So we just might be making a cross country roadtrip. Something I've always wanted to do before i die...and I'm only 22! haha! To make a long story short; boss-man just might be purchasing a new/used wrecker for their tow business and my boyfriend and i are probably going to be the chosen ones to fly to Washington state and drive it back to Connecticut. Yes that would be driving a wrecker from Washington STATE to Connecticut (Lord help us!!!) Since this truck is considered no different than the semi's on the road...this trip must be done legally and we are not permitted to make the drive as quick as possible. So there will be down-time for some R&R and some sight seeing and SHOPPING...i mean: Picking!! After just tpying the trip into Bing-maps, the quickest route that comes up is travelling through Washington, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, south-western part of Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. We will probably never get to see this part of the country again in our lifetime so we're excited to travel west and make a vacation out of it. Any ideas on things to see, places to go, etc. i'm a photographer in my free-time so you can bet your buttons i'll have it ready to go the entire time. I love collecting vintage 30's, 40's, 50's stuff so anything from household/kitchen items to signs, gas pumps...you name it...i love to look at it. You could compare me to American Pickers as i truly love Americana, photographing it, and buying it And hey; we're driving a tow truck back so if anyone knows of some really sweet reasonably-priced vintage tin lying around that might need a new home with some dedicated folks---PM me and let me know! I know HAMBERS are from all over this great land so fill me in! I've never been farther west than PA so this is new to me. TIA-!!!
driving through north dakota? why? there is nothing there but space. come through south dakota, the blackhills, mount rushmore, the badlands, the missouri river, etc., etc.. if you are a photographer you will want something to take pictures of.
i heard about the black hills. for some reason the quickest route is north through north dakota according to google maps and bing maps but who gives a care about what the stupid computer says. i guess we could drive through and see mount rushmore, blackhills, etc. i would certainly LOVE that! Not sure where in Washington the truck is yet. more details are coming soon
What part of Washington State are you picking up the tow truck? There's lots to see in Washington state from the Pacific Ocean, Puget Sound, the snow capped mountains of the Olympics and Cascades, to the eastern part of the state with deserts, the Columbia River and the nations leading producer of Potatoes. We have Boeing Aircraft Manufacturing Company, and that little software company, Microsoft. You guys should have a great time, take lots of pictures for the scrap book. How about a blog along the way for us left at home? Enjoy the trip!
I doubt you will dip down to St Louis MO, but if you do, give me a PM and I will help you out where I can.
SOUTH DAKOTA ... for sure. My wife and I was there last year. We had gone to Canada to get my 1949 Mercury M-47 pickup and made a detour thru South Dakota. The Crazy Horse Memorial is close to Mount Rushmore.
What I've learned about the midwest is ; flat - flat - flat - flat - Wait !, Is that a mountian? - flat - flat - flat BORING, !!!!!!! Look on "Goodguys", "HotRod" or "NSRA" website and see what could be going on out that way. If no luck find a copy of StreetScene magazine or Hemmings and see what's listed there for shows. Find all the major tractor trailer fuel stations as they usually have decent hotels nearby and decent restaurants, never mind it will be easier to fuel up and get back out on the road. My experience on the road = (off the road while people are moving) 6PM-6:30 AM drive, 6:30 AM-8 AM fuel & food, 8 AM - 11:30 AM drive, 11:30 AM -12:30 PM fuel, food, rest, 12:30 PM -4:30 PM drive, 4:30-6PM fuel, food, rest ?
Hey Farmergal, I lived in South Dakota for a short spell. There is deffinetelly some very cook "stuff" to check out. I lived in Sioux Falls, and there are some great pictures to be had of the falls. Like others have said, it is very, very flat out there and the winds are something you have never encountered here in CT. The coolest part for me was driving over the Mississippi river. When you go and drive over it you will know what I mean. Another one of the coolest places I have been is the Canadian side of Niagra Falls. Much much cleaner and more welcoming than the American side. I could go on and on about places I have been, but I must say, even with all of the bullshit snow we have had this year, New England for sure my home! Chuck
If you are going anywhere near the Black Hills, Yellowstone, Cody,Custer battlefield, all those places, don't miss them! We passed through there seven or eight years ago, and it's still fresh in my head. I do regret not detouring North a ways and visiting the Devil's Tower, but you can't have everything, I guess. Saw it from the Interstate many miles away. Big rock! We were there the first week of Sturgis rally, 600 thousand Harleys! And not a muffler on one of 'em! Wild.
North Dakoda is miles and miles of corn and hay bales! Not much else. Repeat after me... WE ARE GOING THRU SOUTH DAKOTA See that wasnt very hard.... Have a great trip. I love driving thru this country of ours...
If you are going to see anything is South Dakota, see Crazy Horse. Mount Rushmore is tiny in comparison to what Crazy Horse will be. Mount Rushmore took 14 years before funds ran out and it was called "finished", Crazy horse is going to be about 10X taller and wider and construction was started in 1939. When done, the hair of crazy horse as he rides his horse will be about the same size as all 4 presidents heads on Rushmore. Crazy Horse is history in the making, imagine if you could have stopped by and saw Mt Rushmore in it's build stage. You can with Crazy Horse. (and don't let any inclimate weather stop you, it only makes the experience that much more jaw dropping) <iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/19129753" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0"></iframe><p>Dreaming in Stone from Crazy Horse Memorial on Vimeo.</p> jmho .
Yup, drop South, we have a lot of good sights in the Hills. I can get you the local 411, places to stay, cheap fuel ect.
If you travel a bit south from your B!NG map, you can see Yellowstone, Big Horn, go to a Rodeo in Cody, WY. Then see Rushmore, Crazy Horse (which is amazing), drive 1000 miles to Chicago (there's a bunch to do there, I'd recommend a Cubs game and seeking out a great meal.... not hard to do in Chicago), and then high-tail it home. Oh and meet HAMBers on your way!
Two words: National Parks. Two more words: two-lane roads. Enjoy! Best -- Gary Almost anything you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.-- Gandhi
Drop down south and take in the great salt lake and go swimming in that. Go through Yellowstone and Grand Tetons and Jackson Hole is a cool town. Some other things people did not mention were Devils Tower, Bufflalo Bill Museum in Cody Wyoming, Wall Drug and while you are in the area you might as well take in the corn palace even though it is was not that spectacular when I have seen it. I went out that way about 5 years ago and there is more to see in that area than I had time to do.
thanks much everyone! still no set in stone plans yet but figured if/when we get the go ahead we better be prepared to jump on the plane
How much time do you have? If you want to stay off the highway and see some of the most beautiful wide open country, I'd say drop down and catch Highway 50. You can stay on it all the way to DC, if you like. It's also known as the loneliest road in America. If that's not your idea of fun, you cannot go wrong with a Yellowstone, MT Rushmore/Crazy Horse/Devil's Tower tour. Have fun.
From experience, ALL the above, plus...You can kill a couple hours at that car/farm/Americana museum in Murdo SD. Corn Palace in Mitchell SD is another stop.
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