Road Trip

[One-eyed Sailor]

Got the word that the project I'm managing will be delayed 2-3 weeks while they sort out design changes. I said, "Awesome! I'm going to head to warmer climes for a couple of weeks!" My son, his wife and two kiddos moved to Texas almost three years ago and decided to visit them.

I packed my dog, road munchies and 4 Chicago Schwinns (plus my Pacific Heavy Duty) in my truck and headed South. From Rockville it's about a 22 hour drive and planned to make it in two, long days.

Goodbye sub-zero degrees!

Spent the first night in Albuquerque and headed East from there.

I made it as far as Decatur, Texas before the freezing rain hit and I made the wise decision to wait out the storm.
Resumed travel the next morning with cars and trucks scattered all over the place having slid off the road. Ice laughs at your huge 4x4's!

It was slow going but finally arrived in the early afternoon.

Lilie got the '80 Hollywood, Reese the '62 American KS, Kati the '61 Tornado and my son Hoss got the '73 Super Sport cuz he's too big for a cruiser!

Sadly I've got to head towards home but I'm taking the scenic route. Heading to Austin to take in some TEXAS BLUES and will spend a day in San Antonio as well. Both places I've been dying to visit!

Any tips are greatly welcomed!

Stay warm!

 

[Captain Awesome]

Looks like one awesome trip

 

[Ulu]

Well it’s nice that you got to get these bikes out to the family. So now you have room to build more.

That looks like a ‘53 Cadillac right up front. I drove a four-door ‘53 sedan in the demolition derby right after high school.

People were trying to smash it with Ramblers and El Camino‘s and a Ford galaxy. I might’ve won except I ripped the driveshaft out of it and got stuck.

 

[twojs.bike]

There is a great bike path around the lake in Austin. If you have a bike it’s worth checking out. Easy flat ride. We visited Austin about a year ago and found all the food to be amazing. Veracruz tacos was one of our favorites and it is right by the bridge with all the bats.

 

[Captain Awesome]

We visited Austin about a year ago and found all the food to be amazing

This is true ^

Definitely one of those foodie towns you can eat your way through the entire stay

 

[Pestcontrol02]

Nice! Looks like you had a great time.

I love road trips, we do as many as we can every year.
We love discovering things along the way and eating at local places.

We start with a destination and squeeze as much in as possible along the way.
Bike trails, tourist traps, scenic overlooks, cheesy road side attractions…anything that’s remotely interesting we will stop and check it out.

 

[One-eyed Sailor]

Thanks for the tips!

 

[Ulu]

By the way congratulations on owning a second generation Tacoma. I’ve had two and Everybody that buys one figures out why they are so popular.
(You will find me posting over at Tacoma World as well.)

 

[One-eyed Sailor]

@Ulu , I bought that hard tonneau after hauntin TW for about a month! Bakflip MX4. It rules.

 

[One-eyed Sailor]

11 hour day but finally home. Gorgeous day beat out the previous day's clown show. lol
More to come...

 

[Ulu]

@Ulu , I bought that hard tonneau after hauntin TW for about a month! Bakflip MX4. It rules.

I bought the Undercover solid cover, in 2009, and it’s on its second truck.
The whole thing is one piece of molded polypropylene, with steel fittings riveted on.

I can pass paracord under it and tie 4x8 plywood on top & my grandkids have all climbed on it. It still looks ok if It rains or I bother to wash it.

But it’s a longbed & so it’s pretty difficult to r&r the long cover without help. It’s a 26 sqft sail. I couldn’t hold on to it in a 2 kt wind.

Best part: it flips up like a shed. I can throw a tarp or mosquito net on it and camp in the bed.

 

[One-eyed Sailor]

Torrential rain and my schedule put the squash on my plans to visit Austin and San Antonio. Guess I'll have to come back.
Reminded me of this: Chuvas no brasil.

I was also going to spend a day in Tucson but with a Rodeo and huge Gem Show that weekend, there were no rooms to be found that I could afford.
Spent the night in a funky Motel in Eloy. Cost a fortune because (I guess) of the Superbowl in Phoenix.

Left at 5AM to get past Phoenix before rush hour traffic.
The weather was nice and the scenery amazing. Again, wish I had time to do a little sight-seeing but it was a long haul to get home.
Doggo decided to go walkabout on the Reservation and it took 45 minutes to get him back in the truck. Grrrrr.

Highway 89 between Kanab and Panguitch Utah is quite beautiful.
3,300 miles. Dunno if I have it in me for another one for a while.
Peace!