Month: October 2009

Summary: Westward Ho and Back Again

Post author By TravisGood
Post date October 31, 2009
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“One month, one week, and a half” is how Kelsey describes my 39-day, 10,000 mile road trip which ran from coast-to-coast along northern routes focusing on National Parks and Monuments. A jazz festival on Catalina Island and family visits in the Pacific Northwest were other highlights. Looking back, it was a remarkable and gratifying trip.

As I traveled across the great distances I planned many stops. Most of what was new lie between the Mississippi and the Rockies. Once I entered the red rock country of southern Utah until I left Yellowstone I was visiting old friends. In both instances I came away with the reinforced belief that we really have preserved something special in this country. Our National Parks and Monuments are amazing and there for us all to visit and appreciate … not just one time but again and again.

Below you’ll find a coarse depiction of my route.

Bridge Historical Road Travel

Along the Historic National Pike

Post author By TravisGood
Post date October 30, 2009
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The home stretch and I started the day in a major town along the nation’s first federally funded road. Washington was one of the major roads along the Pennsylvania stretch of the National Pike. Starting in Baltimore, it initially was only 175 miles long to Cumberland, MD but eventually grew to 620 miles. In the end it connected the Potomac and Ohio rivers with a land road.

I’d been on this road a few times in the past. It’s character always caused me to want to learn more. This was my chance. I saw original tollbooths and mileage markers along the way. I visited Fort Necessity where preconceptions of George Washington were shattered: here he was a young officer, here he was a British soldier, here he fought and lost! Fascinating. We’re talking very early U.S. history in these parts.

Lake Lighthouse Museum Road Travel

Lights along Lake Erie’s South Shore

Post author By TravisGood
Post date October 30, 2009
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To complete my navigation of the U.S. side of Lake Erie I needed to drive from Detroit to Erie (perviously I’ve driven the Erie to Buffalo stretch). However, I woke up in Ann Arbor and there was no way I wasn’t going to tour the University of Michigan, visit the Ford Library, and go shirt-shopping for my girls. Since bed that night was south of Pittsburg I needed an early start and many hours behind the wheel. I’m homeward bound!

Lights along Lake Erie Since age 16 when I worked on the Ford for President campaign I’ve been a fan. Three day earlier I had visited his President Museum in Lancing and was very impressed. It’s very well done. While there I learned of the Library in Ann Arbor so I made it my first stop. It’s much smaller, not nearly so well done, but equally supportive and respectful of President Ford. My favorite part was the corner he used for his personal office till the end.

As for the lighthouses, they’re below. You look, I’ve got lots of driving to do!

Historical Museum Road Travel

The Heart of U.S. Manufacturing

Post author By TravisGood
Post date October 29, 2009
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All my life I’d heard about the manufacturing might of the automotive industry in Michigan. In recent years I’ve also read about plant closures. I recognize but know nothing about towns such as Pontiac, Detroit, Flint, Troy, Livonia, Flat Rock, Ypsilanti, etc. I was in the heart of Michigan and wanted to see this for myself so I mapped out a route and drove it.

First I wanted to see the scale of car plants. I drove around with my iPhone showing satellite views of my route. When I saw a large facility I’d drive toward it, position myself in the image (the blue dot), and snap a picture. Here are some examples and WOW they’re impressive.

Manufacturing

Bridge Lake Lighthouse Road Travel

Two Days of Lighthouse Hunting

Post author By TravisGood
Post date October 28, 2009
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Why do I chase these things? Why are most people intrigued by lighthouses? They’re usually remote and always isolated. Most structures are unique if only by variation on a theme. Lighthouses are always near the water and usually in distinct settings. They serve an exotic purpose, guiding ships away from danger. The lifestyle of keepers was one of loneliness and monotony, yet in the worst of weather their commitment to duty was most important. The fact that theirs is a disappearing way of life only adds to make the mix a big draw. Somewhere in all this is why I chase lighthouses.

So around Lake Michigan I went hunting. Not fixated on numbers this time, I just enjoyed getting to those that I could and paying particular attention to the noteworthy. Along 3/5th of Lake Michigan’s coastline I visited 24 of the 118 total lights. It was fun.

Falls Lake Lighthouse River Road Travel

Across the U.P. to Canada

Post author By TravisGood
Post date October 26, 2009
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Upper Peninsula to Canada — Sought out the lighthouse, found lots of bird activity, decided to combine the two in one picture. Many, many shots later I was able to realize my vision. Good results often come only after much persistence.

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan was just about the last place I’d ever get to. It wasn’t on the way to anywhere; it’s not near where I live; I don’t know anyone who lives there. This was my chance! My plan was to follow the coast of Lake Michigan with only two detours: 1) Whitefish Point Lighthouse and 2) Sault St. Marie in Canada. That night I’d rest my head near the Macinack Bridge which connects the two great peninsulas of Michigan.

Just as I entered Michigan I picked-up a map and guide to all of Michigan’s 118 lighthouses at the Visitors Welcome Center. Did you catch that? 118! Unlike other lighthouse trips to Maine and Oregon and Prince Edward Isle, I wasn’t going to try and see them all. This trip was my UP experience and time was limited. I was going to focus on the easy and the interesting lights. <fix>

Lake Lighthouse Road Travel

Wisconsin has a Thumb!

Wisconsin Thumb — Atop a tower built in 1932 which stood 225 feet above water level I had a commanding view of the surroundings. The sun was perfect, the air was clear, and, but for the fact I was freezing, it was perfect.

I spent the day learning the basics of Wisconsin and Green Bay then shooting up the Door Peninsula to visit Potawatomi State Park, Sturgeon Bay, Cana Island Lighthouse, up to Northport where ferries depart to near by islands. This peninsula protrudes east into Lake Michigan, as if Wisconsin’s thumb.

In Green Bay I visited the Railroad Museum and Neville Public Museum where I focused to learn local history. Everyone knows Wisconsin is all about cheese making, brewing, and lumber but who knew that Green Bay was once very big in ice farming!? Football was big in Green Bay where the legacy of Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers lives on to the present.

Road Travel

Who Says Fargo’s Not Interesting?

Post author By TravisGood
Post date October 23, 2009
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There’s a technique I learned in my early days of making speeches. It’s called “progressive disclosure”. The idea is I only show you want I want you to see at any given moment. I’m going to use that technique here with my favorite spot in Fargo. These pictures are taken of the Hotel Donaldson at the corner of First and Broadway in downtown Fargo. Please scroll down and learn how citizens of Fargo apply their creative energies.

Road Travel

Roosevelt’s Badlands North

Post author By TravisGood
Post date October 23, 2009
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Badlands are aptly named because they’re bad for farming, they’re bad for grazing, and they’re bad for traversing. They’re just bad land, unless you’re a photographer that is. The rough terrain, exposed colors, and abundant wild life make for good shooting. The Badlands National Park is due south and can be seen here from earlier in my trip. These are badlands but a part of Theodore Roosevelt National Park which are the subject of this post.

Badlands

Above you can see evidence of this land’s “bad” character.

Animal Bridge Canyon Falls Lake Mountain River Road Travel

Impacted by Road Construction

Post author By TravisGood
Post date October 22, 2009
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By the time I arrived at Grand Teton National Park it was getting dark but the peaks and the clouds cast a mood worthy of shooting. This disappointed me somewhat as I know from previous visits how beautiful these mountains can be. No matter, I planned on spending lots of time in the area over the following day. Little did I know that road construction would prevent me from getting back to these commanding peaks.

Yellowstone Road Construction

Yellowstone Road Construction Like a man on a mission I shot north through the Tetons, inched along the Rockefeller Parkway (which was being resurfaced) and wound my way through Yellowstone National Park in pitch darkness to the north entrance. My mission? To get some sleep, some food and some gas. When I finally got to Gardiner, MT I checked in to my motel and found food and gas at the only store open in town, five minutes before it closed. Whew!

I love Yellowstone and wanted to see as much as possible. The road network in the park is shaped like a figure “8” with radials heading off to five different entrances. During a very long day I covered it all save one road segment and one entrance which were both closed due to road construction. Though I didn’t do much hiking, I did see a lot, and it reinforced in me a feeling of awe. By late evening I had made it out the east entrance, through Cody WY and to my hotel in Billings, MT.