#USAONDIRT a 5,000 Mile OffRoad Adventure Across America

SirWilliamGoes

Adventurer
Some may remember last year I took a trip on the Trans America Trail, which is a 5,000 mile trail from Andrews NC to Port Orford OR that is made up of forest service roads, Jeep trails, and looging roads. The trail is roughly 80% OffRoad the whole time. Last year I was rerouted allot due to snow so I was unable to do all of the trail. This year I will be doing another trip where I'll take the TAT to the west coast then down the PCH to LA go to Mojave Rd get on rte66 and then come home. I will be taking my better half of 14yrs with me this time and we are totally stoked about the whole trip. I will have nightly updates on here and you are welcome to follow along with the following

YouTube - Search #USAONDIRT I will be trying to get a video a week uploaded
Facebook.com/USAONDIRT
Instagram @USAONDIRT

This will be an awesome trip and with Kristi coming with me it should be very entertaining to say the least. Stay tuned and hope y'all enjoy!!

**Warning, Kristi and I are complete novices and you will probably see us doing lots the hard way or wrong way, It's ok!!!**

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SirWilliamGoes

Adventurer
After an anxious last week getting everything ready for our trip we finally left this morning at around 530. We arrived in Andrews at about 930 stopped at the Ingles to get groceries to fill up the fridge and pantry box. Kristis creamer literally takes up half the fridge however my beer takes up the other half so I suppose it's ok!! We had a great drive today the trail is pretty covered up with tree limbs and leaves and such from the remnants of hurricane Harvey it was also raining and windy most the day. We drove 160 miles on the TAT today and found a nice camp in a place called Turkeypen Cove near the Tenn / GA border. We were able to get camp set up without too much incident other than the tent is tied off in the most awkward of ways buy hey it will work!! Here are some pics from today's travels.

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SirWilliamGoes

Adventurer
We drove 226 miles today mostly through the northern part of GA near the Tenn mountains. I had no idea that GA had mountains like this. As pretty as the scenery is, it still amazes me that Kristi and I both feel almost bored with the same ol thing!! We are both very anxious to get out west and the monotony of switch back after switch back is luckily broken up by brief yet undescribably breath taking views. We did allot of pavement driving today which normally I would frown upon but to be honest, I was kinda glad to be going more than 30mph!! We found a Dollar General, or as Kristi and I call it a Dollar Geng-ral, and we were able to pick up some towels so that we could shower when given the chance. Mine is energy efficient,says so right on the tag!! We tried to stop at Cloudland Canyon State Park to camp but the sites were all full and to stay we had to check in with the office which was closed. Its ok though because we found R Haven Overnite Family Park which is a cool little spot for only $5 perperson and has shower laundry fire wood and a bathroom to replace the digging of holes!!! Tomorrow we hope to gain some ground by leaving early and not stopping for lunch for as long. Though their are no promises because if we come across another pretty area like the one we ate at today we very well may stop and soak it in, as we did by a beautiful river that cuts it's way through the valley. I think that once we make it past this little bit of mountains we have left we will gain some time pretty quickly. Here are some pics from today's travels, peace.

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SirWilliamGoes

Adventurer
Day three we woke up to a little bit of rain or condensation dripping from the trees we were under. This normally is no big deal, unless you don't put the rain fly on because there's only a 10% chance of rain. Ironically, the night before was 80% so we put it on and there was nothing, that's how it works tho right!!! We made up a tremendous amount of time today, since I woke up to being dripped on at 530am I was able to get up shower and start breakfast early. Against my better judgement I also woke Kristi up, luckily I survived what could have turned to be a deadly ordeal!!!! She understood that we needed to leave early anyways and ultimately completely appreciated that we did. We drove mostly on pavement today which was ok because we are ready for some new scenery. I quickly found out that the possibility of making camp at Lake Waterloo AL was possible and that became the goal for today. I called for our campsite to be open in the universe and let everyone know that it would be. Leaving Tenn off of hwy 13 I let Kristi know that this was the spot that I had received a punctured tire the year before. While driving down the same road we hit a limb that immediately made every light in the dash come on, I was at certain that I had hit a speed sensor and upon inspection, atop a sketchy Rock ramp I had built on the side of the road that horrified Kristi, I found that I was right. The limb broke the housing that the speed sensor is in and needs to be replaced. The only problem is that it's labor day and the dealers parts dept are usually closed. One of the reasons that I have chose this particular 4runner is because of the fact that it does not have electric 4wd but an actual lever instead. This means that I am still able to put it in 4wd. Not letting that deture our spirits we trucked on to Waterloo and pulled up to find the campsite that Kristi hasn't stopped talking about the entire time wide open and ready for us as I had called it into existence. We had an amazing dinner with phenomenal scenery and after a long day of driving, 12hrs to be exact, we are ready for bed. Our entertainment includes fireworks over the mountainous lake. Till next time, peace. Here are some pics.
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skibawells

New member
Love the pictures and the adventure! Safe travels. Mind if I ask what tools you brought along with and or wish you did bring along? I'm trying to get a little tool box put together to keep with me.

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rockland213

Member
Sweet.... I have been working in Tallapoosa GA and staying Oxford Al , I have been taking the dirt roads home after work on my KTM 1190 it is beautiful around there. (And lots of dirt) Looking forward to the updates.
 

Scoutn79

Adventurer
Subscribed. Can't wait to read about the rest of the adventure. One thing I have learned as I have gotten older, and as the old saying goes, it isn't the destination it's the journey. I try to just meander along and take it all in, stop and check out the scenery if the mood strikes me. I may drive 12 hrs before I find a camp or, as has happened before, I may drive 2 hours and set up my next camp before noon if I find an exquisite spot.
Enjoy the trip and be safe...

Darrell
 

SirWilliamGoes

Adventurer
Love the pictures and the adventure! Safe travels. Mind if I ask what tools you brought along with and or wish you did bring along? I'm trying to get a little tool box put together to keep with me.

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Just a standard socket set. I would add wrenches and by God put them in a bag!!! The rattles will drive you insane!!!

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SirWilliamGoes

Adventurer
Subscribed. Can't wait to read about the rest of the adventure. One thing I have learned as I have gotten older, and as the old saying goes, it isn't the destination it's the journey. I try to just meander along and take it all in, stop and check out the scenery if the mood strikes me. I may drive 12 hrs before I find a camp or, as has happened before, I may drive 2 hours and set up my next camp before noon if I find an exquisite spot.
Enjoy the trip and be safe...

Darrell
That's what I'm still learning to do. We will do that more out west as the southeast scenery seems to be about what we are used to. BTW, I was just telling Kristi today how much I would love to get an old Scout and fix it up.

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SirWilliamGoes

Adventurer
Day 4. We woke up to our top notch campsite and awesome view of Lake Waterloo and the mountains that surround it. We did gain some good ground today and the roads consisted of mostly dirt gravel and clay mixed with varied parts of asphalt. You really had to be paying attention because the deep wash outs on the clay and gravel roads come up quick and could easily destroy the front end of the 4runner even going 20-40mph. We stopped at an auto parts store to see how much a wheel speed sensor would be and to my surprise they wanted $200. My mechanic JR taught me long ago to buy anything with a wire from the dealer and that's what my plan is. I was thinking if it was a cheap sensor than I would risk buying two but I was wrong. Thankfully nothing too eventful today just lots of driving. We arrived at George P. Cossar State Park which I had found late night last year and never got to enjoy the true beauty. I'm definitely glad that we were able to come this time. We were meet with stunning views of a lake and more deer than I had ever seen in my life and they are not skittish like normal deer. The campsite we chose gives us an awesome view of the lake and deer and is away from most of the retirees that also know about this jewl of a park. Best of all they have full amenities so we will be taking not 1 but 2 showers while we can!! My goal this trip has been to ensure Kristi Johnson gets to be just as blown away by the beauty of our world as I was my first time. Every time we arrive to a campsite so far and set up camp she stops and looks at me and says "man this is gorgeous, like it's almost worth a trip just to come stay here" I think it's safe to say she's enjoying the views. Well time to go enjoy a warm shower, here are some pics from today's travels.

Peace.

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123mfg

New member
Just read your solo adventure from last year; awesome journey and the TAT is on my list to do when I can. Good luck on your next journey and I'm sure it will be even more fun traveling with the Mrs! That's what I've been talking to my wife about doing;cause life is too short not to explore!

I'm subscribed and look forward to following your adventure--good luck!!
 

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