I'm going Volvoing, first stop Arkansas

Post by **June** » 23 Jul 2018, 18:00

I have just loaded the car with luggage and dog provisions and am on a adventure! My first stop is Little Rock, then Oklahoma. Just saw Matthews post about the heatwave in Colorado, so maybe north from Oklahoma. Was thinking about Colorado as I loved Rocky mountain National park and the park with the Indian cliff dwellings. I took all 3 tours back in 09. Maybe Mt Rushmore? I have a couple of weeks to explore, so I I'll just see where my S80 takes me! I'll add photos along the way. June

Post by **June** » 24 Jul 2018, 01:50

Alabama was disturbing! I have not taken a trip in a long time. So much is closed down. The first exit I stopped at was too scary to get out and pump gas. A guy was just lying there sleeping! The second exit I tried I begrudgingly put truck stop gasoline in my car, and even then someone wanted me to buy gas for them. I must really live sheltered from the obvious hard times out here.

Anyway I am in Mississippi now and the 4 lane that was smooth as glass last I drove it is a washboard! The picture of the tunnel is I10 at Mobile Alabama, the Mississippi boarder is the others.

Post by **June** » 24 Jul 2018, 05:42

Louisiana at last! Went over the Mississippi River and now in the delta landscape. It is so different than Florida. June

Post by **June** » 24 Jul 2018, 06:11

Drove through Transylvania

Post by **June** » 24 Jul 2018, 07:06

That huge gapping hole in the building used to be a German bakery that was to die for in Lake Village, Louisiana. Now in Arkansas and things as well as the road are better. June

Post by **mrbrian200** » 24 Jul 2018, 11:46

If you come in from the south into Colorado, here's a short list of things to do which I highly recommend if you haven't done any of these before. There are a couple good ones in and around Colorado Springs (1,2) a lot of people miss as they're fast-tracking it to RMNP.

1. Pikes Peak. COG railway up to pikes peak is closed for extensive maintenance TFN

The windy road up the side of the mountain to the observation/gift shop area is worth getting in that view though. Rockies to the west with a ~100 mile view of the high plains to the east makes the the peak 'seem' like the tallest from an observation standpoint. Pikes peak, I think, may be the only super tall summit, within 100feet in elevation of Mount Ebert (the tallest in the range), that is accessible without dawning mountain climbing gear that I'm aware. Note, afternoon clouds form around the peak and obscure the view in the afternoon/early evening. Go early to mid morning when it's usually clear. And its cold up there take a jacket or you'll freeze your butt off.
Pikes Peak Visitors Information

2. If you're into 'old techie aerospace stuff' the Peterson Air and Space Museum is a must. Dedicated mostly to 'cold war tech', very unique. ...a transplanted Titan missile control room (you know, like in the movies with the two key slots to launch), a cold war era AWACS radar plane you can go in. Special note #1 on this one: It's ON Peterson AFB grounds. You have to call ahead no less than 2 days, give them your (and anyone with you) ID information over the phone so that they can run a basic background check before granting you security clearance to get past the base security gate. If you try to show up unannounced, you won't get in.
Special note #2: When you walk into the museum welcome building, you will be approached by a volunteer who will ask you "Would you like the free tour?". SAY YES. All the cool stuff is behind locked doors and they don't let people wander in/around unattended. Only a tour guide will get you into those areas/buildings. Most of the volunteers are old retired pilots- super nice old guys that love to chit chat the entire time and just love Q&A.
Peterson Air and Space Museum site

3. Durango to Silverton train and BAR D Chuckwagon supper club. Make 2 days of this. Book an overnight room at Sky Ute Casino resort. Arrive in the mid-afternoon and check into your room. Then head out to the supper club (reservations required). It's cheesy cowboy themed music/comedy show with dinner. It's a hoot. The steak is good, order it on your reservation! Trust me. After the show go back and play slots at the casino until you're ready for bed. But don't stay up too late.. at the crack of dawn head down into Durango and hop on the Durango-Silverton steam train. Ridiculously scenic, and because you're not driving you can just relax and take it in. Silverton is a special little mining town in a mountain valley. Special note on this one: when booking the train tickets there's an option to 'train up, bus down'. That's what you want. The train ride back down is an hour and a half of 'been there, done that, I just want to get back down to Durango'. Trust me again...I've been there and done that. Take the bus back down.
BAR D Chuckwagon supper club
Sky Ute Casino-Hotel
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum

4. Royal Gorge Bridge park. This is an afternoon excursion not far from Colorado Springs. Tram across (or bungee!!!) and walk back across the bridge. There's also a boat tour down in the gorge river but we didn't do that (I wanted to). The cheesy little magic show in the theater makes the whole thing worth it. Get your popcorn!
Royal Gorge Bridge Park

5. In Denver, take the tour of the State Capital Building. Colorado's state history and founding is unique. The history lesson attached to the tour makes it much more interesting than than a typical 'capital tour' outside of DC. The structure itself is jaw dropping beautiful: Colorado Rose Onyx...Yule Marble.
Colorado State Capitol Building-tour

As you might tell, I'm a fan of the area. Maybe even someday I'll be a resident. Never been anywhere else that tugged at me like that. Every time I just want to stay and call it home.

Post by **June** » 24 Jul 2018, 18:55

Well decided to bump over to Oklahoma for some fun! The S80 is purring, I am having so much fun! This is my first time in my life going on vacation by myself (exceptdog), no kids, no family. Wow what fun

June

Post by **June** » 24 Jul 2018, 19:03

This is the Hard Rock Choctaw Casino BTW. I'm having a blast! June

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 24 Jul 2018, 19:19

If you decide to keep heading west into New Mexico, Acoma Pueblo Sky City, I40 X102. Oldest continuously occupied city in the US .. 2000+ years. There is a Truck stop, Casino and Hotel at the exit. Sky City is 15 miles from the exit.

Post by **mrbrian200** » 24 Jul 2018, 22:42

Slots are my favorite. My OCDness still likes to pull the handle. Pushing the button just doesn't do. And I need something to grab on to while I watch my money disappear into the sunset.

We've got a larger gaming floor (130,000 square feet) not far from me in New Buffalo Michigan. Until recently it was the largest in the 'middle US'. ~3000 slots, card games, etc. It's in southern Michigan just a couple miles from the Indiana border about 70 miles east of Chicago.