quote:

Originally posted by 2000Z-71:
Top off your fuel in Cortez. Most of 491 is on the reservation and gas stations can be hit or miss as far as being open or even having fuel. I have no idea what diesel availability would be on the res. You can also see some really "interesting" people in the reservation gas stations...

My range is 650 miles per tank of diesel. I'm going to carry a jerry can, and plan on fueling every 575-600 miles.

I'm ironing out the details now... I'll post the route specifics in a few hours.

Any members along the route who are interested in getting together, meeting for dinner, etc. Chime in once I get the route posted. I'm up for meeting anyone else who is interested.

I've got the current draft of the proposed routing entered into my trip computer.



Starting (more or less from Salem, OR) at home and driving to TR, SC...via hwy 20 across Oregon, 84 across Idaho, 15 to Provo, UT then 6 & 191 to Green River, UT. From there we'll head south via 191, 491, through Moab, Cortez, and catch up with I40 at Gallup, NM....where we'll continue East through Albuquerque, Amarillo, Oklahoma City, Little Rock/Jacksonville, Memphis, Nashville, & Atlanta...unless the rock slide get's cleaned up..then we'll go through Knoxville & Asheville (wife's hometown).

We're considering changing it up on the return...but as others have pointed out...we're going to play it by ear with weather and road conditions.

Stops for the trip there are planned for Meridian Idaho to stay with my mom, then probably Green River, UT at a hotel, then somewhere around Amarillo, TX again at a hotel, then somewhere around Bartlett or Jacksonville, TN (Unless I can get a hold of my buddy in Jacksonville, AR who's stationed at Little Rock, AR). From there we'll push through to the end at the homestead in TR, SC.

3019 miles, should take about 160 gallons of diesel (padding numbers) & cost about $600. That's 5 fuel stops if I never get below 1/8th of a tank.

I've mailed off my application to PA, and hopefully I'll get the FL one out tomorrow. FL may not come back in time...so the only states of concern will be a tiny bit in CO (only about 2 hours), half a day in NM...which I'm not concerned about at all, then SC. What is important are the states that you spend the night at...and I'll be covered there.

I'm starting to look forward to this drive. I've finally recovered from 2 trips down the Alcan last September & October(2008), both times driving big trucks and towing heavy trailers. This trip will be a sinch.

FYI The Haywood County rock slide will not be cleaned up by then, they are estimating 3-4 months. The detour on I81 adds 60 miles to the trip, and it is an easy interstate drive, much easier than the winding gorge of I40 from Knoxville to Asheville.

If you come through Asheville be sure to shoot me an email.

quote:

Originally posted by alleycat:
FYI The Haywood County rock slide will not be cleaned up by then, they are estimating 3-4 months. The detour on I81 adds 60 miles to the trip, and it is an easy interstate drive, much easier than the winding gorge of I40 from Knoxville to Asheville.

If you come through Asheville be sure to shoot me an email.

My MIL still lives in Asheville...so I know I'll end up there at least once. I'm also planning a trip to Seymore Johnson AFB, and likely Rock Hill, SC.

All these helpful hints fail to mention one imperative that has to be followed: Get your kicks, on route 66. Or whats left of it.

http://www.historic66.com/

When do you plan to embark upon this epic journey? My folks live in Black Mountain NC, real close to Asheville. I'll be there some time near the end of this month. I'll hit alleycat with an email before I go. I was going to say "I'll shoot alleycat..." but didn't feel comfortable with that language!

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by Dave O'Connell:
When do you plan to embark upon this epic journey? My folks live in Black Mountain NC, real close to Asheville. I'll be there some time near the end of this month. I'll hit alleycat with an email before I go. I was going to say "I'll shoot alleycat..." but didn't feel comfortable with that language!

Dave

Tentatively we're looking at an 18 Dec departure and a 22-23rd arrival in TR. The return trip is not set yet, likely we'll head back sometime before the 1st. There was a family reunion planned in Boise on the 1st, but it might get canceled. We will stay in the SC area a minimum of 7 days I would think. Since I'm not too sure I want to drive back over New Years... We might wait until the 2nd to leave town. That's up in the air right now though.

Colorado shouldn't be a concern. You can have a loaded handgun in the car provided you are "travelling". Open carry is also legal, though I wouldn't try it in Denver or Boulder. Conceal carry will be an issue. Colorado does not recognize out of state permits unless the permit holder resides in the state of issue. For example, a Florida permit would only be recognized in Colorado if the permit holder was a Florida resident. I do not know if Colorado recognizes Oregon permits.

1/2 a day in New Mexico? Well if you're counting full days as 24 hours, then maybe you'll be spending half a day driving through. You'll be covering over a quarter of the state north to south and almost the entire width of the state east to west. If memory serves, you can also have a loaded handgun in a vehicle without a permit. Please check and don't take my word for it.

quote:

Originally posted by 2000Z-71:
Colorado shouldn't be a concern. You can have a loaded handgun in the car provided you are "travelling". Open carry is also legal, though I wouldn't try it in Denver or Boulder. Conceal carry will be an issue. Colorado does not recognize out of state permits unless the permit holder resides in the state of issue. For example, a Florida permit would only be recognized in Colorado if the permit holder was a Florida resident. I do not know if Colorado recognizes Oregon permits.

They do not recognize Oregon permits. Mostly...because Oregon thumbs their noses at every other state's permit. Our time in Colorado will be about 1.5 hours. I doubt we'll stop unless there is something worth taking a picture of. Now the return trip....hm.

quote:

1/2 a day in New Mexico? Well if you're counting full days as 24 hours, then maybe you'll be spending half a day driving through. You'll be covering over a quarter of the state north to south and almost the entire width of the state east to west.

My calculations put me in New Mexico for 8 hrs including 1 short stop, and 1 fuel stop. That's half a day's worth of driving...perhaps a little more. I'm going to limit my driving days to about 13 or 14 hours.

quote:

If memory serves, you can also have a loaded handgun in a vehicle without a permit. Please check and don't take my word for it.

I'm a "trust, but verify" sort of person. lol. But thanks. The little part that I am traveling through Colorado...won't be a concern. Even road side rest stops don't scare me much when I travel with a malinois and a doberman.

I DO very much appreciate the input!

We're debating on if we want to return via the exact same route, or take perhaps a different route. Maybe we'll come back via CA? I hate CA...but we do have a lot of family there. That's a bit out of the way again also.

I-40 is CLOSED 4 miles into NC right now due to the rock slide...will put you behind about 1 hour or more due to the detour (not really any other good way through Pisgah National Forest outside of dirt roads or going all the way around. BEWARE!!

I make the Arkansas / SC trip fairly regular. If you go to Memphis, take US 78 to Birmingham, then Int 20 to ATL, then Int 85 to Greenville / Travelers Rest. Saves about 40-60 miles over taking Int 40, and US 78 will probably be very lightly traveled. (It is practicaly an interstate)

quote:

Originally posted by sasquatch28:
I make the Arkansas / SC trip fairly regular. If you go to Memphis, take US 78 to Birmingham, then Int 20 to ATL, then Int 85 to Greenville / Travelers Rest. Saves about 40-60 miles over taking Int 40, and US 78 will probably be very lightly traveled. (It is practicaly an interstate)

Thanks, we'll amend our route to include that.

Interstate doesn't hold any preference to me...other than the straight lines. I'm going to be going 55mph anyway. Slowing down for towns and hills/curves...is to be avoided if possible though. We're looking for the most fuel efficient routing. Often that means...going around the weather. Which we'll have to take as it comes.

Your route looks good. The curviest road will be US20 in Oregon. You probably already know what a pain it is from Burns to Vale. Once past there, you are home free until 191 in Spanish Fork canyon. There's also some curvy road between Moab and Monticello. Nothing like back in Oregon, though.

If you go through Nyssa, OR on your way to I84, there's a little Shell station just east of Notus, ID. They're usually a few pennies cheaper for diesel.

From there, it should just put you at around 550 miles to Green River. After you get onto I70 from 191 in Green River, take the first exit. That truck stop with the Arby's is usually cheaper than any other place south of there. Take a left towards town to find a motel. Continue east on the main drag, and you'll end up back on I70.

From Green River, it's around 450 miles to Albuquerque, so you should easily make Santa Rosa, where you'll find a Love's up by the TA. There's also plenty of diesel in Tucumcari. Get enough to get to Oklahoma.

OK has the lowest fuel tax of any state except perhaps KY, so be sure to top off before entering Arkansas. This region is littered with Love's, and there's a cheaper FlyingJ in Checotah, probably because you have to go up US69 2 miles towards Muskogee, and can't see it from I40.

Let's see, 300 miles across AR, then 200 to Nashville, so you'll be thirsty east of Nashville, in the Cookeville area. I'm just not much help past AR. I carry so much fuel that I wouldn't fuel again until Wythville, Virginia, so I don't know where would be best for you, since you'll be heading south before then. If you see a Wilco/Hess around those parts, that's always a good bet.

You should consider buying a Motor Carrier's Road Atlas at a truck stop. The spiral bound one's are expensive ($30), but they sell a cheaper, non-laminated one for $8. This has many resources, like police phone numbers, web addresses to weather/construction conditions, hotel contacts, etc. Even radio stations. This atlas is more useful for travel than the regular vacation oriented one, especially if you have a break-down and need to call for help.
Pick up the brochures for each major truck stop (FlyingJ, Love's, TA, Petro) and carry them with you. They list all of their locations and their phone numbers. If you break down, call the nearest truck stop and ask them to give you some local tow or service guys. I use the local truck stop people as a 411 for the closest road service outfits. Some will even give you a mini review: "This guy sucks, that guy's alright."

These mileages are estimates from my memory, so don't hold me too accountable if I'm slightly off. Crap, I just realized that you're not pulling a trailer and don't need big pumps, so you can fuel at any little place. Oh well, it's already typed up, so I'll post it anyway, FWIW.

Have fun, good luck.

Final thought--
Diesel from a service truck would be cheaper on the moon.

quote:

Final thought--
Diesel from a service truck would be cheaper on the moon.

Well put.

Kind of like leaving runway behind....

I'm seriously considering a bed tank for this trip. I don't know if I can swing the cost, but man...would that be nice. With a 90 gallon bed tank I would only have to fill up once along the way...and I could pick that point to be almost anywhere. With a 120 gallon tank....I could go the whole way....though I'd be on fumes.

Money is kind of tight right now, and as it is I'm buying a bed rug kit for $400. I also have to take down the front end to lube the bearings and ball joints before this trip. Oh, and my air conditioning compressor seized up on me last week. Today I got the quote back, $1,100.00 to replace the air conditioning compressor....ugh. I'm going to shop around on that quote for sure.

I sort of wondered if the worst roads might be in my neck of the woods. If that is the case...then this'll be a money trip. I finally tuned my antenna for my CB, so I'll have someone to talk to on this trip also. I'm looking into making some sort of entertainment center for the back seat that my daughter will be able to use. Probably just a portable power station hard wired to the accessory battery with a simple table and some storage space.

I'll post pics if I undertake that....lol. We'll see.

Thanks a TON for the info. I'm printing it all out now.

I'll program the route into my Garmin Nuvi, and I just picked up a large sized road atlas a few months ago. We should be good to go with those for maps. If I was doing the old, I84-80 through W. VA route...I know that one by heart. I can do that drive in my sleep...in fact, I'm pretty sure I have! It'll be nice to change it up for this trip. I'm looking forward to seeing new places.

Sir, generations to come will tell stories of your epic journey.
If you feel like paddling on Lake Jocassee when you finally make it to T.R., shoot me a line. It's sort of my home away from home.

Let us know if/when you will be passing through the ATL. Traffic is very congested, and there are a number of resources available to help you get around the worst of it. Plus I am sure the SC, Mars, and the rest of us would love to say Hi.

quote:

Originally posted by detroit192:
Let us know if/when you will be passing through the ATL. Traffic is very congested, and there are a number of resources available to help you get around the worst of it. Plus I am sure the SC, Mars, and the rest of us would love to say Hi.

You guys will be close enough I think, that I could pop down for a sigforum shoot....lol.

Hopefully.

Most all of our family is trying to dissuade us from making the epic journey at this point. No one who is willing to watch our dogs though....so they can't be that serious.

It can be hard to find a babysitter for a malinois. lol.

You're like Lewis and Clark only going the wrong way.

Have you considered renting a travel trailer. They rent them by week/month around. Break downs should be less of a factor, plus some of them are damn nice.

quote:

Originally posted by Thayer:
Have you considered renting a travel trailer. They rent them by week/month around. Break downs should be less of a factor, plus some of them are damn nice.

The wife and I were talking about it. Haven't looked into prices yet. My grandparents have in in Idaho...and they might let us borrow it. I was going to bring it up over Thanksgiving when we are there.

It will effect the price of fuel, but not as much as even 2 nights in a hotel. Renting one however...might. I'm going to look into that more now.

I wish I had a bit more expendable cash. You can get some pretty good deals on travel trailers right now...people are dumping them wicked cheap.