Head West not so young Man
- Thread starter daugen
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mostly_gas
Super Member
OP
daugen
Epic Contributor
pleased to report my little cruise down the highway this morning went well, everything started and ran fine. Sure is weird getting out of a VW Golf and driving that thing...
Just a little different steering feel...
$180 worth of premium fuel later (runs on regular but figure the premium is better sitting in there for the next three months), and managing to not clip the fuel island, whew, the needle read F.
Showed my trip on the laptop to a friend and he said I had to get on the Natchez Parkway(?), so maybe I'll come through St. Louis on the way back
Just a little different steering feel...
$180 worth of premium fuel later (runs on regular but figure the premium is better sitting in there for the next three months), and managing to not clip the fuel island, whew, the needle read F.
Showed my trip on the laptop to a friend and he said I had to get on the Natchez Parkway(?), so maybe I'll come through St. Louis on the way back
wngsprd
Super Member
If Cahokia is of interest to you, then please try to get up to Mesa Verde NP in the 4 corners, and if time allows, try Chaco Canyon Nat'l Historical Park, a bit further south and less known in New Mexico. However, the drive to Chaco is over 10 miles on improved gravel, so not sure your RV will like it as much as you will.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Chaco Culture National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)
wngsprd
Super Member
One other thought about your RV...since you are returning home through Virginia, here is a recent article in the paper about a RV dealership north of Richmond (Ashland) that fronts on Interstate 95, near Bass Pro Shop. Although it seems like they have a million RVs seen from the interstate - it wasn't until I read this article last week that I learned they are the 2nd largest RV dealership (31 acres), after one in Tampa. If you are needing parts/maintenance, or trade in, near the end of your trip, stop by.
Biz Buzz: McGeorge
Biz Buzz: McGeorge
OP
daugen
Epic Contributor
After getting a few chores done, I'm settling down with my maps, the laptop running right next to the PC, and will continue my pushpinning. I'm also reading some of those "best drives" books, and may change a few things just to go down the Natchez Parkway for example. Or certainly any skyline drive. But I also don't want to spend a huge amount of time in higher elevations, pretty hard on the rv running that big gas engine hard for long stretches. My goal is to keep the RV "low" and take the VW Golf diesel from there to explore. So I'm finding nice rv parks in the general area of the attractions and recommendations, then I have to pushpin everything and let the software take it from there, to guide the "toad".
MacLawn
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daug, I envy ye trip! Should be great! In Colorado Springs, see Garden of the gods. I love that place! Also, eat a fantastic hamburger at that place downtown, anybody can tell you where it's located. Cain't remember it's name. Barely keep mine in me haid. But it's definitely a good place to eat. The other places you're going, all I know is South Dakota. Right, be prepared for a heap of just brush land. I drove across SD a few years ago, and one word stuck in my haid - BUFFALO!! Didn't see any, but, a human couldn't have lived there years ago without buffalo!
In TEXAS, eat at that famous Big Tex steak place. I've never been there, but I'd go anyway just because it's TEXAS. Looking forward to ye reports!
In TEXAS, eat at that famous Big Tex steak place. I've never been there, but I'd go anyway just because it's TEXAS. Looking forward to ye reports!
caver
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Iowa: If you stray closer to Des Moines there are a cluster of covered bridges.
North Dakota: Theodore Roosevelt NP is along your way. A pretty little spot. My dad and I camped there but the weather was so gloomy we took very few pictures.
Colorado: St Elmo ghost town near Buena Vista. Durango Silverton narrow gage railroad someone else mentioned. Great Sand Dunes and hot springs in downtown Pagosa Springs.
The four corners monument is nothing but a tourist trap. It's a Native American trinket flea market. You have to pay to access it.
Arizona: The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is a much quieter place and higher in elevation. But if it's your first time I think the views are more dramatic on the south end. Sunset Crater NM just east of Flagstaff. A little farther east is Meteor crater. I visited it maybe 20 years ago and went back again two years ago.
New Mexico: At Santa Rosa there is Blue Hole which would make a nice spot to take a break for a few minutes.
I've been all over out west so if you narrow to more specific places I might have some out of the way spot to visit.
I did this with a mapping program but it's the same process as with Google maps like another member suggested. This was my trip back in April. Different colors represent different days.
I normally loath driving the interstate but on this trip it was a necessary evil in some sections.
North Dakota: Theodore Roosevelt NP is along your way. A pretty little spot. My dad and I camped there but the weather was so gloomy we took very few pictures.
Colorado: St Elmo ghost town near Buena Vista. Durango Silverton narrow gage railroad someone else mentioned. Great Sand Dunes and hot springs in downtown Pagosa Springs.
The four corners monument is nothing but a tourist trap. It's a Native American trinket flea market. You have to pay to access it.
Arizona: The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is a much quieter place and higher in elevation. But if it's your first time I think the views are more dramatic on the south end. Sunset Crater NM just east of Flagstaff. A little farther east is Meteor crater. I visited it maybe 20 years ago and went back again two years ago.
New Mexico: At Santa Rosa there is Blue Hole which would make a nice spot to take a break for a few minutes.
I've been all over out west so if you narrow to more specific places I might have some out of the way spot to visit.
I did this with a mapping program but it's the same process as with Google maps like another member suggested. This was my trip back in April. Different colors represent different days.
I normally loath driving the interstate but on this trip it was a necessary evil in some sections.
OP
daugen
Epic Contributor
big change in plans. Well not so big. My good friend who lives in Memphis seems to have moved to St. Augustine Florida, so.....
On the heading West part, I will now head South first, probably down to Charleston from Wilmington NC, then headed down to St. Augustine, then
West to Altha Florida where I'm going to mooch for several months...
and then along the Gulf to New Orleans. This way I get to see more ocean and beaches, which is fine by me. No desire to go to Disneyland, again...too many people. No desire to wrestle an alligator, much less eat one. I really need to leave Florida for a separate trip, as I want to spend time down near Sanibel. Maybe next winter, there's a plan...
So I know on the way home I'm coming through St. Louis now but I need to redraw my lines again and start investigating rv places along the Gulf of Mexico. And a different route coming home. all fun to do. That I will start working on this afternoon.
On the heading West part, I will now head South first, probably down to Charleston from Wilmington NC, then headed down to St. Augustine, then
West to Altha Florida where I'm going to mooch for several months...
and then along the Gulf to New Orleans. This way I get to see more ocean and beaches, which is fine by me. No desire to go to Disneyland, again...too many people. No desire to wrestle an alligator, much less eat one. I really need to leave Florida for a separate trip, as I want to spend time down near Sanibel. Maybe next winter, there's a plan...So I know on the way home I'm coming through St. Louis now but I need to redraw my lines again and start investigating rv places along the Gulf of Mexico. And a different route coming home. all fun to do. That I will start working on this afternoon.