Lifemagician's 2009 Summer Road Trip
Having of necesssity driven the MassPike twice, as well as the complete NY thruway, I was not too keen to get back on a turnpike when I finally left Newton, to head for Alaska. I chose to take route 9 west and eventually picked up twenty, some miles east of Springfield.
Two hours into my journey it was time for a stop.... a drink, a stretch and a walk. Just then I chanced upon the annual Asparagus Festival in West Brookfield, central MA. It was 10am, and the action was about to start. All the stalls had been set up around the perimetre of the town common.
Taking a stroll around I sampled many of the goodies for sale and admired all the beautiful craftworik. Ever conscious of the luggage weight restrictions imposed by airlines these days, I restrained myself from buying. That is, untill I got to the bookstall......
America's Wonderlands, published by the National Geograhic Society in 1959, is a beautiful book of great historic pictures and stories featuring all the National Parks to that date. The photos are spectacular for the time, and show the parks as they were before all the development one sees today, took place. Not a paved path is evident, and most photos showing official parties, show them inspecting the parks on horseback. Many are in colour, some are in black and white or sepia. An absolute joy to behold, and probably a collectors item. And it weighs a ton!
It is in excellent condition, and previous prices marked in the book - $20 and $6.50 - indicate it is possible 4th or 5th hand.
But what really sold it to me is the map in the back, still in pristine condition, a road map of the USA, marking all the National Parks and published before the Eisenhower Interstate System.
And all that for the princely sum of $1.00!
To say I am elated is an understatement.
In that happy frame of mind, I realised that I would now not reach my intended destination driving through small town America, and hopped onto the MassPike at Springfield.
At Blandford Plaza I had to make a quick stop. There, as I entered, was a gentleman who was wearing a Relay for Life teashirt. Having taken part in my first Relay for Life only a few months ago, we got to chatting, and before you know it, his wife joins in. She is using a walking stick, and I complemented her on her courage, saying my doctor wanted me to use one, but no way will I be seen with a walking stick - at least, not now, not yet!
Turns out she has the same health issue as myself and lives not far from son in Boston. And like myself, she is refusing to allow it to control her life, and has even been to the Antarctic and Africa since she was diagnosed. Have been invited to visit next time I am in Boston.
You meet the nicest people on the road.
Took I-88 down to Pennsylvania. This road through the Catskill Mtns is only parcially designated on maps, and in my atlas, as a scenic route. Maybe because it was a Saturday, or maybe because it was a grey/wet day, or just maybe because by now I was in such a great mood, but I found it to be a magnificent drive with wonderful vistas everytime you topped another mountain. Not once did I see an 18 wheeler on the south bound side, and traffic in general was very light.
Two days later I came upon another rural gem. This time I was travelling west on 24 in OH. I passed by the barn, and it was not really till later that it dawned on me that it possibly had a story. After all, the advertisement painted on the front of the barn was of a product no longer in general use. I decided to do a quick U-turn. The property is right on the border of Medina county, near Sullivan OH.
One hour later I had met Grant Grundy, the owner of the property, learned the history of the barn, of the property and of the general area, as well as of his family. He brought out a folder with copies and clippings of articles about the old barn, and about Harley Warrick who re-painted the barn in the 1970s for the current owner's father. He showed me his old tractors and his priced possession, a fully restored very old tractor - now only used to show in parades. I do not know exactly what it was, but, when I get to post the pictures, someone here will enlighten me.
Further along 24 - between Tiffin and Findlay - I came across another barn with the same message on it. This time I did not have to enter the property to take a photo, so did not get the story behind that one.
Lifey in Dubuque IA
Beartooth Pass and Yellowstone
Since the road to the Medicine Wheel in the Big Horn Mountains was still closed with snow, it was I-90 all the way to Billings. Next day I headed for Red Lodge, and on to Bearthooth Pass.
27th May
Beartooth Highway
Here is what to my way of thinking is the perfect reason for winging it in blissful ignorance. If anyone had told me that it was going to take three hours (four hours with photo stops) from Red Lodge WY to Cooke City WY, I may have taken an alternative route into south west Montana... and in the process I would have missed driving a great highway. When I arrived at the first hairpin bend (switchback) and saw the road up ahead / above,
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/forum...pictureid=1110
Switchbacks ahead!
I realised this was going to be a road to remember. And I was not disappointed.
Beartooth Pass had only recently been opened, and for me there is something magical about seeing snow on the side of the road. The snow covered hills and roadside brought back memories of six years ago when I spent a couple of months driving taxis in the snow and ski fields of the Australian Alps. Only this time I did not have to fit chains.
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/forum...pictureid=1111
Stopped at the top of the World Store where the serve-yourself hot chocolate was most welcome. Since the road had only just been opened, there was very little passing traffic, but I was assured by the owner that soon it would be so busy the queue would be way out the door.
Yellowstone
My planned trip was to take me through south west Montana, however time now no longer allowed that. Instead I was just going to drive through Yellowstone via Mammoth Springs to West Yellowstone, and on to Rigby, but alas! Yellowstone in the spring is a wonder to behold.
i entered the park by the north east entrance. On previous ocassions I had entered via the northern, western and eastern entrances. Only a short distance into the park there were some lovely deer on the road. Then I came to a small parking area which was overflowing onto the road. With so many cars, I figured there had to be something special.
The clicking of cameras - many on tripods - was evident long before I knew what it was that they were focused on.
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/forum...pictureid=1115
Here was a mother moose with a calf, just hours old. The calf was nursing, and the mother, badly scarred from a recent wolf attack, would ocassionally turn to admire her latest off-spring. It was an amazing site. Even with my tiny cigarette-pack-size camera I got some great photos.
It took me 4 hours to travel from the northeast entrance to West Yellowstone.
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/forum...pictureid=1117
The hundreds of photos, many taken out of a slowly moving vehicle, attest to the many sights I visited along the way, and the number of bison, deer, elk and other wildlife around, many with their young. Spring must be the best time to visit Yellowstone!
Stunning, amazing, wonderf..........
Wow Lifey !
What a journey, a great report with superb pictures and text, thanks !
Dave
[keep it coming]
Field Report: Truck Stop Parking
Just wanted to share an experience.
The gent in front of me at the cash register, in the truck stop in Shelby MT, simply asked where he could park his RV. The kind and helpful lady told him of a motel come RV park, not half a mile down the road. Then she turned me.
Quote:
She: Hello! How are you?
Me: Fine thanks, I feel so full after all that lovely food in your restaurant. (I have already brought you business.)
She: Yes, it is good, isn't it.... how can I halp you?
Me: Elaine, I read in the trucker's directory that you allow RVs and campers (I now refer to my vehicle as a camper) to park overnight at the truck stop.
She: That is correct.
Me: Where shall I park?
She: Over there (indicating) behind the pumps, or if you cross the road you will see the blue (illuminated) sign Truck Parking. Just pull in there.
Me: Thanks! Now tell me, is there any likelyhood of the price of fuel going up overnight... I am just too tired to pump now, I'd like to leave it till the morning. (I will be giving you more business.)
She: No! not that I have heard, you'll be fine.
I had a great free night, simply by using a different approach and having invested in the Trucker's Directory. I thought of the gentleman at the RV park. Maybe he had heard that you could park at the truck stop, and now might be quite disillusioned.
p.s. Met a lady yesterday who had heard of - but never visited - RTA.
Almost all are gone now....
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lifemagician
Initially my plan had been to photograph and document as many of the original and historic mileposts as possible.
There are new ones along most stretches of the Canadian provinces, but I believe that 100% of the original mileposts were pretty much removed in 1975. In 1992, the Canadian government installed new signs at more-or-less the original mile post locations. I'm not sure of the status of any remaining mile post signs in Alaska....
Mark
The building of the Alcan Highway
Hello Lifey,
Like our friend dinesh75 said above, I am quite envious of your journey on the Alaska Highway, not to mention the Dalton (Haul Road). Only I really, really want to drive the Haul Road myself. But I digress.
There are surely survivors among the tens of thousands of men who built what was then called the Alcan. Like other WWII veterans, they're on average in their middle 80s today. The most often quoted figure here in the States is that we're losing our WWII vets, who numbered +5 million in uniform in 1945, at the rate of around 1,000 each day. Sobering.
Anyway, the Internet is chockablock full of sites with Alcan construction history, and the History Channel and the Military Channel have each featured Alcan construction episodes in documentary form. One of the more interesting facts concerning its construction, at least to me, is that our still-segregated US Army deployed whole units of African-American engineering specialists on the job. Large-scale deployment of African-Americans as purely combat troops simply didn't take place in the early 1940s, so most were engaged in support roles. Using only recollection of my reading/viewing, I'd say the African-Americans represented a majority of the manpower.
Again using only recollection, I'll say casualties were most certainly incurred. There's just not much chance that that many men, performing risky work with equipment now considered quite primitive, could toil for so many months without fatalities and serious injury.
The veterans groups composed of those who built the Alcan have websites and innumerable pictures and much in the way of text on their accomplishments are available for your viewing pleasure.
Enjoy the ride!
Foy
Driving with their lamps covered?
I see in the photo above, that the Bentley is driving with it's driving lamps covered -- I thought that the use of headlights was required on most stretches of the highway and certainly wise?
Mark
(nice to see the photos back in the mix again)
