roadtrip across the usa Archives - Page 4 of 6

Day 230 – Great River Road

Day 230 of Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways
Wyalusing State Park

We traveled quite a few miles up the Great River Road today. Beginning the day, we took another hike in Wyalusing State Park. It was a short walk along the Bluff Trail that took us to Point View overlooking both the Wisconsin River and Mississippi River. The Mississippi River flows 2,348 miles from Lake Itasca, Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. 15.8 million gallons of water flow past this point on the Mississippi every minute. The Upper Mississippi (above St. Louis) has 29 dams and is home to 100 species of fish. In addition, 175 million tons of material (40% grain) is shipped on its waters annually. One barge carries 1,500 tons of material. To put that into perspective, it would take sixty semi’s to do the same.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 227 – Door County Byways

Day 227 of Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

I survived another storm yesterday. It came and left within an hour yesterday afternoon, but it was ominous. Dark black clouds rolled in as the wind swirled. I was pulled off in a roadside rest area, but I’m told the wind lifted the water off the lake, creating a water spout.

Cave Point County Park

This morning we cruised up the “thumb” of Wisconsin. Our first stop was Cave Point County Park where Lake Michigan’s waves splash against dolomite cliffs. During rough weather, this can be a spectacle, though today it was calm enough for locals to take a dip. I’ve heard from a handful of folks over the last week that the water is warm. It’s all relative I guess…I’m certain it is at least 10 degrees cooler than I prefer.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 217 – Wisconsin North Woods

Day 217 of Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Amnicon Falls State Park

I forgot to mention one of the greatest parts to my Minnesota morning yesterday, despite the rain…the coffee shop I found, Java Moose Espresso, sold just the muffin tops…no stumps. Any Seinfeld fan has to appreciate that! Anyway, on to my next morning, I boiled some water for coffee and instant oatmeal at the Amnicon Falls State Park campgrounds in Wisconsin. Amnicon means “Where Fish Spawn” and the Amnicon River is an important spawning river for fish from Lake Superior.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 211 – North Dakota Sampler

Day 211 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

I survived a wicked thunderstorm last night. Thunder roared as lightning flashed and rain washed VANilla for over two hours. VANilla is a closer shade of white now that the red Utah clay has been washed away. I had planned to complete several short hikes this morning in the south end of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, but after 2 inches of mud caked to my trail shoes over a hundred yard walk to the bathroom in the campground and knowing the forecast called for out of the ordinary 97 degree temperatures, I thought better of it.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 209 – Cody Country: Shoshone National Forest and Beyond

Day 209 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways
Grizzlies in Grand Teton National Park

For a rainy day spent mostly in VANilla, I couldn’t have wished for anything better. There had been reports of a mama grizzly bear with two cubs roaming around the Jackson Lake Lodge area. On our way to our hike yesterday, a handful of cars and rangers were camped out alongside the road, so this morning around 7:45 I ventured to the same general area along with several others. I was willing to wait up to an hour, but much to my pleasant surprise, I only had to wait about five minutes. During the next 15 minutes, I think I took 83 shots. Every now and then, I just set the camera down and watched both the bears and the spectacle of photographers.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 208 – North to Jackson – Part 5

Day 208 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Another lovely day in Grand Teton National Park! We beat the crowds to the Spring Lake Trailhead which we followed through burned forest, ferns, around a lake, and up Cascade Creek to Hidden Falls. The falls were ferocious, splashing down the rocks and spraying us from fifty yards away. With the shade and the spray, there had to be a twenty degree temperature difference from the direct sun.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 206 – North to Jackson Hole – Part 3

Day 206 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Granite Canyon Trail

With Sunday morning, came another hike in Grand Teton National Park. This time Max and I took the Granite Canyon Trail where we followed the Snake River, raging with whitewater, through meadows of wildflowers and forests of pines and aspens. I found the hike intriguing simply due to the different greenery found here compared to most mountainous areas. It feels unusual to pass by ferns beneath a pine tree.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 205 – North to Jackson Hole, Part 2: Death Canyon Trail

Day 205 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Death Canyon Trailhead

After coffee with Carrie this morning, Max and I headed into the park and took Steven’s suggestion to hike Death Canyon Trail in Grand Teton National Park. The first 1.5 miles of the trail led us through meadows of wildflowers with views of the Tetons to the west, across several narrow streams which required leaping ability, and up to a shaded overlook of beautiful Phelps Lake.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 204 – North to Jackson Hole

Day 204 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Logan Canyon

This morning I reversed yesterday’s drive through Logan Canyon, this time heading North to Jackson Hole. VANilla weaved along the Logan River beneath limestone cliffs where I made a handful of stops. Two stops were at campgrounds that my Reader’s Digest book suggested to see a slab of quartz tunneled by tiny seaworms and to see a Jardine Juniper that is believed to be over 1,500 years old. Both campgrounds were closed. I’m presuming the river was up too high.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 202 – Rocky Mountain Ramble, Part 3: Georgetown to Keystone

Day 202 of Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

After stopping at the local bakery in Grand Lake for breakfast, I headed south toward Keystone where I planned to see Cat again for her July 4^th weekend BBQ. On the way, we passed through Tabernash and Winter Park and crossed the Continental Divide once more at Berthoud Pass.