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Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
Hello from West Branch, Michigan. Lyndi and I are on the road again. For the next 32 days we will travel across the country and back in our 1995 Dark Purple ZR-1.
On Tuesday morning we left Westminster: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0001.jpg We took I-70 West to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I-76. Traffic was moderate and we made good time across PA and Ohio and then turned North to Michigan: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0093.jpg Some of the trucks on I-75 were tailgating pretty close: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0084.jpg After about 12 hours of driving and 650 miles for our first day, we stopped in West Branch, MI for the night. We found a giant lumberjack to welcome us: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0197.jpg We found a nice neighborhood pub called The Tipsy Bear Bistro and celebrated our first evening on the road: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0234.jpg http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0219.jpg |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
you taking the car ferry to wisconsin? or going up through the the UP?
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Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
I'm looking forward to following your trip as I have the others. Enjoy living the dream and and travel safe.
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Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
If you make it out highway 90 to Idaho/Washington border give a shout and we will put something on the barby Q
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Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
Hey Jim,
Thanks for sharing and have a safe trip. AWESOME!! |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
Jim,
You need to see Glacier Park. My most beautiful place to date. Safe travels! Ted |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
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Also on my list is Bryce Canyon & Zion in Utah. Amazing geology! Better than the Grand Canyon to me. As avid art & photography folks, you must see both of these places. As a nuclear guy, look up EBR-1 in Idaho, just north of Atomic City (now a ghost town). If you decide to spend the night in Pocatello,ID we highly recommend the Black Swan Hotel. Definitely an artist appreciation site. Most unusual and all hand crafted by the owner. Enjoy your trip! |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
Thank's for the pictures and enjoy Jim :cheers:
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Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
Hats off....They were meant to be driven....Safe trip...
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Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
Looking forward to your pix! (We really need to get serious about a Rocky Mtn Run!!)
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Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
Nice, keep em coming
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Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
I always look forward to reading about your road trips and the great photos!
I hope Ohio was hospitable. Be safe in your travels. B17 Crew :hello: |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
Have a great trip Jim! I look forward to your updates.
Matt |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
Thank you for your comments and suggestions. The day before departure was very hectic, so I didn't get a chance to post up the trip plan. I have been planning this trip for about 18 months. In order to get reservations at the National Park Lodging, reservations had to be made a year in advance. The basic itinerary was formulated in March 2014. Here is the big picture of our route:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...20Part%201.jpg http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...20Part%202.jpg http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...20Part%203.jpg We will visit Yellowstone NP, Grand Tetons NP, Craters of the Moon, Hells Canyon, Mt Rainier, North Cascades NP, Olympic NP, parts of the Pacific Coast Highway, Mt St Helens, Mt Hood, Redwood NP and CA state parks, San Francisco, Yosemite NP, Park City, UT, and Rocky Mountain NP. The trip will be 32 days and about 9,000 miles. Jim |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
On Wednesday, we left West Branch, Michigan early to get an start on a long day of sight seeing and driving. North of West Branch we crossed the 45th parallel, marking a spot on the earth that is half way between the Equator and the North Pole:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0052.jpg We had to stop and get a photo with the PurpleZ in front of this gigantic beer "bottle": http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0035.jpg We proceeded north about 2 hours to Mackinaw City at the very tip of the Michigan "glove". We found some more got-to-do photo ops with a large bear and a large hot dog and the American flag proudly flying: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0102.jpg http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0107.jpg In Mackinaw City we visited two lighthouses. First was Old Mackinaw Point Lighthouse with the Mackinac Bridge in the background: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0133.jpg Then we visited McGulpin Point Lighthouse: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0205.jpg to be continued... |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
We crossed the Mackinac Bridge across the channel between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0293.jpg Lyndi got a nice Rear View Mirror Shot: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0310.jpg http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0351.jpg The Mackinac Bridge took us to the Upper Peninsula which is known as the U.P. People who live on the UP are known as Yoopers. Say it out loud and it makes sense. We headed West across the UP on Rt-2 which runs along the south shore of Lake Superior. http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0415.jpg Here is a nice view of a sailboat near Munising, MI: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0486.jpg to be continued... |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
We continued west and crossed the border into Wisconsin:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0546.jpg and then into Minnesota near Duluth: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0600.jpg After 14 hours of driving and sightseeing, we stopped in Grand Rapids, Minnesota just as the sun was setting: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0618.jpg Jim |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
Awesome! I would love to do a trip like that. Will never happen though - for several reasons. So I will enjoy following your journey... :cheers:
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Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
Great Photos and Notes Jim :thumbsup:
Added to Solutions Post #7 (Road Trips) |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
WOW! Some beautiful shots!! I like the rear-view mirror shot especially; the photo "artsy-fartsy" in me I guess.
Looking forward to the next installment with eager anticipation!:dancing |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
Impressive.....Looks like your getting some good weather so far...I have to ask-that sucker is radar equipped right? I'm sure it is...Which one are you using? Report back to us on its effectiveness, I'm looking to purchase one..
Enjoy !!! |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
Jim:
Glad to hear you had safe travels through Michigan. On your return, if you pass through, give me a shout and the beer is on me. :cheers: |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
Fabulous, another road trip. That is wonderful.
If you've not been before, Yellowstone is absolutely unreal and wonderful. I hope you have significant time booked there - many many pictures wait to be taken! Safe travels, - Jeff |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
Estes Park To Evergreen looks good as is the rest
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Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
On Thursday, we left Grand Rapids, MN, but first we photographed some areas that captured our attention. Grand Rapids is the birth place of actress Judy Garland, and we found a large mural paying tribute to Garland in The Wizard of OZ:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0041.jpg Near our motel we were surprised to discover the Mississippi River where it is about 10 feet wide: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0015.jpg We headed west to North Dakota. The drive across central Minnesota showed a variety of environments. First we found a giant American Eagle and a life sized Paul Bunyon: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0081.jpg http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0135.jpg Central Minnesota is heavily wooded with some boggy areas: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0089.jpg http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0098.jpg |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
We crossed North Dakota on I-94, basically a straight line for 350 miles:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0239.jpg The eastern portion of North Dakota is heavily agricultural. The are many very productive farms: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0167.jpg http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0249.jpg to be continued..... |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
In western North Dakota, we visited Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We toured the Southern Unit of the Park, an extensive Badlands area.
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0775.jpg http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0630.jpg Since we were limited in the time available to visit the park, we drove the 35 mile loop tour of the badlands. We spotted some buffalo grazing on a hillside pasture: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0509.jpg We were greeted by a very large community of Prairie Dogs: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0444.jpg The power of nature to shape a landscape was dramatically on display in every area of the park: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0750.jpg We finished our trip across North Dakota and stopped in Glendive, Montana for the night. Jim |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
Enjoy your trip and be safe.
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Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
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A "factoid" you may already know, but the "badlands" is the result of ash from an ancient "super volcano(s)" which have punched through the earth's crust, marching to the northeast, beginning in southern Utah, some 2.1 million years ago, IIRC. The northern end of the string of 3 eruptions, and the location of its latest caldera, is Yellowstone Park. Ash from the eruptions covers (especially) the western portions North and South Dakota and Wyoming and parts of Montana; the deepest deposits forming the white, gritty, (very slippery when wet!!) "badlands" resulting form the erosion of the ash, leaving spires capped with harder volcanic rocks as the softer ash eroded from under them (See Lyndi with formations in the background). Just in case anyone likes geological history...like me! |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
Posted so you keep an eye on the wildland fires in your planned road trip route. GC |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
As usual GREAT pics!
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Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0081.jpg
Jim is a MONSTER! Look how far he can push the rear end of Purple Z down with only his fingertips! |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
Hello from Yellowstone National Park. We had a problem getting working WiFi here in the wilderness. I am back on line and will be uploading some more pictures soon.
Jim |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
On Friday morning, we left Glendive, Montana and headed west on I-94 to Billings, MT where we got on I-90 West. As we drove southwest, the land got hillier, but there was still a lot of farming and ranching.
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0214.jpg East of Billings we happened upon Pompey's Pillar National Monument: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0248.jpg http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0283.jpg Pompey's Pillar is a large stone feature that had been marked with petroglyphs by Native Americans for hundreds of years ago. It was discovered that in 1806, William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition engraved his name on the stone to mark the location of one of their camps. The carving is one of very few permanent records of the Expedition that is known to exist. http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0257.jpg In our journeys, we have come across some vintage gas pumps. We found this one in the Tiger Gas Trailer Park Gas Station and Laundromat. This one had no credit card device: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0312.jpg When we were in Glendive a woman in the hotel suggested that we enter Yellow from the northeast entrance instead of going all the way to Livingston, MT and entering at Gardner. She said the road from Red Lodge, MT to Wyoming was much more picturesque. So, we took that route and boy was she correct: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0462.jpg to be continued... |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
The Beartooth Pass Highway, US-212, runs from Red Lodge, Montana, across the mountains to the Northeast Gate of Yellowstone National Park. The road is two-lane black top with most of it curves and embankments protected with guard rails. The road is in very good condition.
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0505.jpg The Beartooth Pass highway climbs quickly into the mountains: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0515.jpg http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0541.jpg http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0547.jpg Near the crest of the Beartooth Pass, we crossed from Montana into Wyoming: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0559.jpg http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0569.jpg to be continued... |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
The summit of Beartooh Pass is 10,097 feet. At the summit there is a souvenir truck and a porta-potty. To use the ports-potty, you have to buy a souvenir. We thought it was a fair arrangement:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0593.jpg Here are some more pictures of the Beartooh Pass Highway: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0597.jpg http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0614.jpg Here is an interesting shot of a switchback: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0633.jpg About halfway down the west side of the mountains, we found this snow removal equipment cleaned up and ready for the next snow: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0708.jpg More PurpleZ with mountains in the background: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0854.jpg to be continued.... |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
Near the western end of the Beartooth Pass Highway, in the "town" of Beartooth, we found another interesting gas pump. This one is fairly old and is surrounded with snow plow markers because the snow routinely covers the pump.
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0876.jpg After crossing back into southwestern Montana, we reached the Northeast Entrance gate to Yellowstone National Park: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0962.jpg Just inside the gate we were greeted by the welcoming Committee: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0967.jpg After another hour and a half drive, we reached our destination at the Canyon Lodge in Yellowstone NP. We hiked a short distance from our cabin to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0044.jpg On the way back to the cabin, we met another local resident: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0051.jpg The trip to Yellowstone took us 4 days of driving to cover over 2,500 miles. The PurpleZ is running great and gets comments and attention from many people. Jim |
Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
Living in Florida where it's all flat and wooded, it's easy to forget how beautiful the Mid-Western states are. Pics like these make me want to re-locate there.
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Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
Thanks Jim.
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Re: Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
On Saturday, we took the Yellowstone Rim of Fire Bus Tour. Since we were first-timers at Yellowstone, the eight-hour tour that covers the highlights of the whole park seemed to be a good choice.
Within ten minutes of leaving our lodge, we spotted a black bear with two cubs in a pasture area near the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. The bear was distant and the cubs were too short to be photographed, but Lyndi got the Mama bear: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0016.jpg Here is a early morning picture of the Yellowstone River Upper Falls: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0028.jpg The Yellowstone River Lower Falls is the largest waterfall in the park, and this view of the Canyon was painted in 1870 by Moran, and presented to Congress the next year. By 1872, Congress passed a law establishing Yellowstone as a National Park. It was the first "National" park in the world. http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...DSC_0051_1.jpg As we left the Lower Falls area we came across a bison crossing a stream: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0105.jpg http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0124.jpg When he got to the far side, he climbed the bank, shook himself off and went back to grazing: http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...p/DSC_0143.jpg to be continued.... |
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