Our 9000 mile, 4-week road trip through the USA ... some thoughts.

[Angela Shelley]

Some thoughts about our 9000 mile, 4-week road trip through the USA and back again.

Flew from Munich to DC Dulles. Drove a fuel efficient Saturn Ion rental car across the country, through Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon, visiting friends, family, and strangers, and sightseeing in several states along the way, ending in Southern Oregon just in time for a nephew´s high school graduation.

On the way back to DC, we first drove to San Diego, then made our way through Arizona, made a three day visit in Northern Mexico, on through New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Some highlights of our trip which are open to the public:
Transportation Museum in Roanoke, VA
Downtown in Nashville, TN
Middle of the Route 66 in Adrian, TX
Old Town in Albuquerque, NM
El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, NM
Monument Valley in Arizona and Utah
Pacific Coast Highway through Los Angeles
Hotel Coronado, San Diego CA
Mercedes-Benz Factory near Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia
Outside pedestrian shopping area in Charlottesville, VA
Washington, DC
Arlington Cemetery
Air and Space Museum near the DC Airport


Favorite Motel Chain: La Quinta
Favorite Hotel Chain: Courtyard by Marriott
Favorite Fast-Food Restaurants: Taco Bell, Subway, Wendys
Average price of a gallon of gas: $4,13


Worst places in the US: Bathrooms at gas stations.

Best places in the US: Open spaces where nobody lives

Stupidest people in the world: Drivers of BIG trucks (I mean pickups, not semi trucks) who leave their motor running while filling up with gas, getting a cup of coffee, chatting with their buddies, etc .... and school teachers in southern Oregon who preach the advantages of a nuclear attack on other countries.

Smartest people in the US: Walkers, hikers, bike and skateboard riders ... and Prius drivers.

Best public transportation system: "Americanos" bus transportation from Juarez to Janos, northern Mexico.

Best sightseeing bus: The double-decker tourist bus in Washington, DC

Best T-Shirt: My other body is only slightly obese.

Best coffee: a small, funky shop in Bluff, Utah

Most ignorant TV discussion topic: How can we get our hands on more gas without cutting down on consumption.

What I missed the most? ... Democratic Underground!

[mikelgb]

1. nice

can't imagine such a trip with the gas prices... what was the cheapest?

[Angela Shelley]

7. The lowest price was $3.79 a gallon in Watauga, Texas

and the highest price was $4.79 near San Diego.

The gas mileage for the trip was 33 MPG.

[B Calm]

59. $3.79 a gallon is what I paid last week in Grand Rapids, MN on vacation

[conflictgirl]

60. It figures...I used to live in Watauga, TX

Just another reason to kick myself daily for moving back to Michigan (where gas is currently $4.13 and there are far fewer job than in TX).

[eleny]

2. Did you see a lot of people leaving vehicles running while fueling?

Some big rigs with refrigerated goods have to keep things running to keep the refrigeration working. They'll leave things running while they go for a meal etc.

But it's illegal to leave a vehicle running while fueling. I can't remember when I saw that last for cars and pickups.

[Angela Shelley]

4. It´s nice to know that there are laws about this,

but we saw this at almost every gas station.

Just when we thought that everyone knew that gas prices were rising ...

[eleny]

9. You drove all over the US and "saw this at amost every gas station"

I'll be brutally frank here - I don't believe it. It's so incredibly dangerous to leave an engine running while fueling. I'm 61 and have been driving around the USA for decades. It's just not a routine sight.

[Angela Shelley]

14. Unfortunately, you´ll have to believe it.

We filled up 30 times along the way. At least 25 times, there were people filling up their pickups with an engine running.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

20. perhaps they were from another country. n/t

[Angela Shelley]

24. Redneck Country.

[eleny]

25. No, I don't have to believe it but you're welcome to stick to your assertion

I'm 61 and have driven across my state routinely for a living for 22 years and back and forth across the country on pleasure trips for decades. Since it became illegal to run while fueling that habit has decreased so much that I'll maintain that it's a more rare sight than the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackalope">jackalope.

I will say that American drivers aren't very well schooled in when a vehicle ought to be shut off while going through a drive through bank teller or running in to pay for gas at the station. Recently I read that if we're going to be stopped for a minute we ought to shut off the engine. So I'm practicing that guideline (unless the temperature is very high and I have a passenger with a child or a pet with me). But I remember when that time span was a bit longer. So I can see it happening when people go in to pay for gas. But to go have a meal? Nope. I don't believe it unless it's a refrigerated truck.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

18. ...ditto to all except the age ;)

I cannot recall EVER seeing it, in fact.

[slampoet]

34. I have driven in 47 of the 50 states and i can tell you i have seen this more often ....

...in the last ten years than I ever saw it before.

I also see a LOT of smoking while fueling also.


These rules used to be posted at gas stations. Now they are not.

[Eurobabe]

37. some lady was smoking at the gas pump in Germany yesterday

we have our share of idiots too. :shrug:

[eleny]

40. Did you ask them to stub it out because maybe they forgot?

Or is that not an acceptable practice?

[krispos42]

41. They need to put a sign up:

NO SMOKING
IF YOUR LIFE ISN'T WORTH
ANYTHING, GASOLINE IS!!!

[Eurobabe]

44. LOL. Yeah, think of the GAS!

(think of the kittens)

[eleny]

39. See what? Fueling while running the engine or when people go in for a meal?

I haven't seen the smoking at fueling islands in many years. Especially since so many Americans have quit.

I have seen people leave their cars running to go in to pay or get something inside the service station. But that's only when there's a passenger. Then I don't judge since I don't know as much about the circumstance as the OP evidently did. :D

[elehhhhna]

48. you'd be amazed what smoking gassers cost the oilco's in liability

payments.

I did much legal consulting for one of the big 3 global oilco's and the litigation costs for these common, preventable "accidents" is simply staggering. Stupid people blow up their own families. Then they sue. It's horrible.

[sinkingfeeling]

28. Come on over to NW Arkansas and you can see it every single day. In the winter, the excuse is

they're keeping the car/truck warm and in the summer, they're keeping them cool. They will also leave vehicles running at the grocery store. And yes, it's against the law here to fuel a running vehicle.

[eleny]

31. The OP says they saw it almost everywhere they were in the US

Simply put - this has not been my experience driving all over the US over my decades of being a driver. Not even in Texas and Florida in terrific heat. I wouldn't hold it against someone with a pet or child in the car or perhaps an elderly person. But I maintain that it's not a nationwide common practice as the OP asserts.

Sorry to hear that about NW Arkansas.

[NuttyFluffers]

61. nah, i'll be another to attest seeing all over

been all over the USA except for a mere handful of states and this is common ground. so is the smoking AND operating cell phones AND other electronic devices AND pumping gas into a container on their raised bed truck AND in a few states some people not using appropriate anti-static containers. americans are impressively blase' about their life and others, and in particular with something so explosive like gasoline fumes.

sadly you are now in a minority on this one.

:(

do the world a favor and smack the first person you see doing something like this. i usually just stop pumping, hurry up and run away.

[eleny]

62. Since I never see what you see, I have no need to smack anyone

And am sticking to my original opinion based on experience and calling BS on those who insist they see it all over the US. It's baloney.

[slampoet]

43. Unless you are an Ice Trucker or live above the artic circle there really is no reason to ....

...keep it warm in the winter.


I can't believe anyone in Arkansas pulls that excuse.

What is a winter temp for that area? Like 35 degrees? 45?

[eppur_se_muova]

47. I see it all the time, and I've never seen anyone get in trouble for it.

There may as well not be a law at all. People don't turn the engines off because it would mean that either the A/C or their boombox stereo would have to be shut off for the 60 seconds or it takes to fill their tank and, well, you just can't expect people to live like animals, can you? :sarcasm:

I've never understood people who leave their engines running while they run inside. The only plausible reason for doing this died long ago -- older cars were harder to start, so it save time, energy, and effort to leave the engine running. This doesn't even remotely apply to modern cars, except in subfreezing weather, if then.

[truedelphi]

50. And even the conservative Reader's Digest has monthly reminders

That only cars with carburetors benefit mileage wise from being left running.

Any and all cars and SUV's and pickup trucks that are left running while the person shops, uses the ATM's etc are JUST WASTING GAS!!

So basically all cars after 1991 need to be shut down when the person leaves them. Even if they leave them for 30 seconds!

[eleny]

52. Thanks for that info about the 30 seconds

I've been shutting off at every stop except dropping off mail into the Post Office outdoor mailboxes. That's more of a drive-by but you know what I mean. It's more like a "New York stop". :D

:hi:

[patrice]

3. I wish someone would make some of those "non-vandalizing" stickers with appropriate things to say to

owners of vehicles (not including refrigeration trucks) that are left running un-necessarily.

HOW did our species survive before air-conditioning was developed??? We've become such a bunch of WEAKLINGS!!!

[Angela Shelley]

8. I agree.

[patrice]

15. The trick would be figuring out the right thing to say to CHANGE them without getting them MAD

correction just makes some folks MORE contrary : - (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( . . .

[tishaLA]

5. I love Gallup NM

In fact, I just love all of NM. When I first moved to LA, I drove cross country from Philadelphia. I had never seen anything like the place. I loved Grants and Albuquerque and the mesas.

I got stuck in an amazing thunderstorm I saw probably 100 miles away...the storm and I came closer to each other by the minute until we finally collided and the storm won by forcing me to pull off to the side of the road as I marveled at its ferocity and beauty.

After I settled in LA, I used to escape to NM for long weekends to recover from the supersensible soap bubbles in LA. NM was my antidote to LA's ephemera. I need to go back

[Angela Shelley]

12. You´ll have to stay at the El Rancho Hotel on your next trip.

Yes, there is a natural beauty around Gallup. I lived there about 20 years ago, and enjoyed life there very much. But unfortunately, Gallup has not increased in attractiveness since then.

But, the El Rancho has maintained the "originality".

[eowyn_of_rohan]

27. My family stayed there, too, in 1965.

on big road trip from the midwest via Route 66. I still have a little bar of soap that says "El Rancho" on the label. We had a blue Chevy station wagon. No seat belts! No air conditioning! When we drove across the desert, Mom rigged wet towels to cool the air... I think she wedged it in the wing window and then shut the other end in the front door...leaving the passenger window open. What great memories.

You are right about Gallup, now, and the most disappointing thing is the mom and pop shops and motels are NOT owned by moms and pops anymore - in fact many are middle eastern owned. The Gallup-ites don't like it much themselves.

Glad you had a great trip! I'd like to do the same in Europe. Haven't been there since 2000...

[tabasco]

45. Me too! NM is beautiful.

I left there in '86 and have not been back. It is my second home.

[ellie]

6. I love those big, empty spaces

out West.

[Angela Shelley]

16. The empty spaces in Virginia are also beautiful.

The Blue Ridge Parkway :-)

[spinbaby]

29. Shenandoah Valley

One of the most beautiful places on earth.

[Carni]

42. Yeah if you don't LIVE HERE lol

Granted...It is visually lovely, but getting to work (or civilization in general) is not so much with gas just under 4 bucks a gallon.

Leave it to me to move to an area such as this, just as *peak oil* (or whatever the hell this is) starts taking place!

What I wouldn't give for some freaking public transportation lately!

[Eurobabe]

38. Ahhhm Ole Virginny

I am SO glad you made it to C'ville, what did you think??

[BrklynLib at work]

10. Sounds like it was a wonderful trip....Thanks for the feedback.

[Angela Shelley]

21. Glad to hear that you enjoyed the report.

... now get back to work. :-)

[BrklynLib at work]

30. Yes ma'm. How did you know I was at work???

[Kali]

11. Where else did you go in Chihuahua beside Janos (and did you buy Mennonite cheese there?)

There is a good family owned cafe just west of the Pemex there too.

[Angela Shelley]

17. Wow, I think we ate lunch at that cafe!

We stayed with friends in a small town near Janos, enjoyed the good life with homemade tortillas and refried beans.

Life is better there, people may have less things, but whatever they have is paid for.

We also visited Casas Grandes, ate great Tres Leches cake, and visited Paquime.

And you? Somewhere near Janos?

[Kali]

53. Been going to Casas Grandes for years.

Have friends in the area - know a lot of the potters in Mata Ortiz plus knew Charles Di Peso as a kid - have family in Anthropology/Archeology plus we neighbor with the Amerind Foundation now. It is a small world.

Was down that way (and to Creel/Canyon country) in April. I know all the good eating in Casas and Viejo! (Besides street food and home cooking!)

[Angela Shelley]

55. Our friends also know some of the potters

in Mata Ortiz ... yes, it is a small world.

We were in Casas Grandes 7 years ago, there have been many changes for the better in the meantime. We were impressed with the bus transportation and enjoyed the new streets. It was nice to see improved infrastructure.

We heard that alot of US citizens are purchasing homes in the area. Are you possibly one of them?

Happy Travels!

[Kali]

56. No I'm not but yes there are a lot more Americans in the area now.

Definitely one of those kind of places. Sucks you in and makes you return.

[lpbk2713]

13. Hats off to you. You did something I would never dare.

I would never eat at a Taco Bell on a road trip.

I wouldn't want to be too far away from a rest room after a T/B meal.

[Angela Shelley]

19. That´s funny ... we enjoyed Taco Bell

because it tasted fresher than other places. Subway was good too.

[SCantiGOP]

22. re: Old Town Albuquerque

I went there about 15 years ago, and our vacation this year is going to be to fly to Albuquerque and then make the incredible drive through the Rockies to my sister's house in Boulder, CO. Most interesting thing I remember about Old Town was an exhibit called 6 (or maybe 7 or 8) flags over Albuquerque, displaying all the flags that had ever flown over the town. I was surprised to see the Confederate flag. The story was that the South, expecting to win, wanted to make sure that they would control everything to the west of their territory, what is now NM, AZ and southern CA. There was a small garrison of federal troops there, so they sent a detachment of troops and took the post without a fight. Then, they sat around playing cards and drinking whiskey until someone showed up and informed them that the South had surrendered and the war was over. So everybody went home.

[Angela Shelley]

23. Good story ... sounds realistic.

To the topic of Boulder, Co.

We heard that there is a pedestrian shopping zone in Boulder which was designed by the same man who designed the pedestrian shopping zone in Charlottesville, VA.

If that´s true, then make sure you find that place in Boulder.

Happy Travels!

[SCantiGOP]

26. I've been there

Boulder is a great city. Sits at the edge of the Rockies. There is a block or two pedestrian mall where Main Street used to be. Very bohemian. There was a hippie looking kid playing guitar with his case open for donations. He had a sign that said, "If you don't support me there will be nothing left but Republicans and real estate developers." Everybody I saw that read it smiled and dropped some money in the case.

[asdjrocky]

32. Glad to have you back!

What a great trip.

[Blue_In_AK]

33. Did you make it to Alaska?

We've got more "Open spaces where nobody lives" than you can even imagine. :)

[Oregone]

35. School teachers in southern Oregon...wtf did that come from?

Youll probably find that same average number of idiot school teachers in favor of nuclear attacks in southern Oregon as in the rest of the nation. For the most part, the southern Oregon school districts are pretty liberal (especially Ashland) with decent teachers (a nice contrast to the citizenry.

[roguevalley]

46. I agree, Oregone. Too bad a dork poisoned the well for the rest

of us. RV-oregon and alaska teacher retired.

[Eurobabe]

36. So glad you are BAAAACK!!

It was not the same without you, in our town, and at DU. I love your comments.

I'll have some to compare next week, my on-going research project covering the differences between Philadelphia and the Caribbean. :hi:

[Wiley50]

49. What did you like about downtown Nashville

I hope it was Riverfront and 2ud Ave

and not the gaudy tourist crap at the fringes of Music Row

[latebloomer]

51. Your gas station bathroom comment reminds me of a Carlin line

"Why do they lock gas station bathrooms? Are they afraid someone will clean them?"

[DeepModem Mom]

54. Great report! K&R!

[LibDemAlways]

57. Someone should have warned you before you

started out to avoid gas station bathrooms at all costs. When on the road, I make pit stops at the lobbies of newer hotels. They usually have the cleanest facilities.

[XOKCowboy]

63. McDonalds restrooms...

They're everywhere and reasonably clean. I never buy the food, just use the facilities and go on my way.

[Mind_your_head]

58. You're making this up, me thinks n/t

[Angela Shelley]

65. Honest truth, 100%,

... and thanks for your support. :-)

[Kitty Herder]

64. The best coffee is in Bluff, Utah? Seriously?

I may have to find an excuse to go there, just to see if it's true.