The 5,000 mile, 15 state, family field trip

For my neighbors and fans of the show Fargo”

 

No trip to the Olympic Peninsula or Rainier while you were in WA. State? Those pics of the PNW make me want to move back, especially this time of year, the summers there are awesome.

 

Just not enough time . We needed a month to hit everything. 18 days on the road has been a major bill in itself. Hotels and restaurants are a killer. Did I mention gas prices? Lol. Missle silo in South Dakota , the Oregon coast, sequoia national park, and Redwood forest in California, the Arches in Utah, Moab, and the Grand Canyon. Definitely more trips for the next several years west and southwest.

 

It cost some coin when your covering that much territory.

 

Here’s the map Wisconsin, illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, Minnesota, and finish back in Wisconsin.

 

Ha! “Some coin “?? Avg hotel out west was $255 per night. Avg National Park $33(it is a great deal), avg spent at National Park gift shop $111 (each park shop), (daughter has a snow globe collection and my wife collection is ornaments for the Christmas tree and magnets for the fridge.) avg meal including tip $67(3 people), avg tank of gas $76.33.. I did not track the total coffee intake but west of Nevada on the south no Dunkin’ Donuts,and north end Montana west no Dunkin’. Oh beer costs $7 per beer and had several in each state. “ Several “ is a conservative estimate! lol!!!

This doesn’t include staying in Reno for 1 week (mother in laws house)
Yes saved on hotel but I gambled 4-6 hrs per day (free booze while gambling) tipped waitress and waiters well over $100.00 ($1.00 tip per drink). Again $100 is conservative I had a designated driver so I drank a TON!

 

If it wasn't for the military paying for me to travel I probably would have never gotten out there because of the cost in gas, lodging, etc.

 

UTAH! Hope you enjoyed our great state!

 

Yes I did buddy!

Bonneville! I’ve been driving past the salt flats every year. Always raining!
It’s underwater every time I passed it. Not this year.
And the 1st Rest area in Utah from Wyoming, Bring cheerios. The little prairiedogs will jump in the air for 1

 

5081.6 miles . It’s great to be home.?
Now time to debug the hood , grill, and windshield . A complete wash, wax , interior clean and armor all.

Oh, and drink my souvenirs I brought home!

 

Very cool. Quite the trip! What was your favorite spot and favorite thing you saw?

 

The bucket list moment was driving the salt flats and speeding down Bonneville. I must do again minus the wife so I can really see top speed. 103mph and my wife said “ok slow down “!!! Just not the 150mph I was wanting to get. My daughter loved doing donuts on the flats while my wife video recorded us in the distance.

Wyoming...Yellowstone is fantastic it’s a cant miss. Second time there and could spend 4-5 days just staring at Geysers.

Oregon was amazing. Crater National Park is something you can’t describe. The blue is so rich and deep. A 2,000 ft deep volcano lake will make it blue.

Seattle was on my list. My wife saw whales , I got to go to safeco and we saw the iconic space needle!

Iowa worlds largest truck stop is always entertaining with everyone from millionaires to average families all eating at the same fast food corral. (Wendy’s/Taco Bell/Pizza Hut/Dairy Queen)

Reno/Carson city/ Lake Tahoe.. did I mention free alcohol while gambling. Plus free hotel stay (mom-in-laws House)

Getting a plate frame from Tacoma Toyota while driving my Toyota Tacoma in Tacoma,Washington...special! Lol cue my wife’s eye rolling ... she wasn’t as excited as me! lol !

North Dakota..Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The north Badlands. Also it was our 3rd national park we hit on the trip (should of bought the yearly national park pass it’s $80 unlimited)

All of it was great but nothing beats opening the door of my house and my Dog excited beyond belief. It’s great to vacation but it’s the best getting a few days at home to relax before the vacation ends.

I guess the 5,000 miles in my Tacoma again. It’s the second trip out west in my ‘17. I also made 1 trip west in my 2015 Tacoma prerunner.