Let me start by saying I am extremely thankful for the circumstances that have allowed me to indulge in this long time daydream of a long road trip. And to MJ for tolerating my absence. I am lucky without doubt. Thanks to Aaron for prepping the car and consulting through the mechanical bumps in the road.
So, 8132 miles were covered in 27 days. Twenty driving days actually.
The mechanical bumps are inevitable with a 40-year-old car. Let's see. Failed fuel pump, which Aaron had covered with a spare stored behind the seat beneath the back deck. Mal-aligned front end had the new tires on the front scrubbed off by half way through the trip. New alignment and new front tires in San Francisco solved that. The radiator boiled the coolant away in 107 degree Mohave Desert heat. Slowing the pace and distance from the desert solved that. There was (is still) the unexplained phenomenon of low oil pressure on start up from time to time. Fortunately, turning off and back on seems to fix it until it happens again. Got the brakes hot in Ouray resulting in a tow to the flatlands of Montrose to test and assure proper function. All-in-all, not so bad.
When he was small, after going to a movie, Aaron invariably asked me "What was your favorite part?" OK - here goes.
Favorite New Place: The Sedona-Flagstaff area. Will definitely explore in the future.
Favorite Place I'd Been Before: Rocky Mountain National Park
Favorite Highway: Whichever one I was on at any given moment, with some preference for those in our great Southwest.
Best Feast: The bacon-themed feast at Joe and Cheryl's in Duluth - all the usual suspects attending.
Most Meaningful Quote: "Yaarrr!" - Sherean, Vanessa, and friends.
Most Uncontrollable Laughter: Time spent with Mary..
Best Restaurant Food: Seared Ahi Tuna with Roasted Pineapple Glaze - Fitch Restaurant - Salida, CO
Best Bar Stool: In the corner at Ed's Cantina in Estes Park.
Worst Night: The night in the ER in St. Louis
As nuts as it may seem to many of you, my favorite part overall was driving. I truly enjoy it. It is a beautiful country, and it cannot be appreciated from the air. Nice people everywhere. New experiences almost every moment. Truly a great time.
Thanks for your interest in the road trip. I hope you've enjoyed the small part I've been able to share.
Maynard
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Home!
A bit over twelve hours today from Nashville. It was pretty much rockin' down the highway - no pictures tonight.
This weekend, I'll write a wrap-up of the 8000 miles in 27 days. Thanks to everyone for their interest.
Maynard
This weekend, I'll write a wrap-up of the 8000 miles in 27 days. Thanks to everyone for their interest.
Maynard
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Winding It Up
I knew the last couple of days of the sabbatical would be long ones crossing either familiar territory from Colorado to Florida via the Midwest, or unfamiliar (and most likely not so interesting) territory across Texas and the south. The Midwest route obviously won.
There was rain at my early departure from Lincoln. I chose to go south around the bridge closures mostly because there were a couple of interesting things I wanted to check out in that direction. The weather gave me a couple hours break just as I arrived at those places and then resumed relentless and heavy rain the rest of the day. No further stopping except for gas and food and no pictures in the rain, though I would love to have captured some of the light show in the sky as I approached Nashville a couple of hours ago.
The first stop today was to check out Whiskey Run Creek winery. It was founded by the father of one of my long-time and dear friends. The wines are very well regarded in the area and the winery is a multi-purpose facility for the town of Brownville, NE. Sadly, the founder has passed away, and the winery is for sale. Check it out online at www.whiskeyruncreek.com. If anyone has had that dream...... drop me a line.
Next stop..... Goff, KS. Yep, another town that no one would notice if it had not apparently been founded by some ancestor. This one has a bit more to offer that the spot in the Mojave Desert I shared in a previous post.
Perhaps you'll have to take my word for it that the water tower says Goff. They also have public buildings.
They also had three gentlemen on a corner and a guy in a red pickup who seemed to cast a suspicious eye toward the stranger idling a Mercedes around, occasionally stopping in the middle of a street to leap out of the car and snap some pictures. Mr. Red Pickup so much so that he started to follow me around about a half block behind moving as I moved, stopping when I stopped.
My business complete, I thought it best to leave.
The remainder of the day was basically highways and rain. At this point is is nearly midnight after 15 hours driving in the rain. I can't keep my eyes open. Tomorrow is the the final day. I'll post a little something about it when I get home and do a recap over the weekend.
GOOD NIGHT.
There was rain at my early departure from Lincoln. I chose to go south around the bridge closures mostly because there were a couple of interesting things I wanted to check out in that direction. The weather gave me a couple hours break just as I arrived at those places and then resumed relentless and heavy rain the rest of the day. No further stopping except for gas and food and no pictures in the rain, though I would love to have captured some of the light show in the sky as I approached Nashville a couple of hours ago.
The first stop today was to check out Whiskey Run Creek winery. It was founded by the father of one of my long-time and dear friends. The wines are very well regarded in the area and the winery is a multi-purpose facility for the town of Brownville, NE. Sadly, the founder has passed away, and the winery is for sale. Check it out online at www.whiskeyruncreek.com. If anyone has had that dream...... drop me a line.
Next stop..... Goff, KS. Yep, another town that no one would notice if it had not apparently been founded by some ancestor. This one has a bit more to offer that the spot in the Mojave Desert I shared in a previous post.
Perhaps you'll have to take my word for it that the water tower says Goff. They also have public buildings.
They also had three gentlemen on a corner and a guy in a red pickup who seemed to cast a suspicious eye toward the stranger idling a Mercedes around, occasionally stopping in the middle of a street to leap out of the car and snap some pictures. Mr. Red Pickup so much so that he started to follow me around about a half block behind moving as I moved, stopping when I stopped.
My business complete, I thought it best to leave.
The remainder of the day was basically highways and rain. At this point is is nearly midnight after 15 hours driving in the rain. I can't keep my eyes open. Tomorrow is the the final day. I'll post a little something about it when I get home and do a recap over the weekend.
GOOD NIGHT.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
You Can't Get There From Here
The morning dawned. Doesn't it always. Its just that it is a grand thing in the mountains. To the East from Highway 36 just West of Estes.
And to the West looking back as I'm headed out town on Hwy 34.
I've always been sad to leave Estes and the mountains. Stuck around long enough to get coffee at Kind Coffee. And some treats to take home for the dogs.
The drive east on I80 is a long one. I80 in Nebraska is not known for constantly changing scenery. This is an area where there is NOT something cool around every corner. There are not actually many of what I'd call corners. I stopped at the border of Colorado and Nebraska to capture the general landscape of Western Nebraska. You can just add corn and get an idea of Eastern Nebraska. Comments relevant to the I80 transit only. It might be hugely cool elsewhere. But, it may say something about me that I do like to look at the corn. There is just an awful lot of it.
I stopped for lunch in a small town called I don't remember what. Felt like a BLT and in a flashback to childhood, also a glass of milk. It was, of course, whole milk, like direct from the cow, I swear. Been doing the skim thing so long I had forgotten just how THICK whole milk tastes, if thick can be a taste. And the place served up one size, humongous. Took me awhile to finish it, but I have my monthly quota of dairy fat. The BLT was quite good and hit the spot. People were nice so I recommend the....
Red Rooster Cafe wherever it is in the town I don't remember the name of. Saw something totally unexpected in that town. Those curious can send me a note and we'll chat.
To the purpose of being in NE. Got together with my fellow speaker geek Curt In Lincoln. A great guy and some sort of genius in the realm of speaker design. Also got to tour the company he works for, Duncan Aviation. Duncan is a firm that repairs and refurbs corporate sized jets. From the frame out including finish and avionics. There were planes from France, Egypt, Asia and elsewhere in the hangers. Curt is an avionics, specifically autopilot, expert. Showed me the lab in which the cores of gyroscopes are rebalanced and tested. Pretty cool stuff. Dinner and Curt's company were just great.
Which leads me now to the punch line. Tomorrow, I was going to shoot southeast and snag I29 south to I70 as the quickest way to FL. Oops, forgot the flood of the millenia on the Missouri River in June and now you literally can't get there from here. No bridges and I29 closed.
Alternative plans underway, and I am glad I built in that extra day.
And to the West looking back as I'm headed out town on Hwy 34.
The drive east on I80 is a long one. I80 in Nebraska is not known for constantly changing scenery. This is an area where there is NOT something cool around every corner. There are not actually many of what I'd call corners. I stopped at the border of Colorado and Nebraska to capture the general landscape of Western Nebraska. You can just add corn and get an idea of Eastern Nebraska. Comments relevant to the I80 transit only. It might be hugely cool elsewhere. But, it may say something about me that I do like to look at the corn. There is just an awful lot of it.
I stopped for lunch in a small town called I don't remember what. Felt like a BLT and in a flashback to childhood, also a glass of milk. It was, of course, whole milk, like direct from the cow, I swear. Been doing the skim thing so long I had forgotten just how THICK whole milk tastes, if thick can be a taste. And the place served up one size, humongous. Took me awhile to finish it, but I have my monthly quota of dairy fat. The BLT was quite good and hit the spot. People were nice so I recommend the....
To the purpose of being in NE. Got together with my fellow speaker geek Curt In Lincoln. A great guy and some sort of genius in the realm of speaker design. Also got to tour the company he works for, Duncan Aviation. Duncan is a firm that repairs and refurbs corporate sized jets. From the frame out including finish and avionics. There were planes from France, Egypt, Asia and elsewhere in the hangers. Curt is an avionics, specifically autopilot, expert. Showed me the lab in which the cores of gyroscopes are rebalanced and tested. Pretty cool stuff. Dinner and Curt's company were just great.
Which leads me now to the punch line. Tomorrow, I was going to shoot southeast and snag I29 south to I70 as the quickest way to FL. Oops, forgot the flood of the millenia on the Missouri River in June and now you literally can't get there from here. No bridges and I29 closed.
Alternative plans underway, and I am glad I built in that extra day.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Flattop
Interesting that Colorado would be my last stop in "the West". I've been going to Colorado for about 25 years - sometimes several times a year and I love it every time. Last night I stayed in at the Simple Hostel in Salida. Highly recommended. John, the proprietor is very accommodating. Not a traditional hotel.
Salida is a very special town. People are welcoming, culture is amazing for a small town, and the view is, well, great. The town is in a wide valley where the Arkansas stops flowing southward, and turns east. It is situated in a low spot, so to speak, and has an amazing microclimate that defies reason for a town at 7080 ft. Even though it is in the mountains, it is a very moderate climate with a decent growing season for vegetables. Cattle also graze throughout the valley. White water rafting and other adventures sports are big business there as well.
Left Salida early, as I had some work to complete in Denver. This is to the west from the north end of town. Two of those peaks are Antero and Shivano - fourteeners.
The drive to Denver took me through Fairplay - the inspiration for the TV show South Park. Did not stop.
Next stop, Estes Park. Rocky Mountain National Park is one place I go to renew. Over the years, I have been all over the park doing some great hiking.
This picture shows many miles of continental divide - East Slope. To the East, water flows to the Platte then Missouri Rivers. To the West, the Colorado River originates in the Northwest corner of RMNP.
With every visit to this place comes some contemplation. The flat-topped mountain below is called Flattop. I guess there was not someone convenient to name it after. Fourteen years ago, Aaron and I made a trek up Flattop to scatter some of my brother Steve's ashes. Steve charged Dad with dividing his ashes among his friends and charged his friends with leaving them somewhere meaningful to each of them. This was the meaningful spot for me. Our intent was to leave the ashes at the divide such that some may flow East and some West. The usual afternoon lightening arrived way early that day and when it started to crack all around us we said "Hope you like it here Steve!" dumped him just at the bottom edge of the snowfield in the pictures and fled down the mountain. He would have appreciated that. His motto was "Life is not a spectator sport", and indeed it is not - but neither is life a sport that requires tempting fate in mountain lightening. In the spirit of Steve's motto, a couple of years later, Aaron and I traversed the divide over Flattop, visiting Steve on the way over. A long, long hike, but one of those things that make a father and son a father and son.
Next stop is Lincoln, NE. Why? Well, not because it is there, but I will fill you in tomorrow.
Salida is a very special town. People are welcoming, culture is amazing for a small town, and the view is, well, great. The town is in a wide valley where the Arkansas stops flowing southward, and turns east. It is situated in a low spot, so to speak, and has an amazing microclimate that defies reason for a town at 7080 ft. Even though it is in the mountains, it is a very moderate climate with a decent growing season for vegetables. Cattle also graze throughout the valley. White water rafting and other adventures sports are big business there as well.
Left Salida early, as I had some work to complete in Denver. This is to the west from the north end of town. Two of those peaks are Antero and Shivano - fourteeners.
The drive to Denver took me through Fairplay - the inspiration for the TV show South Park. Did not stop.
Next stop, Estes Park. Rocky Mountain National Park is one place I go to renew. Over the years, I have been all over the park doing some great hiking.
This picture shows many miles of continental divide - East Slope. To the East, water flows to the Platte then Missouri Rivers. To the West, the Colorado River originates in the Northwest corner of RMNP.
With every visit to this place comes some contemplation. The flat-topped mountain below is called Flattop. I guess there was not someone convenient to name it after. Fourteen years ago, Aaron and I made a trek up Flattop to scatter some of my brother Steve's ashes. Steve charged Dad with dividing his ashes among his friends and charged his friends with leaving them somewhere meaningful to each of them. This was the meaningful spot for me. Our intent was to leave the ashes at the divide such that some may flow East and some West. The usual afternoon lightening arrived way early that day and when it started to crack all around us we said "Hope you like it here Steve!" dumped him just at the bottom edge of the snowfield in the pictures and fled down the mountain. He would have appreciated that. His motto was "Life is not a spectator sport", and indeed it is not - but neither is life a sport that requires tempting fate in mountain lightening. In the spirit of Steve's motto, a couple of years later, Aaron and I traversed the divide over Flattop, visiting Steve on the way over. A long, long hike, but one of those things that make a father and son a father and son.
Next stop is Lincoln, NE. Why? Well, not because it is there, but I will fill you in tomorrow.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Last Stop? Not so fast.
US 550, the highway from Durango to Ouray is about as mountain highway as highways get. The destination was Salida, CO. Made it, but not without some care. The mountains north of Durango are something to behold, and they just get better as you approach Ouray. The mountains were in the clouds and the road often misty.
After quite a bit of climbing and crossing the Molnas pass, we arrive in Silverton. The town was a mining town and staging area for equipment and supplies for the surrounding mines, mostly silver. Great breakfast to be had, by the way, at the Brown Bear Cafe. Then, back on the road.
The final pass above Ouray is called Red Mountain Pass after the iron laden mountain next to the pass. Approaching the pass, I shot this one. Is there any wonder I love Colorado?
In any event, the decent from the pass to Ouray is an 8% grade, with lots of twists and turns at 10mph, meaning, lots of chances to use the brakes. By the time I hit Ouray, the brakes were so soft, that I decided to have the car taken down the mountain to Montrose on a flatbed. I felt testing the brakes on the downhill was not a smart move. Montrose, however, is billiard table flat. After having reached Montrose the brakes had cooled and were functioning normally. I did quite a lot of driving in town to see how things went. After consulting with Aaron, I determined to proceed to Salida.. Made it fine, no further brake problems.
It was about dark on arrival, so I was not able to get good pictures. I'll include some in tomorrow's blog.
So far, the 40-year-old Dieter has offered a fuel pump failure - thanks to Aaron I had a spare on board. Then, there was the strange loss of oil pressure, which, sadly seems to just happen from time to time. Shut it off, wait a couple of minutes and restart. Pressure good, back on the road. Has probably happened 7-8 times. We are stumped. The radiator boiled over climbing out of the Mojave desert in 107 degree heat, and now the brake thing.
It has been an adventure. Tomorrow, off to Estes Park, where I will enjoy the food and people at Ed's Cantina.
After quite a bit of climbing and crossing the Molnas pass, we arrive in Silverton. The town was a mining town and staging area for equipment and supplies for the surrounding mines, mostly silver. Great breakfast to be had, by the way, at the Brown Bear Cafe. Then, back on the road.
The final pass above Ouray is called Red Mountain Pass after the iron laden mountain next to the pass. Approaching the pass, I shot this one. Is there any wonder I love Colorado?
In any event, the decent from the pass to Ouray is an 8% grade, with lots of twists and turns at 10mph, meaning, lots of chances to use the brakes. By the time I hit Ouray, the brakes were so soft, that I decided to have the car taken down the mountain to Montrose on a flatbed. I felt testing the brakes on the downhill was not a smart move. Montrose, however, is billiard table flat. After having reached Montrose the brakes had cooled and were functioning normally. I did quite a lot of driving in town to see how things went. After consulting with Aaron, I determined to proceed to Salida.. Made it fine, no further brake problems.
It was about dark on arrival, so I was not able to get good pictures. I'll include some in tomorrow's blog.
So far, the 40-year-old Dieter has offered a fuel pump failure - thanks to Aaron I had a spare on board. Then, there was the strange loss of oil pressure, which, sadly seems to just happen from time to time. Shut it off, wait a couple of minutes and restart. Pressure good, back on the road. Has probably happened 7-8 times. We are stumped. The radiator boiled over climbing out of the Mojave desert in 107 degree heat, and now the brake thing.
It has been an adventure. Tomorrow, off to Estes Park, where I will enjoy the food and people at Ed's Cantina.
Last Stop - Ouray
Parked. Having some chicken salad and a slightly too sweet ale at the Ouray Brewery. Not much else to do. I had the good fortune of having my brakes go all squishy (technical language for suspected master cylinder failure) while traveling 20mph here in town rather than flying down a mountain.
Ouray is quite scenic and quite worth the trip. After lunch I'll have the car towed to Montrose where there are mechanics. Really need professional brake bleeding equipment. Should be an easy fix if parts for a 40-year-old Mercedes can be found.
I guess it is a sign???
Ouray is quite scenic and quite worth the trip. After lunch I'll have the car towed to Montrose where there are mechanics. Really need professional brake bleeding equipment. Should be an easy fix if parts for a 40-year-old Mercedes can be found.
I guess it is a sign???
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