day 1
185 miles
185 total
Follow good ole 395 to the upper right corner of California
Pretty lonely drive north of Susanville. Modoc NWR was serene as always.
Pretty lonely drive north of Susanville. Modoc NWR was serene as always.
day 2
221 miles
406 total
Keep following 395 to Burns, then southeast a little bit to Crane.
Pretty spectacular drive. Alturas to Lakeview, Warner Mountains to the east, gigantic Goose Lake to the west. After Lakeview the massive Abert Rim and Abert Lake.
Pretty spectacular drive. Alturas to Lakeview, Warner Mountains to the east, gigantic Goose Lake to the west. After Lakeview the massive Abert Rim and Abert Lake.
day 3
171 miles
577 total
More lonely driving into the southwest corner of Idaho.
Transition from Basin and Range emptiness to lava fields flatness and emptiness somewhere around the Idaho border.
Transition from Basin and Range emptiness to lava fields flatness and emptiness somewhere around the Idaho border.
day 4
148 miles
725 total
More lonely driving on Route 78 south of the Snake. Rejoin civilization at Mountain Home.
Mountain Home was stressful at first, but once I got to the new age coffee place, everything went smooth. Cruise by the Thousand Falls and sneak into Banbury the back way.
Mountain Home was stressful at first, but once I got to the new age coffee place, everything went smooth. Cruise by the Thousand Falls and sneak into Banbury the back way.
day 5
125 miles
850 total
Get stuck in ski resort rush hour on Ketchum.
Great breakfast in Buhl. The the amazing Twin Falls Bridge, then due north into the Sawtooths.
Great breakfast in Buhl. The the amazing Twin Falls Bridge, then due north into the Sawtooths.
day 6
86 miles
936 total
Back through the ski resorts to Craters of the Moon,
Weather is getting dicey, I change plans and head back tot he plain instead of going further into the mountains
Weather is getting dicey, I change plans and head back tot he plain instead of going further into the mountains
day 7
149 miles
1,085 total
Simple drive on the freeway past Pocatello
Fun breakfast in Arco. Easy, relaxed drive.
Fun breakfast in Arco. Easy, relaxed drive.
day 8
91 miles
1,176 total
Crappy weather day. Actual snow in the pass, cold rain most of the day.
Breakfast in Lava Hot Springs, caught the geyser in Soda Springs, rainy but pretty drive to Bear Lake.
Breakfast in Lava Hot Springs, caught the geyser in Soda Springs, rainy but pretty drive to Bear Lake.
day 9
196 miles
1,372 total
Cold and windy, but sunny. Beautiful drive though the mountains.
Many different environments today. Winter in Idaho, windswept plains of Wyoming, urban Utah Valley and BYU traffic, quiet river valley.
Many different environments today. Winter in Idaho, windswept plains of Wyoming, urban Utah Valley and BYU traffic, quiet river valley.
10
167 miles
1,539 total
Beautiful drive down US 6.
Utah is crazy scenic everywhere. US 6 through Price, then the Book Cliffs
Utah is crazy scenic everywhere. US 6 through Price, then the Book Cliffs
11
80 miles
1,619 total
Canyonlands, Arches Visitors Center, downtown Moab
Very familiar territory around Moab. I haven’t been to Arches National Park for years. Didn’t get past the Visitors Center.
Very familiar territory around Moab. I haven’t been to Arches National Park for years. Didn’t get past the Visitors Center.
12
147 miles
1,766 total
Down US 191, around the corner back up Utah 95
This is a familiar and very pretty drive also. Stayed at a different spot tonight. Great success except for the food poisoning.
This is a familiar and very pretty drive also. Stayed at a different spot tonight. Great success except for the food poisoning.
13
120 miles
1,886 total
Finish the Utah 95 drive, get to Hanksville too early, so head on to Torrey.
Sad to feel so crappy driving through such beautiful country.
Sad to feel so crappy driving through such beautiful country.
14
112 miles
1,998 total
Most interesting sightseeing drive in the world!
Can’t beat Utah 12. Glad I’m feeling better!
Can’t beat Utah 12. Glad I’m feeling better!
15
113 miles
2,111 total
Utah 89 up the Sevier Valley, which I find very comforting.
Drive past Bryce, Red Rock Canyon, then up the lovely Sevier River Valley.
Drive past Bryce, Red Rock Canyon, then up the lovely Sevier River Valley.
16
126 miles
2,237 total
Dicey weather, play it safe and take the freeway.
Bad weather is rolling in. I got pretty heavy snow on I-15, but drove out of it.
Bad weather is rolling in. I got pretty heavy snow on I-15, but drove out of it.
17
174 miles
2,411 total
Scary weather, head south!
So f—-ing cold last night! I am changing plans and driving south. I-15 through the Virgin River Canyon is quite spectacular.
So f—-ing cold last night! I am changing plans and driving south. I-15 through the Virgin River Canyon is quite spectacular.
18
150 miles
2,561 total
Successfully navigate Las Vegas to find my coffee shop.
Had to pay a $10 road toll for my shortcut at Valley of Fire. Las Vegas is a weird place. Tecopa is awesome as always.
Had to pay a $10 road toll for my shortcut at Valley of Fire. Las Vegas is a weird place. Tecopa is awesome as always.
19
189 miles
2,750 total
The familiar Death Valley run, all the way to Independence.
Breakfast in Shoshone, which was quite nice. Stopped at the Death Valley Visitors Center, but that’s about it.
Breakfast in Shoshone, which was quite nice. Stopped at the Death Valley Visitors Center, but that’s about it.
20
133 miles
2,883 total
Eat in Bishop, spend an hour at the Whitmore Tubs.
Enjoy Bishop, then one more hot spring, then one more motel, in Mammoth.
Enjoy Bishop, then one more hot spring, then one more motel, in Mammoth.
21
149 miles
3,032 total
Central California feels like the tropics after the last few days.
Lunch in Mammoth, Tioga Pass, Tuolumne Meadows, a lot of driving to Priest Station for dinner.
Lunch in Mammoth, Tioga Pass, Tuolumne Meadows, a lot of driving to Priest Station for dinner.
22
161 miles
3,193 total
hills to flats to bays to cities to the back yard
Follow Route 4 all the way across California.
Follow Route 4 all the way across California.
23
0 miles
3,193 total
Birthday eve in San Rafael
Birthday eve, visit very old friends.
Birthday eve, visit very old friends.
26
220 miles
3,413 total
Thought I was gonna camp another night, but didn’t.
Do the drive home in one day. Hit the traffic at a good time, it was easy.
Do the drive home in one day. Hit the traffic at a good time, it was easy.