Western Swing, Oct '04 ... '05 = Jun-DE, Aug-NC, etc

[Guest]

In August 2003, I traveled through IN, MI, OH, PA, VA & TN, around our family reunion in PA. While I'm already looking forward to some trips in 2005 (more later...can we skip winter?), in less than a month I'll be embarking on my "Western Swing 2004" road trip, around a ValveReplacement gathering in Golden CO. I'm posting my trip itinerary now, in case anyone wants to plan to meet up along the way.

If anyone is interested in riding shotgun with me through the whole trip (or part of it), that would be great....

I'm thinking about renting a car, instead of taking my '87 MC LS [which just recently turned 125K trustworthy miles!], but I haven't decided. I need to consider the pros (if anything happens, it is only a quick call to get a different car) & cons (I wouldn't be driving a Monte Carlo...namely one of mine).

I'll be at the Golden Hotel for 3 nights for the ValveReplacment Reunion, &, in some of the places I'm stopping, I have friends with whom to stay for the night. I'm hoping to stay with friends along my whole route (except for the VR Reunion, of course) to help limit my expenses, but we shall see.....


PROJECTED ITINERARY

Tues, Oct 12
Leave home in the evening, headed for Wichita KS, an 11-hr trip (or so).
Proposed route: IL RT 64 W, I-39 S, I-55 S.
I will most likely stop either near Bloomington IL or St Louis MO, depending on what time I leave home & how I feel....& where I can stay overnight....

Wed, Oct 13
Complete trip to Wichita KS.
Proposed route: I-55 S, I-70 W, KS Turnpike 335/35 S [arg...I hate paying tolls...wonder how much I'll need for this leg of the trip....]

Thurs, Oct 14
Leave early morning, headed for Golden CO, an 8-hr trip (or so). Possible stop in McPherson KS.
Proposed route: I-135 N, I-70 W.
I hope to arrive at the Golden Hotel (need to get exact directions to the hotel...heh...that might be helpful) in order to meet up with the ValveReplacement group to go to dinner at 7:30p.

Fri-Sat, Oct 15-16
Spend time in Golden CO for the ValveReplacement reunion. I also plan to meet some people from the 1st Gen MC club (& perhaps others...?) while I'm here, though I'm not sure when....he he he.

Sun, Oct 17
Leave (depature time TBD), headed for Salt Lake City UT, an 8-hr trip (or so).
Proposed route: I-25 N, I-80 W.

Mon, Oct 18
Spend time with friends in Utah.

Tues, Oct 19
Leave early morning, headed for NM, a 12-hr trip (or so).
Proposed route: I-15 S, RT 6/89 (@ Spanish Fork), RT 6 S (toward Price), RT 6/191 S, I-70 E, RT 191 S, RT 666 (@ Monticello, towards Cortez CO), I-40 E.
I may break this up & stop somewhere along the way, depending on how I feel & where I can find a place to stay..... [Unfortunately, it does not look like a stop in AZ is in the cards. If anyone in AZ wants to meet up somewhere in NM...that'd be great.]

Wed, Oct 20
Complete trip to the Albq NM area, stop & see some friends here....

Thurs, Oct 21
Leave early morning, headed for Oklahoma City OK, a 9-hr trip (or so).
Proposed route: I-40 E.
I doubt I'll break this up into 2 traveling days, but I'm not sure....

Fri, Oct 22
After visiting with friends in OK, leave mid-morning, headed for Dallas TX, a 4-hr trip (or so).
Proposed route: I-35 S.
I may stop in Wichita Falls en route, depending on departure time & plans for Friday afternoon/evening in the Dallas area. I know I have several people to see in the Dallas area from different clubs/groups, etc., so maybe we can find a restaurant or somewhere to meet.......??

Sat, Oct 23
Spend more time in the Dallas area, visiting friends, etc.

Sun-Mon (Tues), Oct 24-25 (26)
Leave early morning, headed for home, a 16-hr trip (or so).
Proposed route: I-40 E, I-55 N (perhaps even a stop in W TN?), I-57 N, IL RT 24 W, IL RT 47 N.
This will definitely be broken into at least 2 driving days, if not 3, depending on how I feel & if/where I can find places to stay.


*wipes brow*

Phew. This should be fun . Now, if only I had a laptop computer & a digital camera to take with me...........


Oh yeah, as for 2005, some highlights...

Decatur IL:
MC Nationals, June 10-12. If all goes well, I hope to have at least 4 of my MCs in attendance, if not all 5!

Delaware:
Monte MadneSS '05, June 18-19. I'll be working on the 2005 version of Monte JEOPARDY!

IN-MI-OH-PA-VA-NC-TN:
2005 road trip around Annual Family Reunion, August (specific dates TBD). This trip will "mirror" my 2003 trip (IN-MI-OH-PA-VA-TN), except I'll be including Charlotte NC as a stop en route from PA to TN, as some friends will move there in October of this year & I'd like to meet & visit with other friends that live in that area as well.

Location/dates TBD:
ValveReplacement Reunion


Hmmm...guess the nickname I was given at the 1st Gen MC meet/Woodward Dream Cruise last month is somewhat accurate..."social buttterfly"....


"The stars might lie, but the numbers never do" ... Mary Chapin-Carpenter ... 'I Feel Lucky'

"The life I love is making music with my friends" ... Willie Nelson ... 'On The Road Again'

"I can’t stop driving" ... New Radicals ... 'Someday We'll Know'

"I need to get away from this place" ... Smashmouth ... 'All Star'


Cort, "Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip", 30swm/pig valve/pacemaker
Member & Newsletter Editor, Faith COB, Batavia IL
'72/'76/'79/'81/'87 & train/models = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
Spotting MCs = http://www.chevyasylum.com/mcspotter/main.html

 

[Guest]

*raises eyebrow*

Ssssoooo...anyone want to ride shotgun?


It will be an absolute blast at the VR.com reunion, but for those of you not coming...and on my path for the rest of my trip...want to meet up? I've enjoyed meeting people along the way of my other road trips .

Niki...if I remember correctly, you are in TX...though, I'm not sure how close you are to Dallas....


Other than the gathering at the Golden Hotel for my non-vr.com friends, it appears another gathering is forming in the Dallas area....sometime either Friday night or Saturday....


I've researched some costs from various rental companies & this is what I've found thus far, all based on unlimited mileage for 2 full weeks:

Alamo = Buick Century ... $435 total; Olds Alero ... $420 total

Hertz = Chevy Classic (malibu) ... $320 total <---this appears to be the best deal....

Avis = Olds Alero ... $425 total

Dollar = Chevy Classic ... $345 total

Enterprise = Chevy Classic ... $425 total

*shrugs*

I haven't decided yet whether to rent or take my '87 MC LS....


I've also found out that my approximate hours of driving that I listed originally may be off . For example, I've been told that the jaunt from Wichita KS to Denver CO is perhaps more like 10 hours, instead of 8.... Aye...I sure hope other times aren't as far off....


"On the road, where change is continuous and visible, time is not; rather it is something the rider only infers. Time is not the traveler's fourth dimension -- change is." William Least Heat-Moon in _blue highways_ (p343).


Cort, "Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip", 31swm/pig valve/pacemaker
'72/'6/'9/'81/'7, train/models = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
MC Guide = http://www.chevyasylum.com/mcspotter/main.html

 

[Harrybaby666]

Man!!!! This Would Be Awesome....

Man!!!! This Would Be Awesome....

This would be excellent....I am all for hitting the road, but unfortunately, I can't this time around....(I Have Issues....$$ LOL), Who knows Knightfan, maybe if I get what I am expecting, the next time around, I can swing out and pull you along for a shotgun ride.... (I can just hear the peeling out--err did I say that...I mean the easy foot on the gas, while be bopping around the U.S.) Harrybaby666

 

[fyrfytr]

Directions to Golden

Directions to Golden

Hey Cort
Here is what you need to do. You will be on I-70 West, take it to exit 265 which will be the CO-58 Golden/Central City exit. Once on it go to Washington Ave. exit and turn left. The Golden Hotel will be on the right at the corner of Washington Ave and 11th St.
I hope this helps you out and also have a safe trip.
Looking forward to seeing you again.
Take Care

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Hey Dave. How about from Parker. Plan on doing a mapquest....but you know how that can send you on a wild goose chase!

Thanks.

 

[fyrfytr]

Hey Gina,
Take I-225 back to the North to I-70 and follow the directions I gave Cort. I think that would be the easiest for you.
Take Care

 

[Guest]

Harry,

I'm sorry your issues are keeping you from traveling . I can't imagine not being able to travel...lol. But, yes, if you're up to it next year...we should "hit the open road". As for peeling out...I don't know....lol.


Dave,

Thanks for the directions . And, I'm looking forward to seeing you (and others, of course...he he he) again!

 

[Gnusgal]

Hey, Cort! Let me know if you're available to meet some time when you're in Dallas (Oct. 22 or 23, it looks like). I will have just turned in a big project for my class, so that weekend should be pretty open.

 

[Guest]

*grins*

Sweet .

Which would be better for you...Friday night or sometime Saturday?

I know I have quite a few people in that area to see at some point that weekend, but would enjoy meeting you and your hubby in person . If you want, I can send you my cell ph#....

 

[Gnusgal]

I PMed you...

 

[Guest]

*grins*

Received & replied .

*pauses*

OK...anyone else?

 

[Guest]

In about a week, I'll begin this road trip...I think. A few well-intentioned friends have suggested that maybe I shouldn't be going alone...so, I am looking for someone to ride shotgun, if only part of the way. Then again, some of my planned stops & people with whom I had planned to stay might not work out, so I'm not sure how much of the trip will be a go after all. We shall see....

*shrugs*

At least my trip will be "stress free" from the baseball playoffs....


RECAP (general)

IL to Wichita KS
Tues-Wed Oct 12-13
13-hr trip
IL RT 64 W, I-39 S, I-55 S, I-70W, I-35 S, KS Turnpike S
I plan to stop in KC & Lawrence to see people before arriving in Wichita for dinner.

KS to Golden CO
Thurs Oct 14
10-hr trip
I-135 N, I-70 W
Arrive in Golden for dinner. In Golden CO through Sunday.

Golden CO, Sat Oct 16 ... a few people are planning to meet me at the Golden Hotel sometime between 10am and noon. Anyone else want to join us?

Golden CO to Salt Lake City Utah
Sun Oct 17
10-hr trip
I-25 N, I-80 W
Stay in SLC through Tuesday morning.

SLC Utah to NM
Tues-Wed Oct 19-20
14-hr trip
I-15 S, RT 6/89 (@ Spanish Fork), RT 6 S (toward Price), RT 6/191 S, I-70 E, RT 191 S, RT 666 (@ Monticello, towards Cortez CO), I-40 E
Might break this up & stop somewhere along the way, depending on how I feel & where I can find a place to stay..... I plan to see some friends in the Albq area. Anyone else want to join us?

NM to Oklahoma City OK
Thurs Oct 21
11-hr trip
I-40 E
Doubt I'll break this up into 2 traveling days, but I'm not sure....

OK to Dallas TX
Fri Oct 22
5-hr trip
I-35 S
Might stop in Wichita Falls en route, depending on departure time. Plan to see some friends from a couple groups Friday night. Saturday is open, too, for now, but does include visiting with some friends. Anyone else want to join up?

TX to Elgin IL
Sun-Mon (tues) Oct 24-25 (26)
18-hr trip
I-40 E, I-55 N (perhaps even a stop in W TN?), I-57 N, IL RT 24 W, IL RT 47 N
I'll break this into at least 2 driving days, if not 3, depending on how I feel & if/where I can find places to stay.



TO RENT OR NOT TO RENT?

I haven't decided whether or not to drive my '87 MC LS ... or rent a car. Pros & cons to both, for sure. Prices (at least what I quoted earlier) aren't too shabby...we shall see, I guess....



STILL LOOKING FORWARD TO 2005

Decatur IL:
MC Nationals, June 10-12.

Delaware:
Monte MadneSS '05, June 18-19 (I'm working on the 2005 version of Monte JEOPARDY).

IN-MI-OH-PA-VA-NC-TN:
2005 road trip around Annual Family Reunion, August (specific dates TBD).

Cleveland OH? / October:
ValveReplacement Reunion

 

[Granbonny]

Cort

Cort

If my memory serves me right I think on Oct. 21st when you are on I-40 E from Albq, N.M. to Oklahoma City..You will see and read a lot about that stretch of I-40 running sometimes on top of old Route 66 and you can look to the South and still see parts of it on farmland, ect. We did that in our motorhome a few years back..and almost all places have old postcards, hat, ect. for Route 66....Now, that was the days of travel Convertables from Calif to Chicago..Women in their hats and gloves, roadside motels..I bought a lot of the old postcards..when Hubby would stop to gas up. Be sure and buy yourself a hat Route 66. Hubby has one. Bonnie

 

[Guest]

Hey Bonnie,

Too bad Georgia isn't out west .

Thanks for the tip about I-40 and RT 66. I _thought_ that was the case, but I wasn't sure.... I'll have to look for a hat and a postcard .