So, OBW where art thou today, Monday the 20th say of May 2019? Hope the cruise is going along well. I like the updates.

I have made it without mishap to today's destination in Grand Junction, Colorado.

As for sightseeing along this beautiful state, it was a complete bust. Solid rain and dense fog all the way from Hays, Kansas to Denver, then a mix of fog, rain and snow from Denver all the way through the mountains. Up top, going over the Continental Divide, the road was snow-covered and slippery. Couldn't even see as far as the shoulder of the road, much less do any rubbernecking at the pretty mountain scenery.

But I made it. Alive and kicking. Frazzled, but alive.

And hungry. As soon as that restaurant @killivolt recommended opens up, I'm gonna go chow down.

EDIT: This was my view of scenic Colorado:

 

I have made it without mishap to today's destination in Grand Junction, Colorado.

As for sightseeing along this beautiful state, it was a complete bust. Solid rain and dense fog all the way from Hays, Kansas to Denver, then a mix of fog, rain and snow from Denver all the way through the mountains. Up top, going over the Continental Divide, the road was snow-covered and slippery. Couldn't even see as far as the shoulder of the road, much less do any rubbernecking at the pretty mountain scenery.

But I made it. Alive and kicking. Frazzled, but alive.

And hungry. As soon as that restaurant @killivolt recommended opens up, I'm gonna go chow down.

EDIT: This was my view of scenic Colorado:

View attachment 177840

Yuck, my Wife just got back from Denver, her Mother and Uncle live just off "Martin Luther King" and a small street just off Colorado Blv. I like Denver for their Transportation. You can pretty much just get off at the Airport get on the train and go to a Bus Stop most anywhere if you know the routes.

Hope you have a great time.

kv

 

I like your picture. It brings back memories
In 1991, we all went to Washington state (where my wife comes from) and I drove in snow a few times. My driving was very sedate as snow driving is not something I'd experienced before. Other drivers were not that way inclined, much to my surprise. Driving on our way back from Seattle, a number of cars zoomed by, but a short distance later, they were off the road into a snow drift. I continued my careful driving past! It was a great relief to get out of the snow.
Drive carefully.

 

Dinner was excellent. Good suggestion @killivolt !

 

I am glad dinner was good as you really deserved it. Wow, I thought it sucked here till I saw that picture. Just be safe and I am also glad KV suggested great food, again you sure deserved it.

Ron

 

Wow, I thought it sucked here till I saw that picture.

That was taken around noon just before I got to the East portal of the Eisenhower Tunnel, which runs under the Continental Divide. We sat still at that spot for about a half-hour, until a couple of snow plows came through; then we all ducked in behind them and continued on.

 

I have made it without mishap to today's destination in Grand Junction, Colorado.

As for sightseeing along this beautiful state, it was a complete bust. Solid rain and dense fog all the way from Hays, Kansas to Denver, then a mix of fog, rain and snow from Denver all the way through the mountains. Up top, going over the Continental Divide, the road was snow-covered and slippery. Couldn't even see as far as the shoulder of the road, much less do any rubbernecking at the pretty mountain scenery.

But I made it. Alive and kicking. Frazzled, but alive.

And hungry. As soon as that restaurant @killivolt recommended opens up, I'm gonna go chow down.

EDIT: This was my view of scenic Colorado:

View attachment 177840

What is your rush? Why didn't you just hang out and wait for the weather to clear? OK I can see buzzing through Kansas. But Colorado? A beautiful state at least once you hit Denver.

 

What is your rush? Why didn't you just hang out and wait for the weather to clear? OK I can see buzzing through Kansas. But Colorado? A beautiful state at least once you hit Denver.

Like I said in the top post, I want to get out to the West coast as quickly as possible, and be there while my son has time off from work. Also, my hotel reservations were made months ago and are non-refundable. So I wasn't going to let some pissant little blizzard get in my way.

I know Colorado is beautiful. I used to live here.

 

Like I said in the top post, I want to get out to the West coast as quickly as possible, and be there while my son has time off from work. Also, my hotel reservations were made months ago and are non-refundable. So I wasn't going to let some pissant little blizzard get in my way.

I know Colorado is beautiful. I used to live here.

Glad to see your safe, let us know how the return comes about. It's almost though we're with you.

Safe travels be with you.

kv

 

Another day begins, let's hope things are better.

Ron

 

Morning, all. Today's exciting destination is Winnemucca, Nevada. Looks like rain on and off most of the way. Oh, well. Life's like that sometimes.

 

Be safe and looking forward to the evening update.

Ron

 

No map with GPS coordinates?....Where's Obie drinking game?

 

No map with GPS coordinates?....Where's Obie drinking game?

I'm at this joint-- combination hotel, casino, bar and restaurant. First I'll drink. Then I'll eat. Then I'll post about my adventures today, and maybe some pictures.

 

Taken on the road this afternoon in Western Kansas, about 100 miles East of Hays:

View attachment 177761

I once considered a job in Kansas, the "land anywhere" state.

 

Great restaurant they got in this joint-- worth one star, at least. Oh, well.

As predicted, I had rain on and off the whole way from Grand Junction. The first 200 miles or so were OK; out I-70 into Utah to Green River, then up US6/US191 to just south of Provo where I picked up I-15. @killivolt, your description of I-15 through Provo, Orem and SLC was spot-on: it was a mess. Six lanes each direction, PACKED, and people driving like maniacs. It was hairy.

At SLC, I ran into a rainstorm the likes of which I've encountered only a few times in my 70 years. It was coming down in buckets for at least 20 miles on I-80, westward from SLC. At one point, we were all down to 25 mph because it was near-impossible to see.

The rest of the way to Winnemucca the rain was spotty, on-and-off, mixed with sunny stretches.

This pic is a typical "western" scene driving in eastern Utah, with low, flat-topped mountains in what is largely an erosion-formed landscape:



I stopped for lunch in Wendover, Nevada (on the NV/UT line), after crossing the salt flats west of SLC. Right now, what with all the rain, the Bonneville Salt Flats constitute a 10 mile by 30 mile lake about 1-2" deep. It was weird, I've never seen it that way on previous trips.

This last pic was taken on the hilltop overlooking Wendover, looking back across the salt flats toward SLC off in the distance:



Not a terribly dramatic pic, I'm afraid; it was taken with my cellphone.

All for now. Tomorrow: California!

 

The pictures just make me want to break into a chorus of Woody Guthrie,

]..

So far so good and you are doing well, safe and sound. Makes me want top go west yet again,I crossed thiscountry so mant times and absolutely love every inch of it, If we get Kathy well enough for one more big road trip we can do it on the bike. Seeing friends along the way, one more time before I die, I really enjoy these evening updates. One more day! Yay!

Ron

 

Right now, what with all the rain, the Bonneville Salt Flats constitute a 10 mile by 30 mile lake about 1-2" deep. It was weird, I've never seen it that way on previous trips

http://strangesounds.org/2019/03/death-valley-floods-march2019-video.html

 

So far so good and you are doing well, safe and sound. Makes me want top go west yet again,I crossed thiscountry so mant times and absolutely love every inch of it, If we get Kathy well enough for one more big road trip we can do it on the bike. Seeing friends along the way, one more time before I die, I really enjoy these evening updates. One more day! Yay!

I hope you get to make that trip, Ron. I enjoy these drives, but they get harder with each passing year. If I take the northern route home I'll be able to cross Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and Wisconsin off my list, leaving only Florida and Alabama as the only two states I've never driven in. Not sure I'll ever do them.

 

Not sure I'll ever do them.

You will if you choose to! I’ve done all 50 thanks to my parents and a job that required enough travel to fill in the gaps, and a life well lived that gave me the resources and opportunities to add even Alaska and Hawaii. Now I’m trying to hit all the National parks, some of which were added after my childhood travels. I did Route 66 as a kid and I hope to do it again soon.