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11-02-2016, 10:01 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Highland Park, New Jersey
Trailer: Escape 19 February 2014
Posts: 975
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Planning our trip out west
We're planning to take a leisurely month and a half to two months to get to the Tetons next summer. We'll start in mid June so most of the trip will be peak season. We'll probably take 80 to Des Moines and then north to 90 and follow that west. That means we'll be starting in New York State and going through Ohio, Indiana, illinois, Iowa, South Dakota and Wyoming.
We have reservations in the Tetons,and I know we should make reservations along the way, but I'm having trouble planning. I want to find bike trails, especially in the midwest where we can find gentle ones -- neither of us is interested in hill climbing. So does anyone have suggestions for less known places to visit along the way or any great bike paths?
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11-02-2016, 10:33 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Front Range, Colorado
Trailer: 2017 5.0 TA picked up in July 2017.
Posts: 523
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Stay south and visit Colorado. Nice bike trail from Aspen to Glenwood Springs and it is slightly downhill all the way. Steamboat Springs has several miles of trails in the downtown area and they follow the river so very gentle. Boulder Colorado area has over 250 miles of trails and you can drive into the mountains and ride down. Also visit Rocky Mountain National Park to see the Colorado elk which are very large but spend all of their time standing around grazing. Then when you see the elk in Wyoming, which are constantly chased by the wolf packs you'll see a much different animal.
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11-03-2016, 01:35 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Bremerton, Washington
Trailer: 2019 5.0 TA
Posts: 1,141
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruthe
We're planning to take a leisurely month and a half to two months to get to the Tetons next summer. We'll start in mid June so most of the trip will be peak season. We'll probably take 80 to Des Moines and then north to 90 and follow that west. That means we'll be starting in New York State and going through Ohio, Indiana, illinois, Iowa, South Dakota and Wyoming.
We have reservations in the Tetons,and I know we should make reservations along the way, but I'm having trouble planning. I want to find bike trails, especially in the midwest where we can find gentle ones -- neither of us is interested in hill climbing. So does anyone have suggestions for less known places to visit along the way or any great bike paths?
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I would suggest a loop. My in laws live in Indiana and we live in Washington. I was born in Cheyenne and raised in Colorado so I have made variations of this trip many times.
From IN, loop around Chicago and head up through WI to visit Madison and the wonderful state capital there. Lots of good bicycling too. Then across via La Croix, WI where there is a wonderful historic district on the Mississippi. Cross into South Dakota to the Black Hills and Mt Rushmore. From there catch Devil's tower in WY, then across to the Tetons / Yellowstone. On the way back, head down to Colorado for the suggestions posted by SFdavis50. Head home by way of I-80 and Nebraska, etc. Two months should be plenty of time to do all of that in a relaxed way. Good Luck!
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11-03-2016, 06:08 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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We took the slower route, got off I-80 in Akron OH taking 2ndary roads the rest of the way to Yellowstone and some what the same route coming back from the Tetons, at least till Deb decided she wanted to get home quicker to see the grand kids.
Many small towns you could stop in and ride the quiet streets. We checked out county parks for camping as well as a number of nice out of the way state parks. Surprising to us was how much we enjoyed driving the back roads through Nebraska.
We left in late August, the only time we had problems was finding a campground on Labor Day weekend. We ended up at Walmart, which can be noisy places. As you are going in the summer you may have to call ahead as you look for places to stay, it was not an issue in late August-Oct. We spent about a week driving one way.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
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11-03-2016, 08:39 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Fremont, California
Trailer: 2016 21. '15 Ford Explorer V-6
Posts: 1,554
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Ruthe, We just completed the reverse of your plan, and our favorite overnight was in Iowa. A county park near Montezuma, about 7 miles south of I-80. We found it on Allstays and it is named, Diamond Lake County Park Camp Ground. It has lots of sites on the water and lots of easy biking and walking trails. I'd go back there and spend a week!
__________________
Steve and Debbie
2016 - 21'
“Get out the map and lay your finger anywhere down” -Indigo Girls
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11-03-2016, 08:54 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Ashland City, Tennessee
Trailer: 2016 21' Classic
Posts: 263
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Hey Steve,
That 21 looks great behind that Explorer!!!!
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11-03-2016, 09:09 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Naples, Florida
Trailer: New 21 Escape (not classic)10/16 Sold Lil Snoozy 7/16
Posts: 484
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Make sure you get the I Pass for the toll roads otherwise it's double when paying cash
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11-03-2016, 09:33 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Solvang, California
Trailer: 2016 21' Escape (usetaowna a 19, a Burro and 2 Casitas)
Posts: 842
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I've never understood exactly what "out west" meant. I'd have to drive east 3 long days to get to the west in Colorado!
__________________
Some who wander are not lost...
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11-03-2016, 10:26 AM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Greggo
I've never understood exactly what "out west" meant. I'd have to drive east 3 long days to get to the west in Colorado!
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If you think that's strange Greg, try "Down East".
You can't go "down" to go east, at least using the common slang for map directions, but folks in Maine call it that.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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11-03-2016, 10:27 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SLO County, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21C 2019 Expedition
Posts: 5,207
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"Down East "? Heard of Back East and Down South.
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11-03-2016, 10:39 AM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: just north of Madison, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2001 Scamp 16
Posts: 21
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If you jump up to 90 a bit earlier, there is some great biking in Wisconsin from state trails on railroad beds to bike paths to paved county highways. Interstate 90 passes by Madison, WI, which has numerous paths around the city/lakes.
J&J
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11-03-2016, 11:03 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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Think we got some folks here from Down East, as in Maine.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
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11-03-2016, 11:06 AM
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#13
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
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I live 80 miles from the Pacific ocean as the crow flies. When folks talk about "out west" and they mean Colorado... I think, I'd have to drive more than 20 hours EAST just to get there.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
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11-03-2016, 11:16 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Trailer: 2015 Escape 19 "Seventy Degrees"
Posts: 3,494
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I'm in the South West, does that count. Lots of horse thieves, Indians, cowboys and cactus.
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11-03-2016, 11:29 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Benton County, Iowa
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic Number 6, pulled by 2018 Toyota Highlander
Posts: 8,217
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West
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greggo
I've never understood exactly what "out west" meant. I'd have to drive east 3 long days to get to the west in Colorado!
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The Jordan Motor car company produced an iconic advertisement with one of their cars being driven "Somewhere west of Laramie. The prose is beautiful and I think of it every time I hit Big ,Wonderful Wyoming and on up into the Big Sky Country and then over Lolo Pass and Down the Lochsa. 48 years this June since I headed to Idaho from Iowa on the Honda Superhawk.
Dave
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11-03-2016, 11:29 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Fremont, California
Trailer: 2016 21. '15 Ford Explorer V-6
Posts: 1,554
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Quote:
Originally Posted by titanizer
Hey Steve,
That 21 looks great behind that Explorer!!!!
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Thanks titanizer, It towed great over the Sierras and the Rockies too (those Rockies are a long pull). 15.3 mpg to the east coast and 14.7 to the west coast.
__________________
Steve and Debbie
2016 - 21'
“Get out the map and lay your finger anywhere down” -Indigo Girls
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11-03-2016, 11:43 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Benton County, Iowa
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic Number 6, pulled by 2018 Toyota Highlander
Posts: 8,217
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg A
I'm in the South West, does that count. Lots of horse thieves, Indians, cowboys and cactus.
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And a few bad hombres !
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11-03-2016, 12:01 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SLO County, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21C 2019 Expedition
Posts: 5,207
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I get it Dave - a political joke. Verrrrry funny
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11-03-2016, 01:39 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia
Trailer: 2013 19ft Escape "Eggy Sue"
Posts: 188
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Hi Iowa Dave, Your mention of Lochsa reminded me that 50 years ago we would drive from Missoula (U. of M.) up to Lochsa Lodge because the drinking age was 20 in Idaho. Seven packed into a 52 Studebaker Commander. Nuff said. Cheers, Peter
__________________
Peter H.
"Eggy Sue"
2013 19ft Escape
2002 Toyota Tundra 4X4
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11-03-2016, 02:41 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2015 Escape 17A
Posts: 2,344
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Greggo
I've never understood exactly what "out west" meant. I'd have to drive east 3 long days to get to the west in Colorado!
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And your closest approach to the Pacific Ocean is to drive due South!
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