The missus and I have decided that we are going to drive across mainland America. Google maps says that the route we have selected is a 48hr drive covering just under 3000 miles. We are spreading this over 9 days of driving with the longest leg being 410 miles and the shortest leg (the last) being 266. We (or more accurately I) will be picking up two baseball games in Cincinnati and Denver.
The basic route looks something like this ...
We've always talked about taking a trip such as this, mainly to see a side of the US that we don't normally see and also to see if we can find the typical small town that the movies show (eg In & Out).
I'm obviously aiming to keep a travel blog of the trip and report interesting (to me) items as they come up each day.
Distance: 289 miles
Activities: Drop dogs off to prison, pickup rental car
Information about Destination:
It appears to be nothing more than a location for stopping overnight ... "According to a 1990 New York Times article, Breezewood offered "no less than 10 motels, 14 fast-food restaurants and 7 fuel and service stations, including two sprawling truck stops." Approximately 1,000 people are employed in Breezewood's commercial district."
I guess this place won't turn out to be anything like the small town from the movies.
Distance: 287 miles
Activities: Staying the night with friends
Information about Destination:
Dating scene: Columbus was ranked in 2009 as the 18th best place in the country to find a date for females by Marie Claire Magazine, and was ranked as the No. 2 most sexually satisfied city in the country in 2008, according to Men's Health Magazine, behind Indianapolis., and also ranked as the No. 7 most lustful in the country in 2007, based on contraceptive sales, according to Forbes Magazine."
With a population of just under 800k, this place certainly won't be like the small town from the movies.
Distance: 106 miles followed by 184 miles after the ballgame
Activities: Reds at 1:10pm
Information about Destination:
Terre Haute Federal Correctional Complex: Terre Haute is the location of the federal death row. Inmates are held at the Terre Haute Federal Correctional Complex. Located on Highway 63, two miles (3 km) south of the city of Terre Haute, the complex includes the medium security Federal Correctional Institution and the high security United States Penitentiary. The penitentiary houses the Special Confinement Unit for inmates serving federal death sentences.
Terre Haute received attention for the June 11, 2001, execution of Timothy McVeigh at the Federal Correctional Complex for his role in the deadly Oklahoma City bombing."
With a population of about 60k, this place could be a strong candidate.
Distance: 308 miles
Activities: ?
Information about Destination:
The Boonville Police Department is now taking applications for a Patrolman. Applications can be obtained by contacting the Police Department, 660-882-2727 and will be accepted until April 15, 2012, 12:00PM.
With a population of 8,319, we might have a winner!
Distance: 368 miles
Activities: Buffalo Herd
Information about Destination:
The When Hays City was founded in the fall of 1867, a hill that was approximately ½ mile north of town served as the location for the first burials. It became known as the Boot Hill cemetery and estimates on the number of people buried there vary from 37 to 100.
With a population of 20k - might be a bit large to qualify as a small movie town but they certainly seem to like their court system - that is one impressive court house.
Distance: 340 miles
Activities: Rockies baseball at 6:40pm
Information about Destination:
Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. This is a very rare occurrance with regards to US States and their capitals.
Distance: 343 miles
Activities: unknown
Information about Destination:
Crystal Geyser, a cold water "geyser"---actually a carbon-dioxide driven, erupting well---is located about nine miles southeast of town.
We have a 'small town' winner ... however ...
Distance: 410 miles - the longest leg in our trip
Activities: unknown
Information about Destination:
The primary drivers of the Las Vegas economy are tourism, gaming, and conventions, which in turn feed the retail and restaurant industries. I'll see if I can find another bleeding obvious quote.
Distance: 266 miles - the shortest, single day leg in our trip
Activities: Staying with friends & sleeping
Information about Destination:
South Pasadena has been cited five times on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's list of "Most Endangered Places.
Distance: 26 miles
Activities: Flying Home
Information about Destination:
Before the 1930s, existing airports used a two-letter abbreviation based on the weather stations at the airports. At that time, "LA" served as the designation for Los Angeles Airport. But with the rapid growth in the aviation industry the designations expanded to three letters c. 1947, and "LA" became "LAX." The letter "X" has no specific meaning in this identifier.
