a few pics from our recent California --> Nebraska trip

[Stick Figure]

I should probably start by saying I have made the drive from California to Nebraska more times than anyone that isn't hauling cargo for a living should probably ever have to. While this was the first time leaving from San Jose specifically, I wanted to really make this time different, I wanted to enjoy the drive, I wanted to see the things that you always drive by and say that might be cool to stop at sometime, and maybe most of all I didn't want to come back towing a trailer full of car parts or tools! I think they call it a vacation. Anyway here we go:

Day 1/2 pics from Nevada:

If your interested in the full write up of our fun I've got days 1 and 2 done so far

http://mostdesigns.com/?p=602

http://mostdesigns.com/?p=586

 

[GREENI]

Nice, love the abandoned old truck. Thanks for sharing.

 

[scenicgreenrr]

Like the last one with the mine and old train cars. Sounds like a fun trip.

 

[Stick Figure]

Nice, love the abandoned old truck. Thanks for sharing.

I actually turned around to go get the shot of that truck. We were on the way out of town and something about just made me need a picture of it. and yes the g/f thought I was nuts

Like the last one with the mine and old train cars. Sounds like a fun trip.

It had its ups and downs like any trip, but it was fun for sure, and taught me some new lessons and reminded me of some old ones. I also found a lot of places that I would like to get back to, now I just need more vacation time.

a few more from days 3 and 4:

and of course the write ups are updated: Most Designs » Pushing the Limits of Unlimited

 

[Stick Figure]

Here's a couple from while we were in Omaha:

Zoo:

and a couple of my recent addition to the Toyota family

Santa was good to my parents this year:

one with mine

As always there is more here: http://mostdesigns.com/?p=686 and there is quite a bit more from the return trip that I haven't quite gotten written up yet.

 

[washington taco]

I am from Blair now Seattle (for many years) and wouldn't want to make that drive! Good on you and great photos!

 

[Stick Figure]

I am from Blair now Seattle (for many years) and wouldn't want to make that drive! Good on you and great photos!

I have done the drive soo many times this was about the only way I was willing to do it this year. It can actually be fun if you take some time and stop to see things and enjoy it. I'm sure that stands true for almost any road trip though.


a few more pics from day 13 aka day one of the return trip.

full write up is as always at www.mostdesigns.com

 

[ssichler]

Great pics. Nice looking Runner.

 

[Stick Figure]

Great pics. Nice looking Runner.

Looks like your last trip did a bit of a circle around a good portion of ours, I'm saving your blog for a few ideas for the next chance I get to take a trip.

 

[Stick Figure]

Whew .. finally finished up the day 14 write up Most Designs » X-Mas trip 2012 aka the North American Tour — Day 14

and of course a few more pics from it:

 

[h2os2]

Wow. Great looking pictures!

 

[spressomon]

Nice post and pics! I'm from Omaha...moved to Reno in '96. My folks still live there along with 2 nephews at UNL. The past several years I've been able to make a leisurely drive to see them in my Land Cruiser...with camping in the Sandhills en route. Its a shame the state and/or feds didn't set aside more than 3% of the state for public land access as the western and northwestern portions of the state are truly beautiful and would have been great for more intimate exploring...but darn all those fences and no trespassing signs <sigh>.

 

[Stick Figure]

Wow. Great looking pictures!

Thanks!

Nice post and pics! I'm from Omaha...moved to Reno in '96. My folks still live there along with 2 nephews at UNL. The past several years I've been able to make a leisurely drive to see them in my Land Cruiser...with camping in the Sandhills en route. Its a shame the state and/or feds didn't set aside more than 3% of the state for public land access as the western and northwestern portions of the state are truly beautiful and would have been great for more intimate exploring...but darn all those fences and no trespassing signs <sigh>.

Its been a long time since I've been north of I80. Like so long that I wasn't even driving last time i was there. Its just so hard to decide where to spend the time exploring on these trips. Winter really hurts things as well, not just for closures, but the shortened daylight really puts a limit on what you can see.

 

[roverrocks]

I was born and raised in western Nebraska (Scottsbluff) where my long dead father was a rancher on the short grass prairie of Sioux County. We had 8000 acres and 13 windmills on these beautiful wind swept steppes. Drop dead gorgeous in May/June when the wildflowers bloomed amidst the tough grasses and thread leaf sedge. There are many beautiful landscapes, rivers, and natural lakes north of the mainly dismal I-80 corridor. Wildcat Hills, Pine Ridge, and the incredible Sand Hills plus beautiful rivers such as the Niobrara, Dismal, and Snake. Used to hunt sharp tail grouse in the Halsey and Alliance areas of the Sand Hills. What an incredible place are the Sand Hills. Such beautiful tall and mid prairie grasses with incredible wildflowers such as Shell Leaf Penstemon, Leadplant, Bush Morning Glory. Nothing else like the Sand Hills in the U.S.. Many beautiful drives thru it from N to S and E to west. I am hoping to get back to Western Nebraska in late May/early June to view the wildflowers and prairie plants and wildlife. Haven't been back into the Sand Hills for 20 years. This thread helped me resolve to get back to Nebraska for some north of I-80 exploring. Spent some time looking at Sand Hills pictures on the internet today. Not a lot of public lands in Nebraska but still are many places to visit and explore.

 

[Stick Figure]

I would love to see some pictures when you make it out. I have only been back twice in the summer time, once over a long weekend, and once for a funereal. Not enough time to do more than watch for law enforcement on 80 lol.