Road Trips - Hot Rodder's Elixer

I love road trips. Anytime, pretty near anyplace. Seeing Bill ZZ’s post made me start to think about taking one again real soon. Doesn’t matter to me if the trip is in the 71’ Chevy C10 (a bit noisy and it does love gas!), the Expedition (by far the most comfortable) or the wife’s 5.0 Mustang GT (lots of fun – but can be trouble as it will go fast – very fast!!) – I’m looking forward to driving the little ’63 SS to Mt Rushmore – hopefully sometime soon!

I just like to go and the further I get away from cities the more I enjoy it. I always take US or State highways instead of Interstates (when possible) as they tend to go through some great little towns with antique shops or just nice old places filled with down-home people who pour your coffee and chat for a few minutes just to make you feel good about your stopping in their town.

Last big road trip was to Mt Lassen National Park. We took another couple and drove leisurely and stopped when we felt like it. We went in October and had most places to ourselves – enjoyed hiking down to Bumpass Hell Hiking Bumpass Hell Trail - Lassen Volcanic National Park and just enjoying cruising through the park, seeing the beauty of creation, and smelling the great fresh air. Also went to Mercer Caverns Mercer Caverns Home (wife’s maiden name was Mercer), visited a couple central California ghost towns and just had a generally a great time.

Historically, I have had to force myself to get away from work. The road trips do just that as I do not take my computer or my phone and my staff knows that I’m “unavailable” until such time as I return. Its great time with my bride and inevitable, either by chance of design, we end up at a car or WWII aircraft museum.

Life continues to throw all of us curve balls from time-to-time, but there’s really nothing like a good road trip to help clear the head and give me a new perspective on things. We stay at inexpensive but clean motels that offer a “continental breakfast” where we can munch a bit of fruit and fill up the thermos with coffee and then just kinda “wing-it” for food the rest of the day. More than once lunch has been a slab of fresh berry pie with ice cream!

Yep – it’s time for another road trip!

Regards All,
Glenn

You sure do have that right, Glenn!!!! I do local stuff frequently, a hundred miles or so, last long one I was on was way too many years ago!!!! Now that I'm officially retired, state sales tax license and employer's federal ID number "retired", I certainly do plan on taking more!!!! Probably one next month down to Houston for a wedding, heck, I'm even looking forward to that!!!!!:LOL::LOL::LOL:

Agree 100%! I was the same way before I retired, Glenn, often carrying over the max days at years end and only taking long weekend trips occasionally until one day my wife asked if there was some reason we couldn't take two weeks at a time. We scheduled it, and I found that it took me most of the first week to actually relax and forget about the office, then the second week was heaven! We haven't traveled significantly since we both retired - Grandma is too focused on being there for new babies, but the time will come.... I like the idea of those spur of the moment road trips, just taking off and following the roads to who knows where.

Our last road trip, we had a week and a half, moma and I just thru the clothes in the jeep and went north we decided to run up the coast highway, ate when we wanted, slept when we wanted, had a great time, know where in particlular, just needed to get away, four days later we were in Coo`s bay....and then took our time going back, best time ever, getting ready to do it again as soon as we finish the remodel. But being retired makes it all that much easier now....not on anyone`s time schedual...

Glenn, it's nice to hear you planning a repeat trip with the mrs. again. From what you said I'm sure it'll be a fun time for both of you.

Roger, I can really relate to your two week vacation deal. Last summer was the first time in over 25 years that I took off two weeks in a row. Like you said, unwind the first week, all the more to enjoy the second week. We're doing it again this summer.

I think the coming of Spring gives us all these great ideas about getting out and seeing the world and enjoying the cruise. I've also been doing local day cruises for the last couple weeks but there's still a lot of interesting things nearby that I'd like to drive to in my roadster. I've already posted a few photos here of interesting or historic places I stop and take a pic. One near the top of my list that I'm planning soon is a drive over to the Millersburg Ferry here in PA, put the roadster on the boat and cross the river. It's through some beautiful country, and it's the last operating ferry across the Susquehanna River. According to some sources, the ferry boat is believed to be the last "wooden double stern-wheel paddle boat" to be operating in the United States, so I want to do it before it disappears. It runs from May to October when the river is high enough for it to cross so this one's coming up soon for me.

A couple pics to help you appreciate why I want to go there ...I like pics:

This is approaching the ferry landing in Millersburg:

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This is the "I'll come and take you across when I see you" schedule:

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And the old boat:

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I hope I don't have to test if my roadster floats or not :LOL:

Something similar to yours HR Nick, there are a couple small ferries that cross the river between the New York border and 3 neighboring States, My wife and I used all of them when we were on our honeymoon many years ago. And I was thinking over the winter to repeat that trip but in the coupe this time. There's also a ferry at Lake Champlain that I'd like to try....

I am also guilty of having to be told to use or lose my vacation hours since I've maxxed the hours collectable for a year... sigh...

Darn it..you guys are making my feet itch..badly..:LOL: November last year was the first time in 11 years( I think) that we had a proper holiday..10 days in Australia staying at Bro in laws place,and relaxing..Yup...did too..:cool: Took a trip up north (4 hours) and caught up with a guy we sold a T bucket body to..( Our first export body to Aussie)..Kool.. Now we are talking again,but it could be a business trip this time..Just me,for a week or so..See what happens..;)**)**)**)
I don't want to have too many holidays,,I'll get to enjoy it..:D:D