I expected eastern Oregon / US 395 to feature soaring peaks from the Rockies – high mountains, for the most part, did line most of the long, arid valley that I drove through. What I didn’t expect was the Great Basin, an intimidatingly empty space...
Great Basin of Eastern Oregon: 95 miles of emptiness
Until the Great Basin, the ride across Wyoming from roughly Cherokee to Jackson had been the most foreboding space that I drove across. Eastern Oregon is actually growing – see below. The following massive sand dune made me feel very dependent on my car’s...
Understanding Kansas: Road signs, public art, local culture
Understanding Kansas using road signs, public art, and local culture. One of the joys of road trips is discovering unique countryside symbols – road signs, public and social art, and expressions of local culture. I twice previously traveled the I-70 corridor of...
Lake Tahoe, Nevada & Yosemite National Park, California
Lake Tahoe, located in northeastern Nevada, is one of the clearest and most beautiful lakes in the country. Its 37 trillion gallons of water are deep blue and so clear that objects can be viewed from up to 67 feet. I first visited and stayed in South Lake Tahoe in...
Northwest Montana: Glacier National Park & Kalispell / Whitefish
Northwestern Montana: Glacier National Park & Kalispell / Whitefish Glacier National Park, located almost 50 miles from the Canadian border, is difficult to reach. So, when I finally paid my entry fee, I was very excited to view its attractions. Glacier National...
Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks
I last visited Yellowstone National Park 46 years ago and then only the northern rim of the park – we entered from the northwest and exited at the northeast entrance. The park reminds of the song about “where the buffalo roam” as the lone buffalo (below) appeared...
July 7 – 23, 2018 Itinerary: Mountain chains, national parks, interesting places
Itinerary for July 7 – 23, 2018 road trip – ultimate tour of US western mountain chains, national parks, and interesting places. Traditional Glacier National Park people hauler for group tours. The motivation for this journey was pure bucket list – the intended...