Are we there yet?

I'm excited for you, Randy! Godspeed and safe journey, bud!

Day 1
Blueridge Skyline, Natural Bridge and Virginia Tech - then Johnson City, TN

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=V...ia=1,2,4,6&z=7

Left Northern VA this morning - it was overcast and 35... roads were wet, but not icy.

Typical traffic on the big roads 28 and 66 until I got off onto 29 - then a very nice po-po filled shot across 211.

the mountains were spectacular - got a good video of the winter wonderland at the higher elevations. :driving:

Then briefly down 81 - until i could peel off and enjoy more mountain roads. found a couple of really nice ones before stopping at Natural Bridge. took the walking tour there to stretch the legs - and got some fun photos.

Next a quick leg over to Virginia Tech to visit my favorite two students there and take them to lunch.

after that, an easy ride (but a bit boring) down 81 to Johnson City TN.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&theater

Dont get lost duude!

Enjoy and have a safe trip

211 in the snow - day 1

check out about half way through how the trees turn all white.

We'll see Randy in a month or two.

Day 2
Johnson City TN to the Big Easy

Got up early to a brisk 19 degrees in Johnson City. The forecast was for more precipitation in the area.

Originally I had planned on running the Dragon and Cherahola Skyway - but the icy roads in the foothills made me reconsider.

Instead of the fun mountains - i pressed on passed University of Tennessee, University of Alabama, Southern Miss, and all the way down into New Orleans.

I spent the night near the French Quarter, walked on Bourbon Street - had some delicious Cajun Jambalaya.

Now i'm planning on the mountain roads on the way back...

Speeder story - Day 2.
I was making superb time - if you know what i mean.

at one point, i had pulled into a gas station to fill up - and then had to merge back up on the highway... you all know how easy it is to be up to speed by the top of the on ramp... well i was already at 75 at the top (limit 70)

I normally would have pulled harder and gotten into the left lane(s) but in this case there was a state trooper glancing over at me as i merged. - i took it easy.

For about 10 miles that trooper was pacing traffic - pulling to about 1/2 mile ahead of me - lost in the traffic ahead.

I knew he was still there because every mile or so i would get a burst of Ka band radar - he was butt spraying the crowd...

i kept it at the limit the whole time.

Soon enough this bozo zips up in the fast lane... and i see him coming and know what going to happen - so I flip on my camera...

space reserved for the videos :)

I've got the ways and means, to New Orleans, I'm going down by the river where it's warm and green...

Day 3
New Orleans - Johnson Space Center - San Antonio

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=N...t=h&mra=ls&z=7

The day started with a bummer - and I can hear you guys telling me what an idiot i was - but i left the car with a valet in the French Quarter - no other viable options...

I had 3 bottles of wine in the trunk - took everything else out - when i went ot put my bags back in - one of the bottles had been smashed... wine spilled all over the place - broken glass. I know the douche valet zipped it around... pissed me off.

anyhow - cleaned that up and got out of N.O for a long straight ride on the 10.

from the beginning i was pacing a big white truck and a dude in a super mini pickup - they were hauling a$$. triple digits sometimes. for like 2 hours.

eventually the big truck takes an exit, and the little guy disappears in the traffic ahead. i lost him for about 20 minutes.

then later - (i was cruising at a steady 85) i made my way back up to him. I ended up passing him - almost - in the left lane. he notices me and guns it up to probably mid 90s to cut me off. - i chuckled and said 'whatever dude' as he pulled in front of me from the left

just then two cops - on foot - rush out from under the overpass ahead pointing wildly at this guy to pull over. they lasered him - and he was directly blocking me at the time based on his dumb *** maneuver.

anyhow - I got to Houston in record time :) and had a great tour of the NASA facility there

then snuck out of Houston at rush hour (sucked) and made it over to San Antonio for the night - this hotel has better internet so i can catch up on posts. - hopefuly vids will be downloaded soon.

Randy so what happened duuude? did you get the ticket or what?

oh - forgot to mention - hotel room number day 1 : 370

Also temp outside right now: 75 - hooray for the southern route - top down tomorrow when i ride the twisted sisters

I guess your post answered my question..

D - he got the ticket for me :)

Nice :tup:

Thats pretty cool right there. Hey Randy, how are you liking them gas prices??:bowrofl::bowrofl::bowrofl:

I have been enjoying your posts Randy. looking forward to the rest of your journey.

after I'm done, I'll remember everything but the gas prices :)

You'll remember everything, but your wallet will definitely feel the pinch, and the pain at the pump...:bowrofl::bowrofl::bowrofl: trollololollol:stirthepot:

Nah Randy drives like a baws, gas prices don't bother him one bit.

Im starting to think you are 100% right, especially with him driving over every road in America..:icon17:

He designes 100 mile "cruises" - I think Randy gives 0 f-cks about gas prices.

He may actually give negative fvcks

Some say...

Yup, its safe to safe to say he gives a shiiiiiit about gas prices.. haha..

Day 4
Remember the Alamo, the Twisted Sisters - deep in the heart of Texas

Today started as a work day - hooray for telecommuting!

the weather was a gorgeous sunny 65 degrees - i made it south of winter storm Q...

I made my way to the Alamo at lunch time - it is a shrine to the heros of Texan independence - you don't mess with the Texans when it comes to the Alamo. No photos allowed inside the sanctuary, nor any hats. I got some photos of the outsides though...

From there, I left San Antonio and made my way to the hill country about an hour west. This is the famous Twisted Sisters...

i know some of you may not believe - but this set of roads rivals the Dragon... the scenery is great - although all rocky scrub and hills instead of Smokey Mountain forest, but awesome none the less. I got a ton of good video.

There were also some very remote - very long - very straight roads.. i set a land speed record i think.

since there is no civilization (literally) for a few more hours to the west - i decided to stop a little early in a place called Junction TX. nothing to do here - but they have a gas station, and a Best Western - so good to go.

wheres the pics and video at dude? come on man...

:worthless:

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=I...=1,2,3&t=m&z=9

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...62493605_n.jpg

Gas prices check on me before my trips...

:bowrofl: :bowrofl: :bowrofl:

:bowrofl::bowrofl::bowrofl::bowrofl:

Dude, keep all your reciepts, when we tally them all up, its going to warrant a very very nice :facepalm:

Day 5
Fort Stockton and the Carlsbad Caverns

The day started with some drizzle in good ol' Junction TX - that lasted about 2 hours as I made my high speed run westward through the barren wasteland of Western Texas.

the posted limit is 80 on that stretch - many people still do only about 70 - hard to understand :) I did not spare the gas pedal. Very light traffic - painfully straight and flat road - about 100 miles in between any manmade object like a building... at least the scenery was nice when the clouds finally broke.

I made it to a real old west town called Fort Stockton - they have a bunch of wild west history that I learned at their little museum.

From there - I shot north on another very long very straight very flat road - making excellent time.

On a whim I pulled off the road for about a half hour detour over to Carlsbad Caverns national park - wow glad I did.

I'll post video of the park entrance road - a 7 mile twisty canyon road with awesome views... also some amazing interiors in the caverns themselves... totally worth it.

Nice canyon run into the caverns

Oh sh-t. That just happened.

Sent from my Galaxy S3

It looks more like you're taking a trip across 'murica and not America.