#WayBackWednesday - Part 2 of 4: The Four Trips that Started it All
QUICK FACTS
What: MMK XC Tour Part Deux
When: 2/28/2008 - 3/9/2008
Where: Across 18 states
Who: Mike (me), Kevin (friend & roommate), and Matt (friend & roommate)
Vehicle: 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis (it was an "upgrade" and a gas guzzler)
FIRSTS
Pacific Ocean
Redwoods
Death Valley
Las Vegas
STATES
Michigan
Indiana
Illinois
Iowa
South Dakota
Wyoming
Montana
Idaho
Washington
Oregon
California
Nevada
Arizona
New Mexico
Texas
Arkansas
Oklahoma
Missouri
INTRODUCTION
A lot can be learned in one year and that is certainly true with road trips and other forms of adventure. We had a great time in 2007, saw plenty of random places, had some first time experiences, but ultimately wanted more for our next trip. In 2008 we follow through by researching and planning stops at more places, adding destinations along the way, and driving even further than before. More notes were recorded, more observations made, and more photos were taken to remember the experience a little better than the year before.
Since the last trip, we’d all moved in together and were officially roommates in a house in the suburbs of our college campus. Living together made planning the trip easier and definitely created a new dynamic. Before, Kevin and I had only seen Matt occasionally and now we all shared a house together every day. We had a countdown in our kitchen, had purchased stuff to take with us, and spent evenings reminiscing about 2007 in preparation for the next big adventure.
GRAND RAPIDS (home) to SEATTLE
The first leg of the trip was going to be a long one. We wanted to get out west as soon as possible and we knew it would require about 32-36 hours in the car. We left on a Thursday afternoon and arrived in Issaquah, Washington on Friday very late, probably technically Saturday the first of March. We didn’t have any concerts or stops planned between Michigan and Washington, except to see if Mt. Rushmore would be open whenever we sailed through which happened to be 4am when it was definitely closed.
It was sunny and cold in Michigan, with our giant car packed and the mixed CDs stashed, we were on the road headed south towards Chicago. We made it through the Greater Chicago area, onward to Iowa in the afternoon. This year was no different than last year with the winter storms rolling through the plains days before and the roads being residually icy. We saw more semi trucks and cars still in the ditch this year but made it through unscathed. Day quickly turned to night and we were rolling with as few stops as possible.
We entered South Dakota in the early morning which meant no Mt. Rushmore but we did see every star in the sky as we cruised at 84 MPH down I-90. I made a specific note about the speed we set and about how surprised I was at the night sky throughout South Dakota. One more thing thing to note about the sparseness South Dakota -- we almost ran out of gas and it was hilarious and made our hearts race. We were driving along, through the darkness and the gas light came on. We pulled into one place, which appeared to be open or at least have their pumps on, and none of that was true so we had to get back on the highway and keep looking. We were searching on our Microsoft Streets and Trips the best we could, but not finding much anywhere ahead and so we just set the cruise down to a more conservative speed and kept our eyes open. The outlook was grim and we had accepted our fate of running out of gas in the middle of nowhere when out of the darkness there was a shining light of angelic proportions (not really, but you get the point) and we exited the freeway to open gas pumps! It’s funny how things work like this, stay tuned for a less fortunate story from the road trip of 2009.
We drove through the northeast corner of Wyoming and the pink sunrise hit the snow dusted hills in a magical way. A breakfast and Walmart stop was made in Gillette, and we marveled at the decoration on the side of the building being a scene with bison. We thought it classed the place up a bit. Moving right along, we were in Montana before we knew it. The beauty of Montana, when we started to see the mountains, was remarkable and the pictures we had did it no justice. Upward and onwards into the narrow bit of northern Idaho we went and were amazed at the scenic drive through Coeur d’Alene. Spokane, which was noted as one of the cleanest places we stopped, was fun to briefly explore. We had to keep pushing through, as this was the point in the trip when we started to get tired of the car and each other.
Tensions were high, attitudes were flared, but we kept going as it got dark and we hit the Cascade Mountain range. The extra large, rear wheel drive Mercury Grand Marquis was not handling well when we hit slushy weather at Snoqualmie Pass. It didn’t get any easier moving forward nor did the weather let up, but Kevin was driving like a champ. He steered us through it all and landed us down in Issaquah without dying! We checked into a Motel 6, slept it off, and started March with a better outlook and better attitudes.
SEATTLE TO OREGON
Seattle was a dream and I can remember meandering through the city like it was yesterday. I can see the buildings, the streets, the marketplace, everything. The weather was cloudy thus making it the stereotypical day in Seattle for our first visit. We drove through the tall buildings looking around and trying to find a place to park. We parked at Pike Place Market and explored that area. The outside smelled like fish and sea air while the inside was warm and cozy. We got coffee and a mug from the first Starbucks store and then made our way around walking to the Space Needle and seeing Komo Plaza among other things I can’t remember or name from the photos. This area of Seattle is full of museums, points of interest, and sights to see. After making our way back to the car, we drove past Safeco Field and then hit the freeway.
We took I-5 down towards Olympia and picked up US-101 towards the coast. I noted in our book that gas was expensive on the west coast, and about $3.44/gallon in Olympia. As we drove through Washington, we got our first glimpse at the sun and also the greenery that is the Pacific Northwest. Our first major stop after Seattle was a the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. It’s safe to say this was our first National Wildlife Refuge and it was a great way to start off the scenic tour that was the Pacific Coast. Highway 101 through the wildlife refuge was beautiful and curvy and we stopped so many times to get photos. Leaving the refuge, the highway went down through a few more towns and a tunnel (exciting) before the Megler-Astoria Bridge into Oregon. The bridge is a spectacular sight - green and mighty and spanning between the two states. We were officially in Oregon and I was officially in love with the Pacific Northwest.
THE OREGON COAST
Starting from Astoria and going down the coast, we were in continuous amazement at every mile. Our first big stop was at Arcadia Beach. It was the late afternoon and it was our only Oregon stop for the day, since starting in Seattle. We spent an hour on the beach taking photos and soaking up the views. It was a sun drenched afternoon but the temperature was cool and the wind strong, which made the beach even better. My kind of beach day does not involve baking in the sun or having to take my shirt off, so the Oregon Coast has my vote for beach day any day.
We drove a bit further down the coast and decided to stay in the Econo Lodge in Newport, Oregon. It was halfway through the state and a good starting point for the next morning as we headed into California.
I still remember the morning leaving Newport along the coast - dewy, moist, foggy, sunny, and magical. The smell was fresh and the breeze a bit chilly as we headed south with the windows open. From this day forward I became OBSESSED with Oregon, the Pacific Northwest, the Pacific Coast, and everything related to those things. From Newport, the magic of the Oregon Coast continued with our next stop at Devil’s Churn. Devil’s Churn has been a highlight of the Oregon Coastline that I tell everyone about. It’s an inlet, very narrow, into a cliff where the sea crashes in and sprays. On this trip, it was easily one of the coolest things we saw. We spent a good chunk of time at Devil’s Churn before continuing south towards California.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TO LAS VEGAS
As we crossed the border into California, we saw a liquor store called All Star Liquors. We were in need of some libations for our hotel later, so we decided to stop in to see what they had. We were astonished to see the prices the lowest we’d ever seen, and we stocked up. I only include this tidbit of information as it is important to know we stocked up at later hotel stays when said liquor is consumed. We stopped at a few places, that I can’t quite pinpoint, and then landed at the Redwoods. This was our first National Park on the trip and we were awestruck. We went to the Big Tree wayside, walked a little on a hiking trail and drove the Newton B. Drury scenic drive in full. The size of these trees was beyond comprehension and our necks were sore from constantly looking up. Spending the day along the coast and in the trees left us ready to relax so we spent the night at a Best Western in Eureka, California. This hotel was an upgrade for us from our usual Motel 6 or similar style property and we took full advantage of every hotel amenity. This place had an indoor/outdoor pool, a hot tub, a sauna, the most comfortable beds, and free breakfast. I remember this hotel specifically for the pool, though, because we thought it was so cool that we could swim outside, under a half wall of glass. This trip just kept getting better and better and we were on cloud nine by this point.
We departed the next morning with San Francisco as the destination. We took Highway 101 South and made our way through the Humboldt redwoods and even drove through the Chandelier Tree in Leggett. Instead of continuing down 101, we opted for California 1 down the coast. On this route we curved through coastal trees, encountered free range “happy cows” along the road, and experienced the tourism of small coastal towns. CA-1 was taking forever, due to the little towns, so we took a road through the mountains, through Boonville, and back to 101/I-5. The Golden Gate Bridge Recreation Area was our next stop. We walked around the fort, took photos of the city and bridge, and just enjoyed the fact that it was a sunny afternoon in the highlands. From the highlands we descended into the city to explore before having to go find a hotel for the night. We ended up in the Business District for a couple of hours until making our way back to the car. San Francisco was a lot like Seattle, large and overwhelming but beautiful and different for us small city people.
We found the freeway out of town, into Silicon Valley, and decided to find somewhere to eat first. We went to a Chili’s. Kevin ordered a Labatt Blue (a popular Canadian beer we got in Michigan all the time) and the lady took the order with Matt and I’s and hurried off. She came back with our beers, and asked Kevin “what’s in a Labatt Blue, our bartender has never heard of it!” We looked puzzled, laughed, and explained it was a kind of beer. Apparently, California doesn’t get Labatt Blue, or didn’t at the time of this trip. It was our first taste of regional differences and it was just notably funny for us. We ate our food and moved along to King City to spend the night in a Motel 6 and break open that liquor we purchased. We drank, we were merry, and we played quarter bounce on a nightstand - oh to be young. I think we went to bed, after wandering to a gas station for snacks, the details of the night are fuzzy at this point. Death Valley and Vegas were on the agenda as our next big stops, but we had to get there first.
We woke up in King City and headed south a bit more and then east towards Bakersfield. We were trying to get closer to Death Valley, but didn’t have a real plan for that other than just driving through. It took all day to get to Bakersfield and through the Kern River Valley to Ridgecrest, so we’d be positioned for a quick morning drive to spend the next day in Death Valley. The Kern River Valley was a real treat and we got a taste of the Giant Sequoias famous in those parts. The drive along the Kern River was winding and sunny and was a welcomed surprise after the almond fields and brown landscape around Bakersfield. Ridgecrest was back to brown, but we spent our time at the bowling alley and in our hotel room enjoying more libations.
We woke up and got to Death Valley National Park in the late morning. It was cool and breezy, though very sunny. We entered the park at Panamint Springs and drove to Stovepipe Wells and then down to Badwater Basin. I’m going to preface this next part by saying that I personally had no idea the desert could be in bloom or that it was an event treasured by many. Flowers started to appear the closer we got to Badwater Basin and eventually it was a sea of yellow. The desert was experiencing a major bloom and we just happened upon it at the right time. We saw the lowest point in North America and then started our journey out of the park and on to Las Vegas. We exited and drove through a town called Pahrump, NV and had to laugh because we’re children inside. After a long day of driving, exploring, and desert surprises we checked in to the Mirage in Sin City.
LAS VEGAS TO MICHIGAN
We decided to stay at the Mirage hotel because of my suggestion. My grandparents used to stay there for conferences and I’d always get stationary from them so it was a familiar place and the price for a room wasn’t too bad either. The room had strip views, was on a high floor, and had two beds so we were all set. Never had we ever been to a party like Las Vegas. The casinos were one thing, we had casinos in Michigan, but the ability to publicly drink and walk around was mind blowing. The “literature” and “trading cards” that were being handed out were obscene and amazing and the whole energy was overwhelming in a good way. We went to Paris and got souvenir Eiffel Towers filled with daiquiri and margarita and wandered up and down the strip. We swam in the Mirage pool the next morning before departing for the Hoover Dam, and I remember it being brisk and refreshing and cooler than we anticipated. The Hoover Dam was impressive, and we got to see one of the turbines out for repair which was rare. At this point in time, they were just starting the new bypass bridge and it was neat to see the construction. We moved along with Flagstaff as our next stop.
The sun was setting behind us, the air was growing cooler as we moved forward, and we were almost to Flagstaff when we were pulled over. Reading back to the previous post, I failed to mention that while in Texas were pulled over for doing 78 in a 70 and were issued a written warning. It was funny, but we slowed down. This time, we were going about 72 in a 70 and were pulled over on I-40 just a few exits before Flagstaff - when the elevation really climbed and the trees were plentiful. We did all the right things: had our hands visible, Matt had his license ready, and we had our rental paperwork. The officer took Matt’s license and started the routine and asked Matt to step out of the car and answer questions at the patrol vehicle. The conversation started off normally with the usual “do you know why I pulled you over?” and “where are you headed?” questions. We were told going 2-3 mph over the speed limit was dangerous, as there were deer in the area. Then, it got weird. The officer asked if were on drugs or had any drugs in the car, to which we replied no. He asked why we had the strong scent of a pine air freshener in the car and we had to explain that three guys on a cross country tour really can stink up the place. The officer kept pressing about the drugs and if the air freshener was a cover up for the drugs we were smoking. The only drugs we had were my prescription and some alcohol, which were both in the trunk, so we started to just feel very uncomfortable. He finally let us go when we didn’t change a word we said. We were issued a warning for going over the speed limit (by 2 mph) and sent on our way.
We opted for another Best Western as we felt we deserved it after a couple of Motel 6 stays and that run in with the law. We wandered over to The Museum Club, a log cabin looking bar, and bought three drinks at a time, as it was easier that way. We proceeded to be asked to leave unless we bought tickets to see the rapper Afroman, so we bought tickets and decided stay. We knew his stuff, thought it would be fun, and got in on that action. We kept drinking, got some food from the food truck/whatever outside, and waited for the show. His opening act came out, we weren’t familiar so we kept waiting with a few more drinks in hand. By the time Afroman came on stage, we were in no mood to stay and needed to leave. We heard one or two of his songs and snuck out. Once back at the hotel, we cleaned up and prepared to battle it out with more booze and drinking games. It was a long night and there were many arguments of which whiskey was better between Matt and Kevin. The next day was rough, and I was the only one fit enough to drive in the morning. I made many stops throughout Arizona and New Mexico so the guys could take a break and regain their senses. It was starting to look like it would be a long drive home. I specifically remember getting McDonald’s at some point between Flagstaff and Amarillo, but I couldn’t tell you where that was.
Our main goal was to drive through until we got home, with a stop in St. Louis for the Gateway Arch and Budweiser Brewing. We basically took I-40 from Flagstaff all the way through to Oklahoma and then it got weird because we were tired and we wanted to also include Arkansas in our state count so we went out of the way to drive through the northwest corner. The only thing I truly remember about this portion of the night was finding a retro looking Denny’s in the middle of nowhere and eating there, or maybe not eating there? I have no idea. We made it to St. Louis by daybreak and visited the brewery and drove by the arch, but did not go up. We ate an Applebee's just over the river into Illinois and then booked it home. We were tired, burned out, and ready to off the road at this point.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This trip was planned to the max, with freedom in between the main points which is how I like to travel. We took hundreds, if not thousands, of pictures which was far more than the year prior. Our notes were not great, but they were existent which was miles ahead of the original tour. The feeling of freedom was still there, but it was not exactly like the first trip. We had more booze, more hotel stays, and more overall adventure, but none of it felt quite like the first time. I realized this trip could not recreate the first one, but it sure did build on it and introduced me to National Parks and the Pacific Northwest.
If you look at overall adventure, this trip had it all. We encountered urban areas, scenic beauty, the ocean, the desert, the high desert, and the plains. We spent a lot of time driving, and maybe too much time together in the car because of it. This trip had a lot of tension in the beginning, but since we were stuck together for ten days we worked it out and got over ourselves. We learned to love every minute and we tried to compromise to meet everyone’s expectations. I think this trip helped me learn a lot about what I wanted out of a road trip and if you come back next week you’ll see a lot of that knowledge was applied to 2009.
Though this trip was more purposeful, we still didn’t take enough notes or photos to recall everything. Not recalling everything isn’t always a bad thing, but it is nice to have some points of reference beyond just the memories.
Come back here next week and I’ll share Part Three of Four - the 2009 road trip.
#MondayMotivation - Looking Forward (to it)
I've talked before about how having something to look forward to really helps motivate me to push through and this week is no different. As I sit here, I have less than 5 days until I board a plane and meet my BFF in Salt Lake City for a weekend of adventure. Last year, when I was going to book a trip alone, I invited her and since we had such a good time we decided to make it an annual thing. I have been looking forward to this trip for weeks, if not months, and now that it's finally here I'm so excited and in such an extra good mood as a result.
In a little less than three weeks I'll be boarding a plane to Michigan for an extended Labor Day weekend. I get to hike, see my family, and hopefully take a quick dip in the lake. All of these things to look forward to are privileges and I'm aware of how lucky I am to have them. I don't always have the time or money to adventure so here are the main things I look forward to that keep me going:
- A day off from work
- That moment you get home from work and walk through the door unloading your crap, taking your shoes off, and then changing into comfy clothes
- Dinner (especially if my other half makes it)
- A funny TV show or anything on Food Network as a mindless escape
- A walk to the mailbox with the dog
- Maybe, maybe, exercising... this may be a stretch, or maybe I'm glad when it's over?
- A hike at a local trail
- A scheduled friend phone call
- Rocking out to my jams in the car
- Listening to NPR in the morning
- Smelling the coffee brewing as I am getting out of bed
- Meatloaf the cat bugging me for food in the morning
- Reading through articles about nature and outdoorsy stuff
Find the little things that keep you going. Find happiness in the simple things. Find happiness in complex things... just find something that makes you happy and add it to your day as something to look forward to. Recently, I started a free online course to improve my skills and now I look forward to learning again. Really, the possibilities are endless.
Life isn't always fun, fair, or balanced but if we try we can find things to look forward to and enjoy along the way.
#ForestFriday - Santa Fe National Forest (special repeat)
I recently did a tribute to the Santa Fe National Forest for Forest Friday, but here's another because it's fresh off the brain from our recent trip. Here are a few views from our campsite, from the evening. Enjoy and I hope you can find the forest this weekend!
#WayBackWednesday - Part 1 of 4: The Four Trips that Started it All
QUICK FACTS
What: MMK XC Tour (The Original)
When: March 2, 2007 through March 11, 2007
Where: Across 21 states
Who: Mike (me), Kevin (my friend & roommate), and Matt (friend)
Vehicle: 2007 Chevy Impala - white with a sunroof
FIRSTS
Car Rental
Mountains
Cross country road trip
Atlantic Ocean
Palm Trees
Crossing the Mississippi River
STATES
Michigan
Indiana
Illinois
Iowa
Nebraska
Colorado
Utah
Arizona
New Mexico
Texas
Arkansas
Louisiana
Mississippi
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
South Carolina
North Carolina
Virginia
West Virginia
Ohio
INTRODUCTION
The original. Number One. The one trip that can be replicated, but only in a physical sense. The MMK XC Tour of 2007. I can’t even put into words how excited this trip made us feel at the time, or as it happened, but I’m going to try. We were young, ready for adventure, and seemingly unstoppable.
This trip started with very few details, but had some main points of interest: We had a concert to attend in Chicago; plans to watch the newly released movie Wild Hogs along the way; plans to meet up with my friend in Grand Junction, Colorado; and then plans visit my grandparents in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The path between those points was uncharted, for the most part, and would be left open to whichever way the wind blew that day. We had Microsoft Streets & Trips with a GPS plug in and a laptop to track our route, a paper atlas for our main navigation, and plenty of music on discs we burned days before.
With little experience traveling beyond the bubble of the Great Lakes, the sense of adventure was running high from mile one. We had been as far as Chicago, but had no idea what to expect beyond that. We had no idea it was going to be so flat and boring from Chicago to Denver and we had no idea how big the Rocky Mountains were going to be until we were driving through them. The red rocks of western Colorado and Utah were strange to us, and the desert of New Mexico was like a different planet.
GRAND RAPIDS (home) to CHICAGO
We left Allendale, MI (technically where we lived, just west of Grand Rapids) on Friday, March 2 for Chicago. We were going to see Nickelback at Allstate Arena while they were on their “All The Right Reasons” tour. Yes, Nickelback. No, I will not take any crap for that. Performing with Nickelback was Three Days Grace and Breaking Benjamin. It was a good show, that much I do recall, and very loud. We pregamed the concert at a Chili’s nearby, drinking our Coors Light and still not realizing we were on the road trip of a lifetime.
On March 3 we met our friend that lived in DeKalb, IL for lunch at Fatty's Pub. I noted that the Cajun potato salad was the best, so if you’re in DeKalb check it out and let me know - this was 11 years ago so I can’t promise anything. There are pictures of us doing shots, probably one with an offensive name that has Baileys, Jameson, and Guinness and pictures of the Fatty's sign because it was an the style of a shamrock. Kevin was playing the arcade Big Buck Hunter and it became a “thing” whenever it was spotted somewhere along the way. We said goodbye and continued west.
CHICAGO TO GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO
We started west as the sun was setting. Illinois became Iowa, and it was the first time for us to drive over the Mississippi. It was kind of a big deal for a minute, and it was worth a few photos. I-88 turned into I-80 and we were in one of the flattest places we’d seen. On March 1st, a blizzard had moved through Nebraska and Iowa causing accidents along the freeway that were still there when we passed through days later.
After a long day of driving we stopped in Des Moines for dinner and a movie. Wild Hogs was just released in the US and we were dying to see it. The idea behind the movie may have inspired this road trip, but those details are fuzzy. In Wild Hogs four longtime friends finally set aside the time and take a cross country road trip on their motorcycles. We are only three guys, all we have is a Chevy Impala, but we’re headed across the country. I remember enjoying the movie and being the one to drive that night. We talked about the movie and one thing led to another and it was decided that we’d find the town from the movie when we got down to New Mexico. We had to see if Madrid, NM was anything like the movie version, and it fit our overall theme for this trip to take the detour.
We drove across Iowa, then Nebraska, all in the darkness of night. It was pretty straightforward, follow I-80 then head southwest on I-76. We crossed into Colorado early in the morning, hitting Denver after sunrise. The Coors Brewery, in Golden, was still closed, so we kept pushing west and that’s when it hit us - the mountains. We’d been seeing them as we crept around the north side of Denver, but there they were right on the road in front of us. We had the perfect weather for seeing mountains for the first time - sunny with blue skies and mild temps.
After going through our first mountain tunnel, our first big stop in the Rockies was Georgetown, Co. We went to the Gateway Visitor Center and took a few minutes to let all of the scenery sink in. As we carried on, the mountains were getting bigger and we went through the long more impressive Eisenhower Tunnel, which was so exciting I took a video. Think about it, you’re driving THROUGH a mountain, how cool is that?
I can still remember our rest stop just west of Silverthorne, CO looking at the mountains and at each other with amazement in our eyes. It was a surreal experience: the breeze blowing, sun shining, and the Rockies all around us. Seeing the snow capped mountains, and standing in snow ourselves, was amazing but it just got better and better as we kept going. Winding west, we passed Vail and Glenwood Springs and began the transition into the Western Slope where the mountains were a little smaller and the rocks a little more red. We ended this leg of the trip at the Motel 6 in Grand Junction in the afternoon. We met up with my friend, who had recently relocated from Michigan, and went bowling in the evening. All in all, a good ending to one long and scenic drive.
GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO TO TERRELL, TEXAS
It was nice to see a familiar face along the cross country journey, but it was time for us to move on. We hopped back on I-70 and pointed that Impala west. We were soon entering Utah, and found one of my favorite rest stops to this day. It had vault toilets and a nice path to a scenic view, what more could you want? We had fun here, took a minute, and just enjoyed the sunshine.
Moving along, we wanted to go south towards New Mexico, so we exited I-70 and found ourselves on US-191 driving right past Arches, Canyonlands, and various other scenic gems. This trip had no real plan and the more I research what our motives were, the less I find any at all. We were less aware of where we were going and what we could have seen, and more focused on just being out and driving as far as we could without trouble. One place we knew we wanted to see was the famous Four Corners. We wanted to stand at the point where four states met and see how that felt. Unfortunately, we arrived thirty minutes after the place closed. This trip was during a time before smartphones helped us know everything at all times; we were bummed but carried on.
To get to Four Corners we decided to go down through Arizona, to also add to our state count, and then back up towards Colorado. We turned sound and went into New Mexico and decided it would be a good idea to find the town from Wild Hogs. Madrid, NM was just south of Santa Fe and we pointed the car in that direction. We ended up taking some less than smooth back roads, driving the rental car through a pothole the size of the car, and trying our best to follow the guidance of our atlas and Microsoft Streets & Trips. I can’t be certain of the roads, as too much time has passed and the original file tracking our trip has gone missing, but I can assure you we found Madrid and it was very dark. Our judgment was: it looks nothing like the town from the movie. Looking back, it was dark and we had no idea what we were talking about because the movie was, in fact, shot right there in that town. Either way, we passed through and headed back to the freeway into Albuquerque. We connected with I-25, then I-40, and headed east to Amarillo, Texas. (Amarillo by morning plays as we drive)
We stop at IHOP in Amarillo. Shout out to IHOP and Denny’s for always being open which is great for three idiots on road trips at all hours of the night. We left IHOP full and happy, heading south as the sun was rising. We drove through Lubbock and ended up down on I-20 heading east. We hit Fort Worth and Dallas traffic that afternoon and crawled through the big cities that, unknown to me at the time, would be my home four years in the future. After sitting impatiently through Dallas traffic, we ended up Terrell at a Motel 6 because we needed some brews and some beds. This is one of the nights from this trip that never leaves my memory.
The front desk called more than once, Matt and Kevin may have jumped the fence to swim in the neighboring hotel’s pool, and too much beer may have been consumed. Terrell, Texas was just a preview of what was to come for the next two nights.
TERRELL, TEXAS TO GULF SHORES, ALABAMA
Our trek to Gulf Shores was easy and went by without any issues. We stopped in Louisiana to get photos at a rest stop, drove through New Orleans, through the tunnel in Mobile and then to Gulf Shores. New Orleans was recovering from Hurricane Katrina, and those sights were still quite astounding. When we got to the RV park where my grandparents were, they informed us they booked us a room at the Holiday Inn on the beach! What a nice surprise it was, because we were going to find some dumpy, cheap hotel and be just fine. Our room had an angled view of the ocean and there was a pool right on on the edge of the beach, it was the most “beach paradise” place I had experienced to date. We walked down the road to FloraBama, a bar on the state line nearby, and explored the beach from there.
This was the first time I had seen the ocean, ever, and it was more gorgeous than I could have imagined. The water was such a magnificent shade of blue or maybe turquoise, it changed with the light. The beach was a brilliant white and the water was cool, but not too cold. Being from the Great Lakes, we were used to cooler waters. As a group, we spent more time in the pool and hot tub than anything, and really soaked up the sun. When it got dark, the stars filled the sky above the ocean and it was one of those moments you can't’ forget. We ate like kings in Gulf Shores, as my grandparents were there and treated us to a meal cooked at the RV and a meal out at a very colorful, local place called Papa Rocco’s. I remember waiting forever to get in to Papa Rocco's and it being alive with music and laughter, I wonder if it's still that popular? After three days and two nights on the beach, we had to set off for our drive back to Michigan. I’m forever thankful for the experience my grandparents gave us with a beachfront hotel - really made the trip even more fun.
GULF SHORES, ALABAMA TO HOME
WIth only one real stop in Tallahassee at Florida State, we just spent the last miles driving up the east coast. At Florida State, we visited a friend who had moved from Michigan and then toured the campus. Matt really wanted to see the stadium, and so we did. It was a nice campus, much different than our own college, which is always fun to see.
We made our way up through Georgia, the Carolinas, the Virginias, Ohio, and then to Detroit. We saw a few funny, to us, signs and stopped at a few visitor centers, but nothing too exciting happened along this route. The route did allow for some mountain cruising and at least one tunnel, which was fun, though we did not really explore any of the natural beauty.
By the time we hit Ohio, we were ready to be back home. I can remember passing through as the sun was setting on the snowy farmland and it was bright and golden and it really felt like we were back in the Midwest.
LESSONS LEARNED FROM THIS TRIP
A little bit of planning could be a good thing. We missed beautiful places like National Parks and fun tourist attractions because we were winging it. Going forward, researching a few things ahead of time would welcomed.
A road journal is necessary. Quotes, points of interest, interesting observations, and a record of the trip are fun ways to look back and enjoy the memories even more. Also, a road journal would have seriously helped in writing this blog post.
Rental cars are the best because they’re not yours and you don’t have to worry about breakdowns, mileage, wear and tear, etc.
Photography through the windshield isn't always great. Stop, take it in, photograph it, and then move on. We just kept going and going and didn't really stop to take photos or take in a moment. Future trips had better photos, I promise!
The trip opened our eyes to the country and left us wanting more. By completing the tour around the USA, we felt empowered to do this again and to see more. It was something to talk about, something to brag about, and something to cherish forever. To this day, I still talk about this first trip around the country as the “big break” for me getting into adventuring and road trips. WIthout this experience, I wouldn’t have the next three spring break road trips and I wouldn’t have seen all of the places I have. I’d have no idea what was out there in the same way, by previewing it with my own eyes. The experience of driving, sleeping in the car, staying in motels, and tolerating passengers for 10 days is a life experience I would recommend to anyone wanting to do something different for their vacation.
Come back here next week and I’ll share Part Two of Four - the 2008 road trip.
#ForestFriday - Wild & Scenic
The Smith River is a Wild & Scenic River in Northern California. We found this river because we took a scenic drive through the Redwoods and ended up following it on US-199 on our way up to Oregon. Here are a few pictures of the river and surrounding forest. Enjoy!
#MondayMotivation - Journal Time!
In trying to write my big four part series of the road trips that started it all, I've been finding more and more little journals all over the place. I have some devoted to travel, one for thoughts, a few with scribbles that aren't important, and a few more that are just empty. Reading through has been helpful, insightful, and of course reflective.
Travel
I have three travel journals, I think there's one more somewhere though, because I tend to forget them when I actually travel. The original, started in 2008, documents the second, third, and fourth spring break trips, a trip to Minnesota and Michigan, and a few nights I was in West Texas for work. A second journal, bought in Alaska, has details from my 2017 trip to Alaska, a camping trip to New Mexico, the drive home from Portland, and my 2017 BFF trip last year to Utah. I have a THIRD journal is specific to my recent trip to the Olympic Peninsula earlier this year, and only has one or two pages of writing. I'm debating how to go forward with these journals. Obviously, step one, is to be more mindful about bringing a journal along and restricting myself from buying a new one. Step two is to remember to record things that pop into my head - either as a voice note or in the designated journal. Step three, probably the most important, is to slow down and take everything in. You can be efficient while enjoying everything and remembering it.
The original travel journal has a lot of funny quotes, phrases I can't quite understand, and writing from everyone on the trip. It is a special piece of the past and I honestly think I didn't really continue writing in it because trips like those didn't happen anymore. Making peace with the way things used to be and moving forward is what I'm doing and I'll continue to fill it in for years to come.
Thoughts
My thoughts journal is my most personal. It contains those thoughts you can't say aloud or to anyone else, but need to put them somewhere other than your head. This particular thought journal started in 2015 and has a few gaps in there, but has something from every year. When something is just too big, good or bad, I write it down. By writing it down, I'm breaking it apart and finding whatever it wholly is, it's just pieces put together.
The Motivation Part (or whatever)
I don't know how inspirational or motivating this post is, but it's just a way for me to highlight that writing or recording thoughts can be a helpful exercise in maintaining some clarity. If I didn't have the website, these journals, or my phone (for recording thoughts while driving), I'd probably be even more anxious and scatterbrained. I encourage anyone to scribble for a bit and see what it does for you. Maybe writing it all out will help organize your thoughts, or maybe it will do nothing for you. Either way, it's worth a shot.
#WayBackWednesday - The Four Trips that Started it All (A Preview)
Maybe it was due to the release of the movie "Wild Hogs" or maybe it was due to the fact that none of us had really been west of the Mississippi River, either way, one winter day it was decided that the three of us had to hit the road and see the country.
When I say the three of us I am referring to myself and my roommates Kevin and Matt. Kevin and I were roommates for nearly 10 years and Matt lived with us for a few of them. Kevin and I would road trip in the middle of the night for no reason, drive around Lake Michigan just to see how long it would take, and plow through a blizzard to IHOP 40 miles away at midnight just for coffee and breakfast. Before moving to college, Matt who is a friend from way back, would swing by my house at 10pm and we’d ride around rocking out to our jams and discussing life while winding down all of the back roads in two counties. It’s safe to say, these two were on board for adventures into the unknown.
Once it was decided that we’d take a road trip over spring break, the three of us decided to do a dry run for a few days around Lake Michigan in early January of 2007. Unlike my journey with Kevin, which was 15 hours, this would be relaxed and include hotels and sightseeing to mock a real road trip. We left one afternoon, drove up along the Lake Michigan coast and over eight hours later found ourselves at a cheap motel in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. We met a friend, got real local at a bar, and went to bed. From there we meandered down through Wisconsin and decided to drive all day and into the night until we made it home. The trip was a good idea overall by helping us understand our limits as far as driving, annoyances, and hotel quality.
From January to February it was all planning, booking, and just plain getting excited. The feeling you have when you know a road trip is on the horizon can’t be replicated; it’s almost overwhelming in the best way. We booked the car, found all of the Motel 6 locations, and discovered Microsoft Streets and Trips. Streets and Trips was a genius program, before Google Maps and such, that allowed you to create detailed road trips on a digital map with stops, length of day choices (a few hours or all night), average speed limit you’d be driving, gallons of gas your car held, and it had road construction updates. Streets and Trips was so cool, it had a USB GPS attachment that you could suction to the back window and track the route via a laptop - HOW COOL IS THAT? Google Maps is great, for saving locations, traffic, and discovering new places, but terrible for route planning in comparison to Streets and Trips. Rest in peace, old program, you’re still gold to me.
With everything booked and ready to go, we set off on our Spring Break Road Trip of 2007. We fondly named it the MMK Cross Country Tour and it could have easily been sponsored by Motel 6, Coors Light, and any number of gas stations with funny names. This road trip, the first big trip beyond the Great Lakes, was monumental in creating desire to adventure further and left us wanting more when we returned home. Over the next four weeks, I’ll highlight THE annual road trip from 2007-2010, introduce a few new people, and share endless stories and photos from the trips that shaped my adventurous spirit.
#MondayMotivation - Do What You Love.
I created this website to share my thoughts and adventures both for myself so I could remember them and for people who wanted to read about them. I don't force it upon people, though I do share links a lot, and I don't pressure anyone into reading the posts. I do this "blogging thing" because I want to. I enjoy writing pieces about myself, which makes it a little self-centered, and that's okay too because I pay the annual fees and I do all of the work. I want to write silly stories, share my sometimes beautiful photos from 10 years ago because I miss the good ole days, and make more memories to write about with the people I meet along the way. Pretty standard life stuff, right? Right. Goal achieved - do what you love and who cares about the rest.
Imagine the surprise and excitement I felt when I was asked to join a larger, more seasoned network of outdoor bloggers as a contributor. That's right, I'm officially a part of Epic Social as an Adventurer. Epic Social is a community of people connecting through the outdoors and everything that entails - product reviews, adventure recaps, words of wisdom, etc. Being a part of this larger organization allows me to learn skills in marketing, social networking, and writing while getting to share my stories to a larger audience. I'm so excited to see what I can bring to the table for the group and to see how I can be pushed creatively going forward. I'm pumped to have future projects, what can I say?
Because I started writing, just doing my thing, and following my thoughts I get to participate in something larger than my website alone. Because I just did it, stopped worrying and wondering and just did it, I get to do even cooler things than I ever thought possible. Do what you love, even if you don't think you're going to go anywhere. Do what you love, even if you don't get paid for it. Do what you love, even if it's on the side while you do something you don't love for the bills. Do what you love, and find that confidence within. You don't have to appeal to everyone, you don't have to be the best at everything, and you don't have to be the website with most views to do what you love. No matter what happens as I become involved with Epic Social, I'll still be here writing down my thoughts, taking okay pictures, and sharing my life on my website because I enjoy doing it. Follow along, join me, and do some epic shit.
#ForestFriday - Hoh Rain Forest
When I visited this area of Olympic National Park in March, I had sunny skies and mild temperatures. With my limited time, I opted to walk the Hall of Mosses trail and a little of the Hoh River trail. The drive in and out of the Hoh Rain Forest was a real treat, following the river with little openings exposing the mountains in the background. Enjoy the mosses, ferns, and trees from my quick, but beautiful trip.
#WayBackWednesday - GVSU Overexposed
Back in July of 2007, my friend Anne and I would stay up late and walk from her off-campus apartment to campus and wander around. We were creatures of the night who didn't sleep, loved to observe the night happenings, and needed the exercise. I had just purchased a new point and shoot camera, a Panasonic DMC-FX3 to be exact, and was taking hundreds of photos every week just because I could. I had never had a digital camera before, and this was before smartphones, so it was an exciting new toy for me. On one of our many walks to campus at night, I decided to use the "long exposure" setting on the camera and take some photos around campus. The range of exposure varied between 15 and 60 seconds. I edited them, only slightly, mainly to straighten them out as they were taken by being propped up on something because I didn't own a tripod. I adjusted the brightness on some, but didn't do too much else to enhance them at all.
These photos really take me back to the campus and brings up some good memories from my time at Grand Valley State University. The campus is situated along the Grand River, west of Grand Rapids in SW lower Michigan. We had corn fields, forests, and ravines surrounding us and it was glorious in the summer when everyone went home. Enjoy the photos from my trip down memory lane.
Kirkhof Center from across the pond (has since been remodeled and has additions)
The iconic Cook Carillon Clock Tower
A view towards the performing arts center
One of the gardens on campus - looking magical and alien in the overnight light
That same garden, from a different angle
An art piece on campus
Mighty Maple
An empty Little Mac Bridge which spans a large ravine through campus
Have they come to collect us?
2017 Subaru Outback - 1 Year Celebration!
July 7, 2018 marked the first year of life with Oliver the Outback. It’s been a beautiful year, filled with commutes and adventures, and I am beyond happy that I chose Subaru. At the one year mark, I had over 28,000 miles on the odometer and countless hours of rocking out to my jams. (Check out my 6-month update here)
Features I (still) Love
- Climate Control - The system has me cooled off before I leave the parking garage, it's fantastic and stays strong as the sun beats in on my hour long commute home. Good cooling goes a long way during Texas summers.
- Entertainment - My music has never sounded so good, and I've always had upgraded sound systems in my cars. I love the steering wheel controls and the Bluetooth connects swiftly every time.
- Visibility - Driving through traffic can be hazardous, but I have great lines of sight in the Outback that pair nicely with the safety features to ensure I get home in one piece.
- Safety - EyeSight has saved me more than once, both in alert and automatic braking, as well has eased commutes with adaptive cruise control for the less congested areas.
- Interior Design - Controls, handles, and storage are logically laid out and my RTIC tumbler fits perfectly in the cupholder
- Gas Mileage - With a large tank, long range, and excellent highway mileage, the Outback is designed for road trips. Added bonus, I only have to fill up once per week for commutes. Total win.
The Places We Went
- To Work - as boring as it may seem, I need to get there to make money to take adventures so I'm glad I don't have to worry about anything because Oliver the Outback is takin' care of business.
- 52 Hikes With Mike - While I've had to fly and rent cars for a few hikes, I've taken Oliver to places both near and far to get a good hike in. I love the custom rubber tray in the back because it contains the mess from my sweaty pack and dirty hiking boots.
- Michigan - I'm from the mitten state, so in June of 2018 we drove on up to visit my family and it was a superb ride. We only had to stop a few times for gas, which made me happy. Oliver the Outback crossed the Mighty Mackinaw Bridge, got dusty on the Northern Michigan back roads, and took us safely 3145.1 miles.
Oh, the Places We Will Go!
Going forward, I have a few trips in the back of my mind that I want to take that Oliver the Outback will be perfect for. Once the weather cools, we'll hit up the campgrounds out west in Texas, and visit Big Bend. Until then, I plan to make an appearance in the Santa Fe National Forest and take a quick trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Here's to another year of safe commutes and amazing adventures!
#MondayMotivation - Technology Overload
I'm addicted to my phone. It's plain, simple, and very real. I always have it with me, rarely make calls, occasionally text and hardly ever use it for emails. I visit Instagram, Twitter, and occasionally Facebook to stare at things that often don't matter. I use it to browse Reddit, check the news, take photos, and manage my finances. I can be found using it for navigating through traffic, tracking my hikes, and logging my meals to stay on track. It is the most use tech tool in my life.
I am on a Verizon Wireless unlimited plan, meaning I'm mostly unlimited in my data usage until about 22 GB when they often throttle my speeds during peak hours or when I'm in areas with too many users and not enough bandwidth. By day 17 of each month, I'm hitting 22 GB of usage, meaning the remaining five days are spent using very slow speeds to look at the same thing over and over for no reason. The problem is, when I need to actually do something productive, it's challenging because I've wasted so much data on the useless and I'm stuck.
I'm easily addicted to things that give me instant satisfaction - my phone, food (for taste and fullness), alcohol, attention, etc. I'm working to control my relationship with food, so why not try and control my interaction with my devices. I'm currently downloading an app (seems counterproductive, but hang on) to help train my brain to quit being so dependent on the tech and to help me focus more on life. I've set alerts for my data usage, early on, so I'm aware and can be informed when I'm indulging too much. For the sake of value, I want to utilize the full 22 GB, I just want to do it over 30 days instead of 15. In reality, if I can reduce my usage and keep it consistent for a few months, I'd like to switch to a cheaper prepaid plan.
I know, many people are in disbelief of this whole situation of tech addiction and I understand that disbelief. As someone that didn't get a smartphone until they were already popular, I didn't think I'd ever spend as much time or money on them as I have in my lifetime, but here I am.
I'm pledging, in black and white, right here...
- I will not buy a new phone until this one becomes unusable or 2021, whichever is first.
- I will not use more than 22 GB of data, unless I'm on work assignment and do not have access to internet. (as work does pay for part of the phone)
- I will limit my usage of social media apps to an appropriate level - may be adjusted as necessary.
- Instagram - a time limit of 25 minutes per day
- Facebook - remove the app (done 7/19/2018)
- Twitter - a time limit of 25 minutes per day, unless a chat is happening
Going forward, when I want to check a social app, I'm going to open my Kindle App instead to get ahead on a chapter in my book - likely a better use of five minutes. Nothing on social media is worth wasting so much time over. If people want to connect, they can send me a message. Fear of missing out is real, but what I'm missing is NOTHING and I need to wrap my head around that.
I'm currently looking for an app to help me train my brain, so any suggestions will be welcomed. I need to work on my "bored clicking" in Chrome too, but that's another topic for another day.
What are some ways you use to limit the technology in your life? Leave a comment if you'd like!
This is from our family cottage on Grand Lake - in Presque Isle, Michigan. With less time spent on social apps, I hope to use that time to re-imagine old photos and write the stories of my past.
#ForestFriday - Santa Fe National Forest
A year ago this week, my other half and I visited the Santa Fe National forest in New Mexico. The city of Santa Fe is a colorful desert town, but the National Forest is burst of green trees and mountains on a completely different level. We stayed at the Holy Ghost Campground and explored around that area. Here are some photos of the forest to enjoy!
#WayBackWednesday - Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Camping in Palo Duro Canyon State Park was a highlight from spring of 2017. Looking back through my photos, I didn't even capture the immense beauty of the canyon but sure did get some great shots from our hikes and our campsite. If you get the chance, it's one of the most beautiful places in Texas and is worth a visit! This place was Hike #6 of my 2017 52 Hike Challenge and you can read more about the adventure and see more photos HERE.
#WayBackWednesday - Big Bend
I've been thinking of Big Bend often and I can't wait to schedule a trip back out there. The park entrance is about 7.5 hours from my house, with another hour or so of driving within the park to get to the Chisos Basin Campground. Big Bend is HUGE and it can easily take all day to drive through if you're stopping for little hikes and viewpoints - as we did. I'd really enjoy going back to spend time exploring one area or backpacking a specific trail. Being honest with myself, I'll go back in any way I can and with anyone willing to enjoy the experience. Here are some photos from a trip in January of 2014 with my other half and one of our best friends.
Classic entrance sign photo
A view while driving down into Big Bend
Morning views from the campsite in Chisos Basin Campground
More driving views
Rio Grande!
Sotol Vista Overlook views
Santa Elena Canyon views
Santa Elena Canyon Trail friendship selfie. <3
#MondayMotivation - Internet friends?
Today's motivation is coming from seeing all of the people from the online outdoor community doing the activities they love and working to protect the places they cherish.
We may come from different socioeconomic levels, different backgrounds, etc... but we all want to do things that make life more meaningful and more fun. The online outdoor communities have helped me connect with people who love the outdoors and who have valuable information on activities and locations I may be interested in exploring. It's a powerful feeling to connect with a group of people who want to keep the outdoor spaces we love clean and protected for generations to come - I highly recommend it.
Find your people, in person or online, and dive in to that community. Learn, grow, and find your passions.
Thank you to everyone out there for your intentional or unintentional inspiration to get out, love the land, and fight for the future....what a wild ride!
As always, if you're ever in Dallas/Fort Worth, contact me (or through social media) and we'll go for a hike at one of my local spots and/or grab a drink to catch up.
Views from Olympic National Park... I saw so much in 2.5 days up there with a lot of help from my guidebook and tweets/messages/etc from people that live and love the park! Thanks!
#ForestFriday - Fall in the U.P.
I've got fall on the brain, because summer is already dragging on. So, for today's "Forest Friday" feature, I'm throwing it back to October of 2008 when two of my friends and I went on a little road trip to Copper Harbor in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Not all of the photos are from Copper Harbor, some are from the ride up and various other places throughout the Upper Peninsula. Take a break and drift off into the fall colors, imagine the smell of the leaves, and feel the cool breeze... is it working? Have a good weekend!
Special #ThrowbackThursday - Alaskan Adventure
A year ago my other half and I were probably napping after our flight back from Alaska. We spent about 10 days visiting with his family, exploring the land, and loving life. I can't wait to get back up there, so I'm sharing a few photos to relive the moments until then. Enjoy!
Quartz Creek Campground - Kenai Lake
A quiet morning on Kenai Lake - Quartz Creek Campground
A foggy view just south of Seward
Sea kayaks with a view - Seward, AK
A view of Exit Glacier on the way up to get a closer look - Kenai Fjords National Park
Byron Glacier
#ForestFriday - Michigan's Upper Peninsula
This week, I'm sharing some photos you may have already viewed over on my Hike 20 post from my recent trip to Michigan. I don't care if it's a cop out, the forest was gorgeous and quiet and deserves to be shared again.
Tahquamenon Falls State Park is about a 2.5-3 hour drive north of my hometown, where I stay when visiting. It was a warm morning, and the sun illuminated the lower levels, highlighting the ferns and mosses with a beautiful glow. Everything was green and vibrant, making it feel so alive.
Happy Friday, enjoy the weekend ahead, and enjoy the forest photos.
#WayBackWednesday - Cedar Breaks National Monument
In honor of booking my flight for the 2nd Annual BFF Adventure, I'm throwing it back to our 1st annual trip. I originally planned a solo excursion to Utah, but my BFF Molly decided to go and now it's an annual adventure for us. Once spot we visited last year really stuck out for me and that was Cedar Breaks National Monument. What a breathtaking, intense, and gorgeous place to feel small. While I don't see us getting back to Cedar Breaks, I'll always have these memories - so enjoy a few photos.
Classic sign picture
View from the rim
Spectra Point - was a bit overwhelming to feel so high above the hoodoos
What do you spy with your little eye?
This year, we'll be hitting the ground in Utah again! Molly has not been to Arches National Park, so we'll spend the majority of our time there. I hope to hike to Delicate Arch right away, before crowds and heat, and then hit up the rest of the park after that. So much to do, so little time! Where is your favorite place in Utah? After a Saturday in Arches, what would you recommend for half a Sunday? Comment your idea or send me an email! As always, thanks for following along and happy trails!
