Corax's cross country thread

[corax]

Well, I'm getting ready to move out of So Cal. I gave notice at work weeks ago, and though they've been trying to make room for me in the eastern region, all I've been getting are vague responses (with the economy doing what it's doing, they froze employee headcount, someone has to leave before I can transfer). So unless I hear some good news, we'll be pulling out sometime this week and I'll have to get rehired later (which I've been told is difficult - so much for my corporate job)

So far, this is our route out
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/route.jpg
with stops at Pismo (before the big event), Big Sur, Santa Cruz and Eureka

If I can actually get someone at corporate to give me a definate answer on Monday morning I may stay till the beginning of December and move the RV up to Big Bear. The problem with moving back in December, though, is that we'll be taking the northern route in the middle of winter - not something that thrills me: me driving the RV pulling the wifes RWD car and the wife in the 4runner pulling a heavy 5x8 enclosed trailer, possibly over slick roads. Don't get me wrong, I love driving on snowy roads, just not with everything I own packed in.

[4runnerchevy]

Thats a big move man, good luck ! I would not do the North thing in December. Anything you need while cruising through Santa Cruz, let me know. Looking forward to meeting you, did you get my PM ? Gimme a rough time frame so I can make time.

[corax]

Had to take the company car back, so I used it to tow my 'runner on a car dolly back to corporate. Every once in a while I'd freak my self out by taking a quick look over my shoulder for a lane change and glimpsing what looked like a huge truck behind me ready to sling-shot past . . .

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/100_1789.jpg

4runnerchev - got the PM, just waiting to see if anyone at corp will talk to me on Monday. If we leave this week, It'll likely be on Tuesday or Wednesday - one day to Pismo, one day maybe two at Pismo, a day or two at Big Sur running around - likely hitting Santa Cruz somewhere early next week. The great thing about this trip is that I have no schedule to keep and tons of credit to dig myself a proper hole . . .

[Seanz0rz]

super sad to see you leave keith, just remember you have friends in socal!

youll have to keep us posted with lots of pictures and some good stories. good luck!

[corax]

Looking forward to your visit through, give us a holler, and I'll meet up with you all before you leave the city.
*Evening deal though, work schedule's a bit off, but you could swing by there also should you choose.
Your dibs on the M.O.A.B. are still good. :D


Definately, When I get a better idea of where I'll be and when, I'll let you know. PM sent on the MOAB.



super sad to see you leave keith, just remember you have friends in socal!

youll have to keep us posted with lots of pictures and some good stories. good luck!


Yeah, I'm kinda melancholy about leaving So Cal, I've met some really nice peeps and had some great times. Geographically So Cal is awesome, but the cost of living is too high and real estate prices are just goofy.

As long as I can find some free WiFi, I'll post up the pics and stories. On a related side note, I've got my eye out for a cheap (free) satelite dish so I can build a Bi Quad WiFi antenna (http://www.binarywolf.com/249/parabolic.htm http://martybugs.net/wireless/biquad), I've heard of some people being able to bounce a WiFi signal from a few miles away . . .

[corax]

Didn't hear anything good from corporate today, so we'll be on the road Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest . . .

:4x:

[Erich_870]

Hope your trip goes well. Take lots of pics of your travels through SE Oregon. It's a beautiful and empty place. Keep an eye on the lakes for ducks and geese and the hillsides for Sheep (the wild kind) and the road for deer and antelope :hillbill:

Erich

[Ric]

What, no pass through Denver :shake: j/k hope it goes well for ya :thumbup: have fun, be safe.

[corax]

Keep an eye on the lakes for ducks and geese and the hillsides for Sheep (the wild kind) and the road for deer and antelope :hillbill:


Oh yeah, my biggest white knuckle is reserved for big animals in the road - 25,000lb GVWR + 3,500lb car on the rear bumper does not equal massive stopping power



What, no pass through Denver :shake: j/k hope it goes well for ya :thumbup: have fun, be safe.


we thought about it, but the 4runner starts to get aweful warm pulling the trailer (3,500lbs) up long grades . . . actually the original route was through Vegas to Salt Lake City then across to Denver, but the wife really had no interest in Vegas or SLC, so I let her pick the route.

[corax]

Ha, I even worked it so that I get to keep my company cell phone, laptop, 10MP camera, and Verizon wireless card for an extra 2 weeks at least :best:

[slosurfer]

Ha, I even worked it so that I get to keep my company cell phone, laptop, 10MP camera, and Verizon wireless card for an extra 2 weeks at least :best:


:thumbup: NICE!

[corax]

had everything hooked up (or unhooked) and ready to roll by 1pm this afternoon. I'm kinda surprised we got everything to fit in the trailer, should I have to open the trailer door I think my best bet will be to unlatch it and run.
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/080931-1.jpg
made a quick stop in Solvang, about 2 miles off the 101 by Buellton. Solvang seems like a neat place, full of little shops where you can buy all kinds of Denmark themed items. I tried to get the wife to buy a traditional "Holland" style dress, but she just laughed at me. There's also plenty of wine tasting, for those interested. Solvang is also about the only place I found where you can purchase a set of wooden shoes . . .
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/080931-01.jpg
those are the clock tower bells that play at the top of every hour
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/080931-2.jpg
they have an open air Shakespearean type theater with live performances (but not on a Tuesday afternoon I guess :shake:)
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/080931-3.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/080931-4.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/080931-5.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/080931-6.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/080931-7.jpg

the wife does get impatient up those long grades when the Ford V10 starts to labor pulling the RV and her car . . .
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/080931-8.jpg

next stop Pismo for a bit of fun in the sand . . . we were going to overnight in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Arroyo Grande, which is allowed at 98% of the WalMarts in the US, but this one did not allow it. Probably due to Pismo being a tourist spot, that and I could imagine 1/2 the parking lot taken up by Toy Haulers being a problem for them.

[slosurfer]

Keith, nice pics of Solvang. :thumbup: Me and April plan on spending a weekend there someday without the kids. :D

I'll see ya tomorrow morning.

[Ric]

nice pics, keep the pics coming, and be safe. :thumbup:

[04 Rocko Taco]

Looks good Keith, Solvang looks like a neat place, have fun at Pismo!

[corax]

I woke up at Pismo Coast Village RV park and took a walk around to see what there was, turns out the RV park is right next to the ocean and some dunes. Found this guy fishing ~50 yards from my RV
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081001-1.jpg
this one was just the other way, must be tough living in squalor such as this
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081001-2.jpg
Chris stopped by in the morning (said he'd get to work later (I gotta think about going into business for myself) and we headed off to Pismo. I didn't air down 'cause I was feeling lazy about it. Though I did end up having to back down one or two dunes due to lack of momentum. I also found out that the sand can suck up much more horsepower and taxes the cooling system more than I remembered (my trailer pulls easier than driving through this, and the temp gauge started climbing). Many thanks to Chris (SloSurfer), a truly nice and generous guy - it was great hanging out, even if I only had a few hours before I needed to check out of the RV park and hit the road again.
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081001-3.jpg
before we even really got started, we found 2 brand new sandrails stuck - one had a dead battery, the other had a frozen RR brake - they were out on a shake down/suspension tune/magazine photo shoot before they were to be shipped off to Dubai. Chris tugged the stuck one a good 50 ft before we realized it had a frozen brake caliper, and I jump started the other one.
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081001-4.jpg
Where'd Chris go? Since I didn't air down (still had 35psi highway towing pressure) I had to stay a bit slower for fear of rattling the 'runner to death
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081001-5.jpg
After leaving Pismo, we headed up the Pacific Coast Highway, this is fom Point Piedro Blancas and the Elephant Seal observation point
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081001-6.jpg
I could have watched these guys for awhile, but we had to move on - the Pacific Coast Highway is long and we needed to finish it before dark. These guys were all just juveniles, so they were just showing off for each other. These guys got many "aww"s from my wife. It's great, they'd show off for a few seconds then just flop down and rest while. Move a few feet, then flop down and rest awhile.
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/th_100_1868.jpg (http://s280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/?action=view&current=100_1868.flv)
Watch the guy in the 2nd half of this one scratch his hand/flipper - I don't know why I just thought that was neat, a minute before he was scratching his belly the same way I do
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/th_100_1869.jpg (http://s280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/?action=view&current=100_1869.flv)

Above San Simeon, the Pacific Coast Highway (Rt 1) turns pretty gnarly if you're piloting a 35' class A RV with a car dolly and car on teh back. In a car or truck it would be no problem, and it really wasn't anyway, but ~95% of the time I could look in the rearview camera monitor and watch the car dolly with one tire on the white line and the other tire on the yellow line. In itself, that's not bad, now add frequent elevation changes and blind turns - I'm just glad there weren't any oncoming squids using up more than their half of the road. That's why I don't really have any pics of this part, I would like to revisit this highway someday, maybe on a Sport Touring MC.

This is pretty much the end of the really scenic part of Rt 1 heading north, on the left is the Bixby Bridge, which at one point held the world record for the longest single arch span. If you look real close, you can see some of the many sea caves at the base of the bluffs
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081001-7.jpg
We got to Monterey and found out that the campgounds are real expensive ($80-$90 to park an RV for one night!). So now we're basking in the luxurious glow of the Wal-Mart parking lot.

[slosurfer]

Hey Keith, glad to know you made it up there safely. I knew it would be a little hairy of a drive for you, but I didn't want you to miss it. :D My grandpa helped build that section of highway.

That bird is a Great Blue Heron (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Blue_Heron.html) They are very cool to watch.

It was nice hanging out and driving the dunes, sorry if you guys got out of there a little late. I ended up hanging out with those guys till around 2pm. It was cool to watch them dial in the suspension on the running one. It's amazing how many different ways they can adjust those shocks/coilovers. They gave me a ride in that thing and it was awesome!

I left before they went back up to mess with that other one. Hopefully they got it rolling.

Good luck with the rest of your trip. :thumbup:

Oh, and a sand buggy with a locked up rear paddle tire is really hard to pull through the sand. :laugh:

[slosurfer]

Only pic I got of you at the dunes

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/IMG_8230.jpg

[4runnerchevy]

Met Corax and his significant other yesterday, in Santa Cruz. Good people ! :thumbup:

[corax]

Thursday - Monterey was expensive as hell, so we drove 1 mile to get some premium parking at the local Wal Mart - I think we'll be making more reservations with Wally World after Yellowstone. Here's the whole caravan
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081002-1.jpg
Here's the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. It throws me off anytime someone I never met walks up to me and already knows my name - we were trying to find parking for the caravan when some guy walked up to the RV and said "You must be Keith" Left me speechless for a sec until I saw the nametag said Kevin (4runnerchevy). Really nice guy, gave us the premium tour past closed gates and even under the boardwalk where everything happens that keeps it running. He also showed my wife key points that were used in the movie "Lost Boys" (one of her fav's).
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081002-2.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081002-3.jpg
the Looff Carousel, pride and joy of the owner. The horses were hand carved by the father of the guy who started the boardwalk near 100 years ago
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081002-4.jpg
this crankshaft was made 100 years ago and has never needed any repair or replacement - just maintenance. the end is attached at the center of the ride to a pinion gear which is turned by a giant ring gear (much like a diff) - all made by hand 100 years ago, with no CAD lathes or milling machines. where has workmanship like this gone?
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081002-5.jpg
in the fiberglass shop under the boardwalk
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081002-6.jpg
another icon of the boardwalk is their all wood rollercoaster
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081002-7.jpg
this was one bit my wife really wanted to see, the railroad trestle from Lost Boys that the main characters hang off of while a train goes by overhead
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081002-10.jpg
Hey Kev, did you see all the scratch marks up and down that guys arm that was in the parking lot? Think he was tweaking much?

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081002-9.jpg
after we left Santa Cruz we circumnavigated San Fran and shot up to Napa Valley. At one point I was wishing they could just bottle the air it was soo good (smelled of fermenting grapes and earth). Saw this on the roadside before Napa
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081002-8.jpg
got a spot for the RV in the county fairgrounds and called it a night - I'll post today's adventures around Napa Valley later . . .

[corax]

started the day by going to the Bale Grist Mill just north of St Helena. It claims to be the biggest overshot waterwheel west of the Mississippi at a whopping 36 1/3" diameter.
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081003-1.jpg
bit of a closeup of the waterwheel, look at the massive ring gear just inside the circumference of it. I wanted to take a look at all the inner workings, but it was closed for the season
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081003-2.jpg
we had to stop by the Mondavi winery, my wife got a bottle of white as a gift for her dad
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081003-3.jpg
there was just too much awesome architecture in Napa to photograph it all. This one is Peju winery where Liz got a bottle of red for herself (special occasion)
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081003-4.jpg
If I had a bigger shirt on, or a jacket, I might have tried to fit one of these under it . . .
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081003-5.jpg
one thing most of the wineries we stopped at had in common was sculptures in the courtyard or on the property, and lots of them
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081003-6.jpg
one last awe inspiring building before we left Napa - the American Culinary Institute Greystone
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081003-7.jpg

leaving Napa we turned north up the 101 and had good weather until the last 100 miles or so. With light rain turning to semi-downpour and the 4runner intermittently hydro-planing we made our way to Humboldt Nat'l park to find safe harbor for the night, unfortunately the Nat'l Forest park we planned on staying at has been closed since Labor Day (no mention of that on the website). So, tired and not wanting to drive further, we settled on spending more money on a private owned campground. If anyone ever heads up this way, you'll need to check out the drive up the 101 north of Layton during the day, there are redwoods literally lining both sides of the road and plenty of quirky stores with life size bigfoot carvings -- good stuff, but too far south at this point for us to revisit.

[slosurfer]

Nice pics and story! Glad to see you guys are doing well. Funny you went to the Peju Winery, I used to be really good friends with the two Peju daughters, then I got married, haha.

Oh, and I emailed the guys to find out if they got that sand car moving again. It ended up not being the brakes, the hub had welded itself to the housing. They took it apart and it broke loose after dragging it about 100ft. with the Superduty.

Also, the guy from Sand Addiction magazine who was there, is sending stuff for the the 4runner jamboree now. :thumbup:

[YotaFun]

Hey Keith, When are you scheduled to be at your final destination?
Your going to be in Allentown which is like 45 min away, maybe we could get together and hang.

[corax]

Hey Keith, When are you scheduled to be at your final destination?
Your going to be in Allentown which is like 45 min away, maybe we could get together and hang.


Not really sure when we'll be back in PA. If we decide to leave the Eureka area then we'll probably be in PA within a week or two. How 'bout a run down to Rausch Creek when I get back? I've never been there yet . . .

[corax]

This was where we woke up yesterday . . . so much better than parking at Wal-Mart - this was in the middle of nowhere just off Rt 101 in Humboldt County at Meyer's Flat - they also have plenty of tent camping
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081004-1.jpg

[corax]

I definately feel like we're in the Pacific Northwest now . . . my flannel shirt that I haven't worn in 2 years is calling to me.

here's a few more from yesterday.
the Memorial Lighthouse at Trinidad
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081004-2.jpg
the coast line up here is just wicked, it's no wonder there have been so many shipwrecks historically. and the waves are HUGE, any one of them could easily drown me
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081004-3.jpg
from Clam Beach
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081004-4.jpg

[YotaFun]

Hey Keith, When are you scheduled to be at your final destination?
Your going to be in Allentown which is like 45 min away, maybe we could get together and hang.


Not really sure when we'll be back in PA. If we decide to leave the Eureka area then we'll probably be in PA within a week or two. How 'bout a run down to Rausch Creek when I get back? I've never been there yet . . .


Yeah def, hopefully I can get my front diff and rear locker in by then!

[strykersd]

Hey Keith, looks like you're on an adventure of a lifetime! Keep the pics coming and good luck back in PA!

[corax]

today we explored up north a bit, and the word of the day was "Elk" - a whole lot of them. We saw 5 or 6 herds just from the side of the road, we also saw 2 Black Tail Deer (looked like a small mule deer, they don't get very large). At one point, I got to yank a 1st gen 4runner backwards out of the water - it wasn't in deep and I think the guy and his buddy had already pushed it back some, but the engine had water mixed with oil and the guy said it just stopped trying a salt water crossing. Since they were right at Clam beach, next to a major highway and civilization, I didn't stick around too long. I did advise him to start by yanking the plugs to blow any water out, but with salt water dripping of the dip stick, I think he was done and had it towed.

More evidence of the wickedness of the coast up this way - "Deadly Sneaker Waves and Hazardous Surf"
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081005-1.jpg
you gotta be careful of tsunami tearing through the old growth forests up this way?
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081005-5.jpg

We stopped by Ladybird Grove, named after Lyndon Johnson's wife, for a quick stroll through the redwoods. They're not as big as the Sequoia trees, but supposedly they do get taller. Either way, when you start talking about a 2,000 years life-span, a few feet one way or the other becomes less important. One thing I started to notice is that they all seem to spiral up to the sky
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081005-2.jpg
This one was hollowed out by fire years ago, but is still growing and besides being a little impaired looked to be doing good.
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081005-3.jpg

This guy kept looking right at us because our greyhound kept whining to get out of the truck - this herd was about 30 yards away.
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081005-4.jpg
up a 6 mile dirt road from the Elk Pasture is Gold Bluff beach, I'm betting that during the week this place is completely deserted
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081005-6.jpg
just past Gold Bluff beach is a campground where I found out that Elk like the beach too. You might not be able to see it in this pic, but this herd is hanging around right next to a tent and a blue Saturn - when we drove back 45 minutes later, the herd was still there. At a 1/2 ton a piece, I think I would be learning patience if that was my campsite and car . . . .
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081005-7.jpg
Saw this at one of the Nat'l Forest Visitor Centers - apparently an Elk got it's head stuck in a Madrone tree and died, as the years went by the tree just grew around the skull and antlers, on the other side of the log you can seen the skull an how the tree just kinda filled it in
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081005-8.jpg

What day trip would be complete without seeing a giant Paul and Babe statue?
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081005-9.jpg

[corax]

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I saw one of these in a turnoff on the other side of the road, but once I got turned around to try to take a close up look, it was already gone (the wife just didn't understand why I needed to see it so bad)

behold, the Unicat
http://www.unicatamericas.com/images/sub_photo_7.jpg
click me -> UNICAT (http://www.unicatamericas.com/) <- and read up on the equipment and engineering that goes into these
Starting prices are:
Amerigo with Unimog U500 4x4 starts @ $500,000
Amerigo with International 7400 4x4 starts @ $500,000

[corax]

Ha . . . after we got home, we left for beer and groceries and found it parked on the side of the road 1/4 mile from where we're staying

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/unicat3.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/unicat2.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/unicat1.jpg
here's the exact model -> http://www.unicatamericas.com/vehicles_custom_vxl.html

this thing is awesome . . . it even had a dirtbike mounted to a lift on the verticle section on the back of it

[corax]

spent the day running around Eureka today

the Carson mansion, I believe built by a lumber barron
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081006-1.jpg
and the one across the street he built for his son after he got married - it's called the Pink Lady, not sure how I would feel about my dad giving me a giant pink house . . .
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081006-2.jpg
one of many murals spread around town
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081006-3.jpg
and a maritime statue seen from the boardwalk (not an exciting boardwalk, more like one suitable for reading a book)
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081006-4.jpg

did a bit of research on Eureka, the weather is unusually stable at ~55 degrees all year long, and kinda moist most of the time. the highest temp on record is 87F, lowest is 20F . . . not quite the climate we were looking for

[corax]

Sheesh, you're almost there, just head over the bridge in the background and hit up the Samoan Steakhouse for a hearty dinner!!

Be sure to catch Crescent City while on the coast-some hard-core surfers out there, be nice to the guy w/ the blue 90's runner ;) !! **Also Battery Point Lighthouse, St. George Reef Lighthouse (binoculars and clear sky needed), Jedediah Smith Redwoods, (You taking 199 all the way in??).

**There's also some really good non-corporate Bagels and Coffee around there.

Old Town, Has Beans, Boyd, and Muddy Waters all serve a mean cup-o-joe!


Funny you mention that, we were up in Crescent City on Sunday while there was some kind of surfing competition going on. I thought we were going to have to skip the 199 on our way out, and take the long way via Redding (I saw signs saying the 199 was closed) later found out that it was just closed for one night while they "slid" a new bridge into place. We'll be leaving Eureka/Arcata/Trinidad today some time.

Coffee at Old Town was good, and I think it was Los Bagels we ate at for a light lunch, again, good stuff.

If it wasn't for the weather not really changing and a low median income for the area (~$24k), I'd probably try to put up an argument for staying through the winter . . .

[corax]

only 2 pics from today - our spot at the RV park in Trinidad just north of Eureka.
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081007-1.jpg
and driving through Jedediah Smith Redwood park
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081007-2.jpg
North of the redwoods on the Rt 199 was a seriously nice ride, one of the few occasions I took my time on the road with no thought of making time. Now we have some exploring to do around the Medford/Ashland area in Oregon. From what I can tell driving around this evening, there must be some good wheeling around here somewhere - I saw tons of offroad trucks and jeeps, some were hillbilly lifted 4 door ford/chevy pickups, some snorkeled jeeps and a few taco's with beefy bumpers

[corax]

took a tour of Ashland today (and paid for an additional week at the park - we like it here). I found this bronze sculpture in downtown, and just couldn't understand what the donkey boy and fairy chick have to do with a piece titled "Street Scene" that is supposed to be about Ashland . . .
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081008-1.jpg
after running around downtown we decided to take a tour of the countryside and found this sign outside a B&B on Rt 66 - I didn't need the 100 shares in Bank of America, so we kept driving . . .
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081008-2.jpg
this was just before the same B&B
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081008-3.jpg
I'm not really a big fan of religion, but I kinda liked this small town church - it looks quaint. The original was right next door and in very poor state of repair . . .
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081008-4.jpg
Klamath Lake, by Klamath Falls . . . driving around Lakeside Dr, we saw 2 small herds of deer right on the side of the road, standing in someone driveway each time
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081008-5.jpg
Tornado, our greyhound, is so excited to go for any kind of car ride, but after an hour, it just starts to lose its novelty for him
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081008-6.jpg

[04 Rocko Taco]

Looks like you guys are having a GREAT time Keith. Wish you were somehow passing through Atlanta on your way to PA. haha. Keep the pics coming!!

[Erich_870]

Klamath Lake, by Klamath Falls . . . driving around Lakeside Dr, we saw 2 small herds of deer right on the side of the road, standing in someone driveway each time
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081008-5.jpg


Boy does that pic bring back memories! (Graduated from Oregon Tech in '05) There are more deer on Lakeside Dr. than you can shake a stick at. It's actually quite a dangerous road to drive at twilight because of the curves and the fact you'll come across a herd of 10 or 15 deer standing right in the middle of the road :eeek: There is also a higher level of cougar activity thanks to the abundant deer.

That side of the lake is very nice in the summer because it's a north facing slope and it stays cooler. It's also much greener than the rest of the town because it holds snow and moisture longer.

Here's some pics of the reconstruction of that steep grade you go down to get to the lake shore. http://family.webshots.com/album/210836047GAxRdL We took a tour back in school when they were still placing fill and constructing wildlife habitat on the lake.

My wife and I really liked Klamath Falls. 300+ days of sunshine a year, public land as far as you can see in any direction, snow in the winter and hot summers... What more can you ask for? The bugs are pretty bad during the summer though. That lake makes more mosquitos and midge flies than any place on earth. The bird hunting is dynamite :love:

Erich

[corax]

Remember as far as the job and income thing, up there the people's mindset and economy are different, and it's the long term commitment that will bring things to fruition if you play things right.

For trail stuff try talking to Brian at Al's Cycle or Marty at Marty's Bike, they might be of some help, or might know someone from "D.O.D." (Disciples of Dirt) who'll take you out. :thumbup:

EDIT**If your wife wants something really fun to do, hit up downtown Ashland, the theatre, and Lithia Park. There's a good British pub there too :drink:**(Mrs.NorCalBorn )

**If you do have to leave town, at least do this first...
~Drive into Ashland and get on Siskiyou Boulevard, to Park St. and head up it. (Just the car or truck for this, kinda steep...)~Turn left onto Mowhawk Dr. proceed to address #1937.~Park your vehicle, and watch the sunset, admire the house my grandpa made, and look to the left, 1 address, smile, and say "Retirement Fund".~Then you'll see why it's worth living up there, in my humble opinion. Get a shot for this post to show you made it if you want. You have my number, try me Saturday if you're still around. :)


Good advice, thanks :thumbup:

When we were in downtown Ashland yesterday I was trying to remember the street name, but could only come up with the number from memory . . . it may not work out that I'll be able to take a sunset pic, but if we find our way down there again I'll remember "1937 Mohawk"

Right now we're paid up at the RV park till Tuesday morning, so definately looking forward to hitting some dirt with you and your bro' this weekend if possible :D

[corax]

took a drive up to Crater Lake today and stopped by the Rogue Gorge along the way
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081009-1.jpg
from the signs along the short trail, it said this river flows 410,000 gallons per minute . . . . enough to fill an olympic size pool every minute
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081009-2.jpg
driving up to Crater Lake it started to flurry, then turned into a regular snow squal, so visibility was down a bit. But I did love driving through it and when we stopped it was quiet enough that we could hear the sound of snow falling - I miss that sound. this is from the first lookout on the east side of Rim Drive with Wizard Island visible. The caldera was actually created when the summit of this volcano collasped in on itself, I believe I read that the top 5,000 ft of the mountain collapsed . . .
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081009-3.jpg
the sides of Crater Lake are really steep and treacherous, in fact at the entrance there is a large sign that advised us we could die if we fell off a cliff :headscratch:
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081009-4.jpg
some more of Crater Lake with Wizard Island
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081009-5.jpg
this one was on the way out right off the side of Rt 238
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081009-6.jpg
and one for size comparison of the trees
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081009-7.jpg
the sides of the 'runner were solid ice by the time we started getting to lower elevations and I had icicles growing off the rearview mirrors
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081009-8.jpg


. . . on a side note, my last official day with corporate is tomorrow so my company cell phone is getting shut off and I may lose the wireless internet card :(

[Erich_870]

You're making me home sick :( :flipoff:

You've done a great job capturing the beauty of that area and it's a lot of fun to hear your opinions of the sites and what you found interesting :thumbup:

Crater Lake is an amazing place. It's unbelievable how much snow it gets.

I didn't realize you were going to have so much time to poke around the area! I would have mentioned a bunch more cool places to go :( Where are you headed next so we can give you some heads up?

One last thing. The rock formations in the Rouge Gorge are very cool. The river has created a very treacherous place. Several years ago a tourist's little lap dog fell off one of the cliffs and the woman followed and they never recovered her body. The dog came out the other end and survived, but she remains pinned some where in one of the many vortexes and underwater ledges :(

Erich

[corax]

today was a lazy day - no road trips or sight seeing as I had a few minor projects to take of around the RV. One of them was to figure out why our dog would yelp everytime he tried to run up the stairs to get inside the RV (last time he froze, shivering, and refused to go anywhere near the steps, so I carried him inside). So I was feeling around the ground, trying to see if there was anything sharp he might be stepping on, when I went to lean over and I put my hand on the step itself - - Holy $h17! - - I found out that the electrical outlet the RV was plugged into wasn't properly grounded and everytime the dog stepped on the metal (with one foot on the ground, completing an electrical circuit) he got jolted. I could actually take a wire from "earth ground" to the RV frame and see tiny sparks! Hopefully the park will get this fixed tomorrow

Also got to meet Shane today (NorCalBorn) and while we didn't have a lot of time to hang out, we still got our tires in the dirt and got to shoot the shit for awhile (sorry about the mud I kicked up on your roof :clap: - if it makes you feel better I got all kinds of mud inside the 'runner . . .) Good people though and a nice end to the daylight hours
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081010-11.jpg

[corax]

stopped by Jacksonville, OR today - a neat town with a whole lot of turn-of-the-century architecture and store fronts. found this marker up in the cemetary - note the inscription on the right side of the headstone
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081011-1.jpg
then we went to Golden, which is a roadside ghost town. There's no admission fee and the church doors were unlocked. It started as a gold town and the creek across the street was worked for over 100 years for placer gold. Here's the original church, center of community life in this town (one of the very few gold towns without a saloon)
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081011-2.jpg
interior of the church
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081011-3.jpg
I found this guy on one of the rafters on a nearby shed - I love bats, they are such great aviators, able to change directions faster than a rabbit on the go, and contrary to popular myth, they are far from blind
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081011-4.jpg
This is the back of the Ruble house, he was one of the founders of this town
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081011-5.jpg
took this pic through a crack in the back of the Ruble house, the ceiling is falling down and the stove/oven is all wood fired - I haven't seen appliances this old since my grandmother was still alive . . .
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081011-6.jpg
the Ruble house also had a front room to it which served as a store for the town
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081011-7.jpg
last one for today, the front of the Ruble house - the doors were locked, I'm guessing because it didn't exactly seem like a safe place to be walking around inside
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081011-8.jpg
.

[corax]

You've done a great job capturing the beauty of that area and it's a lot of fun to hear your opinions of the sites and what you found interesting :thumbup:

I didn't realize you were going to have so much time to poke around the area! I would have mentioned a bunch more cool places to go :( Where are you headed next so we can give you some heads up?


Thanks :D , with how many pics I'm taking it's easy to just post the best of them. We really do like the area, but I think we're going to be pulling out Tuesday morning for points east (still have some time to check out other places though . . .)

Next was supposed to be Yellowstone and Jackson, WY (via OR and Idaho) . . . but with the recent snow that's been getting dumped on that area, we may have to re-route around there. One of the locals advised us that in WY they sometimes close the cattle gates on the highway when it starts to snow and people can/do get stuck on the highway at a closed gate - either way, I don't really want to drive the RV over snow covered or ice slick roads. I could live with not putting my house in a ditch.

[corax]

no exploring today. I had to redrill my hitch bar to move it in as far as possible, the wife was having some hydroplaning issues with the front wheels a few days ago. The bumper receiver sits back pretty far and the hitch was sticking out ~3" past that yet. I figure part of the issue (since the best tires are currently on the front) was that with the massive tongue weight on the ball, it was unloading some of the weight from the front tires thus making it easier to hydroplane (thanks to Oregon's many free roadside weigh stations I now know that the truck does weigh 2 tons). Think of it like a see-saw with the rear axle as a fulcrum, move the weight closer to the fulcrum and the front lifts less - well a little less, 3" isn't much, but every little bit helps.

The CD player in the 'runner was acting up, so I disassembled that improved the connections for the ribbon wire from the chassis to the cd player itself. While I was at it I added a ground to the radio chassis and the CB chassis which eliminated feedback I was getting out the rear speakers when keyed up (I could hear myself talking through the speakers and had some squeal before).

Replaced the front pads too . . . before we left I checked them and there was plenty of pad left. After the Pacific Coast Highway and numerous mountain passes though, there was less than I liked.

Also decided to re-route. We are no longer going to visit Yellowstone or Jackson Hole :(. Most of that decision was due to current weather systems and projected temperatures on the route we were originally going to take. So here's our new route:
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/route2.jpg
right now there is some snow in SE Idaho, but there's also a warm front that might sweep that away and even if it doesn't, it looks to be a small area. On the plus side, it looks like we'll be treking through Salt Lake City and I am eager to hit up some of the thrift stores around there (last time, I got a nice set of cap skis for $17, now I'm looking for boots)

[04 Rocko Taco]

Good deal man! Keep the pics coming! I always look forward to new posts in this thread. :) Are you going anywhere near Gering, nebraska?

[corax]

Are you going anywhere near Gering, nebraska?


Looks like I'll be about 45 miles south of there . . . somewhere in UT, we're going to get on US-80 and that'll run us all the way into Pennsylvania.

[04 Rocko Taco]

hehm...... Wanna bring something to the east coast for me? ;)

[fustercluck]

hehm...... Wanna bring something to the east coast for me? ;)


http://www.kifferfilme.com/img/covers/blow_big.jpg

[corax]

hehm...... Wanna bring something to the east coast for me? ;)


I might, so long as I don't have to deviate from our route. Taking the whole caravan through residential or urban side streets is no fun with the wide turns and just being able to fit in a lane of traffic . . . send me a PM and let me know what you're thinking.






hehm...... Wanna bring something to the east coast for me? ;)


http://www.kifferfilme.com/img/covers/blow_big.jpg


:laugh: :shake:

[04 Rocko Taco]

hehm...... Wanna bring something to the east coast for me? ;)


http://www.kifferfilme.com/img/covers/blow_big.jpg


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[corax]

On the road again, but got a late start so we just drove 4 hours before calling it a day.

I know spam is a delicacy in Korea, but this was in Oregon. I don't care how you dress it, there is nothing special about Spam
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081013-1.jpg
windshield view of Mt Thielsen, just past Crater Lake.
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081013-2.jpg

[fustercluck]

Meant to call you today Corax. Got overwhelmed trying to install a new dishwasher into an old house. Long story...

[corax]

Wally World living at its best
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081013-3.jpg
but I think that's more of a technicality that they post to ward off the weak of heart, this is how it really is at Wal Marts all over once the sun sets (regardless of signs to the contrary). I don't know about the Dolphin on the left, just showed up at some point. The people in the mini Wini on the right were pan-handling at the entrance to Wal Mart and Albertson's before that. It looked like an older couple and their late teen kids (or kid and significant other)
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081013-5.jpg
another shot of the Mini Wini and another rig set up for the night with their leveling jacks down
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081013-6.jpg
this guy on the left already had his TV antenna up, hardly plausible that they were just shopping inside
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081013-7.jpg
while this one had their satellite dish deployed (not that I'm jealous or anything)
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081013-8.jpg
two more on the far side of the lot, one had his window awnings and slides out (it's in bad taste to deploy the slides at Wal-Mart, totally tasteless)
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081013-9.jpg
Our luxurious accomodations at the Bend Wal Mart. I tried to google map a book store, but the only results were for Christian book stores . . . not quite the results I was looking for (wanted to pick up a book on HAM radio). Sorry for th eblurry pic, but hte 'ol point and shoot digi cam just wasn't liking tha ambient lighting
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081013-4.jpg

[corax]

the driveshaft took a hit somewhere, we heard a loud bang on the way through Dunsmuir, as some rocks flew across the highway and I either (hopefully) just chipped the sealing paint, or possibly cracked the weld. WTF...Install a cross brace to have the driveshaft get wonky.
:loser:

D'OH!!! *Ain't broke yet!!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2940728444_dccce9a63a_b.jpg

I think you worry too much, just looks like some paint chipped off . . . one of the problems with being smart is that it's too easy to over analyze and look deeper than is necessary. Trust me, I know.



OK, enough babble, going to edit some pics. :D (Went through Jedidiah Smith Redwoods to Crescent City, Meyers Creek Beach *up past Pelican Bay Prison*, then when leaving to Howard Prairie Lake, Shasta, Castle Crags.)

Wish your wife could've made it, so the ladies would have had something to do, aside from start rumors about our "First Date outside of the internet.". Drive safe, I gotta say, everything (yes even goofing around in our trucks) pales in comparison to having had to wheel over I-5 at 3am in a white-out blizzard, while rigs are creeping down on you with the j-brakes on!!
**As for the roof covered in mud, it's a truck, I'll pm you my detailler's bil. :D :rofl:
(I was worried I threw dirt/rocks while spinning donuts anyhow...all good my man!)


thank for the pics, I think I will truly miss the crazy Nor Cal beachs - I've not found anything comparable in all my ramblings on the right coast (though there is something to be said for the FL Keys, just a different kind of crazy). And, I am trying to avoid the whole white-out blizzard thing myself. In the truck, I'd have no problem, I used to play in that stuff just for fun back in PA (and beer money pulling people out of ditches). In the RV with the Lex in tow . . . I'll avoid that if at all possible. On the plus side, it looks like the weather in ID and WI has cleared for now and Bend is actually warmer than Medford was. I almost feel like I put my shorts away prematurely

[corax]

Meant to call you today Corax. Got overwhelmed trying to install a new dishwasher into an old house. Long story...


ehh . . . these things happen. tomorrow we set off for Idaho and maybe push through to UT, maybe not. Either way, it looks like we'll probably be getting a site in SLC for one night.

[jrallan26]

When are passing through Des Moines, Iowa? I live right next to I-80.

[corax]

When are passing through Des Moines, Iowa? I live right next to I-80.


Probably 3-4 days, maybe. Drop me a PM if you want . . . not sure if we'll be just passing through or stopping for the night though. Depends on what kind of time we start making . . .

[corax]

left Bend, OR and turned east. Rt 20 outside of Bend is fairly empty for ~100 miles or so - not many houses, not much of anything. We only saw other traffic every 10 minutes or so going the other direction. On the plus side, we didn't have as much twisty roads or frequent elevation changes so gas mileage for the RV improved a whole 50% (which isn't saying much, it went from 5 mpg to 7-8 mpg . . . it hurts telling the gas station attendant to put in $200 every day). That's something else we left in Oregon . . . now we can pump our own gas again - in OR, much like NJ, it is against the law to pump your own unleaded - every gas station is full-serve.

Here's one from Rt 20 in OR. The Cafe was locked, as was the gas station, with nothing on the shelves in either building I'll venture a guess that they've both been shut down for awhile.
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081014-1.jpg
this one was taken at the same place. I'm not really sure what "Artistic Taxidermy" is. I guess you could gas up the rig and eat lunch at this place while getting something stuffed (back in the day when they were in business)
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081014-2.jpg
saw a whole bunch of run down farm houses, many of which would look perfect for the next "slasher" movie. Some of the best ones flew past the RV too quick for me to take a picture.
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081014-3.jpg
out of Oregon and into Idaho
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081014-4.jpg
not being able to put the slides out sure does make it cozy inside.
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081014-5.jpg

tomorrow will be SLC where we'll probably get a site with hookups so we can dump the tanks, refill fresh water and get some laundry done after we hit up the DI Thrift stores . . .

[corax]

first view of the Utah mountains
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081015-1.jpg

we passed about 2 dozen trucks with these windmill blades on the back, these blades were frickin' huge
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081015-2.jpg

Utah . . .
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081015-3.jpg

[04 Rocko Taco]

I cant emphasize enough how awesome this thread is bud! Great pictures, and wonderful narration, keep it coming. Its just a shame you dont pass through Georgia, if you ever make it down this way, beers are on me. :)

[bamachem]

that windmill blade is HUGE. they make some of the housings for the gen-packs around here somewhere because i see them going down the interstate (I-10) all the time - headed west.

they're about 12-14' wide and tall by about 35-40' long - massive fiberglass-like housings for the generators. i can only imagine how tall those windmills would be. i would love to see an array of them in person.

congrats on an excellent adventure! great pics!

[corax]

I cant emphasize enough how awesome this thread is bud! Great pictures, and wonderful narration, keep it coming. Its just a shame you dont pass through Georgia, if you ever make it down this way, beers are on me. :)


Thanks for the kind words, and as a matter of fact, about Georgia, one of the first road trips we plan to take (once we get settled, re-employed, etc) will be down to Bahia Honda State Park in the FL Keys - but that won't be till early spring - I could probably just take a wide swing to the west near ATL . . .



they're about 12-14' wide and tall by about 35-40' long - massive fiberglass-like housings for the generators. i can only imagine how tall those windmills would be. i would love to see an array of them in person.


I lived out in Desert Hot Springs, CA for a few months, which has a pretty extensive array, but I don't think any of the generators or blades I saw were quite that big. They did have all shapes and sizes though, from rows with really big towers to rows of "personal size" mills - even goofy looking 2 blade mills. I think I read that there are ~4,000 wind mills in the San Gorgonio mountain pass just west of Palm Springs and Desert Hot Springs. Here's a photo I found online of one section
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1062/1440893210_4bf8520f5c.jpg?v=0

[corax]

left SLC and headed for Wyoming, but before we even made it 10 miles out of SLC I had to stop by the Ford dealer for new air and fuel filters for the RV - it was dogging something fierce trying to pull any hill or incline. Air filter fixed that (only 8k miles on it though) and the next hour I was thinking about how best to make a ram-air system for the beast.

just inside Wyoming we stopped at Fort Bridger, a restored ghost town turned military outpost from the late 1800's. This is the ice house, it has 3 doors so that as the ice melted they could still get to the top by just going to the next lower door. They also had other buildings, including the first schoolhouse in WY, but they all had black plastic bags blocking the windows and everything was closed.
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081016-1.jpg
yet another windshield shot - this one's on the I80 just outside of Green River, WY - there were dirt trails all over through this section and some crazy hill climb trails that looked like they went vertical at the top
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081016-2.jpg
even though we didn't make much distance, after driving through that, we decided to get a camp site quick and explore the area a bit. we stopped in Rock Springs, just past Green River. The area is heavy into mining and I can see where they got the name - I don't think I saw topsoil anywhere, it's all rock and gravel. There are a few ghost towns in the area, but the descriptions all sounded like there were just foundations left - except for Superior. Superior isn't so much a ghost town as much as a "has-been" town that saw its last boom in the 50's with iron ore. After that left it was all down hill. There are still people living there, and everyone that drove past us waved, but the only 2 active businesses I saw in town were both hole-in-the-wall bars. That's the bank on the right, the little black box near the roof says "BURGLAR ALARM" . . .
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081016-3.jpg
and the "Happy Hearts Senior Center" next to the bank - I don't think grandma's heart would be too happy if anyone tried to drop her off here
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081016-4.jpg
a few more buildings on Main St, the one on the far right was the "WORKINGMAN'S STORE"
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081016-5.jpg
Union Hall, restored via a grant from the state was the most impressive building
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081016-6.jpg
this house overlooking Main St is still occupied has probably seen the most upkeep as it looks to be in excellent shape
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081016-7.jpg
not like these, which are probably abandoned
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081016-8.jpg
shack on the hillside near a mine
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081016-9.jpg
this is one of the "powder houses" where they stored charges for the mining operation
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081016-10.jpg
one of the heads still standing, completely fenced in and with a few parts hanging off of it though
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081016-11.jpg
last pic. one of the descriptions I found of this place kept going on about "black petrified wood" up in the hills outside of town that was free for the collecting. This is called Bituminous Coal, not petrified wood. It's such a low grade coal that you can sometimes still see tree rings in it. Anthracite coal is the hard black shiney stuff that burns forever. Anyway, found a vein of it up a dirt track in the hills above town
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081016-12.jpg
One last thing about Superior if you ever go there, watch your license plates. Liz spotted several "houses" that looked like instead of using quality Sears vinyl siding they used license plates to cover the exterior walls instead . . .

[corax]

that windmill blade is HUGE. they make some of the housings for the gen-packs around here somewhere because i see them going down the interstate (I-10) all the time - headed west.

they're about 12-14' wide and tall by about 35-40' long - massive fiberglass-like housings for the generators. i can only imagine how tall those windmills would be. i would love to see an array of them in person.


I think I found some of the big ones along the I80 in western WY (excuse the bug splatter, I do clean the windshield 2x a day)
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/100_2361.jpg

[bamachem]

wow, those are HUGE!

[corax]

Rock Springs, WY to Sidney, NE today and fighting cross winds the entire time. None of the pictures really came out, which is alright because there wasn't anything very exciting to look at anyway . . .

[4runnerchevy]

The pics are great Keith, keep them coming, its like a travel guide.,

[corax]

Started off in Sidney Nebraska and picked up (2) 20 degree sleeping bags (with memory foam) for <$20 each from the Cabella's before we left.

From our first gas stop in . . . well, read the sign above the door. Pretty much sums up how I felt about the drive . . .
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081018-1.jpg
:booya:
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081018-2.jpg
the conestoga barn
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081018-3.jpg
another old barn (not a whole lot of neat stuff to see along the I-80 in Nebraska)
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081018-4.jpg
I felt gypped that Iowa doesn't have a "welcome to" sign
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081018-5.jpg

[corax]

saw some more windmill blades on the highway today. The logistics of how these must be made and the tolerances just amaze me. Consider that each blade must be balanced to the other 3 on the windmill, not just for total weight, but also end-to-end weight. Granted the big mills don't exactly spin very fast (probably way less than 100rpm under normal conditions), but with that much blade length working as a lever, any imbalance would be very bad.

Here's one that was near the road, that little box at the base of the pedestal is a "standard" size tranformer box
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081019-1.jpg
one of two trucks I passed before exiting for gas. These guys were hauling 2 blades each, and I would approximate the length to be around 80-90'
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081019-2.jpg
here's the other truck
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081019-3.jpg

From an article about Blitz Transportation (http://blitztransport.com/), the company that hauls these things:
Bublitz runs Kenworth T800s equipped with 475-hp engines. The power is delivered to the ground through an 18-speed transmission coupled with 3.90 rear ends with double axle lockers to help provide excellent traction in off-road conditions.

"We designed our tractors and trailers specifically to haul windmill blades – it’s 90% of what we do," said Bublitz. "Negotiating corners and side winds are definitely our biggest concerns. When we designed our trailers, we made the axles steerable by remote control. The co-pilot in our chase car controls the back end of the trailer so we can navigate roads off the interstate and logging roads. About the only thing that we cannot negotiate are roundabouts. We try to avoid those at all costs.

"When we run out into the windmill fields, it might be 10 miles or more of steep, rugged terrain and going through soft ground, mud, snow, you name it – and we’ve never gotten stuck," said Bublitz. Off-loading also has its challenges. "Most turbine blades are from 124 feet to 160 feet long. Gluelam trusses and crane booms can be 120 feet to 200 feet in length, depending on the custom job, distance and states that allow passage. We have a wind meter and it’s safe to unload if winds don’t exceed 26 mph," he said. "If winds exceed 26 mph, you wait, and maybe wait a whole day."

the article goes on to say that they have hauled blades up to 191 feet!
http://blitztransport.com/sitebuilder/images/DSC00752-760x573.jpg
[img]

[corax]

crossing the Mississippi out of Iowa and into Illinois . . .
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081020-1.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081020-2.jpg
where I got pulled over in the RV for doing 60 in a 55 zone (out in farm country yet). But the officer was cool and told me right away he wasn't giving me a ticket and to just keep it closer to 55. Today we also swapped constant cross winds for non-stop rain which helped me keep the speed respectable. After spending 2 years doing 80-90mph through LA county on a regular basis, at 55 mph I feel like I should be reading a book or maybe knitting.

getting near Chicago
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081020-3.jpg
out of Illinois (and back up to a respectable 65/70mph)
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081020-4.jpg
We also got through Indiana and into Ohio, where we stopped for the night in Toledo (pics were too blurry)

[Seanz0rz]

about the knitting, seen it done...

looks like you guys are having an awesome trip!

[YotaFun]

I got pulled over in the RV for doing 60 in a 55 zone (out in farm country yet). But the officer was cool and told me right away he wasn't giving me a ticket and to just keep it closer to 55. Today we also swapped constant cross winds for non-stop rain which helped me keep the speed respectable. After spending 2 years doing 80-90mph through LA county on a regular basis, at 55 mph I feel like I should be reading a book or maybe knitting.


wlecome back to the east coast...
I hate our speed limits after being in Cali...

[corax]

about the knitting, seen it done...

looks like you guys are having an awesome trip!


the best parts of the trip were up to and including Oregon. After that it was mostly trying to make miles between stops and look for anything worth while along the way. Liz was pretty good about that latter bit. Our last detour was today through Pittsburgh, pics to follow . . .



wlecome back to the east coast...
I hate our speed limits after being in Cali...


Yeah, I have all kinds of things to fix on my truck, the temporary Cali sticker in the windshield expires at the end of the month (already pulled over in SLC for the expired VA plates). Now I need to worry about state inspection, which means I need to look up bumper height limits and get a new set of rims to tuck the tires in a bit more. On the plus side Emmissions should be alot easier as PA doesn't care what you do just so long as the tailpipe test passes . . . maybe I should have pulled that 7MGTE turbo manifold I saw at the Pick-A-Part . . .

[corax]

made it back to PA today
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081021-2.jpg
I almost forgot how colorful leaves can get
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081021-1.jpg
one last detour before the final stretch - here's the Cathedral at Pitt, where some classes are held
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081021-4.jpg
a shot of the inside, this place was just awesome. on the first floor, each classroom was themed in a different country - France, Germany, Norland, Sweden, etc.
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081021-5.jpg
the church behind the Catherdral
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081021-7.jpg
Liz spent a few years attending Pitt and living in Pittsburgh so she knew the area well and gave me a 5 hour tour or the area. Anyone that's been in Pitt long enough will know what these are - O Fries! - and honestly, they live up to the hype I'd been hearing for years
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081021-6.jpg
my wife wanted to picket this building with a sign that reads "Sacriledge" - this used to be home of the BeeHive, an eclectic coffee house that would regularly have movie nights (theme nights such as sci-fi, Rocky Horror, and just about anything else) . . . even not having any history with this place, I can tell it's a shame that it's been given over to this . . .
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081021-3.jpg

[4runnerchevy]

Congrats on the fine road trip, Keith

[corax]

a few more from Pitt that Liz wanted me to post

this is the Norwegian room from inside the Cathedral (an actual classroom that gets used!), it was the only one we found that didn't have a class going going on in it
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081021-10.jpg

home of the O-Fries - they're open 23 hours a day, and closed from 6-7am to clean all the cigarette butts, trash, sweat, alcohol, vomit and piss from the local frat boys and wanna-be-thugs - Liz says that the guy who was working the fryer and taking orders was the same one that was there back in '95 (and he's not the owner)
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081021-9.jpg

view of the skyline (and Liz) from Mount Washington
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081021-8.jpg

[YotaFun]

Congrats on finally making it to PA.
Yeah your gonna have fun at inspection lol!
I can help you out with those rules, since I have been hammered with most of them....
I hope you didn't bring all the rain with you, I just cleaned the truck two days ago lol!

Awesome pics, can't wait to finally meet you both!

[YotaFun]

Also when you gonna be in the area, I mean if you were in pitts yesterday, that means your gonna be on the east side some time today, only takes 4 hours to get from. Place pitts to my :)

[corax]

last pics of the leaves turning
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081022-1.jpg
and the last exit we took off the interstate, now we're set up in the folks driveway for a few days till we figure out where we wany to set up more long term
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/10-08%20Cross%20Country/081022-2.jpg

[YotaFun]

Welcome back to PA!
once you finally get set up give me a PM!