Truckee, California to Seville, Ohio and Return
April 28 to May 12, 2001
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| Lehman Caves |
The Start of the Cross-Country Drive
Truckee, California to Cedar City, Utah
Day #1. For my two week vacation, I decided to drive across the country to visit relatives in Kentucky and Ohio and see some attractions on the way. My first day did not offer much in the way of attractions. My only stop was at Great Basin National Park to tour Lehman Caves. Unfortunately, on my tour was a troop of boy scouts with two scout leaders. The scouts were rowdy and loud, and the scout leaders did not nothing to curb their rowdiness. For myself and the other non-scout participants of the tour, it was not an enjoyable visit.
Where you see a day with
italics text, that text is from a postcard that I sent while on the road to chronicle my trip. Like a postcard, it is short and to the point.
A Long Stretch of Utah
Cedar City, Utah to Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Day #2, A Long Stretch of Utah. The Utah scenery was beautiful, especially if you like rock formations and hues of red. There is lots to see but it is spread out – Zion and Moab/Arches are over seven hours apart. I got to see Bryce Canyon, Grand Staircase Escalante, and Capitol Reef with a couple of short hikes. No Zion, no Moab, no Canyonlands :( I guess they will have to wait. I was behind schedule and had to high-tail it on the Interstate ... it was a rest-stop night. The mountains of Colorado are calling me next.
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| Bryce Canyon National Park |
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| Somewhere in the future Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument |
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| Capitol Reef National Park |
Rocky Mountain High in Colorado
Glenwood Springs, Colorado to Garden City, Kansas
Day #3, I Got High Today. And no, it did not involve drugs. I spent ¾ of the day in the Rockies. I started in Vail and ended up in Pikes Peak. Who would have thunk you can drive your car all the way up to 14,100 feet. At the top it was 29 degrees with a wind of around 30 mph. I thought it was brisk ... I think you would have said it was freezing. I ended my day in an unexpected way. I was driving around twilight time along US 50 in desolate southeast Colorado and came across Camp Amache, a Japanese-American internment camp during World War II. So I spent around 45 minutes in the dark with my flashlight looking at the camp ruins.
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| The summit of Pikes Peak |
Is Kansas Really This Boring?
Garden City, Kansas to Springfield, Missouri
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Remnants of the Santa Fe Trail
Ford County, Kansas |
Day #4, Is Kansas Really This Boring? It’s Tuesday, its Kansas … in other words I don’t what’s next … the largest ball of twine? Admittedly I took the backroads through Kansas, but there was nothing exciting about this state. I should have known it was going to be bad when the first scenic overlook was next to a cattle feed lot. Highlights (to give you proof) … an eccentric old geezer’s expression / art at freedom of speech and driving through Martina McBride’s small, small, small hometown. It was beneficial though as I did get a thick slice of small-town Americana. Hopefully this was the lowpoint of my trip … boy, I’m glad I live / work in beautiful Truckee.
Country Backroads
Springfield, Missouri to Savannah, Tennessee
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| The Shiloh Battlefield |
Day #5, Country Backroads. Started the day in Branson, Missouri. If you are an old country fan and love tackiness, this is your place. As for a planner, it is a nightmare! Then I took the country backroads through Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee. It was a long drive … I’m going to enjoy those Interstates on the way back. Ended up at Shiloh National Military Park. Arrived late and had the park to myself … eerie feeling.
Battlefield to Battlefield
Savannah, Tennessee to Cleveland, Tennessee
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| Chattanooga as viewed from Lookout Mountain |
Day #6, Still in Tennessee. But at least I’m on the other side. Since I’ve always wanted to visit a Civil War battlefield and may never get the chance again, I spent the whole morning at Shiloh. Then took a dip down to Mississippi (battlefield at Corinth), across Alabama, a ten minute yawn across Georgia, and back to Tennessee. Went to another battlefield that offered a spectacular view of Chattanooga. A good way to end the day since I had the park to myself again.
On the Road Again Soon
Cleveland, Tennessee to Pippa Passes, Kentucky to Columbus, Ohio
Days #7, #8, and #9, On the Road Again. Spent the last three days doing the family reunion in Pippa Passes Kentucky and Trenton Ohio. Got to see all my uncles and aunts except one and my favorite cousin. They were shocked to see me. Even got to see my dad although he seemed the least excited … oh well. Now I’m back on the road and got five or six days to get back. Taking a more northern route, hoping to catch the great sites in Wyoming and Idaho.
The Giant in the Family and Iowa Cornfields
Columbus, Ohio to Tama, Iowa
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| The barn of the Kentucky Giant in Seville, Ohio |
Day #10, Decadence in the Cornfields of Iowa. I just had to check out on of those “in the middle of nowhere” casinos that International Gaming Technology sends my friend Karen. So on Monday evening I found myself at the Meskwaki casino after taking a short detour off Interstate 80. And boy was I surprised on how big it was, where it was, and the number of people there on a Monday evening. Sin and corruption in Plainsville USA … what’s happening in this country … LOL. I started the morning in Seville Ohio, the easternmost point of my travels and the hometown of my ancestor known as the Kentucky Giant. Saw his and his wife’s gravesites and the barn they built around 120 years ago. A fitting end to my family reunion.
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| Grave site of Martin Van Buren Bates and Anna Swann |
Sunrise, Sunset
Tama, Iowa to Cheyenne, Wyoming
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| Chimney Rock in Nebraska |
Day #11, Sunrise, Sunset. Spent the day doing something I haven’t done in awhile – watching the sun rise, over the fields of Iowa, and the sun set, below the Wyoming plains. The sunset was exhilarating – I stayed for 45 minutes soaking in all the sensory stimulation. In between I discovered my existence in my birthplace Lincoln has disappeared – my street that I was raised is no longer there. Did a lot of traveling, but took in Chimney Rock and Scott’s Bluff. Now that I’m in the mountains, things are looking up.
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| Eagle Rock in Scotts Bluff National Monument |
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| Sunset in Goshen County, Wyoming |
Casinos Everywhere !
Cheyenne, Wyoming to Central City, Colorado
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| St. Malo's Chapel on the Rock near Estes Park, Colorado |
Day #12, Hold On To Your IGT Stock. Casinos are everywhere!! I was taking a nice drive through the Colorado Rockies (Peak to Peak highway) and came across Central City. I thought it would be a nice historic mining town to check out. Lo and behold, casinos line the main street from top to bottom. I did treat myself to a break from the travelling, and got myself a room at Harvey’s. Did a walking tour of the town that lasted a couple of hours and then took in the pleasures and comforts of the casino-hotel.
I also spent the next day, Day #13, (and then the next morning and afternoon, Day #14) in Central City, mostly relaxing and playing poker. Rest before the last leg home and work in a few days.
A Long Stretch of Driving
Central City, Colorado to Truckee, California
Days #14 and #15. Got a late start on the road because of poker tables, leaving Central City around 4 pm. I drove from Central City to Truckee with a couple of hours of rest a little bit after sunrise at the rest stop between Carlin and Battle Mountain. Around 18 hours of straight driving with only two hours of rest in between.
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