| DubbedSSmdx |
Hey MDX fam
i've posted this in the general section but wanted to post here as well since 99.9% of my posts and involvement on this forum has been in the gallary section...
I am considering a road trip from midwest to california. Looking for any feedback as far as what route to take (I80?), things to avoid (snow!), dangerours roads, must sees, good resting points, etc... any feedback will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
dubbed |
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| mdxxxx |
| Nice pics! You've got a beautiful machine DubbedSSmdx...:29: |
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| DubbedSSmdx |
where's the love from the board!!!!
any suggestions/input will be greatly appreciated!
~dubbed
btw - mdxxx thanks! |
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| xcel |
Hi DubbedSSmdx:
___I meant to reply to you when you first posted … Sorry about that as I had other things to do like install accessories on the X ;)
___Anyway, one of the best road trips I have ever driven was up through SD and WY, into Utah and down through CO. to AZ. I know this is out of your way by some distance but if you want the most scenic route, I can’t think of a better one. The first leg of I94 to I90 is relatively boring until you hit the Mississippi but it beats the hell out of I80 any day. We took some of I80 on the way home and oh my god, talk about a boring ride … Once on I90, you hit SD. Stop at the Corn Palace in Mitchell (2 hour excursion … tops), Wall Drug (don’t worry about finding it as there will be plenty of signs ;)) , and don’t even consider skipping the Bad Lands. It is on the way but is off I90 for a few miles. Believe me; the sights in the Badlands will be worth every second you lose not running 80 mph down I90. Once in the Black Hills, you cannot miss Mt. Rushmore. The Crazy Horse monument there is coming along nicely as well. Drive on through Custer National park for a good look at the Upper Midwest’s best kept National Park secret and than head on past Devil’s Tower in WY. The reason I mentioned Devil’s Tower is that it’s practically on your way and it’s interesting to walk around it while the hard core climbers are heading straight up! From there, we headed straight down Wyoming toward Denver. During one section of that jaunt, we drove for over 125 miles (in WY.) without seeing another human on semi-paved roads at 80 mph. This was a marked WY. Hwy if you can believe it! There would be a cross road ~ every 15 - 20 miles and not a soul to see but cattle moseying around open but fenced in pasture land for hundreds of miles … After hitting Denver (Colorado is always beautiful), it was down toward Moab, Utah and than Lake Powell for 5 days of House boating excursion. You may not have time for that but if you do, don’t miss it. It was the best and closest up to nature excursion I have ever been on besides back pack hiking in the Bridger - Teton National Forest in Western WY. It’s a bit cold for that trip right now however :( Head straight on down toward Phoenix and if you have the time, head over to Sedona. Beautiful country and the off-road trails are perfect for the X. Just don’t forget to bring a portable GPS device so you don’t get lost. I don’t remember if your X has NAVI but the bread crumbs would work fantastic for this off road exploration. We were visiting relatives in Phoenix but took a 2 day run over to Anaheim for a Disney Land visit. I-10 almost all the way which although it is relatively boring, you are traveling through some interesting if not inhospitable territory. On the way home we took the quick route … I40 across AZ., NM, TX panhandle, to Oklahoma City. Phoenix is too hot for me (except around Christmas) but in Amarillo, we stopped to fill up. The kids opened up the doors of the Previa and not only was it ~ 105 degrees but the humidity had to be > 80%. I mean it was absolutely miserable that day in Amarillo for whatever reason. I always thought upper TX. Would be dry as a bone and it wasn’t … We did not stay in that oppressive heat any longer than it took me to fill up and for everyone to hit the bathrooms. From there it was on up to Lincoln, NB. and than I80 the rest of the way home … That last section sucked. If I were to do it again, I would have come through MO. toward St. Louis to see the Arch. As you can tell, this was a summer trip but most of the sights listed above can be seen this time of year without all the people and/or traffic.
___Anyway, I don’t know what kind of time you have available but the trip was worth every minute for the entire family and I although it was a 3 week never ending story to say the least. If you have the time, the thousand + miles out of the way to head up into the Dakota territories would be worth it IMHO.
___Good Luck and enjoy the trip even if you do take I80 all the way across …
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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| DubbedSSmdx |
Xcel thanks for the feedback!
I'm really getting scared with all this crazy weather ice storms late snows, etc. popping up now. The route really depends on the weather at this point....
hopefully i can take lots of pics of the trip and post for the forum! This will be the first road trip in the MDX!?!?!? |
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