May 2011 - OK to KCMO the long way

[Pfemm]

I like your daily travel log, so important on a trip like this to help keep track of the things you have seen and done, but you will need another sheet just to jot down those unexpected little things you come across/ that happen.

Lol... actually i've accounted for the little things as well... Each day has that page as the first and is followed by 3 blank line pages for journal writing. The whole document is around 136 (2 pages per letter paper so it's not gigantic) and covers around 68 days! :)

Good luck persuading hubby for an extended trip and putting him to work.

He's a pretty easy going fellow so it shouldn't be too hard and he's used to me putting him to work! or at least should be! :D

[Pfemm]

when traveling north of San Francisco to Fort Bragg should we take the 101 or Hwy 1?

[glc]

For scenery, definitely take 1. For winery tours, take 101.

[Pfemm]

Thanks!

I guess we'll be taking hwy 1... i'll save the winery tours for when my sister can go :)

[Pfemm]

How many days do you think it would take to cover all this?

Camping along the way and not rushing too much

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...c03ca7e33dfb26

[Pfemm]

okay that map isn't right...

it's more like this:

Phoenix to Flagstaff via Prescott {200 mi}
-Sedona
-Schnebly Hill Road
-West Fork Trail
-Oak Creek

To Grand Canyon Loop {190 mi}
Probably camping at some point
-Sunset Crater
-Wupatki Nat'l Monument
-West Rim

From Flagstaff to the Petrified Forest {120 mi}

To the Canyon de Chelly {140 mi}

To First Mesa and Tuba City {195 mi}

To Four Corners Monument via
-Navajo National Monument
-Betatakin Ruins
-Monument Valley
-Muley Point
-Valley of the Gods

Then maybe up to Canyonlands Nat'l Park and Arches Nat'l Park {235 mi}

On to Lake Powell Outlook {180 mi}

and then straight on to Las Vegas for 3 or 4 days...

[Pfemm]

Which parts would be good spots to stop for the night?

[Southwest Dave]

Hi Pfemm,

It's difficult to answer a "how long" question as you could drive the route and glance over places in 7 nights or so, but you could spend a Month quite easily in this area. I would consider at least 10 days before Vegas to get around in, and if you have more all well and good, you could spend 3 or 4 days in the Moab area alone and only really scratch the surface.

The West rim is a quite a long drive from the National park and some of the road to the rim is unmade and can be rough going I understand. You can get transported to the rim and the Skywalk, but it is quite expensive as it is not part of the National park system.

If you take the 261 to Muley point you will drive up the Moki dugway, a gravel road with some nice hairpins but comfortable [and level] enough in the Subaru. On the way is Goosenecks State park which is a short detour and although not much else there than the view of the river winding it's way around the rocks we liked it. Great place for a lunch break, but you will have to take your own.

As to where to stay, it'll depend how much time you can afford to this part of your trip.

[Paolo99]

pfemm,

If you're a poker player, be advised certain forms of poker are legal under Montana law inasmuch as they're considered games of skill rather than games of chance. In the past, and possibly today, the laws required a separate room at the bar or club for poker. That gives rise to the motto of most poker-playing bars in Montana: "Liquor up front, poker in the rear".

Yeah, the PMSB is sweet, MT route 43 and 278 not so fine to drive on, but the Big Hole scenery is, well, like I said, you've got to go there.

Foy

I'm with Foy on this one - Big Hole Valley is, quite literally, awesome.

[Pfemm]

@Southwest Dave: "How long is a piece of string?" type question. "

lol... I know it's a terrible question... but i just needed a really really rough estimate... and your 10 days seemed pretty on point... I think I worked it out to 11-12 days using that as a base.

and We probably won't go to all those place but i'm trying to get an idea of how long we should meander in one area/state...

When my husband and I first started talking about this trip it was supposed to be 30-45 days long... then I got to looking and finding cool places and we got the basic route worked out... and then it turned into 60 days...

Now.... after working out the AZ/UT area... and adding in more time in the Pacific NW... it's 76ish haha....

My huband says "we can't be on the road for 3 months!" but I say he doesn't have to know exactly how long this thing is going to take till we're in the middle... lol.. I think it just sounds daunting to him. but I know in the end he'll just goes with the flow.

Plus I'm in charge of the budget and the "plan"... which is probably why I have a more concrete idea of how long things are going to take, How many miles are actually involved, and that I don't want to feel so rushed that when it's over we went to a lot of places but didn't really get to experience them.