Itinerary - Part I
A few more details on the trip. I think I have most of the trip planned through the end of May.
Sunday April 8th – leave from CuzJoe’s farm. Arrive in Pittsburgh via either just the PA TPK, or possibly take more rural routes.
Monday April 9th – catch a ball game at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park. The World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals are in town. Leave after that to start the trip to Chicago. Probably sleep at a hotel before getting there.
Tuesday April 10th – arrive in Chicago. Besides catching a game at Wrigley (Astros and/or Reds), a lot of Chicago is up to freelancing. Neither of us have been there before, and we have been getting a lot of suggestions, so many options to choose from. Food (as it may be for a lot of the trip) sounds like an integral part of the trip. Seismic will be coming in on Friday, so we should have a gala time.
Saturday April 14th – depart Chicago. From here we will do a bit of wandering, and will likely have planned some of the next few days during the earlier drives. In general we’ll be heading south.
Tuesday or Wednesday April 17th or 18th – we should be dragging in to Memphis. If we haven’t already had our fill of pulled pork sandwiches, this is the place. Some music and nightlife, and perhaps a ritual stop at Graceland, but I’ve heard a lot of pooh-poohing about it, so maybe we just go to Sun Records for homage.
Thursday April 19th – we will be found (or lost) in New Orleans. It is post Mardi Gras, and pre Jazz Fest, but Nawlins is always jumping…hope that’s still true after Katrina. There’s Bourbon Street and Po’boys. Pat O’s and Preservation Hall. I’ve also been in contact with Bruce’s daughter who is there with FEMA, and may take in some of the devastation.
Sunday April 22nd – CuzJoe leaves in the morning. Since he’s not really a golfer, I thought this might be a good day to try to play a round. Start heading north to Ole Miss. Hopefully I will be able to fit that in and also drive to Oxford, MS to visit with Big Earl and the Palan’s. I’ve been informed the hosts might make crawfish e’toufee’ – YUM! Will see a little of the Ole Miss campus, and pick up a sandwich at a gas station.
Monday or Tuesday April 23rd or 24th – leave Oxford for the long trek to Phoenix. I really haven’t planned anything for this stretch. It’s a long distance. I will either race across Texas just to get there, or possibly take a couple three days, and get in some golf, meet the locals, and explore the cities along the way…it’ll depend on wanderlust and whether I have any at that point.
Thursday - Saturday April 26th – April 28th – arrive in Phoenix for my first long stay over. I’ll be reuniting with Treason Pal, DP and Scully. I’ll be just hanging loose for a few weeks here, trying to convince the hosts not to go to work, getting a bunch of golf in, sitting under the stars, sweating in the sun, and generally trying not to wear out my welcome. Perhaps a trip to the Grand Canyon would fit in nicely, though not sure I’d have anyone to do the rafting with??? If anyone is free and wants to raft down the Grand Canyon between April 27th and May 9th, please let me know…otherwise I’ll have to find another time for it during the summer. There also may be a cruise down Route 66.
Thursday May 10th – Battlestar and fiancée should be arriving in Phoenix. Besides having a golf partner, probably more of the same.
Sunday May 13th – Somewhere around this time, I should be hooking up with Seismic for the drive to S.F. – the scenic route. First head to LA, then start up the beautiful Pacific Coast Highway. Hearst Castle is on the agenda. So is Carmel. But there’s lots to see on perhaps the most stunning drive in America, before arriving in San Francisco later that week.
From there it won’t be long before flying back east for Battlestar’s wedding on May 27th. Not sure how long I’ll be on the east coast, it’ll probably depend on what plans get set up for June. But I’d hope to see the gang and the nieces and freeload for a couple of days. And most certainly I’ll be home with Mom and Dad.
Then back to San Fran and...
10 comments:
In Pittsburg, if you get a chance, go up Mt Washington and have a drink at one of the bars with a porch overlooking the city -- great view of the city, the stadiums, the rivers (3) and the bridges (10 or 20?). Park at the bottom and take the tram up the hill.
You might want to consider a side trek after Texas. In New Mexico, work your way up to US-60 (north from I-10, which I'm assuming you'll be on). Time consuming closer to PHX, but beautiful the whole way.
While stopped over in PHX, try heading up to Flagstaff for a couple of days. Dinner at Beaver Street Brewery, breakfast at Cafe Espress. Get some 66'ing in from Flag to Kingman, stopping in at Angel's Gift Shop in Seligman to tell him I said hello.
From PHX to LA, stop at Hadley's Fruit Orchards in Cabazon (near the monstrosity of a casino west of Palm Springs - you'll know the place). Great stuff. Bring me some dates, too, if you would.
Heading up the coast, if you can make time for wine tasting in the Santa Barbara area, there are some great wineries there. Check out Cottonwood Canyon and Foley for starters, and then maybe some Kalyra or Bridlewood as well. Depends on your tastes.
Enjoy your trip. I'm awfully jealous. (Oh, and perhaps or paths will cross in Chicago. I'll be there around the same time.)
buz, I'd be surprised if we don't take your advice on the trip to the top of pittsburgh.
66 productions, thank you so much. these are great suggestions for an area I know little about. I will be checking them all out and expect will do most or all of them. My question is who are you...I have a couple of suspects, but not sure at all. I assume I know you, right?
HEY! May 11th is my birthday - glad everyone will be in town to celebrate. I WILL be taking that day off...
Sounds like a good plan.
Who is 66 Productions and how do they know so much?!
You might want to check Oprah.com she drove cross country and make some great stops and it was on her show. Take lots of pictures.
It's going to be a very happy birthday Treason Pal!
Still haven't figured out who 66 productioins is, but ruled out first guess.
Anonymous...funny you mentioned Oprah...there's a chance we will be seeing an Oprah show in Chicago...CuzJoe has a connection.
And yes to lots of pictures!
As for 66 productions, I clicked on his name link and it brought me to his profile...he is another blogger. Someone other than friends found this site somehow?
They are repeating all the Oprah show, were she travels w/ Gale, very good, you can get those shows online and where she went. if you go to Chicago and see Oprah, it's like one of the hardest tickets to get, do it. You might get ??? to be on tv, talk to O, get a gift (O's famous giveaways) :) :o Do it.
needless to say, we don't actually no each other. But I have a google alert set for anything that posts "route 66" in it and your page came up. I don't add much to blog sites as a habit, but if I see something interesting and have something that I think might be worthwhile to add, I do. This was a rare ocassion, to say the least. Glad you found my stuff and liked what you saw. Definitely keep in touch. You can reach me via email through my website. Looking forward to hearing about the trip, maybe catch you in Chicago, too. We'll be staying at the Ohio House Motel. Happy Travels.
RE 66: How cool is that!
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