Our houseguest was at the Hiroshoma Peace Memorial Museum a year or so ago. Kinda full circle for her. For some reason, Trinity doesn't have the same gravitas as, say Dachau, or most any war monument.
I've wanted to stop at Oak Ridge and never made the effort due to time and just wanting to get on home. I read several books about Oak Ridge and would find it interesting to see what's left of the original secret city that played a great part in the atomic bomb production that ended the war.
We made a short road trip to Pigeon Forge TN two weeks ago. Too early for the flowers this year, but we hadn't been there for 6-8 years. We're planning to go back as soon as we get through these plumbing leaks and moving the son into his first non-college apartment. It's time to take a few hours and stop at Oak Ridge on the way back.
The poor old chair is delimanating fast. And it'll probably be a few years before they reorder that swag.
Never made it to Oak Ridge in my ~7 years in TN. Los Alamos is similar, definitely a company town with who knows what kind of stuff "buried" there. There's some real pretty country up that way, lots of mountains and even (!) trees.
Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg don't do much for me. Even in my Chattanooga years, I'd try to cut over to the Foothills Parkway just to avoid that mess. In another 20 years, the park entrance to Denali may be just as touristy I'm afraid. But I don't care for Vegas either, and we aren't shoppers. Different strokes.
Thirty some years ago Gatinburg had lots of actual craftsmen making and selling things. Then it turned to air-brushed T-shirts and Chinese imports. The craftsmen moved to a "trail" along 11 miles of country road a couple miles east of downtown. They mostly own their separate homes and sell from their buildings there. And there are several groups called malls. Other than that we go through Gatlinburg to see the hoards and drive the Roaring Fork Motor Trail. Very scenic certain times with a hiking trailhead to a falls located along the access loop.
Otherwise we stay in Pigeon Forge. Shopping outlet. href="http://www.thepigeonforgepottery.com/">A Pigeon Forge Pottery has been there a long time throwing clay./ Wife has lots of stuff from them.
Reminds of a great guy here - he keeps building courtyard houses and uses half for a gallery (his wife paints). After a while, they sell and use the money for the next one, and to support the arts. They are on their third or fourth place, and it's going on the market soon.
We started going to Gatlinburg in the early '60s... 1962 is as far back as I can remember.. Went back with my son in 2003, and that was enough for me..
Spent about 4 months in trade school in Johnson City TN in 1971. Made many trips to Gatlinburg and Asheville. Love those mountains and small towns. I put 13,000 miles on a new Budget Chevy Vega, hitting all the antique shops in the area. Shipped a lot of antique furniture back to AK. I remember Pigeon Forge Pottery. Not much else there in 1971. Went back in 1981 and they were going crazy building hotels for the World's Fair coming to Knoxville.
Just finishing another enjoyable trip to Oregon. The more time I spend in Cottage Grove the better I like that little town. We stay at the Village Resort that is surrounded by beautiful gardens. It is owned by Moonstone Properties and they are upgrading it. The Rhodedendrons and trees were just getting a good bloom going.
Returning down the Oregon coast yesterday was perfect weather.
Not quite home. 381 miles to go tomorrow. Taking 3 days getting home. Not so tiresome. Hoping to get through Los Angeles without too many slow downs. Worst part of travel in CA. Probably average about 29 MPG for the whole trip.
Just finishing another enjoyable trip to Oregon. The more time I spend in Cottage Grove the better I like that little town. We stay at the Village Resort that is surrounded by beautiful gardens. It is owned by Moonstone Properties and they are upgrading it. The Rhodedendrons and trees were just getting a good bloom going.
Returning down the Oregon coast yesterday was perfect weather.
I love the Oregon coast, my favorite place in the country by far. Great pictures, thanks for sharing!
Road trip planned for us to Sedona, AZ in early June.
790 miles via I-25 and I-40, or 716 miles via US 160 and US 89. Am hoping to convince the wife to take the back roads this time, if only for some different scenery.
Road trip planned for us to Sedona, AZ in early June.
790 miles via I-25 and I-40, or 716 miles via US 160 and US 89. Am hoping to convince the wife to take the back roads this time, if only for some different scenery.
I always prefer the back roads, even if it takes a little longer.
I always prefer the back roads, even if it takes a little longer.
Agreed, though I don't always do it (depending on how far I have to go and the time available in which to do it!). I will say that I definitely appreciated taking back roads as we neared Seattle back in 2013. The freeway was a barely rolling parking lot (and we were still two hours south... if traffic was moving at the SL), my patience was wearing thin, and the day was wearing long. But, we quickly found out that there aren't many roads that take a N/S direction in that area. Most go E/W only, so it made for an interesting and very round-about day of driving.
It was beautiful scenery and far more relaxing, though, so was worth it in the end.
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100, 1976 Ford F250
It's funny to hit some Arizona freeways and see signs about watching for bicylists. That's when you know there really aren't any back roads. Paved ones anyway.
We've done the drive to Sedona twice before; each time we break the trip up into two parts and stay overnight in either Santa Fe or Albuquerque. If we go the back roads, I think Durango would be the overnight stop.
Google maps tells me that although the back roads are 70+ miles shorter, the elapsed time is over an hour longer. But, most of the US highways here in the West have a 65MPH speed limit.
Made it home at noon. Drove right down I5 through Los Angeles. A few slow downs. 371 miles in 5 hours 43 minutes including a stop for diesel and potty break. Last 331 miles without a stop. Averaged about 68 MPH. Have to go fill up to get final tally on Mileage.
Made it home at noon. Drove right down I5 through Los Angeles. A few slow downs. 371 miles in 5 hours 43 minutes including a stop for diesel and potty break. Last 331 miles without a stop. Averaged about 68 MPH. Have to go fill up to get final tally on Mileage.
Why we drive and no longer fly. No surprises here. A worthless agency among many.
The recent story of two Transportation Security Administration screeners at Denver International Airport manipulating full-body scanners in order to grope men’s crotches is disturbing, but it came as no surprise to me.
What most people don’t realize is that the full-body scanners the two agents used to assault those passengers — the scanners that millions of people pass through each day — are practically useless. The TSA, in its rush to replace the controversial “nude” radiation scanners that they phased out in 2013, swapped out one poorly functioning line of machines for another. The current millimeter wave scanners, with their outrageous false-positive rates, regularly cause unnecessary pat-downs: The agent running his or her hands over you after you pass through the scanner is almost never doing it for a good reason.
Just had "fish" visitors from the UP. Fish, because they only stayed three days (and thus didn't smell and overstay their welcome), but most enjoyable company although we overate and imbibed too much. Invited us to drive back up to the UP with them but we begged off. Went for a walk just now to get some exercise and saw our first rattler of the season, a small young buck.
Just had "fish" visitors from the UP. Fish, because they only stayed three days (and thus didn't smell and overstay their welcome), but most enjoyable company although we overate and imbibed too much. Invited us to drive back up to the UP with them but we begged off. Went for a walk just now to get some exercise and saw our first rattler of the season, a small young buck.
Be careful the young ones are the most dangerous. This small one got hung up in the chicken wire. Made it easy to kill him.
You're aging well. Good thing you changed shirts though.
I get to do a road trip this afternoon. Meeting our Taos friends at Columbus to camp and do the border town bit tomorrow (one friend is hitting the dentist there). Haven't slept on the ground for months now....
You're aging well. Good thing you changed shirts though.
I get to do a road trip this afternoon. Meeting our Taos friends at Columbus to camp and do the border town bit tomorrow (one friend is hitting the dentist there). Haven't slept on the ground for months now....
She's going to have a cleaning done first and if that goes well.... The DDS she's going to gets good reviews from gringos. Lots of people hit Juarez for affordable medical care.
78 Hawaiian shirts last count. Most are made in Hawaii. Those are the only ones I buy usually in thrift shops. Most are Kahala and Tori Richards my favorites.
Another road trip on the horizon, this time for Mothers Day. Last one was trip to PA to pick up my mom and the choice was Escape or Fusion. Seeing that my mom and I would be riding back together, it was determined to be a 'Fusion' trip rather than 'Escape' trip. Unfortunately, the Fusion part was a BMW creasing my left front fender. My car was parked at the time. Next trip is to the Cleveland area dropping my mom off in PA and the choices are the same. The Fusion has Nav and the Escape doesn't, but my wife is pretty good with Google maps.
Gary, on the odd chance that I outlive you why don't you leave me some of them in your will? I'll just forget that based on your pictures that anything that fits wouldn't fit me....
Great collection.
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
Thank you, I am sure I have some that would fit you. I have them from M-XL. I would have to get down about 40 lbs in the 175 range to wear the M shirts. Even within the same brand they are not the same size. I only buy Mediums if it is a great pattern. Who knows if I was in a rest home withering away to nothing, they may fit. I started wearing them in the early 1980s and have gotten used to the comfort.
gagrice, you and Mrs G look marvelous! thanks for the photos. for photos of what I look like, google Dave Attell.
i'm looking planning multiple roadtrips for this summer, including: Orlando. DC. Chicago. Still haven't found the right time/situation to make the cross-country roadtrip to California again, but I'm trying to plan that too.
gagrice, you and Mrs G look marvelous! thanks for the photos. for photos of what I look like, google Dave Attell.
i'm looking planning multiple roadtrips for this summer, including: Orlando. DC. Chicago. Still haven't found the right time/situation to make the cross-country roadtrip to California again, but I'm trying to plan that too.
for photos of what I look like, google Dave Attell.
Ah, what do you look like - while our friends got their teeth cleaned in Palomas the other day, I walked to a nearby barber. I should have stuck to "un poquito" but the guy grew up in New Mexico and spoke English so I told him "top of the ears" and asked him to even up my beard.
Coming back, the customs guy looked at the passport photo and asked me where my passport was.
Ah, what do you look like - while our friends got their teeth cleaned in Palomas the other day, I walked to a nearby barber. I should have stuck to "un poquito" but the guy grew up in New Mexico and spoke English so I told him "top of the ears" and asked him to even up my beard.
Coming back, the customs guy looked at the passport photo and asked me where my passport was.
Comments
I've wanted to stop at Oak Ridge and never made the effort due to time and just wanting to get on home.
I read several books about Oak Ridge and would find it interesting to see what's left of the original
secret city that played a great part in the atomic bomb production that ended the war.
We made a short road trip to Pigeon Forge TN two weeks ago. Too early for the flowers this year, but
we hadn't been there for 6-8 years. We're planning to go back as soon as we get through these plumbing leaks and moving the son into his first non-college apartment. It's time to take a few hours and stop at Oak Ridge on the way back.
http://www.ornl.gov/ornl/visiting-ornl
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Never made it to Oak Ridge in my ~7 years in TN. Los Alamos is similar, definitely a company town with who knows what kind of stuff "buried" there. There's some real pretty country up that way, lots of mountains and even (!) trees.
Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg don't do much for me. Even in my Chattanooga years, I'd try to cut over to the Foothills Parkway just to avoid that mess. In another 20 years, the park entrance to Denali may be just as touristy I'm afraid. But I don't care for Vegas either, and we aren't shoppers. Different strokes.
Otherwise we stay in Pigeon Forge. Shopping outlet. href="http://www.thepigeonforgepottery.com/">A Pigeon Forge Pottery has been there a long time throwing clay./ Wife has lots of stuff from them.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Great hiking in that area, though.
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if you don't care about the crafts.
http://www.gatlinburgcrafts.com/
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Returning down the Oregon coast yesterday was perfect weather.
Glad you made it home safely.
What was your MPG going home?
Golf GTI coffee run
790 miles via I-25 and I-40, or 716 miles via US 160 and US 89. Am hoping to convince the wife to take the back roads this time, if only for some different scenery.
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It was beautiful scenery and far more relaxing, though, so was worth it in the end.
Google maps tells me that although the back roads are 70+ miles shorter, the elapsed time is over an hour longer. But, most of the US highways here in the West have a 65MPH speed limit.
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Road fatique?
The recent story of two Transportation Security Administration screeners at Denver International Airport manipulating full-body scanners in order to grope men’s crotches is disturbing, but it came as no surprise to me.
What most people don’t realize is that the full-body scanners the two agents used to assault those passengers — the scanners that millions of people pass through each day — are practically useless. The TSA, in its rush to replace the controversial “nude” radiation scanners that they phased out in 2013, swapped out one poorly functioning line of machines for another. The current millimeter wave scanners, with their outrageous false-positive rates, regularly cause unnecessary pat-downs: The agent running his or her hands over you after you pass through the scanner is almost never doing it for a good reason.
http://time.com/3822487/tsa-sexual-assault-denver/
gagrice, is that you? You look nicer in person......
Then, Now...
I get to do a road trip this afternoon. Meeting our Taos friends at Columbus to camp and do the border town bit tomorrow (one friend is hitting the dentist there). Haven't slept on the ground for months now....
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Beautiful 69° day cruising past the pistachio orchards.
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Last one was trip to PA to pick up my mom and the choice was Escape or Fusion.
Seeing that my mom and I would be riding back together, it was determined to be a 'Fusion' trip rather than 'Escape' trip.
Unfortunately, the Fusion part was a BMW creasing my left front fender.
My car was parked at the time.
Next trip is to the Cleveland area dropping my mom off in PA and the choices are the same.
The Fusion has Nav and the Escape doesn't, but my wife is pretty good with Google maps.
We'll have to plan a return trip next year for the 100th Anniversary.
Great collection.
When I go out playing with my alleged band I always wear a Hawaiian shirt.
i'm looking planning multiple roadtrips for this summer, including: Orlando. DC. Chicago.
Still haven't found the right time/situation to make the cross-country roadtrip to California again, but I'm trying to plan that too.
Before or after he has been "Up all night"?
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Coming back, the customs guy looked at the passport photo and asked me where my passport was.
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Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and let us know! Post a pic of your new purchase or lease!
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2014 MINI Countryman S ALL4