Decision to Drift

My last blog post, I referred to my planning process....having to decide how much time I would probably be spending at each site....(over 35 sites along Hwy 281) and how far I can drive each day.  That would allow me to make a hotel reservation in advance, as we are doing on our Northeast trip.  By reading the reports of each site in my books and/or on Trip Advisor, I was guesstimating how much time to spend at each site.  Well, what happens if a museum has enough to interest me for 2 hours instead of 1 hour?  Then I have to drive that much longer in the day to get to my hotel reservation.  Uffda!  It was really starting to stress me out.

I started thinking of my last road trip back in 1980 and how I just drifted across the states and stayed where I could find a place to set up camp with my tent.  I used Triple A books and maps at that time to determine what sites I wanted to see along the way and it worked out fine.  I did not have any time constraints then (more money constraints) and I don't really have any time constraints this time other than needing to be in NW Wisconsin by June 5.  So, I decided I'm going to drift up Hwy 281.  Each day as I'm ready to rest, I will find a hotel in the area.  That way, I can spend as little or as much time at each site as I need and want.

I really hope you will follow my blog as I am excited about this trip!  There is a Fort in every state that is near Hwy 281 that I want to see and all kinds of museums and historic houses and places.  I plan to stop every 100 miles and take photos and/or videos of the terrain so that you can see what the area looks like.  This road trip and my blog will be geared towards history as it was made in these states.

I consider this road trip as another way that I am making my own personal history.

On the road again
Goin' places that I've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again
And I can't wait to get on the road again

:)

The Age of Aquarius

The Age of Aquarius was the "new age movement of the 1960's and 1970's."  Astrology became very popular at the time and of course I became attached to my sign's symbol, Leo the Lion.  I started collecting astrology stuff with lions and then the collection started growing with any and all kinds of lions.  One time, someone visiting me counted over 200 lions in my place.  Now, my lions are pretty much limited to a curio cabinet in my bedroom.

Truthfully, I was never much into astrology, I just liked that my sign had a lion.  Now and then, I may read my daily horoscope in the newspaper, but I don't live my life by what is said...even if it may coincide with my activities and moods.  Today's paper has a weekly horoscope that I did find it interesting.

"Contain yourself, Leo!  Powerful stellar magic is still coursing through your chart and your veins, giving you an almost preternatural sense of where to be, when to be there and how to take on any and every situation you find yourself in. (I say find yourself because the Universe is gently guiding you to the exact places you need to use this power to make your mark.)  You've got two and a half solid weeks of  this potent stuff on your side, so be sure you use your powers for good.  Be willing to try new approaches now."

If everything goes an planned, in two and half weeks,  I will be at the end of Highway 281 road trip and will have taken photos and visiting sites along the way.  I have been doing a lot of planning "where to be, when to be there and how to take on any and every situation (I) find myself in."  Sharing this planning and this roadtrip with you will be a highlight of my trip.  I hope to make my "mark" through this solo trip.  I am not sure what that "mark"  will be, but I do know I always find a little bit more of myself every time I get on the road again!

Road Trips

"A road trip is a journey taken on roads. Typically, road trips are long distances traveled by automobile."

I am going on several road trips this summer.  This has been a dream of mine for years!  I'm so excited to be taking this journey and sharing it with others.  My first road trip will be taking Highway 281 from the Texas/Mexico border (Brownsville, TX) to the North Dakota/Canada border (International Peace Garden).
U.S. Route 281 is a north–south United States highway. At 1,872 miles^[2] (3,013 km) long it is the longest continuous three-digit U.S. Route.


I live within a stones-throw distance from Hwy 281, and in looking at the map, I found that it goes through the heartland or the Great Plains of America.  

"From the airplane, the Great Plains look like a repeated pattern of rectangular fields and arrow-straight highways, prompting urban Americans to dub it 'fly-over country.' This predominantly rural and agricultural region which stretches clear across the center of the country, embodies the all-American ideals of independence and hard-working self-sufficiency."  Eyewitness Travel - USA

When I lived in Colorado and California, I crossed this region several times by car traveling to Wisconsin.  However on those trips I was limited on time (using vacation time) so I made few stops at the sites of the region.  So I was excited to see what  the region has to offer.  I am using four travel books that I have accumulated over the years to plan my trip.  Eyewitness Travel - USA; America's Historic Places; Off the Beaten  Path; and of course Rand McNally Road Atlas.  I don't want to miss a thing!  

I am finding out that there is a lot to see along Hwy 281.  I plan to stop every 100 miles and take photos to share on this blog and see some of the sites within 30 miles of the highway.  Tentative plans are to leave Memorial Day and arrive in North Dakota about 7-8 days later.  I will then go to my mother's in Wisconsin.  
On June 7th, I will start my second road trip. My mom and two of my sisters and I will travel to Rapid City, South Dakota to see nephew, Tim and his family and tour the sites there.  After we get back to Wisconsin (June 12), I will spend two weeks visiting family and friends there.  

June 27th I will pick up my hubby, Paul, at MSP airport (Minneapolis/St Paul) airport and travel to spend the weekend with a sister in Wisconsin Rapids.  June 30th will start my third road trip of the summer!  We will travel to Upper Peninsula Michigan; western coast of lower Michigan to Muskegon (visit Texas friends); through Ohio to Niagara Falls, New York; Massachusetts (visit Paul's brother); New Hampshire (visit Texas friends); New York City (visit Paul's other brother); Pennsylvania; West Virginia and the homeward bound through Kentucky, Tennessee and ???   I have not figured out our route home yet!

I have found it quite interesting doing research for this first road trip.  In looking at the map of South Dakota, I found "Prayer Rock" on the map near Ipswich.  When I Googled it, I found another person's blog about their travels through the area.  They referred to a Yellowstone Trail, which I was unaware.  Thank goodness for Google, I discovered the Yellowstone trail that went from Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts to Puget Sound, Washington, going through my home state of Wisconsin.  So I got side-tracked and read about the Yellowstone Trail for about an hour!  

On my trip along Hwy 281, I will cross over other famous trails - Pony Express Route, Santa Fe Trail, and Oregon Trail.  Just like travelers today, the people going on these trails had another destination in mind and though they trudged, rather than fly-over the Plains, they did not stop.  

Did I say I'm excited about this trip?  :)  Here it is 4 am and I'm writing instead of sleeping.  Join me as I write about my road trips.  I will try to have visual and written descriptions of the sites that I visit on a daily basis....main reason for getting this laptop computer.  With Google at my fingertips, I can expand my knowledge base, as well as yours.  Any suggestions on must-see sites, leave a comment.