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The New Coffee Room

  1. TNCR
  2. General Discussion
  3. This years summer vacation

This years summer vacation

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  • B blondie

    Really nice pics. Please post more!
    Oh, and definitely a rattlesnake. It has a rattle. And that’s the 1st defining feature with your pic. Gopher snakes (aka bull snakes) don’t have rattles on their tails. Their tails taper to a point. I’m more familiar with prairie rattlers. They aren’t as pretty as the ones down south.

    RenaudaR Offline
    RenaudaR Offline
    Renauda
    wrote on last edited by Renauda
    #39

    @blondie & @bachophile

    I have sent a copy of the snake photos to someone in Calgary who ought to be able to identify that snake with high certainty. Hopefully he is not out in the wilds right now and can get back to me soon.

    Elbows up!

    1 Reply Last reply
    • Doctor PhibesD Offline
      Doctor PhibesD Offline
      Doctor Phibes
      wrote on last edited by Doctor Phibes
      #40

      Great photos, Mr. B.

      There's nothing like the US for just jaw-dropping canyons and what-not. We went to the Grand Canyon and Sedona a couple of years ago, and I was really just struck dumb by the experience. I'm hoping it's reversible.

      I was only joking

      1 Reply Last reply
      • MikM Offline
        MikM Offline
        Mik
        wrote on last edited by Mik
        #41

        I haven’t noticed any further deterioration, Phibes. Wasn’t a lot of room for it anyway

        “I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” ~Winston S. Churchill

        1 Reply Last reply
        • RenaudaR Offline
          RenaudaR Offline
          Renauda
          wrote on last edited by Renauda
          #42

          @bachophile & @blondie

          My contact in Calgary got back to me and said that it was a beautiful example of a Southern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus helleri )

          What really impressed him was the perfect condition of his tail for a snake that has undergone twelve sheddings.

          Good call blondie.

          Elbows up!

          1 Reply Last reply
          • bachophileB Offline
            bachophileB Offline
            bachophile
            wrote on last edited by
            #43

            So, currently in Grand Island Nebraska.

            As I said going fast over the plains. Here there be…basically just cornfields.

            Some catch up

            DSC_3097.jpeg

            The south west deserts are just beyond spectacular. Every turn was a new canyon, a new mesa, colors unbelievable.

            b3550801-8cb1-41f2-85a7-f5c448a9bdbd.jpeg

            But fraught with danger.

            DSC_3113.jpeg

            Four corners

            DSC_3051.jpeg

            Joshua trees

            IMG_4482.jpeg

            Ouray Colorado

            DSC_3117.jpeg

            Scottsbluff Nebraska.

            Tomorrow booked a hotel overlooking the Mississippi in Iowa.

            1 Reply Last reply
            • MikM Offline
              MikM Offline
              Mik
              wrote on last edited by Mik
              #44

              Nice trip!

              Our drive from North Carolina to Las Vegas last summer was kind of a survey of American deserts. Quite spectacular.

              “I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” ~Winston S. Churchill

              1 Reply Last reply
              • markM Offline
                markM Offline
                mark
                wrote on last edited by
                #45

                Are you passing by Northern IL, Southern WI?

                1 Reply Last reply
                • bachophileB Offline
                  bachophileB Offline
                  bachophile
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #46

                  No sorry. Swinging fast in abit more southerly route across Indiana and ultimately toward Pennsylvania and New York, I’d like to visit the hallowed ground of Gettysburg. And maybe Amish Pennsylvania.

                  George KG 1 Reply Last reply
                  • bachophileB bachophile

                    No sorry. Swinging fast in abit more southerly route across Indiana and ultimately toward Pennsylvania and New York, I’d like to visit the hallowed ground of Gettysburg. And maybe Amish Pennsylvania.

                    George KG Offline
                    George KG Offline
                    George K
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #47

                    @bachophile said in This years summer vacation:

                    No sorry.

                    Damn...

                    "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                    The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    • MikM Offline
                      MikM Offline
                      Mik
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #48

                      Damn. I wonder if Krogers will let me return the matzoh and brisket.

                      “I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” ~Winston S. Churchill

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      • LuFins DadL Offline
                        LuFins DadL Offline
                        LuFins Dad
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #49

                        Gettysburg is fantastic. Enjoy!

                        And again, take Route 40 if you can, though 30’s nice as well and will take you past the Flight 93 monument.

                        The Brad

                        bachophileB 1 Reply Last reply
                        • LuFins DadL LuFins Dad

                          Gettysburg is fantastic. Enjoy!

                          And again, take Route 40 if you can, though 30’s nice as well and will take you past the Flight 93 monument.

                          bachophileB Offline
                          bachophileB Offline
                          bachophile
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #50

                          @LuFins-Dad I see 30 running through Gettysburg towards Lancaster but I don’t see 40, what towns does it run through?

                          LuFins DadL 1 Reply Last reply
                          • bachophileB Offline
                            bachophileB Offline
                            bachophile
                            wrote on last edited by bachophile
                            #51

                            New update from Muscatine Iowa on the Mississippi.

                            First some thoughts on Nebraska vs Iowa.

                            Western Nebraska was very much like Colorado east of the Rockies, lots of prairie grass, and grazing herds of cattle. Eastern Nebraska was just plain boring and not particularly beautiful.

                            On the other hand, crossing into Iowa I was struck on how simply beautiful the landscape was. Sure, lots of corn fields but just stunningly green, verdant. Also not flat pancake like Nebraska but rolling hills.

                            a52e7ab6-56bd-4004-9e28-2cda4aed847d.jpeg

                            This doesn’t do it justice but really a very relaxing drive. Stayed off the interstate and drove the small country roads through the fields. Also Mennonite country.

                            Eventually ended up at Iowa border on the Mississippi.

                            DSC_3124.jpeg

                            Signs of recent flooding.

                            DSC_3129.jpeg

                            Ol’ man river

                            DSC_3147.jpeg

                            DSC_3142.jpeg

                            Huge barge being pushed upstream

                            DSC_3160.jpeg

                            Another huge barge just sitting askew I guess waiting to be also moved.

                            (For those with long memories, barges will now always remind me of an unpleasant exchange about “the barge” with a certain former forumite. )

                            jon-nycJ LuFins DadL 2 Replies Last reply
                            • bachophileB bachophile

                              New update from Muscatine Iowa on the Mississippi.

                              First some thoughts on Nebraska vs Iowa.

                              Western Nebraska was very much like Colorado east of the Rockies, lots of prairie grass, and grazing herds of cattle. Eastern Nebraska was just plain boring and not particularly beautiful.

                              On the other hand, crossing into Iowa I was struck on how simply beautiful the landscape was. Sure, lots of corn fields but just stunningly green, verdant. Also not flat pancake like Nebraska but rolling hills.

                              a52e7ab6-56bd-4004-9e28-2cda4aed847d.jpeg

                              This doesn’t do it justice but really a very relaxing drive. Stayed off the interstate and drove the small country roads through the fields. Also Mennonite country.

                              Eventually ended up at Iowa border on the Mississippi.

                              DSC_3124.jpeg

                              Signs of recent flooding.

                              DSC_3129.jpeg

                              Ol’ man river

                              DSC_3147.jpeg

                              DSC_3142.jpeg

                              Huge barge being pushed upstream

                              DSC_3160.jpeg

                              Another huge barge just sitting askew I guess waiting to be also moved.

                              (For those with long memories, barges will now always remind me of an unpleasant exchange about “the barge” with a certain former forumite. )

                              jon-nycJ Offline
                              jon-nycJ Offline
                              jon-nyc
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #52

                              @bachophile

                              For those with long memories, barges will now always remind me of an unpleasant exchange about “the barge” with a certain former forumite.

                              I see too many, as my apartment overlooks the hudson. When I see the word written out, though, it’s another story.

                              Only non-witches get due process.

                              • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
                              1 Reply Last reply
                              • jon-nycJ Offline
                                jon-nycJ Offline
                                jon-nyc
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #53

                                Cool photos and trip.

                                Only non-witches get due process.

                                • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
                                1 Reply Last reply
                                • JollyJ Offline
                                  JollyJ Offline
                                  Jolly
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #54

                                  The barge crews make a decent living, but you're away from home a good bit. It's interesting to watch them work the barges in a tight turn.

                                  “Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

                                  Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  • 89th8 Online
                                    89th8 Online
                                    89th
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #55

                                    Nice pics! Thanks for sharing so far. If you head north on the Mississippi you'll eventually run into a stream near my house. I'll leave the back gate unlocked.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    • bachophileB bachophile

                                      @LuFins-Dad I see 30 running through Gettysburg towards Lancaster but I don’t see 40, what towns does it run through?

                                      LuFins DadL Offline
                                      LuFins DadL Offline
                                      LuFins Dad
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #56

                                      @bachophile said in This years summer vacation:

                                      @LuFins-Dad I see 30 running through Gettysburg towards Lancaster but I don’t see 40, what towns does it run through?

                                      40 is tricky as it blends in with a couple of major highways like 70 and 68, but typically there will be Alternate 40 routes that are a little more interesting.

                                      In West Virginia through Western PA, you’ll go through some small industrial cities like Wheeling, WV and Washington, PA. There’s a lot of history in those towns, then it cuts south along the Mongahela river through some smaller little towns like Brownsville and California. These are primarily mining towns, with a University being built in California.

                                      It gets a lot better when you get to Uniontown. From there, it will take you up into the mountains. It’s a fun ride driving up to the summit, with several nice inns and the Nemacolin resort. From there you have Ohiopyle, Lural Caverns, and more. If you’re interested in biking or trains, you can visit the Great Allegheny Passage. The train ride to the Continental Divide is nice. I’ve always wanted to do the Ohiopyle White Water Rafying trip for a day, then do the bike trip from there, travel the gap, then coast all the way down to Cumberland, MD.

                                      From there, there are a number of alternate paths to take depending on what interests you. You can easily get to @Aqua-Letifer s old stomping grounds at Deep Creek Lake, or start heading NE towards Gettysburg. Alternate 40 through Hagerstown and Frederick is nice…

                                      The Brad

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      • LuFins DadL Offline
                                        LuFins DadL Offline
                                        LuFins Dad
                                        wrote on last edited by LuFins Dad
                                        #57

                                        Of course, Rt 30 will take you through Latrobe and past Saint Vincent’s College, which is where the greatest American Football Team of all time is currently holding training camp through mid-August…

                                        The Brad

                                        JollyJ 1 Reply Last reply
                                        • MikM Offline
                                          MikM Offline
                                          Mik
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #58

                                          I love taking the US highways whenever I can over the interstates. It's a little slower but a whole lot more interesting.

                                          “I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” ~Winston S. Churchill

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