General Driving across the country again

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SC MMA MD

TMMAC Addict
Jan 20, 2015
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Heading to the Pacific Northwest from SC. Stayed in Nashville last night, staying in Lincoln, NB tonight. We have been near BJJ schools both nights, but by the time we arrived and got checked into the hotel, classes were over. The BJJ school on Rock Springs WY (where I will be tomorrow) does not have evening classes on Saturdays. Good trip so far, and once we get west of Cheyenne on 80, it will be a new stretch of road for me. Looking forward to driving past the Bonneville Salt Flats.
I don’t have a specific goal with this thread, just bored at the moment and figured this would give me a reason to pop in here as we stop along the way.
 

silentsinger

Momofuku
Jun 23, 2015
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I loved mine from VA to CA, treasure it. Many people would love to do what you’re doing.

Why are you doing it?
 

SC MMA MD

TMMAC Addict
Jan 20, 2015
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I loved mine from VA to CA, treasure it. Many people would love to do what you’re doing.

Why are you doing it?
Family Vacation, hitting the national parks in Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Montana and North Dakota. Washington and Oregon are the only two states of the lower 48 I have not been to. A friend of mine (the only person I keep up with at all from high school and college) lives in Oregon, so we are going to meet up with his family as well.
 

silentsinger

Momofuku
Jun 23, 2015
21,038
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I meant for you to treasure it. Not that I treasure it, as much as I do.

How long are you taking to do it? The National Parks you're seeing sound beautiful. I did mine in 8 days, I'd love to do a different route over 3 weeks. I was nly in Nashville for a night and I wanted to stay for a week.
 

SC MMA MD

TMMAC Addict
Jan 20, 2015
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I meant for you to treasure it. Not that I treasure it, as much as I do.

How long are you taking to do it? The National Parks you're seeing sound beautiful. I did mine in 8 days, I'd love to do a different route over 3 weeks. I was nly in Nashville for a night and I wanted to stay for a week.
We are going from SC to CA in 4 days, but then wandering around the Northwest and northern states for almost 2 weeks.
This is my 4 trip from SC to the West, so I am just putting in miles until we hit the mountains and start going through new territory for me.
I would be happy just driving across the country, long drives (in the rural parts of the US without heavy traffic) are something I look forward to. I have not been disappoint in a National Park yet, so I am really looking forward to the ones we are going to hit this year. These trips are great family time. My oldest starts 9th grade next school year, so i can already hear the clock ticking...
 

silentsinger

Momofuku
Jun 23, 2015
21,038
14,484
We are going from SC to CA in 4 days, but then wandering around the Northwest and northern states for almost 2 weeks.
This is my 4 trip from SC to the West, so I am just putting in miles until we hit the mountains and start going through new territory for me.
I would be happy just driving across the country, long drives (in the rural parts of the US without heavy traffic) are something I look forward to. I have not been disappoint in a National Park yet, so I am really looking forward to the ones we are going to hit this year. These trips are great family time. My oldest starts 9th grade next school year, so i can already hear the clock ticking...
Awwwww! That sounds so lovely. I really wanted to stop at Joshua Tree but had to press on. I would have loved to have spent a few days there. It’s beautiful how you see the US change so much within a few hours.
 

SC MMA MD

TMMAC Addict
Jan 20, 2015
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Awwwww! That sounds so lovely. I really wanted to stop at Joshua Tree but had to press on. I would have loved to have spent a few days there. It’s beautiful how you see the US change so much within a few hours.
It is really amazing how big, and how geographically varied, this country is.
 

silentsinger

Momofuku
Jun 23, 2015
21,038
14,484
It is really amazing how big, and how geographically varied, this country is.
I think my favourite was driving from Albuquerque to Arizona for 8 or so hours. Okay it wasn’t hugely different terrain wise for a lot of it but when you got to the mountains. Just stunning. And I was the one driving, dammit!
Enjoy it, I didn’t know you guys that much back then so it would have all fell on deaf ears (eyes) documenting pics but we’d really like to see it.
 

sparkuri

Pulse On The Finger Of The Community
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
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I love road trips. If I had time I spend an entire year just bouncing around, it's a beautiful country.
If you head near Seattle/Cascades Mt. Baker National Forest I'll most definitely catch up with you.
Maybe mysticmac @mysticmac would be down for a camp out.
Summers here as good as anywhere on earth.
I've spent my life here so I'd be happy to help be as informative as I can on hotspots and area secrets.
 

Rambo John J

Eats things that would make a Billy Goat Puke
First 100
Jan 17, 2015
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I love road trips. If I had time I spend an entire year just bouncing around, it's a beautiful country.
If you head near Seattle/Cascades Mt. Baker National Forest I'll most definitely catch up with you.
Maybe mysticmac @mysticmac would be down for a camp out.
Summers here as good as anywhere on earth.
I've spent my life here so I'd be happy to help be as informative as I can on hotspots and area secrets.
noice
We are going from SC to CA in 4 days, but then wandering around the Northwest and northern states for almost 2 weeks.
This is my 4 trip from SC to the West, so I am just putting in miles until we hit the mountains and start going through new territory for me.
I would be happy just driving across the country, long drives (in the rural parts of the US without heavy traffic) are something I look forward to. I have not been disappoint in a National Park yet, so I am really looking forward to the ones we are going to hit this year. These trips are great family time. My oldest starts 9th grade next school year, so i can already hear the clock ticking...
rain for next 2.5 days in NW but after that it should be great and not too hot

enjoy
 

Rambo John J

Eats things that would make a Billy Goat Puke
First 100
Jan 17, 2015
71,542
71,465
Family Vacation, hitting the national parks in Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Montana and North Dakota. Washington and Oregon are the only two states of the lower 48 I have not been to. A friend of mine (the only person I keep up with at all from high school and college) lives in Oregon, so we are going to meet up with his family as well.
I rock oregon...little bit of every thing here
 

SC MMA MD

TMMAC Addict
Jan 20, 2015
5,715
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We had a little drama on the way to WY today. My truck turned past 250,000 miles, and then it celebrated by blowing out a brand new front tire. I announced “let’s let AAA deal with it”, and the universe laughed as there was no cell service. Shortly after I started changing the tire, Trooper CJ Hobbs pulled up and put his lights on to reduce the chances of me suddenly becoming significantly thinner. We made it to Rock Springs without further drama. Hopefully, I can get a new tire at the Walmart here when their tire center opens at 07:00 tomorrow.
That makes 2 flats out of two brand new tires bought at the dealership at the same time. The first went flat this past Monday at my office due to the valve stem being wedged


between the rim and hubcap when they installed the tire, and this one appears to have separated from the rim at the bead, possibly secondary to a damaged sidewall (unclear which came first, but the tire looked fine an hour earlier when we stopped for lunch and there is no apparent cuts/punctures/foreign objects).
On to Reno, NV tomorrow.
 

SC MMA MD

TMMAC Addict
Jan 20, 2015
5,715
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Is such a trip dangerous at all? What have you for protection?
A trip across the US is no more dangerous than being at home or going to a different city for a game or show.
By FAR the most dangerous thing on this trip is the other vehicles on the road or other road hazards (like my blowout today).
There are not roving bands of outlaws maurading around.
 

sparkuri

Pulse On The Finger Of The Community
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
34,420
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We had a little drama on the way to WY today. My truck turned past 250,000 miles, and then it celebrated by blowing out a brand new front tire. I announced “let’s let AAA deal with it”, and the universe laughed as there was no cell service. Shortly after I started changing the tire, Trooper CJ Hobbs pulled up and put his lights on to reduce the chances of me suddenly becoming significantly thinner. We made it to Rock Springs without further drama. Hopefully, I can get a new tire at the Walmart here when their tire center opens at 07:00 tomorrow.
That makes 2 flats out of two brand new tires bought at the dealership at the same time. The first went flat this past Monday at my office due to the valve stem being wedged


between the rim and hubcap when they installed the tire, and this one appears to have separated from the rim at the bead, possibly secondary to a damaged sidewall (unclear which came first, but the tire looked fine an hour earlier when we stopped for lunch and there is no apparent cuts/punctures/foreign objects).
On to Reno, NV tomorrow.
Murphy's law

I did San Jose from Everett, WA last month, took the truck in for an oil change & car wash/vacuum preliminarily.
I get it the next morning and I'm off.
Then I noticed they did a crap job of car washing, didn't even touch the top of the vehicle, nor did they vacuum. And, the check engine light is on.
And why didn't they attempt to wash the top?
Because when spraying it down, someone, I assume, took the wash wand and gouged a 2-foot scrape down my rear passenger panel. Then they bailed on it.
I called them about it, "so sorry, bring it in & when you're back in town and we'll fix it"
OK, back in town, drop it off Wednesday, walk 2 miles home and wait for word.
Word comes in the form of a phone call, telling me "so sorry, we forgot our body guy is out till NEXT Wednesday, we're sorry for everything, you get a full detail on us.
Next Wednesday turns into next Wednesday & Thursday, I get it back and all they did was paint and buff, dent is still there.
Now I'm waiting for a call for the last 10 days from the body shop, all for a preliminary oil change.


Nice truck btw.
 

Splinty

Shake 'em off
Admin
Dec 31, 2014
44,116
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Seems you are avoiding Texas.
I get it. You wouldn't want to regret going back home later.





Have a good trip! Looks amazing
 

SC MMA MD

TMMAC Addict
Jan 20, 2015
5,715
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Seems you are avoiding Texas.
I get it. You wouldn't want to regret going back home later.





Have a good trip! Looks amazing
Lol. Texas is not usually part of a drive from SC to the Pacific Northwest; besides, I drive out to Dallas at least twice a year.
 

Wild

Zi Nazi
Admin
Dec 31, 2014
85,004
123,331
Family Vacation, hitting the national parks in Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Montana and North Dakota. Washington and Oregon are the only two states of the lower 48 I have not been to. A friend of mine (the only person I keep up with at all from high school and college) lives in Oregon, so we are going to meet up with his family as well.
That should be a blast.
 

otaku1

TMMAC Addict
Jul 16, 2015
4,649
5,893

A trip across the US is no more dangerous than being at home or going to a different city for a game or show.
By FAR the most dangerous thing on this trip is the other vehicles on the road or other road hazards (like my blowout today).
There are not roving bands of outlaws maurading around.
Oh yeah?
 

Banchan

The Most Dangerous Dame
Oct 2, 2017
4,515
2,905
A trip across the US is no more dangerous than being at home or going to a different city for a game or show.
By FAR the most dangerous thing on this trip is the other vehicles on the road or other road hazards (like my blowout today).
There are not roving bands of outlaws maurading around.
Oh yeah? x2

 

La Paix

Fuck this place
First 100
Jan 14, 2015
38,273
64,597
We had a little drama on the way to WY today. My truck turned past 250,000 miles, and then it celebrated by blowing out a brand new front tire. I announced “let’s let AAA deal with it”, and the universe laughed as there was no cell service. Shortly after I started changing the tire, Trooper CJ Hobbs pulled up and put his lights on to reduce the chances of me suddenly becoming significantly thinner. We made it to Rock Springs without further drama. Hopefully, I can get a new tire at the Walmart here when their tire center opens at 07:00 tomorrow.
That makes 2 flats out of two brand new tires bought at the dealership at the same time. The first went flat this past Monday at my office due to the valve stem being wedged


between the rim and hubcap when they installed the tire, and this one appears to have separated from the rim at the bead, possibly secondary to a damaged sidewall (unclear which came first, but the tire looked fine an hour earlier when we stopped for lunch and there is no apparent cuts/punctures/foreign objects).
On to Reno, NV tomorrow.
Beautiful truck man and awesome you're doing this trip. You ever been to the Badlands? If you haven't spent much time in the PNW you're going to love it. Oregon has some great beaches and craft breweries.
 

SC MMA MD

TMMAC Addict
Jan 20, 2015
5,715
10,841
Beautiful truck man and awesome you're doing this trip. You ever been to the Badlands? If you haven't spent much time in the PNW you're going to love it. Oregon has some great beaches and craft breweries.
Went through the Badlands 2 years back.