Riding the Rockies

[Netnorske]

Geez Tom....you're going to be able to plug a lot of holes on your visited states map.... ! The western states are harder to get as they are five times larger than those eastern ones.... ::).

[schoeney]

Thanks for sharing!

[tomm]

July 16th update is posted.

http://ridingtherockieskawanow.blogspot.com/

[tomm]

Originally Posted by usranger74

Tom - any idea what rout you will be taking to go east?

At this point, we're thinking of heading east on I70. Would like to do something different than going 80 and 90 by Chicago and along the bottom of the lakes. Sue has a relative in Nashville and I have some friends there, so we may try to stop and see them if we have time. Then maybe work our way northeast through West Virginia and around the I81 corridor. A lot will depend on the weather forecast too.

[tomm]

Originally Posted by Netnorske

Geez Tom....you're going to be able to plug a lot of holes on your visited states map.... ! The western states are harder to get as they are five times larger than those eastern ones.... ::).

Lot more than 5 times. I grew up in Rhode Island . . . 39 x 48 miles. It would probably fit inside of one of those canyons we were looking at yesterday. That's a state you could do before breakfast.

But there's still a few left for next year!!!!!

[waterman]

Originally Posted by tomm

At this point, we're thinking of heading east on I70. Would like to do something different than going 80 and 90 by Chicago and along the bottom of the lakes. Sue has a relative in Nashville and I have some friends there, so we may try to stop and see them if we have time. Then maybe work our way northeast through West Virginia and around the I81 corridor. A lot will depend on the weather forecast too.

Be prepared for some mind numbing travel across Kansas. Also, if you are coming thru this week be prepared for heat and humidity.

[usranger74]

KS is not all that bad if you don't mind going 60 miles without a curve


If you are going to travel to St. Louis, MO and you want to do better than going by way of I-70, I would suggest taking US 36 across both KS and MO then cutting down to STL on US 61.

US 36 is a very good road and as you cross KS most of it is two lane but light traffic and few trucks. Mom and Pop motels along the way. This route will also by pass KC which is a mess to ride through.

US 36 across MO is 4 lane and only one traffic light after St Joe with light traffic and few trucks. Same for US 61.

I am 100% sure that unless you are a speed demon, the fastest way from St. Joe MO to STL is the US 36 and 61. I-70 is chocked with trucks and heavy traffic.

[tomm]

July 17 update posted.

http://ridingtherockieskawanow.blogspot.com/

[tomm]

Originally Posted by usranger74

KS is not all that bad if you don't mind going 60 miles without a curve


If you are going to travel to St. Louis, MO and you want to do better than going by way of I-70, I would suggest taking US 36 across both KS and MO then cutting down to STL on US 61.

US 36 is a very good road and as you cross KS most of it is two lane but light traffic and few trucks. Mom and Pop motels along the way. This route will also by pass KC which is a mess to ride through.

US 36 across MO is 4 lane and only one traffic light after St Joe with light traffic and few trucks. Same for US 61.

I am 100% sure that unless you are a speed demon, the fastest way from St. Joe MO to STL is the US 36 and 61. I-70 is chocked with trucks and heavy traffic.

Thanks for the advice on the alternate route. Sounds like a much better ride. Wasn't looking forward to the trucks and the traffic on the way back.

At this point, we'll be starting our trek back east a week from today, so hopefully some of the heat and severe storms will break by then. For now, we have one more week in Colorado to enjoy.

[waterman]

Originally Posted by tomm

Thanks for the advice on the alternate route. Sounds like a much better ride. Wasn't looking forward to the trucks and the traffic on the way back.

At this point, we'll be starting our trek back east a week from today, so hopefully some of the heat and severe storms will break by then. For now, we have one more week in Colorado to enjoy.

Tomm,

If you do take 36 across Colorado and Kansas, make sure you fill up at Byers, CO as it is 140 miles to St. Francis, KS. There are 2 small fuel stations inbetween at Anton and Idalia, CO.

[tomm]

July 18th update posted.

http://ridingtherockieskawanow.blogspot.com/

[tomm]

Originally Posted by waterman

Tomm,

If you do take 36 across Colorado and Kansas, make sure you fill up at Byers, CO as it is 140 miles to St. Francis, KS. There are 2 small fuel stations inbetween at Anton and Idalia, CO.

Thanks Joel. Appreciate the tip. Definitely would not want to run out of gas in the middle of that Kansas farm land.

[tomm]

July 19th update posted.
Tom

http://ridingtherockieskawanow.blogspot.com/

[tomm]

Originally Posted by tomm

Thanks Joel. Appreciate the tip. Definitely would not want to run out of gas in the middle of that Kansas farm land.

Hi Joel,
Just discovered that 113 miles of that 140 is still in Colorado, not Kansas. Assume it is just flat plain. Either way, not a place to run out of gas.

If the heat situation doesn't improve, I've been thinking about driving across this section of Colorado, Kansas and Missouri during late afternoons and evenings, maybe stopping around midnight. Are there a lot of deer or other animals to worry about, so not a good idea?
Tom

[waterman]

Originally Posted by tomm

Hi Joel,
Just discovered that 113 miles of that 140 is still in Colorado, not Kansas. Assume it is just flat plain. Either way, not a place to run out of gas.

If the heat situation doesn't improve, I've been thinking about driving across this section of Colorado, Kansas and Missouri during late afternoons and evenings, maybe stopping around midnight. Are there a lot of deer or other animals to worry about, so not a good idea?
Tom

There is not alot of deer on the western part of the route. However, as you get east the population increases. If you are planning on doing late evening routes, I would stick to the interstate. If you have a breakdown, cell phone coverage is better along the interstate and late evening there is not much traffic along that section of 36. Also, I can't remember for sure but I believe that some of the gas stations only have pay inside and they do close in the evening.