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Have you had the pleasure of introducing someone to our vast western lands who is from the East and never experienced it before? That’s been a real treat for me. As most of you know, I’ve been on a trip with a friend, visiting other friends, and have driven from Pennsylvania to Texas, then on to Oregon through what are presently dry western states, with occasional smoke from wildfires.
Have you been on a real, lifesized, road trip? This was one, and it added immense amounts of experience for all of us. The idea has appealed to me since having a few expeditions with friends that were shorter, and with less expansive scenery. While it’s always great to see the amazing sights our world offers, having some friends along can be added fun. I do recommend that if you can, you try it.
If you have only seen pictures, you haven’t seen the vastness of our deserts and mountains, either. Standing there for yourself is an experience like no other I know. They don’t call it “Big Sky Country” for nothing.
Of course, there are other really amazing experiences that a person has to have for themselves. If you’ve never been to the ocean, and sailed on it, you really ought to. While I’ve never been in a wetsuit and skin diving, I have family and friends who tell me I should. Going to Machu Picchu is out of the question, as I could never make the climb, but that’s another experience that looks like it ought to be added to your life, if you can manage it.
Where have you been that ought not to be missed? Do you have pictures, and would you like to share them?
Everyone I talked to along the way has agreed that they’d seen the pictures, but until they actually stood there with the incredible scenery of our western lands around them, they hadn’t seen it.
Family trips are great, too, but I find that as an adult, with adults, the experience of finding stirring beauty in our surroundings resonates a bit more. We’ve been parents, or the ‘adult in the room’, and while it has good points, I think it has the effect of making us teach when sometimes it can be better to learn. It may be that kids are too perfect a foil, and everything makes them awestruck. For me, at least this time, experiencing things as an individual made things strike home.
Age may have something to do with this trip, as well, as I’m sure when I see things I quite likely won’t see them again. You may not be where I am, in being retired and doing things that were always on my mind that I needed to do sometime, and now is that time.
I do hope you get there, wherever it is that you really, deeply want to go.
163 Comments
Beautiful, Ruth. I’ve taken family trips with two youngsters whining in the back seat, and some of those have been great because we saw things through the eyes of the kids. My sister lives in CA and I’m in NW Indiana, and have occasionally thought of just driving out there by myself instead of flying.
Thanks, and yes, go for it. We should have spent more time yet. You cannot experience the vast western scene without being there.
Good morning Ruth, and thanks for the post and host. Sounds like your road trip was wonderful.
My sister-in-law is doing something similar right now with a girlfriend. She started in the SF Bay Area, headed down through California and out across to Texas, over into AL and then up to TN, up through DC, Philly, NY, to Boston, then back over and down around the bottom of the Great Lakes. She’s currently rolling through South Dakota. Will go all the way across the northern part of the country to Seattle, then down through Portland back home. 30 day trip. Crazy.
For me, that one place everyone should visit is Yosemite. Stand before El Capitan. See Bridalveil when the snow melts. Truly awesome place. I’ve never felt more small, and more okay with being small ( in the grand scheme of things, you know? ) than when in Yosemite.
Shooter having bought 4 guns, I think, within the past week…Not sure. So glad he can buy what he wants/S
Nice….thanks.
Good morning and thanks Ruth. I was hoping we would here about your recent travels.
About 15 years ago we took the kids to Yosemite for the first time. (it being one of those places that pics can’t do justice) The kids reaction to the sheer magnitude and overwhelming beauty was the treat.
What a great idea, and trip. I’m into this complete travel plan syndrome, it makes the whole country come together for me.
\spuds says he loves being small.
Good Morning, Ruth.
Several months after I met my husband, in 2002, I was invited to visit a lifelong friend who lived in Salt Lake City. So, we had our first road trip together. In a new relationship, especially as older adults, we yapped our fool heads off the whole time because we were still getting to know each other. We also saw incredible views. I didn’t take photos, but I have memories of the red rocks.
The reason for the invite was my friend, Winnie was turning 50 and her partner threw her a huge party. Then, as a surprise, Bob asked her to marry him and that was part of the event.
? do not see how this relates
Ruth, I of course, intented to type HEAR. Hear about your travels.
Agree, and nice you and Kris had that together. Have you seen this?
http://www.anseladams.com/yosemite-gallery/
Monument Valley is also one of those places with must see status as is the Grand Canyon. The Rockies, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, also, too.
Good morning early bird.
What a wonderful time, all around.
Back in ’75, I, my best friend, and two other guys left Bowling Green, KY on a Monday night to go to Las Vegas then up to Denver for a couple of Foosball tournaments. It was my first time driving through a lot of areas and whether it was running through the Painted Dessert, meandering through the Petrified Forest (which I didn’t know until we were there were actually at the same location), watching the storm system form over the Arizona desert, looking down at the Grand Canyon or seeing the Rockies rear up on the horizon, the majesty of the land was both awe inspiring and humbling in its beauty.
When I was a kid, “vacation” meant a road trip through the West. By the time I got to high school, I’d been to most of the national parks, driven through some really spectacular parts of the western states (and miles and miles and miles — and miles — of corn and wheat), and because we were driving, we could always stop, get out of the car, and get up close.
It wasn’t until later that I got to do the same thing through the Southeast, which has its own charms.
You’re right — there’s nothing like being there.
heehee. the internet does spelling/grammar/language no favors.
What a wonderful trip. We didn’t go by way of AZ because it was under a heat dome when we were ready to travel, but that’s another trip we need to take.
Yes thank you. The incomperable work of Ansel Adams is of course the standard for wilderness photography and I in no way intented to demean his work. It is another thing altogether to get out of the car, turn 360 degrees and see Bridalveil Falls, El Capitan and Half Dome. The experience is staggering.
Been there :) Last May in fact. Wonderful place.
Great travels for growing up. I only wish every kid got such an experience.
F1 qualifying calling. BBL.
Good Morning, oldnslow.
It was dark when we crossed the state line and into Utah. In St. George we stopped at a small motel, one of those run dow, stinky types. In the morning, I jumped up and dressed to run out to get coffee and was absolutely stunned to see the red cliffs and snow.
Here’s a link to St. George which is near Zion. Just incredibly gorgeous.
And you’re right, too. I only threw in Adams’ photos because they’re so big a part of my love of Yosemite.
Good morning! The last road trip I was on was during the time that digital camera technology was in it’s infancy so I have no pics that I can share here. I’ve traveled through California, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Oregon, Washington and Nevada. Have somehow always missed Utah, Colorado and Wyoming. I do plan on another road trip someday fairly soon, to Montana where my sister now lives. I’d like to make a stop in Missoula too, in order to visit FDL’s DrDick.
I’m not sure I’d want to do it by myself, though, and can’t think of a friend who would want to go with me.
I went to both Yosemite and the Grand Canyon with my sister & brother-in-law as “side trips” on a CA visit. My sister and I drove to Yosemite and camped out overnight (had not done that since Girl Scout days). I’ve driven to Florida and DeeCee and Norfolk, VA by myself to visit friends, but driving out west seems daunting to do solo.
A lot of it was traveling along I40/Route 66. We picked up I40 in Nashville down to Memphis (sunrise over the Mississippi) then hit Route 66 concurrently in Oklahoma.
And it was during that trip that I stood on a corner in Winslow, Arizona though nothing at all happened…
x2
Niiiiice. That would be great fun, for sure.
Hi ya Peggy!
didn’t even have 7 women on your mind?
You have a great point, digital has made it possible to do the scenery justice because you can click and click and click, and go back later to pick out the good ones, no extra cost. That made a lot possible that couldn’t happen otherwise, as far as keeping the scenery for memories.
Ha ha. Playing that 6 degrees game, Jackson Brown’s mother taught English at my high school.
Daunting isn’t going to happen to me, I hope, as long as there’s great stuff to see. It does help to have friends at least to stop and visit with, though.
See ya folks. Garage sale weekend, so I’ve gotta hang outside. Wifey took all the tables to put stuff on so I’ve got nowhere to sit my laptop :(
Bye, Kris. See you around.
Have you even lived there long enough to acquire enough junk for a garage sale? I guess so.
Route 66 is a draw to us who grew up when it was The Way To Get West. A friend’s relatives had a much visited diner along Route 66 in West TX, there’s a website for it, and the memories and tributes are wonderful, still.
True that! And a 4gig memory card is cheaper than even mid quality 35mm film, (plus you can use it over and over), so the technology makes things easier and much, much cheaper.
Yep, and many of the new digitals have the capacity to make videos which especially with huge vistas can make for a better memory.
Thanks. It’s great to take the kids places, but sometimes I had to kick myself and get down off the podium.
Ooh garage sale! What kinda goodies ya got?
Okay, thanks for the memory jiggle. Now I get the reference.
Good morning demi!
That’s wonderful.
Four wanted to own him, two wanted to stone him but one was a friend of his.
Hope it goes well, and you don’t forget and sell all the tables.
Morning all, sorry to be OT but this interview of Chris Hedges is a must see
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/07/20/chris-hedges-americas-sacrifice-zones-being-destroyed-for-profit/
Sorry for my tardiness. I was reading a fascinating piece about a teabagger boss who claims Obama is a crack smoking, gay prostitute. The truly mind boggling aspect is that the story gets traction in the toady media. I guess they’re still afraid of Limbaugh calling them “liberal”.
Come on, baby. Don’t say Maybe.
I wonder what he’s up to these days.
Glenn Frey? Staying busy apparently.
Remembering road trips…as a kid Dad drove the family to Glacier, another year to Yellowstone. And one December we drove out of the northern ice to visit family in Dallas.
And then there were our own family road trips…to Riding Mountain National Park in Canada, often to Winnipeg or the Twin Cities, and the muy grande drive in a borrowed motor home from Fargo to Teddy Roosevelt Park then on to Yellowstone and Jackson Hole and back by Devils Tower and into the Black Hills.
These days, I rely on mass transit, flying or metros or trains, but the most fun was driving the west coast of Ireland from Kerry to Connemara. Poking around small towns, driving along the top edge of cliffs pounded by the Atlantic. Wowzah!
You’re always a welcome presence, but just a reminder; PUAC is set aside as visiting outside politics. Believe me, I have wanted to discuss politics here, too, and been told No.
Love you too, and see comment #50.
Not a road trip story, but when I was twelve, my mother took her three girls on a train trip to Illinois. The thing I remember about the trip was all the dry brown views traveling through Arizona and Texas and then when we hit Kansas, everything was green, green, green.
I thought it was Jackson Brown who was standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona. I better go look it up.
Wonderful, so glad your family did that. Incidentally, my sister who has RV’d for the past five or so years says it’s not the way to live fulltime, got anything to add to that? She wishes they’d kept a base camp homesite.
I have been wondering when and where to find real-time visiting that does include politics now that I’ve discovered PUAC but would like something else too. I mean, I would really ideally like a MIX.
So if you can point me elsewhere, thanks in advance. Though still glad to have found PUAC.
I mentioned it because of the media coverage but you’re absolutely correct. It was perhaps, a bit too close. My apologies to you and PUAC.
We had that same reaction to going back and forth from MD to TX when the kids were visiting grandparents, that dried out look was often what TX was like in summer. Love the return to green, myself.
buuuttt… there was a girl my lord in a flatbed ford…..
Any thread at FDL that’s NOT puac is fair game.
Did she slow down to take a look at you and more importantly, how did the lovely, (but still absent), cbl feel about that?
And welcome. There are any number of diaries, and you’re welcome to write one yourself, at MyFDL, on any number of topics. Mixing in the visiting happens all over, here at the main page of FDL and in all its side posts, tbogg, PHBlend, Dissenter, etc., and you’ll meet many of the folks here at other places on the blog. Those of us who’ve been visiting each other for years are going to be all over, and hope you will too, with lots of remarks and experience to share.
No problem, it’s just that the OT comments are very busy at this High Political season – and PUAC all the more another sort of discussion.
Stop by the Lakeside Diner every weekday morning. Sometimes conversation goes on all day. It’s a good mix of personal and political. Then on Saturday mornings we take a break.
I don’t mean to suggest you are a newcomer to FDL (if you’re not), but Christy Hardin Smith (one of FDL’s founders) started PUAC way back before I even came here, and it was then a complete break from politics. We’ve kept up her tradition here on Saturday mornings.
Seems she liked what she saw, too.
Good morning.
Did extensive backpacking in western mountains in my 30s, 1970s.
Great trip to Macchu Picchu in 1979.
Guessing it has not changed for the better since.
come on baby, don’t say maybe.
You mean the slumbering CBL? She has no comment. Honestly she is frequently amussed by younger coworkers she catches checkin-it-out. I think it’s only the Harley.
How I envy you that backpacking. Never got that brave – and wish I had done the climb, which I just don’t have the fortitude to face now, up Machu Picchu.
Ruth, is that a cow in the photo of the sunset clouds? We also get to see animals that we don’t normally see when we get out and travel.
Thanks. It’s a tradition I’d never want to mess up.
LMAO!
Ruth! Oldnslow’s copying me!
See my #47.
I wanna go to Machu Picchu but it might not be around much longer as entropy and gravity are conspiring to bring it down.
Didn’t do any climbing at Macchu Picchu but managed to get a room in the 15-room inn, to stay overnight.
Nothing brave about backpacking in western mountains which is a lot easier than in the east. In the east, trails are steeper, and ‘paved’ with rocks & roots. No such difficulties in the west, where trails are smooth underfoot & there is enough room for switchbacks, so they are much less steep than in the lower mountains in the east.
Just got rid of all of my guidebooks. I’ll never do any of that again, but couldn’t, until 3 decades later, emotionally part from the books.
thanks, msmolly — I am not a newcomer to reading articles on firedoglake at all but I am a total newcomer to participating so the information is very welcome :-)
I’ll check out the Lakeside Diner . . .
I wasn’t aware of any danger to MP. What’s the problem? It looked pretty solid to me 3+ decades ago & withstood jungle overtaking it for hundreds of years.
Maybe … Baby … probably a coincidence. Hijacking a rhyme is fine. (sorry, snickering)
you better not tell mom!
The mention of CHS reminds me of the morning she threatened “don’t make pull this blog over” Still makes me chuckle. Yes, I still miss her.
Fatster’s news roundups can also be very lively and informative. I’m usually on two or three threads at once while spending time in my computer chair. I also usually read the news and so forth while sitting here, since I don’t get a lot of butt time. But Lakeside Diner is not something I can regularly attend sadly. I just leave too early. :-/
Faulting. Lemme find you a link….
That’s good to know. I did notice the roads are being redone to make the grades easier, and had no difficulty driving up those Western mountains because of that. Reminds me that originally roads were placed where the cows went (Waybosset in Providence RI was The Way Bossie Went) because they chose the easiest way.
When I was there, the valleys were full of smoke owing to burning to create farm plots. The land was so steep it had to be terraced. Terracing was prolly centuries old.
Hiked up all 46 4,000 footer in NH.
And, do you remember her blogging while playing with the Peanut? Tiara and feather boa blogging.
And here is a link. But the author doesn’t believe there are any problems. I don;t think there’s a consensus but there has been some widening of some of the cracks.
We’d love to see you. Southern Dragon posts several links to articles from foreign media (especially the UK) and that kicks off the conversation, with others bringing in stuff from other sources, and a good deal of personal chit chat.
It started after the former holder of that spot in the lineup left. Southern Dragon had commented earlier that it seemed like a bunch of friends gathering around the biggest table in the local diner, so when the schedule had the opening, the Lakeside Diner was launched and quickly became a favorite.
We’d love to see you!
I’ve heard that we will never see most of the wonders of the world as they were, because of general pollution and deterioration, but I’m glad for what’s left anyway.
Yeah, and we all miss you, Peg. But we’re all happy you have a JOB!!
Yeah, that terracing has been around a while! Some great panoramic views of the site can be had too! Don’t forget to click it to zoom in!
Honey, I think we all looked more solid three decades ago.
I’m sure most of you know this, but Christy has a blog she started after health and family obligations caused her to give up FDL. She usually posts about once a day, still about home and family stuff. She is such a good writer! We all miss her.
Home Celebration: A Blog of Comfort and Joy
Not working for me.
Absolutely. Glad you visit here, too, where there are a ‘stable’ of post hosts, and I think none of us minds being a part of the herd.
That makes me happy too!
OK, have a great weekend, everyone. I’m off to the Farmer’s Market and then on another long bike ride. Weather is great, but supposed to get HOT again tomorrow.
Moo.
Okay, try this then. Click “Full resolution”
Thanks. Was unaware of those issues.
Moo x 2. ;)
Except I’m a little more solid than gravity allows or the scale approves.
remember with great fondness. also remember when she was just a commenter named reddhead. (jesus, mary, and joseph on a ski boat i’ve been reading this blog a long time)
Obviously one day the mountain, like all mountains, is going to wear away and/or come down. The debate concerns the when.
Well, of course I live in one of the special places, so travel for me is to micro visit the Pacific Northwest. I tend to go to the lonelier places but even there today it’s not too lonely! Yosemite is out. Way too many people.
I’ve visited every state west of the Mississippi and not so many east so a reverse trip would be more likely if I were to think in a travelog manner.
One should add Alaska and western Canada to the itinerary of spectacular settings. The western side of B.C. and the Yukon up into the remote parks will also make you realize one’s smallness. The Top of the World highway is aptly named, then you get to visit Chicken AK!
And they are lonely!
Sigh! And here I sit, typing!
Wow! That predates me. I was just a visiting lurker back then, usually coming over because Americablog linked to FDL.
Didn’t look like any time soon when I was there.
Wow. Jungley. Thanks.
I’m so glad I took Physical Geography in college. Especially when traveling on a road trip, there’s an understanding of how the land got to look the way it does.
Beautiful downtown Chicken.
Enjoy it while you can.
Supposed to be some spiritual stuff going on if you were there for the sunrise. It came up it in an interesting way wrt some rock construct.
Some people get so excited about those things (Stonedhengies). It was interesting & beautiful, but spiritual, not so much.
I’ve been walking in the park, only a mile on the exercise path, for three weeks and I’m already feeling the results. From lardass to hard ass. :)
I’m enjoying it very much.
Out to start my day. Thanks Ruth. Good day to all.
soooo, bossie. from another one.
Yep, only a geologist who could examine the site in ways that Peru sure as heck isn’t going to allow would be able to tell us.
You have to be kidding! The climb into the Wallowas in NE Oregon from Lostine is a 20% grade! My son-in-law and daughter are hiking the Continental divide…for a 4 month trip. I won’t see them until November.
Laters Oldnslow. Please hug the lovely cbl for me.
A 20% grade would be mild in the east.
As long as we share, care, learn, have fun and nurture each other. :)
Thanks, wonderful places, and visiting the East is pretty much of a wake up call too. I think the colonial Williamsburg as well as Lexington/Concord and Faneuil Hall in Boston are humbling, too, for what the founders faced and did as well as the historic structures.
Heading over to the garage sale? Take good care.
Sounds like a dream trip. Only I have to be realistic, that’s something I should have done some few years back.
And, one of the best parts of being the host is having the edit button. Oh, and the huge paycheck. Ha!
Going to get a quick shower and get started. Thanks Ruth and welcome back! :)
Just ginormous!
Yep, and that’s why it survives yet.
Never mind.
Have a great day, baaaaaby!
“She gives me all the money she makes here!” – from spuds.
that and a nickle … doesn’t buy anything, does it?
Love you, dear. I think it’s time for me to put on my tennis shoes and go commune with the trees. I’ll see you later.
Ta Ta, all.
Can’t buy me love, everybody tells me so.
Once the rent is paid, respect is more important than $$$’s.
There is a photo of the peanut on Christy’s blog. (scroll down) They do grow fast. A wise peanut in her choice of a mom.
Well…..AIR is still free….
For how Long?
Wow, doesn’t she look like her mama? Thanks.
I miss Christy too. But, what an inspiration she still is.
You made me think of oxygen bars.
Thanks. Wise indeed, and growing wiser alla time.
Now, now. That would surely lead to a policy discussion.
Love the pix btw Ruthie. Great topic! :)
Thanks, and indeed, there’s a fine line.
I’m ready to head to the park now, but I forgot to say thankyou, thankyou, thankyou Ruth. Especially on days like today, we really need a respite, an island of understanding Something.
btw, another fine post from Phoenix Woman above, http://firedoglake.com/2012/07/21/come-saturday-morning-bachmann-fan-sez-john-mccain-henri-petain/
Wilderness rule of threes:
You can live 3 min w/o air, 3 days w/o water and 3 weeks w/o food.
Can you imagine having to pay for air? I’m not speaking about serious medical needs.
Water is already being priced out of some people’s ability to pay.
Thanks, glad you came by, and yes, getting on to the political cage fighting, and that’s not helping us get on with each other for the most part.
Sadly true.
Water that’s actually pure and good tasting is costing more all the time.
I’m increasingly weary of the cage fighting. Very torn these days between my desire for tranquility and my drive to opine. But the friendships are what wins that tie and keeps me coming back. :)
Portland is a great example. Using the EPA LT2 rule to pile on the bonds for us to pay, all to degrade the already pristine water from Bull Run.
So glad you do. No doubt we’ll get all the opportunity we could ever wish for to get into wrangles, and I’m also tired of it. Nice if factual discussion was the rule.
Cage fighting. As in: “Let’s you and him/her fight!”
I hate it too, and I tend to rise to the bait. Well, this also passes as one ages.
(Okay, I lied. Still here.
It makes me very sad to see commenters baiting each other, and seemingly intentionally miss-reading other commenters words and points. Very sad indeed.
Yep. Thanks again Ruth. Out for sure now!
When that happens, I’ll just leave.
Sometimes we all do. Thanks for coming by, and contributing.
And thank you for the post today. Your Mt Hood photo is iconic, a good job, Ruth.
Yep. One trick ponies abound. Yawn.
Why, thank you, and have a good day.
Thanks, everyone, for visiting. Have a lovely day, and I wish all of you at least one visit to the incredible west.
And stop by and say hello when you do!
Good morning, all. It’s still morning here in bear country. I haven’t had time to read all of the comments, but it seems that everyone has great travel memories. Before I have to go, I want to add a few of my own.
I have lived in many places in the USA, such as Texas (born there, too), NY, NJ, FL, and visited CO where my wife’s sister lives. Each area has so much to recommend it: the forests, mountains, and big rivers in the East, the huge mountains in the West and the woods and beautiful springs in Florida and around the SA-Austin area. Of course that does not cover every good sight.
I spent two years living in the desert in Libya, both inland in the stony desert and on the coast with beautiful sandy beaches. I got to the northern edge of the sand sea. I saw, around Christmas time a hotel with a stable at the Egyptian border. The stable had many people milling around and many animals eating their hay. I thought to my self that that would be a perfect place for a young woman living 2000 years ago to have a baby; there were so many older, experienced women around to help. That stable was probably exactly like it was 2000 years ago.
I have been skiing and scuba diving. I have seen many breath-taking sights. I would like to see more, but I have other obligations right now.
When I was about 5yo my mother went by herself on vacation, leaving me home with her mother. I threw a fit, screaming and crying and rolling on the floor. My mother told me that when I grew up I would visit so many more places than she ever would. She was right, she got to visit them through my telling her of them.
Thanks, and true, each area has its own treasures. Hopefully we can get a taste at least of them all, and share them.
I’ll mention, your mom’s travels probably weren’t as comfortable as yours have been. Once upon a time, AC wasn’t available everywhere, and in TX people drove at night because daytime was deadly hot.
I remember traveling at night, especially going to Corpus and back to San Antonio.
The light display from the refineries are a favorite memory of a friend who grew up in Corpus.
Hands down, the Valley of Fire in Nevada is a spot not to be missed.
Not only is it one of the most visually stunning places I’ve been in the West, the physical access to getting right in the middle of the formations and really experiencing it is quite easy. At the same time the area is expansive enough to absorb exploration for days on end.
Well, I must go. I’ve been very busy the past more than a week and just get a few minutes now and then. I hope to visit Caturday tomorrow, but I have to see how it goes.
Thanks – it was so hot in the SW when we went, we drove straight north then west instead. I’ve heard that there are extraordinary sights I missed, maybe next time.
Thanks for the visit.