May, 2004 Massachusetts -- West Bound!

For almost two years now I've been planning and saving for a year long North American Road Trip. I personally rebuilt a 5spd Dodge Caravan from lugnuts to pistons and have it ready for the road with many custom attributes. I have no debts or responsibilities now, and have saved almost all the funds I need. It's taken me awhile to do, but I've submitted my resignation letters at work, and I'll be heading west from Massachusetts May 13th, 2004.

I plan on doing alot of hiking at National Parks and touring capital cities, hitting Alaska for the month of August, driving all over Mexico from DEC'04 - FEB'05, and returning home April of '05.

I have a couple people with me for roughly 2 months of the trip, but I'm looking into possibilities of picking up like minded people along the way. All you'll have to do is buy your own food (or split grocery costs with me if we have compatible tastes), split tolls/fill-ups at the stations (the van gets 35mpg), pay your own way at places like museums, and be able to get home when you decide to split off from my course (I can drop you at a bus station). Only extra cost would be if more than one person wants to come at any given period. We will have to stop at a junkyard, and you will need to split the cost of a rear bench seat (about $50ea) as I have removed both from the caravan for space.

Heres some more info about me. I'm 21 years old, male, non-smoker/non-drug user. I drink socially now and then, but no more than a couple beers. Politically I'm an independant, and love intelligent debates on almost any topic. My hiking pace is average, about 2mph + 1/2hr per 1000ft of elevation gain. I speak enough Spanish to crudely get by, so no worries in Mexico. I'd like anyone accompanying me to Mexico to have a passport to make things easier than fumbling with papers. Religiously I'm an agnostic, and have no problems with any religion/race/sex/culture.

This will not be a motel to motel style trip. Most of the "on-the-road" sleeping will be done in the van or in close proximity to it. You can buy whatever food you want, but I will be grocery shopping most of the time unless in capital cities. I have a large cooler and a mini fridge, coleman stove, and all required camp equipment. You will need your own backpacking equipment. I plan on hitting a motel/hostel once a week for shower services, in which case it will be the cheapest available (which you will need to chip, probably $35 or so). The rest of the week will be rag-baths/showers at gas-stations/truck stops. Depending on local costs in Mexico, I may spend a few nights a week in motels.

eMail me if any of this strikes a chord, and we can discuss things further. If you live way out of the way of my path of travel, you may need to get a bus to meet me.

-Nick
nicholas.mosher@verizon.net

My last day at work will be on May 13th. I work nights, so that means I will be getting out on a Saturday Morning. I will be leaving on the morning of Monday the 16th. I Can't wait!

While I have had a bunch of eMails from people interested in joining me,

My last day at work will be on May 13th. I work nights, so that means I will be getting out on a Saturday Morning. I will be leaving on the morning of Monday the 16th. I Can't wait!

While I have had a bunch of eMails from people interested in joining me, no one has made any definte commitments. I'm willing to take no more than 2 people, as I have a friend who will be coming for part of the trip, and the van will comfortably hold no more than four. Here is some more info regarding the trip...

You should budget roughly $120-$140/wk for the trip. You'll pay for half the gas & tolls ($0-$60wk depending on how much time is spent on the road, touring cities, or hiking), split the cost of 1 motel a week (~$35), cover your own fees should we stop at a museum or take a ferry, and buy your own food, or split the grocery bills with me if we have compatible tastes. Thats pretty much it. I'm absorbing all other costs such as American & Mexican Car Insurance, Vehicle Maintenance Expenses, Group Equipment, Etc. A month will cost you about $500, the whole trip (~12 months) would cost about $6500. These are just estimates of course, and your personal needs may increase or decrease (not much) these costs.

You do need to have a passport if accompanying me to Mexico (to make things easier), and while I have group equipment for the occassional campsite, you'll need your own backpacking stuff.

But I can't stress enough that many parts of this trip may be uncomfortable, and that it's an adventure of experiences, not accommodations. Except our once a week motel stop, and when sleeping on the trail, 95% of the sleeping will be done in/around the van. You may not shower days at a time (except for some quick gas station clean-ups/truckstops). While the vehicle I am taking has been gone through (personally) almost part by part, and has been modified to be quite utilitarian, it's not going to be like riding in a Lexus. I purposely sought out a van with no options, and although I have invested over $5000 into rebuilding/modifying it, I've chosen not to paint it. It has the eau de partridge family if you catch my drift.

Anyhoo, it ought to be a blast, and anyone interested can get more info by eMailing me ( nicholas.mosher@verizon.net ). I also plan to make more updates as the leave date approaches.

Hope to here from some people!

- Nick

Well, I'm down to 71 days!

The Van is 95% ready to go. I need to weld-up a ladder to better access the roof rack/cargo carrier, and tint the back windows for privacy while sleeping. Other than that it's ready to hit the road May 15th. I've included a picture of the road-beast below (now that I've figured out how to post photos!).

Work has been hectic lately. I've been gobbling up all the overtime I can before I leave. Last week I put 87 hours in (excluding my commute time of 7 hours a week). I figure that I only have about 2 months left before I get 12-14 off, so I might as well make as much dough as possible. Every dollar I make buys a box of Near East Rice or 5 packs of Ramen right!

Savings are doing good. I have over 80% of the funds I plan on needing. I should have more than enough at the rate I'm working. I've also decided to include this rough itinerary of how I will divide my time amongst states. Its fairly open ended, and will doubtlessly (and hopefully) change as I go. The format is days per state in the given month.

<b>ROAD TRIP 2004</b>

MAY:
3 New York
3 Pennsylvania (Western)
3 Ohio
8 Michigan

JUNE:
2 Indiana
7 Illinois
4 Wisconsin
4 Minnesota
4 North Dakota
4 South Dakota
2 Nebraska
3 Colorado

JULY:
5 Colorado
13 Wyoming
8 Montana
4 Idaho

AUGUST:
31 British Columbia, Yukon, and Alaska

SEPTEMBER:
10 Washington
5 Oregon
15 California

OCTOBER:
25 California
5 Nevada

NOVEMBER:
10 Utah
10 Arizona
10 New Mexico

DECEMBER:
Baja & Baja Sur

JANUARY:
West Coast & Central Mexico

FEBRUARY:
Southern & Eastern Mexico

MARCH:
7 Texas
7 Louisiana
2 Mississippi
2 Alabama
2 Georgia
10 Florida

APRIL:
5 South Carolina
5 North Carolina
5 Virginia
4 Washington D.C.
3 Maryland
3 Delaware
3 Pennsylvania (Eastern)
2 New Jersey

Well there you have it. I think it's going to be a blast. Currently I have someone joining me for the month of December, but the rest will be solo!

Nick,
All that travelling and you skipped Little ole Rhode Island. Seriously, Looks like you've done a great job planning this trip. Well thought out, Alaska in August, Mexico in January. Good Luck. My son is a U Maine ( Farm) student and we did all 50 in 8 days last summer. www.50-7.com Keep us posted on your progress. What a great trip you will have.

Gary

Thanks Gary, I

Thanks Gary, I've definetly put alot of effort into making the best of my time, while also leaving things open ended for "spur of the moment" sidetrips.

Heres how the thought process began...
I started by making a list by state of all the places I wanted to visit/hike. Then I plotted all the points on a giant map and determined the best route that connected them all in the shortest distance while simultaneously trying to keep to secondary highways. You should have seen the .txt file I had. After playing with this itinerary for almost a year, I decided it would get me stressed out if I tried keeping to a rigid schedule for an entire year. So I halved the points of interest, and doubled the in-between time. This will compensate for side-trips, problems, weather, and also allow me to pick the original points back up if I want. In addition, if you look at the rough itinerary above you will notice that I've planned 15 days short of a full year. These 15 days will be an additional buffer for the reasons given above. I think this will provide me with a schedule that has enough plasticity for unfound adventure, and enough structure to keep me moving. Hopefully anyways :)

I just bought 4 rubbermaid storage containers to begin packing-up the few belongings I have to go into storage. I'm also going to repackage my computer into a space-saving size and install it into my van. Around the same time I will have to call Verizon and cancel my phone and DSL service. While traveling I plan to take alot of photos with my 5 megapixel digital camera, and maintain a journal. I was hoping to find a website I could send these photos and journals to that would have an interest in them. Unfortunately, the possibility of me sharing these experiences with others (as they happen) is seeming less and less likely as my leave date approaches. So far I have contacted 6 websites, been turned down by 2, and haven't heard back from the others. It's going to be a blast either way, only 62 more days to go!!!

It's been a couple weeks since I've posted, but I didn't leave (yet!). I'm still doing some last minute modifications to the van. I had the windows professionally tinted with "3M" 35% film, and started testing different combinations of stuff in the rack. 70mph is about the max velocity I can go before tearing apart like a booster rocket in atmospheric re-entry. I plan to drive as many secondary highways as possible, so most of the time 55mph will be my top speed. I have yet to design and weld a ladder to gain roof-access, so I have to get going on that. Monday will see me at the Junkyard to complement the spare belts/hoses/filters/clamps I've purchased. I'll be able to fix almost anything that goes wrong short of getting hit by a 2000lb bomb.

My savings are coming along great. I have 90% of the money I plan on needing now (about 325 days worth). Sometimes I get a little nervous about quitting my job to do this, but it usually goes away when I pull out an atlas or get 10 hours into a 12 hour shift (lol).

<b>Only 49 days left to go!</b>

Yesterday I called up Verizon to cancel my phone number and DSL service. My last post from this computer will be on Friday the 16th of April, as the 17th is my service cancellation date. Hopefully with the family computer I will continue to make updates until the 15th of May.

I give my thanks to all of you who have eMailed me, and I've tried to respond to everyone. It's great to get eMail from others who are so enthusiastic about road-tripping. I enjoyed every one I've received.

After putting in 75 hours worth of work last week, I've managed to save all the funds I will need for 365 days of travel. Everything is slowly coming together. Forty more days of work left, it almost seems scary.

This week I'm going to look into getting a Pass for visiting national parks. Still making some last minute modifications to the van as well. I picked up 4 bottles of 100% DEET for those pesky mosquitos, 6 AquaMira kits for treating suspect water, and some spray on sun lotion. My room is about 1/2 packed now too. White walls and boxes sure do hit you with that "Transition Phase" feeling.

Nick,

I was going to feature your "ultimate road trip ride" on this week's edition of RTA, but the cow horns didn't "read" well enough to show on the page.

Looks like you are almost ready to go. Got butterflies yet?

Have fun!

Mark

I received my National Parks Pass this week shortly after ordering, and it came with a helpful guide/map which shows all the National Parks in the country. It's nice to know that all I have to do aside from parking fees is flash plastic rather than go through the rigmarole of entrance fees at the gate. Costing only $50, it will also save me a ton of dough.

Yesterday I had meetings with my boss, and later the peronnel director at work regarding my leave date. I re-affirmed my last day will be May 13th, and that they should probably start interviewing for a replacement because I'm leaving on the date I gave them no matter what. It went well though, and my boss said he'd be glad to have me back if a position is open when I return. I told him I'm not sure what I will want when I get back, but that coming back was definetly an option I'd consider.

I reviewed my piggy bank, and decided that I will have more than I will need. So I made the decision to purchase a Sony MiniDV camcorder to make some video of the trails, towns, and roads. This will complement the high resolution photos from my digital camera. One of the things I wanted to do with this trip is share the experience with others, which is why I wanted to post the experiences on the web as I go. But that is looking very unlikely, so I might make a webpage when I return, and possibly sell a multi-DVD set of my year on the road to support it. Many people have encouraged me to do it, so I think there is a significant chance I will.

As I mentioned last week, my DSL will be shut off next Friday (4/16/04), so I will be making one more update from my personal computer before tearing it down and rebuilding it in a case that fits somewhere in my van. I will make some updates from our family computer after that time.
<b>Only 34 days left!</b>

Treat that National Parks Pass like it is irreplaceable. Because it is. A couple years back, I bought one at the Badlands in South Dakota -- I was in a rental car and left it (I think) tucked into the driver's side sun visor when I returned that car in Omaha. Someone that rented that fine Mustang convertible after I did prob'ly got an extra nice bonus with their weekend rate! I doubt I had signed the card or anything, so it was definitely "transferable." Anyway, if you lose it, it's gone, along with your $$$ -- so be careful!

Sounds like you're just about ready for a grand adventure!

Wow that stinks big time Bob! I checked the info about passes at the National Park Services' website, and it indeed says that they will not replace lost passes. I'll certainly have to be careful about that!

I also included a picture in the above post of what the 2004 passes look like. Pretty nifty picture. Apparently they have a photo contest every year in which they choose a background for the next year's pass. I may just have to send a few in for consideration when I return! ;)

Just curious if anyone would like to host the pictures I have posted here in this thread. I'm losing my webspace friday, so if no one responds by thursday I'm going to take them down. Total file size is 2.41MB.

Give me an eMail if you do...
- Nick ;)

Woo-hoo! I just purchased a year of Mexican vehicle insurance through "MexPro" for only $183! I can't believe how inexpensive it is to insure a vehicle south of the border. My coverage here is 5x that, and I have a clean driving record (but I'm 22). Just printed out the policy, and I'm insured from now until 4/05. I only plan on visiting Mexico from 12/1/04 until 2/28/05, so I even have a buffer if I decide to enter/exit early/late.
My camcorder should be arriving today via UPS, and I picked up a PCI firewire card to transfer the video onto my comp for editing. That department is looking good.
One of the only things I havent rebuilt/replaced on the van is the fuel lines, so I have decided to bend some up to eliminate that possibility. The ones on it work fine, but they're 14 years old, and while it only costs me $100 to do here, it will cost me $1000 for someone else to do on the road if they should blow. Still haven't built the ladder, but I'm going to pick of the tubing this week to weld one up.
I'm also considering the option of "diversifying" my trip funds into two bank accounts. That way if something happens at one bank (or to one bank account), I have the other to use while I straighten out the first. I'm going to call my bank and get some more advice on this.

Only three days left before my DSL is cut, and I finish packing my room. Things are getting serious ;)

Today is the last day for my phone and internet connection. All posts after this one will have to be made from the family computer when I'm able to kick my siblings off it. I'd also like to point out that my eMail address will no longer function, so please no more eMails. I'm going to get a yahoo address up and running next week and I'll post that up. I also took the photos down from this thread because I no longer have storage to host them. I still have them in a folder on my desktop if anyone would like to host them.

The date is certainly getting closer. They are interviewing for my job at work now, and I should be training a new employee within a couple weeks. I still can't believe I'm actually going to get to do this. Lots of long hours at work (just got off a 15hr shift), and countless hours of preperation.

When I finish with this post, I will be shutting down and taking apart my computer in order to measure up the internal components so that I can make a compact case for the van. I received the new boards so that I can transfer video to my hard drive, and I just ordered some software to do some video editing.

But I'll see you guys next week, or as soon as I can pry my sisters off the family computer ! :)

- Nick

You go brother! I'd like to meet you before you go on your trip! I live near Boston and work out on 495 near Route 2.

Send me an email and we can try to meet up for lunch sometime perhaps!

Good luck!

Well I no longer have a phone or DSL connection, so I am posting this from a family member's computer. I need to get a yahoo eMail account up and running, and when I do I promise to post it here.

I also haven't figured out how to sign myself in so I can post/edit under my former account.

Talk to you guys later, Nick.

By the way, I'm still on track to leaving May 15th. Less than three weeks left of work!

Sorry I haven't posted in so long, but I have been doing <b>ALOT</b> of last minute stuff. I'd like to give you a nice solid update of what I've been up to the past few weeks...

First off, I had to delay my "launch date" 2 days, so I will be heading out Monday morning, the day after tomorrow. I feel like I'm standing at the edge of a diving board, or going to my first day of kindergarten. Yesterday was my last day at work, so now I am officially unemployed. The end savings have totaled $11,500 which is more than I planned on needing. That works out to $30/day plus change. I have all my bills (just my car insurance and dues to a hot rod club) paid ahead a year and a half, so that gives me six months to find a job when I get back home. My boss gave me a hug my last day of work and told me to call as soon as I get back, so I feel fairly confident about my future job opportunities (haha).

The van is all set to go. Yesterday I rotated the tires, greased the front end, changed the oil, topped off the fluids, and checked the tire pressures. I am a bit bummed out that gas has hit $2.00/gal for 87 Octane, but I'm sure I'll be even more dissapointed when I see how much it's going to cost out west. My budget of $30/day includes $20 for gas, and at 35mpg I should roughly have a 350 mile range. But some days I will be driving 500 miles, and others zero, so it won't bother me to spend $30 on gas when I have to.

Today will be spent on the final packing of the van, and tomorrow I will be spending time with my friends and family. Against my wishes, my mother purchased me a cell phone to bring. I've had them before, and find them to be an annoyance. But I'll toss it in the glove compartment to make her happy.

I purchased some basic video editing software from Sony titled "Screenblast", and plan to make a big 'ole video of my year on the road. I will most definetly come back and post when I return, and give anyone interested some more information. It will feature capital cities, national parks, secondary highways, and whatever else I find interesting in a chronological experience.

This being my last post, I hope anyone that is considering doing something similar takes the plunge. I wish everyone the best!

- Nick

Nick,

Bon Voyage! I bet you can find a way to reach the Web on the road... We hope so anyway, it will be interesting to see what you find out here!

Mark

Well Ive been on the road for 3 weeks now, and everything is going great. I just so happen to be staying at a motel with internet access, and figured i'd make an update. I'm in Jackson, Wyoming which is a nice town. Just had sushi, and I'm planning my week in the Tetons.

I've changed my plans considerably, having buzzed through the midwest (which didnt quite excite me). Heres a run down of what I've been up to...

Started heading west on Rt2, and then picked up rt20 in New York. I quickly threw out the idea of taking all secondary highways, and hopped on I90. Hit the finger lakes for the afternoon, and then continued to Lake Erie in Pennsyltucky. Presque state park was beautiful, and then I hit Cleveland, Ohio. Grabbed lunch downtown, went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and then checked out the Navy Pier. Went up through Michigan, hiked at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Spent the night at a state park right on Lake Michigan, I was the only person there. Checked out central Michigan, and then headed up into the upper peninsula. Watched a supertanker go through Soo Locks in Sault Ste Marie, and then went down through Wisconsin. Green Bay and Milwaukee were both disgusting towns (sorry, no offense) but I spent the day at the EAA museum in Oshkosh. Stayed in a motel in southern wisconsin that got flooded out from those big storms, spent the day in Chicago, went to Mall of America, St. Paul, and a national wildlife reserve in Minnesota. Went to Pierre South Dakota, and spent a couple days backcountry hiking in the Badlands. Got upclose and personal with a bison there. Went to the black hills, mt rushmore, and then headed into wyoming. Devil's Tower, Bighorn National Forest, and Cheyenne. Into colorado where I spent 3 days hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. Climbed the high dune in the Great Sand Dunes national park, Royal Gorge, and beautiful Mesa Verde. Black canyon of the Gunnison wasnt as exciting as I thought it would be, and now I'm back in Wyoming. This is an abbreviation of my adventure thus far, and I've left out countless things I know.

Upcoming, I have a week in the Tetons/Yellowstone area, a week in Montana, a few days in northern Idaho, and then I'll be off into Western Canada and Alaska.

This trip so far has been absolutely amazing, more than I ever thought it would be. I already have about 2000 photos and about 3 hours of video. Everything from marmots running away with my stuff high in the rockies, to views from the skydeck of Sears Tower in Chicago.

Until my next update (which I dont know when), I wish everyone the best!

- Nick

Nick,

Sounds like the adventure is going well. thanks for the update!

Mark

It's sounds like you're having a wonderful time. I can't wait until your next update. Enjoy!

Grabbed a motel tonight to clean up and they had high-speed internet service. I just went through customs, and am sitting in a cabin in Alaska. Well actually its kind of a cabin/gas station/restaurant. Man am I grubby after spending a week in British Columbia and the Yukon.

(Here is the update...)

The Tetons were beautiful, spent the day hiking and sitting on the shore of Jackson Lake. I spent all of 4 hours in Yellowstone, driving in via the south entrance, and exiting in the north. What a crowded, smelly, zoo. Sulphur and diesel fumes were all I could smell. I spent the afternoon in Helena, MT and then headed up towards Glacier National Park. Got rained out. I did drive the "Going to the sun" road, and walked around some. No hiking though. Decided not to spend time in Idaho, and crossed right into western Washington. The cherries are ready to harvest, so there was an incredible population of Mexicans. I went to a Mexican dance and saw a band which was different. Then I headed up into BC. The wilderness in western Canada is simply amazing. I got great photos/video of bighorn sheep, black bears, caribou, and many other forms of wildlife. WILD, as in on the side of the highway or on trails not in a zoo. I just reached Alaska about an hour ago, so I have yet to explore. The alpine lakes tinted with glacial silt are some of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.

Once again the trip is going great.
Until the unknown next time...
- Nick

By the way, I sure do wish I had someone to "Share the gas". I think my Visa Check Card feels abused after passing through Canada >) !!!

Nick, I don't want to state the obvious, but you DO know that sulphur is one of the natural "fragrances" of Yellowstone, right? :)

What was it that made you decide to pass up on Idaho? And what exactly does "glacial silt" do to the appearance of a lake (I've never heard of this so I am curious!). It's probably just another thing I have to add to my list of musts -- the green flash, the Aurora Borealis, and now glacial-silted lakes!

I hope you are taking millions of photos! Bob

I did a quick search and found a few pictures...this stuff looks pretty nasty:

http://www.naturalphotos.com/sekercioglu/alaska/pages/ALS3-DNP-Silt.htm

http://www.goodmigrationsphoto.com/silt.html

http://www.farlimas.com/skyeye/skydatatext/space131text.html

I so wish I could trade places with you for a few days! One thing I've always regreted was not traveling more before life got too complicated.

I'm looking forward to any updates.

Take care and enjoy!

Even though I haven't posted in this thread, I'm sure there are a lot of people like me following your adventure. Anxiously waiting for the next update. And can't wait to see some pictures.

Sitting an an internet cafe in north-western Washington, sucking on a blend of peaches, simple-syrup, and ice. Nice and refreshing. Just finished up with some grocery shopping after customs stole all my produce upon re-entry of the US. Those bas***ds probably had a real nice meal! They tried taking 10 bottles of San Pellegrino I bought in Prince George, but I flipped out. They gave me a bunch of rigamarole, but eventually let me keep them.

Anyhoo, I had an ok time in Alaska. Everything there is so expensive to take advcantage of tourists. I'm not talking about food or fuel, I'm talking services like motels and campgrounds. But here is the rundown...

Fairbanks is pretty much the armpit of Alaska, and I spent all of 3-4 hours there. After checking out the downtown area, I headed for Denali National Park. Unbelieveably crowded, and the one road in the park is restricted to park busses after only mile 15. The busses take 11 hours round trip to go down one 90 mile road. I don't think so. Camping was almost $40. But once I parked at Savage River and started hiking off trail it was very peaceful. Phenomenal views of Denali (McKinley) and the whole Alaska range once you ruck up some hills. Just south of the park there are also some nice views from the highway. Anchorage is a nice place, and I grabbed some King Crab there. The local brews come from the Glacier brewhouse, or Alaskan brewhouse. I quite enjoyed the Alaskan Amber. Kenai peninsula was great. Went to Kenai Fjords National Park and did some hiking around Exit Glacier. Then it was back towards the Yukon. I had had enough of the tourist zoo. I honestly have to say that the stretch of highway between Lake Kluane and in the Yukon and Fort Nelson in British Columbia offers the best experiences in the far north-west. Less people phenomenal scenery, great hiking, amazing wildlife, and cheap campgrounds/motels. Yukon won over Alaska for me.

Had some trouble yesterday in Vancouver when after attempting to pay for lunch at a little sushi shop my debit/visa check card was declined (Payed for it with these heavy $2 coins you seem to unwillingly aquire and stockpile). None of the banks could solve the problem either. I had $10 on me. So I ended up leaving there prematurely, and headed for the US where I faced an hour and a half in customs. Couldnt by more gas, couldnt get groceries, and couldnt get cash. But then thankfully it worked at a motel. My bank couldnt figure out what happened, but today it works again, and I withdrew some extra cash just in case it happens again. I really wanted to try some ethiopian food in vancouver, but oh well.

Headed for Seattle and pike place market tomorrow. Going to do some serious taste-testing. I'll have to do some hiking at Rainier national park and Mount St Helens to make up for it. So until next time, it's back to the road (my peach drink is pretty much gone anyways).

- Nick

Ok so it didn't last a year, but I'm exhausted. I never would have guessed that traveling is so tiring. I'm absolutely exhausted. The tally came to 20,000 miles of driving and over 300 miles of hiking... in 3 months. I retuned home before running out of money, and already landed a better job than the one I left. Certainly something I can look back on as a highlight of my life.

Here is a chronological list of some of the highlights.
Of course the real adventure consisted of the places in between, the little towns with their festivals, and state parks that always seemed to be peacefullly empty.

Finger Lakes, NY

Presque State Park & Lake Erie, PA

Cleveland & Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, OH

Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat'l Lakeshore, MI

Leelanau Point State Park, MI

Soo Locks - Sault Ste. Marie, MI

Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI

EAA Museum Oshkosh, WI

Milwaukee, WI

Chicago, IL

Jelly Belly Jelly Bean Factory, WI

Upper Mississippi Nat'l Wildlife Preserve, MN

SPAM Museum, MN

Mall of America, MN

St. Paul, MN

Pipestone Nat'l Monument, MN

Fort Pierre Nat'l Grassland, SD

Pierre, SD

Wall Drug Pharmacy, SD

Badlands NP, SD

Black Hills Nat'l Forest, SD

Mt. Rushmore Nat'l Monument, SD

Devil's Tower Nat'l Monument, WY

Bighorn Nat'l Forest, WY

Cheyenne, WY

Rocky Mountains NP, CO

Royal Gorge, CO

Great Sand Dunes NP, CO

Durango, CO

Mesa Verde NP, CO

Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP, CO

Grand Tetons NP, WY

Yellowstone NP, WY

Helena, MT

Glacier NP, MT

Spokane, WA

Prince George, BC

Fort St. John, BC

Whitehorse, YK

Kluane Lake, YK

Fairbanks, AK

Denali NP, AK

Anchorage, AK

Kenai Fjords NP, AK

Wrangel St. Elias NP, AK

Garibaldi Provincial Park, BC

Vancouver, BC

Seattle, WA

Mt. Ranier NP, WA


Olympic NP, WA

Olympic Coast via Rt.101

Salem, OR

Oregon Coast via Rt.101

Crater Lake NP, OR

Lassen Volcanic NP, CA

Redwood Nat'l Park, CA

California Coast via Rt.1

Sonoma, CA

San Francisco, CA

Monterey, CA

Big Sur, CA

Los Angelas, CA

Joshua Tree NP, CA

Death Valley NP, CA

Las Vegas, NV

Hoover Dam, NV

Zion NP, UT

Grand Canyon NP (North Rim!), AZ

Navajo Nation, AZ

Monument Valley, UT

Arches NP, UT

Moab, UT

Saguaro NP, AZ

White Sands Nat'l Monument, NM

Roswell, NM

Guadalupe Peak NP, TX

Lafayette & Cajun Country, LA

Baton Rouge, LA

Everglades NP, FL

Florida Keys

Miami, FL

Washington, DC

I'll be moving into a new apartment closer to my new job, so as soon as I get my own webspace I'll make a website with pictures and video. Speaking of which, I have about 3000 photos and 7 hours of video. I'll also include some stuff on planning, and things I would have done differently or the same.

Getting out around the country is something everyone should do. I'd also encourage people to do it when they're younger and physically able to experience what it's like to hike up a snopwcapped mountain in California, climb the ladders within the ruins at Mesa Verde, or walk all day in cities like San Francisco or New York. Don't just be a passer-by in a 30ft motor home, get out and really experience our country. I got a great taste of Alaska, Western Canada, and the Lower 48, so now I can use my vacation time at work to visit my favorite places in depth. I also now have experience traveling, so places like Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America seem closer. I'm already revving up for a trip to Portugal and North Africa this fall!

You only live once, and physical ability is quick to go, so get going!

Nick, are these places in the order you visited them (on your list)? If so, wow, you were all over the place! I've been to some of the places you visited this summer, and wonder if maybe we passed each other on the road and didn't know it!

My bet is you'll be ready to go again soon, as soon as you rest up. I'm 51, and the wanderlust never leaves me, although I am always happy to be home when I get there.

Don't worry too much about getting older though -- you youngsters don't have a lock on physical activity. I have a hike planned to the bottom of the Grand Canyon this December, and I do not expect to be carried out. In fact, the last time I hiked it, at about age 48, only one person passed me on the hike out. I made it out at the same speed I hiked down (the norm is a 1:2 or 1:3 ratio). Age is not prohibitive, as long as you work at it and stay active. Bob

Great to hear that your still in good enough shape for a hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. But one thing I saw on my trip was that a lot of visitors were people who waited until they retired and were 65+. When I was backcountry hiking in Denali NP one guy said he wished he had come when he was younger when he had better knees and more stamina. There are plenty exceptions to this rule (ie the guy I might be traveling to Portugal with is about 45 and is in better shape than me), but most people have more physical ability at age 20 than at age 65.
Beyond the physical reasons, you're enriched mentally and culturally (sp?) as well. Things I can use throughout my life instead of just at the peak and tail end of it.

Which trail are you taking to the bottom MBob? The big pot hole was one of the only Nat'l Parks I didn't do a long hike in. The day I visited it was 100*F+, and supposedly much hotter in the canyon. I just walked out to Bright Angel Point and scrambled up the rock pile at the end for a nap and great view.

One thing I didn't do was list my top 5 parks and cities.

FAVORITE MOTHER NATURE:

1.Death Valley, CA

2.Kluane Lake, YK

3.White Sands Nat'l Monument, NM

4.Great Sand Dunes Nat'l Park, CO

5.Badlands Nat'l Park, SD

FAVORITE CITIES:

1.Seattle, WA

2.San Francisco, CA

3.Las Vegas, NV (Just the Restaurants & Fine Arts!)

4.Anchorage, AK

5.St. Paul, MN

I've done hikes along several of the trails in and along the Canyon -- I've done the Rim Trail from Hermit's Rest to the Village (tougher than it looks, by the way). Also, I've hiked to Supai several times since 1988, and in the main Canyon, I've hiked South Kaibab, Bright Angel and parts of the Tonto Trail and the North Kaibab. (Tonto, by the way, is an Indian word that means "fool." Or so I've been told.) I usually hike down on the South Kaibab, because the route follows the ridgelines and the views are better (it's steep, but spectacular, especially in the morning sunlight), and then the Bright Angel out (if going back up the south side) as it is longer and the gradient is less. I've not yet done the hike out to the North Rim, but that, and a raft trip, are on my list of "to do's."

Of your favorites, I think you and I may be a lot alike! Of them, I haven't been to Alaska or Great Sand Dunes, but the others, including the cities, are among my favorites as well. I also like San Diego, San Antonio and the way Santa Fe USED to be -- it's getting a bit too big to suit me these days -- too many crowded days and the roads can't handle the congestion. And, as you may have gathered, the GC is one of my favorite places.

One thing I wish I'd done from when I was younger is to have written about my journeys and experiences -- I didn't start doing that until a few years ago, and I have forgotten details of things I thought I would never forget. By the time you reach 50, you'll have done so many things that many of them will fade or blur together. You don't want to forget your experiences, so write them down now, even if it's just for yourself!

Make sure you keep us posted on your plans for Portugal -- I for one love travel of any kind, so it'll be interesting to see how that goes for you. I have no set plans at present, but my next overseas trip will likely be to Spain (if not to Scotland again, which is one of my ancestral homelands)! Bob

Nick,

I agree with Bob, seeing all of that in three months is rather incredible.

You need to come back and see Death Valley -- on the 15th they had a 500-year rain storm. CA hwy-190 from the Furnace Creek to the park boundary is GONE! Much of roads inside the Park are impassable. The park is closed and locals, like me, are itching to get in there and see what nature has wrought.

Thanks for the report!

Mark

MBob, I would love to take a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. I here you can do some great 1-2wk trips through portions of it for around $2k. That is definetly something I want to do before I kick the bucket. The North Rim of the GC had about 1/10th the people of the south rim, but the lodge they have there is a disgrace if you ask me.

I start my new job September 8th. I'm looking at apartments now, so hopefully I'll have a website back up and running in October. I have a collection of 50 or so shots out of 3000+ that I feel are simply beautiful. I think everyone will enjoy them. And I did keep a journal everyday, so I have a ~90pg book of my thoughts.

The only thing I didn't do on the trip that I really wish I had (and planned on doing originally), was to drive the length of the Baja peninsula. That is definetly something I will be doing within the next couple years. I managed to negotiate 4wks vacation/year for myself after 1yr at my new job, so my travels will continue. Although the bulk of my wanderlust was satisfied over the spring/summer, my eyes were opened to a million more things that I want to do.

&gt; Although the bulk of my <BR>
&gt; wanderlust was satisfied over the spring/summer, <BR>

I usually feel that my wanderlust has been satisfied for a couple of days after a trip, even long Summer vacation trips. Then, it comes back again and I start planning where to go next!

&gt; my eyes were opened to a million more things that <BR>
&gt; I want to do. <BR>
<BR>
I started thinking of a long bicycle trip, becoming an Adirondack 46er, a High Point hiker, travel writer, travel photographer, etc. Once you start, you can't stop. Not everyone understands - "You slept in your CAR???".

Glad to hear you had a good time. I enjoyed reading your posts and look forward to when you're able to write more about your trip!

Nick, I was wondering why you thought the North Rim Lodge was a disgrace? Just curious. Bob

(Snip) A bunch of people lugging suitcases, roaring air conditioners, catering services, etc. In my own humble opinion, national parks should be limited to ranger stations, toilets, hiking paths, lookouts for people who can't hike, and basic camp site sections. I'm definetly a person who believes that our national parks should be kept fairly natural, but accessible to those who might have disabilities.

Just my humble opinion of course.

Nick,

I have never visited a national park in the USA that was "kept natural" that is not the purpose of such places -- according to the congressional mandate that created them.

Plus, what you think of Hot Springs National Park -- the town street is the national park -- how would suggest keeping a city street "natural"?

Mark

I'd personally like to see less development in the parks. The basic neccessities such as restrooms, ranger stations, and walking/hiking paths. Things like septage dumps, grocery stores, lodges, and restaurants take away from the beautiful natural setting (IMHO). Obviously you can't dig up Hot Springs, but you can try to preserve what we have left. I guess I'm just more conservative with our parks than others.