On The Road Again -

- with apologies to Willie Nelson.

Forty-four hours after landing in Ft Lauderdale it was time to hit the road in a rental car and pick up my van north of Bonifay FL. As always, I had booked the cheapest/smallest car with Budget. This time I was given a Mitsubishi Outlander with a four wheel drive option. Not that I was going to need it on I-95 and I-10. Nice car though. (Picked up Ft Lauderdale, dropped Tallahassee Regional Airport $42.20)

My Ford had been well looked after with both batteries in good condition. One tyre had needed a top up a couple of times during my absence, and it was suggested maybe I should have it looked at.

Twenty eight miles away at FJ in Dothan AL I asked for someone to check all my tyres, and make sure they were up to the required pressure. It was then I was told/shown where the air was coming out of one tyre as quickly as it was being put in. The local tyre shop put the spare on and sold me a used tyre to have as a spare. That at least would get me to Joplin.

The run to Joplin was incident free and most enjoyable - a weekend on lightly travelled interstates. One day I plan to have sufficinent time to check out the many attractions posted along these highways.

All necessary repairs and maintenance had already been organised. Now a new set of tyres was added to that list. Four days later I was able to hit the road with a full service, new tyres, windscreen, brakes, rotors and who knows what more. Even a new radio/cassette tape player. She's as good as new.

Besides visiting family and friends, who knows what adventures she will be undertaking this year. Suffice that a visit to Boston is top of the list.

Lifey

You were even able to find a new radio/cassette player? Wow, you can't buy them in the store any more, everything is CD/Auxiliary/iPod oriented. We have a cassette player in our truck, though, and we can run either CD's or iPod through it (thanks to a nifty gadget that goes from a never-ending tape into a CD WalkMan-type thing or directly into the iPod).

Looking forward to reading your adventures!


Donna

I can't take credit for that. It is amazing what glc can find. You only need to mention something, and bingo his ability to get around the internet has found it.

There are actually a few available on thE bay, mostly coming out of China. They are listed on many of their sites. But this one was located in Ohio. It is really great to play my tapes again. The old one was a tape player, but it was broken.

Lifey

I ordered it from Crutchfield. They have exactly one in-dash receiver with cassette in the catalog.

Donna, I have one of those cassette adapters too, it came with my portable XM radio. I also use it with my smartphone to play MP3's.

It is interesting to see how Joplin is progressing with the rebuilding. Almost three years after the tornado, the new hospital is well on it's way, and the high school is scheduled to open for the next school year. The students who will be attending the new school will be very lucky. Their new school has the latest of everything, including technology. One positive which came out of the tornado. Another is the new hospital. As well as the latest of everything, this is being rebuild with new tornado resistant windows. On the other hand, there are still lots of vacant lots and the absence of mature trees along the tornado's path makes that part of town look very bare.

As soon as my van was ready it was time to head out for Boston.

The first night's stop was in Brazil IN. Being a weekend (again), it was a great run, even though it was all on interstates. By now fuel prices had risen considerably to what I had experienced further south. I keep consoling myself that it is still a little over 50% of what we pay at home.

The next day took me to Grantsville MD, and gave an opportunity to get off interstates. All through OH, I-70 was lined with snow on the side of the road. I was pleased to hear that "it snowed yesterday", and no more was expected. Driving in snow is not my idea of a fun.

Route 40 from Washington PA to I-68 is another of these drives which takes one through small towns that appear to have been there forever. A simple two lane road with houses and businesses fronting right onto the road. No national chains to be seen here. Not in retail. Not in accommodation. The variety of architecture is amazing. The 45mph speed limit did not give one sufficient opportunity to appreciate it. All too soon the road widened, there was a set of traffic lights and the encroachment of the (ugly) big box and national chain stores.

At 3000', Grantsville too had a generous covering of snow. The truck stop, Macca's and other places still had a lot of snow in the parking areas. It was freezing cold. I was grateful for my all seasons sleeping bag.

Lifey

It must be a great feeling to be back on the road again !

I'm looking forward to following your trip report and riding along with you in the virtual world.

Dave.

It had only just caught fire. I had seen some smoke rising up ahead and to the left. Coming round the bend on I-70 in MD I saw the cab of an 18 wheeler completely engulfed in flames, in the west bound lanes. Emergency services had not yet arrived. The smoke got thicker and blacker and was blowing accros the east bound lanes. It can't have been more than 20 ft, but it was impossible to see anything while driving through the smoke. Quite scary, really! The acrid smell penetrated right through the vehicle.

Turned onto route 1 off the Baltimore beltline and some miles into PA took 202 to West Chester, where I managed to sort out my AAA membership.The following day I had an appointment with the lady who arranges my insurance. You'd think by now that all that would be smooth sailing.... but not so. Seems that the company takes out insurance where the vehicle is parked when picked up. This year it was FL. According to that company, it is the most expensive State. Double what I have paid the last two years. Won't be making that mistake again.

So now I am on the lookout to store the van in one of the cheaper insurance States.

The DE welcome centre, which is on the medium between the east and west bound lanes of the JFK Memorial Highway, allows overnight parking. Most convenient, being right next to the Sunoco Truck Stop which is also on the medium (and only miles from the insurance company in Wilmington). It is a very large welcome centre with a bit of a market, shops and a large food court. It was a vibrant and busy place, even at 9pm.

No sightseeing, but none-the-less, a very pleasant day on the road.

Lifey

Don't park your vehicle in CA or NJ. Both are high insurance states.

Sigh.....love reading your posts, though! When you mentioned smoke and a fire, though, my heart was in my mouth! I was glad it wasn't you, though not so happy for the trucker.

Happy traveling!


Donna

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DonnaR57

Don't park your vehicle in CA or NJ. Both are high insurance states.

---

And believe it or not, Nevada is second only to New York for high insurance rates. California is considerably less expensive than Nevada!

Mark

Apparently, even that differs from one company to the next.

Lifey

I just discovered this thread, excellent and fascinating descriptions. Have you considered posting vlogs of your journeys on YouTube, like some of the long distance truckers do?

John, this technologically challenged septuagenarian is working on it. Have been for some time.

Maybe one day it will all come together.

Lifey

With the insurance all sorted it was onto I-95 north, straight through Philadelphia. It was a good run. The cruise set at the speed limit, was hardly touched. When we were pretty much all the way to NJ it all suddenly came to a stop. Only a dozen cars up ahead there was a Penske truck parked sideways across two lanes. Then we heard the first, of what turned out to be at least half a dozen, emergency vehicles approaching. Soon the traffic was moving again through the third lane. As I passed the scene it was obvious that the driver of the truck had positioned himself to shelter the four vehicles which had been in a bingle. Mostly a fender bender. If they had all been wearing seatbelts there should not have been injuries. I never did find out the cause, or the outcome.

Over the river into NJ I headed up 29 along the river. What a lovely drive beside the river. 202 then took me up to I-287 through the rest of NJ, ending in Ramsey/Mahwah, where my daughter lived only a few years ago. The day ended with I-87 to I-84 where I planned to stop at Pilot, Newburg NY.

The great surprise on I-87 was not having to stop or slow down for the tolls, just like some of the toll roads in Chicago, Denver and elsewhere in the country. Such a time saver. So much like home!

Next day I took I-84 through CT into MA, and 20 to the E-ZPass office in Auburn.... to top up my account. Well worth it really. Since I purchased the pass in July 2012, I have used $50. Unlike at home, E-ZPass actuall leave the money in your account. (In Melbourne owners of transponders are obliged to use $25 per year. If you do not use that much, the greedy so-n-sos take it out of your account. Guess why I don't have a transponder?)

The run into Newton was smooth, and being the middle of the day, without traffic. Four and a half enjoyable days on the road, some of which I had not travelled before. All of this was driven at 65mph or less when required.

Since I often drive well below the speed limit, the very right lane is where I can usually be found. On I-84 in NY there was an old Jeep been driven at 40, maybe 45mph, in the left hand lane of a three lane highway. The speed limit was 65 (no minimum). The driver appeared to be totally oblivious to the chaos this was causing.

One thing I cannot get used to is the lack of greenery. All these trees without leafs on them is so depressing. It is not in my ken.

Lifey

My time in Boston was amazing, despite not doing any sightseeing.

4th saw granddaughter's ninth birthday. Out to dinner at her favourite spot in Newton Centre. The following day the whole family and four little best friends went horse riding. It was a great drive into the country where the ranch was. (I waited in the car.)

Sunday was a concert put on in a church just a few doors from son's place. 'Alice in Wonderland' presented by the local ballet company and a local orchestra. 90 minutes of delightful entertainment.

Monday we finally found affordable tickets for me to be able to take the girls to Melbourne, in July. Just as I did for their brother, two years ago. Not only did I score a great bargain, bonus is that there is only lay over (LAX) each way... with Qantas.

Now there are two very excited little girls in Newton.

Tuesday and Wednesday gave me the opportunity to attend three Toastmasters meetings, including one at the Boston Globe and Mathworks in Natick. Great meetings with experienced members who had lots to offer. Had an opportunity to rehearse the 5 mins I hope to present at The Moth in St Paul this month.

Thursday was the day I had planned to move on. It would give me a week to get to St Paul for Easter, and check out some sites along the way. But Wed the little ones asked if I was coming to the Science Exhibition on Friday, at their school. Both girls had science experiments going on in the kitchen - BIG 'don't touch' signs! - and these would be presented along with all the other children's experiments. How could I refuse?

Science exhibition was fantastic. It was voluntary for children in grades 2 to 5. Some of the ideas the children presented were amazing. A solar powered butterfly; How pulleys work; The life and legacy of Rachel Carson, and many more. Granddaughters presented how long it takes for mould to form on different cheeses and how much water evaporated over a month from a jug of water. Impressive grade three and four standard records were kept. They have a very enthusiastic and much loved science teacher at that school.

So it was not until early (9.30am) Saturday morning when I set off for St Paul. The day was bright and sunny, promising another great trip.

Lifey

Having spent quite some time in the past on roads in MA, CT and PA, I decided that the sightseeing part of my six day trip to St Paul would be more through the following State. Hence, I-84 and I-80 were the main routes out. I did however, on that first day, stop for lunch in Newtown CT. The big surprise here was the huge sign on the supermarket. Along with Bakery, Pharmacy and the usual, it had Fish and Chips. Found that they actually cook it to order. Fresh fish and real chips (almost 1/2" square). Relished every moment of my lunch, which was a great start to this leg of my trip.

West of Akron OH, route 18 took me to the small town of Medina. 18 to US20 and that to US6 through small towns all the way, occasionally stopping to do some shopping or check my internet at a library. A most pleasant drive, through Bowling Green, over the Maunee River and then continuing on US24 through Defiance to Fort Wayne.

Really enjoyed Ft Wayne. One of those cities large enough to have just about everything, but not so large that you constantly get lost.

The other reason why Ft Wayne sticks in my mind is...

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/photo...m/CIMG3812.jpg

... when I awoke (at 8am) next morning, at the FJ, everything was white.

Lifey

US30 out of Ft Wayne to west of Chicago, gave a really good run, but since it is now almost interstate standard, I missed out on all the small towns along that stretch. What I did not miss out on was the white flurries in the air east of Valparaiso. That continued on till well after passing Chicago. Never enough to settle on the windscreen or the road. The country around me was spectacular, all through the southern suburbs of Chicago. Only the roads were clear. Parking lots were often still covered, if not completely, at least partially. It was an enjoyable drive. I stopped frequently just to admire the scenery.

At Joliet I picked up I-80 again, as I had wanted to be in IA that evening. Stopping as often as I had, had eaten into my time.

Stopped in Davenport and next day sought out Antique Archeology. Unfortunately the address on their website took me to where there were only houses, and certainly nothing like the store one sees on TV. Took I-80 to Iowa City.

From Iowa City, or rather Coralville it was US218 north, all the way to Owatonna MN. Through rural Iowa, past the barns and silos, fallow fields and a variety of lifestock. This route did not bypass the local towns. I made a point of enjoying many of them. What I also enjoyed is the wayside stops along this route, simply marked as picnic spots. One of these, south of La Porte City is next to a very small cemetry. Unfortunately the wet weather was not conducive to get out and walk through it. It was small enough so even I could enjoy it. It intriqued me. I was curious as to how old the headstones are. No more than a couple of dozen, if that.

I-35 into St Paul on Maundy Thursday. Over Easter we did see the sun on a day or so, but on the whole, MN was wet and cold.... virtually all the time I was there. On Good Friday my friend had tickets for an exhibition at the Minnesota Institute of Arts, of Matisse Masterworks from the Baltimore Museum of Arts - 80 works from the legendary Cone Collection. Even though I am no arts connoisseur, it was interesting seeing the masterpiece, and the dozen or so sketches leading up to it.

It was on Monday that friend's husband, having seen where I wanted my fridge, made a stand over my storage drawers so I could put the fridge up on top - and clear some floor space. Solidly screwed to the floor, it has not budged. A strong strap over the fridge holds it firmly in place. Even painted it. He also screwed my plastic drawers to the floor. Then used a band saw to cut the flooring my daughter in law had given me. Plastic/rubber mats which sort of fit together like a jigsaw. (The type you put on the floor for children to play on.) I now have a nice soft and warm floor to stand on... and much easier to sweep clean.

Slowly but surely my precious Ford is being turned into the comfy little home I desire it to be.

Lifey

Your newly remodeled digs sound wonderful....I'm sure you will enjoy it more as time goes on! Also, you passed right by my childhood home if you were on US-30 (Lincoln Highway) in the south suburbs.

Donna

The night before I had initially arrived in MN some places north of the twin cities had received up to 20" snow. So when I planned to explore MN, I decided to stay roughly in the south of MN. The headwaters of the Mississippi, Duluth and the Canadian border area would have to wait for another time.

Armed with a list of State Parks which are open all year round, I set out the Tuesday after Easter, a fine though overcast day. Headed down to Bloomington and then west through the suburbs, stopping at places of interest... second hand book shops, thrift stores, and the like. At Hutchinson I headed south to New Ulm and Flandrau SP.

Flandrau State Park offers three levels of camping. Since the restrooms were still closed and only vault toilets were available, I figured I may as well pick the rustic area. Nicely grassed with picnic tables, I had the pick of the bunch. There wasn't another person / car in sight. After dinner, and even before it got dark, it started to spitter.

By the time I went to sleep it was raining... raining quite heavily, and when I awoke next morning, it was still raining. I was surrounded by soggy grass. The path was waterlogged. Most importantly, I discovered water was getting in somewhere near the back doors.

On my arrival at Flandrau I could not figure out the self registration procedure. Neither would I have had the right change. I figured that in the morning there was bound to be someone in the office, or maybe someone would come around to collect the fee. As it is the ranger did go around and seeing my van, decided not to disturb me. So it was not till the morning (after 9am) that I pulled in at the office to settle my account, and have a chance to talk with a ranger.

Blue Mounds SP was recommended as a great place to see Bison in MN. My plan was to arrive there late in the day, so the animals would be feeding. I had been assured there are roads through the park, that you can drive through the park. Alas, when I got there, this was not the case. A local cyclist said that the roads had been closed 'for years'. From where I was and from the campground it was not possible to see anything. It was still wet; I was disappointed. When it once more started to rain, I gave up on my plan of checking out the State Parks. Plan B was put in place - driving the scenic byways and country backways of southern MN. I could plan to be at a truck stop every night.

Plan B worked well. I thoroughly enjoyed MN, the variety within the rural culture. Even the colour of the soil is strikingly different from border to border. Spent half a day in Rochester, and then, as the rain let up (it rained most days - snowed some), decided to drive along 14 to Winona and crossed into WI.

In WI it was scenic routes to Marshland, south from there to Trempealeau, and down through Holmen to I-90, where I crossed the Mississippi again. At this point I was not aware that road/bridge works made access to La Crescent very difficult.

Right where one takes a left turn in Trempealeau there is a business with the name of Mrs Sippy. I was not able to pull over and did not see what type of business, but I was tickled by the ingenuity of the name.

Found a great truck stop at Nodine.

Lifey

Google says it's a restaurant. Mrs. Sippy's River Town Bistro.

Even though I had decided to wander the backways and byways of southern MN, at times I found myself on the interstates. One such time was on I-90, at the rest area, just west of Blue Earth. This rest area is known as the I-90 Golden Spike rest area, to commemorate the completion of the paving of the I-90 interstate, in 1978. At the time, they painted a small section of I-90 gold. There is a board explaining it all. (I did take a photo, but am having a bit of problem downloading photos from the camera. Hopefully will post some later.)

At the same rest area there were boards telling of how European style land management affected the prairie, and what is being done to repair the damage. There were also boards with much information on exploring southwestern Minnesota. All very interesting. I am glad I stopped there.

Historic Bluff Country National Scenic Byway.

This was probably the peak of my interest in southern MN. I had read about it at a truck stop in Dexter. It is also marked as a scenic route in the Rand McNally, though not on the AAA map. (Another reason why I carry multiple maps.)

The 40 miles of route 16, from La Crescent to just west of Lanesboro, is estimated to take about 2.5 hrs. It passes through or by some three state parks and has several State Trails leading off it. (I did not explore any of these.) It runs along a river for much of the way, which in itself makes it scenic. There was an Alpaca Farm at the western end. A bit further along was Honey Farm B&B - looked like one of these quaint country get-aways. Besides the state parks, there was at least one campgroung.

The buds on the trees were just starting to turn green taking the drab greyness off the countryside. I'd imagine this area would be very pretty in autumn.

About half way, in the town of Rushford, I must have taken a wrong turn. It took a while to find the route again, despite maps and gps. In the meantime I made the most of being lost, chancing upon a lovely old church and school seemingly made from local stone. Then, as I turned the corner, thinking I had found my way again, I stumbled upon a Norwegian Coffee Shop.

There was a fish hatchery and a hotel called Green Gables Inn. (Wondered if there was any connection with Ann of Green Gables.) At Lansboro, I filled up.... not that I needed to, but here I saw unleaded cheaper than any I had seen for quite some time. I queried the attendant, who told me that sometimes when they are due for a new delivery, the price is dropped to empty the tanks. Began to wonder if I was buying the dregs.... if it was all past its use by date?

West of Lansboro there is a rest area which overlooks some lovely countryside; and picnic tables under shady trees. Here there are several boards telling of the early Norwegian settlements in Minnesota. Just reading all these boards filled in some of the gaps in the scanty bit I knew from family.

Most of the little towns along this route had a population fewer than 1000. There were small cemetries by the side of the road. But even though it was not really raining while I drove route 16, it was too miserable and cold to get out and explore.

A little further along the route, at Preston, there is a unique school built like a series of igloos, connected by enclosed walkways. None of the buildings have windows, all the natural light coming through the skylight rooves.

A most enjoyable and interesting drive. I can highly recommend it, especially if you are looking for a break from I-90.

Back at Dexter I spent the night at the Geo Lake truck plaza - with their free wifi available throughout the building and outside. The lovely couple who own the business have been there just short of ten years. As well as the truck plaza, they run the adjoining restaurant and bar. I had to take a photo of one of the posters they have on the wall:

GAS
unleaded
ARM 9/10
plus
LEG 9/10
premium
BOTH 9/10

The following day it snowed as I headed back to St Paul, where friend and I planned to attend The Moth that night.

Lifey

After heading straight down to FL, my first port of call was in De Leon, where I had fly screens put in the van for the side and back doors. Now I can leave those doors open to have a cool breeze blow through. Made from 'left over' fly screen fabric (fibreglass, I think) and long zips salvaged from old, torn and discarded tents and sleeping bags, they were installed by the lovely lady who made them. A member from another forum who has a van the same as mine.

Next a brief visit with daughter, and on to southern FL, where I had planned to stay a few days. Due to the lack of truck stops, I overnighted in the parking area of the hostel in Florida City, and use their facilities for a nominal charge. Nearby is Homestead, another town which has completely rebuild itself, after much of it was obliterated by hurricane Andrew in 1992.

It was hot on the Sunday. I was in a large empty car park by the library in Homestead FL, parked in the shade of a large tree. The back and side doors open with my new screens and radio tuned to my favourite programmes. I boiled the kettle, and took the opportunity to complete a cross stitch project on which I was working.

The height of luxury and serenity. I spent most of the day there.

Lifey

After visiting friends on Key West I headed back north. This time I thought I'd see a bit of the west coast.

US1 and 997 took me straight up to the Tamiami Trail - US41 - all the way to Venice from where I took I-75 to Ocala. Next day US27 and Alt 27 (from Williston to Perry) took me into Tallahassee.

The Tamiami Trail, which takes one through the Everglades (albeit not the Everglades NP) is incredibly scenic and interesting. I had on a previous occasion driven the short detour along 94, off the trail. This time I had hoped to see something of Big Cypress, the refuge of the last 120 or so, panthers in FL. Alas, access was on foot only. I believe they do have boat tours, but none were going when I was there.

Alt US27, although almost interstate standard, with a speed limit of 65 for most of the way, is still a lovely and interesting drive. Only in the half dozen or so small towns was the speed slower. These were pretty and small settlements, each with what seemed its own personality... though I only stopped twice. There was no shortage of places to go shopping, especially for locally made products displayed roadside. Quilters would no doubt be very interested in the Quilt Museum in Chiefland. There was a good sprinkling of motels and boutique lodgings. The grass strip between the two roads was a blaze of colour with spring flowers. For the whole distance I saw only a handful of large transports. A most wonderful drive. I felt like turning around, and doing it all again.

Back in northern FL I decided I may as well go see the authorities in Quincy to seek an answer to my puzzle from the way down.

It was officer Troy at the police who told me that in Gadsden County anyone can request an escort for a funeral. If there are cars available, be they police or sheriff, then the request is granted. He assured me that if it had been a military funeral or the funeral of a law enforcement officer there would have been many more cars, as well as motorcycles, and possibly a guard of honour. He also told me that 'in the south' drivers stop as a courtesy, when they see a funeral procession.

Like most folk to whom I speak, Troy was only too happy to spend the time with me, and tell me about the local customs. I find it most interesting how different things are in different regions.

When I entered FL, almost two weeks earlier, I had, as usual, picked up a State map. When the lady heard that I have made quite a number of trips to FL over the last decade or more, she handed me a very interesting brochure - Florida, Been There, Haven't Done That. A great initiative of the tourism authorities in that State.

Lifey

Heading north the Citgo at Eatonton seemed a good destination for the first day - a Saturday. US-319 and 441 looked as good as any other route. It turned out to be most pleasant and scenic. A string of small towns, each with interesting architecture and its own personality complimented the plantations along the way. At Ocilla it was time for lunch and use of wifi at the library. Cruising along at a comfortable 55 saw me arriving in Eatonton in time to have dinner, accompanied by a most spectacular sunset. A good section of this trip had been made even more enjoyable whilst listening to Prairie Home Companion.

Next morning's departure was delayed, as I attended to some necessities. When I did depart the Citgo, I was priviledged to have the assistance of the constabulary to get me onto route 16. The obliging officer assured me that I was in for a treat, that is a lovely route. This was not a route to rush. Despite the speed limit of 55, I cruised at a leisurely 45, seeing very little traffic. The historic centres in Sparta and Warrenton probably were the hilights along the way. At one point the route took me through country reminiscent of scenes from Gone With The Wind. Another memorable day on the road. (Pity I had a broken camera.) I-20 Took me to Flying J, just east of Columbia.

My route on the Monday morning was to take me through the Sandhills of the Carolinas along US-1... the Carolina Sandhills NWR and the Sand Hills SP in SC and the Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve in NC.. I had been advised to drive through this area to compare it with the sand hills region of NE. Very interesting how different these areas are. Stopped within an hour or two of Raleigh that day, knowing I had to be in Raleigh by lunchtime Tuesday.

Lunch in Raleigh with our colleague, Foy, was at an amazing Italian place where they served a delicious lasagna. Great food, great ambiance, great company! That evening was another event I will never forget. When I arrived at the venue of the Toastmasters Club I had wanted to attend, I was told that all of the speakers and the person to run the meeting - the Toastmaster - could not make it. They did not know what to do, whether to have a meeting at all. I assured them that if they needed a Toastmaster to run the meeting, I would be only too happy to assist. Which is what I did, improvising all the way without knowing so much as the attendees' names. By the end of the meeting all the members were so pleased, not only with how well the meeting had run, but also with how much they had learned. I was thrilled, because I too had learned so much from them.

Surprises abound on my travels. I went to bed that night, wondering what the rest of my trip will hold.

Lifey

I was now faced with getting my camera to Casio in Dover NJ, and getting to LL Bean in Freeport ME. With Memorial Weekend looming, I realised I was not going to make it to both before then. I ended up not making it to either before the weekend.

The customer lady centre at Casio was extremely obliging in accommodating my needs. Instead of having to wait the three to four working days to find out if the camera was repairable, they agreed to have the information for me the same day, so long as I brought it in early. I was to bring it in early on the Wednesday after the long weekend. In view of what was about to happen, I was glad I did not arrange it for the Friday before the weekend.

The old US highways took me west and north, well clear of Richmond, until I took a wrong turn somewhere north of Charlottesville. I wandered for a little while through some wonderful country over the most interesting local roads, making sure I kept heading in the right direction. Couldn't check the map, there was no where to pull over on these narrow roads. At no time did I come past a business or shop... let alone a shopping centre or mall. Eventually US33 took me to I-81 and I-80.

On the morning of 24th I headed for a nearby McDonald's to check my email, only to find the computer would not turn on. Actually it would not open windows. It stopped on the safe mode screen. Nothing I did could change it. I was not far from Wilkes Barre, where I hoped I would be able to get onto a library computer. With the holiday weekend now started, I knew there was little chance of getting it fixed for three days. It was the gent at the library in Wyoming PA who sent me to a local computer shop... with recommendation. That store was closed on this Saturday of a long weekend.

On the way back to the library - where use of the computers was unlimited - I saw an AT&T store, and figured I'd better top up my account. If I was not going to be able to keep in contact with email, I'd better have a working phone. One of the sales folk at the AT&T store said her uncle was in the computer business, and called him up. He advised I go to one of the stores... which I did. After a couple of hours it was clear I was going to have to leave my computer.

It was like cutting off my right arm!

Lifey

Now without computer and camera I lost all interest in recording my travels. Here's briefly what happened during that month..

Memorial Weekend saw me drive on up through Upstate NY, VT, NH and ME. Then it was down to NJ for the camera and back to Wilkes-Barre for the computer.... which never did get fixed there. They appeared not even to know what to do. The computer guy in St Paul MN took a couple of days to get it going again, sufficiently for me to at least check email and look at the forum. (Three weeks later glc was able to get it back to virtually how it was before all this.)

Heading west on I-80 through NJ, I once again saw huge clouds of thick black smoke billowing above the freeway up ahead. When we finally approached the affected area, there was a car carrier on fire in the east bound lanes. The carrier and the cars were all well and truly destroyed, though it appeared the prime mover had been detached. Lots of firemen and police standing around, helpless to do anything about it. The east bound section was closed. But what surprised me most is the number of motorists on the west bound lanes who stopped to look and take photos. They stopped in the middle of the road, on the shoulders, and on the exit ramp with total disregard for other road users.

The next great event was the Grandslam of The Moth, in St Paul. This event took place at the Fitzgerald Theatre - home of Prairie Home Companion. It was an outstanding night, with unbelievably great story tellers - including professionals - and a huge diversity of stories. Some were heartwrenching, others were hilarious. The scoring was very close, as would be expected with ten previous winners. (Now I am the envy of friends for having stood on the stage where Garrison Keilor stood, and using his dressing room. The green room was two flights of stairs down, way out of my reach.)

One bright light in early June was that my dashcam had arrived in St Paul. Now I had something to play around with, see how it works, what it can do, etc. Having being assured that it is quite easy, and having not only the manual, but also my dear friend's 'extra' instructions to help me, I decided to use it the day I drove the Semineo - Alcova Scenic Backway. It ended up recording that, and the rest of the day - more than three and a half hours, in 45 min blocks. (I didn't know how to switch it off.)

However, there was an incident that day, with a truck. I did not realise until later that evening, at dinner, that I had it all on video. When I showed it to truckers eating there, they urged me to contact the company, and report it. Maybe all these toys are good for something. The scenic drive video is fantastic.... albeit a bit long.

Soon it was time to head back to Boston, where two little girls are eagerly waiting for their great adventure to begin. On the way though, I swung down through Joplin where the amazing glc got my computer running normally again. Found missing files. Re-installed lost programs. Fixed everything the others could not or would not fix.

Again it gave me an opportunity to look at the progress of Joplin's recovery. Most business is back to normal, and housing keeps being built. The school is due to open for the new school year, and the new hospital has a large banner on it announcing that it will open in March 2015 - almost four years after the tornado.

Lifey

Lost or not, happy to see the tale back in print.

Mark

It happens every now and then. And when it does, it is momentous. It is when I read a post which mentions something of which I have never heard. Something so remote, I can hardly keep my mind off it.

So it was some time ago when our colleague AZBuck responded to a question. The route mentioned was US-287 north, in WY. The description went on to mention that this traversed the Great Divide Basin, a unique geographical feature. The splitting of the Continental Divide forming a huge basin desert high up in the Rockies.

This I had to see and explore.... albeit without a camera.

Armed with all the information I had gathered, including topographical maps, and the advice of the various BLM offices, to stay on the numbered roads (county and BLM roads) and keep an eye on the weather, I headed out. Sad to say, other than US-287 and the road in to Bairoil - all sealed - it was difficult to access much more. That did not deter me.

I had been told of other attractions in the area, especially scenic routes, by the BLM offices in Pinedale, Rock Springs and Rawlins. Wonderful people those rangers. When they hear what you want to do, and why, they come up with all sorts of extra features one has never heard of. Such a wealth of information.

To the west of the basin, just off US-191 there is White Mountain and Boar's Tusk, both on county road 17. It is not possible to drive up to either. There are trails; however the ever shifiting sands make reaching Boar's Tusk in particular, challenging. I drove as far as Boar's Tusk and took the short side trip to White Mountain. Unfortunately the walk would have been too far. It was late in the day, and if I had not been able to get back to the car, I would have been in real trouble. But, I vow to return.

Not far along CR 17 is the turn off to CR 18 to Superior, a living ghost town. The drive there was again, over a maintained gravel road. In places well maintained, in others leaving a bit to be desired. But no fear of getting stuck or wrecking the vehicle.

The challenge of this road was... well, let's say, Moki Dugway could be kindergarten stuff.. If there had been a vehicle coming the other way, I am not sure what I would have done. Especially if it had been a heavy vehicle. Still, with adrenalin pumping and the dashcam recording every moment, it was an exhilarating experience. Every minute of the almost hour and every inch of that 15 mile trek.

Superior was a surprise. The main street with the old buildings of almost a century ago, and the remains of those which did not stand the test of time. At the end of the street and town there is a church, which I was told is used for Christmas, Easter and other important feastdays and events. But not regularly.

The one new building is the administration centre, set well back off the road, behind a cyclone wire fence. The gate was open, and having driven a road without rest areas, I was looking for some convenience in town. None was obvious, and the person whom I asked was not aware of any. I called in at the post office, but it was unattended. The administration building however, was open and manned (or should I say, womanned).

"Of course! First door on your left." That door was in a corridor lined with photos and trophies of the history, of the towns. There was Superior, the larger of the two towns, and South Superior, the present town. When the mines were in full production there was a population of 5000-6000 residents. There was a two storey high school, a court house and all the other facilities of a community of that size. Then, in the early sixties the mines started to close down, and by 1968 after the last mine closed the population of the two towns shrunk to a mere 75 residents.

Superior vanished off the map. It was then decided that South Superior would take on the name of Superior, and that is what it is today. There is a Town Hall and a Fire Brigade, and a variety of small business along the main street. However, none looked like they were open on this mid-week day. The main street is paved and the town is connected to I-80 by 7 miles of highway 371.

I spent some time reading and looking at the old photos and trophies. All seemed to be from the very late 19th century, through to the early 1960s. The trophies covered all normal sporting and school activities, as well as mine safety competitions, to keep miners up to date on safety issues in a fun and competitive way.

Having expressed my delight at the display, I was told that the first door on the right is a museum, and I was welcome to browse it as well. Here was a gathering of memorabilia which transported me back to the middle of last century. There were mining implements and the high school principal's chair. There was a large stack of school year books and children's toys, including home made toys from the '30s. There was the 1910, 1920 and 1930 census, all neatly handwritten in the most perfect script.

Think about it..... how many could even imagine handwriting all that information for up to 6000 residents. Yet these have endured where maybe modern methods may not endure.

But the greatest surprise of all was the adding machine. Key in the numbers and pull the handle and it would print the entry on the tape as well as keep a running total. That machine was identical to the one I used at work back in the mid fifties. It is the only one I have ever seen since. I could not take my eyes of it, and kept thinking how many kids today would even know what it is, let alone know how to use it. Or have the patience to do all that work to get the total, of whatever was being added.

Lifey

Happy to see you still having so much fun Lifey. Ive been busy with some other stuff and havnt been able to drop in as much. After reading your latest reports, i am getting very keen for another trip. Looking forward to your next instalment.
Keith

I too am enjoying your report Lifey, keep it coming !

Dave.

Some roads and routes which I came across by chance, or which were suggested to me along the way were a pleasure to drive, even if not particularly scenic. Others were designated scenic routes of which I could not get enough. Randomly, as I recall .....

US-2 across MT. Always enjoyable. Have driven it quite a few times now... never tire of it. Further south, off US-191 was the sign to Zortman. Last time I had to pass this by. The road from the south is a good gravel road, whereas the road from the east is paved for all but the last mile. I went in from the south, for no particular reason, and exited on the paved road. This decision was to be a blessing. By the time I left Zortman, the skies had opened up and it was coming down in buckets full. Glad I was on a sealed road.

Zortman is a tiny gold town, with a store, motel, auto repair shop, RV park and camping - though I got the impression that they were mostly owned by the one person. There was fuel available, but I did not bother to check at what price.

Recently there was a post from a member who was travelling from Big Sky MT, another place of which I had not heard. Always heard of Big Sky State... but not an actual place. So of course, I had to check that out as well.

The helpful young man at the visitor centre, right on the highway, assured me it would be a lovely drive all the way up with wonderful views - worthwhile even if one could not hike. He was not wrong. A fair way up the mountain I came to a spot I was not sure which way to go. But there was a gent speaking with a lady in her car... parked right there in the middle of the road. When they finished, he came to talk to me. At first I thought he was some sort of gate keeper.

JT, as he is known, is the maintenance come many other tasks, at the Big Sky Resort, and suggested I follow him, and he would show me some of the great sites up the top. He insisted that I had to see the lodge. It was almost a miniature of the Yellowstone Lodge. A magnificent place. He showed me the routes to take to get the best views of Lone Mountain and the surroundings.

When I got to Summit Rd, off Beehive Dr. I decided to drive along it. At the start there was a large sign - Your new home is HERE. There was an open gate and I continued along Summit Dr, past the few houses which had been built there. The views both across the mountains and the town below were breathtaking. On the other hand, I could not help wondering how future building along these roads would affect the views afforded now. When I got to the end of the road, and the bottom, the gate was shut, and I wondered if I would have to go all the way back up, to get out. Miraculously it opened as I approached. :-)

Right there by the gate were two young black footed prairie dogs playing. (And still, I did not have a camera.)

Back at the visitor centre I thanked the young man for the great information he had imparted, allowing for such a wonderful experience.

It was, while in Jackson that I decided to camp at one of the BLM campsites nearby. Having noted that as well as directions, I had the co-ordinates for the site, I put them into my gps. Figured you can't get much more accurate than co-ordinates.

WRONG!!

From Jackson, 13 miles to Wilson, turn left onto the Falls road, another few miles and then right onto Mosquito Creek Road. 7.5 miles to the campground. Now that should have alerted me. Who would want to stay anywhere near Mosquito Creek? I turned onto this dirt road - not unusual going into a campground. It was by a creek / river. Soon there were significant potholes. Obviously not regularly or well maintained. I continued. Nowhere to turn around. This narrow, one car wide road started to climb.... and climb. No railings and the river way, way below me. I saw a couple pitching their tent in the bush by the river, but could not see how they got there. When I came to a very small patch beside the road where I could pull off, I stopped to assess where I was. I had gone not one mile, at a speed of some 5 mph. At that rate I had another 90 minutes to go. Visions of the Chretiens flashed before me.

Years ago there was a TV show about travelling in outback Australia. The presenter always emphasised, when in trouble - breakdown, flat tyre, whatever - stop, put on the kettle and have a cuppa, before making any decisions. Since it was now 7pm, I figured it was time for dinner. Having eaten, I assessed the situation. I wanted to get off this road before dark. I again looked at my maps. I looked at the instructions. How could the co-ordinates be so far out. The spot I was looking for was south of Jackson right by US-191. The gps had sent me west and then south west, onto an unmaintained bush track.

Ever so carefully, conscious of the steep drop, I turned around and headed to the campground I was seeking. Years ago I might have looked on this as a slight diversion, another leg of the adventure. This time I looked at 26 miles and $6.50 worth of fuel, wasted. Arrived at the lovely BLM campground around 9.30pm, just after dark.

Lifey

The day I drove US-287 through the Great Divide Basin there were long stretches of roadworks. These meant travelling at a snail's pace and even times of being stationery for extended periods. For once I did not mind. It gave excellent opportunit6ies to take in the surroundings and locate them on my maps.... including the Topo maps.

At Muddy Gap I stopped for lunch. A service station with lovely people, expensive food / drinks and lots of souvenirs as well as picnic tables outside..... and ever so much history. You have to stop here, just to read the roadside boards, learn about the history and what lies ahead. I continued east on 220 to Alcova. Having read about Martin's Cove, Devil's Gate and Independence Rock, at Muddy Gap, when I got to a sign to the Mormon Visitor Centre, I decided to call in. A regretful decision!

On arrival I felt as if I were ambushed. Now I know Mormon's are known for their zeal and enthusiasm, but here I felt they got completely carried away. The woman who decided that she would be my (unwanted) guide proceeded to tell me all about each building and the surrounds. I am not a museum person per se. All I wanted was to walk through, look at what is there and maybe read a few items which caught my interest. Then, get off my sore feet and back in the car. I explained to the woman that I was not interested in all the detail, and simply wanted to have a quick look around. She seemed to be deaf. In the end I simply told her to buzz off, I was not interested. Even this she ignored, but by then I did the ignoring as well, and simply went my way. Insisting on my signing the visitor book, I put, as I always do, "Lifemagician, on the road, in the US".

As if all that was not enough, when exiting the building one was ambushed once again with questions about one's religion, quotes from the bible, etc. (Remind me never to visit a Mormon site again.)

Some 30 miles further east on 220 is Alcova, the northern end of the Alcova Seminoe Scenic Byway, which David at the Rawlins BLM office had recommended. Once again a great drive, though in no ways challenging. I stopped to check out some of the campgrounds along the Miracle Mile and in the State Park - where I spent the night. State Parks are known as safe spots to spend the night. Here I was in quite a remote SP, visible from the road and not another person within coooeee. It was not a good feeling, but too late to go elsewhere. Besides, I did not want to go elsewhere. There was very little flat ground to park, other than the picnic table under cover, which had a large concrete apron with it. I chose to spend the night there, even though it was a good ways away from the toilets. I figured I could drive to them. Later I was to discover that this was the camping site for disabled.

Less than 25% of the Scenic Byway is not paved. It is steep in places, and it is clear to see why trailers are not recommended. As the road entered the Mountains there were five pieces of neatly cut firewood in the middle of the road. I figured they had dropped off someone's trailer. Then I saw another piece, and another. Eventually I saw a large coat/jacket on the road with pieces of firewood in and near it. Must have been some two dozen pieces in all. Someone was going to go without a campfire that evening. If I could have, I might have picked up some, but I would never be able to find the owner.

South of the SP the road leads over the high plains through open range and cattle country, where a large number of pronghorns roam. Then, as one approaches I-80 there is yet another scar on the landscape, the ugly, foul smelling oil plant.

A drive I would highly recommend, but do it from south to north, so you have all that wonderful scenery to erase the ugliness near Sinclair from your memory.

In Rock Springs the folk at the BLM office had tried to influence me to drive the Snowy Range Scenic Byway, from Saratoga east to I-80. With time on my side, I drove down to Saratoga. At the Community Centre I asked where I could find the library, as I wanted to check my email before continuing. The lady informed me that they had wifi, and I was welcome to use it. Not only that, she was also the tourism office (and a dozen other things), giving me great information especially about the road I was about to drive.

The Scenic Byway goes over Snowy Range Pass, 10847', and passes Medicine Bow Peak, 12013'. Once again, what can one say, these mountain roads are so spectacular, and yet, so easy to drive. Some of the pull offs and picnic areas along the way were still snow covered, others were readily accessible. I stopped at one for lunch. Up the top is Libby Flats where there are interpretive signs which tell of the flowers - most of which were in bloom - and how some of the tiny plants by the path could be more than 100 years old.

When I arrived, I was alone. Shortly after a hoard of folks arrived all at once. They did not read the boards, they did not stick to the paths, and I thought of the 100 year old plants being trampled. I spent a lot of time here, just absorbing the atmosphere.

A community built observation tower was erected here in recently decades, which affords views over the surrounding valleys and peaks. Everyone stops at Libby Flats. I did not check out any of the apparently abundant accommodation along the way.

Another great detour off the Interstates.

Lifey

In CO my intention had been to stop in Evans on US-34, just east of I-25. However, late that afternoon there were severe storm warnings for the area, and discretion prevailed. I stayed west of I-25. Next day US-34 took me to Brush where I took 71 down to Limon. It was then US-40 to Oakley KS. Such an enjoyable drive through areas where people live and earn their keep off the land.

At Salina I headed south, as I wanted to check out Marquette KS. On the hostel site I had seen that it was not certain if the hostel was still open, as they did not have a contact; had not heard from them. Since I was going to be in the area, I swung past there to check it out. Was then able to inform David and Eileen at Hostelz.com of the contact information and status.... which is all good.

Marquette is one of these little towns where everything is within one block. Much like Cottonwood Falls, but without the Historic Courthouse. Actually, it struck me a bit of an artist community. I have no facts on which to base that assessment, purely the feeling I got. Then there is the museum for two wheel enthusiasts.

From Marquette it was down to US-56 to US-77 which took me down to US-400. It was here, in Augusta, that I was invited by the staff at the 24 hr Maccas to park overnight, and assured that they would keep an eye on me. :) US-400/69/166 then took me into Joplin where I was able to attend to business, speak with the mechanic and - best of all - get my computer fixed.

48hrs later saw me head off to Boston. The usual... I-44/I-70/I-71/I-76/I-80 to Austintown OH. It was in Hilliard IN when I saw fuel for less than $3.50, that I filled up. First time I had seen it that low since leaving Joplin. (Not seen it under $3.75 since.) At the advice of our friend, glc, I decided to take I-86 across NY. Here was an interstate (though not all the way) which I had not considered before. It has a reputation of being a pleasant and scenic route. It did not disappoint.

From Austintown route 11 (interstate standard) leads to I-90, which in turn leads to I-86 in PA. It was some way into NY that we were detoured off the interstate for quite some distance and time. Concentrating on following the detour signs, I did not really bother with exactly where we were, until I came to a road sign which caught my attention.....

Hamlet of Kill Buck

Arrived in Newton on Monday 30th June, determined to complete this report before we leave..... in a few hours' time.

When the paperwork is up to date, I will post a summary of the first part of my trip. We will be back in Boston on 13th July. A week later, after grandson's birthday, I will have five weeks to hopefully explore yet another part of this beautiful country.

Lifey

Accommodation.
32 nights were spent with family and friends.
55 nights were at Truck stops... of all persuasions.
8 nights at paid accommodation - 1 Hostel; 4 Motels; 3 State Parks for a total of $241.
12 nights were at other venues, such as rest areas in FL; 24 hr Maccas; BLM campground; Turnpike Plaza; etc., and of course, 1 night on the plane.

Fuel.
Drove 18053 miles
Using 1240.753 gallons of fuel
At an average cost of $3.477
For a total of $4314.46
Or 23.9 cents per mile
Consistently getting 14 - 15 mpg.

The Van.
A rough count here shows she requested somewhere in the vicinity of $5000 in repairs, maintenance and minor improvements.

The Rest.
I haven't even counted food and other daily necessities. Nor the America the Beautiful Pass and the repairs to my camera and computer..

Nothing to do with the roadtrip was the $6000 for the trip with my grand daughters. That's the next 20 years of birthdays taken care of.

Glad I was able to replenish the coffers whilst at home.

Lifey

Or how Hurricane Arthur turned our trip into a nightmare.

We missed the flight from Sydney to Melbourne. The boarding pass we had been given was for a 0940 flight, but we arrived in Sydney at 1120. By the time we had cleared all the formalities and picked up the luggage it was after midday. Finally they found three seats on a 1330 flight to Melbourne.

But we should never have been in Sydney. We were booked on QF94, direct from LAX to MEL, due to leave at 2330 (but did not leave until 0030). Our flight from Boston arrived at midnight.

By shovelling a few passengers around, the staff found three seats on QF108 to Sydney - due to leave at 2350. Obviously not going to be on time. Finally left almost four hours later.

The flight from Boston was almost three hours late leaving. The flight path chosen went over Quebec City then west to as far as S St Marie, to avoid the storm's affects. Only then did we head southwest to LAX, where we arrived some four hours late. The plane on which we eventually crossed the Pacific came from JFK in NYC at about the same time, with the same detour and storm delays. By the time it was cleaned and safety checks completed we were able to board soon after 0300 and took off just before 0400.

A scheduled door to door trip of 25hrs, turned into 38hrs. Bad enough for me, but very traumatic for two little girls. Nothing grandma could do would help. If only Mum and Dad could have been there. Not a good start to our week away.

However, one of the captains put it all into perspective when in his welcome message he said "We chose safety over schedule". (I could not help but think what a great statement this would be for some roadtrips.)

Within an hour of arrival at daughter's place, all was forgotten and seven grandchildren (aged 13 - 3) were on the trampoline..... together.

Not only did the girls with their cousins, get to see all the sites around Melbourne; the Little Penguins and the Koala Park on Philip Island, we all spent three days in The Grampians National Park. Together my two daughters had organised cabins for the eleven of us. Pity it was a very wet time, but a lot was achieved despite that. Highlight was the dozens (maybe hundreds) of kangaroos which gather in the small NP town of Halls Gap - on the oval and all other open grassed area. The Grampians is my favourite NP in Victoria. We spent many a holiday there with the family.

We were all thankful that the flight home was uneventful and on time.

Since then I have enjoyed reading the journals the girls kept and viewed the large albums of trip photos my daughters assembled for each girl. A trip of a lifetime. I look forward to them coming to visit downunder when they are older.

Lifey

Shame about the delays but at least it was for the right reasons !

What a wonderful family gathering and a great experience for the girls, you must have felt very happy and proud.

Dave.

Next destination - Douglas AZ..... with a few detours along the way.

It was raining when I left son's house, at lunch time, with sufficient fuel to get to Mahwah NJ. Gasbuddy had indicated that this was to be the first 'reasonably' priced fuel along the way. Well, other than at Pilot in Sturbridge MA. But I have had a couple of not so pleasant incidents there, that I chose not to return. Besides, I rather like the Pilot in Mahwah. Unlike other places in NJ, the manager there allows me to fill my own tank. I do so object to others filling my tank. I like to fill it to just the same spot on my fuel gauge each time, no matter when the pump 'automatically' cuts off. The guys there know me. I have stayed there three times so far, this trip.

A great spot to spend the night, even though they are not listed as providing overnight parking for RVs. On this, my third stay, I still asked the manager if it was OK. He assured me it was, but also stressed the importance of asking every time, lest someone should think it is an unoccupied vehicle, and have it towed.

It was a good run down I-84, I-684 and I-287 over the Tappan Zee to 17 in Mahwah. Not only did I discover it is shorter than my usual I-84, I-380, I-80, I ended up saving something like 50 - 60 cents per gallon. When pumping 30 gallons, that is not to be sneezed at. Unleaded up in that northeast corner is outrageously expensive.

The most productive part of that day was that after many phone calls, I found an affordable place to store the van when I leave in September. $20 per month in Greensboro NC (the cheapest insurance State). I have already had an offer of our dear friend in the area to look after the health of the batteries during my absence. So much appreciated.

Next day the destination was Meadville PA. With camera in hand, I wanted to photograph what I had seen there on my last pass through, when my camera was out of action.

Headed down to I-80 which I would take through NJ and most of the way through PA. It did not take long for me to realise how fortunate I was to be heading west. I-80 heading east, west of I-287, was stationary or barely moving for the best part of ten miles, all four lanes of it. If ever there was an argument to run a high speed train down the centre of that interstate, that surely was it. All I could think of is the space all these vehicles would be taking up in and near NYC, where no doubt the majority were heading.

As I approached the Delaware Water Gap I passed the two scenic overlooks along this road. Having been up them a couple of times, I chose to by pass them, this time. But I did think of how many people would not bother or be in too much of a hurry to enjoy the great views it gives of the lie of the land and the beauty of the surrounding mountains.

As one drives through PA on this heavily travelled interstate, the scenery changes constantly. At some points the roadside is planted with trees; next one gets views across the valleys to mountain ranges in the distance. Just before mile marker 138 (west bound), there is a trestle railway bridge spanning the valley. At this point the road too, is spanning a valley, hence no shoulder to legally pull over and get a photo. I would love to know more about that trestle bridge, if anyone out there knows its history, etc.

Took exit 70 onto US-322, to Meadville. Shortly after the turnoff there is another lovely old barn painted with the Mail Pouch advertisement. It looks to be part of a plant nursery - Sawyers Nursery. As one proceeds northwest the road passes through Clarion, probably the largest town, Cranberry and Franklin before Meadville. These are lovely little towns to stop off and get supplies. Alas, there are only so many supplies one can carry. Franklin and Meadville did not benefit from my shopping sprees.

In Meadville there is a small garden and large mural made completely from old discarded roadsigns. The signs are cut to fit the purpose and colours appropriately allocated. For instance, the green ones are used for leaves, the blue for water and red and yellow for flowers. Very cleverly done and most eyecatching. The mural is on US-322, 3/4 mile east of I-79, right at an intersection with traffic lights. It is not convenient to stop anywhere there. By turning into the Home Depot carpark at the lights, one is able to park and see the mural from across the street, or cross with the lights to see it close up. It goes for the best part of a block.

From what I could tell, this mural is on private property, as is the garden. The garden, which is by traffic lights a little closer to I-79, can be accessed by entering the firm's car park, where there are numerous 'no parking' signs. Since I could not see how else to get photos, I ignored the signs.

Lifey
p.s. I'll see if I can upload the photos tomorrow.

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/photo...lle_PA_004.jpg

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/photo...lle_PA_007.jpg

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/photo...lle_PA_003.jpg

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/photo...lle_PA_009.jpg

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/photo...lle_PA_011.jpg

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/photo...lle_PA_013.jpg

That's pretty cool and you captured some great pictures.

Dave.

With the weekend now looming, and not due at the mechanic in Joplin till 8am Monday, it was a leisurely trip with late nights, sleep-ins and some 300 interstate miles per day. Glad I planned it that way as the endless roadworks Through OH, IN and IL were tiresome, to say the least. Other than that, the drive to Joplin was uneventful and as pleasant as the conditions allowed it to be. The slower pace gave me an opportunity to stop off in places I had often traversed, but never stopped.... Columbus, Indianapolis, St Louis and Springfield. Took the opportunity to have my lunch in a town park, as often as I could.

A month earlier I had been told that I would need a new master cylinder, since it had leaked enough to switch on the dash light. But, since there was not one in town and it had not leaked since being topped up over 4000+ miles ago, it was decided that I should be OK. Keep some fluid in kitty, just in case. Something I will need to keep an eye on. The oil change, and a couple of small other issues, attended to, I was ready to go. Headed down to Pilot to fill up and check out, once more, the Petro Truck Stop next door. A real show piece which I first visited back in 2012.

Between Pilot and Petro is a Maccas, where the wifi is good out in the parking area. This gave me an opportunity to catch up with things on the internet. It must have been going on for midday when I finally decided to pull off.... but not before I made one more visit. Little was I to know what was to come.

I had actually put this off a few times, not really knowing what to say and fearing I might make a fool of myself. Across the road from where I was, is the Chrome Shop Mafia, 4 State Trucks. Fans of Trick my Truck will know exactly what I mean.

I entered and just stood there taking in the scene before me. I had no idea the shop was so big. Then I heard a voice ask if there was anything he could do for me. It was Jersey (because he comes from New Jersey). I sheepishly told him I was a fan of the show, and that at home these had been showing over the last year or two. However, they were all 2006 - 2009 and I wanted to know if there were more recent once.... if they are still doing them. Jersey said that only the three seasons were filmed, and yes, they keep being repeated. I also asked if he knew what happened to all those trucks. Do they ever follow up with them. He assured me that as far as they knew, all but one are still on the road. The only one which is not has been garaged by its owner.

Seeing I was quite interested in all that was going on and how these trucks were transformed, etc., Jersey said if I had a little time he would get a golf cart and take me out to the workshops where they are working on current projects. The whole operation is huge. There are workshops behind workshops and more workshops over the road. It is no wonder they need golf carts to get around.

The one workshop where we spent most of the time, is where they are working on two trucks which started of as only a chassy. It was unbelievable.

Here was a huge black truck. The cab and then an extension behind that.... long before one would even add the trailer. I did not ask how long it is, but he did show me the entrance round the back. As one entered, just inside the door, there is a full size toilet to the right and a full size shower on the left. These are followed by a kitchen on the right and the bedroom on the left before moving further forward to the most luxurious cab. This truck has been in the workshop for some 30 months, and not finished yet. The owner plans to use it purely as a show truck. (What a waste!!)

The other truck being worked on had not been there quite as long, and was not quite as ambitious, but none the less, unbelievable luxury. It is destined for a working life on the road.

Sorry, it never entered my head to take any photos. I was completely overwhelmed.

The only place which is out of bounds is the paint shop. On our return to the store, Jersey parked the golf cart next to my van, so I took the opportunity to share with him my desire of having the roof repainted (much of the paint is off it and I'd like it a lighter colour) and wondered if he knew where I could get it done. He had a good look at the roof, and when we got inside, he went off to ask some of his colleagues Meanwhile I had another look around the store.... and tried out the wonderful air-ride seats for sale. Jersey gave me the name of a firm which was the unanimous suggestion of the paint shop crew. Before departing, Jersey gave me one of the company's 2014 calendars and we exchanged contacts. A most unforgettable couple of hours.

I would highly recommend to our resident dreamer of driving big rigs, that should he ever find himself in southwestern MO he make a visit there. It won't disappoint. Bring plenty of slobber. I certainly could not stop drooling. And while you are on it, check out Petro's. Most touristy truck stop I have seen. Almost like a mini Mall.

Lifey

Cool art, cool stories. Loved looking at the photos and reading the stories. If you love history, or ever enjoyed reading the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, her final home is in Mansfield, MO, just outside of Springfield. That was a highlight of the MO portion of our trip. My husband is not a Little House fan, but he enjoyed looking at the old things and seeing his great-aunt's kitchen flooring -- "Sears flooring" from the early part of the 20th century.


Donna