2020 July 4th road trip

LQQKatJon

LQQKatJon

Well-known member
Oct 22, 2010
3,217
535
113
St. Cloud, Mn
lqqkatjon.blogspot.com
Going on my 10th year of owning this GMC, and I hope I am getting to the point now, that most systems have been addressed, and reliability is
getting to where it needs to be. I am looking at some plans to join my brother out in Oregon for some waterskiing, and it looks like going out to
Cottage Grove, Oregon for 4th of July 2020 is the plan. I am now thinking rather then flying, I am going to see if I can get a 2 week leave from
work, and take the kids on a road trip out there and back. Cost of gas is the same as plane tickets. My only problem, is not wanting to have to
get too crazy in planning a trip, and the week before and after 4th of July are probably the worst time to try to travel with out reservations made
way in advance.

So with the GMC in mind. any advice as to routes to see the most? Yellowstone is obviously the main attraction between MN and oregon, but July 4th
may-not be the time to try to go through there quickly. my GMC is pretty self contained other then Air conditioning, and that is a bonus, not a
necessity.

--
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
 
It should be a great trip for all.
Should you run into ay issue feel free to reach out to us.

On Wed, Oct 9, 2019 at 9:29 AM Jon Roche via Gmclist <

> Going on my 10th year of owning this GMC, and I hope I am getting to the
> point now, that most systems have been addressed, and reliability is
> getting to where it needs to be. I am looking at some plans to join my
> brother out in Oregon for some waterskiing, and it looks like going out to
> Cottage Grove, Oregon for 4th of July 2020 is the plan. I am now
> thinking rather then flying, I am going to see if I can get a 2 week leave
> from
> work, and take the kids on a road trip out there and back. Cost of gas
> is the same as plane tickets. My only problem, is not wanting to have to
> get too crazy in planning a trip, and the week before and after 4th of
> July are probably the worst time to try to travel with out reservations made
> way in advance.
>
> So with the GMC in mind. any advice as to routes to see the most?
> Yellowstone is obviously the main attraction between MN and oregon, but
> July 4th
> may-not be the time to try to go through there quickly. my GMC is pretty
> self contained other then Air conditioning, and that is a bonus, not a
> necessity.
>
>
> --
> Jon Roche
> 75 palm beach
> St. Cloud, MN
> http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
 
My buddy's dad grew up near the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota. If you like corn, and who doesn't, then it's a must see!

Full disclosure - I haven't seen it...
--
Larry Davick
A Mystery Machine
1976(ish) Palm Beach
Fremont, Ca
Howell EFI + EBL + Electronic Dizzy
 
One of my most favorite books of all time is Blue Highways, by William Least Heat Moon. This is a guy who gets fired from his University of Missouri
professor job, thrown out of the house by his wife, and throws a few of his favorite possessions into a "plumbers van" (Ford Van I recall) and hits
the road using mostly the "blue highways" (on the maps....remember maps???). He writes his stories of people and places. I have read it 4 times and
writing this makes me want to read it again. I, too, am ready for a "blue highway". The blue highways used to be the state highways, not the
interstates. So......

If you have the time, take the blue highways. Along your route are some of my favorites....highway 20 thru the Sandhill country of Nebraska. See Ft
Robinson around Crawford as I recall, all restored and great campground. Crazy Horse was killed by a guard at Ft Robinson. Dr Walter Reed was
stationed there during the Indian Wars. Head North up to Custer State Park and the Black Hills. See Rushmore and Crazy Horse monuments. Head west to
Devils Tower in Wyoming. Then on to Yellowstone. I think your kids would never forget such a trip.
--
Larry Nelson Springfield, MO
Ex GMC'er, then GM Busnut
now '77 Eleganza ARS WB0JOT
 
William was an American Indian, and a professor at Oregon Teachers College,
in Monmouth, Oregon. His wife too. He is the author of several similar
books to the Blue Highway. I like his take on his "walkabout" journey
through many different communities, some who were none to friendly towards
him. A great read, and a bit of philosophy thrown in for good measure.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

On Thu, Oct 10, 2019, 7:53 AM Larry Nelson via Gmclist <

> One of my most favorite books of all time is Blue Highways, by William
> Least Heat Moon. This is a guy who gets fired from his University of
> Missouri
> professor job, thrown out of the house by his wife, and throws a few of
> his favorite possessions into a "plumbers van" (Ford Van I recall) and hits
> the road using mostly the "blue highways" (on the maps....remember
> maps???). He writes his stories of people and places. I have read it 4
> times and
> writing this makes me want to read it again. I, too, am ready for a "blue
> highway". The blue highways used to be the state highways, not the
> interstates. So......
>
> If you have the time, take the blue highways. Along your route are some of
> my favorites....highway 20 thru the Sandhill country of Nebraska. See Ft
> Robinson around Crawford as I recall, all restored and great campground.
> Crazy Horse was killed by a guard at Ft Robinson. Dr Walter Reed was
> stationed there during the Indian Wars. Head North up to Custer State Park
> and the Black Hills. See Rushmore and Crazy Horse monuments. Head west to
> Devils Tower in Wyoming. Then on to Yellowstone. I think your kids would
> never forget such a trip.
> --
> Larry Nelson Springfield, MO
> Ex GMC'er, then GM Busnut
> now '77 Eleganza ARS WB0JOT
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
Sounds like a fun trip!

2 years ago we did a trip from Buffalo to Yellowstone for a week; badlands, mt rushmore, crazy horse, up to Glacier for a couple days, down thru Utah;
zion, arches, bryce, and flew home from Las Vegas. It took a little over 4 weeks. I found I preferred to drive 400 miles or so a day, maybe one or
two days in a row, then land somewhere and spend some non-driving days in one spot.

That was with a class A holiday rambler, I'm hoping that 400 miles in the GMC will be similar to driving 200 miles in the HR.

I think 2 weeks might not be enough time to do much more than travel, camp and waterski. It would stink to get spread so thin that all you end up
doing is driving and not enjoying the time off. You can easily spend a week just in Yellowstone alone and that won't leave any time for water skiing.
Just my opinion.

About all you could do is plan your driving to arrive early (gates open at 8am) and get to one attraction, like Old Faithful. Park it, watch it go
off and then move on. If you wait until everyone is awake and in their cars you'll get jammed up a bit. We were there about a week after the 4th of
July. Or if you spend the night, get up early and check one thing out, then travel on your way. Yellowstone is great to visit in an RV btw.
--
Todd Snyder, Buffalo NY
1976 Eleganza II
 
I can't remember ever being able to take off 2 weeks in a row for vacation. a full week is even a challenge, so I know it will be a rushed trip.

I am pretty familiar with sites in South Dakota and east to MN. I am not largely familiar with sites from Rapid City, SD to the west.

I can drive my GMC all day, that does not bother me at all, but I know you don't want to drive past all the sights. I have done a couple 12-14 hour
driving days in the GMC. I have done many longer driving days in other vehicles if I need to.

My big concern about Yellowstone, is if you don't have set reservations, and the campgrounds are full?? do you drive all night until you are far
enough out of the park where there is a place to stay, or are there places to pull off and sleep until daylight, like you would find crossing the
"blue highways"??

What i am looking at doing is leaving on a friday night. having until the next friday to travel west. stay skiing friday(july3) to Thursday
am(July9) Then start East again and give myself 4 days to drive home. (thurs, friday, saturday, sunday). the home route, I would plan to be more
direct.

--
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
 
You can reserve a spot at Yellowstone up to 6 months in advance. If you don't make a reservation you might luck out and get a first come first serve
spot if you get there right when the gates open. I think inside the park you can't pull over and bed down, they want you in a campground spot.

And there are private campgrounds all around the area.

As far as pulloffs while on the road in that area, I think you can always find a place to pull over, lock up and grab some sleep. At the bottom end
of these are Walmarts imo, I prefer the welcome centers usually found near state lines. Rest areas work too and gas stations often have an area for
truckers to park and spend the night as long as you don't mind the idling truck motors sound. It doesn't bother me much, not as bad as car alarms at
Walmarts.

I've also spent the night on the side of the street in a small town where we were going to visit the museum when it opened the next day. Just find a
street or a parking lot where your presence for one night isn't going to trigger anyone.
--
Todd Snyder, Buffalo NY
1976 Eleganza II
 
The last two times we went to Yellowstone we took the north east entrance
over Chief Joseph Highway 296.
That catches up to Bear Tooth Highway 212. Both times we got there before
the Ranger Station was open
so we had to show our seniors pass as we left the park. This route was very
scenic with a lot of Indian history
Indian tribe of Nez Perce avoided the U.S. Calvary through this rough and
rugged area.
https://travelwyoming.com/listing/yellowstone-national-park/chief-joseph-scenic-byway

There are a couple of steep climbs on this road but worth the scenery.
North east corner of Yellowstone has several large meadows where large
number of buffalo roam.

On Thu, Oct 10, 2019 at 2:40 PM Todd Snyder via Gmclist <

> You can reserve a spot at Yellowstone up to 6 months in advance. If you
> don't make a reservation you might luck out and get a first come first serve
> spot if you get there right when the gates open. I think inside the park
> you can't pull over and bed down, they want you in a campground spot.
>
> And there are private campgrounds all around the area.
>
> As far as pulloffs while on the road in that area, I think you can always
> find a place to pull over, lock up and grab some sleep. At the bottom end
> of these are Walmarts imo, I prefer the welcome centers usually found near
> state lines. Rest areas work too and gas stations often have an area for
> truckers to park and spend the night as long as you don't mind the idling
> truck motors sound. It doesn't bother me much, not as bad as car alarms at
> Walmarts.
>
> I've also spent the night on the side of the street in a small town where
> we were going to visit the museum when it opened the next day. Just find a
> street or a parking lot where your presence for one night isn't going to
> trigger anyone.
> --
> Todd Snyder, Buffalo NY
> 1976 Eleganza II
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Bruce Hart
1976 Palm Beach
Milliken, Co
GMC=Got More Class
 
If after visiting Yellowstone, your travel through South Idaho, stop by the Craters of the Moon National Monument. Surreal landscape of ancient
basalt flows. They do have few campsites at the visitor center available. Might be a good place to stop over. Unfortunately it is going to be in
full sun in the middle of the summer. It is high desert after all...

From there you can take a route through Bend OR. It is very pretty area.

If you choose to go via Northerly route after Yellowstone, once you make it over the mountains, you can stop over on Lake Couer d'Alene in North
Idaho. From there it is a good easy road (nearly flat) all the way to Portland. When you get to Columbia river, you can travel on the north or south
side of the river. North side is a Washington State two lane highway (Hwy 14). Good scenic route along the river. You'll drive by Washington's
Stonehenge. South side is Oregon - I84. Busy road, but also good for travel (4 lane divided). Once you get to the Columbia Gorge, you can turn off
and travel parallel to the I84 on a smaller road with lots of stops to see waterfalls and beautiful scenery.

--
Vadim Jitkov
'76 Glenbrook 26'
Pullman, WA
 
Early stages of planning here Larry- We can talk at the Christmas party.

I causally mentioned this plan to Jennifer, but I am not sure she took me serious. The trip would just be Myself, Paige and Macy, as Jennifer is
meeting her english cousins in Vegas for 4th of July and also does not have enough vacation built up with her newer job.

--
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
 
Jon,

Do you have a Windows computer and a copy of Street Atlas or Trips and Streets?

If no, I will ship you a set of 2015 SA. It is old, but it is still the best planning tool I know.

If interested, sent a mail address to either of the #ddresses on the Black List.

Matt

--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
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