Map Tracks

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Trip Summary

Well now ... this was a fun trip. It was also our 11^th “long” trip and our 26^th camping outing to-date.  

Travel Trivia
We drove 6,701 miles (6,195 miles towing) and got 12.3 mpg on this trip.

The total for the past 8 years is 80,018 miles driven (65,501 miles of towing) and 311 trailer set-ups.

This trip was different in that we did far fewer trailer-less excursions than in the past. The trailer was connected to the car 92.4% of the time ... which explains the drop in fuel economy.

Special Sights & Experiences
 * Smoke-filled valleys and ash fallout in Montana
 * A dust storm in western Washington
 * Surprise connection and lunch with Cheryl Patchet in Hood River, OR
 * Visiting with family in Oregon and Colorado
 * Discovering Lassen Volcanic National Park
 * Returning to the Arches National Park

Disappointments
 * Missing a connection with our friend Adele Amos

Problems
 * Trailer tire tread separation
 * Damaged driver-side mirror

Our Next Trip
Alaska keeps bubbling to the top in our discussions. Maybe.

Day 44 - Knightstown, IN to Columbus, OH

This was a short trip on a nice day.

The Route
Drive east 141 miles on I-70.

About the Day
It was sunny all the way to Columbus. Winds were light, but steady. The temperature reached the mid-70s.

Apologies to Yogi Bear ...
We were pretty negative about the campground yesterday. It was dark when we arrived, the site utilities were virtually inaccessible, they played loud music until after 10pm and we were tired.

Sunlight and a good night's rest offered a more pleasant view.

Heading out

The campground has nice grounds and a lake.

A welcome sight ...

The I-70 highway surface is noticeably better in Ohio than in Indiana.

An unusual sight ...
This thin cloud formation looked like a view of icing on a cake from below.

We arrived in Columbus at 1:30.  It took 2 trips and 2 ½ hours to unload the trailer.

It feels good to be home.

Day 43 - Davenport, IA to Knightstown, IN

Some things changed today.

• The morning sunshine turned to afternoon gloom and light rain.
• We left the well maintained I-80 for a rougher ride on I-74 and I-70.
• We entered the eastern time zone.
• We set up in the dark for the first time on this trip.

The Route

We took I-80 from Davenport to I-74 just south of Moline, IL. I-74 provided the route across Illinois to Indianapolis where we connected with I-70. Knightstown is about 35 miles east of Indianapolis just off I-70.

About the Day

The travel was uneventful. Illinois is really flat and offers scenery similar to Iowa.

We found it difficult to find a suitable campground as we drove. The miles slipped by and our stopping point kept moving eastward as we considered the options. 

It was a long (357 mile) towing day. Only 140 miles remain for our drive home tomorrow.

The Campground

Though we don't fit the demographic, we stopped at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park outside Knightstown. It was at the right place at the right time. It's one of our least favorite campgrounds.

Things of Note

Ohio State 38 - Western Michigan 12

We'll be home tomorrow.

Day 42 - Greenwood, NE to Davenport, IA

Yesterday we drove with some concern toward ominous rain clouds. Today we drove toward sunny skies and enjoyed it so much we logged the 2nd longest daily drive of the trip.

The Route
I-80 continues to make this part of the story very simple. We drove 342 miles on I-80E and stopped in Davenport.

About the Day
I-80 continues to be well maintained and traffic flowed smoothly. There was lots of truck traffic.

Scenes along the way ...

The Mormon Bridge over the Missouri River
looks a lot like an Erector Set.

The Missouri River from I-680

Iowa farmland scenery provided much of what we saw in Nebraska.

We entered Iowa just after crossing
the Missouri River.

A familiar scene of the day.

A little fun ...
We stopped for gas and lunch in Shelby, IA. We learned that, like a lot of pigs, The Corn Crib is a really fun place to eat.

The Corn Crib - from the outside
(the entrance is a silo)

Carol met this man ......
(think mannequin)

They displayed lots of
antiques and stuff.

The Campground
We're staying at Interstate RV Park just off I-80 on the western edge of Davenport. It's pretty, nicely designed and very busy this weekend.

Site #75

Tomorrow
Ohio State plays Western Michigan ... Go Bucks! We'll be on the road somewhere in Illinois.

Day 41 - North Platte, NE to Greenwood, NE

We traveled across most of Nebraska today. Nice things happened. It was a good day.

The Route
We drove 250 miles from North Platte to Greenwood on I-80.

About the Day
We left North Platte in sunshine with the possibility of catching up with the rain showers that moved across the state yesterday.

Leaving Holiday RV Park ...

Site #28

Penny's Diner ...
We've looked longingly at Penny's Diner each time we've stayed in North Platte, but never stopped there until today. It's a 50's style diner that's open 24 hours a day. Our breakfasts were good, the experience was fun.

The Trip ...
Traveling on this part of I-80 is boring. The landscape consists of gently rolling fields. The scenery is enhanced by color contrasts brought on by weather changes. The highway is well maintained.

The Archway (a.k.a. The Great Platte River Road Archway or Kearney Arch) was designed by a Walt Disney Team as a museum of and monument to Nebraska's and the Platte River valley's role in westward expansion.

You can't miss the Archway Memorial

We could see weather develop in the distance.

We're dry at the moment,
but someone's getting wet.

Something's brewing to the north
as we pass through Lincoln.

The Campground
We made it to Pine Grove RV Park and Campground and got set up before heavy rain showers arrived.

This picnic shelter is next to our site.

Site #107

The campground is OK. The sites are close together and the access roads are narrow. The grounds and facilities are nicely maintained.

Tomorrow
We'll continue on I-80 into Iowa tomorrow and may stop at Amana.

Day 40 - Golden, CO to North Platte, NE

What a difference a day makes. Yesterday we climbed mountains, drove through deep canyons, and viewed broad valleys. Today ... gently rolling fields and gazing ranges filled the horizon.

The Route

We drove 280 miles by leaving Golden on I-70E, taking the I-76 exit just north of Denver, following I-76 to its end at I-80 in Nebraska, and taking I-80 to North Platte.

About the Day

We enjoyed bright sun all day. The temperature made it to the mid-70s. We followed a rain storm across Nebraska, arrived in sunshine, and were greeted by wet highways and standing water.

Views along I-76 ...

There are lots of grazing cattle

And windmills

No mountains to climb

Our last view from I-76

The Campground

This is our third stay at Holiday RV Park. It's a nice park with practical amenities and an attractive price.