out of the vortex

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 2:57 pm

I pulled into the driveway at the beach house morning of Dec 18th to close out a 6000 mile sashay around parts of the country. I left the day before the election. I didn't know the outcome until my wife texted me. I was sitting next to a pony express monument when I read "Trump won".

I think I spent 5 days driving to Austin, and another 5 days on the back tack. I was trying to go slow and see the sights, really, on the outbound leg. I drove roads I hadn't seen, mostly in the daylight, for the tonic of seeing the beauty of the land.

Went I-90 to Missoula, then south on US-93-N and 28 and 33 across I-15. Then up thru Sugar City, continuing to Victor where I took 22 thru Jackson and south on US-89 and US-189 to Pinedale on US-191 thru Vernal, Grand Junction, onto US-50 thru Pueblo to Lamar, where I turned S for Amarillo and the rest of the story.

I got to see LOTS of great places and great spaces. I like US-50 a lot because it runs through DC where it is called Constitution Avenue, and is a literal connection to the Nation's Capital. I've driven segments of it, but not the whole entire thing.

In all that way the days were warm, the nights were warm too, and the pavement was bone dry. I felt like I had been super-blessed by the Creator with the wonders of climate warming. In all that I used the interstate as little as necessary. It is faster to drive the secondaries in TX. Love driving in TX.

Got to spend Thanks Giving with my children and their children. It's a wonderful life when that happens.

On the return I drove thru Albuquerque, Phoenix, and Las Vegas using the interstates to make time for visiting my three siblings, and I used I-15 to I-84 to I-5 for the return. Got into some good snow in southern Utah, but was well out of it before Provo, and had bone dry pavement the rest of the way. It was 5dF in La Grande, OR where I camped and napped, and it was snowing here in WA when I woke up this morning.

6000 miles, including around 900 locally in TX. 11 States. I think. America the Beautiful. The best places were the ones that were about 100 miles from starbucks and ihop. Those people were easy going and friendly, and didn't appear to routinely use a torque wrench on their sphincter...

I hope the rest of Y'all have been equally blessed this Fall, and will be more blessed in the coming year.

Merry Christmas,

I can't wait to go again, I'm listing the roads I've never driven.

earlmck · Post by **earlmck** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 3:48 pm

Now that sounds like a real fine sashay!

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 4:11 pm

It's been a few years....I'm ready to do it again.

GunnyMack · Post by **GunnyMack** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 5:39 pm

I know hi way 50! When I was going back & forth to school I would run I70 to KC, then drop down to a buddies place , spend the night and stuff myself with the worlds best biscuits & gravy and continue on to Trinidad via hi way 50. Such a nice ride on the 'back roads'!i still run secondary when I can, as you say- more to see!

sore shoulder · Post by **sore shoulder** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 8:16 pm

I drive a few miles of 50 from Pueblo to Canon City before heading north to the house about 30 minutes, meaning you passed not far from me casa brother.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 8:25 pm

sore shoulder wrote:I drive a few miles of 50 from Pueblo to Canon City before heading north to the house about 30 minutes, meaning you passed not far from me casa brother.

I took the Fifty from Grand Junction to KC on the Gold Wing. I passed a Lady on a Sporty, and then it was ON for about a hundred miles....We really burned up some road.

sore shoulder · Post by **sore shoulder** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 8:28 pm

BlaineG wrote:
sore shoulder wrote:I drive a few miles of 50 from Pueblo to Canon City before heading north to the house about 30 minutes, meaning you passed not far from me casa brother.
I took the Fifty from Grand Junction to KC on the Gold Wing. I passed a Lady on a Sporty, and then it was ON for about a hundred miles....We really burned up some road.

Surprised the sportster didnt rattle itself apart.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 10:42 pm

Thanks for the comments Guys. It was a great trip on every level.

I listed the roads so hopefully others will try the ones not taken. Google Earth is a good way to check out the byways.

Sometimes I have this funny notion to trek north-south instead of west-east. It puts you in the middle of fly-over country, you know, the folks who elected TRUMP!

Anyone seen a good Trump Trumped clinton bumper sticker yet?

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