DADVENTURE

 Time to face the music, with almost 7,000 miles travelled through 14 states over 14 days, here's how it all breaks down: Trailer rental, insurance & propane:   $970 Camping Fees:  $224 Groceries:  $174 Fuel: $1,422 - about 20% more than expected.  Highest paid: $2.79 (CA) Lowest: $1.95 (IA) Tolls: $44 Grand Total: $2,834   to get 4 days in Vermont by road trip Other expenses: Dining out, entertainment & souvenirs: $1,286 (Got a little carried away here with the craft beer and goodies) By comparison, flying out to spend the same 4 days in VT Round trip flight: $400 Rental car: $600 Hotel: $750 Dining: $500 Total (estimated): $2,250 BUT - since Vermont currently requires a 14-day quarantine upon arrival, these costs would be significantly higher if following the rules.

Truckee, CA to San Jose - 220 miles The final stretch.  After an enjoyable night out last night at the Truckee Tavern I left the window open to listen to the river running by.  This also meant it was 40 degrees inside the trailer when I woke up at 6:30, but that helped to motivate me to get going.  Smooth sailing down out of the mountains but by the time I hit Sacramento I was reminded of just how bad drivers are in California, so the last two hours were unnecessarily stressful.  I made it home safely though. A quick cleanout of all my stuff, wipe down with disinfecting wipes and an exterior wash - then off to return the trailer as there was another renter waiting to start their trip.  I pointed out that the only incident were slightly melted knobs on the stove which the owner wasn't worried about.  He messaged me later to tell me both propane tanks were empty so I'd be charged for that, but otherwise I was able to make the entire trip without any mishaps....

American Falls, ID to Truckee, CA - 574 miles Today was a push towards home but also one last chance to be away. The first leg through Idaho was interesting but coming down into and through Nevada was pretty bland, thank goodness I had some calls for work. Arriving in Truckee I've been passing a popular trailhead for 30 years that I finally took the time to explore and what a blast! Met some cool folks from SoCal and rode through a great flow trail on the way back down. I secured a campsite for the night and ventured into downtown Truckee for dinner where I spent hours with a small group at the bar socializing at a safe distance. What a great last night for the trip. Headed home first thing tomorrow. 

 Sheridan, WY to American Falls, ID - 525 miles A little shorter on mileage today, but for good reason.  I hadn't planned on being this far north, but as I rolled into Sheridan last night I kept seeing signs for Yellowstone.  A quick search and I adjusted my route.  The drive started with a huge climb as I travelled through Big Horn state park, a spectacular landscape to go through with a summit at almost 8500'.   Then through Greybull and Cody and into Yellowstone Park through the east gate.  This park is definitely worth a visit, but I actually found the drive in from Cody to be the real eye candy. After a couple quick stops in the park I veered out through the south gate to the Grand Teton National Park.  Awesome views await here, but they were muted today due to smoke from the wildfires out west.   Just beyond the Tetons was Jackson Hole, WY - what a cool little town!  There were people everyw...

 Sioux City, NE to Sheridan, WY - 686 miles Another short night, feeling uneasy about the incident last night and there was a lot of noise from a nearby train yard until almost midnight.  The benefit though, on the road by 7.  My first stop of the day was Mt Rushmore, a sight that has been on my bucket list.  People in my profession refer to is as "3 Surveyors and some other guy" as Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln were all land surveyors at one point in their lives.  The new walkway there is open which is nice to get just a little bit closer than the main viewing area. After a quick lap and a ton of pictures I made the short jump to the Crazy Horse Memorial nearby.  What an undertaking they have going there!  Again I just did a quick lap and a few photos, then back on the road.  A few hours away I managed to link up with a high school friend that I haven't seen in a few years.  He and his wife treated me to dinner at a local bre...

Amherst, OH to South Sioux City, NE - 809 miles "Wait a minute doc, are you telling me you built a time machine?" - Marty McFly When I got up this morning and realized I would be gaining an hour crossing a time zone, I reconsidered my target for the night. Deciding to veer north for an extra stop is extending the drive home so I was charged to log a few bonus miles. Add to it that my initial target would have put me smack in the middle of Iowa where there were no convenient camping options I liked and it would have been in the middle of farmland that is currently being fertilized. I ended up pushing a little far today and although I never felt tired on the road, I'm exhausted now.  This morning I blew through Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, crossing the Mississippi River a little after lunch. I hoped for a little ride along the banks but strong winds discouraged that. Instead I discovered a great little bike park in Davenport, IA. From there I stopped in at the Io...

Today was the day to say 'see ya later.' I guilted Nat into getting up for breakfast with me before I leave town. The local diner was the first to get more detailed background info about me since I'm visiting from a covid 'red state'. Why isn't every restaurant in every state doing this level of tracing? I think its awesome. Since we only had one photo together so far I requested one more. Leaving VT I used Google Maps instead of the trucks GPS to plot a different route, avoiding the ferry crossing of Lake Champlain, cutting off a few miles and saving some time too. The route took me past a number of lakes, rivers and waterfalls through the Adirondack Mountains.  I'm sure there are some great trails to explore but with gray skies, no cell service and no prior research, I felt it was safer to stay on the road. I was able to cross NY and PA, settling into a rest area off the toll road in Ohio. It's a little noisy, but the necessitie...

Today was the day, get up and spend the day with the kid, only she's a college athlete so Saturdays don't start until 10. Picked her up along with a couple friends and headed into the nearest big city, Burlington. Toured the shops of the fancy area and had a nice lunch along the way. Followed that with a quick drive past the waterfront and off to the mall for some retail therapy. These kids are so excited to get out of their small town! The evening plans revolved around the 'end of season bonfire' at the campground which is apparently a huge tradition here. The owner of the campground also owns a sawmill, so he brings out a bunch of wood and all the regulars get together for one last hurrah before the winter. So much fun to be a part of, especially as an outsider from across the country. Had some interesting political conversations as well as getting tips on places to visit next time.

The morning was a wash thanks to mother nature. Had plans to hit a few trails just outside of town but the rain scratched that. Took the time to get laundry done instead. Had to wait for Nat to finish the Friday scrimmage so I'm making the best use of the time. This afternoon we headed back to Stowe and started with a sushi lunch. A little different than I'm used to but still good. Did the touristy shopping bit around town and then headed out to Ben & Jerry's HQ because, when you're in VT that's just what you do! Saw the flavor graveyard and picked up a scoop. Stumbled upon another great brewery in Morrisville that was setting up for live music, this place is just calling for me to come back. Settled in for a quiet evening by the fire with some Netflix shows, ready for a long day tomorrow.