[knightfan26917]

Last weekend (Labor Day weekend), I cleaned up the '87 MC LS on Saturday ... and then drove the older 4 MCs 120 miles each over the course of Sunday and Monday.

Both Sunday and Monday, I "went exploring". Using my detailed Illinois atlas, I mapped out some routes that I had not taken before. And, you know what...it was like I was on a road trip! Lots of cool roads (with some awesome views) in this area to travel along...and that is just in the area west of Elgin.

Anyone else explored roads in or near your home town area?



Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve&pacemaker
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"Years and miles are flying by" ... Bon Jovi ... 'Lost Highway'

 

[EldoFan]

Re: Exploring area roads....

Now that I've started commuting back/forth to school twice a week, I've always meant to slow down, relax and take Hwy. 6 home........but somehow I always drag my butt onto I-80, convinced if I don't that I'll get caught up in the early throngs of rush hour

 

[smokyn454]

Re: Exploring area roads....

I do it all the time. I like looking for old cars and trucks though. It is amazing some of the old iron that is around some of the small surrounding towns. Yes and the views and scenery are much better. It doesn't matter how many times you see wildlife, it still is exciting.

If we go on an out of town weekend trip, I almost always will take the backroads for half the trip. Freeways just suck. I like taking my time and checking out each little area we come across.

I have found some killer fishing places along with great places to take my dogs.

 

[knightfan26917]

Re: Exploring area roads....

I like looking for old cars and trucks though.

*grins*

Oh my goodness, yes!!! He he ... I sometimes find myself paying a bit too much attention to the side of the road, searching for old cars and trucks...instead of watching the road ahead of me. Luckily, on the backroads, traffic isn't MUCH of an issue .

 

[mgescuro]

Re: Exploring area roads....

It's been a while since I've done something like that.
SOmehow, I just dont seem to have the time to do it anymore. And with gas prices being the way they are....
There are roads just north of the Golden Gate in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area that I haven't drive in years, and would like to re-explore though.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=37.835819,-122.494812&spn=0.079175,0.137672&z=13

 

[MonteCarloSS86]

Re: Exploring area roads....

I did this all the time during the summer. The intricate canal system in my town makes it much more fun, haha. Not many cool roads and whatnot though...

 

[Smaart Aas Saabr]

Re: Exploring area roads....

I did this all the time during the summer. The intricate canal system in my town makes it much more fun, haha.

I'll say

 

[likearock00]

Re: Exploring area roads....

Yeah, I do it sometimes. I like to explore all the old country roads and discover new places. Just this week I found an Amish store and spent $25 on food- half of which I ate before I got back home!!

 

[nailhead425]

Re: Exploring area roads....

26 from Hennepin to Peoria. Driving along and stopping off along the Hennepin canal is still a favorite trip. A summer time bike ride along the banks would be a great week-long trip.
47 runs from Lake Geneva all the way to Champaign. Arrow straight, but still small town America.
Of course 84 through Galena, along the river, is a great trip.
Try heading out of Galena NNE towards Scales Mound, through Apple River, Warren, Waddams Grove, Lena, McConnell, Rock Grove, South Beloit, etc. All back roads, all crazy cool. With AZ plates people were different, but once I started talking they warmed up. (My wife says I have an accent)

I've driven all the backroads in Henry, Mercer, Rock Island, and Whiteside County, IL, as well as all over Eastern Iowa.

I once drove farm and county roads from Independence, IA back to Davenport. It took forever, but it was awesome!

Here in AZ my wife and I run the fire roads and trails. We can drive from our place above the Mogollon rim outside Heber to her Uncle's place down near the Lake Roosevelt without ever going on pavement, or near civilization. Rural life is a blast.

 

[knightfan26917]

Re: Exploring area roads....

It's been a while since I've done something like that.
SOmehow, I just dont seem to have the time to do it anymore. And with gas prices being the way they are....

Yeah, it is sometimes a shocker when I get the CC bill that includes the "gas ups"...he he. But, imho, that price is WELL worth the drives and the scenery .

47 runs from Lake Geneva all the way to Champaign. Arrow straight, but still small town America.

Indeed! I really like traveling RT 47. I usually take it south to RT 24 when heading to Indiana, instead of going through/around Chicago....

Of course 84 through Galena, along the river, is a great trip.
Try heading out of Galena NNE towards Scales Mound, through Apple River, Warren, Waddams Grove, Lena, McConnell, Rock Grove, South Beloit, etc. All back roads, all crazy cool. With AZ plates people were different, but once I started talking they warmed up. (My wife says I have an accent)

He he.

I like the Galena area. My grandparents used to live in Lena (mid-1970s). I still get out that way from time to time. Scenery is gorgeous over that way, especially along RT 20.

I wish I lived rurally....

 

[mgescuro]

Re: Exploring area roads....

Well, I did a nice little drive in the City on Saturday, just for fun.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=e...198360229669231370.0004565ae7356d3203195&z=12

Is that viewable for people?? My first time creating a personalized Google Map.
It was about a 15 miles drive.

if it does work, people should try doing this, so we can see where you all drive for fun!!

 

[vsd]

Re: Exploring area roads....

San Diego has a lot of back country roads and mountain roads. I used to take the occasional Sunday drive, but now it's too expensive. It's just biking the nearby trails now.

 

[CJ Thunder]

Re: Exploring area roads....

San Diego has a lot of back country roads and mountain roads. I used to take the occasional Sunday drive, but now it's too expensive. It's just biking the nearby trails now.

I love doing that SD has so much. Poway, Julian, Solidad, Escondido, Coronado. FUN FUN FUN.

Now my new home town I go up and down the 99 everyday, My girl and I love to find old houses little dinners. See my thread: http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f19/2-week-honeymoon-68935/




Where do you bike?
Black Mountain, Lake Hodges? Lots more I know...

 

[vsd]

Re: Exploring area roads....

Where do you bike.

I live by Los Penasquitos Canyon and Black Mountain. Plenty of good trails.

 

[knightfan26917]

Re: Exploring area roads....

Well, I did a nice little drive in the City on Saturday, just for fun.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=e...198360229669231370.0004565ae7356d3203195&z=12

Is that viewable for people?? My first time creating a personalized Google Map.
It was about a 15 miles drive.

if it does work, people should try doing this, so we can see where you all drive for fun!!

Hmmm...I kinda like that idea, mgescuro! I'll have to take some time sometime to make a few of my own. That is cool.

So...15 miles...how long time wise?

 

[mgescuro]

Re: Exploring area roads....

Hmmm...I kinda like that idea, mgescuro! I'll have to take some time sometime to make a few of my own. That is cool.

So...15 miles...how long time wise?

Including my drive home? Almost 1.75hours.
I hit traffic on the Embarcadero. But it was soooooo beautiful out. I could look out to the left and see the sail boats cruising on by and just enjoy the scenery. It was a perfect drive.

You know? SF is only about 49 sq miles in area. But if you flatten out the City, it's the size of Chicago. It can take a long time navigating the streets. Which can be fun.

I love the idea of this thread. I'm gonna make it a Sticky.

 

[mikmak]

Re: Exploring area roads....

A grand idea indeed. I often get "lost in transit". It's one of my favourite past times

This MAP used to be a great driving circuit but they fixed all the potholes, widened it and made the corners less acute.Basically in the pursuit of safety, they wrecked the stretch from Yandina in the West of the map, to Coolum Beach in the north east. They are still fairly nice stretches of road with plenty of surprises. At one point Mount Ninderry just pops into view and on the right day it just gives you that little bit of warm and fuzzies.

 

[mikmak]

Re: Exploring area roads....

This ROUTE, is the one I took on my wedding day. Diddilibah Rd and Kiel Mountain road make up a great drive and considering I was driving a 6.0 six speed manual SSV Commodore, it took me considerably less than 28 minutes. The route mixes between cane fields and pineapple plantations, with some generous hills and off camber corners.

Note: If you go to 342 Keil Mountain Road in street view there is a white astra and a nice SS Ute

 

[knightfan26917]

Re: Exploring area roads....

Including my drive home? Almost 1.75hours.
I hit traffic on the Embarcadero. But it was soooooo beautiful out. I could look out to the left and see the sail boats cruising on by and just enjoy the scenery. It was a perfect drive.

See...sometimes the scenery can make the long drive seem short.

But...I really do not like driving in the city, so when I get my older 4 MCs out for a drive...I tend to stay west of Elgin...and spend my time on the "country" roads, where I can go a longer distance in a shorter amount of time...usually. Since none of mine are "collector" vehicles, I don't mind adding miles to them...in fact, I prefer to .

You know? SF is only about 49 sq miles in area. But if you flatten out the City, it's the size of Chicago. It can take a long time navigating the streets. Which can be fun.

Wow...that is a fact I did not know. Learn something new every day .

I love the idea of this thread. I'm gonna make it a Sticky.

Holy.............cow! Very cool...thanks .

 

[t-rex]

Re: Exploring area roads....

I don't know if this is the same thing or not but...

My brother, some friends and I used to make "Plight Runs". We'd leave New Orleans and drive to either the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain (the deep South) or head out west into Cajun bayou country.

But it wasn't to look at scenery. We were just amazed at how rural white trash lived. We'd play games, trying to count how many Korean War-era school buses were occupied as dwellings. There was "count the cars up on blocks." Or we'd see how many Cajuns we could spot walking into the grocery store wearing white rubber boots (Grand Isle Reeboks in local parlance). Double points were given if said white boots were worn by a woman...

My favorite game was racking up points by seeing how many people's vehicles were worth more than their dwelling — a common sight being a $50,000 decked out F350 Lariat parked in front of a raggedy mobile home best suited for storing hay. Quadruple points if the bass boat parked under the awning was worth more than the dwelling...

Or we'd count the empty Natty Light cans strewn aside the highway.

Another favorite was "spot a woman wearing something other than a T-shirt"...

Cajun country is the most fun though. However "Counting the statues of the Virgin Mary in the front yard" could only be played if one was particularly quick in keeping score. And you can forget counting the either the "W" stickers affixed to rear windows of pickups or anything resembling LSU paraphernalia. Only a Cray supercomputer can make such rapid calculations...

Okay kidding aside...

In the days before Katrina, I'd hook up our two Honda Aquatrax PWC's to the F150 and we'd trek across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, pass through all the suburban sprawl and just drive and drive and drive along rural country roads, taking in the scenery. We'd do that a couple hours before finding one of our many spots we'd found over the years to launch our waterbikes, usually somewhere along the beautiful Tchefuncte River.

If we didn't tag the twins along, we'd often leave one of the bikes behind and ride in tandem until we'd come across some secluded sand bar or cove, shore up, and unpack my wife's famous English-style picnic hampers, brimming with tasty treats and of course the omnipresent bottle of wine. We'd have a leisurely lunch and often just lay back and take in the scenery, enjoying a most romantic time.

I never replaced our waterbikes, dismissing them as mere fripperies — more material items that were best shorn from our new, minimalist lifestyle. But lately I've been missing the beauty of the North Shore, missing the scenery along the many rivers that drain into Lake Pontchartrain, missing the scenic drives along country roads, missing watching our kids romp and splash along some hidden sandbar, missing those romantic picnic-and-pinot-grigio getaways.

Sigh.