Going for a drive next weekend.

Alright guys,
I'm headed to California next weekend until mid-Januaryish for work. Right now, I'm in Eden Prairie, MN (basically Minneapolis) and I'm driving to Walnut Creek, CA. My planned route is I-90 to I-80 which goes through South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and finally California. I plan on doing the trip in 3 days instead of 2 really long days. Anyone have any ideas on where to stop for the day/what to see along the way? I know there isn't much in South Dakota, this is just my first time out west so any suggestions would be great! :hshake:

I'm looking forward to seeing all the trucks in Cali though, it seems like most of the really nice trucks come from either Texas or Cali :burnrub:


Here's a map of the drive for those that are geographically challenged :LOL:
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...06/Drive-1.jpg

cant speak of much, but have a safe trip!!

You'll pass thru the Salt Lake basin in Utah just before the Nevada border. That part of the country is stunning and as you go west on I80 straight up into the mountains, make sure you stop in the town of Wendover. It's right on the border of Utah and Nevada, which happens to also be the line for the Central-to-Pacific timezone, so all the restaurants have two clocks in them. Kinda funny. I used to live in Elko, Nv in a former life so I made that trek quite a few times. Have a safe trip and take pics!

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Originally Posted by skeet

cant speak of much, but have a safe trip!!

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Thanks man!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mang213

You'll pass thru the Salt Lake basin in Utah just before the Nevada border. That part of the country is stunning and as you go west on I80 straight up into the mountains, make sure you stop in the town of Wendover. It's right on the border of Utah and Nevada, which happens to also be the line for the Central-to-Pacific timezone, so all the restaurants have two clocks in them. Kinda funny. I used to live in Elko, Nv in a former life so I made that trek quite a few times. Have a safe trip and take pics!

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Thank you for the advice, I'll check it out! I'm going to have my camera inside the truck the whole time and I plan on taking lots of pics, I'll post them up here when I get to CA.

now thats a road trip... have a fun and safe trip man.

You're going right next through the Black Hills of South Dakota which are amazing. If you don't do anything else on this trip check out the Crazy Horse monument and museum (in the Black Hills). The monument is amazing. It's also close to Mount Rushmore, but that pales in comparison to the Crazy Horse monument.

It's out of your way, but the Battle of Little Big Horn was fought just over the border in Montana (Crow Agency) where Custer and the 7th Cavalry rightfully got their asses handed to them. A good place to visit and reflect on how the U.S. government screwed the Native Americans nine ways to Sunday.

There are some very, very spread out places in Wyoming. Make sure you have plenty of gas before hitting the long stretches. There's also a ton of open range in Wyoming so watch out for cattle, moose, antelope, etc. Some of the coolest pictures I've taken are from Wyoming.

That being said:

Imagine wrecking and landing where no one can see you from a road that doesn't have much traffic to begin with. You're injured and have to get attention but can't move. A lot of people will laugh at these suggestions, but they're the same ones that wouldn't last in a survival situation: When traveling sparsely populated areas (like Wyoming), you should keep a few items on hand in case you break down, wreck, etc. (water, food, charged phone, spare phone battery, small signal mirror, flashlight, etc.). You should also give someone a timeline of your trip, when you're getting to what city, where you're staying, etc. Check in with them to keep them posted of your progress so that in the event you wreck where no one sees you etc., someone knows something is wrong and has a ballpark idea of where you might be. Again...some will think this is extreme but they're the same ones that don't know how many rows away the exit doors are on an airplane when they fly and couldn't start a fire without a bbq lighter and gallon of gas.

Have fun, I'm sure everything will go fine, but be prepared.

moze is right, i lived in wyoming for a while and always had that stuff plus some in my truck, and yeah ive broken down luckily it was only 2hrs outside of Laramie (where i was living) but still was NO fun and not to mention all the animals you can hit up there. On another note thank your god that you dont have to drive through Kansas, water boarding is more fun.

Also if you go through Casper Wyoming stop at Wyoming classic cars, there is some nice stuff and you might just pick something out to pick up on the way back after you have made all that money at what ever job your working
http://www.wyomingclassiccars.com/

UPDATE: I made it to Boulder, CO today. I took a little different route than expected (I-35S to I80) but I'm a huge skier and I've always wanted to go to Boulder, so this was my chance. It's everything I thought it would be, I just wish it were winter! Headed through Wyoming, Utah, and into Nevada tomorrow, plan on stopping in Elko, Nevada for the night tomorrow unless anyone has any better suggestions. Pics from first leg of trip uploading now, will report back!

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Originally Posted by blackjack325

now thats a road trip... have a fun and safe trip man.

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Haha yeah it is! Halfway done now... thanks for the kind words.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DamnYankee

You're going right next through the Black Hills of South Dakota which are amazing. If you don't do anything else on this trip check out the Crazy Horse monument and museum (in the Black Hills). The monument is amazing. It's also close to Mount Rushmore, but that pales in comparison to the Crazy Horse monument.

It's out of your way, but the Battle of Little Big Horn was fought just over the border in Montana (Crow Agency) where Custer and the 7th Cavalry rightfully got their asses handed to them. A good place to visit and reflect on how the U.S. government screwed the Native Americans nine ways to Sunday.

There are some very, very spread out places in Wyoming. Make sure you have plenty of gas before hitting the long stretches. There's also a ton of open range in Wyoming so watch out for cattle, moose, antelope, etc. Some of the coolest pictures I've taken are from Wyoming.

That being said:

Imagine wrecking and landing where no one can see you from a road that doesn't have much traffic to begin with. You're injured and have to get attention but can't move. A lot of people will laugh at these suggestions, but they're the same ones that wouldn't last in a survival situation: When traveling sparsely populated areas (like Wyoming), you should keep a few items on hand in case you break down, wreck, etc. (water, food, charged phone, spare phone battery, small signal mirror, flashlight, etc.). You should also give someone a timeline of your trip, when you're getting to what city, where you're staying, etc. Check in with them to keep them posted of your progress so that in the event you wreck where no one sees you etc., someone knows something is wrong and has a ballpark idea of where you might be. Again...some will think this is extreme but they're the same ones that don't know how many rows away the exit doors are on an airplane when they fly and couldn't start a fire without a bbq lighter and gallon of gas.

Have fun, I'm sure everything will go fine, but be prepared.

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Awesome advice Moze, thank you very much :hshake: I'm glad I have this new pickup, it's nice to have peace of mind that I'm probably not going to break down, and if I do, I'm covered with my extended warranty, etc... I took a little different route but I plan on going through Wyoming tomorrow, I'm pretty excited about it after what you said in this post!

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Originally Posted by 408.Luke

moze is right, i lived in wyoming for a while and always had that stuff plus some in my truck, and yeah ive broken down luckily it was only 2hrs outside of Laramie (where i was living) but still was NO fun and not to mention all the animals you can hit up there. On another note thank your god that you dont have to drive through Kansas, water boarding is more fun.

Also if you go through Casper Wyoming stop at Wyoming classic cars, there is some nice stuff and you might just pick something out to pick up on the way back after you have made all that money at what ever job your working
http://www.wyomingclassiccars.com/

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Awesome, I'll have to check it out... thanks man

Looking forward to pictures. Be safe.

Headed out of Minneapolis:
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0008.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0014.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0016.jpg

There were windfarms EVERYWHERE in Iowa... along with corn.
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0023.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0028.jpg

Highway 76 going to Boulder just goes on in a straight line for what seems like forever.
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0036.jpg

Coming into Boulder, CO
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0050.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0061.jpg

Moze, here's some irony for you, I almost hit this numb deer!
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0067.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0070.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0077.jpg

And since this is ls1TRUCK...
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0088.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0101.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0102.jpg

There's a bunch more pictures located here: http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q...fornia%20Trip/ (Password: ls1truck)

More to come tomorrow after my second leg of the trip :hshake:

When you go to Elko, stop in at the Ryndon country store. It's about 15 miles east of Elko on I80. See my ex Sarah, and tell her I said hi :wave:

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Originally Posted by Mang213

When you go to Elko, stop in at the Ryndon country store. It's about 15 miles east of Elko on I80. See my ex Sarah, and tell her I said hi :wave:

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And give her some hotdog. :lol:

she enjoys those :lol:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mang213

When you go to Elko, stop in at the Ryndon country store. It's about 15 miles east of Elko on I80. See my ex Sarah, and tell her I said hi :wave:

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I got this message as I was halfway to Reno the next day, sorry man! Pretty cool I was in your old town though... check below for a present :hshake:

Sorry this took me so long to update guys, I've been crazy busy this week since I made it to CA.

Headed out of Boulder.
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0117.jpg

Mmm Bud...
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0120.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0126.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0130.jpg

I spy... Camaro...
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0179.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0207.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0212.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0217.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0241.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0247.jpg

Here you go Mang...
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0253.jpg

And here's the last day of the trip... from Elko, NV to Walnut Creek, CA...

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0256.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0257.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0263.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0268.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0269.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0276.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0286.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0287.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0288.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/IMG_0290.jpg

Which Budweiser facility, north of Denver?

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Originally Posted by RedHeartbeat

Which Budweiser facility, north of Denver?

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Correct. Right at the base of the mountains in Fort Collins.

Jordan man!!! those pics are sweet. Definately makes me wanna leave Maine.. except compared to Maine, that deer looks like a retriever. Keep em coming there nice!!!

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Originally Posted by RedHeartbeat

Which Budweiser facility, north of Denver?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by bartjo06

Correct. Right at the base of the mountains in Fort Collins.

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yep...been by there a few times myself. If you were in Ft. Collins you should have swung by the Fat Tire Brewery... :drool:

I took my "lunch break" there one time. :D

nice pics man, glad to see you made it safely

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DamnYankee

yep...been by there a few times myself. If you were in Ft. Collins you should have swung by the Fat Tire Brewery... :drool:

I took my "lunch break" there one time. :D

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I didn't even know their brewery was in Ft. Collins... wish I would have known.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kyle.p12

Jordan man!!! those pics are sweet. Definately makes me wanna leave Maine.. except compared to Maine, that deer looks like a retriever. Keep em coming there nice!!!

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Ask and you shall recieve my man... Here are pics from the ride I went on today...

San Francisco
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/IMG_0321.jpg

Bay Bridge
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/IMG_0324.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/IMG_0328.jpg

Downtown SF
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/IMG_0331.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/IMG_0347.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/IMG_0349.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/IMG_0352.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/IMG_0359.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/IMG_0372.jpg

I like the way this one came out... I love my new camera.
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/IMG_0376.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/IMG_0383.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/IMG_0395.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/IMG_0401.jpg

Next stop, Alcatraz.

Alright guys, I'm reviving this thread again because I'm about to head on another REALLY long drive. Leaving Monday for Minneapolis, I plan on arriving there Wednesday, have a couple meetings at the home office, then I'm leaving there on Sunday and headed to Central Maine. Anyone in the West/Midwest along the way that can tell me how the weather is? My truck is a 4x4 and I grew up in Northern Maine so I know how to drive in the winter, I would just like to make the 3,600 mile trip as uneventful as possible. I'll have pictures for you along the way again!

FYI, here are the routes I plan on taking...

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q.../TripPart1.jpg

And

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q.../TripPart2.jpg

So, if any of you are along the way, give me a heads up on the weather/anything I should know.

Damn that is not a road trip that is a journey. Good luck and take lots of pics

Who are you driving for and do they not believe in airplanes?

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Originally Posted by SLO TRUCK

Damn that is not a road trip that is a journey. Good luck and take lots of pics

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Thanks man, I'll take lots of pics for sure.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DamnYankee

Who are you driving for and do they not believe in airplanes?

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I was out here for work, I inspect power plants and I just started after graduation in May. As part of my training, I was out in our California office for the Fall inspection season and I'm headed back to the Maine office for the Winter/Spring inspection season. I fly CONSTANTLY for work all around the U.S. but since I lived in Cali for 4 months, it wouldn't have been feasible to rent a car. I'll be back in Maine permanately by next summer though.

Now that's a road trip.

Definitely show us the gas bill when you get there :lol: Drive safe on that long long journey.

I made it :dancenana:

Nice, Glad to hear.

Hey my buddy lives in Walnut Creek/Danville area. The next time I go up there i'd like to run them. There aren't many trucks here in cali to go up against.

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Originally Posted by Chris092183

Hey my buddy lives in Walnut Creek/Danville area. The next time I go up there i'd like to run them. There aren't many trucks here in cali to go up against.

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I'm no longer in CA man, I was there from Sept to early Jan, you just missed me, I'm on the East coast now.

see we really don't have many members in cali haha

Could be stuck on a island of ricers like me.... could be worse :P

Wheres the gas bill? :lol:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Maui4x4

Could be stuck on a island of ricers like me.... could be worse :P

Wheres the gas bill? :lol:

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Haha very true!

My DIC ended up with 199 gallons of gas used for the whole trip (3,700 miles). That's about $650 or so.

IMO, thats pretty dang efficient for a truck. :)