Big Sky Vacation

Adventures in the Great Northwest

Prologue (May 29-30)

Well here's a fine kettle of fish - I made a pledge to visit all 50 states (plus D.C.) and I realize that there's some states that I really wasn't looking forward to seeing.  But isn't that the point?  So I blocked out 2 weeks.  The plan is to head to Las Vegas (which isn't part of this trip at all, but sometimes it's fun) then head north to Idaho to see Craters of the moon, then a slight jog east to Yellowstone and the Tetons in Wyoming (I've actually wanted to see these).  Then it's north to Glacier National Park before all the ice melts, east to Theodore Roosevelt Park, North Dakota, and South to Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills in South Dakota.  Then it's Scotts Bluff Nebraska which has the endearing quality of having some historic significance and being in the far western part of the state so it won't be too far out of the way.  Depending on time and energy I may head into Kansas before heading home.

My getaway had an interesting delay - I had a pending golf date and I really wanted to have it before leaving.  We played 18 at Franklin Canyon starting a bit before 10:00 and finishing by 2:00.  (More on that later!)  I got home and packed my guitar, 2 small suitcases and a box of gadgets (includint my laptop which is how I'm doing this update!) and I hit the road by 4:00. This is my chariot.  I've mentioned before that I was hoping for better mileage (it advertises 31 highway).  I've realized that the reason I'm getting less overall is that for most of the miles it's been loaded with lots of musical gear.  The first leg of this trip has actually been right at 31. Another way I conserve is by not watering my lawn much.  It shows.

I suppose I could have reprised my last route to Vegas heading toward Tahoe then south on 395.  I chose to get lots of miles in before my projected bedtime, 10:00.  Despite my departure time, traffic wasn't too bad and by about 6:00 I had reached "Vista Point" in the central valley. What a vista.  Miles and miles of, well, miles and miles.  Still, I suspect this will be much like most of my Montana crossing. The road is, of course, I-5.

Nothing but first class for me.  This is my first night's destination, the Best Western in Tehachapi, California.  As with most Best Westerns, it had an Olympic sized swimming pool.  That's it on the left.  This place was luxurious! Okay, I lied, but it wasn't like I was gonna do much swimming at 10:00 pm anyway.  I just took this pic the next morning because with digital cameras, you don't have to pay to develop film! There was a dedcent restaurant next door where I did breakfast, then I hit the road again.

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