Roughneck's Cross Country Adventure
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jaguarr
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Zion National Park is about 308 miles from Moab, but oh man is it worth the drive.
http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-national-park-map.htm
jag
http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-national-park-map.htm
jag
Babs Gordon
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that's awesome rougneck.
jaguarr
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USMC
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Roughneck said:
It will be the most Zen-like moment of your trip. Hike Angel's Landing, especially this time of year. And go all the way, not just to where most people stop. I assure you, you will not regret it and it will be an experience you'll carry with you the rest of your life.
Roughneck
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January 4, 2007
So, I woke up this morning around 8am, about an hour after my alarm went off, but there was something wrong with it. Instead of the annoying alarm sound it just made this quiet electrical noise, it was enough to wake me up but I still blame it for me getting up an hour late.
Anyway, I had some breakfast in the little breakfast nook, and that is when I looked out the window and saw the snow. There was a storm that came through the town .well actually the storm went through northern Nevada, leaving it with a healthy layer of snow ..about three inches. I asked the housekeeper if this was normal for Nevada, she said that it was. And yet, a lot of folks looked at me curiously when I took out a snow brush and took all of the snow off of my van.
I thought that being Canadian and driving in snowy conditions I would have a little edge on a lot of the other folks on the road. I didnt take into consideration that since we get snow a lot more, the snow removal is far more efficient to the north.
So I drove through northern Nevada in some really thick snow. I left Carlin heading west still on I-80. I knew right away that unless this storm let up soon that there was no way I was going to be able to drive all the way to Eureka as planned. The good news is that the storm did let up. I stopped at a Wal-Mart in Winnemucca and got some gas, then got back onto the highway and shortly, well I ran right into another storm.
At least there was no wind today, I was hoping for no wind.
That storm let up from time to time, but stayed with me almost until Reno, the moments when it wasnt snowing one me allowed for some great views of the mist covered foot hills. The mist and storm likely added to a view that I wouldnt have enjoyed properly.
So Reno pissed me off too, I guess it wasnt all Renos fault, it was the Renoian drivers. On their little freeway thing they drive like *******s, I was going above the speed limit like everyone else yet I was always getting cut off. Add to that the fact that once again my GPS sent me to a store that didnt exist. This time it was a target.
I tried another Target and found it quite easily, but again crummy drivers prevailed, this time with the way they parked. Ive noticed that a lot of the parking spots here in the US are actually larger than they are in Canada, and that is why I am surprised when I see vehicles in more than one space. And I have seen it quite a bit actually, but the most in Reno. Then as I walk towards the door I see spaced marked compact stuffed with oversized SUVs.
Ill get over it. Once I came out of the store the sun was shining bright and it was getting warmer, I though that I might make Eureka yet. So, back to the highway I went, I left Reno north on Highway 395. And, not two miles outside of Reno, BAM another snow storm. This one lasted right through to the California border. I really wanted a picture of the Welcome to California sign with snow falling behind it, but the sign wasnt nearly as big as I thought it would be and I drove past it before I really noticed it.
So the snow let up for a while and I saw some brilliant landscapes in California, it was great, the grass was actually green and the sun was out, there wasnt a spec of snow in sight. This is what California is supposed to be like, I actually turned on my air conditioner for a few minutes. But, the dark dark grey clouds ahead grew closer and closer.
Then the hail started. It was the oddest hail I had ever seen, it was small and there was absolutely no rain at all with it. Then the hail stopped and the rain began, the rain only lasted for a couple seconds and then it became the fourth snowstorm that I had the pleasure of driving through in the Nevada/California portion of my trip.
This snow kept on going right through Susanville, where I actually considered stopping for the night. It was probably the nicest town I have driven through yet on this trip. As I go I rank the places that I would live if I was to move to the states and it is currently number one.
When I stopped for gas the woman there actually suggested that I should stay in town with the storm the way it is. I just told her that I was Canadian and walked out as she chuckled. Honestly if it were a little later in the day I likely would have stayed there, there was a nice little movie theater and plenty of motels. But I still wanted to try for Eureka, though by this point I was fairly certain I would be staying in Redding.
I kept on trucking, now on Highway 44, and the storm got thicker. It was insanely thick, the thickest I had seen today. I stayed on the road only by following in one pre laid set of tracks. The snow was coming down hard, so hard that I could barely see ten feet ahead of me, but as long as those tracks were there I would be just fine. Then I passed the van on the side of the road that was making those tracks, I guess they decided to pull off until it lighted up or a plow came through.
So I slowed down and kept on going making my own tracks. Eventually the storm stopped again, it became really nice out again and there was little snow on the ground and in the trees. And the trees, man those trees. I have never seen anything like these trees before, they were huge and lined either side of the road. They trees were so thick that they blocked out the sun on many places. I was awe struck by them, but I imagine that I will forget about these trees when I see the Redwood Forest.
And for the fifth and final time I drove into a snow storm. This time I actually had to stop for a while. I thought it was for some snow removal units, but it was actually for an oversized load on a truck. I was cool with it, it gave me a chance to play with some of the stuff I bought earlier.
Once the vehicles did start moving everyone was driving really really slow. I mean it was embarrassingly slow, even if it never snows around there, though I am told it happens every year, they should not have to drive 25 mph. That is just slow.
There was a car in the ditch with one car already stopped, the truck ahead of me and I both stopped as well, and three of us managed to push the car out. The girl said thank you as I walked away, normally I would have stopped to chat, get some research for my book and stuff, but I wanted to hop into the van and get back on the road before the guy in front of me who was going really slow.
Highway 44 became 89 and from 89 I turned onto Highway 299, and then the snow let up. The snow stopped and the countryside once again became what I think California is supposed to look like. It was green and dry and warm. Unfortunately for me it was getting dark fast so the view would not be enjoyed to its full extent. Though, there was one spot I wish it was actually darker for, I came up a hill and around the corner and there was a break in the trees and down below were the lights of what I assume was Redding. It was a great view, but it would have been better if it were a little darker out or a little lighter, anything but what it was.
From there I drove into Redding and followed my GPS to a motel, I really dont think Im in the best part of town. No worries really. I had some Wendys for dinner and I am about to go to bed ..I imagine I will lay awake for half the night contemplating the differences between American and Canadian Wendys. This American one had vanilla frostys and had Pepsi products instead of Coke, the differences did not stop there.
Anyway, I think tomorrow I will sleep in a little bit intentionally, and head over to Eureka then south on 101 until .well until I get kinda tired I guess.
So, I woke up this morning around 8am, about an hour after my alarm went off, but there was something wrong with it. Instead of the annoying alarm sound it just made this quiet electrical noise, it was enough to wake me up but I still blame it for me getting up an hour late.
Anyway, I had some breakfast in the little breakfast nook, and that is when I looked out the window and saw the snow. There was a storm that came through the town .well actually the storm went through northern Nevada, leaving it with a healthy layer of snow ..about three inches. I asked the housekeeper if this was normal for Nevada, she said that it was. And yet, a lot of folks looked at me curiously when I took out a snow brush and took all of the snow off of my van.
I thought that being Canadian and driving in snowy conditions I would have a little edge on a lot of the other folks on the road. I didnt take into consideration that since we get snow a lot more, the snow removal is far more efficient to the north.
So I drove through northern Nevada in some really thick snow. I left Carlin heading west still on I-80. I knew right away that unless this storm let up soon that there was no way I was going to be able to drive all the way to Eureka as planned. The good news is that the storm did let up. I stopped at a Wal-Mart in Winnemucca and got some gas, then got back onto the highway and shortly, well I ran right into another storm.
At least there was no wind today, I was hoping for no wind.
That storm let up from time to time, but stayed with me almost until Reno, the moments when it wasnt snowing one me allowed for some great views of the mist covered foot hills. The mist and storm likely added to a view that I wouldnt have enjoyed properly.
So Reno pissed me off too, I guess it wasnt all Renos fault, it was the Renoian drivers. On their little freeway thing they drive like *******s, I was going above the speed limit like everyone else yet I was always getting cut off. Add to that the fact that once again my GPS sent me to a store that didnt exist. This time it was a target.
I tried another Target and found it quite easily, but again crummy drivers prevailed, this time with the way they parked. Ive noticed that a lot of the parking spots here in the US are actually larger than they are in Canada, and that is why I am surprised when I see vehicles in more than one space. And I have seen it quite a bit actually, but the most in Reno. Then as I walk towards the door I see spaced marked compact stuffed with oversized SUVs.
Ill get over it. Once I came out of the store the sun was shining bright and it was getting warmer, I though that I might make Eureka yet. So, back to the highway I went, I left Reno north on Highway 395. And, not two miles outside of Reno, BAM another snow storm. This one lasted right through to the California border. I really wanted a picture of the Welcome to California sign with snow falling behind it, but the sign wasnt nearly as big as I thought it would be and I drove past it before I really noticed it.
So the snow let up for a while and I saw some brilliant landscapes in California, it was great, the grass was actually green and the sun was out, there wasnt a spec of snow in sight. This is what California is supposed to be like, I actually turned on my air conditioner for a few minutes. But, the dark dark grey clouds ahead grew closer and closer.
Then the hail started. It was the oddest hail I had ever seen, it was small and there was absolutely no rain at all with it. Then the hail stopped and the rain began, the rain only lasted for a couple seconds and then it became the fourth snowstorm that I had the pleasure of driving through in the Nevada/California portion of my trip.
This snow kept on going right through Susanville, where I actually considered stopping for the night. It was probably the nicest town I have driven through yet on this trip. As I go I rank the places that I would live if I was to move to the states and it is currently number one.
When I stopped for gas the woman there actually suggested that I should stay in town with the storm the way it is. I just told her that I was Canadian and walked out as she chuckled. Honestly if it were a little later in the day I likely would have stayed there, there was a nice little movie theater and plenty of motels. But I still wanted to try for Eureka, though by this point I was fairly certain I would be staying in Redding.
I kept on trucking, now on Highway 44, and the storm got thicker. It was insanely thick, the thickest I had seen today. I stayed on the road only by following in one pre laid set of tracks. The snow was coming down hard, so hard that I could barely see ten feet ahead of me, but as long as those tracks were there I would be just fine. Then I passed the van on the side of the road that was making those tracks, I guess they decided to pull off until it lighted up or a plow came through.
So I slowed down and kept on going making my own tracks. Eventually the storm stopped again, it became really nice out again and there was little snow on the ground and in the trees. And the trees, man those trees. I have never seen anything like these trees before, they were huge and lined either side of the road. They trees were so thick that they blocked out the sun on many places. I was awe struck by them, but I imagine that I will forget about these trees when I see the Redwood Forest.
And for the fifth and final time I drove into a snow storm. This time I actually had to stop for a while. I thought it was for some snow removal units, but it was actually for an oversized load on a truck. I was cool with it, it gave me a chance to play with some of the stuff I bought earlier.
Once the vehicles did start moving everyone was driving really really slow. I mean it was embarrassingly slow, even if it never snows around there, though I am told it happens every year, they should not have to drive 25 mph. That is just slow.
There was a car in the ditch with one car already stopped, the truck ahead of me and I both stopped as well, and three of us managed to push the car out. The girl said thank you as I walked away, normally I would have stopped to chat, get some research for my book and stuff, but I wanted to hop into the van and get back on the road before the guy in front of me who was going really slow.
Highway 44 became 89 and from 89 I turned onto Highway 299, and then the snow let up. The snow stopped and the countryside once again became what I think California is supposed to look like. It was green and dry and warm. Unfortunately for me it was getting dark fast so the view would not be enjoyed to its full extent. Though, there was one spot I wish it was actually darker for, I came up a hill and around the corner and there was a break in the trees and down below were the lights of what I assume was Redding. It was a great view, but it would have been better if it were a little darker out or a little lighter, anything but what it was.
From there I drove into Redding and followed my GPS to a motel, I really dont think Im in the best part of town. No worries really. I had some Wendys for dinner and I am about to go to bed ..I imagine I will lay awake for half the night contemplating the differences between American and Canadian Wendys. This American one had vanilla frostys and had Pepsi products instead of Coke, the differences did not stop there.
Anyway, I think tomorrow I will sleep in a little bit intentionally, and head over to Eureka then south on 101 until .well until I get kinda tired I guess.
Mr Sparkle
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I highly recommend the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam, Roughneck.Vegas is fun and we can give you some pointers if you head that way on what to check out and what to avoid.
jag
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