Wisconsin Tacomas and bad financial advice

All 4 hours of it!

 

That's what I did last summer what I drove the family down to TN. Based on my 3 previous trips to ATL I thought Indiana was a terribly boring state to drive though. When I planned a route with Gaia instead of Google Maps I found scenic roads and we discovered that southern Indiana is really pretty beautiful.

Atlanta... 9 lanes across and a parking lot for like 5 hours a day. Oh, and apparently nobody needs more than 3/4 of a mile to get over 5 lanes for your exit, only to discover the exit was on the left! It's been a while since I've been that way, but I understand the anxiety involved.

 

Screenshotted this for posterity. I’m sure it will age well.

Are making jokes with the R word bannable offenses nowadays? Because if not, I think I’m obligated to make the joke that Pat is R’d enough already without an extra 3 degrees. Ooooooooooooo…

All in jest, the setup was just sitting right there in the open. It’s like red meat for a starving carnivorous predator.

Due to my proximity to Chi-town I drive through a fair bit. Doesn’t even bother me, actually pretty familiar since I work in the north burbs. Atlanta on the other hand can keep its gahdamn Coca Cola and 10 lane highways designed by a child on an acid trip. No thank you.

 

I use to joke that way about Chicago.
When asked how long it takes to get there, I'd always say 6 hrs to Chicago and another 3 hrs to get to where you need to go in Chicago.

 

I was able to put them on without jacking up the truck or taking the tire off.
Removing the tire would've helped me get the old one off by being able to get more than 1/8 turn @ a time. At 3 1/8" dia. my biggest pipe wrench barely got around it...(On a 2016 they don't just unscrew by hand like the video I watched). lol

 

Completely agree, make the journey part of the vacation rather than something to get through before starting your vacation.

 

Good tip, thanks.

 

I'm not worried about being lost in Chicago. I'm worried about getting shot in Chicago.

 

I went down there with a friend of mine and stayed at his mother's house. S. LaSalle, if you're familiar.
They all almost shite themselves when they found out I walked to get smokes in the morning by myself....I was the only light skinned person for miles.

 

Wisconsin Group:

I know I only asked yesterday, but... I need people to talk to me about participating in the Arkansas Trip. I have @Stoney Ranger and @rubbersidedown saying they are in. @CygnusX191 has committed to meeting us in MO for the first day or so. @Snowy was a maybe??? The meet up spot is near Springfield MO at an offroad park called SMORR (Home Page - SMORR) on Friday 3/22. My current plan is to play there Saturday (3/23) and start the trip Sunday with some fun FS roads down through southern MO into the Ozarks (Look at YouTube for FS (fs 509, 507, 604 etc.) roads near the Glade Top Scenic Road...) From there I have not done the planning yet but I have some fun ideas.

I am trying to keep this "local." Anyone is welcome, but I am trying to keep it as "local" as possible (to this group of hooligans) because I don't want the stress of planning for others. We kinda know each other and know what we are getting (so to speak.) If you are on the fence... this will have something for everyone and every ability. Always safe (I am very different than the nut you see at Tigerton on a overland trip like this-trust me.) Moab scared me pretty good last year with my breakage... I don't think a stock truck will be a problem once we get down there, but I will predicate it with tow points and recovery are a MUST. There will be water crossings. It's what they do down there. I did some big ones last time and kinda scared myself, so I am not looking for that level of adventure. I want rock. Mud if I have to... The ones (water crossings) I am thinking of at this point 31's should be fine (but as you know-35's make everything better!) but that depends on rainfall. Also, it is remote!!!

When I originally proposed this I had way north of eight people chiming in, but if its two that is fine. Let me know who is in and what level of difficulty you are wanting (scenic dirt road wandering, narrow scratchy dirt road wandering, holy sheet how did we get here wandering, nope e nope e hell no nope!!!) so I can get the planning going with our Arkansas brethren.

 

Maybe I’m just used to city living but I’ve never felt unsafe in most of Chicago. South Side you don’t play with but other areas are the same as any other big city. Mind your P’s and Q’s with a little awareness of your surroundings (aka don’t act like a mark) and there’s no problem. Not for everyone though, I get it. Most people are just visiting the north loop or wrigley and those are plenty safe.

I also feel qualified to say that having a big fat ass helps in cases like this. Huh? Well, the tastiest dive burger/mexican/bbq/greasy spoon are not usually in the best spots. But if you are hungry enough, you’ll ignore those concerns because the reward of tasty food is worth it. Facts lol. Act like you belong and secure the tacos.

 

Yeah, while some areas of Chicago are fairly safe, it’s unlike Wisconsin. You have to have a very high level of situational awareness. My dad lived there during the 80s and I’ve been the neighborhood bars with him and his friends where we decided to leave in the middle of a game of pool because his friend noticed the other guys were carrying, and things had a rather spicy undercurrent. Things have only gotten worse.
The last time I was on Michigan Avenue, it looked a bit like Mogadishu.

 

I never feel safe in any big city. I also avoid downtown Milwaukee like the plague.

I would like to go to the Shedd Aquarium sometime. I'd most likely go early and make sure I'm out of there before dark.

 

Can't live in fear.
While traveling alone in Frankfurt am Main a gypsy tried to mug me with a busted off beer bottle.
All he got was a busted lip.
I got 4 stitches and a tetanus shot for 80 euro.

My buddy was going to make me a shirt...
"I went to Germany and all I got was this crappy scar!"

 

Also wandered the hills of Miharu Fukushima ken on foot in a drunken stupor for several hours, lost. Until a kid stopped and gave me a lift.

 

There's a big difference between living in fear and taking reasonable precautions to be safe.

 

There is a comprehensive map online showing highly detailed statistics and information about crime and safety in Chicago.
It clearly highlights the areas that are relatively safe and those that you wouold be wise to avoid. Due to the nature of crime in Chicago, it is updated daily.

https://heyjackass.com

 

Well, Japan is probably one of the safest places on the entire planet, so not much to worry about there

 

That's why I avoid places that I don't feel safe. I'm not worried about a bum with a broken bottle. I'm worried about car-jackers and robbers with guns and knives.

 

When I took the CC class, they spent about 5 minutes on firearms and the other couple hours on how to avoid situations where you might actually need self defense. It was quite interesting and educational.