"Josh Welton" (watchtheprettylight)
03/12/2015 at 09:39 • Filed to: Road Trip, brown dog welding, lap of america, icon, jay leno's garage, detroit, america, bodie stroud, tom fritz
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"Josh Welton" (watchtheprettylight)
03/12/2015 at 09:39 • Filed to: Road Trip, brown dog welding, lap of america, icon, jay leno's garage, detroit, america, bodie stroud, tom fritz | 90
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Blue Ridge Parkway. Tail of the Dragon. Mardi Gras (on accident?!?). Hail, Snow, Rain, and Sleet. Texas BBQ. Dinner on the Pacific in Mission Bay. And that was just the first three days.
With 2+ weeks to go before my latest cast came off, I decided to go for a cruise. We were down to one running car (truck) at the time, so I rented a Chevy Sonic through Hertz with unlimited miles for $300. I've driven cross country more times than I can count, but there are always new sights to see, events to experience, and friends to visit. And there's no better way to collect your thoughts than on a road trip.
Once I hit the West Coast I gotta chill with my Detroit brother !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! at his shop in Corona, spend some quality time with !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in Chatsworth, hung out a few days with !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! around his shop in the Valley, bombed through Santa Monica in a Morgan 3, hit Adam Carolla's movie premiere at the Improv in LA, got a private tour of Jay Leno's Garage, did a little shopping at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , had dinner with !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (which included a rare glimpse at his old DoD art work), walked the beach at Guadalupe, then drove up the PCH to my sister's place on Sunset in San Francisco. Also gotta visit with some old friends from when we lived in the OC. California treated me well.
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After San Fran I started heading north/east. I stopped by Crater Lake and Glacier National Park, stayed with friends in Missoula, MT, had a ham/deep fried cheese curd/hamburger in Fargo, stopped at Duluth Trading in Minnesota, tried to watch some ice racing on Lake Superior (also fell on my ass..ice is slippery), got lost in Michigan's UP, then drove through a blizzard as I head south from Manistee down across the Mackinaw Bridge and then to Detroit.
So. How about some pictures. Chronological order.
I started east from Detroit. Once I passed Pittsburgh I started south down some back roads. I randomly passed by Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, but it was closed for the season. This beautiful stream was in that area.
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By night I made it near the start of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Waynesboro, Va. Saturday morning I started the Parkway hoping to do the entire 469 miles.
Sunset at Zero mile of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Off the path a bit, the Natural Bridge.
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I ran into a couple of detours on the parkway.
The second one booted me off for good.
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I stopped in Waynesville, NC for the night. Got pizza at Nick and Nate's. Cool sculpture downtown.
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Tried to get back on the Parkway in the morning, but it was still closed. So I headed through the Smokey Mountains towards the Tail of the Dragon.
Dam from the Fugitive.
Here is where I'd like to say that there is something to the whole Slow Car Fast theory. I had a flippin' blast throwing Sonic the Hedgecar through the Tail of the Dragon. There are no pics of that, as I was busy pushing Slow Cars out of my way with my one good hand.
View from Top of the Tail.
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Now I headed towards NOLA. I hadn't been there since college, and figured I'd swing by, walk around town, spend the night, then head west. I get to my exit, and something seemed off. Wait, there's a sign. "Welcome Mardi Gras Visitors." Well, shit. It took me two hours to get to my hotel. The entire town smelled like gasoline, weed, and vomit. But the people watching was amazing.
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After the parades I met up with a friend from school and we had a couple drinks and caught up. This dude was doubled over behind me. A police officer came up and asked him a question. I didn't hear his answer, but the cops reply was "well, that's a hell of a drug."
The spectacle of the cleanup after the parades was pretty amazing. And necessary, considering there was literally vomit, piss, and shit everywhere. They pretty much shovel, powerwash, and scrub up the streets and sidewalks in one fell swoop.
New Orleans street parking.
Monday I woke up and headed to San Diego. Weather in Texas was fun. But Rudy's BBQ was delicious.
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Arizona sunrise.
After 30 hours straight driving....I had reached San Diego.
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Jonathan's office at ICON is filled with art, nostalgia, design, toys...pretty much exactly how you'd think his office would be. Didn't shoot the shop at all, but checked it out while Mr. Ward was giving me the rundown on his current and future projects...if half of what he wants to do comes to fruition, we're all in for a treat. I love the way his brain works.
Bodie's shop is !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Such a rad dude, and a great friend. Had a ton of fun hanging out with him for a few days.
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Tim Allen's Camaro
Johnny Knoxeville's Caddy in for a touch up, I helped deliver this on Friday.
I even tagged along for Adam Carolla's !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! premiere in LA at the Improv on Thursday night. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was funny as hell. We talked to this guy Christopher Rutkowski afterwards, he's starting a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . And he puts his money where his mouth is, as he was driving his Jeep...you know, this Jeep:
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We got into !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on Saturday. I didn't take any pictures, and it doesn't really matter...no photos or videos do the place an ounce of justice. 165 cars, 110 bikes, and the fab/mechanic shop to keep it all going. It was pretty neat seeing Mr. Leno pull up his orange McLaren as I was squeaking by on my way out in the Sonic.
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Still...not my pic...but walking around this was rad.
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Kind of out of order, but I visited Morgan West Thursday morning (I think?)
"Hey Josh, wanna take a 3 for a spin?" Um. Yes.
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I was actually trying to get a pic of this dude's dog (he jumped into the passenger seat as I snapped this), but I guess the Bronco will do.
My friend Billie's dog Buster, keeping an eye on things.
That was fun.
On my way north I stopped in on my amigo and fellow crazy artist !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . He's kind of a legend in my circles, but one of the coolest guys you could ever meet. On top of that, in another life he created art for the Department of Defense. I got a sneak peek into that portfolio and man o man...glancing at the military stuff alone would have made my trip worthwhile! Stuff he was drawing up decades ago is just now seeing the light of day.
I hit the beach in Guadalupe and walked a few miles until it was just me, seals, dead seals, and the ocean.
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Caddy for sale in Pismo Beach:
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Continuing north on the 1
I've done this drive up the PCH a couple of times now. You just gotta do it.
One of my sisters live in San Francisco, so I targeted he place Sunday night. She had recently moved, and now lived literally across the street from Ocean Beach. So many dogs. And they all seemed to love me. Especially this guy. I believe his name was Stuart.
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A little farther up, the Cliff House and the bath ruins.
Pretty much right below my location in the picture above, there's a cave. Walk through it and this is your view:
Scanning for Kaiju
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San Fran is a rad city.
Now we go North-East.
Ran into a couple rare birds on my way to Crater Lake.
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The place is truly breathtaking.
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I'm not gonna lie, when I left the coast I lost track of a lot. All I know is now I'm between Crater Lake, Oregon, and Glacier National Park in Montana.
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View across Flathead Lake
Early morning heading out of Kalispell
Once I got to Glacier, it was only opened up to Lake McDonald and I was the only person there. I had my head on a swivel.
89 heading South in Montana:
Truck Spotting in Missoula.
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Zip's in Missoula. What ?!? Shoulda tried to get in, next time I visit my friends there I will.
I liked this town a lot. Cool steel building.
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Checked out the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , there was a killer exhibit by local artist Theo Ellsworth. I ended up grabbing a few of his books.
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Heading East.
Weather changes quickly in the mountains.
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Somewhere in North Dakota...
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The most Fargo thing since a blood stained wood chipper. Fried Cheese curd and ham angus burger:
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Duluth.
There was some ice racing on Lake Superior, so I walked out to try to see some of it. For whatever reason not much was going on, and after a misstep and a crash to the ice I went back to the car and kept moving on.
Marquette, Mi. (Upper Peninsula):
The Home Stretch. Mackinaw Bridge.
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This was pretty much the scene for the last 6 hours of the trip:
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So, there it is. 8,400 miles in 18 days. I touched the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific Ocean, was within miles of both the Mexican and Canadian borders, and walked on Lake Superior. Sonic the Hedgecar was a champ, took everything I threw at him.
Road trips are a dying tradition. With a "need it now" culture of high speed freeways, cheap flights, and living vicariously through virtual reality, it's easy to take what our country has to offer for granted. Don't dream about the day when you'll be able to hop in your car and go, just do it.
There are a ton more pictures on my Flickr !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . And Instagram !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .
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doodon2whls
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 09:48 |
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Great trip log and photos ! You are so right... I need to take a break and do a tour of the country's heartland, plains, and rockies...
Leadbull
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 10:04 |
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Next week, I'm going out west for the first time in several years. Absolutely cannot wait.
Quick question: how's your work situation like, that you can just take off for 18 days?
wunderwagen wants a longer roof
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 10:08 |
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I believe I will be taking a similar trip in a couple of years. This seems ridiculously fun and well worth doing. Just gotta finish college first.
Tohru
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 10:33 |
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This is very good Oppo.
BKRM3
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 10:34 |
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This is FANTASTIC! I hope to be able to do this someday.
I was recently in Las Vegas for a weekend trip and my brother and I decided to rent a Sonic from Hertz and go on a day trip. We had a blast with that little car!
SteveLehto
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 10:36 |
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Not sure why, but I am kind of thinking this might be a challenge (or an inspiration?) I may have to do a circuit of the lower 48 and see if I can get more mileage in fewer days. With a rental, of course.
Hmmmmmmm.
Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 10:45 |
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What a perfect way to use unlimited miles! I wonder if rental car companies would ever actually complain if you drove too many miles. Sure, I know it is unlimited but just imagine getting a rental car for like a month and bringing it back with 40k miles on it or something haha. This looks awesome though, the pictures are great!
StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 10:45 |
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Awesome trip! The wife and I will be heading out on Rt 66 in August from Detroit to the west coast, then coming up and back. Should be a good time.
fritzo
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 10:46 |
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Should have did the trip in an ambulance, and hired a doctor to make it look legit.
JeepJeremy
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 10:46 |
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Nice move! Getting to see the USA in a Chevrolet!!!!
Coty
> Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
03/12/2015 at 10:47 |
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Sounds like a job for Jalopnik. Just strap it onto a dyno for a few days.
cazzyodo
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 10:48 |
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Fuck yeah dude. Absolutely love it.
Work blocked half your pictures so I'm looking forward to checking in again later and seeing the trip in full.
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Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
> Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
03/12/2015 at 10:51 |
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Additionally, the car would need at least an oil change during that time period. Would they just expect you to know that or if you bring it back 40k miles without an oil change, would they not care (if the car made it lol).
tpm067_burner
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 10:51 |
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That was an awesome article to scroll through. Great pictures, must have been an awesome trip!
Hope the horses were OK.
Bigbadbull
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 10:53 |
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Bit surprised when coming through Bham Al on I59 you did not hit Barber Motor Sport park and Museum.
bubbajoe123456
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 10:53 |
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I wouldn't show this picture to Hertz. If memory serves, they technically prohibit driving their vehicles on unpaved roads...
octobercp
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 10:55 |
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Fantastic. I've got an unplanned road-trip coming up in a week or so, this was the perfect motivation to make sure I go. Thanks for sharing!
DerW220
> SteveLehto
03/12/2015 at 10:56 |
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Do it!
punksmurph
> BKRM3
03/12/2015 at 10:57 |
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What road is that? I live in So Cal and have friends in Vegas, we must drive that road.
barreto
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:00 |
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Being from Oregon and having spent a lot of time at Crater Lake, I can verify that it is stunning. It has an electric blue hue that I have never seen anywhere else. It's even more amazing flying over it at 4,000ft in a small airplane.
CleverUsername
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:04 |
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SO, did you change the oil halfway through? or just let it ride?
LouZare
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:04 |
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what's up with that weird patch of neck hair? I thought it was a tat at first....
Jimbobway
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:05 |
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You're gonna want to do the tunnel of trees (M-119) before you cross the bridge (assuming south to north direction)
you're welcome
C-5M Load Smasher
> SteveLehto
03/12/2015 at 11:08 |
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I will volunteer as co-pilot. I am not a psycho killer. I swear.
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icelandr
> BKRM3
03/12/2015 at 11:11 |
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Where did you get the cheese curds? When I read that I thought of the ole college bar, The Turf. Since campus is dry, it is across the street for convenience at NDSU in Fargo.
thebigbossyboss
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:11 |
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Bookmarked for later. Looks awesome.
MonkeePuzzle
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:12 |
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loving it!
you road trip as well as you weld!!!
for other's reference, from his "weld porn" album https://www.flickr.com/photos/browndo…
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thebigbossyboss
> Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
03/12/2015 at 11:12 |
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When I had a rental with unlimited miles, I drove from Ottawa to DC and back. 1600 miles in a week. All while working a day job hahaha.
SpazzyMcGhee
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:16 |
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Great pics. Did a much smaller roadtrip down the PCH few years ago. Need to do another...
Jonathan Harper
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:17 |
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Epic trip. Really good documentation.
Mailbox Cancer
> BKRM3
03/12/2015 at 11:19 |
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Wife and I had a Sonic hatch while out in Palm Springs CA ... also loved the car.
driftwhatever
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:19 |
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Fun looking trip. One day...
Had some flashbacks from your smokey mountain pics. The last time I was up there in a rental car, I saw a lot of "road closed in the winter" warnings on the map, so that is exactly where I headed. The one I remember was balsam mountain road. It had a posted speed suggestion of 10mph.
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BKRM3
> punksmurph
03/12/2015 at 11:20 |
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Hahaha right?! It's Highway 10/Oatman Rd. on the way to Oatman, AZ. And as if it couldn't get any better let me share this: there are incredible scenic outlooks, we found a geocache under a shrub on top of a mountain and there are WILD FREAKING DONKEYS. In fact, the entire town of Oatman, unchanged since 1890 and fully functional, is lousy with wild donkeys. If they know you have food for them you'll attract a whole herd. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Anyway, here's the road: https://goo.gl/maps/Dj93e
Probably the most fun I've ever had in a car that wasn't my M3. Boy was I missing the M on that road lol
Kyle Critchnau
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:20 |
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I have a Sonic as my daily driver, and I love it. When my wife still had her Toyota Echo, we used the Sonic for all of our trips. I put 45,000 miles on it the first couple of years I had it, just from driving everywhere. It's not the most comfortable car I've driven on long trips, but it takes just about anything I can throw at it.
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BKRM3
> icelandr
03/12/2015 at 11:22 |
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You replied to my comment instead of to the main article. I have no idea where to get cheese curds, though I wish I did. I don't think they're popular where I live (Philadelphia). Lol.
Dennis B
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:22 |
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I'm currently planning a trip similar to this on my motorcycle for 30 days. This just gets me excited and I want to leave now!
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BKRM3
> Mailbox Cancer
03/12/2015 at 11:23 |
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I kinda wish ours was a hatch instead of sedan. I think they're cooler for some reason!
ConBroMitch
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:29 |
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Awesome article. What a great trip! Not too many people get to do something like this. Travel is one of the greatest things you can do.
There is a "but" coming...
But.... Duluth is such a historic and beautiful city... and THAT is the picture you post? How about the aerial lift bridge? Canal park? Enger Tower? (If it was still up for the season.. Bentlyville?) Fitgers complex? Glensheen mansion? Graffiti Graveyard? Split rock Lighthouse?
Duluth is home to the most microbreweries per capita than any place in the country! It was also home to the highest density of millionaires back in the early 1900's. Lots of cool stuff around.
I am sure you were on your final stretch and just wanted to be done by the time you hit Duluth (understandable) but you really missed out on a a very unique city with a LOT of character.
Ben C
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:29 |
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Damn.
That's one thing I hope to do in my lifetime. Take a long road trip to explore America.
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ahmc84
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:29 |
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I once did something like this, except in my own car, and sticking mostly to interstates. Hit 42 states in 19 days, and that's including multi-day stops in L.A. and NYC. Around 9,000 miles.
bmwvuk
> bubbajoe123456
03/12/2015 at 11:29 |
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Oh yeah, Hertz DOES frown on driving on unpaved roads...a few years ago I was at a conference in Scottsdale and had an afternoon to kill. A coworker and I took a road trip up to Roosevelt Dam and decided (against an AZ State Troopers advice) to take Rt 88 (The Apache Trail) down to Tortilla Flats. The Apache Trail is a two lane DIRT road with deep ruts. Since rental cars are made to be abused, I used every ounce of technonlgy that car had (and then some) The coworker in the passenger seat just about shit his pants during the 22 mile journey. When I dropped the car off at PHX later that night, there wasn't an inch of that car that WASN'T filthy, the passenger seat had a shit stain, the windshield was cracked and the struts were blown......But it was fun.....
trevster344
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:30 |
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Dude you came to Texas for BBQ but you didn't go to the Salt Lick!? Come on now! Missing out right there, trust me on that one.
Donut Trump
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:31 |
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Some PB with my jelly, please.
Amazing, beautiful country we have.
Adam LeJeune
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:32 |
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Where did you sleep for cheap? Hotel bills rack up like mad over weeks.
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Adam LeJeune
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:33 |
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And also was just at natural bridge last week. Good work.
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thebigbossyboss
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:35 |
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I enjoyed this post (but read it from bottom to top haha) that sounds like a great trip. I am doing a road trip this summer, and it won't be quite as epic (for one western canada and eastern canada are only connected by one two lane road so you can't make a circle haha) but it should be good nonetheless.
Here is my potential route!!
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Mailbox Cancer
> BKRM3
03/12/2015 at 11:37 |
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Agreed. Cargo capacity was decent, and the slightly shortened proportion made it throwable around some of those desert canyon roads. Kinda wish I had one (kinda).
Geph_knows_best
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:39 |
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We're doing a shorter trip this August and tying it into a wedding in Trout Lake, WA, at the foot of Mt. Adams. We're flying into Salt Lake City, driving to Yellowstone for two days, then to Glacier for two days, before making the final haul to WA. We've never been driving out west, literally can not wait.
Awesome pcitures!
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SteveLehto
> C-5M Load Smasher
03/12/2015 at 11:40 |
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My #1 requirement for a co-driver is "Psycho Killer Preferred."
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MaMaYoYo
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:42 |
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Crater Lake up through Bend, so pretty. Flathead Lake is also one of my favorite places. Nice pictures, looks like a fun trip.
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ol-phArt
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:44 |
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This, "Road trips are a dying tradition. With a "need it now" culture of high speed freeways, cheap flights, and living vicariously through virtual reality, it's easy to take what our country has to offer for granted. Don't dream about the day when you'll be able to hop in your car and go, just do it."
I will drive for 6 days to attend meeting instead of taking two four hour flights. There is just so much cool stuff to see and experience on the road.
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thedangler
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:44 |
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That looks like an awesome trip. I can only imagine the look on the rental car person's face when you returned the car +8400mi.
Rudy's in Texas is quite tasty, at first I thought it odd that they asked if you want bread, but it really adds to the experience.
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BKRM3
> Mailbox Cancer
03/12/2015 at 11:45 |
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My thoughts exactly on the "kinda." I think that thing would fit in the bed of my silverado and, well, it's not quite as exciting as the M3... Solid rental car though, not to mention how economical it was with gas!
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danz1010
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:48 |
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Fantastic stuff! Could you pass a link of the Google maps directions page? Thanks!
Autojunkie
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:56 |
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Best lunchtime roadtrip I've ever had!
Thank you for helping me break my Detroit winter blues.
NeedsmoreaftermarketXTparts
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 11:59 |
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I'd recognize that green JK anywhere....he's actually a member of the same forum that I am. JKfreaks.com...kinda funny to see a member's car posted in two places. small world.
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sarpeeezy
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 12:04 |
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Im doing solo motorcyle trip late May...Starting from CT, down blueridge, then west until I hit Texarkana, North until KC, and then east back to CT..
This excites me so much!
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Josh Welton
> icelandr
03/12/2015 at 12:05 |
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Lucky's 13
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Josh Welton
> Mailbox Cancer
03/12/2015 at 12:06 |
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I've had the Cruise for long term rentals twice, like it more. But this thing had 40k RENTAL miles on it and still took the trip like a champ.
Dr_Watson
> SteveLehto
03/12/2015 at 12:08 |
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Otherwise you'd have nothing to talk about; right? ;)
THEmrDetty
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 12:08 |
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Amazing trip with log and photos. You should repeat through the inner states next time.
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Josh Welton
> Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
03/12/2015 at 12:09 |
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I put less miles on a Cruise one time, like 4k in a month basically on weekend excursion. They hadn't crossed off the last leaser so it looked like 7k. They mentioned that it seemed like a lot, but that was it. This time around they didn't say a word.
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kmd924
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 12:09 |
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Excellent adventure. I did a similar trip 6/14 - 7/14 , started in NY, Columbus, Chicago, trekked through the Badlands, Black Hills, Yellowstone, Salt Flats! (Did 120 in my 20yr old Volvo :D) from there, Tahoe, San Fran, PCH, LA, and back to NY through the SW. I miss this country, so much you can't see from home.
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DerSteppenwolf
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 12:10 |
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Josh Welton
> SteveLehto
03/12/2015 at 12:11 |
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Trust me, if it's a competition for miles/days, I can do much, much better :)
Last November I drove straight through from Detroit to Riverside in about 30 hours. 2,300 ish miles.
Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 12:12 |
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Would love to do a trip like that in my Focus Wagon.
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Josh Welton
> NeedsmoreaftermarketXTparts
03/12/2015 at 12:12 |
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Nice guy, pretty much just said Hi nice truck :)
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SteveLehto
> Dr_Watson
03/12/2015 at 12:13 |
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Nah. Life is too short to take road trips with boring people. Nothing better than wondering the whole trip if your co-driver might kill you at the first opportunity.
I just mapquested: Lewiston ME, Seattle, San Diego, Key West, Lewsiton. 9,000 miles. The more I look at it, the more fun it looks.
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Josh Welton
> wunderwagen wants a longer roof
03/12/2015 at 12:15 |
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College is made for road trips! A couple friends an I decided to hit New Orleans for a weekend when we were sophomores. Took my '86 Mazda 626. About 11000 miles each way, we left Thursday night and got back Sunday! We ended up sleeping overnight on a beach on the Gulf of Mexico....
Pending Approval
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 12:16 |
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I'm young and have never rented a car before. A cross country trip is something I really want to do, but I dont' want to rack up those miles on my car. Is renting a car for this trip a good idea? I thought most rentals had limited miles with stipulations for charges out the ass for going over the mileage.
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SteveLehto
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 12:17 |
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You're right: It's the balance between outrageous miles (why not, they're free!) and seeing some cool sights.
I did Detroit-LA in 48 hours a while back. I think it was 2311 from driveway to driveway but my memories of it are blurs . . . and eating garbage we could buy when we got fuel. All in a 1984 Charger (remember the 2.2?) with no AC. Ah, good times . . . .
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Josh Welton
> CleverUsername
03/12/2015 at 12:17 |
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It was due for an oil change about 100 miles in. Hertz was a pain to deal with, the place I got the reservation from didn't have any cars and I had to raise hell to finally get a car from DTW's Hertz (although they ended up taking care of me with corporate intervention). Either way, you give someone a car for 2+ weeks that's immediately due for an oils change....that's your bad.
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Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
> SteveLehto
03/12/2015 at 12:17 |
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Ever read alex roy's book "The Driver"? That gave me much insight that I do not want to try to get across the country quickly lol. Sure it sounded awesome in some ways, but the toll it takes on you to have the main goal be trip time is maddening. Id want to take at least a week if not more to get one coast to the other (one way).
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Josh Welton
> Kyle Critchnau
03/12/2015 at 12:18 |
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I love road tripping my truck, but in the end this was probably cheaper. 42mpgs!
dannymac63
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 12:19 |
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You missed New England.
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Josh Welton
> bubbajoe123456
03/12/2015 at 12:20 |
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Not sure about that. Through General Dynamics we rent vehicles all the time for trips that explicitly state we need to go through dirt.
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Josh Welton
> StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8
03/12/2015 at 12:21 |
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I've done that a few times, great journey, have fun!
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Josh Welton
> dannymac63
03/12/2015 at 12:22 |
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I actually wanted to hit Rhode Island first to see my brother, but it would have been Friday/Saturday and I wasn't sure I'd make it out with the impending snow storm.
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dannymac63
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 12:24 |
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New England is best left for Summer or early Fall. You didn't make a bad choice in that regard!
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Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
> fritzo
03/12/2015 at 12:25 |
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Or drive a cop car with full uniforms on and use the sirens to pull over the other racers! Such a great movie, a classic.
Jeff Glucker
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 12:25 |
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Aww man I would've bought you a beer in HB!
Also, Billie and Buster are both awesome...
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Josh Welton
> SteveLehto
03/12/2015 at 12:26 |
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Exactly!!! I've really got no desire to do the New York to LA (or whatever it is) record, but I do enjoy racking up long miles in between interesting stops. I've driven 30+ hours non-stop now twice in two months...the latent effect is that now a 15 hour trip seems like nothing!
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Josh Welton
> Jeff Glucker
03/12/2015 at 12:27 |
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Yes! She rocks, and Buster was my new best friend. I get out to SoCal every now and then, would be cool to meet up sometime for sure.
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wunderwagen wants a longer roof
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 12:28 |
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I was planning for one this summer, but my family is moving so it isn't really feasible. Have done a couple Chicago runs, thinking about a weekend in Nashville this fall.
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Mailbox Cancer
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 12:29 |
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Yeah, the Cruze is a better car, but there's something about the Sonic that is a little more abusable.
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bubbajoe123456
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 12:33 |
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Corporate deal with them can certainly be an exception.
Even absent that, the provision is virtually never enforced. It's mainly there so, if you go offroad and damage the car, they can come after you for the costs.
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Dr_Watson
> SteveLehto
03/12/2015 at 12:34 |
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You may be onto something... that's also good hitchhiker protection if your passenger is crazier than anyone you could pick up.
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tlb
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 12:35 |
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Nice trip. I've always wanted to do US 2 across the northern half of the country.
I am renting a car in a few hours and driving from Dallas and Phoenix and back over a long weekend. Taking the scenic route through West TX, NM and AZ instead of the interstates. I love road trips.
caddyak
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 12:38 |
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I did the same thing in Europe this past summer. Rented a diesel manual X1 Msport with unlimited kilometers for around $20 a day. Toured Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Czech Republic and Hungary and put 5k km on it. Went off roading, carving up Italian mountain roads, picked up hitchhikers and camped out, experiencing the parts of Europe you can't get to by public transit. It was beautiful. I should do a write up. I plan on doing a lap of America this summer with my old M5.
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C-5M Load Smasher
> SteveLehto
03/12/2015 at 12:39 |
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Forgot the word "anymore" that life is behind me now....
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Josh Welton
> bubbajoe123456
03/12/2015 at 12:39 |
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It's possible, but I've had other people I've known rent for the same purpose (the ability to go off road) with Hertz knowing it. I did go through the rules a bit, and didn't see that. It may be, like you said, that you can go off road, but any damage incurred is then your responsibility.
LongRoof68
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 12:40 |
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Good for you for doing what so many put off. Thanks for sharing the trip!
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Josh Welton
> caddyak
03/12/2015 at 12:41 |
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It would be fun to do a "circuit of the globe" that spans a lifetime. So much out there to see!
Hal
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 12:41 |
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I really wish I could have read this article on a slide projector. Good stuff!
WINGZERO
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 12:44 |
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I noticed you guys put up the aficionAuto. Theyre fucking awesome and I love Jurassic Park, the Jeeps are hhnnnnnnggggggggg and the RV restoration videos, I need moarr!!
FloridaMan
> Josh Welton
03/12/2015 at 12:46 |
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Don't know if someone has warned you about this already but I'm looking at the rental agreement for the Chevy Cruze I rented from Hertz a few days ago and it says:
"If you exceed 3500 miles driven in a 30 day period your rental privileges may be revoked for excessive wear and tear."
Your 8K plus trip might get you blacklisted from Hertz, in other words. I have no idea if they will or not, I saw that while looking for some information in the agreement and took note of it because I have often considered a cross country trip in a rental car. I'm looking forward to the rest of your updates, looks like an amazing trip so far.
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XYZABCXYZ
> icelandr
03/12/2015 at 12:47 |
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Yes, campus is "dry" in like the worse place in the nation for binge drinking.
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Josh Welton
> WINGZERO
03/12/2015 at 12:47 |
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Yeah! Met them at the Improv after a movie event. Passionate about what they do!
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Josh Welton
> FloridaMan
03/12/2015 at 12:50 |
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Beats me, I had looked through my rules and didn't see anything. FYI, I turned in the car last Monday. They didn't say anything. It's also not the first time I went over 3,500 miles in 30 days. Thanks for the heads up though, interesting that you found that.
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SteveLehto
> Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
03/12/2015 at 12:57 |
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Haven't read it. I was thinking 2 weeks for my four-corners trip.