Coast to Coast road trip (warning: NOT BLEAK)

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I'm kinda freaked out by the sudden surge of bleak posts here... all I can say is, chances are the best times are just ahead for you guys, no matter how fucked up they seem now. Trust me.. so much good has come out of my recent bad. I can't be alone.

Anyway, I took a little trip to Snoqualmie Falls just east of Seattle today, and it was just life affirming. Freezing, cloudy, all white, stunning, and beautiful. I guess Seattle must have cast a spell of cloud immunity today, because I got back and it was still crystal clear and freezing. Never have I seen a full moon so clear and bright ever.

The reason I mention all of this is because this little trip has confirmed that I will, indeed, be undertaking a coast-to-coast road trip right around when spring rolls around -- barring any major weather events. I was going to cut across the north edge.. Spokane, C'oeur D'elane, Missoula, Fargo, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Montpelier.. then hitting Boston, Providence, New York, Trenton, Philly, DC,... then west again to Columbus, Omaha, Salt Lake City,.. back up to Portland, and Seattle again. (Yes, I enjoy looking at maps just as much as talking about music.)

Anything along the way I should not miss? Besides getting to hang and live the life with y'all bad mothers...

― Brian MacDonald, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Brian Macs original college road trip!

What crazy adventures lie in wait? Who can tell?

That sounds like a fun idea.

― Ronan, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Everywhere but Detroit, eh? Can't say I blame you...

― Nicole, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

macdonald you mentalist! you'll probably be leaving as soon as i arrive in seattle.

― jess, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

come to calgary or banff and i will show you the pleasures of an albertan spring .

― anthony, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Everywhere but Detroit, eh?

Why Brian, are you not going to visit Nicole? Bad person! *beats Brian down* At the very least meet up with her in Dearborn and go see Windy and Carl at their record store.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Aw, I wasn't fishing. Personally if I had a road trip to take I would probably Motown as well, it's not exactly what I would consider a great site-seeing town, etc.

― Nicole, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Detroit is an amazing sight-seeing town! Great art museum too.

― fritz, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

When it's open.

― Nicole, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Brian in Boston = MADCAP FUN. Dan goes out to a nightclub shocker!

― Dan Perry, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Kathy Ireland better not come along.

― Nicole, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Less Kathy Ireland = less MADCAP FUN.

― Dan Perry, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ned not being in Boston for this grand event = no MADCAP FUN at ALL! I'm seriously tempted just to goddamn well fly out to Boston just for that!

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

GGAAH! I accidentally left Detroit out! It was on my list, and I left it off when I transcribed it... Of COURSE I want to visit you, Nicole.

― Brian MacDonald, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

As much as possible, I'd be trying to save lodging expenses.. i.e. crash at the houses of good souls along the way... which is why I'm going to study my atlas and figure out good sane and logical stops to make along the way.... More on that later.

Goldammich, Jess! Didn't we miss each other the last time we both undertook major travel? I swear, I'm not a scary person. No need to run away from me. This is, like, SO RIDICK!

You'll miss out on the MADCAP FUN! (But I did dump Kathy)

― Brian MacDonald, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Let me say -- I've known Brian for ten years now, and he's one of the best people I've ever, *ever* known. So everyone should volunteer to put him up for an evening, you'll not find a better house guest and new friend to make. :-)

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You boys best keep me abreast of any Boston shenanigans, so's I can crash the party and spoil everyone's good time, you betcha.

― David Raposa, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

WHY DO YOU INSULT THE SOUTH LIKE THIS ?

― ethan, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Because I, uh, live in the north... and keeping my road trip in the north would save me time and mileage.

I definitely want to do a southern road trip in the future -- preferably in the winter/fall, when the weather tends to be really clear, cold, and bee-yootiful, but I figure this is enough of a plan to handle at this point.

I heart you, ethan. Lover.

― Brian MacDonald, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Whatever you do, don't miss the Crazy Horse memorial in South Dakota (right near Mt. Rushmore, which pales in comparison). I didn't even know it existed until my own coast-to-coast trip. (Lisa's photos of said trip are visible here.)

― Douglas, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oops. Here.

― Douglas, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

ah, but brian...i will not be just visiting. i will be there to STAY. (hurrah.)

― jess, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You are moving to Seattle, Jess? Lucky bastard.

― Mark, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Like ethan said: explain how this trip is not bleak. Salt Lake City? Trenton? Columbus is good though. That's a crazy town.

― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

When's the big day, Jess? Cuz, as much as possible, I'll try to at least be here to greet you when you come, before I take off.

― Brian MacDonald, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

there's lots of nice stuff in trenton. like, uh, a train station.

i'm moving to olympia akshually. indie-rock ground zero; oy.

― jess, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

brian: i don't know the exact day yet. i'm planning on leaving the weekend of the 16th?...which should be me there by the 20th. i definitely dont wanna be on the road on my b-day. i'm sure nancy will post updates on my own wacky roadtrip as relayed by phone.

― jess, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

This whole thing is still up in the air, though. But whereas it was just a fantasy a few weeks ago, now it's something I seriously want to do. If I end up getting a job offer I *REALLY* like before then, then I might have to postpone it.

And I might plan to kick it off as soon as late February, if the north edge is due for another mild winter like last year's.

Jess: would that be March 16th thru 20th you're talking about? Or Feb? Or April?

― Brian MacDonald, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

whoops...feb. thunderbirds are go go go! (in a few weeks.)

― jess, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I've done Seattle to Michigan a few different times -- twice by train, once driving. It'd be nice if you could drive through Glacier Park, Montana (which is among the most beautiful places I've seen), but I bet they close the road in the winter. If you're to be driving due East from Seattle, you should probably have some chains for your tires.

― Mark, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ah, so you leave the East Coast right when I visit, Jess. FINE FINE.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

ah, shit. knew i forgot something. when is this mythical second 2002 ilx meetup?

― jess, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

yeah, like i said!

― ethan, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Well a southern route wouldn't be bleak at all... unless it's MEMPHIS BLEEK.

― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

when is this mythical second 2002 ilx meetup?

That very weekend of the 16th, you heartless punk.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Jess: Woohoo! I've already ordered the custom made "JESS IS HERE AND NOW IT IS TIME HE GETS FUCKED UP RRRRRRRLLL GUUUUUUD" ticker tape for your arrival party.

Mark: Yup, got the chains when I got the car. But I haven't practiced putting them on, though. Thanks for the reminder, heh.

Tracer: Hey now... the southern route will come in the future. I don't hate the south. Put down yer goldarn guns. In fact, one of my best friends lives in Austin. Who knows.. if the mid-west gets blanketted with bad weather half way through the trip, I might just do the southern thing.

― Brian MacDonald, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF CANADA , FUCKING AMERICANS ALL THEY KNOPW IS VANCOUVER TORONTO AND MONTORLE , THE REST IS A BLUR . FUCK YOU BRIAN FOR IGNORING THE BEST BEST BEST PART OF THE WORLD

― anthony, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Canada is ass, it's full of Canadians.

― Ally, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

BRIAN YOU ARE FUCKING SHIT FOR NOT TAKING A PLANE TO FLY OVER TO REYKJAVIK IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR TRIP TO MAKE BEEYOOTIFUL MOOZIK WEET ME!

― Bjork, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

canada is paradise and western canada is better then most of america . i would sooner live in the bowl of mountain and sky that is vancouver then that silly island you are on !

― anthony, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

How wonderful would that be if that was actually Bjork?

― Dan Perry, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Look, if someone is willing to help take up a fund for me to tour the world for a year, I will not complain...

― Brian MacDonald, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

go north from montanna to banff , you know you want to .

― anthony, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

ned, i will drive up through nyc on my way to seattle, and we will have a DISCO DANCE PARTY in the u-haul. see? peasy.

― jess, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

It is good.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

sorry i'm still laughing at that bjork thing.

― ethan, Tuesday, 29 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

eleven years pass...

Here is the 10-ish day trip I am about to take, Los Angeles to Boston, stopping in Indy to visit family. What can I see on the way? I have been to much of the Southwest before and Memphis too. Should I stay in OKC or Tulsa? What is Amarillo like? What is there to see in the Northern Ohio/Pennsylvania/Mass portion of my trip?

Thanks!

Los Angeles--->Flagstaff--->Santa Fe---->Amarillo?--->OKC/Tulsa---->Memphis--->Indianapolis--->Eerie---->Boston

― J'ackHughes (admrl), Friday, 14 June 2013 22:50 (twelve years ago)

And don't castigate me for not stopping in your home state or town, it's not meant personally, I just have places to get to.

― J'ackHughes (admrl), Friday, 14 June 2013 22:50 (twelve years ago)

There's a cool observatory in Flagstaff, IIRC

― Kiarostami bag (milo z), Saturday, 15 June 2013 00:11 (twelve years ago)

Amarillo - place with the 4.5 pound steak
OKC/Tulsa - just keep driving

― Kiarostami bag (milo z), Saturday, 15 June 2013 00:12 (twelve years ago)

Oh but I need a stop or two between Santa Fe and Memphis! Anywhere else?

― J'ackHughes (admrl), Saturday, 15 June 2013 00:57 (twelve years ago)

Elk City is lovely this time of year and Little Rock is a must, hard to take it all in in one day tho.

― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Saturday, 15 June 2013 01:02 (twelve years ago)

jk it's all shit between those places

― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Saturday, 15 June 2013 01:02 (twelve years ago)

hahaaaa

― J'ackHughes (admrl), Saturday, 15 June 2013 01:11 (twelve years ago)

might do one of these at the weekend

― should we bin tapping? (darraghmac), Saturday, 15 June 2013 02:59 (twelve years ago)

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