"Josh Welton" (watchtheprettylight)
02/18/2015 at 00:40 • Filed to: road trip, lap of america
62
100|
"Josh Welton" (watchtheprettylight)
02/18/2015 at 00:40 • Filed to: road trip, lap of america | 62
| 100 |
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Ok, my apologies. WiFi has been a struggle, and my last few days have been crazy. Sunday morning I ran the Tail of the Dragon. Sunday night I partied with the Mardi Gras crew in NOLA (on accident). Tuesday I had Texas BBQ on my way west through rain, sleet, hail, and snow. Today I ate lunch on the Pacific Ocean after driving non stop 30 hours. It'll be worth the wait, in the meantime I do try to keep at least a bit going on Twitter @browndogwelding, IG @welderassassin, and feel free to friend me on Facebook (Josh Welton, I try to keep the fan page for welding). This next week is gonna be nuts, but I promise I'll take the time to tell some stories once it's all set and done.
Day two is in the books. I figure I'll just keep updating this post, "reverse Kinja" style. Is that a thing? It is now. Latest stuff first.
Friday I was supposed to pick up the rental at the Hertz in Detroit city proper at 10am. That didn't happen. Long story, that I'm too tired to get into. The gist of it is, never rent a car from the Hertz on Jefferson...at least if you expect one to be there when you arrive, or even that day. DTW Hertz helped me out, it just took some good cop/bad cop from me and Darla.
The car in question is a little gal I call Sonic the Hedgecar. Creative, I know.
I have one car getting a trans rebuilt, another getting restored, and the Volvo's lease just came up so Dar is driving the truck. I'm looking for something else to add to the stable but didn't want to rush. Thus, the rental.
Smelling of stale smoke, a seat that will only lay back, and no USB port? It's all good. I've driven a lot of rentals in my day, but at 37,000 miles (which is like a million three in rental car usage) she shockingly tracks straight, has solid brakes, and doesn't rattle like a steel cage door. Or she didn't. Whatever. $15 a day for 18 days and unlimited miles.
A lot of people flipped out when I posted the original map of my "lap." It was kinda just a rough draft. I wanted to make it coast to coast and say hi to my brother in RI, but the chance of getting stuck in another snopacolypse dissuaded me. Instead I started tracking south/southeast after Pittsburg. And honestly, I couldn't retrace my steps if I wanted to...which makes it all the better!
Around Cleveland
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Came across this by chance. Bummed it wasn't open (talked to a ranger, he didn't make me feel better by saying how surreal it looks in winter). I'll be back soon.
This was near Fallingwater, I think Mill Run? So caught up in the atmosphere that by the time I made my way up to the road I realized I couldn't feel my fingers...
Quick vid:
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Walking bridge over Youghiogheny River:
View from walking bridge:
This morning at Mile Zero of the Blue Ridge Parkway:
More pics:
If I owned this tree it would always have a life-like dummy hanging from it...
Here I wanted to see if I could get closer to a dam. I'm not even sure where, I just know it was along the Parkway...
The dam. No good pics. This is 1k ft up from the last pic.
One of the Blue Ridge detours:
SHIT. Looks clear, but storm was approaching. Ah well.
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I'm off to sleep. Not even sure where I'm heading next.
Well, not really the East coast, and not all on Friday, but close enough. If I find another car along the way I might ditch the rental. I didn't plan ahead all that well for my wife's lease turn in, so she's got the truck until I find something else. But in the meantime...adventure.
E. Julius
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 13:58 |
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Sounds like fun! The drive through northern Michigan across the Mackinac bridge and through the UP is beautiful.
BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:01 |
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Here's a better route that is a true lap of America.
Katsumoto
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:01 |
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Well if you come thru Ohio by that triangle with the ! in it, thats Dayton, where I'm at.
If my house was livable at the moment you could stay, but renovations and a lack of windows are making it unbearable.
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Josh Welton
> BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
02/10/2015 at 14:04 |
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I'd go through the U.P. though. And skip Florida.
505Turbeaux
> BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
02/10/2015 at 14:04 |
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thank you for including Portland, ME in there
itschrome
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:05 |
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Awwww. that rout is 87% of my dream cruise.. I wanna go!
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BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
> 505Turbeaux
02/10/2015 at 14:06 |
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I actually just googled "biggest city in maine" just to make sure it included the eastern seaboard.
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505Turbeaux
> BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
02/10/2015 at 14:08 |
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good call! I like living in the most northern and eastern metro area in the 48
Milky
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:09 |
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Detroit and Marquette ….
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BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
> 505Turbeaux
02/10/2015 at 14:10 |
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I tried to do a lap of Canada, but it ended up being a drive from coast to coast through the US and just going into Canada at the ends.
WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:10 |
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What are you rolling through all of these states in?
pdx107
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:14 |
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doing that (UP in Feb would be a horrible idea
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505Turbeaux
> BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
02/10/2015 at 14:15 |
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I did a lap around with some hippy friends in my 1963 bus in 1998. Of course following a band. I thought it would be fun, and it was. I came back and couldnt listen to jam bands ever again. I have so many nutty stories and not enough pictures of that trip
Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:15 |
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my question is how is this:
considered 1 lap of america
its like 1/4 of a lap, its like the 100 meter dash
a real 1 lap of america is like 12,000 miles.
MonkeePuzzle
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:18 |
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because you are scared of the middle parts and how wild we all get?
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Josh Welton
> MonkeePuzzle
02/10/2015 at 14:21 |
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Obviously... ;)
415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:22 |
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That whole southern route is so boring! I was in the Marines and had to drive from S Cal to Pensacola FL. Horrible! Find that scenic highway list for the USA and look up best riving roads and make some kind of plan, it may not be the fastest but it will be worth it. I drove over the continental divide somewhere in Wyoming I think and it had aspen trees, amazing. I would find great spots. Go up to Flagstaff AZ, Grand Canyon etc... So many many great places.
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Josh Welton
> WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot
02/10/2015 at 14:22 |
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Not sure.
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415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:23 |
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Skip the whole main highway across the US, nothing but flat nothing and trucks trying to box you in.
Bird
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:24 |
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Good luck! I did two laps pulling a trailer last year...didn't go quite as far North as you're planning. It was awesome and amazingly tiring at the same time.
Also...any tips for TIG welding upside down? I'm having a tough time on a project I'm working on.
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Josh Welton
> 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
02/10/2015 at 14:25 |
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Try driving through the middle and you'll be longing for the excitement of ye ol souther route. I've done both more than a few times. But yeah, this is more of a "rough draft." Literally just pulled it up.
UKGTR335
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:29 |
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As a Florida resident, I can confirm that you should absolutely skip driving through Orlando and Miami. Literally the two worst places in Florida that you could ever want to drive. Stick to the pandhandle, west/gulf coast, keys, and Jacksonville. I-95 from Miami up to about Melbourne and any road in a 50 mile radius of Orlando are horrendous.
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Josh Welton
> pdx107
02/10/2015 at 14:30 |
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It might be. I did it in mid November a couple years ago, but wasn't bad yet.
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415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:30 |
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My dad is from Red Lodge MT, the 212 pass over to Custer N. Forest and Yellowstone is great.
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Josh Welton
> 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
02/10/2015 at 14:32 |
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YES! My wife and I did a 7k mile trip in my truck recently, I can't remember the exact route we took through there but the entire area is fascinating.
sumfoo1
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:36 |
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yeah wtf no east coast?
How do you do 1 lap of america.... and miss the original 13 colonies?
Brickman
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:36 |
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LA will shred up your tires :)
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Josh Welton
> Bird
02/10/2015 at 14:36 |
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Practice in increments if possible. Try something that's like 45* first, then work your way to overhead. Biggest thing is getting comfortable, being able to see what you're doing, and no, the molten metal isn't going to fall on you. So much of it is just getting your mind wrapped around it, it's not that much different than flat.
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Josh Welton
> Brickman
02/10/2015 at 14:37 |
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DRIVE IT LIKE YOU RENTED IT
sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:37 |
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Are you headed west or south first?
450X_FTW
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:38 |
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Woohoo he included my state. #hammerdown
nopassn24
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:38 |
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Feel free to stop in and say hello if you happen to find yourself WAY off course and in the Kansas City area. :)
Maxxuman
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:39 |
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Searching for inspiration?
General Disarray
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:39 |
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have fun. hope you're not a person of color. if so, have fun and be careful.
BlythBros.
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:40 |
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Detroit Oppo guy? Where in Detroit?
johnnys84
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:40 |
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Living in FL, I would skip it too.
FrogmanKouki
> Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
02/10/2015 at 14:41 |
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I'm guessing "Tire Rack 100 Meter Dash of Midwest America" didn't make it passed marketing.
Sly Jackal
> BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
02/10/2015 at 14:41 |
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Technically a lap of America would include both north and south America.
facw
> pdx107
02/10/2015 at 14:42 |
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They have plows in Michigan right?
I'd think you'd want to do the Mackinac Bridge, for the experience, unless you've never been to Chicago, which might sway things.
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Josh Welton
> Maxxuman
02/10/2015 at 14:42 |
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I'm always inspired! I love driving across the states, so relaxing. I'm still in a cast from the latest surgery so I'm making the most of the time "off."
GranTourer
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:43 |
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The run across eastern Montana and all of ND will be one boring trek. I live here. I know. If your route doesn't include a stay in Fargo, i suggest putting it on the list.
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Josh Welton
> BlythBros.
02/10/2015 at 14:43 |
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In Mount Clemens, but moving to the city by the end of the year.
Mailbox Cancer
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:43 |
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I like it. Always wanted to do this. The best of luck to you, and stay INCREDIBLY safe.
JohnDoeIII
> Brickman
02/10/2015 at 14:43 |
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I've driven over a good portion of the US and I honestly do think that my home state of Louisiana does indeed have the worst roads in the country. I've known it to get so hot, on more than one occasion, that the road strait buckled and it caused a few people I know to ruin their tires and at least one rim.
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Josh Welton
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
02/10/2015 at 14:43 |
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South
Ash78, voting early and often
> sumfoo1
02/10/2015 at 14:43 |
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DAT TRAFFIC!
Jimbobway
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:43 |
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giantveggies
> BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
02/10/2015 at 14:43 |
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You don't have to dip south before you head up to portland, there is plenty to see going right across there. I assure you they do have roads in Vermont and New Hampshire...
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ekimyllek
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:43 |
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If you're going through the neighbourhood, I can't recommend taking the Natchez Trace highly enough. Nashville to Natchez on limited entry two lane tree lined paradise. Minimal radar enforcement, and no semis. http://www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm As an added bonus you minimize your time on the hellhole that is I-10 from NOLA to Houston.
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Jimbobway
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:43 |
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yes. yes.
KillerBee
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:44 |
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This little indicator, the one on I-75 in Cincinnati? Don't expect it to disappear. Ever.
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415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:44 |
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People think of AK for wilderness, parts of MT are serious, we used to go into the Beartooth Mtns on horseback and never meet anyone, better have a few good guns to do that though. Millions of lakes and peaks.
mustang1
> BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
02/10/2015 at 14:44 |
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Why would you NOT go down 75, across Alligator alley and back up 95 when in Florida? Instead of taking the BEE line TO Miami.
Old-Busted-Hotness
> Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
02/10/2015 at 14:44 |
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The original course was a true lap, and it was 12,000 miles. And apparently wasn't a whole lot of fun.
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Jimbobway
> E. Julius
02/10/2015 at 14:44 |
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love it up there.
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Maxxuman
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:45 |
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Lucky you. Enjoy your trip!
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KillerBee
> Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
02/10/2015 at 14:45 |
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It's not really about driving those roads. It's about driving laps on all the racetracks indicated on that map.
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Josh Welton
> KillerBee
02/10/2015 at 14:45 |
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Ha! As a Michigander....I understand.
comingupmillhouse
> Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
02/10/2015 at 14:46 |
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Because it's a motorsports event that takes place all over the country and not a road rally like the gumball 3000. The point of making people drive between locations in their race car is to constrain them to a reasonable street legal prep level.
StalePhish
> BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
02/10/2015 at 14:46 |
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Instead of going from Boston to Portland and back over the same boring roads, it would be much better to cut across Vermont and New Hampshire on the way there. Missing the White Mountains would be a shame, especially this time of year. This way, you could cut through the Green and the White Mountains.
Nonster
> KillerBee
02/10/2015 at 14:47 |
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Have to watch out for falling bridges in there too
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Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
> FrogmanKouki
02/10/2015 at 14:47 |
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lol
RoccoStiglitz
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:47 |
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I-5 in California from LA to the northern edge of the Sacramento valley is BORING. It's mostly a dust bowl and there is a stretch between LA and sacramento that smells like cow shit for about 3 hours. If you want to go through SF and go along the coast take the 101 or if you want a really cool drive take 395 out of LA to Reno. The east side of the sierras is amazing.
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Mailbox Cancer
> Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
02/10/2015 at 14:47 |
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I always thought this was bullshit. Official OLoA routes are needlessly simplistic and organized for people who want the whole "USA Road Trip WOOT !" experience as long as they can cram it into a four-day weekend before they return to their 9-5'er at a call center.
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KillerBee
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:47 |
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Make sure it's not a Jetta.
http://jalopnik.com/our-pal-luke-f…
MFEJAL grey because who knows...
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:48 |
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Get a CDL and do the Lap of America, 32 cents a mile.
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facw
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:49 |
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Going through Tennessee and Arkansas would probably be more interesting than going all the way to Gulf. Unless you've got your heart set on seeing Cincinnati, taking I-77 down to North Carolina and then 40 across for a bit will be more interesting. Asheville is a cool city (lots of good food), and would put you in position to do some driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway or the Tail of the Dragon.
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Brickman
> JohnDoeIII
02/10/2015 at 14:50 |
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Also the marshy ground sinks and causes the road to buckle. A stretch of road near me had a section of road sink and turned into a ramp and it was fun to drive over and get a few inches of air. I see why I have bad shock absorbers :P
DJHerbert
> BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
02/10/2015 at 14:50 |
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Do yourself a huge favor, and go through South Dakota and Wyoming instead of North Dakota and Montana. THERE IS NOTHING THERE.
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the soggy burrito
> Brickman
02/10/2015 at 14:50 |
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he's from Michigan, I doubt he's worried about bad roads.
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DRockYou
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:51 |
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Being a Californian, I highly suggest taking a more coastal route than I5 because it is horribly boring and ugly and full of idiots in Priuses who don't understand slower traffic keep right. Highway 1 is much prettier and has some cool little towns to visit even though it will take much longer.
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Wes-Mantooth
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:51 |
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Say yah to da U.P eh!
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Wes-Mantooth
> Wes-Mantooth
02/10/2015 at 14:51 |
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Can I stop being gray anytime soon?
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facw
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:52 |
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Planning on splurging for something good, or just going to roll the dice with "Ford Focus or similar"?
SensousLettuce
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:53 |
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Looks like you'll be passing fairly close to me. Good luck in West Texas, there is pretty much nothing out there. I'll be interested to see what you think the best and worst states to drive through are. I always wonder if anyone shares my opinion on that.
AntiLag
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:53 |
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Ahhh dude veer off onto the coastline in California! The PCH is what you want to drive, not the unbelievably boring, flat, straight, and repetitive interstates. Northern Cali is beautiful throughout, and Southern Cali is gorgeous as well if you stay near the ocean, but the rest of it is not really anything to see. Make sure you stop by Big Sur on the PCH in northern California and check out the redwoods and sequoia trees! Biggest trees you'll see in your life.
Austin Irwin
> pdx107
02/10/2015 at 14:53 |
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US-41 is in better shape than I-75/US-23. He'll be fine if he can stay awake through the "Seney-Stretch!"
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JohnDoeIII
> Brickman
02/10/2015 at 14:53 |
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What part of the state are you in? Currently I'm living in the middle of redneck country (no offense) in LaSalle Parish, but I'm about to be moving to Plaquemines/Orleans/Jefferson/St. Tammany.
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BarbarousJaffa
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:53 |
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So basically this!!
RX
> BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
02/10/2015 at 14:54 |
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Hit Northern Vermont and stop at the worlds highest rated brewery.
STIKleinWagon
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:54 |
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Need a slight detour to the tail of the dragon...
travelnman
> BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
02/10/2015 at 14:54 |
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You'd be better off going through Vermont and New Hampshire into Maine. No backtracking plus VT has some awesome roads and you could take a break in NH and do the Mt. Washington drive.
Dest
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:55 |
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Fuck Nebraska.
sounbwoy
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:56 |
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More importantly, what did you get for the rental?
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Josh Welton
> AntiLag
02/10/2015 at 14:56 |
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Yup! This was just kind a quick route. Love the PCH, will definitely not miss it!
Ike
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:56 |
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avoiding the east coast and West Virginia?
Smart
PatBateman
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:56 |
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WARNING: Do NOT speed between Lake Charles, LA and Texas. Seriously.
blacktruck18
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:57 |
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Do you have any planned stops, or is it just whatever happens, happens.
AGAV13
> BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
02/10/2015 at 14:57 |
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Can you include the GMaps link to that map?
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Josh Welton
> blacktruck18
02/10/2015 at 14:58 |
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I have some good friends along the way I'm going to try to see, but nothing set in stone.
ProjectWHaT
> BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
02/10/2015 at 14:58 |
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Boston is the biggest city in New England. Boston > Portland. Trust me, I've been to both. There's practically nothing interesting in Portland.
911e46z06
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:58 |
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I'll just leave this here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_b…
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travelnman
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 14:58 |
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I just did that top part when I moved out to Seattle last year from NYC! I-90 from Seattle to Bismarck, ND is epic. Enjoy! I-90 East of Bismarck, well.... it kinda sucks.
Joe The Drummer
> AntiLag
02/10/2015 at 14:58 |
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This. Do California on Hwy 1/101.
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IamAnthonyStark
> BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
02/10/2015 at 14:59 |
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A lap of Canada would be quite difficult, considering the entire northern edge of the country is nearly entirely devoid of roads of any kind. The best you could do is just hope on the old Trans-Canada highway and go from one end to the other and back again.
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Josh Welton
> facw
02/10/2015 at 14:59 |
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I've done both more than a few times. The bridge wins :)
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blacktruck18
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 15:01 |
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You should definitely check out the Lemay museum in Tacoma, WA it's right off of I5 which appears to be on your route.
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KillerBee
> Nonster
02/10/2015 at 15:01 |
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Zing!
MrRubberGaskets
> Josh Welton
02/10/2015 at 15:02 |
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Wronn!!! This is Not a Lap in America, is a Lap on Us..
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Josh Welton
> sounbwoy
02/10/2015 at 15:03 |
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Nothing crazy, should be a little Focus. I may end up leaving it somewhere if I find the right car to buy along the way. Not sure.