Popular Post Mr. Smooth Posted October 2, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted October 2, 2021 So the month of August rolled around and after so many days, weeks and months, thinking about it, I finally hit the road for a long awaited cross country trip from California to the Atlantic Ocean up on the coastline of Maine. It was 4 weeks and just over 8,000 miles into the heart of America. I was determined to make this trip on two lane and secondary highways, through small towns and open country, as much as I could. And I pretty much stuck to the script with the exception of the Northeast and those lousy toll roads. While I was gone, I was blessedly ignorant of the daily news and repeated failures of mankind to live in peace and being kind to your neighbor. The rest of the world has a real disadvantage to what they get shown of America, as the overwhelming view that gets exported to everyone beyond our shores is one of hatred, name calling, violence, entitlement, inhumanity and an overall inability to get along with one another. Almost like the political threads of a message board! I was determined to head out and see America as something different. A place where people were friendly and did get along. Where the vast social problems that burden the coastal population centers, and from which so much of that negative outlook the rest of the world gets from us, gets eagerly reported on, is as far removed from the Midwest prairie in North Dakota as it is from an Irish fishing village on the shores of the Atlantic. The road led me to Yellowstone Park, the Black Hills, the Great Lakes, the rocky coast of Maine, the Norman Rockwell-esque towns of Upstate New York, the Amish country of Eastern Ohio, the flat landscape of Kansas, the Rockies, the canyon country of Utah and in a final push for home, along the loneliest highway in America, US 50 across the middle of Nevada. My trusty horse for this ride was my brand new 2021 Dodge Ram Classic 1500, a retirement present to myself in order to make such a journey. It performed magnificently and looked good in doing so. It was a drive back through the history of our country. Towns that were established in the Old West during the railroad expansion in the mid to late 1800's, gave way to those in the Great Lakes region that began in the early 1800's, then to those from the 1700's in the Appalachians, and finally the coastal areas of our original 13 colonies where the towns beginnings harkened back to America's earliest days in the 1600's. Through it all, I was able to again come to truly see what a big, amazing, country we are and despite our foibles, arguments and disappointments, the goodness that fills our heart is still there, still genuine despite what the media portrays us to be. It was refreshing to not be told who to love or hate. Who shouldn't get along with whoever. What one should believe and not believe. That we still have a love of country and the people, despite whatever differences among us get the headlines, it's those things that we have in common that still matter most. It was a beautiful trip. The Dodge Ram brought me up into Idaho and crossing the gorgeous Snake River Canyon in Twin Falls. Over 45 years ago, somewhere up river, Evil Knievel tried jumping the canyon and it was a spectacular failure. I was cool with just admiring the view. 15 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mr. Smooth Posted October 2, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 2, 2021 (edited) After a night in West Yellowstone, Montana, I drove the road through the West entrance and as beautiful as the park is, the smoky skies muted much of it due to the wildfires from Northern California and Oregon. The atmospheric winds blew the smoke eastward across the Rockies and over the Great Plains which left the sky with a bluish brown hue that would not dissipate until I would reach the eastern half of Minnesota toward Duluth, on the shores of Lake Superior. The Madison River accompanied my journey through the first part of the park. As it was summer, bumper to bumper traffic of RV's, camper vans, SUV's and pickups hauling 5th wheelers slowed progress as I got closer to Old Faithful and the many geysers in the surrounding area. I didn't have the patience to wait in the middle of the maddening crowd. Edited October 2, 2021 by Mr. Smooth 12 1 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mr. Smooth Posted October 2, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 2, 2021 Driving deeper into the park, I came upon the Yellowstone River, an absolute beauty that had me wishing I had a fishing pole with me to go after some of the lunker trout that were certain to be sitting in the deeper pools. The water was so clear, a gorgeous blue/green color that I couldn't take my eyes off of. If only for those smoky skies, the scenery could not have been better. 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazarus Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 (edited) 3 hours ago, Mr. Smooth said: The Dodge Ram brought me up into Idaho and crossing the gorgeous Snake River Canyon in Twin Falls. Over 45 years ago, somewhere up river, Evil Knievel tried jumping the canyon and it was a spectacular failure. I was cool with just admiring the view. Did you see any of the BASE jumpers launch off the Snake River Bridge? The ramp Evel used is on the south rim in this pic... Edited October 2, 2021 by lazarus 3 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJSP Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 Some great pics and commentary. Looks great and very scenic 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightcrawler Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 Nice trip report, thank you for posting. Some years ago I took 6 months off and travelled around the States using what was then called Auto Driveway, delivering different vehicles from state to state and covered thousands of miles. It is indeed a beautiful country and each State has its own identity and feel about it. Was a great adventure. I realised just how big the USA is compared to my own country, UK. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottie Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 Yes our country fits into Florida. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krapow Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 Great, positive thread. In fact, could you refrain from being too positive, some are expecting the Sick Buffalo variant any day now, Bill Gates to buy up most of Isaan and retire to his jade encrusted concrete table with the profits from his 'plandemic' In other positive news, we're off to Turkey in a couple of weeks. Better days, they are a coming ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yessongs Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 Outstanding report and pics buddy. That Dodge Ram of yours you bought, served you well on this adventure huh? Did you feel the elevation at 8,391 feet? If you had met a bar girl anywhere up there, those "multiple shots" on goal would test your stamina LOL! Been waiting for this report, well done. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Smooth Posted October 2, 2021 Author Share Posted October 2, 2021 9 hours ago, lazarus said: Did you see any of the BASE jumpers launch off the Snake River Bridge? The ramp Evel used is on the south rim in this pic... As a matter of fact I did. I walked out along that bridge to the middle to take a couple of pics and as I was, a saw a couple people with parachutes strapped on and making their way over the railing. And then......whoosh......over the side they went. I saw their majestic fall to earth, chutes open, landing with ease on the shore of the south side of the river. As I leaned against the railing, the tractor trailers passing by not 12 feet behind me at 50-60 mph, caused such a strong vibration that it got me to quickly retreat to solid ground. I would say it must be about a 500 foot drop to the river. Not for the faint of heart. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post lazarus Posted October 2, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted October 2, 2021 5 minutes ago, Mr. Smooth said: As a matter of fact I did. I walked out along that bridge to the middle to take a couple of pics and as I was, a saw a couple people with parachutes strapped on and making their way over the railing. And then......whoosh......over the side they went. I saw their majestic fall to earth, chutes open, landing with ease on the shore of the south side of the river. As I leaned against the railing, the tractor trailers passing by not 12 feet behind me at 50-60 mph, caused such a strong vibration that it got me to quickly retreat to solid ground. I would say it must be about a 500 foot drop to the river. Not for the faint of heart. Yessir... Here's a few shots on a clear day...beautiful spot on the Snake River Gorge. 6 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Smooth Posted October 2, 2021 Author Share Posted October 2, 2021 Coming out of Yellowstone and heading east toward Cody, Wyoming. Some ruggedly beautiful mountain scenery that the road negotiated with numerous switchbacks and drastic changes of elevation. Once over the Bighorn Range, that would be it for any high elevation travel until the return back home through Colorado. And with the descent into the plains, the engine, finally getting the first couple of thousand miles on the odometer, began to break in and the mileage was actually better than what was advertised on the window sticker when I bought it. It had stated 25 mpg on the highway, but at a 65 mph clip on these 2 lane roads, I was getting upwards of 27. And with gas prices at least a dollar cheaper per gallon than in California, I wasn't complaining a bit. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mr. Smooth Posted October 2, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 2, 2021 My next stop was in Sturgis, South Dakota for the annual Motorcycle Rally. My best friend and his wife live in SD, and had reserved a campsite at the Glencoe campground just north of Sturgis. When I got there, they were all set up and their toy hauler RV would be my home for the next three nights. It was very livable inside, a large bathroom and shower, a sofa that unfolded into a bed where I slept, and there was a bedroom up front with a queen sized bed. There was a nice kitchen so his wife could whip up some tasty meals but we grilled on the bbq in the evening as the weather was perfect. There were thousands of campers, and bikes trailered in, three large bars, one of which was open 24/7. The actual town of Sturgis has a population of just under 7,000, but for the 13 days of the rally, in talking to several of the people working in the bars and restaurants as servers, they were estimating between 800,000 and 1.1 million people would show up. Covid had tempered the celebration in 2020 but this year, it was no holds barred. Though some people wore masks, the overwhelming majority, like 98-99%, showed their faces, no matter how ugly! Being among this massive crowd I fully realized that I wasn't in California anymore and people were living life and having a great time. That last photo, from up on a bluff at the campsite, was just a perfect moment. Sunset over the Black Hills with the echoes of Harley thunder off in the distance. It was one of those times where you wished to be no place else than where you were at that moment. 11 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butch Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 Wow, some stunning scenery there and most impressive. A few years ago we did a family Road trip to the USA, took in Boston, Springfield, NY, Washington, Arlington and visited Gettysburg, then we looped back via Harrisburg and took the very scenic route back to Hartford over the period of 2-3 weeks. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, the hospitality was incredible and Arlington Cemetery was one of the most moving experiences I've had. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yessongs Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 Another nice update Smooth......Sturgis looks to be a blast for sure. But I have to admonish you a bit here...please. please you are from California, do not continue to dress like "Larry The Cable Guy" And you're wearing " Crocs" too?? Good Lord LOL! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Smooth Posted October 3, 2021 Author Share Posted October 3, 2021 4 hours ago, Yessongs said: Another nice update Smooth......Sturgis looks to be a blast for sure. But I have to admonish you a bit here...please. please you are from California, do not continue to dress like "Larry The Cable Guy" And you're wearing " Crocs" too?? Good Lord LOL! LOL....I've worn Crocs for over a decade and they are the most comfortable "Jesus shoes" I've ever owned. As far as the rest, those humid low 90's daytime temps called for comfort over fashion. Besides, no need to get all dressed up to drink beer at a campground! But thanks for the sartorial critique! 🤣 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mr. Smooth Posted October 3, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 3, 2021 After three days in Sturgis, the time came to head out and into the vast midwest plains. South Dakota and northeast into North Dakota, a man can really lose himself among the farm fields, ranch lands and endless prairie. When a road sign says "No services next 60 miles", you better hope you don't break down, but with my still very new ride, I wasn't worried. I just cranked my Sirius XM and jammed to some 70's, 80's and classic rock tunes to pass the time behind the wheel. Out here, the traffic is few and far between. I thought to myself that if the FBI had wanted to place someone into their witness protection progrm, then anyone of a hundred of these small towns spread out among the plains would do just fine. Once past North Dakota and into Minnesota, the country turned green with pine trees thick as thieves as the highway looked to be a clear cut through the North Country wilderness. And though I had no place to stop and take a photo along the highway, I drove over the Mississippi River where it was no more wide than the distance from home plate to the pitchers mound. The headwaters were to the south of where I was going but I was determined to reach the Duluth area before sundown and to see where the Mighty Mississippi began would have meant a 60 miles drive out of the way. It turned out to be a wise move as the rain came within 20 miles of Duluth and it wound up being after 9 pm before finding a room at the third place I tried. The following day, I entered the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and drove through the most intense rain storm I ever witnessed. My wiper blades were on high speed for nearly 100 miles, with only an occasional, and very brief, respite, but talk about a sportsmans paradise for hunting, fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, camping and hiking. I would eventually make my way to Manistique, small town of maybe 2000 people, along the shores of Lake Michigan and found a motel a block away from a bar and grill that the manager had recommended to me. A very tasty fried walleye dinner and several pints of a locally brewed hefeweizen beer later, I was back in my room, worn out from the drive but quite satisfied. The skies opened up again and the rhythm of the rain pounding the rooftop of the motel had me asleep in no time. 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathmandu Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 The great thing about retirement, is that you can pack away plenty of McDonalds cheeseburgers, and nobody can judge you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mr. Smooth Posted October 4, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 4, 2021 I next crossed the Mackinac Bridge that connected Upper and Lower Michigan, and where Lakes Michigan and Huron meet. I made a beeline for the greater Detroit area and a visit with my Aunt and Uncle I hadn't seen in over twenty years. He's 75 now and doesn't get around very well anymore, thanks to disk damage in his lower back from an accident years ago. My aunt basically is his caregiver and not wanting to overstay my welcome, after about a 3 and a half hour visit that included a terrific dinner she made, I said goodbye and spent the night in Pontiac, Mich outside of Detroit. My travels would then bring me south into Toledo, Ohio, then up to Cleveland and along the shores of Lake Erie toward Buffalo, NY. It was a bit disheartening to see so many "Help Wanted" signs in businesses all over the place. Restaurants, hotels, bars, even factories, were all advertising that they were hiring. From small handmade notices up to billboards on the side of the highway, jobs were out there and plentiful and had I been in the market for a job, I'm convinced that after a 5 minute talk with an owner or manager of a business and a handshake, I could have been hired right then and there at any of a hundred different employers. When I asked why there was a staffing shortage, the person would tell me that between what the state and federal government benefits added up to, employers couldn't match it, so a hotel manager might shut down a third of their rooms since they didn't have the staffing to accommodate them all. I had a chance to visit an old friend who I hadn't seen in nearly 10 years when we were going from bar to bar in the Dominican Republic and flirting with the chicas, drinking plenty of Presidente beer, and passing the day on Sosua Beach. These days, Ron was enjoying life in Rochester, NY with a home right where his backyard backed on the the beach of Lake Ontario. It was great visiting again and catching up and he promised he would jump on a plane and head down the next time I'd be in the DR. He surprised me with a 12 pack bottle of Presidente from his garage, as that beer is imported to several eastern states. In Albany, the capital of New York, a Hooters was located a 5 minute walk away from my hotel and knew where my destination was for the night. The bartender, a gorgeous blonde, took very good care of me (no...not THAT way...) never going too long without filling my mug up with a fresh pint. I ordered the wings and an appetizer of buffalo shrimp. But mostly I kept an eye on the bartender as she ran the place with a professional demeanor but also with a nearly constant and engaging smile when talking to a customer. My bill came to about $40 USD and I included a $20 for a tip. Fantastic service and "scenery"! What followed the next day was a drive through some of the most beautiful and scenic country I have ever seen. Upstate New York through the Hudson River Valley going east of Albany and toward the corner where Massachusetts and Vermont meet up was absolutely gorgeous. I saw more motorcyclists enjoying the twisting roads through the wooded and mountainous terrain in this region of the country than anywhere else besides Sturgis. I stopped at a small roadside market just inside Vermont that carried only stock made and manufactured in Vermont. I left with a gift package of maple flavored rum, one bottle light and one dark rum. I also loaded up on gift sized jugs of genuine Vermont maple syrup to give to family and friends when I returned home. I bought a bigger one for my own use and since getting back home, all I can say is that I'll never buy that fake Log Cabin or Mrs Buttersworth crap ever again! The Vermont stuff is the best I've ever had. I always knew I made tasty pancakes at home but now with the real thing to pour over them, they are even better on a Sunday morning. 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jambo Posted October 4, 2021 Share Posted October 4, 2021 31 minutes ago, Mr. Smooth said: I next crossed the Mackinac Bridge that connected Upper and Lower Michigan, and where Lakes Michigan and Huron meet. I made a beeline for the greater Detroit area and a visit with my Aunt and Uncle I hadn't seen in over twenty years. He's 75 now and doesn't get around very well anymore, thanks to disk damage in his lower back from an accident years ago. My aunt basically is his caregiver and not wanting to overstay my welcome, after about a 3 and a half hour visit that included a terrific dinner she made, I said goodbye and spent the night in Pontiac, Mich outside of Detroit. My travels would then bring me south into Toledo, Ohio, then up to Cleveland and along the shores of Lake Erie toward Buffalo, NY. It was a bit disheartening to see so many "Help Wanted" signs in businesses all over the place. Restaurants, hotels, bars, even factories, were all advertising that they were hiring. From small handmade notices up to billboards on the side of the highway, jobs were out there and plentiful and had I been in the market for a job, I'm convinced that after a 5 minute talk with an owner or manager of a business and a handshake, I could have been hired right then and there at any of a hundred different employers. When I asked why there was a staffing shortage, the person would tell me that between what the state and federal government benefits added up to, employers couldn't match it, so a hotel manager might shut down a third of their rooms since they didn't have the staffing to accommodate them all. I had a chance to visit an old friend who I hadn't seen in nearly 10 years when we were going from bar to bar in the Dominican Republic and flirting with the chicas, drinking plenty of Presidente beer, and passing the day on Sosua Beach. These days, Ron was enjoying life in Rochester, NY with a home right where his backyard backed on the the beach of Lake Ontario. It was great visiting again and catching up and he promised he would jump on a plane and head down the next time I'd be in the DR. He surprised me with a 12 pack bottle of Presidente from his garage, as that beer is imported to several eastern states. In Albany, the capital of New York, a Hooters was located a 5 minute walk away from my hotel and knew where my destination was for the night. The bartender, a gorgeous blonde, took very good care of me (no...not THAT way...) never going too long without filling my mug up with a fresh pint. I ordered the wings and an appetizer of buffalo shrimp. But mostly I kept an eye on the bartender as she ran the place with a professional demeanor but also with a nearly constant and engaging smile when talking to a customer. My bill came to about $40 USD and I included a $20 for a tip. Fantastic service and "scenery"! What followed the next day was a drive through some of the most beautiful and scenic country I have ever seen. Upstate New York through the Hudson River Valley going east of Albany and toward the corner where Massachusetts and Vermont meet up was absolutely gorgeous. I saw more motorcyclists enjoying the twisting roads through the wooded and mountainous terrain in this region of the country than anywhere else besides Sturgis. I stopped at a small roadside market just inside Vermont that carried only stock made and manufactured in Vermont. I left with a gift package of maple flavored rum, one bottle light and one dark rum. I also loaded up on gift sized jugs of genuine Vermont maple syrup to give to family and friends when I returned home. I bought a bigger one for my own use and since getting back home, all I can say is that I'll never buy that fake Log Cabin or Mrs Buttersworth crap ever again! The Vermont stuff is the best I've ever had. I always knew I made tasty pancakes at home but now with the real thing to pour over them, they are even better on a Sunday morning. What an excellent report with stunning photographs. Thanks for all the time and effort you must have put in posting. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boydeste Posted October 4, 2021 Share Posted October 4, 2021 3 hours ago, Jambo said: What an excellent report with stunning photographs. Thanks for all the time and effort you must have put in posting. Ditto from me too. Loving the ride. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yessongs Posted October 4, 2021 Share Posted October 4, 2021 Nice follow up buddy, always wanted to see lake Huron, big lake huh? You are a fine man for liking that Hooters bartender.😆 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maipenrai Posted October 4, 2021 Share Posted October 4, 2021 Yes, nice report - I often wonder if I will ever go for a long driving holiday like this again, what with the old junk I drive combined with getting stiff if I sit too long and a bladder that wants relief every couple of hours, never mind the price of gas and hotels nowadays. I'd sure like to explore that eastern seaboard myself and maybe if the price of rental cars returns to reality I'll fly out and pick up a set of wheels and cruise around... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Smooth Posted October 4, 2021 Author Share Posted October 4, 2021 1 hour ago, Yessongs said: Nice follow up buddy, always wanted to see lake Huron, big lake huh? You are a fine man for liking that Hooters bartender.😆 My drive took me along the shores of each Great Lake. When I first laid eyes on Superior, I couldn't help but start humming the melody to that haunting, classic Gordon Lightfoot tune, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald", which told the story of the sinking of that freighter in Lake Superior in 1975. I once read that Lake Superior is so massive, so deep, that you could actually pour the combined cubic feet of water from all the other Great Lakes into Superior and not fill it up. An inland ocean for sure 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Smooth Posted October 4, 2021 Author Share Posted October 4, 2021 1 hour ago, maipenrai said: Yes, nice report - I often wonder if I will ever go for a long driving holiday like this again, what with the old junk I drive combined with getting stiff if I sit too long and a bladder that wants relief every couple of hours, never mind the price of gas and hotels nowadays. I'd sure like to explore that eastern seaboard myself and maybe if the price of rental cars returns to reality I'll fly out and pick up a set of wheels and cruise around... If you need to make compromises due to your health or age, I would certainly do it. Take whatever time you think you might need, a couple weeks, a few.....whatever works, and make a plan to see those places you want. You won't regret it, believe me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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