PDA

View Full Version : Going "Home" for Mom's memorial


SimpleSimon
07-24-2007, 03:54 PM
I posted this at the Asylum, since the traffic there is much higher than here. I'd appreciate it if you folks would give me your comments/suggestions for my trip, as well.

As many of you know, my Mother died June 29th. My family doesn't do traditional funerals, instead we get together at a mutually agreeable time and place some time after the death and hold a memorial party. In this case, it will be at my brothers home (where Mom lived most of the last 5 years of her life) on August 11th, which would have been her 75th birthday.

SLH has arranged a week off from his job, and will fly to Oregon the week before, so he can spend some time with his mother and sisters and attend the memorial. For a variety of reasons, I plan to drive, which will take probably three days.

After the memorial, I plan to take a very scenic route home to Shreveport. There are some people and places I'd like to see one last time, and due to the ongoing health issues I deal with from the diabetes, this is quite likely going to be my last major road trip.

I plan to return via Spokane, Couer d'Alene, and Kallispell, taking the Road to the Sun route across Glacier National Park, then south from the east side of the park to the north side of Yellowstone and through that park to the south. From there I hope to proceed south through Grand Tetons National Park to Jackson, Wyoming. After that the route is pretty flexible.

I'd like to go south and along the west side of the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, then southeastward and drive the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway to the Curecanti National Recreation Area (I wish I could get back into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park).

Thereafter the route is completely open, dependent more on my cash flow situation than anything else, if possible I want to go southwest across Colorado and spend a day or so driving the roads in Mesa Verde National Park. Since I anticipate sleeping in my car most nights, and my major expense will be gasoline, my schedule is pretty open.

I'd like to solicit suggestions from anyone at all, as to things/places along that general route you think I might enjoy seeing. I intend to avoid the interstate highway system as much as possible on the return route. I prefer narrow, twisty, low traffic mountainous roads.

Gasoline costs with my car will run about $.10/mile (obviously depending on costs encountered). With the ice chest, some pillows and blankets, food will average about $10/day and I figure the cheapest possible motel room every 2nd or 3rd night (based on previous trips, about $50/nights lodging).

So, suggestions, please.

Escape Artist
07-30-2007, 12:41 PM
Suggestion - from the queen of jackasses, of course - I drove lots. More often than not it sucked. I ended up with a lot of places I want to go back to and didn't just hit the brakes because I wasn't being paid.

So - I suggest a double whammy. Similar to the arguments/debates made between me and the fellow night worker g/f: What do we want to do that provides the best, most total experience we can possibly have?

It's hard work just going to a bank for us. Feeling grass on our toes is a luxury.

Get out of the damned car and walk around, explore, and enjoy your freedom. Now, I don't know how feasible that is - but hell - if I could see some country and had a homebuilt skateboard to explore - I'd improvise and do it.

Too many people act like life and driving is a TV that costs more.

Do me three favors before you go: Drive like a bat out of hell, ruin your brakes stopping to see this and that - if it works for kids, why not us? Least importantly, yell at me via email. I miss talking to you and barely have time to keep my head screwed on.

And - as stated a couple years before, anything I can help with - or others - say so, you stubborn fucker! You sound like me when I hit a hospital for the first time in life.

They pried me off the floor of my lovely crap-tastic grocery store job while I told them to go to hell and let me work. Had to pry a can of salmon outta my hand, apparently.

Live in this way - and why not? Goddamnit, enjoy without the planning.

And I love ya, man. The lessons I got have been a cornerstone in my life. Should've seen tonight. Or a few other days/years/desires. Thanks, bro.

Go live.

Asmodeus
08-04-2007, 01:11 PM
Suggestions cometh, but in no particular order just as I think of them.

Bryce Canyon, Utah

Red Rock something or other outside of Las vegas, Nevada

Devils Tower, Wyoming

Hell's Half Acre, Wyoming, highway 20/26 between Riverton and Casper, grab a jallopeno burger at the restuarant that is literally on the edge of a cliff, perty place

Not even marked as scenic: highway 28 south of Riverton, Wyoming toward Rock Springs, some of the prettiest country I have ever seen

Highway 64(I think) northwest of Taos, New Mexico, the bridge you can't see land under you

Palo Duro and Caprock Canyons of Texas

Guadalupe Mts Natl Park on the border of TX and NM, just south of Carlsbad

The Marfa Ghost Lights of course.

If you have the time and $$$, try to get a room at the Ten Bits Ranch, between Alpine and Terlingua, TX... rustic, remote and absolutely perty, owner will let guests take tours to his archeleogical dig sites... will have to get reservations first mainly just to get directions... kinda hard to find

Good luck bud.

Asmodeus
08-05-2007, 01:15 PM
Oh, forgot a few:

Austin, Nevada and the Big Smoky Valley, kinda center of the state, perty drive

Jerome, Arizona- DO NOT be pulling a trailer and try to make it thru this town. They have posted signs no vehicles or combos(with trailer) over 15 feet in length(or was it 20?). You won't be able to make the turns. Eerie place.