Seattle to Detroit up US Highway 12!

[Tony J Case, Super Genius]

Yup, it ends quite near my home. If you were gonna come back here for the start, I could have met you at Starbucks for a send-off. LOL

Well, I knew I was going to be in town, I'd have said something. But it was one of those "Oooh! Lets see where this road goes" sort of road trips.

Shame you're not driving White Pass. Lovely. Be sure and do it another time.

Where in Idaho do you plan on picking up 12? Lewiston? That's really about your only option until you get to Montana.

Well, originally I was thinking of going over I-90 and hooking up with 12 over in the Yakima/Zilla neck of the woods, then following it along until I get to Lewiston, which will probably (depending on how I'm doing for time) be where I first crash for the night.

To be honest, the drive on 12 throughout Washington is so beautiful, I encourage you to do it instead of just taking 90 across.

Oh, I've driven 12 before, scooting along the south end of Rainer many a time - just not in the last couple of years. And yeah, it is some lovely country down there. If I don't do it this time around, I'll probably get to it sometime during the summer (I want to get back down to the Stonehenge on the Columbia anyway)

Seattle-Jct of I-5/12-Lewiston is roughly 450 miles. Seattle via I-90 to Sprague than secondary roads to Lewiston is roughly 345 miles. Yeah, you won't be able to burn miles on 12 like you can when you're on 90 but won't you be traveling 90 on the way home?

I say at least start where 12 merges with I-5. I don't think you'll regret it.

Ok, fair enough. You're a persuasive salesperson - if I get an early enough start and have no hassles getting the car, I'll do it. If things go rough, well, I'll see how I'm doing on the time.

Oh, which reminds me - I have to call Avis and see if I'm getting a CD player with the car or if I should bring my ipod.

[Tony J Case, Super Genius]

Okay, so I think I've got all the things I want to see plotted out on a map (only 30 or so roadside attractions. Nothing, really! :) ), and I think I've got the course plotted - U.S. 14 all the way back - save for one stretch.

So I'll probably stick with Highway 14 into Yellowstone. The big question is: whats the best, most scenic route back to Seattle from Yellowstone? If speed turns out to be an issue, I'll just hop up to I-90 and race home, but if time allows, might as well see if I can take a nice route, huh?

Oh, and after all the planning, the last thing on my route that I really want to see is in Wisconsin Dells. I only want to do Illinois, Indiana and the rest just to say that I was there and I got to the very end of Highway 12. So if time looks like it's about to become an issue, I could easy cut the last 800 or so miles off the trip.

[Tony J Case, Super Genius]

Ok, after debating back and forth if I should do all of Highway 12, I think I'll cut things short and try and fit in a couple more things in the Badlands. Here is the (more or less) final draft of my schedual:

Day 00: Thursday 5/21
Leave work a bit early, not many stops, just drive like a madman
Reach: Lewiston, Idaho

DAY 01: Friday 5/22
* Dworshak Dam - Ahsahka, ID
* Nez Perce National Historical Park - Idaho
* Continental Divide - Before Helena, MT
* Old Montana Prison Complex - Deer Lodge, MT
Reach: Barber, Montana

Day 02: Saturday 5/23
* Joe Montana, Ismay Road, Joe, MT
* Life Sized T-Rex - Marmarth, ND
* Petrified Wood Park - Lemmon, SD
* Grave of Sitting Bull - Mobridge, SD
Reach: Mobridge, South Dakota

Day 03: Sunday 5/24
* Paul Bunyan's Anchor - Ortonville, MN
* The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota - Darwin, MN
* The Old Depot Museum - Dassel, MN
* Big Chicken - Delano, MN
Reach: Millston, WI

Day 04: Monday 5/25 -
* Exact Center of the Northern Half of the Western Hemisphere - Poniatowski, WI
* Paul Bunion Logging Camp - Eau Claire
* Mid-Continent Railway Museum - North Freedom, WI
* The Forevertron - Baraboo, WI
* Top Secret Upside-Down White House - Wisconsin Dells, WI
Reach: Reach Madison, WI

RETURN TRIP

Day 05: Tuesday 5/26 -
* State Capital - Madison, WI
* Spam museum - Austin, MN
* Last Happy Chef - Mankato, MN
* Hermann the German - New Ulm, MN
Reach: Lake Preston, SD

Day 06: Wednesday 5/27 -
* World's Largest Pheasant - Huron, SD
* The Corn Palace - Mitchell, SD
* Wall Drug - Drug, SD
* Minuteman Missile National Historical Site - SD
Reach: Keystone, SD

Day 07: Thursday 5/28
* Mount Rushmore - SD
* Chief Crazy Horse Memorial - Crazy Horse, SD
* Thunderhead Falls - Rapid City, SD
* Cosmos Mystery Area - Rapid City, SD
* 1880 Train - Keystone
Reach: Chill in the badlands

Day 08: Friday 5/29
* Center of the Nation - Belle Fourche, SD
* Deadwood - SD
* Devils tower - WY
Reach: Chill some more in the badlands

Day 09: Saturday 5/30
* Heart Mountain Japanese Internment Camp - Powell, WY
* Custer's Last Stand - Crow Agency, MT
* Statues for the Proletariat - Crow Agency, MT
Reach: Bozeman MT

Day 10: Sunday 5/31
* Custers Last Root Beer Stand - Three Forks, MT
* Berkeley Pit - Butte, MT
* Last Stoplight on I-90 - Wallace, ID
Reach: Seattle

Now, you may noticed that I have *WAY* overbooked the schedule. Pretty much that's a huge list of everything that's really cool that happens to be on my way. If I don't get to everything, or need to cut a couple of things to make up time, so be it. But I've learned that it's better to reach for the brass ring and come up short than not have enough planning done.

So - what do you guys think?

[PNW Judy]

If I don't get to everything, or need to cut a couple of things to make up time, so be it. But I've learned that it's better to reach for the brass ring and come up short than not have enough planning done.

Let me throw out another option. Allow yourself time to see everything you've identified along the way, unless you get there and truly find yourself uninterested in it. And be open to the other things you'll find along the way.

I think you might have a better trip if you focus on the things along the way rather than the final destination of Detroit. Or not. Your choice. Just be open to doing things the other way if it feels right.

[Tony J Case, Super Genius]

Let me throw out another option. Allow yourself time to see everything you've identified along the way, unless you get there and truly find yourself uninterested in it. And be open to the other things you'll find along the way.

Oh, totally - the last thing I want to do is zoom by Mount Rushmore at 75 miles an hour as I stick my camera out the window and grab a blurry snapshot.

I still have to go through and identify a few key sites, the "this will take all day and/or I *cant* live without it" moments. Fortunately there's lots of stuff in there - like the life sized T-Rex or the Grave of Sitting Bull - that wont take but a few moments to stop and see.

I think you might have a better trip if you focus on the things along the way rather than the final destination of Detroit. Or not. Your choice. Just be open to doing things the other way if it feels right.

Yeah, the more I think about it, the more Detroit seems like a pipe dream. Really, I wouldn't do more than "Look! Here I am!" before moving on. Not really enough time to explore the city at all, so I probably wont go. Pity - I bet they have some killer Motown museums there!

I guess the important thing to remember: no battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy. A willingness to improvise and adapt will be key. And besides - whats the worst that could happen? Well, aside from getting really lost and winding up in a Flordia swamp. :)

[Tony J Case, Super Genius]

Well, the bags are all packed and the itenarary printed - I'm all set. I just need to get past one meeting here at work and it's open road, baby!

I borrowed a laptop, but I dont know how much updating I'll be able to do. But I'll try and at least post the odd photo to my Flickr Account, so keep your eyes peeled there!

[PNW Judy]

I'll look forward to your roadtrip report when you get back!

[Midwest Michael]

I love your trip plan. I don't think you'll get to half of your stops, but I'm glad you've got options and have things flexible enough to make sure you have a good time!

* The Forevertron - Baraboo, WI

Just a heads up on this one, there really aren't many signs for this and its kind of hidden back off the road a bit.

Its actually located several miles south of Baraboo (so you'll want to stop in the Dells first and visit this on the way to Madison), and its located right next to Deleny's Surplus, across the highway from the old Ammo Plant. I've driven by it a million times, but the first time I actually noticed it was when I was looking around at the surplus store, whose yard kind of extends into the sculpture garden.

[Tony J Case, Super Genius]

Just a heads up on this one, there really aren't many signs for this and its kind of hidden back off the road a bit.

Its actually located several miles south of Baraboo (so you'll want to stop in the Dells first and visit this on the way to Madison), and its located right next to Deleny's Surplus, across the highway from the old Ammo Plant. I've driven by it a million times, but the first time I actually noticed it was when I was looking around at the surplus store, whose yard kind of extends into the sculpture garden.

Yeah, the directions I had for it said: "On U.S. 12, about five miles south of Baraboo, behind Delaney's Surplus, across the highway from the Badger Army Ammunition Plant" but that gives me a bit more to go on.

Ok, guys - I'm outta here. Peace!

[Midwest Michael]

Well, I guess that's a pretty good set of directions! I guess the biggest thing to note is that there isn't a sign, you'll just see some metal sculptures and you'll know you're there.