, 1871


We then run up north a bit to Ohio State University - one of the largest colleges in the country with 65,000 undergraduate and graduate students


And, of course, a trip to OSU wouldn't be complete without seeing Ohio Stadium.


Capacity 102,780 (Not my pic)


Back on I-70 we head for one of my major highlights of the trip: The National Museum of the United States Air Force. It is located in Dayton, OH at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, about an hour away.


I saw this museum when it was mostly an outdoor exhibit back in my early teens. I'd always been fascinated by airplanes and it forever left a huge impression on me - especially the wondrous XB-70. I always wondered if I'd ever be able to see it again.

Well, today's the day, baby. The North American XB-70 Valkyrie. One of two (the other crashed).


The museum has grown to four enormous hangers that house 360 aircraft and missiles across 1,120,000 square feet. Exhibits are housed in hangers pertaining to different time periods of the Air Force's history. The place is crammed with people (it's Saturday), but it flows well.

XB-70 towering over the tiny X-24, an experimental lifting body.


The North American XB-70, on the other hand, was to be a high altitude (70,000') Mach 3 nuclear bomber, flying too high and too fast to be intercepted by Soviet interceptors. Surface to air missiles eventually scuttled the project. It is a stunningly beautiful aircraft.


North American X-15. Set the record for the highest speed for a crewed aircraft of 4,520 mph (Mach 6.7) at 102,100 feet elevation. The record is unbroken. They were launched from under the wing of a B-52.


Canadian Avrocar - their own flying saucer - ca 1958


SAM26000, a Boeing VC-137C, served as Air Force One from 1962 - 1998. Carried eight presidents, including the body of John F. Kennedy back to Washington DC in 1963.


A veritable smorgasboard: From left, B-47, B-2, SR-71, B-1, U-2, B-58, F104, and many others.


One of my favorites, the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt (Warthog). Would not want to be on the ground when this comes sniffing around. First used 1977, still active today.


Convair B-58 Hustler, a Mach 2 supersonic strategic bomber (1960s)


Northrup B-2 Spirit - a heavy strategic stealth bomber. First used in 1997, still active.


The venerable Boeing B-52 Stratofortress - subsonic long range strategic bomber. Still in use, 70 years after first being launched. Well, newer models, anyway.


The Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress, Memphis Belle version. It was one of the first B-17s to complete 25 combat missions (Nov 1942 to May 1943), after which the aircrew (and bomber) returned to the United States as heroes - later flying around the country selling war bonds. My father-in-law was also piloting a B-17, but from Jan 1945 to the end of the war. He was 19 and turned 20 years old during his missions. Yeesh.




What a great museum. We could have stayed longer, but we saw most everything. I'll have another chance at a 2nd big air museum in a couple days.

Dayton, Ohio is also the birthplace of the Wright Brothers. So, it is fitting that we go over to their memorial, a short distance from the museum.


It would have been fun to drop in on Dayton to see the Wright Brothers National Museum and America's Packard Museum. I keep forgetting that the things on my original to-do list were just "suggestions." We jump on I-75 south and head toward tonight's stop - Covington, Kentucky. It is on the south side of the Ohio River, just across from Cincinnati. It is about 6:30 when we arrive, so we just drop our bags and head out to explore the Covington waterfront and find some dinner.

We find a nice spot to look across the Ohio River to the Cincinnati skyline.


Then we find a nice bustling section of a very nice Covington downtown






We snag some delicious brisket at a hoppin' sports pub. Must be Reds fans.


After dinner we drive around the neighborhood with a mix of very nice older and stately homes




And also some new condos


Then back to the waterfront and Cincinnati


The Bengals House


Just down the way, the Reds house


The Clay Wade Bailey Bridge




Back to the hotel - completing another 13 hour day. But what a day it was.

Covington, Kentucky (Cincinnati)

Total Miles: 7,511
Daily Avg: 289 Miles

[MDude]

What a car, M850 Gran Coupes don’t get enough credit. Would love to have one.

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by MDude

What a car, M850 Gran Coupes don’t get enough credit. Would love to have one.

They are fine cars. Great styling, fast and sporty with a bit of luxury. I have about 75,000 miles on the G16 platform. Never get tired of it.

[snowbimmer]

Post 12 of 17


Day 27: Covington to Springfield, Illinois - 347 Miles


Another coupla icons fall today. Let's get after it.

We cross the Ohio River for the 6th and final time, heading back into Cincinnati. It is Sunday morning and all is quiet. We visit the football stadium then stop by the baseball field.


Cincinnati is the 3rd largest city in Ohio, with around 300,000 people. It is home to several Fortune 500 companies, such as Kroger, GE Aerospace, Fifth Third Bank and Procter & Gamble, shown below.


Downtown




Several years ago I was scrolling through some pictures of Art Deco buildings and came across a fabulous train terminal. It was un-named, but I finally traced it down and found it: The Cincinnati Union Terminal. Yup, I'm going there someday.

Today's that day.........



The Cincinnati Union Terminal Complex opened in 1933 with 22 buildings on 287 acres, with service from seven rail lines. Its distinctive Art Deco architecture, interior design and history have earned it a designation as a National Historic Landmark.


When it opened during The Depression, train travel was already declining. Its early years experienced relatively low passenger traffic. By 1939 it was deemed to be a white elephant. Traffic picked up during WWII, but steadily decreased during the 50s and into the 60s. The city began to look for ways to repurpose the building into a museum, a court building and even a shopping center. Amtrak took over most passenger service in 1971 and cut daily trains to 2 per day, down from 51 per day in 1953.

18 months later they decided to close the terminal. It was scheduled for the wrecking ball, but the city commissioner refused to issue the permit. It became a shopping mall until the 80s recession crushed business, then the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History moved in in 1990. It became the fourth largest attraction in the area and Amtrak even restarted service. As expenses rose and the building further deteriorated, the city bit the bullet and shut it down in 2016 for a full-on $228 million restoration. And what a job they did.


And there it is


The main facade is 550 wide, fronting a large domed rotundra behind it.


As you enter, the first thing you notice are two industrial murals in the rotunda, measuring 105 feet by 22 feet. The north mural depicts Cincinnati history, set over 18 ticket windows.


The south mural depicts US history.


Then you look up. The word Gobsmacked comes to mind.This is the picture that originally captured my interest and stayed in my phone for years. (Not mine)


The rotunda is 176 feet wide, 125 feet deep and the arch tops out at 106 feet above the floor. The colors are unbelievably vivid and bright.


The rotunda's semi-circular information kiosk originally served as a newsstand and tobacco shop




Everything has been marvelously restored. It is unreal to think that this was slated for the wrecking ball. I should have been born in 1900, because then I could have been more fully immersed in the Art Deco phase of the '30s and '40s.








Lunchroom


North approach


A truly awe inspiring stop. You really knocked this one out of the park, Cincy. Bravo. Bucket item #1 for the day - check.

The Cincy skyline from the terminal


Just after 11 am, time to get on the road, because we still have 340 miles ahead of us.

We find I-74 and cut northwest to Indianapolis, the "Crossroads of America." It doesn't take long before we are in Indiana.

Indianapolis is the capital of Indiana and is the largest city in the state at just under 900,000. We are there in about two hours. It is the 18th largest city in the US. There's a a lot going on here. We cram as much as we can into two and a half hours.

First up is the Colts house. The NCAA Men's Final Four just finished up here a couple of days ago as I write this.




We are just on the edge of downtown and that means the capitol building.

The North Capitol Avenue side - it's Sunday, so it is closed.


Out back is a nice plaza.


Indy Stargate .....yeah, I dunno either.


We head down to the Central Canal past the Department of Motor Vehicles and Abe




The Indiana Central Canal was intended to connect the Wabash and Erie Canal to the Ohio River - a total length of 296 miles. They stopped at just eight. Its a nice place to stroll and paddle a boat today.


The NCAA Hall of Champions is right here, but there isn't time. So we head over to Monument Circle in the heart of downtown.


Monument Circle is home to the enormous Indiana State Soldiers and Sailors Monument - a 284' tall obelisk with several sculptures honoring the Hoosiers who were veterans of Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War and the Spanish-American War. Construction started in 1888 and topped out in 1901.

Monument Circle (Not my pic)


The Circle makes a nice living room for the city.










Some nice buildings look in on the monument




East Market Street - lots of brick streets around here


North Illinois Street with the Indianapolis Arts Garden - a 4-way elevated enclosed crosswalk over an entire intersection..


It is already 2:30 and we are still over 200 miles away from tonight's hotel. But there is one more thing to see in Indianapolis. What the heck was that? Why is this place so famous? Oh, yeah. They race cars here a bit.

Bucket item #2 today - The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Museum




My father was a big auto racing fan. So, starting at an early age, I've probably seen most of the Indy 500s since I was 5. Not to mention NASCAR, IMSA & F1, etc. I don't watch as much anymore, been to a few races here and there and got on the tracks at Atlanta and Charlotte, stopping up on the high banking just for fun. Racing cars 200 MPH in traffic? - these guys have nerves of steel.

The museum is really crowded, but it doesn't matter. There is plenty of room and it is full of cars and memorabilia from all of the different generations of Indy racing.






Roger Penske has entered dozens of cars in the 500. He has the most wins with 20.


Without getting a track tour, this is as close as you get.....The Pagoda, across from the Main Stands.


The road out (under the south short chute).


Now it's after 4 o'clock - with still over 200 miles to go. I-74 takes us across the Indiana prairie. The Illinois state border is crossed in about 80 miles. We drop into Champaign (since we're here) and grab a look at the University of Illinois, but don't linger. My sister was stationed at Chanute Air Force Base, just north of here, for awhile.

Decatur is our next stop, about an hour away. It is a nice town of about 70,000 and was awarded the All-America City Award in 1960, along with 11 other cities. It was known as the Soybean Capital of the World for much of the 20th Century. Fun Fact: The fly-swatter was invented here in 1900.

Downtown Decatur


Del's Popcorn - Opened 1934


Decatur is also known to be the first location where Abraham Lincoln ever gave a public speech. At age 21, in 1830, he gave a speech defending the Whig Party and its leader, Henry Clay of Kentucky. The statue was erected in 1968.

Look....Abe. And an 8'er in Decatur.




It's after 6 and about an hour to Springfield. I-72 takes us across nothing but farmland all the way. We drop our bags at the hotel and head to a nearby eatery we had read about called Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill & Museum. It doesn't disappoint.


The place is a restaurant/bar/entertainment complex and museum. It is by no means fancy, but the food is good and the waiters extremely friendly.


Lots of Route 66 memorabilia outside




And a nice small museum inside






There a several places like this all along the 300 mile Illinois portion of Route 66, which we are on right at the moment. It would be fun to just drive from Chicago to St. Louis, stopping every 20 minutes along the way to see something fun.


Finally get back to the hotel after 8 o'clock - but, what a day. A few bucket items taken off the list.

Springfield, Illinois

Total Miles: 7,858
Daily Avg: 291 Miles

[MDude]

Originally Posted by snowbimmer

They are fine cars. Great styling, fast and sporty with a bit of luxury. I have about 75,000 miles on the G16 platform. Never get tired of it.

Agreed! One of BMW’s best cars they’ve ever made. And that green makes it that much more beautiful 😍

Wow! You really enjoyed the car, right on! (love hearing people using and driving their toys! Rather than let it sit there and collect dust just to look at lol)… Has the car given you any issues or any major problems within those 75k miles? Very interested to hear!

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by MDude

Agreed! One of BMW’s best cars they’ve ever made. And that green makes it that much more beautiful 😍

Wow! You really enjoyed the car, right on! (love hearing people using and driving their toys! Rather than let it sit there and collect dust just to look at lol)… Has the car given you any issues or any major problems within those 75k miles? Very interested to hear!

I've been very vocal about my fondness for the M850. My first G16 came after owning a couple of F90s. I even feel it's the best GT car in the BMW lineup, as I chronicled here after two years of ownership and several trips in a 2022 Carbon Black. Take a gander:

https://f92.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2098241


It must have struck a chord, because the thread has nearly 80,000 views now. That car went to 48,500 miles with nary a flaw or issue. Not one. It became my favorite car.

The San Remo/Tartufo (this trip's car) came on the lot just as I was extending the warranty on the Carbon Black. Couldn't pass up my dream spec - and also dump 50,000 miles off the clock. It went to nearly 19,000 miles before I swapped it out last September for the car I have now - another green G16. There is nothing else in the BMW lineup that even remotely interests me right now.

I've heard of a few front differential replacements but no real engine related problems. Maybe a couple of coolant leaks, but I think those were mostly on the M5 and M8 platforms.

They are great cars that cost too much and depreciate like rocks. But, I think a well researched, gently used one with an extended warranty, that can be purchased for 1/2 of MSRP is a fine idea.

[Chex_Lemeneux]

I made a one way cross country trip from Massachusetts to Orange County, California and as I combed through these posts it made me kick myself for not having a camera (it was 1992/93). What an epic journey snowbimmer. Not enough people "see" this country in this fashion. Thanks for the share!

[adhrp]

That Air Force museum looks like a treat! So many aircraft crammed into such a small space though.

BTW, what did you do about that chipped tire/sidewall?

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by Chex_Lemeneux

I made a one way cross country trip from Massachusetts to Orange County, California and as I combed through these posts it made me kick myself for not having a camera (it was 1992/93). What an epic journey snowbimmer. Not enough people "see" this country in this fashion. Thanks for the share!

I hear ya. I went lots of places without a good camera for a long time. Luckily, I've been able to make it back to most of them, with a good camera.

I've been fortunate enough to see most of the country. A lot of it past the Rockies for awhile was due to work conferences, but it was: land at the airport, go to the hotel, go back to the airport. Sometimes we'd rent a car. There were four of us from my firm in Atlanta one December. We finished up our schedule for the day, had the big meet and greet dinner. As we trudge off to our rooms, one of my guys says, "Who wants to go to Clemson?" It's already 9 PM. I said, "I do. How far is it?" He said its only two hours (each way) and its freeway for most of it. We'll be back at 1. Breakfast was at 7:30 and then another full day of meetings.

Got to see the big stadium and everything. One of my friends in Oregon is a Clemson Tiger. Now I know where he sits when he goes back for the Clemson - South Carolina game.

But like you said, seeing it in this fashion puts it into a whole 'nother perspective. I'm ready to do it again.

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by adhrp

That Air Force museum looks like a treat! So many aircraft crammed into such a small space though.

BTW, what did you do about that chipped tire/sidewall?

The Air Force Museum is well laid out. The hangers are ginormous. It is definitely a treat.

I watched my tire carefully and determined it would probably be OK to keep driving. That part of the side wall has a lot of meat. I got home and tossed the tires - didn't like them, anyway.

[snowbimmer]

Post 13 of 17


Day 28: Springfield to Cedar Rapids, Iowa - 358 Miles


Giddyup! Today is a state capitol, a presidential library and the birthplaces of two iconic cultural heroes. Oh, and some sightseeing.

Stop one is the Illinois Statehouse in downtown Springfield. We are on the outer ring road at the southern edge of town, but traffic is light and we get to the capitol by 8 am.

East Capitol Avenue


The building, designed in the French Renaissance and Italianate styles, was completed in 1888. It is the sixth capitol since Illinois became a state in 1818. It is also the tallest non-skyscraper capitol in the country, standing 405' including the flagpole.

Rotunda


Dome




The hallways are very ornate






The Illinois House of Representatives


And, of course, Abe is out front


We take a short drive through downtown as we head over to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, just a few blocks away




Springfield Union Station (Former train station. Amtrak service was discontinued in 1971)


And the Old State Capitol Historical Site - serving as the state capitol from 1840 to 1876


The Lincoln Library is a modern building, helped out with a little Disney flair here and there.


A rather forlorn looking president (by Gutzon Borglum (1908), the Mount Rushmore artist)


Lincoln's entire presidency was defined by the Civil War, with the first shots fired at Fort Sumpter in South Carolina just a couple months after his inauguration.


Cabinet Meeting


Emancipation Proclamation, an Executive Order signed January 1, 1863


The War Gallery


The toll of the presidency and the war 1861 (Age 52) to 1865 (Age 56)




Continuing our Lincoln theme, we head over to his old neighborhood, at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. He lived here from 1844 until 1861, serving four terms in the Illinois House of Representatives.


The Family Home




The Lincoln theme continues over to the Oak Ridge Cemetery at the NW edge of Springfield. The large tomb is the final resting place for Abe, Mary Todd and three of their four sons. The Lincoln Family Tomb is quite the monument.






And of course, who can forget Bob Vose, buried nearby. Known as The Korndog King for selling his corn dogs with his grandmother's recipe at the Illinois State Fair, starting in 1966. Died in 2023 at the age of 94.


We grab a quick lunch on the way out of town (I really wanted a corn dog, for some reason, didn't find one) and we jump back on I-72 west to Hannibal, MO, about 105 miles away. About 50 miles out the NAV shows a new route, taking us 20 miles out of our way down to Louisiana, MO because the Mark Twain Bridge over the Mississippi at Hannibal is closed.

So we detour through Pittsfield and see the Pike County Courthouse


We eventually cross the mighty Mississippi into Missouri and meander north to Hannibal following the western bank.

Samuel Clemens, known as Mark Twain, was raised in Hannibal, MO. Two of his classic books, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn are based on his life here. His imprint is all over this town.


Orphan Tom lived with Aunt Polly here. So did Samuel Clemens from 1844 to 1853.


Polly punished him once for staying out late by making him paint her fence. He was able to persuade his friends to do it for him.


Girlfriend Becky Thatcher lived across the street




Down on North Main Street








A block away on the waterfront - the Mississippi River


And Mark's Riverboat tours. (He actually became a riverboat pilot early on)


Finishing up after a Hannibal drive around, we made our way north to West Quincy and then crossed the Mississippi back into Illinois on the Quincy Memorial Bridge.

This is the cable stayed Bayview Bridge that takes traffic the other direction to Missouri.


Quincy, Illinois is a very photogenic town of around 40,000 that thrived in the 1800s as a major transportation hub. There are several historic districts with blocks and blocks of interesting buildings.












And many buildings, as is common with these types of towns, that aren't functioning anymore.


Leaving Quincy, we take Hwy 96 north to the tiny burg of Warsaw, IL. For the life of me, I do not know what happens here.






We cross the Mississippi again at Keokuk, Iowa - state #48.


We continue north to Fort Madison, founded as the first US military fort in the upper Mississippi region.




Hwy 61 gets us to Burlington, IA, with roots in transportation and manufacturing. Current population is around 20,000.

We find Snake Alley, a poor man's Lombard Street - of San Francisco fame.


Then down to the waterfront for a view of the Great River Bridge (It goes back over the Mississippi River to Illinois).




So, it's 6 o'clock and we're still at least two hours out. With two more stops. (I guess I have to take the University of Iowa off the list now.)

We make a short stop in Mt. Pleasant, IA to see the founding spot (in 1869) for P.E.O., (the philanthropic organization my wife belongs to), located on the former campus of Wesleyan University.


Then up Hwy 218 40 more miles to Cultural Icon #2 for the day at Riverside, Iowa - Population about a thousand.



Oh, yeah.........it is also the future birthplace of none other than Capt. James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise.



This way...........




And the man himself - the dude just turned 95. This might be from 30 years ago.


Also a bronze statue of him in a park downtown


Warp drive, Mr. Scott. Ayyyyeee, Captain




We cruise into Cedar Rapids by 8:30 pm.

Week 4.....Done. 2,112 miles.

One week to go.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Total Miles: 8,216
Daily Avg: 293 Miles

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by snowbimmer

The Air Force Museum is well laid out. The hangers are ginormous. It is definitely a treat.

I watched my tire carefully and determined it would probably be OK to keep driving. That part of the side wall has a lot of meat. I got home and tossed the tires - didn't like them, anyway.

I kind of did the same thing on my M550i. The RFTs sustained some damage that I was unaware of and the car drove fine until a routine oil change visit to the dealer where the tech found the damage during his walk around. I promptly took the opportunity to switch all four tires out to Conti DWS06+ all seaons, my favorite.

[adhrp]

Noticed a typo in the sentence: "Continuing our Lincoln theme, we head over to his old neighborhood, at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. He lived here from 1844 until 1961, serving four terms in the Illinois House of Representatives."

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by adhrp

Noticed a typo in the sentence: "Continuing our Lincoln theme, we head over to his old neighborhood, at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. He lived here from 1844 until 1961, serving four terms in the Illinois House of Representatives."

Yeah, he was there a loooooong time. Family had good genes.
(Except for the getting shot part)


Fixed. Thx.

[M3_Legend]

Amazing gotta sit down and read this whole thread

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by M3_Legend

Amazing gotta sit down and read this whole thread

Thanks.

Pace yourself, though.

There's still 4 more posts to go up.

[snowbimmer]

Post 14 of 17


Day 29: Cedar Rapids to Gretna, Nebraska (Omaha-ish) - 309 Miles


Week 5 - Heading home, and ramping up the mileage. Today we make some serious westerly headway.

But first, we have to see downtown Cedar Rapids. It is a fair sized city of just under 140,000. Several large employers are here including Collins Aerospace and Cargill. Cedar Rapids is also one of the largest cities in the world for corn processing and other grains by companies such as General Mills (Cheerios, Betty Crocker, Bisquick), Quaker Oats and Archer Daniels Midland.

Pepsico / Quaker Oats processing plant




A run through downtown








Veterans Memorial Building on Mays Island in the Cedar River


It's too early for anything to be open, so we set sail down Hwy 30 for Ames, Iowa - home to Iowa State. But we soon realize that the Cyclones ain't gonna make the list today either and we veer off to Des Moines, the state capital, two hours from Cedar Rapids.

We park and head to the Iowa Statehouse. Man, what a treat this place was.


After 15 years of construction, the building was completed in 1886. Built in a refined Renaissance style, it's footprint measures 364' x 247'. The capitol's commanding feature is the towering dome, constructed with iron and brick and covered in thin sheets of pure 23-carat gold. There is a protective layer sealing the gold from the weather. The most recent regilding was done in 1999 at a cost of $482,000.


The interior rotunda measures 80' in diameter and the interior dome is a work of art. The craftsmanship is these buildings is unbelievable.





There is also an exhibit featuring the USS Iowa (BB-61), an 887' WWII battleship now permanently docked as a museum in Los Angeles.


The beauty of the interior derives from incredible attention to detail, with the use of 29 types of marble and five types of wood. The second floor above the rotunda shows it all.



"Westward" - an iconic 1905 mural by Edwin H. Blashfield depicts Iowa's pioneer history.



The Iowa House of Representatives


The highlight of the 2nd floor is the 4-story Victorian Law Library. Simply stunning, especially the spiral staircase.




The capitol is perched on a hill overlooking downtown Des Moines, the largest city in Iowa, with a population of around 215,000.


Abe and Tad


The front view of the capitol


The lookout lantern on top can be reached by a long and winding staircase.


Easily one of our favorite capitol buildings.

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument on the south capitol grounds.


Downtown Des Moines




The wife's philanthropical organization, P.E.O., is headquartered in Des Moines. It's on the way out of town and we drop by for a tour.




We leave Des Moines around 1 o'clock and find our way to I-80. A nice side trip would have taken us south 20 miles to Winterset. It is the birthplace of John Wayne and the location for the movie The Bridges of Madison County. Sadly, we chose to push on to Omaha, a decision we regretted later. Oh, well.

We cross the Missouri River and reach Omaha, Nebraska in just over two hours and head to Lewis & Clark Landing. We thought there was a Lewis & Clark Museum there, but it just turned out to be a National Park Service Regional office. See, we coulda seen John Wayne.

Outside, it is getting quite hot, but we walk along the riverfront and hike out onto the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge.


It is another cable stayed design, spanning 3,000 feet, connecting Omaha to Council Bluffs, IA. Very impressive.




The Missouri River


We snake our way through Omaha toward Gretna, a suburb about 20 miles southwest. Rush hour traffic crawls, because Omaha is the largest city in Nebraska (Pop. 490,000), and it seems like people actually work here. Texas Roadhouse for dinner.

Gretna, Nebraska (Omaha-ish)

Total Miles: 8,525
Daily Avg: 294 Miles



Day 30: Gretna to Watertown, South Dakota - 349 Miles


Our westward migration takes a detour today as we head north for the next 450 miles of our journey toward Fargo, North Dakota. And pick up a couple of Siouxs along the way: Sioux City and Sioux Falls.

But we start out by going a little further south on I-80 to the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum. We end up being only 30 miles from Lincoln - which was night 3, 27 days ago.

The approach to the museum yields a real beauty - a Rockwell International B-1A Lancer - the 4th, and last, prototype built. First flown in 1979, the B-1 was designed as a Mach 2.2 high altitude strategic bomber. They still fly today as a B-1B variant. There are about 45 in use.


Also on display out front is a Douglas PGM -17A Thor intermediate range ballistic missile.


No matter how many times I see one, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird remains a stunning aeronautical achievement. It replaced the slower U-2 as a long range high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. It could fly at Mach 3.2 (2,500 mph) at 85,000' and used early stealth technology.


There are a couple hangers of static displays spanning all types of aircraft.

Boeing B-29 Superfortress - only plane to drop nuclear weapons.


Lockheed U-2, Boeing B-17 and Boeing B-52


The massive Convair B-36 Peacemaker


And it's little buddy, the McDonnell XF-85 Goblin, that would deploy from the bomb bay of the B-36 as a parasite fighter. Only two built before the program was abandoned. Yeah.... I don't think so.


The delta winged Convair B-58 Hustler, supersonic Mach 2 strategic bomber


McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom supersonic fighter bomber. 5,195 built between 1958 and 1981. Heavy use in Vietnam.


Also some fun exhibits of space TV culture


And Lost in Space


Bombs away..............


After finishing up, we reverse course and head back down to Omaha. We try to get near Charles Schwab Field, but it is June and that means one thing: The College World Series. It is June 11 and it looks like a mad dash in preparations, as the tournament gets started in just two days. Can't really get near it. So, we get a picture of the Omaha Convention Center instead.




This whole area is completely repurposed with new hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues. It is party central.

The Omaha skyline.


We say goodbye to Omaha and cross the Missouri back into Iowa on I-29 north. We reach Sioux City, Iowa in an hour and a half, grab a quick lunch and head to the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. Hey, there's actually something here this time.


The Lewis & Clark Expedition set out from St. Louis in May 1804 to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase and to find a practical travel route to the west coast that would avoid the hot and desolate desert of the Southwest. They travelled up the Missouri River, who's confluence with the Mississippi, just north of St. Louis, was their official starting point. President Jefferson persuaded Congress to appropriate all of $2,324 for food and supplies. Jeez, go crazy, guys. Yer only gonna be gone two years.






The keelboat used in the early part of the journey was built near Pittsburgh to Lewis' specifications. When completed, it was loaded with supplies and Lewis travelled down the Ohio River to meet Clark at Louisville. The Corps of Discovery Expedition met up in St. Louis, where they acquired their final members and supplies and departed on their two year quest.




By the time they reached what is now known as Sioux City, Sergeant Charles Floyd had died from acute appendicitis, the only member to die during the expedition. And, he didn't even get all that far.

Although its a nice museum, it's a bit sparse. We move on to look around downtown Sioux City.






Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota all merge here. We jump back on I-29 and cross the Big Sioux River into South Dakota.


It's only 90 miles to Sioux Falls, the largest city in South Dakota at 210,000. Most of the city's early growth came from meat packing and agriculture and the surrounding area contains one third of the state's population.

Downtown was bustling and spiffed up.




But, the main tourist draw in the area is, well, Sioux Falls. The Falls of the Big Sioux River cascade through quartzite terraces, creating a stunning visual in Falls Park. The city has done a nice job here preserving it's natural beauty.














Falls Overlook Cafe - located in a restored 1908 hydroelectric plant



Once again, it's after 5 o'clock and we are still 105 miles from the hotel. But, STi from DSM kindly offered up his favorite Chinese food place in Brookings for us to try (I had a thread going at the time stating my car had seen both coasts last May), and it's only an hour away - and on the way. We'll give it a go.

Uhhhhmmmm, no. Sorry man. The place was slammed, most of the buffet items were empty and it was kinda dirty. But, hey - we gave it a shot.

We hit Watertown, SD at 7:30. The hotel is nice and fairly new.

Watertown, South Dakota

Total Miles: 8,874
Daily Avg: 296 Miles

[snowbimmer]

Post 15 of 17


Day 31: Watertown to Bismarck, North Dakota - 418 Miles


Today we crack 400 miles on the road for the first time in over a month. Better get a move on - there's two things that are the "largest in the world" awaiting us today.

First up is taking care of State #49. 75 miles and one hour later we cross into North Dakota for the first time.


It sure looks a lot like South Dakota around here. Do we really need two Dakotas?


We leave I-29 to back track east on Hwy 13 to Wahpeton, over on the border with Minnesota. Just a small town of 8,000, it is the county seat of Richardson County


A nice mural


But, the main reason to come through Wahpeton is to see the world's largest catfish. Known as Wahpper (get it?), it is 40' long, 12' tall and weighs 5,000 lbs.


The 2nd reason to come through Wahpeton is because Minnesota is right across the Red River and its only 27 miles to Fergus Falls, MN. A slight directional reversal, but I need to walk around in Minnesota a bit, because, technically, the only other time we were in Minnesota was during a layover at the Minneapolis airport many, many years ago. Sure, we deplaned, but it's hard to actually count that as a state visit. This will make sure.

Fergus Falls is just a small town of 14,000, or so, with a nice downtown.


The only "Falls" I saw. Not sure if it counts. Might be man made.


Then we head over to The Kirkbride, a massive historical asylum, designed according to the principles of Dr. Thomas Kirkbride. In1885, Minnesota's mental institutions were badly overcrowded. The hospital opened in 1890 and had 1,700 patients by the 1920s - when it, too, became overcrowded. Patients could be admitted voluntarily, but many were sent by court order. Most stayed for life. The state shut it down in 2005 and preservation efforts have been ongoing to save the building. If these walls could talk.










We take I-94 up to Moorhead, MN - home to the World's Largest Dilly Bar, invented at the Moorhead Dairy Queen in 1955. 12' tall.


Wow. Two world size records within 2 hours and 7 minutes. I wonder if that, in and of itself, is a world record.

We drop down into Viking Ship Park nearby and see the Hopperstad Stave Church, a full scale replica of a church by the same name in Norway. There's a few of those folks around these parts.


We cross back over the Red River into Fargo, the largest city in North Dakota at just under 140,000. The city has continued to grow and the downtown area has been revitalized through public and private investments.


We grab lunch on trendy North Broadway Drive and wander the shops for a bit.










We catch a colorful water tower on the way out of town before hopping on I-94 west for a soul sucking drive across the loneliness that is North Dakota. There are very few towns between Fargo and Bismarck, 200 miles away.


But, it's only 1 o'clock when we leave and three hours later we pull up to the North Dakota Capitol in Bismarck.


The capitol is a modern looking 21 story Art Deco tower and is the tallest building in the state. It's shocking to discover that it was completed 92 years ago in 1934, during the depths of the Great Depression. It sits on a 160 acre campus that houses several other state office buildings.








We head inside, where everything is spotless and pristine. We have a nice chat with the security guard, who says, "You have to be sure to go up to the 18th floor observation deck. You can just about see the whole state from up there - on a clear day." Today's not that day. Oh. well.


We find a wall of Famous People with ties to North Dakota. Who knew?

Angie Dickinson


Phil Jackson


Roger Maris


And a one, and a two and a Lawrence Welk


Cozy little vestibules for making deals


The Senate Chamber


We head to the second floor


And peer into the House Chamber. Pretty snazzy.


We go up to the observation deck. The capitol grounds are quite impressive. There is an outdoor parapet that encircles the observation deck. It was closed to visitors several years ago because dumbasses kept throwing things off of it.


Hey, a San Remo M850 way down there


Bismarck


Along the interior walls are several paintings by local artists and pictures of previous Governors. We liked this guy for some reason - Walter Maddock, 15th governor of North Dakota, from 1925 to 1928.

Walter, circa 1928 The dude had game.


Our 15th, and last, state capitol on this trip - and we were able to get inside of 8 of them. So far, we've seen 29 state capitols and been in 17. Oddly, I've never been inside my own.

We grab a pizza dinner and wander about Bismarck afterwards for a bit. Not a lot of pics.


It's 8 0'clock and we head for the barn.

Bismarck, North Dakota

Total Miles: 9,292
Daily Avg: 300 Miles



Day 32: Bismarck to Laurel, Montana - 479 Miles


Today will be the fourth highest mileage day of the trip. It is about 95% on I-94.

It is overcast, but not raining as we pull onto the freeway, crossing the Missouri River, that Lewis & Clark were still following. It is a 2 hour straight shot across the western half of North Dakota. There is nothing but flat farmland as far as the eye can see. And then you finally enter a different looking landscape.

Our first stop is Theodore Roosevelt National Park, located in the badlands of North Dakota.


Teddy Roosevelt first came to the North Dakota badlands to hunt Buffalo in September1883. He was 25, fell in love with the rugged lifestyle and personal freedom of the west and bought a ranch. After both his wife and mother died on Valentine's Day 1884, he returned to the ranch to seek solitude and to heal. He bought another ranch and later wrote three books about his adventures in the west.

Oh, yeah, he also became a New York State Assemblyman, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, led his Roughriders up San Juan Hill during the Spanish-American War, Governor of New York, Vice President and then the 26th President of the United States after President William McKinley was assassinated in 1901. He established the Forest Service, signed the creation of five National Parks, proclaimed 18 new National Monuments and placed 230 million acres of land under public protection. And started construction on the Panama Canal. And you think you're busy.

After his death in 1919, at the age of 60, this area was explored and land was set aside, eventually becoming the Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park in 1947. There is a North Unit and a South Unit. We are in the south and head to the Painted Canyon Visitor Center.




We drop down to the town of Medora, that serves as the main park entrance. Stopped in at Roosevelt's cabin, where he stayed in the late 1800s.




From the park entrance there is a 35 mile scenic loop, but half the loop was closed (the part with the best Badlands view), so it was about 15 miles out and back.














Time to turn around






There are a lot of buffalo, wild horses and millions of prairie dogs.






Back in Medora we grab a lunch in a cowboy saloon and hit the road again. It's noon and we only have 300 miles to go.

We come out of the mountains back into farm country and cross into Montana after 30 miles. Been to Montana many, many times, but not this far out in the eastern hinterlands. It is really, really sparse out here.

At Glendive, we pick up the Yellowstone River, which eventually joins the Missouri about 75 miles north of here.

Our next target is Pompeys Pillar, 188 miles down the freeway. We pull in to Pompeys Pillar National Monument just before 4 o'clock.


They have a really nice Visitor Center


On their return trip from Oregon, Lewis and Clark split the expedition near Missoula, Montana in July 1806. Lewis would continue on back the way they came, but Clark led a party of 12, including Sacajawea and her young son, south to explore the Yellowstone River, meeting Lewis a month later at the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri, near the North Dakota border. Along the way, they stopped at a 150' tall sandstone pillar, which Clark decided to climb - in order to see what he could see. He named it Pompey, after the pet name he had given to Sacajawea's son, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. Yes, Sacajawea married a French dude.








The pillar features an abundance of Native American petroglyphs. Archeological evidence suggests that the outcropping has been witness to 11,000 years of human involvement in the area. William Clark inscribed and dated his name in the sandstone of Pompeys Pillar.

It is the only remaining physical evidence found along the route of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Way cool.


The view east


The Yellowstone River


Pretty dang cool.

It's only about 30 minutes to Billings and a Cracker Barrel for dinner. Then just 20 more miles to the hotel in Laurel. Tomorrow will be a spectacular drive in the mountains - finally.

I check the weather app - this pops up. Seriously? Jeez, I thought I wasn't in Kansas anymore...........


Laurel, Montana

Total Miles: 9,771
Daily Avg: 305 Miles

[snowbimmer]

Post 16 of 17


Day 33: Laurel to Belgrade, Montana - 302 Miles

My favorite post of the trip, for reasons that will become obvious

So, here we are: Day 33 of 35. After 2,000 miles of seemingly endless, flat corn fields and cattle ranches that started back on Day 26 departing from Pittsburgh, we finally hit a jaw dropping sweet spot (like we're used to on our road trips) back in the mountains of the American West. Don't get me wrong, we loved seeing the heart of the country (twice), but there is something about travelling through a landscape that has it's gradations measured in thousands of feet, instead of just yards.

After finally seeing Eastern Montana after leaving North Dakota, I wanted to drop into Yellowstone National Park and do a surgical strike at Artist Point, which overlooks the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and also the spectacular Lower Yellowstone Falls. Somehow in all my trips there (7), I seemed to have missed this particular viewpoint. The plan was to drop down out of Montana just below Billings, turn west at Cody on Hwy 14, enter the park at through the East Entrance and then up to Artist Point. Then we saw that the Beartooth Highway had just opened, so, giddy-up. Charles Kuralt once called the Beartooth Highway "...the most beautiful roadway in America." This new route would also vastly shorten the distance for the day and, at the same time, increase our transit enjoyment.

First up is a car wash this morning, since there will finally be something of substance to put in the background of a car pic, should the occasion arise..... Gonna be a car-heavy post, fair warning.

I already put most of this post into a thread last July, just in case you think some of this might look familiar. It has snagged over 30,000 views. This is good territory today, I'm tellin' ya.

Day 33 Route. The 68 mile Beartooth Highway is between the red dots. The east portal is at Red Lodge, the west portal is the NE entrance of Yellowstone National Park. The high pass is about at the half-way mark.



While I don't totally agree with Mr. Kuralt's assessment, I don't disagree. This is truly a splendid road. It was our 2nd time through, having previously traversed it back in the fall of 2023. This time, since it had just opened, there was a lot of snow, giving the whole route a different kind of feel. The road was packed - but there were no traffic jams. There are lots of turnouts.

The quaint little town of Red Lodge is a great jumping off point at the start of the Beartooth Highway. Lots of shops and restaurants.






First up is securing a large selection of saltwater taffy at the Montana Candy Emporium. Best I've ever had: Great flavors, great texture and just the right amount of chewyness.


Lots of bins and lots of memorabilia in there, too.




It all starts just a few miles out of town. Time to get after it.






The switchbacks start immediately and the first turn out is really nice.




The road ascends very quickly through the switchbacks - you will gain 5,000 feet in only 12 miles.




A red C8 scoots by




More switchbacks


I dunno..........seems likes there's some rockfall potential here, maybe


The view expands as you climb higher




Where we're headed


There's a fabulous view and a large parking lot at the Rock Creek Vista Point - Elev. 9.190 feet


What a view


A trail goes out to an observation point, where hundreds of scavengers are waiting.


The patient and good natured passenger


Carbon Black M850, from 2023. What a car that was.


There's still nearly 1,800 vertical feet to the summit, so let's get going


Looking down on the Rock Creek Vista Point


What a glorious road




A lull in the traffic




We reach a high plateau. The trees are gone. The view is stupendous.


The view down below opens up to several lakes, trying to throw off the cold frozen yoke of winter.




Still climbing to an even higher plateau


We pass the Beartooth Summer Ski Basin. The smallish lot is crammed with cars. Nine runs, 2 poma chairs and one headwall of undetermined height.

Then on to one last plateau where skiers are schussing down couloirs and being snowmobiled back to the top.


A couple more S-turns through the snow


Then - Boom...........Summit Time - 10,947 feet. Not a tree in sight. This is literally the high point of the trip - on more than one account.


The landscape changes dramatically as we wind down the west side of the pass. The trees quickly come back and the whole area is dotted with lakes trying to thaw out.




The road flattens out and we reach Long Lake for some nice shots








San Remo Green Metallic is a really great color


Soon, the forest returns. Waterfalls dot the sides of the hills.


Yellowstone Overlook brings Pilot Peak and Index Peak into view. Pilot Peak (the pointy one) rises to 11,699 feet and Index Peak, to the right, comes in at 10,709 feet.




Lake Creek Falls is a rushing torrent






Another view of Pilot Peak


A little further is Crazy Creek Falls. There doesn't particularly seem to be a dedicated stream bed. It just comes tumbling down the mountain.


Everything is sooooo green.


We continue winding our way down through the lush green landscape. We eventually reach Cooke City - the first major signs of civilization. It's a threadbare town in need of sprucing up, but it's jammed with people looking for gas, snacks, lunches and souvenirs. They probably have only have 4 months to make all their annual income, because the pass to Red Lodge is closed most of the year.

A few miles on gets us through the NE Entrance to Yellowstone. This is where the buffalo roam. It's also not very geysery in this part of the park.




At Tower Junction we turn left and the road ascends into a verdant landscape as we head toward Canyon Village and the waterfalls. The traffic increases tenfold. We are not alone anymore. Dang tourists.


The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is one of the busiest spots in the park. The Yellowstone River has cut a deep canyon here and added two spectacular waterfalls. However, it doesn't look totally crazy here right now, peoplewise, so we take the North Rim Road and are not disappointed by the views of the Lower Falls - just over 300 feet high. A bonus viewpoint for today.


The canyon is 24 miles long, with walls of 800 to 1,200 feet deep.




A nice hike descends down 600 feet to the Brink of the Lower Falls - it's quite spectacular. You can just see the viewpoint, with the people, on the right side at the top of the falls - if you look close enough.


The road loops us back out to Canyon Village and we check out the Canyon Lodge.




We head over to the other side of the river and reach the parking lot for Artist Point. Its a little further away from the falls, but there is more of a view of the canyon. Really something.






Then its back over to the north side again for a quick hike to the Brink of the Upper Falls. The river is really hauling ass through here.






It took 7 hours to go the last 120 miles - or you could have gone 500 miles on I-90 through Montana. I'll take this any day of the week.

Our Yellowstone surgical strike now completed, we head west out of Canyon Village on the Norris Canyon Road to meet up with Hwy 89 that will take us north to Mammoth Hot Springs. We explored the Springs a couple years ago, so we head for the final target: The North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park - the only entrance we'd never been through. It lies in the city of Gardiner, MT.

The significance of the North Entrance is that the trains dropped tourists off here and then they rode horse drawn carriages into the park. It was the first major entrance to Yellowstone. A stone arch was proposed to create an emphatic statement that the park is, in fact, kind of a big deal. President Theodore Roosevelt came through in 1903, just as construction began. He helped lay the cornerstone for the arch, which then took his name.




The top of the arch is inscribed with a quote from the Organic Act of 1872, the legislation that created Yellowstone National Park - the first national park in the US - and the world.


Although it's not the main access point of the entrance anymore, you can still drive through it.


We put Yellowstone into our rearview mirror once again.


A quick run through Gardiner reveals lots of shops and restaurants, but we press on, after stopping only for a quick bite. A nice view of the town across the Yellowstone River.


Even though we have left a national park, Montana doesn't shy away from being awesome - as the wife shows by snapping a picture out her window.


Hwy 89 goes north along the Yellowstone River for 55 miles to the fun little town of Livingston, Montana - population 8,000. We pass through our 10,000th mile of the trip just before we arrive.

Originally a railroad and ranching town, in the past several years it has gone more upscale and touristy because of notable Hollywood fame due to the movie "A River Runs Through It" and more recently, the very popular Kevin Costner series "Yellowstone." Lots of high end shops, eateries and neon signs.
















I-90 west awaits us as we jump on and cruise through Bozeman, another cool town that we've been through several times. 45 minutes later we reach Belgrade and find our hotel, which looks to be about only six months old. We'll take it

It is nearly 9 o'clock, but the day just seemed to fly by. I realize (and I've known this for some time) my highest and best use is driving through the jaw-dropping natural wonders of the Mountain-West region of this country. I never get tired of coming back to these places.

Day 33 is one for the record books.

Belgrade, Montana

Total Miles: 10,073
Daily Avg: 305 Miles

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by snowbimmer

Post 16 of 17


Day 33: Laurel to Belgrade, Montana - 302 Miles

My favorite post of the trip, for reasons that will become obvious


Day 33 is one for the record books.

Belgrade, Montana
Attachment 3940829
Total Miles: 10,073
Daily Avg: 305 Miles

Beautiful! My first (and so far only) trip to Yellowstone was driving from WI as a student a decade and a half ago and entering through the NE entrance...breathtaking even at night because all the animals were out and about in the thick of the night.. what a welcome to the park! I fell in love with the place. Your post brought back some memories. One of my favorite road trips covering the Badlands, Black Hills, Mt. Rushmore, Beartooth Pass, etc..I think I hit all the must-see points.

I've been planning to go back but my brother-in-law and sister-in-law want to join us from Germany on the next one, which is complicating the planning process...hopefully someday soon. My wife and her sister refuse to drive from FL to Yellowstone, but my brother in law is game. We'll see if we can pull that off!

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by adhrp

Beautiful! My first (and so far only) trip to Yellowstone was driving from WI as a student a decade and a half ago and entering through the NE entrance...breathtaking even at night because all the animals were out and about in the thick of the night.. what a welcome to the park! I fell in love with the place. Your post brought back some memories. One of my favorite road trips covering the Badlands, Black Hills, Mt. Rushmore, Beartooth Pass, etc..I think I hit all the must-see points.

I've been planning to go back but my brother-in-law and sister-in-law want to join us from Germany on the next one, which is complicating the planning process...hopefully someday soon. My wife and her sister refuse to drive from FL to Yellowstone, but my brother in law is game. We'll see if we can pull that off!

Yeah, I hear ya. You're probably at least 5 days away in Florida, maybe 6. But so much to see just getting there (and back). I have some friends whose wives won't get in the car for very long. I am extremely fortunate.

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by snowbimmer

Yeah, I hear ya. You're probably at least 5 days away in Florida, maybe 6. But so much to see just getting there (and back). I have some friends whose wives won't get in the car for very long. I am extremely fortunate.

You are indeed! My BIL hasn't really seen the US and he's one for adventure and road trips, so it might be doable, but we also have a young daughter so the logistics might be tricky. I'm going to try anyway when the time comes. The boys drive and the girls fly.