Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2014 18:51:17 GMT -5
Day One:
There was to be two anniversaries this month, (Sept) One was geared more towards my wife's 20th, working for the same company and the other was our 20th wedding anniversary. Typically and for the past few years, we've adopted "A State Per-Year" Meaning for each year, we drive a bit further than the last. Increasing the drive one state at a time.
Seeing how this was going to be our 20th.. as a show of gratitude, her company allowed us the use of their "Shack" for the weekend. Where was this shack you might say.. No less than Aspen Colorado. Mind you, we live in Maryland and were driving the whole distance in a 08 Jeep Wrangler (Without Doors) Thou we do have soft or fabric doors in the back just in case heavy rain is predicted.
The adventure began about 1 month ago and without any sort of game plan other than knowing we had to get to Colorado.. we knew that there was going to be a window of time which we had to be in Colorado in order to use the shack.. But nothing ever goes as plan.. We left on a Friday after my wife (Red) got off work.. Heading due west on route 70, we hit a back up right about the time we entered Frederick MD.. which only lasted 40 mins.. But we were back on the road, Until yet again we hit another back up right were 70 & 68 split.
This day's travel times was suppose to have taken only 3 hours.. but due to the back up's, it lasted nearly 5 hours.. But we pulled into West Virginia about 9:00 pm and was able to get a room on the first shot. I don't like traveling like this.. course when I'm tired and we are in need of a room for the night.. If the first one doesn't have anything.. I'm really starting to feel the pain. But surprisingly the whole trip.. The first room or hotel was a keeper. So far, that's two states (counting Maryland as one state).. and yet there was more to come.
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Post by snowmom on Aug 1, 2014 8:13:33 GMT -5
wow, that'll be some drive! Once you get your route planned you can look for rock shops on the route and they should have some good info on what's good for local hunting. best wishes. (take lots of pictures!)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2014 8:57:52 GMT -5
Day Two
After a short but peaceful rest.. the next morning we awoke a sun rise and headed out again.. This was to be one of the biggest travel days yet. Quickly existing West Virginia, we were now in Ohio.. and making our way further toward the heart land of America. One issue we encountered, was that the jeep (which are know as good climbing vehicles) wasn't very well in climbing the highways at 65 MPH or above.. Typically the road signs said 70 MPH and the jeep just could maintain that kind of speed while going up hill.
Traveling back on Interstate 70, We made it all the way through Ohio and we still felt like continuing.. Then Red says, Turn here. She wanted to get off the main track and follow a few back roads for a while. Heading North West into Indiana.. We ventured through small towns that seem to have died off.. Grain country.. and the roads showed it.. Corn for as far as one could see.. Right before 5 PM we started searching for a hotel and found one not far from Interstate 74 which would offer us a better vantage point for the next day's travel.. That's four states.. and driving Doorless through all of them..
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2014 14:27:30 GMT -5
Day Three
If the mountains of West Virginia didn't get us.. the flat lands of Indiana, Illinois and Idaho did.. More over the back roads.. Seeing how the roads are primarily used for hauling cattle, corn and grain.. These back roads are a mess. If one lives in Baltimore (city) they would know what I'm talking about. Thou all states have their issues with roads.. For nearly 4 hours, The road was like "bump, bump, bump" constantly.. and I don't mean the concrete pavement bumps. Some bumps were deeper than others..
Due North West was our route this time.. and we wanted to skirt past a few trouble areas and stay away from any major cities. and in no time at all, the next day was coming to an end.. Again searching for a hotel.. We find one just inside the Nebraska broader.. Up to this point.. I wasn't really inspired to take any images.. I mean sure I seen a few here and there.. but nothing like what I was about to experience tomorrow.. That's Eight States.. and still we had more to go..
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2014 6:30:53 GMT -5
"Warriors Wall" I'm not even sure what the name of this place is, I just call it warriors wall, because I see the Native warrior standing in a line yet the landscape around them comes crumbling down..
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Post by snowmom on Aug 28, 2014 18:29:10 GMT -5
wow, spectacular! If you are not a professional photographer now, you should give serious consideration to that.. so many truly beautiful photographs! Sounds like your vacation was hard won, but you came out victorious... I suppose the hardships will make it even more memorable when you are further down memory lane and the aggravation is not as fresh. How many hundred pounds of stone did you bring back with you? Sure looked like some fantastic rock picking sites among all the natural beauty. Thanks so much for posting!
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Post by kap on Aug 28, 2014 22:12:32 GMT -5
Awesome pictures! Thanks for sharing!
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Post by rockjunquie on Aug 28, 2014 22:50:58 GMT -5
Wow! That was some trip! Thanks for the wonderful pictures!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2014 0:11:40 GMT -5
Thanks everyone, and I just wanted everyone to realize why I deleted a few post.. one never can know who or what awaits around the next corner and this is coming from someone that tried to keep an open mind yet retain a bit of privacy. As for what stones we brought back.. Because of the jeep's filter issue (which I first thought was a trans issue) we couldn't afford to bring anything back.. just didn't want to take the chance by adding more weight to the jeep.. it really struggled in the hills.. One other thing I neglected to mention here.. while driving home, the jeep hit a section of road with allot of dips and pot holes.. At 60 mph.. we suffered what is technically known as "Death Wobble" and if one was to experience this for the first time.. one best keep their wits.. because it does what the name implies.. Thou I was able to maintain control.. I suffered an injury to my left arm and it's been numb for the last few days.. Lastly.. Yes I have an alter ego.. which caters to the jeep world.. and I have done so since the late 70's So thanks for following or reading my other life. Appreciated. PS oh and Snowmom.. I was a professional photographer at one time back in the late 90's.. but I was hit head on by a car and suffered back and neck issues.. which forced me to give up and sell all my Nikon equipment.. My wife has snuggled to find me camera which I can actually hold because my hands and arms go limp or numb thus dropping the camera is prone. If one was to search other albums on my jeep page.. they might see the camera mounted in a panavise.. but take note of the black handle which the camera is mounted to.. This is my own creation.. just so I could hold a camera again.. Panavise took notice and sent me a better handle to make videos etc.. sad part about this.. I wasn't able to create any videos while on the trip. Here is a tip for all those who want to take better images.. try a different stance.. meaning get down on your knees or one knee (kid stance or a kids point of view) or even hold the camera upside down.. just to get closer to the subject.. One my find me on my knees which offers a better and more steady stance when taking images.
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Post by snowmom on Aug 29, 2014 5:24:03 GMT -5
I really liked that one, too! thanks for the input as well. It is nice to get to know the person behind the name on a forum, the better to understand each other.
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rodeodan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2010
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Post by rodeodan on Aug 29, 2014 10:17:59 GMT -5
Great trip, thanks for sharing
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2014 11:16:11 GMT -5
Don't get me wrong.. there was plenty of times we could have picked up something.. the area was full of this and that.. and pushed for time.. didn't make matters any better. I did enjoy the drive and felt it was the best part about the whole experience. Thats just how we are when everyone else is asking why we didn't fly.. If one is planing a trip like this.. and although we had issues on the back roads.. it is the only way to see America.. though your suspension will suffer and one my get stuck behind a cattle truck going 45 MPG.. A bug guard would be suggested and routine cleaning at the end of the day helps keep the car/truck/van/jeep easier to maintain once home.
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Post by snowmom on Aug 29, 2014 18:58:21 GMT -5
beautiful!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2014 10:33:39 GMT -5
Here's The Final Totals
• States Visited: 18 • Number of Days on the Road: 10 • Highest Temp: 103° (New Mex & Tex for 2 days straight) • Lowest Temp: 48° (Peaked 14,000 Feet Above Sea Level, CO) • Miles Traveled: 4789 • Gas Cost: $956.34 • Most Expensive Gas: $4.12 • Least Expensive Gas: $3.09 • Hotel Cost: $1,039.90 • Most Expensive Hotel: The Ramada, Morgantown WV $128.80 • Least Expensive Hotel: The Fronteer Motel, Glenwood Springs, CO $77.00 • Best Breakfast: Red Rock Cafe, Carbondale, CO • Worst Lunch: Applebees, Tucumcari, New Mexico • Best Dinner: Cattle Exchange Restaurant, Canadian, TX • Highest Priced Oil: O'REilly's Auto Parts, Elkhorn, Nebraska $10.98 per quart • Best Places For Travel Shirts: Harley Davidson (any store Location Nation Wide) • Worse Road In America: Route 40 through Oklahoma • States We Liked: Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico
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garock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
Posts: 1,168
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Post by garock on Aug 31, 2014 11:28:29 GMT -5
Glad I checked out the other photography ! Very nice ride ! Loved the land formation photos the best ! Also made me homesick to visit Wyoming again. Born in Cheyenne but folks were from Alabama so soon after I was born they came home to Alabama. Was there last time in June 1994. Have really wanted to return and this just sets me off. Thank you for sharing the trip !
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2014 13:48:26 GMT -5
I've really been struggling with trying to capture good images with this FujiFilm camera.. Seems the crazy is these new types of 360's or round images.. Here's one of my favorite 360's taken in Nebraska on a very lonely stretch of highway.. Yes thats the same road and I was standing in the middle waiting for cars/trucks etc.. but nothing. One can really connect with themselves on these kinds of back roads.. Listening to the wind, hearing ones own heartbeat and watching the dust devils off in the distance.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2014 8:26:04 GMT -5
Well, isn't this special. I get this noticed saying "Your page is under review" in big bold letter within a yellow header above your page.. So what does this all mean.. it means that I've lost nearly 1000 images stored on their servers.. But Ah I was smart this time.. I made several back up s of my images and sent them to four 4GB flash drives.. So now you know why images aren't showing up.. Let me get this straight and see if I can locate a new image storage server.. and no I don't like bucket.. but may have to resort to using it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2014 11:34:29 GMT -5
So.. I awake this morning to her my wife (Red) tell me... "Let's do it again" I'm like whoa.. But nothing of the sort.. Seems she's already planing next years trip and so far it includes three new states.. I'm currently creating a "check list" of things we need to do before next years travel. I think what we are going to do, is actually camp this time and not feel as rushed as we did this last trip. This would mean that we may have to take more time off or simply limit the amount of states we can venture within a given time frame. Image: Maroon Bells, Aspen Colorado
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Post by snowmom on Sept 14, 2014 15:23:10 GMT -5
thanks for the update, keep posting! beautiful photos, and what a wonderful thing to hear your spouse wants to plan another trip! (keep her! LOL)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2014 10:16:02 GMT -5
yep she's a keeper alright.. But I think next time and if it's during the summer months and I told that if we leave during those summer months we need to stay more north of any heat wave.. but did she listen.. No.. Actually, I'm surprised that RTH allowed me to continue posting here.. I guess it could have went into the off topic.. and I told her we are not doing that kind of rush trip again.. but next year.. we'll be camping and exploring a bit more of those areas where we camp which would include rock shops, gem mines and other dig sites.. But First.. the jeep need a few things.. Turning 70k.. a few parts are starting to show signs or wear. Like I said Mom.. the best place to see all the images is on my G+ page and seems to holding steady now..
Oh btw.. there was a few times my camera just stopped working and had to be recharged.. we need an alternate battery.. anyway.. my wife took over with her cell camera so I've been adding her images as well. She has 42 images left to send me.. but she's almost out of time on her cell now.. so this weekend we'll get more time.
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