[snowbimmer]

35 Days. 29 States. 20 Capitals. 4 Provinces.

Post 0 - Prologue Post - A little background and some teaser pics

Out: Orange.....Return: Blue


Wahpeton, North Dakota (Day 31)


I've been home for over nine months already, returning mid-June 2025. The trip is a fond, but ever receding memory right now. Luckily, editing the 6,000 photos taken helps to remember what an epic journey it turned out to be. What's left here are hopefully the good ones. This started as a fairly substantial thread in it's own right, but continued to grow. What gets left on the cutting room floor? Not much, apparently. Oh well. In for a penny, in for a pound as you Brits say.

- - - - Warning: This thread is long..........War & Peace long.......Seriously long - - - -

Chimney Rock, Nebraska (Day 3)


This trip was over 30 years in the making. I have always enjoyed long car trips, starting as a kid when my dad carted us all around the country, and continuing after I got my own wheels. Early on, after college in a 12 year stretch, I had two cars take me through 285,000 miles - staying primarily on the western side of the Continental Divide. However, at one point as a young man in 1992, I saw a 4th generation Cadillac Seville STS for the first time. Never once had I ever cared about a Cadillac, but this baby caught my eye. It was Motor Trend's Car of the Year.


I immediately thought: "When I finally get enough money, this is the car that could take me across the whole county - in luxury, comfort, style and sport. They were retailing for about $50,000 (Yikes!) and I hadn't even spent more than $17,000 on a new car yet. By 1994, it had a 300hp Northstar V-8 engine with 295 lb-ft of torque. Transmission enhancements, suspension modifications, a BOSE sound system and.....rain sensing wipers!!! Sign me up.

Alas, it was not to be. I knew this car would end it's production run long before I would have a use for it. Or the money. Or the time needed for such a long trip. I did, however, find my way to BMW a dozen years later, and 10 years after that I ventured into the realm of BMW V8s. Now we're talking road trip cars.

Those V8s gave me 13 major trips spread over 9 years and 41,757 miles of visiting the outrageous natural wonders of the West.


2019 Utah Hwy 163 (2019 F90)


2021 Rocky Mountain National Park (2021 F90 Comp)


2022 Sedona, AZ (2022 M850)


2023 Southern Utah (2022 M850)


2023 Jasper National Park (2022 M850)


2023 Glacier National Park (2022 M850)


People would ask me, "So, where to next?" I would always jokingly(?) say, "I want to step out of MY car in Halifax." Nova Scotia? "Yes." Most of our trips have been 10 to 14 days and around 4,000 miles. It's 3,700 miles just to Halifax by the most direct route, so I figured it would require at least 5,000 miles each way. (Hell, I can actually get to Miami in under just 3,300 miles. It's a long way out to the Maritime Provinces.) We would now be more than double our longest trip - and there would probably, undoubtably, be more mileage added on. Even our 14 day trips can be a bit of a grind - occasionally. Hrrrrm - I'd been mentally tossing this around for over 30 years - maybe I didn't quite think this ALL the way through.

Missouri State Capitol (Jefferson City) (Day 6)


By early 2025 the wife kept asking if I had the Halifax trip planned. "Yeah, just about." It wasn't. Eventually I realized she's game. Time to call her bluff. Some quick, serious number crunching told me at least 35 days were required. She didn't balk. "Gonna be over 10,000 miles," I said. "OK" was the reply.

Gateway Arch - St. Louis, Missouri (Day 7)


Well, dang - this is happening, I guess. Its gotta be springtime, when everything is green and there's not much chance of late winter snows. Can't be July or August when the mid-west swelters in heat and humidity. Seems like mid-May to mid-June, but then you risk tornado season. We'll chance it. How bad could it be? Turns out, pretty bad. More on that later.

Pemaquid Point, Maine (Day 16)


My goals were to see the great Mid-Western cities, several historical sites, Washington DC (the wife hadn't been since the 8th grade), the Hudson Valley, New England again, the Canadian Maritime Provinces, Quebec City and upstate New York. Then back through the Mid-West again. Even if Halifax was the ultimate destination, it wasn't going to be just about the destination. It was truly going to be about the journey. We'd already scoured the Great Lakes area, New England, most of the East Coast and the South. (in rental cars, I might add. Ick.) So, two parallel tracks (out and back) south of Chicago would fill in a lot of gaps.

Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia (Day 18)


Average daily mileage would need to be 300 - at least. A three night stop in DC and two nights each in Halifax and Quebec City meant four days would end up being zero miles. So the average mileage on driving days would be 350 now. That's a lot of driving if you actually stop to eat and see things along the way.

Wheeling, West Virginia (Day 26)


The route came together in about a week (I've had a mental route for 30 years) and 34 nights in 30 hotels were booked by early March.


There was virtually no margin for error. This had to be a nearly flawless execution for it to work, because if you need to rebook one hotel, you might have to rebook 20. (As it turned out, we rebooked one - with no ensuing catastrophe.) If you meandered along, and just stopped for the night whenever you felt like it, you'd be gone two months - not to mention burning up a lot of extra time each day looking for that day's hotel. Gotta have a goal each day.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Day 29)


All of my road trip threads up until this one (I've done 13, with 8 of them making it to the Main Page - Edit: 9 now, counting this one), have involved the fabulous scenery and the wonderful National Parks in the West. That all ends East of Denver (OK, I'll give you Niagara Falls out there), but it was just as much fun - and interesting - seeing the places that created all the history and generated all the things that made this such a great country. It seems like we couldn't get away from Lewis & Clark, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington for major portions of the journey.

Hwy 212 Beartooth Pass, Montana (Day 33)


I made up a preliminary list of about 250 items of interest along the route. And, we had also rewatched the Smithsonian Channel's Aerial America episodes for each state we would visit. We was gonna be busy. Let's get to it............


Aside from the overall route goals for the trip, there are many specific things that draw my interest. First and foremost are natural wonders in our National Parks and Monuments. Unfortunately, not much of this until Day 33. We like to see major cities - and also those you just hear about your whole life. State Capitals and their Capitol buildings. (BTW, did you know the cities end in ...tals and the buildings end in ...tols. Capitals vs Capitols. Who knew?) Historic cities are always good, along with historic sites, battlefields and museums. Important infrastructure, including dams, bridges, buildings and major sports stadiums & ballparks. Presidential Libraries are fun, along with estates of the rich and famous. Anything kitchy and anything still standing from the mid-twentieth century. There's a lot to see.

I usually do a multi-post thread all at once. This thread will have 17 posts, but I will just post them as I go along. A thread like this takes hundreds of hours to put together. It might take a couple days to get all posts up. Keep checking back.

Hwy 212 Beartooth Pass, Wyoming (Day 33)


There will be over 1,200 pictures. Obviously, they mean something to me, but hopefully I also chose pictures that could be interesting to anyone. There is a lot of America to see here, but it is still only a couple of thin slices down the roads we travelled. I don't like blurry pictures. I don't like cock-eyed pictures, so every picture is edited by leveling the horizon, cropping out useless pixels until just the good stuff is left. I don't like washed out pictures that are too sunny or those that are too much in the shadow. If I can't fix it, it don't make it - although, there are a few questionable ones that snuck in. My wife gets into the action, too. All of her pictures have a little yellow dot on the lower right corner. That being said, this thread is still just the photos and musings of an amateur photographer / road trip driver. I hope you enjoy it. If it is too wordy, just scroll to the next picture.

Post 1 of 17 follows. It will take some time to get everything up, so keep coming back.

[snowbimmer]

Post 1 of 17




Eastbound to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada: May 13 to May 30, 2025. 18 days - 5,216 miles


Replaced the 2022 Carbon Black M850 with a 2025 San Remo Green M850 in November 2024. Upsized the tires for this trip by one profile to add close to 20% more side wall - essentially going to Alpina height. Went with All Seasons instead of Summers, which was a wise choice, as it dipped below 30F once and it rained like an SOB several times. Had a little over 4,600 miles on it when we left.


Days 1-3: Portland Oregon to Lincoln, Nebraska
As you can see, by just getting to Lincoln, Nebraska you are already , physically, about halfway across the country.


My average of 350 miles a day is a lot of driving if you actually stop to eat and see things along the way. So I decided to scrub off a huge chunk of miles right out of the gate while we were still fresh. Lincoln, Nebraska was 1,727 miles away and we would do it in only three days - nearly all of it freeway - with the first two days being on roads we'd been on a dozen times. Day One would be 575 miles, Day Two would be 576 miles and Day Three would be 576 miles. Then we would slow down to smell the roses. Or, cornfields, as it were.

Day 1: Portland to Twin Falls, Idaho - 575 Miles



This is all about getting out of Dodge. We have travelled this stretch of I-84 many, many times. There are still some things to probably see, but we just don't care today.

I-84 near Biggs Junction


Goal #1 was to have lunch at Roosters Country Kitchen in Pendleton, a little over 200 miles and 4 hours away. They were out of chicken last fall, but this time they were fully stocked. Yummy chicken dinner. Mission accomplished. Now it's only 350 miles and 6 hours to supper. I-84 is pretty scenic and hilly for the first 3 hours to Ontario, OR on the OR/ID border. It's usually our stop for the first night of our trips, but we slog on for the next hundred miles, getting past the Boise metroplex.

Near Mountain Home, ID


We arrive in Twin Falls, ID after another hour and a half and stop to marvel at the Perrine Bridge, with it's 1,000 ft main span. It sits 486 ft above the Snake River.


The view downstream to the west.


We check in to the hotel, grab a quick dinner and head out to Shoshone Falls on the Snake River, upstream about 7 miles away. It's about 6:30 and the fading light is perfect for some great waterfall shots.






We basically have the place to ourselves


We scurry back to Twin Falls and grab some more shots of the Perinne Bridge from the other side. This offers a better look at the canyon. People BASE jump off the thing. Sadly, sometimes the chute doesn't open.


Almost 600 miles from home. Pretty good start to the journey.

Twin Falls, Idaho

Total Miles: 575
Daily Avg: 575 Miles


Day2: Twin Falls to Laramie, Wyoming - 576 Miles


Another long day ahead, so we get an early start. We soon reach the 84/86 junction and turn SE towards Utah. The landscape really smartens up as we split a couple of mountain ranges. We cross the Utah border after just 104 miles today. The spectacular, and snowy, Wasatch Mountains come into view as we approach Brigham City and turn east to cut through them on I-80. It's now 831 miles to Lincoln, Nebraska - mostly on this freeway. The Devils Slide offers an interesting wayside stop.

Devils Slide


The drive through the mountains is exceptional and we cross into Wyoming after just 38 more miles. Evanston is just ahead and makes for a great place to stop for lunch - halfway to Laramie today.


The landscape browns out a bit and we stop in at Little America for refreshments. It's not quite a Buc-ees and there is a lot of remodeling going on. We don't stay long.


Another 2 hours brings us through Rawlins, WY for a quick drive through. Cool place.






Another hour and a half gets us to Laramie by 5:30. We check in to the hotel and go downtown to grab some brisket. Day 2 done - 1,151 miles in. Not bad.

Laramie, Wyoming

Total Miles: 1,151
Daily Avg: 576 Miles



Day 3: Laramie to Lincoln, Nebraska - 576 Miles



Today is our final long day. We make a quick run through downtown Laramie.




It's cold and windy and we hop on to I-80 again. We quickly climb to a pass at 8,640 ft. The temp drops to below 30 degrees.




We drop down, pass through Cheyenne and head north on I-25, before exiting to Hwy 85 and travel NE towards Scotts Bluff, Nebraska. And just like that, you're in Nebraska. Our second time in the state.


We came through Scotts Bluff (the town) back in 2021 from the north, but didn't have time to see the actual Scotts Bluff National Monument. The bluff served as an important landmark on the Oregon Trail, California Trail and Pony Express routes.



The Visitor Center, with the bluff in the background





View from the top - town of Scotts Bluff, NE



We jump on Hwy 26 (which I also drive nearly every day at home) and head east about 23 miles to Chimney Rock National Historic Site. This is another wagon train landmark because of its unusual 300' rocky spire.






Back on Hwy 26 we grab a quick burger in Bridgeport and then take a spin through, apparently, the most unlikely place of Lewellen, Nebraska.




Hey, Tesla fuel heading east


We skirt McConaughy Reservoir and drop through Ogallala and rejoin I-80, heading to North Platte, an old railroad town at the confluence where the North and South Platte Rivers become just the Platte. Cool downtown.






Back on I-80 again, we jump back off at Gothenburg and head to the Pony Express Museum. Just a tiny one room affair, but very, very informative. Those guys were nuts. And, apparently, quite progressive for their time.




The Pony Express ran just 18 months, beginning in late 1860 - mostly because California was a booming state. It cut the time it took to get a letter across the US to about 10 days. The actual route established a connection between St. Joseph, MO and Sacramento, CA. It mostly followed the Oregon and California Trails and was approximately 1,900 miles long. There were 80 riders, 400 horses and stations like this spaced 10-15 miles apart. Riders would carry about 20 lbs of mail and change horses at each station - riding about 100 miles a day. Then turn around and go back the next day. Over and over. The youngest rider was 11 years old.

Riders and some of their belongings.




We run though a few other small towns, but don't spend much time - it's still over three hours and almost 200 miles to Lincoln. There's actually some daylight as we pull in and check in to our hotel in the heart of downtown.

Only three days in and we are literally half way across the country. Now it's time to slow down and smell the roses.

Lincoln, Nebraska

Total Miles: 1,727
Daily Avg: 576 Miles



Day 4: Lincoln to Kansas City, Missouri - 344 Miles




Today is a bit of a day of discovery for my wife. Her mother was born in Lincoln, went to high school here and eventually she went to the University of Nebraska here. Her grandmother also taught grade school here.

So, first up is a quick jaunt over to the Nebraska campus, just a few blocks away. Been hearing about these 'Huskers for years. Nice campus. We find the big stadium and wangle a way to get inside. It's being re-turfed right now. Man, if these walls could talk.








Walked around campus a bit, saw my mother-in-law's sorority house. Yup - a very nice campus.

Then we headed over to the school where grandma taught and then to her mom's high school - oddly enough called Lincoln High School.


Then back west about 10 blocks to the state capitol building. Finished in 1932, it incorporates an Art Deco style and was the first capitol building to use a 400' tall tower instead of a dome. The architect said it needed some altitude because Nebraska is so flat. It is a very impressive and beautiful building. Only Louisiana's capitol is taller.


We go inside and are told we should take the elevator to the 14th floor Memorial Chamber and observation decks.




14th Floor Memorial Chamber


Looking West


Looking East - Flat, flat, flat


The original design called for House and Senate chambers. By 1937, Nebraska decided to become the only unicameral legislature in the country - that is, it doesn't have a house and a senate - just one legislative body. Weirdos.

The George Norris Legislative Chamber - where the sausage gets made.


We wander through some more of the main floor, including the Vestibule, Great Hall and Rotunda. We exit out the west side, say hi to Abe and stop by the Governor's mansion - just across the street. Handy.






It's about 10 AM and there is still a lot to do today, so we have to get on the road. We catch Hwy 77 and drop straight south through hundreds of farms and corn fields. It's really windy. It's been windy since Idaho.

We soon cross into Kansas - state #44. First new state on this trip.


A few miles further we reach Hanover, KS and the Hollenberg Pony Express Station Historic Site. It is a much bigger version of yesterday's.






The wind was really whipping the grass around and it looked like a green ocean.




The first main target of Kansas was Abilene - Dwight Eisenhower's former home and presidential library. Abilene is a small town - maybe only 6,500 people.




Dwight D. Eisenhower's boyhood home. Lived here from 1896 until 1911, when he left for the United States Military Academy at West Point.


The museum is nicely filled with history, artifacts and memorabilia.


West Point: 1911 - 1915


Dwight & Maime


He commanded a unit that trained tank crews in World War I and eventually reached the rank of Brigadier General just before World War II. He then oversaw the Allied invasions of North Africa and Sicily before being promoted to a 5-Star General, overseeing the D-Day invasion of Europe. Then he served as military governor of the American occupied zone in Germany, Army Chief of Staff, president of Columbia University and, finally, first Supreme Commander of NATO from 1951-1952. And you think you're busy.




In 1953 he became the 34th president of the United States and served 8 years


General of the Army


Eisenhower Presidential Library - holding 28 million pages of historical records, 335,000 photographs, 768,000 feet of film and 70,000 artifacts.


Now we have to scoot east over to Topeka, the capital of Kansas, via I-70. Somewhere along in here we reach the farthest we've ever driven from home - the record being 1,726 miles at the Welcome to Texas sign in our 2022 M850. Sure, we were at 1,727 miles when we rolled in to Lincoln yesterday, but we could technically get back home in only 1,608 miles.

We get to the capitol after 5 and it's closed. Darn. Nice looking capitol.




The judicial branch is across the street


Back on I-70 again, we reach Lawrence in 30 miles and run onto the University of Kansas campus. The campus isn't easy to navigate, but we find Phog Allen Fieldhouse, the iconic home of Jayhawk basketball. Phog was a protege of James Naismith (the inventor of basketball and also established KU's program in 1898) and coached for 39 years. We wind our way over to the football stadium and run down fraternity row. The place is hilly. No decent pics.

We finally reach our destination of Kansas City, MO, drop our bags and head over to the Plaza District for dinner. They fancy around here. Lots of high end dining and shops. People everywhere. It's a nice warm night.


We get back to the hotel around 9 pm. Today was only half the distance of each of our previous three days, so there's that.

Kansas City, Missouri

Total Miles: 2,071
Daily Avg: 518 Miles

On a side note, the weather hasn't been too bad - mostly just really windy. But the occasional tornado has popped up here and there, now that we're in Tornado Alley. We will be in St. Louis the day after tomorrow and the metro area just got wacked by a tornado this afternoon. Four people were killed and damage estimates are $1.5 billion. Hmmmmm.

[KevinGS]

I did a similar trip in 2024 in my G82, leaving from Maryland, and went to Vancouver, after going to Banff.

Can't wait to hear more about your trip.

And the Beartooth Pass, yes, indeed was amazing. Here is me in Red Lodge, MT having lunch at the Prerogative Kitchen, the town after coming out of the Pass.

And I went through St. Louis coming and going, as I have 2 goddaughters there, so it was like my Midwest hub.

[TimmyTurbos]

Sick trip!

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by KevinGS

I did a similar trip in 2024 in my G82, leaving from Maryland, and went to Vancouver, after going to Banff.

Can't wait to hear more about your trip.

And the Beartooth Pass, yes, indeed was amazing. Here is me in Red Lodge, MT having lunch at the Prerogative Kitchen, the town after coming out of the Pass.

And I went through St. Louis coming and going, as I have 2 goddaughters there, so it was like my Midwest hub.

I remember your thread. I think you mentioned you wanted to come back out again real soon. Any plans?

[KevinGS]

Originally Posted by snowbimmer

I remember your thread. I think you mentioned you wanted to come back out again real soon. Any plans?

Yes, I really do want a Cross Country Trip #2. I want to go back to Banff, but I also need to see the southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, Grand Canyon), so it'll be hard to do that all in one trip. But I may try.

Fingers crossed.

[KevinGS]

SB, I passed through Lincoln, NE too, coming out of southwestern Iowa....on my way into South Dakota. I didn't spend much time there, only passing through, so I enjoy reading about you and your family's past in Lincoln. I wish I would have went into the state capitol building.

And thanks for sharing all the Eisenhower stuff too. I drove right past Abilene on I70 on my way back east from Denver, to go back through St. Louis. Had I known about Eisenhower and Abilene, I would have surely stopped.

[KevinGS]

Those V8s gave me 13 major trips spread over 9 years and 41,757 miles of visiting the outrageous natural wonders of the West.

Music to my ears. Like you, I LOVE road trips...as it's the most favorite part of me owning a car. Nothing like being on the open road, going through small towns, and new cities...taking in new vistas and new scenery. I could not wait to get my license when I was 15, and that high has never worn off. I still find a supreme amount of unadulterated joy driving a car I love, going out of town. Oftentimes the destination doesn't matter...I just want to go, somewhere, preferably new. Of course, like you, since I've taken so many trips over the years, I'm running out of new places to go. Montreal is on the list, maybe Key West, and the southwest. That's about it. I've been everywhere else, by car. Maybe Nova Scotia?

And I always enjoy arriving home too.

In my ideal life, I would own real estate in like 4 parts of the country, and would have 4 cars I love in each town/city...so then I could just fly around to my 4 homes and start various trips from a different (and closer) starting point. I'm fortunate to have longtime best friends in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and St. Louis, so I do always have a place to stay for as long as I want when I arrive in any of these cities.

And during COVID, I did just that...I spent 8 weeks in LA with my friend (though he was gone for a month for work). I proceeded to rent several fun cars, culminating in a 458 Spider which I had for a week. The Turo prices during COVID were quite reasonable, so I rented a manual 911 convertible, AMG GT, C63S coupe and the 458 over the span of about 6 weeks...and drove every road in every canyon from Santa Barbara to San Diego. Best. Trip. Ever.

[Velvet Fog]

Washtucna? Why not put Connell on the list too?

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by Velvet Fog

Washtucna? Why not put Connell on the list too?

Wait??? How the hell did you know I go to Washtucna? Even had lunch in Connell.

Day 35. Stay tuned. Got pics, too.

[snowbimmer]

Post 2 of 17


Day 5: Kansas City to Springfield, Missouri - 312 Miles


Another kinda journey of discovery again today. We'll go through my wife's paternal grandmother's birth place, among other things.

I had been to KC a couple times, but only on business and only saw the insides of a hotel. A friend of mine said we should wander through the nearby area of Mission Hills and check out how the other half lives. OK - we always like doing that stuff.

He was not wrong. This neighborhood is quite substantial, all the houses are on giant lots, it's very leafy and they all look like this. Well, most actually seem bigger.


First up is the World War I Museum site just south of downtown. It opened in 1926 and eventually became the country's official WWI museum. (Not my aerial pic)




Sadly, the 140 flags planted here represent the number of US Veterans lost to suicide - in a week. That's 20 a day - every 72 mins. That's unreal.


The Memorial Tower stands at 217 feet tall.


Unfortunately, it didn't open until 10 and it's only 8:30. Next time.


The memorial overlooks a nice view of the iconic Kansas City Union Station and the city skyline.



The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City is right around the corner. One of just 12 in the country.


We drop down to the train station and have a look see. Amtrack still goes through here. A very grand space and a cool place.






Back in the day


Since there are two Kansas Citys, we have to go over to the other one. We cross the Kansas River where it feeds into the Missouri River and everything changes. Kansas City, KS is definitely more of a hard scrabble town than Kansas City, MO. We tour about a bit and don't stay long. Our time yields one picture of the grain silos down near the Missouri. Lewis & Clark came through here 220 years ago.


We head back over to Missouri and drive around the other downtown. Way more commerce going on here.




We finish up and trek 9 miles east to Independence, MO - home of Harry S. Truman - and head to his Presidential Library.


Truman was born in 1894, raised in Independence, MO, fought in France in WWI, became a judge and was elected senator in 1934. During the 1944 presidential election, Franklin Roosevelt dropped his incumbent VP (Henry Wallace) in favor of Truman, a more moderate democrat, who was less likely to alienate Southern conservatives and labor unions. The VP was still selected independently at the convention back then. They won. In a landslide.


Truman was given very little to do during his vice presidency. He only met with Roosevelt twice and was kept out of most meetings regarding WWII. He became the 33rd president when FDR died, only 82 days into his 4th term.


It was only then that he learned about the Manhattan Project. The war in Germany ended shortly thereafter and by August he had decided to use two nuclear bombs on Japan, hoping to forego a land invasion. The world was forever changed. Truman oversaw the creation of the United Nations and enabled the Berlin Airlift in 1948. He ran, and won, re-election later that year - although the Chicago Daily Tribune got their headline horribly wrong.



Bess & Harry


Also in 1948, Truman approved a down to the studs rebuild of the White House. I guess it is ok to remodel the White House a bit. The family had to move out for nearly 4 years, returning in March 1952.




He decided not to run for re-election in 1952. But he still basically had 8 years.


The Buck Stops Here


The Presidential Library grounds


Their graves


The man himself. A very nicely done presidential library.


The home where Harry and Bess lived is nearby




How 'bout that? Some real Golden Arches


We head south as we leave Independence, but quickly arrive at a major sports complex.. The home stadiums for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals. The parking lot is massive. There is a Royals game today, but they let us go in to grab a few pictures.

Arrowhead Stadium - Chiefs house, for a little while longer....


Kauffman Stadium - Royals house


Getting out is now very confusing. Exits are blocked, cones are up. I ask a parking attendant and she's waving her flag and saying go up there, turn right, then left, then come back around over there........... Just then a guy in a golf cart floats by. He yells out, "Where y'all going?" I tell him I want 435 south toward Joplin. He says, "I got yo ass. Follow me." We get the VIP treatment between the two stadiums and about 90 seconds later we are on 435, headed south. Awesome.

We eventually tie in to I-49 and have an uneventful drive for 90 mins before pulling off at Nevada, MO. The wife belongs to a philanthropic organization called P.E.O. that helps women get college scholarships. They can use them anywhere, but the organization also owns a college located here.


The town itself seems to have been passed by.




Vernon County Courthouse


The P.E.O.'s school is Cottey College, a small liberal arts college for women, with an enrollment of around 250.


Back on I-49, it's about 45 minutes to Jasper, MO - the birthplace of my wife's paternal grandmother. Man, she's got kin all over tarnation out here.

Jasper is a small farming community of around 1,000. Not much going on.




At least the Dairy Cream is open.


It's only another 30 miles to Joplin, MO.


Joplin got it's start as a major 19th century hub for lead and zinc. It's also a well known stop on the historic Route 66. Unfortunately, we don't get much time here.




Its getting toward 6 o'clock now - but, we're THIS close to Oklahoma (and, we've never been). We could get on I-44 and drive in to Oklahoma, but there doesn't seem to be anywhere to quickly turn around. I spy a casino on the map, just over the border with Kansas. I determine I can get there on backroads. In the next 1/2 hour we are in Missouri, Kansas, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and back to Missouri. Got 'r done.

Downstream Casino Resort


Springfield is still 80 miles away. We snag a Cracker Barrel after we get back to Missouri and drag into the hotel after 8:30. Yup, the mileage is getting shorter, but the days are getting longer.

Springfield, Missouri

Total Miles: 2,383
Daily Avg: 477 Miles



Day 6: Springfield to St. Louis, Missouri - 280 Miles


The day dawns sunny and warm. We will basically transit through the heart of Missouri today.

The first target is the Ozark Mountains and the iconic Lake of the Ozarks - only about 90 miles away. The lake was created when Bagnell Dam was completed on the Osage River in 1931. 1,150 miles of shoreline was created and as such, is now home to thousands of homes and an equal number of boats and many resorts. Party on.








Next up is Jefferson City, the state capital., only 50 miles away. We're there by 11:30. Jefferson City is on the south bank of the Missouri River and roughly midway between to state's two power centers of Kansas City and St. Louis. We explore a bit and find the train station.




Missouri State Penitentiary 1836 to 2004 - right in the heart of town.


It's noon on Sunday and downtown is quiet. We find some hot dogs at a street fair attended by maybe 100 people.


We wander over to the governor's mansion


The capitol looks like a splendid building. Too bad it is closed.


We cross to the north side of the Missouri and head down Hwy 94 through several farms that were probably in the wide flood plain back in the day. We pass through another Portland and after about 50 miles we cross the river again and reach the quaint little German town of Hermann, MO - population about 2,200. It is near the center of the Missouri Rhineland. It is in wine country and very touristy. A nice stop, full of shops and eateries.

City Hall and such








Hermann is also the seat of Gasconade County


We must turn our backs on Herman. It is 2 o'clock and we want to get to the St. Louis Art Museum - we are still an hour and a half away. They are open until 5 pm - and closed tomorrow. Giddyup.

The art museum is in the 1,326 acre Forest Park, a couple miles west of downtown. Traffic is all snarled as we approach. The intersections have no power, so everything is a 4-way stop. Then we see all the downed trees and destruction. We are driving through right where the tornado came two days ago. It's a mess. The park has thousands of trees - hundreds are now laying on their sides. Did I say it's a mess?




We wind our way into the park from the west. This area of the park is totally wrecked. We reach the parking lot to the art museum and it's packed. Several trees are down, but the structure is fully intact. We park and go in.




The St. Louis Art Museum is world renowned and dates to 1879. There are 34,000 objects dating from antiquity to the present. The building was originally built for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. The total gallery space is 224,000 square feet. It is free to the public.

While a docent was handing us a map, we asked how is was during the tornado 2 days ago. She said it was loud and frightening. They tried to get patrons to the basement floors, but a large number paid no attention. Luckily, the museum encountered only minor damage.

A few of the paintings












Degas' "The Little Dancer"


Plus a special exhibit featuring Art, Fashion and the Automobile - France 1918 - 1939






We were able to spend a couple hours inside and thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

The view outside the museum on Art Hill, overlooking Emerson Grand Basin. Not much tree dammage right here.


We meander through the park and encounter several more areas with severe tree damage. Man, what a shame. Takes a long time to grow a tree. There are still some structures remaining from the 1904 World's Fair - which was the first one outside of Europe.

The hotel is right downtown so we make our way in and have a look around. The population of the city is only around 300,000, but you can tell it has some chops.




Our hotel is the Hilton in the former St. Louis Union Station. The station opened in 1894 and was the largest in the world. Traffic peaked at 100,000 people a day in the 1940's. By 1978 it was over when the last Amtrak train left the station.

St. Louis Union Station (not my picture)


In the 1980's it was renovated into a hotel, shopping center and entertainment complex. Turned out to be a hopping place, having stayed there as a young man in the late 1980's for a fraternity convention. We never left the grounds over a three day period until we finally ventured out to see a Cardinals baseball game at Busch Stadium and go up in the Gateway Arch.

Well, it died again in the '90s due to high costs. They tried new renovations, new vendors & new ownership. The hotel did fine, but by 2016 the place was 95% vacant. I walked in expecting to see a similar venue as before. Who knew? This was crammed with shops and people back then.


The hotel lobby is still cool though.








The room is nice and we head out back to the former 11.5 acre train shed, where there is still some activity, an aquarium and a few restaurants. The train shed is an enormous open structure that used to be the platform to 16 train lines that served 22 railroads.


Today its a nice pond. (Looking back toward Union Station)


Found a nice dinner at a seafood house and called it a day.

St. Louis, Missouri

Total Miles: 2,663
Daily Avg: 444 Miles

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by KevinGS

Yes, I really do want a Cross Country Trip #2. I want to go back to Banff, but I also need to see the southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, Grand Canyon), so it'll be hard to do that all in one trip. But I may try.

Fingers crossed.

I hear ya. You didn't have Utah in your list. Southern Utah to be exact. You can make a loop to pick up:

Arches National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Dead Horse Point State Park
Four Corners
Monument Valley
Glen Canyon
Horseshoe Bend
Marble Canyon
Vermillion Cliffs National Monument
Grand Canyon North Rim
---Although the lodge burned down
Zion National Park
Cedar Breaks National Monument
Bryce Canyon National Park (Gotta be top 2 or 3 favorite)
Utah Highway 12 Scenic Byway
Grand Canyon South Rim (would be a long drive)

Every day is spectacular. Great bang for your buck. You don't need Banff with this trip. (Although Banff/Jasper is still my all-time favorite place to be.)

[snowbimmer]

Post 3 of 17


Day 7: St. Louis to New Albany, Indiana - 341 Miles


Gateway Arch Day - One of the most iconic monuments in America

We get out early and drive down to Gateway Arch National Park. It's about 8:30 Monday morning. Downtown has no cars and very few people. Driving is a cinch. We snap a pic of Busch Stadium and find a place to park down by the river - the Mississippi River.


We make our way over to the park.


The Arch is really something. It was originally conceived to be a memorial on the riverfront to commemorate the westward expansion of the country. Several obstacles had to be overcome regarding site location, funding and moving several railroad tracks. Designs didn't happen until the 1950's and a large arch was finally agreed upon for the structure. Ground was broken in 1959 and it was dedicated in October 1965. It didn't open to the public, however, until 1967.

The arch is 630 feet tall and is the tallest monument in the United States. It is has a stainless steel skin and shimmers on the bank of the Mississippi. Elevator pods will take you to the top and you can walk through the very top portion of the arch. The windows up there could be bigger, though.


We head for the visitor center, which is a very nicely designed space set underground between the two foundations. A fascinating movie details the construction. St. Louis was the main jumping off point for the pioneers. Exhibits cover the massive undertaking required to move the settlers west.


We pop up right under the arch - it is awe inspiring.




The base portions are enormous. The arch was designed for 150 mile/hour winds. You know, the kind a tornado has.


"Man. That sumbitch is tall," said the man in the yellow t-shirt.


The Mississippi waterfront


Looking west


The shimmer.......






The Old Courthouse


We hop back in the car and drive around downtown. There's some amazing architecture. There are still very very few people to be seen.

The AT&T Center


We catch the Martin Luther King Bridge and cross the Mississippi over to East St. Louis in Illinois. Things are a bit sketchy as we head over to the Mississippi River Overlook to catch a view of the Arch with the St. Louis skyline.






It's already almost noon, and we are all of about 4 miles from our starting point. Better get a move on. We jump onto I-64 east and set our sights on Lincoln's Boyhood National Memorial - 193 miles up the freeway. There's tornados lurking, but not where we're going right now.


The freaking memorial is, of course, closed today. The nice park ranger lady let's us use the rest room and peek around a bit. She directs us a mile away to Abe's actual homestead.


We park and hike a ways down a quiet path to Abraham Lincoln's boyhood homestead. He was born in Kentucky (tomorrow's target) but the family moved here when he was seven and set up a small farm. It's quite idyllic.




It's virtually impossible to plan a trip , select places you want to see and then have them all line up to be open on the days you are there. My vast list of "Things To Do" was too vast to look everything up. It's now become very apparent that we will miss several items on the list, a sad, but necessary revelation. We agree that the list is now just a list of "Suggestions" and not "Must Sees." Be that as it may, we are still picking off sites at an extraordinary rate - and we have to be happy with that. You can only do what you can do.

Next up is a place I've wanted to see since 1979. Larry Bird burst onto the college basketball scene as he led his Illinois State Sycamores team to a 33-0 record and into the NCAA finals against Magic Johnson and his Michigan State Spartans. An epic game saw Magic's team win and Bird and Magic would go on to two of the most incredible careers the NBA has ever seen. Their rivalry helped save a faltering league and pave the way for Jordan and all those that followed. As such, we are now only 54 miles from his hometown, French Lick, Indiana.

French Lick is a quaint small town of fewer than 2,000 people. But, there is plenty going on in the area. A trading post popped up in 1840 near a sulphur spring and a salt lick used by wild animals. It soon became known as a spa town.

French Lick


A hotel was established by 1845 and continued to grow over the years. After nearly failing during the 1929 stock market crash, they rebranded and went with a golf theme. Eventually, the hotel went through a $382 million renovation project, including the addition of a casino and updating its 443 guest rooms. It now includes 2,600 acres, three golf courses, hotels, the casino, restaurants, boutique shops, a spa and a conference center. It's kind of a big deal.


French Lick Springs Hotel




Famous guests




French Lick Casino

195 Casino

We make our way over to Larry's house.


How many games of HORSE were played on this hoop over the yesrs??


West Baden Springs is about a mile north and is home to the West Baden Springs Hotel, also part of the French Lick Resort. Another fabulous hotel, also on the National Register of Historic Places.




Thinking it was just a big round building, a surprise awaited us inside. A 200' high dome shelters 500 rooms. It opened in 1903 after taking just 270 days to complete - for around $500,000. Absolutely amazing.




High Society


Several nice gardens on the grounds


We work our way to Hwy 150 and wind through the charming burg of Paoli, IN - population about 3,700.


Orange County Courthouse


Its about 7 o'clock and we are still an hour away from the hotel. We are staying in New Albany, IN - just across the Ohio River from Louisville. We drop our bags at 8 and head into New Albany in search of dinner.






Our search bears no fruit, so we head over to the waterfront, climb up on the dike to an observation deck and look over onto the state of Kentucky for the first time.

Sherman Minton Bridge - I-64 over the Ohio River.


So, we decide to venture across the river to Louisville. It's dark now but we wander about and finally find a restaurant on the far side of town. On the way back to the hotel we drive by the University of Louisville campus. It's too dark to see. Maybe tomorrow. Back at the room by 9:30. Sheesh - a 13 hour day. The weather report does not look good tomorrow.

Week One in the books. Four to go.

New Albany, Indiana

Total Miles: 3,004
Daily Avg: 429 Miles


Day 8: New Albany to South Charleston, West Virginia - 342 Miles


Really looking forward to today: Louisville sites, including the Louisville Slugger Museum, Churchill Downs, then down to the General George Patton Museum, Fort Knox, Lincoln Birthplace, then, back up Frankfort - the capital. It all comes crashing down. Yesterday, powerful storms and tornados ripped through Kentucky just south of us and killed 19 people. The tornados may still be lingering and several rivers have flooded. Not good.

We scratch Louisville, Patton, Ft. Knox and Abe. We decide to stay north and head straight for Frankfort, to see the capitol. Damn.

It's about 7 AM and a massive squall has just blown through with lots of rain and high winds. The major weather is to the south of us, also heading east, but I think we can stay out in front of it. We pack up and grab a quick breakfast.

Looking east from the hotel entrance at about 7:30


We cross the bridge over the Ohio again and downtown Louisville comes into view. It was dark last night. We blow right through. I wanted to see the Muhammad Ali Center (one of our friends helped with it's design space, but it was closed. Not open Tuesdays - of course.


We reach an incredibly nice Kentucky Welcome Center near Shelbyville, KY - State #46 for us.




From there it is an easy 30 minutes to Frankfort. Everything is lush and green. So far, it is a beautiful state.




We make our way to the capitol building and park. The dome is undergoing some renovation.




We head inside and the place is filled with stunning grey and white marble, with spectacular stairways and columns.




The capitol is about to close for a five year renovation - we got here just in time. I believe this was the senate chamber - they already gone.


We finish up the capitol tour and drive down across the Kentucky River and hop up the nearby hillside to the Frankfort Cemetery. Daniel Boone is buried here.


A nice view of the capitol


And the town of Frankfort - Population just under 29,000


Its's only around 11:00, too early for lunch, so we head over to the Buffalo Trace Distillery. They say they've been making fine bourbon whiskey for over 200 years. They probably have it down by now. Cool place.






Back in Frankfort we scope out the quaint as hell downtown.


Main Street






We park and wander about, settling on a lunch spot several block away from the car. We are without jackets. During lunch, the skies open up and the leading edge of the storm we have been running from is here. We wait it out for awhile, but then just scurry back to the car as fast as we can. Got a touch wet. We hop back in the car and try to beat the storm to Lexington.

It's just rainy and windy. Lexington and the University of Kentucky are only a half hour away. Traffic comes to a standstill several miles from the city center. We finally crawl past storied Rupp Arena (another basketball mecca) and make our way to the campus. There is lots of construction, the roads are grid locked and it looks like there's no easy access to the campus. Buh, bye Lexington. It was the worst traffic we encountered on the entire trip.

The last stop for the day is Point Pleasant, West Virginia - 175 miles away, mostly on I-64. It's a pleasant enough drive and we are ahead of the weather again.


Point Pleasant is known for a couple of things. The Point Pleasant Bridge collapse in 1967 and the Mothman, a purportedly winged humanoid creature sighted many times in the area. A movie, The Mothman Prophecies in 2002, starring Richard Gere and Laura Linney, cemented it's place in paranormal folklore - and also included the bridge collapse into the storyline. Having seen the movie a couple times, we are headed for the Mothman Museum.


We get there about 4:40 and the place closes at 5:00. I ask the ticket guy if 20 minutes is worth it, he said yes. The museum is a fun collection of Mothman statues, paraphernalia and news articles about all the encounters.






The place is packed and they are not closing at 5:00. There's actually a lot to look at. I buy a Mothman tin for the garage wall and we step outside into a gathering gale.


The wind is really picking up and it starts raining as we get in the car. It's an hour to the hotel and we won't be directly running away from the storm. We have to drive diagonally in a SE direction. It will get us. About 5 miles out of Point Pleasant all hell breaks loose and it is raining buckets. The wind is howling. It's hard to see and traffic slows to 30 mph - which would make us 2 hours out from the hotel. This could get interesting. My weather app radar says we are still ahead of most of the storm, so we press on and get back to normal rain and wind in about 20 miles. We reach South. Charleston and the safety of the hotel by about 7 PM. It has rained more in the last two days than on all of our previous trips combined.

South Charleston, West Virginia

Total Miles: 3,346
Daily Avg: 418 Miles

[25 V8 IS]

Great pics! How many total miles on your BMW now?

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by 25 V8 IS

Great pics! How many total miles on your BMW now?

Thanks.

I dunno about the miles. You'd have to ask the new owner.

I actually swapped out of it last September - had 17,800 after 9 months of ownership, 60% from just this trip.

[snowbimmer]

Post 4 of 17


Day 9: South Charleston to Charlottesville, VA - 327 Miles



The day dawns cloudy and rainy. I haven't washed the car since Lincoln, Nebraska - 5 days and 1,617 miles ago. It looks like it will be awhile. Today's not that day. Tomorrow doesn't look good either.

No matter. There is a lot to do today. We cross the Kanawha River and drop into Charleston, WV - the capital of West Virginia. We check our their cool downtown and head over to the capitol. It's early, but we don't have time to wait for it to open. The grounds have a nice Veterans Memorial and we make our way over to the capitol building. It was completed in 1932. Very classic, with the dome rising 292'.




We find our way back to I-64 and get off at Cabin Creek, a few miles up the road. Jerry West, of NBA Los Angeles Lakers fame, was born and raised here. This is coal mining country - and he ends up as one of the greatest stars in the history NBA - player, coach and executive. As the general manager of the Lakers, he puts the Showtime Lakers together. He ended up with 9 NBA championships - 6 with the Lakers and 2 with the Golden State Warriors and one as a player in 1972. There's really not much in Cabin Creek - but it was on the way today.

We cross the Kanawha River again and find Hwy 60, a 2-lane track that will take us through the mountains of West Virginia. It's very hilly, with a solid tree canopy. And very Green.

Kanawha Falls


A lot of coal mining was done through here and we pass by several old and scary looking complexes and several tired out towns. Nothing is new - anywhere. Or, even this century.

Glen Ferris, WV




The first real target for the day is the New River Gorge National Park & Preserve. The New River Gorge National River was established in 1978 in order to protect it's pristine wilderness. A portion of it became the National Park in 2020. The area offers steep canyons, white water rafting, rock climbing and miles of hiking trails.


The New River Gorge


The New River Gorge Bridge is a 3,030' steel arch bridge containing a 1,700' long arch sitting 876' above the New River. Opened in 1977 on US Hwy 19, it is quite the impressive structure.




We get back on Hwy 60 and meander through the rugged Allegheny Mountains. We eventually reach White Sulphur Springs and go in search of The Greenbrier - a luxury resort with 710 rooms, 20 restaurants and lounges and 35 retail shops. It is ginormous.


Visitors had been coming to the area since 1778 to "take the waters." The current hotel was built in 1913. It is a tad gaudy and everything is expensive. We split a hamburger with 2 cokes and got out of there for $45. And, it was voted Best Historical Hotel in the USA.




Fun fact: In the late 1950's the US government wanted a secret bunker to house Congress in the event of a nuclear holocaust. They approached the Greenbrier and this underground bunker project was built at the same time as the West Virginia Wing was added. It was kept stocked for 30 years, had 18 dormitories and could house 1,000 people for 60 days, but was never used - even during the Cuban Missile Crisis. A reporter from the Washington Post outed it in 1992 and the bunker was immediately decommissioned.

Time to leave White Sulphur Springs and we run into this on the way out of town. Go figure.


I-64 meanders through the green forested hills, which I believe are now the Blue Ridge Mountains - all part of the Appalachian chain that runs North/South for hundreds of miles through here. There's no time to stop at Lexington and we get back on Hwy 60 near Buena Vista and climb into the hills. A quick detour takes us a ways up the Blue Ridge Parkway - another marvelous road taking you through 469 miles of the Appalachians. Some day.


Back on Hwy 60, the road is tortuously windy as we crest the ridge and descend to Lynchburg. 20 miles later we are in the Village of Appomattox Courthouse - a fairly significant historical site.


After the fall of Richmond, VA during the Civil War, Gen. Robert E. Lee was attempting to retreat to Lynchburg. Eventually, the Union army under Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had Lee's army trapped, surrounded and outnumbered. Lee saw no way out. He asked to surrender.

The two generals met in the parlor of Wilmer McLean's home (built in 1846 and now known as the Surrender House) to negotiate terms on April 9, 1865.








Nothing actually happened at the courthouse itself. A few celebratory pictures, maybe.


Five days later, Abraham Lincoln was dead. Virtually his entire presidency was consumed by the Civil War.

The original courthouse burned down in 1892. The replacement replica serves as a visitor center.


We look through several other buildings on-site and then head for tonight's stop in Charlottesville, VA - still about 90 minutes away. We might make it by 6 o'clock.

The history gets real serious tomorrow.

Charlottesville, Virginia

Total Miles: 3,673
Daily Avg: 408 Miles


Day 10: Charlottesville to Washington DC - 139 Miles


Not very far to drive today - and that's a good thing.

Still, we get an early 8 AM start and drive through Charlottesville - a charming college town of around 45,000. It is the home of the University of Virginia. Pictures of the town are hard to come by and the campus just yields a few.

University of Virginia


The main reason to detour through Charlottesville is that Monticello is nearby, and that was the home of Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States. We want to make the first tour at 9 o'clock.


The visitor center and parking is quite substantial.


The man himself


A shuttle bus takes us up to the main house. The estate is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and currently spans 2,500 acres (5,000 originally), including Jefferson's 43 room mansion. He designed the house and continually remodeled it for 40 years.








Thomas Jefferson died here on July 4, 1826 - the 50 Year Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Oddly enough, John Adams also died on the same day. Jefferson was 83, Adams 90.




The tour lasts about an hour, we wander the grounds and walk back to the visitor center, which takes you by the Jefferson family cemetery.


Back in the car we head for Chancellorsville, about 60 miles down the road through the rolling countryside. The Battle of Chancellorsville in early May 1863 was a major Civil War battle after the battle of Fredericksburg in the winter of 1862 - 1863. It turned out to be a significant confederate victory for General Lee, despite being outmanned 133,000 to 60,000. The combined casualties were over 30,000 dead, wounded or missing. Nearly 60% of the casualties were on the Union side. Lt. Gen. Stonewall Jackson of the South was shot in the arm by friendly fire and had to have his arm amputated. He died 8 days later of pneumonia. Jackson was Lee's most aggressive field commander. Lee used this battle as a stepping stone to Gettysburg.








It's nearly 12:30 and we head to Fredericksburg, grabbing a quick lunch. Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania also saw several battles. It is a nice hamlet, but not much time to visit.

City Hall


Princess Anne Street


We meander up Hwy 1, which parallels I-95 (dang - we are really on the east coast now) and turn on to Russell Road outside of Quantico. Hmmmmm. Might be a lot of Marines and FBI in there. (Not my picture)


We choose not to proceed and head over to the National Museum of the Marine Corps instead.


This is a fabulous museum, chronicling the entire history of the Marines and all the theaters they've fought in. One of the most poignant was the Iwo Jima Exhibit. During WWII, for 36 days from Feb 19 - Mar 26 1945, 7,000 marines perished, along with 19,000 casualties in the taking of Iwo Jima.


Also one of the most iconic flag raisings in American battle history.



The Flag


Several exhibits of aircraft, tanks and artillery










The Cold War, Viet Nam and the Gulf Wars.


Could have stayed longer, but Mount Vernon, up the road 45 minutes, was calling, as they close at 5:00.


Mount Vernon is George Washington's family residence and plantation. It lies on the Potomac River about 15 miles south of Washington DC.

You can do a self guided tour of the main residence and grounds, plus a very nice museum. The house is currently under a full restoration, so, not a ton is available for viewing. No matter.

The estate was around 8,000 acres when George lived here. The land originally came into the family's possession under John Washing ton, the great-grandfather of George. Construction of the house began in 1734 and went through many incremental stages. It eventually reached 11,028 square feet with 21 rooms. It has had approximately 90 million visitors since opening to the public.

Upper Garden


Main House



Parlor




Back Veranda




The Potomac River




The Kitchen


We tour the grounds and reach the Washington Family Crypt. Man, that's wild - visiting the graves of our 1st and 3rd presidents, from nearly 250 years ago, on the same day.


We drop back by the museum that is housed in a marvelous building.


Family Time


George Washington 1732 - 1799


Martha Washington 1731 - 1802


They kick us out at 5:00 (of course, the gift shop stays open) and we make our way north to Alexandria, VA - one of the main suburbs of DC - and drive through it's charming Old Town. It is known for it's brick sidewalks, stylish homes and well preserved 18th and 19th century buildings. It does not disappoint.


We reach the hotel in Washington DC about 45 minutes later, just about historied out. I park the car in a scary, dank parking structure next to the hotel for $59 a day - and it will not move for 3 days. We appreciated that the hotel had its own restaurant and called it a day.



- - - Phase One complete: Drive across the country to the nation's capital - - -

Washington, DC

Total Miles: 3,812
Daily Avg: 381 Miles

[Vindicator3]

Glad you enjoyed your visit here. You picked quite a time to come - that tornado was something. I posted some photos of the car exhibit at the art museum over in the "cool pics - vehicles" thread a while ago.

In your photo of downtown KC, you can see this building, thought you might appreciate a look inside the top few floors -

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by Vindicator3

Glad you enjoyed your visit here. You picked quite a time to come - that tornado was something. I posted some photos of the car exhibit at the art museum over in the "cool pics - vehicles" thread a while ago.

In your photo of downtown KC, you can see this building, thought you might appreciate a look inside the top few floors -

Wow. That's really cool. I was drawn to that building when we first got downtown, but traffic, construction, one way streets and parking didn't let me get close enough to it, except a drive by at street level. I'm glad I was able to get into my skyline picture.

I remember when you posted the museum cars in that thread. I said to my wife, "Hey. We've seen these."

[snowbimmer]

Post 5 of 17


Day 11: Washington DC - 10 Miles (Walking)

Time to slap on the walking shoes. We have been walking an average of about 4 miles a day so far. Today will be just under 10 miles and tomorrow will be just under 9 miles. Luckily, we are only a few blocks off the mall, in the middle of everything.
Museums and monuments and federal buildings for the next 3 days. That's it.

First up is the Spy Museum, just a few blocks away


Passing by the H.U.D building


The Spy Museum is kinda fun, kinda interesting and kinda kitchy


All kinds of skullduggery like this going on


We exit and walk up L'enfant Plaza and run smack into the Smithsonian Castle after a few blocks. I still don't know what goes on there.


We skirt around it and end up on the Mall - all Springy and verdant.


After diagonalling eastward we reach the National Gallery by 10:30. The place is huge, but we hit every room after about 2 hours.





























We grab a quick snack because we have a 1:30 Capitol Tour

Had to miss the Art Gallery's East Building, which houses more modern collections. Next time.



Capitol Hill is looming ahead. As usual, there is construction, blocked off streets and pedestrian barriers. We stop at the reflecting pond, then head off around the North (Senate) side.


It's hard to take in the whole U.S. Capitol on the backside plaza.


We make our way down to the Capitol Visitor Center, check in and get in line with the hoards.


The tour takes us to the Rotunda - with the other 20 tours. It's a zoo - and noisy.






General Washington Resigning His Commission, by John Trumbull - 1826


Then over to the National Statuary Hall, featuring statues of 100 Americans - 2 from each state. 35 are actually here, the rest scattered around the building.


We end up back down in Emancipation Hall, where there is a plaster replica of the Statue of Freedom. Freedom is the 19.5' tall, 15,000 lb bronze statue that sits atop the US Capitol Dome.


Lunch is in the Capitol Cafe. Gee, it's only 3 o'clock.


Coupla stops on the way back to the hotel......

The Supreme Court across from the Capitol - of course the famous columns are in a bag.


The Library of Congress - probably fun to tour that thing


Crossing back to the Capitol, we look back on the plaza


Then head off around the House side of things


Time to bag the National Air & Space Museum. Looking forward to seeing it again after visiting in 2012, with several galleries having since been renovated. Generally, you just walk into a Smithsonian museum. Alas, unbeknownst to me, they instituted a timed entry system. It was surprising to come from the mall side onto Independence Ave and see a 5 wide, hundred yard line of people. Sheesh. Ya don't know what ya don't know.

We head to the hotel and relax a bit. Our dogs are barking. We eat at the restaurant again. Then I get the bright idea to head the other direction on the mall to see the Washington Monument. It's "only" a mile away. One less thing to do tomorrow.

We pass the Department of Education on the way


23 minutes later we arrive and the light is nice, although its very windy. But, it makes the flags snap.









We hang around for about a half hour as the sun sets.


One the way back we pass the Smithsonian Arts & Industries Building


And the Federal Aviation Administration building


Back to the hotel by 8:30. It sure feels like we walked all day. Oh, wait....we did.

Total Miles: 3,812
Daily Avg: 347 Miles


Day 12: Washington DC - 9 Miles (Walking)

Today is the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. Probably won't be too crowded in DC today.

We get up and decide to see more monuments and museums.

First order of business is to go back across the Mall to the Museum of Natural History, next to the National Gallery - only a smidge more than a half mile.









The Hope Diamond - 45.52 Carats


Then we dash next door to the Museum of American History


Washington Monument from the basement cafe - it's already noon.


Several floors of American history here: Culture, military, presidents, the original Star Spangled Banner Flag, sports & transportation.

Dorothy's Slippers


R2D2 and C3PO


Sports Legends


Mary Lincoln's good china


You can't swing a cat in any city without hitting the name of a president on a street sign


We dash out the back door onto Constitution Avenue - across from the impressive Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium


As we are about to cross the street, about a thousand motorcycles come roaring by. Seems to last about 10 minutes. Not sure where they all ended up.


We start to meander over toward the White House. There's a lot of architecture in this town.

The Willard Center


15th Street NW takes us along the east grounds of the White House complex and we turn onto Pennsylvania Ave, where the US Treasury resides.



The White House is next door. You get tour tickets through your congressional representatives, but they never got back to me.





Pennsylvania Avenue is quite crowded - and is pedestrian only. Plenty of cops, tourists and a dozen causes being protested. We head into Lafayette Square across from the White House.

We come back down Jackson Place NW past various conference centers and Presidential guest houses. Very stately.


To the west of the White House is the elegant Eisenhower Executive Office Building, full of federal offices.


Heading south on 17th takes us past the Ellipse and the Organization of American States on the corner of Constitution Ave. With roots dating to the early 1800s to promote cooperation among its member states, today's O.A.S. melded in 1948 with a vow to fight communism. Virtually every country in the western hemisphere is a member - except, of course, Cuba, Nicaragua & Venezuela.


Crossing Constitution Avenue gets us back to the Mall - and the World War II Memorial - opened in 2004.


Looking down the Reflecting Pool toward the Lincoln Memorial


The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is at the far end of the reflecting pool. It probably has the most impact of any of the war memorials. It consists of two angled walls, each 246 ft 9 in long, containing 72 polished black granite panels. On them are inscribed the names of 58,320 Americans who lost their lives during the conflict. The names are listed in chronological order of the dates of the casualty. One leg of the wall points to the Washington Monument, the other to the Lincoln Memorial. It is quite sobering.






The Three Soldiers


Exiting the memorial brings you right to the Lincoln Memorial. The Memorial Weekend crowds are in full force now.





It's quite warm now, so we grab an ice cream and join the masses in Lincoln's Memorial. The entire inside is completely stuffed with people. It's a good thing he sits up high.


The exterior echoes a classic Greek temple, measuring 190' x 119'. There are 36 Doric columns, representing each state in existence at the time of Lincoln's death in 1865. It was dedicated May 30, 1922.


Somehow, it got to be 5 o'clock - and we are 2 miles from the hotel. Gonna be a long trudge up the Mall, as the wind is really kicking up and blowing a lot of irritating dust off of the gravel pathways.

The Washington Memorial - about halfway there.


We finally straggle back to the hotel after seeing many more Departments of Whatever along Independence Avenue. It will be good to get back in the car again tomorrow, although another two days here wouldn't be a bad thing. DC is a happenin' place.

And to think, I was hoping we might sneak in a run up to Gettysburg today. What a dope. Oh, yeah - the list of Things to Do is just a suggestion.

Total Miles: 3,812
Daily Avg: 318 Miles

[25 V8 IS]

Originally Posted by snowbimmer

Thanks.

I dunno about the miles. You'd have to ask the new owner.

I actually swapped out of it last September - had 17,800 after 9 months of ownership, 60% from just this trip.

When are you going to take the Alipina cross country?

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by 25 V8 IS

When are you going to take the Alpina cross country?

No plans as of yet. I do, however, have a route planned out should we decide to do so. The Alpina would be an outrageous Grand Tourer.

[snowbimmer]

Post 6 of 17



Day 13: Washington DC to Trenton, New Jersey - 268 Miles


Yay.... Back on the road again today. Was getting a little antsy there without my V8 fix.

A few things to tidy up before leaving DC. We're out the door by 8 am. First up is a quick run down to the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial. Designed in the Neo-Classical style, it was dedicatred in 1943. Very impressive.






The man himself


2nd paragraph of the Declaration of Independence


Washington Monument across the Tidal Basin.


Wanted to get over to the Pentagon, the Kennedy Center, Watergate and a few other landmarks. There's just not enough time. So, back downtown.

FBI Headquarters at Pennsylvania & 10th


Spent a bit of time driving around the core, went over to Union Station and then made for Annapolis, Maryland. I wanted to swing by University of Maryland in College Park, but today was looking to be real busy

Annapolis turned out to be the perfect little seaside/port city dripping with history.


Downtown by the waterfront was bustling on a very pleasant Sunday morning.


We parked and went over to the Maryland State House - the oldest in the country. It is also the only statehouse to serve as the nation's capitol, from Nov. 1783 to Aug. 1784. George Washington resigned his commission here. The Treaty of Paris was also ratified here, marking the end of the Revolutionary War. Heady stuff.






George resigned using only 15 words


Looking out the front door and down a side street




This is as close as we got to the US Naval Academy. We visited the Air Force Academy in Colorado a few years ago and we'll pick up West Point tomorrow.


Then it's off across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and we continue through farming country to Delaware - State #47. However, it would have been fun to spend an extra day exploring the whole surrounding area.

Hey, there's a Delaware Capitol Building in Dover.


Dover gets a quick look see and we're already off. We head north up Hwy 1. Wanted to go into Wilmington, but we skirt it, and also miss the du Pont Estate (not open), and aim for Chadds Ford, just beyond the Delaware border in Pennsylvania. It is here we find The Brandywine Museum of Art, internationally recognized for its unparalleled collection of art by the Wyeth family: Andrew Wyeth, a major American Realist painter; his father N.C. Wyeth, illustrator of children's classics; his sister Ann Wyeth McCoy, a painter and composer; and his son, Jamie Wyeth a contemporary American realist painter. Quite the crew.








We get out of there by 3:00, but still have 2 more stops today. Luckily, Valley Forge is only 45 minutes away.



Valley Forge National Historic Park is the third winter encampment of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War - lasting 6 months from Dec. 19, 1777 to Jun. 19, 1778. Approximately 12,000 soldiers wintered over here. Conditions were gruesome, very cold and snowy, with limited food and clothing. Around 2,000 soldiers succumbed to disease and malnutrition. General Washington had his hands full.

Inside the Visitor Center






The site is on 3,500 acres with a self-driving Encampment Tour Loop of 10 miles.

Muhlenberg's Brigade - 12 soldiers per hut




National Memorial Arch (Commemorates the sacrifices of the soldiers during their stay at Valley Forge)


General Anthony Wayne Statue (Dubbed Mad Anthony for his military exploits)

General Washington's Winter Headquarters




We finish up Valley Forge by 5:30. It's still over an hour to our last stop for the day.

Washington's Crossing of the Delaware River


General Washing pulled an audacious surprise attack on a Hessian army garrisoned in Trenton, NJ. On Christmas night 1776, he led his army across an icy Delaware River and secured a victory in the Battle of Trenton. One of the Revolutionary War's most logistically challenging and dangerous clandestine operations of the entire war.








The hotel is but 15 minutes away. The City of Trenton (and it's state capitol) get the heave ho for the day. Dang. Were we really at the Jefferson Memorial only 12 hours ago?


Trenton, New Jersey

Total Miles: 4,080
Daily Avg: 314 Miles


Day 14: Princeton to Albany, New York - 260 Miles


Last year I read the "Boys in the Boat," a fascinating story recounting the University of Washington's eight man crew team's journey to their Olympic gold in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Today we will visit 3 of the places mentioned in the book.

Princeton is a delightful college town, and home to Princeton University, near Trenton, NJ. It is all leafy and ivy covered, as you would expect an Ivy League school to be. We tour the town and then some of the campus.




Commencement Prep - the campus is swarming with families today.


We make our way over to the Shea Rowing Center on Carnegie Lake. Dale Carnegie donated money for the construction of a dam on the Millstone River, and then donated the whole thing to Princeton University in 1906. It serves as the home of the US Olympic Rowing Team.


The lake was also the site of the 1936 Olympic Rowing Trials that the UW crew went on to win. 89 years ago - pretty cool.

Today, the Princeton gals are taking their shell for a spin


It is now time to navigate around the New York City megaplex. My original grand plan was to head north to Perth Amboy, cut through Staten Island (never been), cross over to Bayonne and end up at Liberty State Park on the back side of the Statue of Liberty with a view across the Hudson to the NYC skyline. Sounds nice in theory, but would just gobble up too much precious time today. We decide to stay on I-95 (which actually moved really well) and blew past the city without much trouble. Crossed over the Hudson on the Tappan Zee Bridge and landed in Tarrytown.

Tappan Zee Bridge (Mario Cuomo Bridge, I-287)




Babe Ruth's Grave was just over the hill at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery - another boyhood hero during the baseball phase of my life.






That's a lot of head stones


Then back over the hill to Sleepy Hollow.


Looked like a cool place, but crawling with people on this Memorial Day Monday.

We head up Hwy 9 on the west bank of the Hudson, do a quick turn through Peekskill and grab Hwy 202 as it climbs up the canyon wall. There's a scenic overlook with too many cars and we end up at the Bear Mountain Bridge (Not my picture)


We cross over again. There is a great viewpoint up Bear Mountain on this side, but it would take too much time to get there. We turn north and head for West Point, home of the United States Miltary Academy.

We stop at Thayer Gate to get checked in, then head to the West Point Museum. It's closed. (Remember, the things on the List of Things To Do are just suggestions)


We go to the Visitor Control Center for a background check so we can get a pass to go further into the campus. They aren't screwing around here. Takes about 15 minutes. Then we're off.

Alas, the camera decides to crap out on me and I'm left with just a few salvageable pictures.

The Hudson River


Robotics Research Center


Parade Grounds


Looking up river


Officer housing on Washington Road


We exit out the North Gate and meander along Hwy 9W through some small villages. We cross the Mid-Hudson Bridge back to the east side and land in historic Poughkeepsie. It is known as the Queen City of the Hudson, famous for the Walkway Over the Hudson - the world's longest elevated pedestrian bridge, that was formerly a railway bridge. It's also home to Vassar and Marist colleges.

The town has great architecture, with parks and views of the mountains and Hudson River. The streets are clogged, several are closed and there is no parking anywhere - who knew Memorial Day would be so popular. We had wanted to walk the elevated walkway for some great views, but it is not to be.

Back to the book, "The Boys in the Boat." Back in the '30s, colleges rowed on Lake Washington in Seattle, the Bay near Oakland, Princeton and Poughkeepsie. The Poughkeepsie Regatta was THE premier race, held in late spring, each year and was basically the NCAA finals. The U of W boys were always quite successful here, with other strong teams being from California, Cornell, Syracuse and Navy.

Found these paintings at our next stop. Looking east, across the Hudson, toward Poughkeepsie with the railroad bridge (now walkway) on the left and the Mid-Hudson Bridge on the right.




We drive past Marist college on Hwy 9 and head to Hyde Park - the home of Franklin D. Roosevelt and his presidential library. It is the nation's first presidential library, founded by FDR himself. The family home is also here and the site is on about 1,000 acres. A nice stop.


Roosevelt's home


Franklin Delano Roosevelt - 32nd President of the United States, elected 4 times, died 3 months into his 4th term on April 12, 1945.


The Library




Last "Boys in the Boat" reference: During the 1936 Poughkeepsie Regatta, the U of W boys were antsy on the Saturday night before their Monday race. The coach told them they could take out the coach's motor launch for a spin if they wanted. They grabbed a student manager to serve as pilot and navigator and off they went. Not sure where to go, they decided to pay a visit to the president of the United States, who they knew to live nearby. (Not sure why they thought he'd be there) They headed north and stopped at a dock marked Hyde Park Station. They asked someone how to get to the president's house and he directed them back down the river to a cove, about a mile away.

They got out and wandered around until they found a gardener's cottage. They knocked and asked if they were near the president's estate. The gardener said, "You're on it." The gardener then directed them to where the house was. Once there, they looked in the windows and saw a young man reading a book. Having come this far, the decided to knock on the door. It was nearly nine o'clock. The young man answered the door and they announced who they were and that they had met John Roosevelt, the president's youngest son the year before. Then they asked if the president was home. He was not, but they were eagerly invited in. The young man was Franklin Roosevelt, Jr and he proudly announced that he rowed #6 seat on the Harvard JV boat. They ended up in the library shown above and chatted for about an hour. One of them even sat in the chair that FDR used for his Fireside Chats.

They made their way back to the launch, with some stories to tell. One wrote in his diary, "Visited the President's house at Hyde Park tonight. They sure have a fine place." Oh, and on Monday night, the Huskies became the national champions in an astounding come-from-behind victory.

FDR Bedroom


Winston Churchill visited FDR several times during WWII for strategic planning meetings




There is also a museum on-site filled with WWII artifacts and history.

It's 4 o'clock and still an hour and a half to Albany, with more stops. We get back on Hwy 9 north.

We stop at the Olana State Historic Site, just across the river from Catskill. It is the grounds and home of Fredrick Church, one of the major Hudson River landscape artists. The home, now a museum, is a stone, brick and polychrome-stenciled villa. OK.






It was closed, but would have been fun to tour.

We drop back down to the Hudson and cross over the river into the village of Catskill - population around 4,000. It is the gateway to the Catskill Mountains, a mid-20th century resort haven for New Yorkers.

Clarke Street


Rip van Winkle woke up from his 20 year sleep not too far from here.


We cross back over the Hudson for the 5th time today and swing through the village of Hudson, which is full of historic architecture, galleries, boutiques and restaurants. It's late and there's no time for any of them.

5th Street - Hudson, NY




Final stop of the day in Kinderhook, just 20 minutes up Hwy 9. It is a quaint town of around 9,000. Martin van Buren, the 8th President, was born here and retired here. We pass his house on the way in.




Benedict Arnold is said to have recuperated from injuries in this house in 1777 after the Battle of Bemis Heights - pre-traitor.


We reach the hotel in another half hour, drop our bags and find a Cracker Barrel just up the street. Another 12 hour day in the books. Man, Princeton was ages ago.


Week 2 done, 1,336 miles. We're driving less than half the mileage of Week 1 each day, but it's taking a lot longer.

Albany, New York

Total Miles: 4,340
Daily Avg: 310 Miles