The Ultimate Road Trip

Photographer hits the road, photographs
America in a three-week, cross-country drive


By Rob Thompson

On June 16, 2007, I set out on a highway adventure. Just me, my truck, camping gear and a GPS. This cross-country trip took me from Columbia to the Pacific Ocean, up through the Midwest and through some of the most unspoiled landscapes in America. When it was all done, I’d logged 7,219 miles through 23 states, dozens of cities, seven state capitals, unbelievable landscapes and some of the most beautiful scenic highways in this nation.

Along the way, I kept a log of DOT-related things I saw on this trip that I thought my fellow SCDOT employees would find interesting. And while DOTs across the country perform some of the same duties as SCDOT, I thought it would be interesting to note things that were a little different from South Carolina.

But I’m getting ahead of myself there. Follow along my trip through excerpts from my travel log:

June 16: Departed Columbia with a rough outline of where I wanted to go. I took I-20 west through Atlanta, GA, and Birmingham, AL, with plans to make to Memphis, TN, by nightfall to stay at T.O. Fuller State Park.

The good thing about traveling by myself, I could make changes to the plans whenever I wanted. No need to worry about a traveling companion’s hunger pangs or bathroom breaks. I only had to worry about me.

So the first stop turned out to be Tupelo, Mississippi, where I stopped at the birthplace of Elvis Presley. The original home from 1935 when he was born until he left in 1948 when he moved to Memphis.

Drove to Memphis, Tennessee, and found the campground, crawled in to my ‘redneck camper’ (A truck cap on the back of my truck with a futon mattress in the back) and settled in for the first of 20 nights on the road.

June 17: I drove down Beale Street and saw the remnants of festive partying being swept up by city crews. The sun woke me up at 6:30 a.m. When I got to the Riverfront Park on the Mississippi River, there was still early morning dew on the grass. I slipped down a little grassy hill and broke a camera lens. Dang it.

Toured Graceland, the Elvis Presley estate located in Memphis. Presley bought the mansion in 1958 for $100,000. I really expected to be unimpressed with the 1970s style decorating, but it actually wasn’t that bad. I learned a lot about the “King” on the tour. The audio tour was done very professionally and by the end of the tour, you couldn’t help but be a little teary-eyed when you reached his grave. He accomplished so much, but was dead by 42.

Hopped on I-40 and headed to Little Rock, Arkansas, where I visited the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. They have a full-scale replica of the Oval Office decorated as it was when Clinton was president. Drove to the Arkansas State Capitol building and took lots of photos. I went inside, briefly, since it was closed.
Stayed at the Alma, Arkansas, KOA campground.

June 18: Woke up to and was approached by one of the campground’s guard ducks. Well, not exactly a guard duck, but a hungry one. I didn’t have any food for the duck, so I went to the KOA office and bought a bag full of corn. I was then ferociously attacked by about 30-40 of the winged beasts. They swarmed, nipped at my fingers and tried to pull the bag of corn out of my hands. It was so much fun, I bought a second bag and fed the little critters out of my hand. Until you’ve had 40 ducks swarming over you trying to eat corn out of your hand, you haven’t lived. I was laughing hysterically as the feathered fiends flapped all over me trying to get the corn.

I headed west on I-40 to Fort Smith, Arkansas, to visit the National Historic Site there. Founded in 1817 by the U.S. Army to contain a volatile Indian feud, Fort Smith later served as a major supply depot for western military posts, and finally as headquarters of the Federal Court for the Western District of Arkansas. For more than 80 years, the federal government used Fort Smith to establish and maintain law and order in the Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma). It is the site of jail/courtroom for the Western Frontier, and was part of the Indian “Trail of Tears.”

Native Americans were sent to live in Oklahoma as part of many ‘deals’ made with them. It is a sad part of our history seeing what was done to Native Americans. They were not allowed to enforce or bring to justice any white men. So gangs of white men would go into Indian Territory to rob, rape and pillage Native Americans. Judge Isaac C. Parker sent deputy marshals into the Indian Territory to bring the outlaws to justice. Of the 20,000 whites living in Indian Territory at the time, only 5,000 were considered law abiding.

Parker sentenced 156 men and 4 women to hang. Of these, 79 men were hanged. Parker is quoted to have said: “I do not desire to hang you men. It is the law.” Famed outlaw Cherokee Bill (a.k.a Crawford Goldsby) was hanged at the gallows at Fort Smith on March 17, 1896.
After an educational visit at Fort Smith, I headed west into Oklahoma.

DOT FACT #1: The welcome center and rest areas in Oklahoma have teepee structures over their picnic tables.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: I toured their State Capitol building and then visited the Oklahoma City National Monument which is the site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building that was bombed on April 19, 1995. The site is a beautiful, reverent park that pays honor to the 168 innocent lives lost in the bombing.
Headed out and drove into Texas.

DOT FACT #2: The Welcome Center on I-40W in Texas lights up the night sky. It’s built into the side of a hill and it made me realize that if this is any indication, everything is bigger in Texas. Also, Texas interstates have one speed limit for daytime and lower speed limit for night driving. Reminded me of the old SC signs that at night reflected a different speed limit.

Didn’t find a campground near my route, so I stayed at Wal-Mart in Amarillo. Yep, Wallyworld has a section of its parking lot usually devoted to motor homes at night. I pulled my truck between to big motorhomes in the lot, locked myself in the back and slept until 6 a.m.

June 19: Left Amarillo the next morning and drove across the panhandle of Texas where I saw never ending fields of wheat. Now I understand the whole “amber waves of grain” thing. Listened to slow-talking radio DJs, saw herds of cows and windmills galore. No cell phone coverage for miles. Reminded me of the movie “Giant.”

DOT FACT #3: Interstate highways have entrances to ranches. No ramps, just a stop sign at the end of long driveways from cattle ranches. I guess when you’ve got to get access on the highway when you’re in the middle of nowhere, the limited access rule on interstates bends a little in Texas.

About 19 miles before I entered New Mexico, the landscape changed from flat prairies to hills and mesas covered in scrub brush. A little green patch of green here and there among the ever-increasing mesas.

As I entered New Mexico, I suddenly feel like I’m in a picture that I’ve seen all my life, but never experienced. “Land of Enchantment” fits as a motto for the state. It feels bizarre in landscape that is so unbelievably different from anywhere I’ve ever been before. Beautiful, yet strange at the same time. As I top a hill, I see the vastness of the landscape. Mesas and hills as far as the eye can see. Oh, and the speed limit is 75!

Drove through Albuquerque and headed north to Santa Fe, New Mexico’s State Capitol. The State Capitol building is called “The Roundhouse” because it is round. It is unique as far as state capitol buildings go. It also doesn’t have a dome on top. There is a rotunda in the center of the building, but when you look up, there’s a beautiful stained glass window instead of a dome.

Both Albuquerque and Santa Fe have centralized park areas known as “The Plaza.” The parks are used in a Mexican tradition of gathering at the end of the day in a central location to socialize, play music, eat and drink. When I visited both parks, they were bustling with tourists and locals alike with everyone having a good time.

June 20: Took the Sandia Mountain tram to the top of the mountain. The Sandia Mountain tram is the longest tram in the world and takes you up to spectacular views of the city of Albuquerque. If the view doesn’t take your breath away, the elevation will. Albuquerque is considered a high desert area due to the elevation of the city. All I know is it was hot. And dry.

June 21: Crossed the Continental Divide in New Mexico at an elevation of 7275 feet above sea level. At this point rain that falls to the east of this point drains into the Atlantic Ocean and rain that falls to the west drains to the Pacific Ocean.
Oh, Hardee’s restaurants out West are called Carl Jr’s.

I entered Arizona at 11 a.m. Mountain time Daylight Savings Time. But, Arizona doesn’t observe Daylight Savings Time so it suddenly became Noon. So technically it is the same as Central Time. I’m traveling west and I lose an hour. Confusing, isn’t it. Anyway, during my entire time in Arizona I had no idea what time it was.

DOT FACT #4: The Welcome Center in Arizona has a sign warning of poisonous snakes. And the only thing I hate worse than a snake is a poisonous snake. Not very welcoming for a state is it? “We have poisonous snakes. Get back in your car and go where there aren’t any!”

So, looking out for snakes, and having no idea what time it was, I arrived at the Petrified Forest/Painted Desert National Park where I saw the first tumbleweed in my life. Took a photo of it and hundreds of photos of the beautiful pink and white desert sand and rock formations. There are thousands of petrified wood “logs” scattered around the canyon floors formed when submerged under water millions of years ago.

Left the park and headed to Flagstaff where I loaded up the cooler with groceries and ice before heading north to the see Grand Canyon.

Entered the South Entrance to the Grand Canyon and a moose almost ran into my truck crossing the road. I got to the Yavapai observation point right at sunset. I don’t know if it was the canyon’s enormity across, the startling depth or the brilliant red and gold tones of the sunset that surprised me the most. Arriving at sunset was actually an added treat.

I camped overnight in the park’s Mather Campground. The temperature dropped to 47 degrees so the blankets I packed for a summer trip came in handy.

June 22: The next morning I took hundreds of more photos. Toured all along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon that morning before heading toward the Desert View overlook on the eastern edge of the park. That overlook provides the best view of the Colorado River snaking its way at the bottom of the canyon. Left the park out the eastern exit and headed south towards Flagstaff again.

The drive through the mountainous Coconino National Forest was full of steep hairpin turns that were difficult to maneuver partly because your eyes were on the pine covered slopes and lovely mountain streams. And, I was trying to take photos while driving! Not, a good idea. But it is a breathtaking scenic route to Sedona.

Sedona, AZ, is a town between the mountains and the desert with towering formations of red sandstone. Parked in town and rode a free shuttle bus that circulates through town for visitors. I was the only passenger and the bus driver told me all about Sedona’s attractions. Sedona has a history of being a gathering place for folks interested in psychic and new age beliefs. So, in keeping with the town’s history, I stopped in a few gift shops and bought some crystals and worry stones. My only worry, though, was that I wouldn’t make it to Phoenix before nightfall. So, I left and headed south on I-17 to Phoenix, AZ.

About 20 miles before I got to Phoenix, I finally saw a real cactus – the one that is a symbol for the West. The large 10-foot tall green Saguaro Cactus has those large arm-like limbs that branch upward. The plant is actually the state flower of Arizona. It has flowers that bloom in May and June.

Once again, I camped at Wallyworld. This time, however, I was the only camper. I asked a security guard if I folks camped there and he said to just make myself at home.

June 23: The next morning, as I climbed out of the back of my truck camper, stretching and wiping the sleepy out of my eyes, the same security guard was parked in his truck beside me. He tooted his horn and waved. I’d had my own private security guard all night!

Drove through the town and realized that it has something in common with
Amarillo, TX. Both towns have lots of their main downtown streets named after presidents. Drove to the YMCA in Scottsdale, AZ, a nearby suburb, and used the shower facilities. (On this trip, if I didn’t stay at a campground with bathhouse facilities, I’d shower for free at YMCA’s, where I have a membership, or at truck stops where showers cost around $9.) The lockers at the Scottsdale YMCA were not your ordinary rusty metal closets you usually see at a gym. These were lavish wooden lockers that were donated by the Phoenix Suns.

Headed west on I-10 and saw thousands and thousands of the Saguaro cactus. But as soon as I crossed the California state line, there were none. But, in their place were tall 70-foot California Palm trees. It was very distinct. Standing on the state line, you could look east and see cactus in Arizona and look west and see palm trees. It was almost like the state line was a border separating Palm trees and the Saguaro Cactus.

Palm Springs, CA, is a beautiful desert city. It is aptly named because there were Palm trees everywhere. Tall ones. It’s amazing to me that the long, thin trunks can support the large, bushy foliage at the top. The city is full of casinos, golf courses and fancy resorts. And lots of windmills. And by lots, I mean thousands of windmills. And all of them were spinning generating electricity.

Los Angeles, CA: My first stop in California was the famed Hollywood sign. I drove
through the Hollywood Hills area through single-laned neighborhoods with hairpin turns that would be totally blind turns if you didn’t have the convex mirrors posted throughout the curvy mountain streets. I couldn’t imagine living on the side of a hill or driving through the neighborhood at a speed greater than 20 mph. I was a nervous wreck maneuvering up and down Hollyridge Road. I don’t know how they do it.

Tour of Star Homes: Saw how the rich, famous and recently rehabbed live in Beverly Hills, Bel-Air, West Hollywood and Holmby Hills. Most impressed with Julia Roberts’ home situated atop a hill which must have one of the best views of Beverly Hills and Hollywood.

Pantages Theatre: Saw the Broadway favorite ‘Wicked’ at the beautiful, historic theatre near the corner of Hollywood and Vine. The theatre is located a stone’s throw from the famous Captiol Records Building and just down from Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

That night, I drove through Santa Monica and went to Venice Beach. Slept in the back of my truck at a truck stop.

June 24: Took a quick shower at the truck stop and then headed to Malibu, CA. Drove down Pacific Coast Highway to see how the celebrities live at the beach. Very interesting how there are miles of walled and gated entrances to houses. Dick Clark’s house was very inviting with three signs posted: “Stay In Your Car” “You are being videotaped” and “Guard Dogs” posted. Cher’s house there looked more like a condo with three other identical units.

Went to Six Flags Magic Mountain where I rode all the roller coasters: Collosuss, Goliath, Scream, Ninja, Gold Rusher, Superman’s Escape, Freefall and a few others.

As I headed across the desert toward I-15, I saw a bunch of Joshua Trees. They are quite interesting. (Google an image to see what one looks like.)

Stopped in Barstow, CA, for supper. As I drove through town, I saw a lady on side
of road had sign “Large Pizza $6.99” so I stopped, ate a few slices while I uploaded photos and charged my camera batteries. Put the rest of the pizza in my cooler for lunch the next day.

After I got on I-15 toward Las Vegas, I saw ZZyzx Road in California. Interesting name! (Google it and read out the history of the resort spa started in the 1940s by Doc Springer.)

As I approached Nevada, I could see the lights of Primm, NV, 7 miles ahead in the distance. The bright lights of this gambling town 7 miles away at night down the flat, straight section of Interstate 15 was a very interessting sight. I actually though it was Las Vegas for a moment. It’s a mini-Las Vegas right over the Nevada line full of casinos and bright, twinkling lights.

Arrived at Las Vegas, NV, at around 11 pm. Stayed at the Circus Circus campground. It was hot. Hot, hot, hot. I thought I was in hell. No place to escape the heat!

June 25: Caesar’s Palace – I was robbed! By one-armed bandits. Net loss: $25 over a three hour period. But I enjoyed the experience and spend the morning wadering around the Las Vegas strip.

Took a drive to Hoover Dam, a historic hydroelectric dam across the Colorado River. It forms Lake Mead and provides water and electricity to several states in the region.

Stayed on I-15 to Beaver City, UT, where I stayed at the KOA campground. I noticed a giant B on a mountain there. (Why do towns put giant initials on mountains? For planes?) Beaver is the home of Philo T. Farnsworth (inventor of the television) and Butch Cassidy (famous outlaw).

June 26: Drove up to Salt Lake City, UT. I toured the State Capitol, drove by the Governor’s Mansion, took photos of the Mormon Temple and toured the Mormon Tabernacle and Visitors Center.

The Walmart in Salt Lake City has a parking garage. It was free parking, but just seemed kind of odd that a Walmart has a parking garage. I drove by the Salt Lake – It’s big.

I drove into Idaho. I stopped at an Indian Reservation for gas/ice/sodas.

I stopped at a Walmart for supplies in Blackfoot, ID. I noticed three or four youths in there with Mohawks. The cashier told me it’s become a trend there.

June 27: As I crossed into Wyoming, I drove through some of the steepest and longest downgrades I’ve ever seen. It was a 10 percent grade down for 10 miles. I made it to Jackson Hole, WY, at about 1:30 a.m. It’s a beautiful cowboy-like town nestled in a mountainous region.

I arrived at the Grand Tetons National Park at around 2:30 a.m. I was more tired than I’d ever been on the trip. I just pulled over at an overlook in the park, and after debating getting out of the truck because of bears, I climbed into the back of my truck for 5 hours of sleep.

The next morning, I got out of my truck and there before me was the most awesome, beautiful glacier covered mountains. I had not seen them in the dark when I arrived. It was honestly the most beautiful thing I’d ever woken up to. The Grand Teton Mountain has a peak of 13,770 feet.

I drove north through the park and arrived at Yellowstone National Park. I’ve always heard how beautiful the park is, but I never realized how huge it is. I saw the Old Faithful geyser erupt at 1:25 p.m. It was a beautiful spray of water and steam.

Left Yellowstone out the east end of the park and traveled across Hwy 14 across Wyoming.

I drove through Emblem, WY, where they have a sign that says “Population: 10.”
And they had a post office!

DOT FACT #5: Greybull, WY, has no stop signs in a 4 x 10 city-block residential area. Bizzare!

I drove through another small town. Shell, WY: Population: 50.

I continued across Wyoming by driving through the Big Horn Mountains. A beautiful, scenic drive with lots of deer. I got out and played ‘chase’ with one deer. He kept moving away from me, but not taking off. He just kep walking down the road ahead of me. Signs along this route denote the type and era of prehistoric dinosaur bones found in this area. Signs also denoted rock falls everywhere. I actually saw a fallen rock in the middle of the road.

While driving through the Big Horn National Fores I saw a red highway. Yes, RED. Not pink or pinkish. Red. It must be the stones and sand in the area.

I hit I-90 in Sheridan, WY, and followed it until I took a 50-mile detour up to Devils Tower, WY, and sayed the night at the Devils Tower KOA.

June 28: The attraction in Devils Tower, WY, is of course the Devils Tower National Monument. It is a bizarre natural monolith rising 880 feet out of the ground in the middle of Wyoming. An awe inspiring landscape, it is viewed by Native Americans as a sacred religious place. It was well worth the 50-mile detour to see it. But don’t take my word for it. Take Theodore Roosevelt’s sugguestion. He proclaimed Devils Tower the first national monument in 1906.

A large, grassy meadow at the foot of the tower is saved as a prairie dog preserve.
It was like a walk-through ‘whack-a-mole’ game. They would bark (or chirp) at you with their heads poking out of holes before disappearing into underground tunnels. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of these rodents scamper around and play in the field covered with prairie dog holes.

I continued I-90 to South Dakota. The state has a “Great Faces, Great Places” motto on the state welcome sign with a photo of Mount Rushmore.
Mount Rushmore: Located in Keystone, SD, and part of the Black Hills of South Dakota. Big. They had a large rope across the face of Theodore Roosevelt because they were preparing for the July 4th fireworks (or laser) display. I had to Photoshop out the rope to get a good photo.

I stopped in Wall, SD, at the famous Wall Drug store. The store’s long history began by offering free water to travelers. The simple drug store and blossomed into city blocks of souvenier shops full of things you can live without.
Headed to the Badlands National Park. The Badlands is a desert/prairie area. There are areas with moon-like landscapes and rocky cliff sandstone/limestone formations. And there are desolate areas and grassy prairie land. Interesting contrast. Saw a “Rattlesnake” warning sign and didn’t need too hang around there too long!

Saw a sign for Kadoka, SD, and wondered if this was the homeland of SCDOT spokesman Bob Kudelka.

Stayed the night in Mitchell, SD. At my third Wallyworld campground.

June 29:
Mitchell, SD, is home to the famous Corn Palace. Lewis and Clark in their expedition across the nation to find a practical water route to the Pacific Ocean visited Mitchell and reportedly said that the area was desolate and farmers couldn’t survive there. In 1892, Mitchell built a shrine to their successful crops – covering the building with a mural made from corn, barley and various crops grown in the area. The current building was built in 1921 and serves as an basketball and concert arena for the town. Onion domes were added in 1937 which gives the building the look of a ‘palace.’ Each year, a different theme is selected and an artist designs murals to cover the outside of the building. The building is also known as the world’s largest birdfeeder since birds often feed on the corn covering the landmark.

Drove through Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas. Lots of farmland. Lots of hay. Lots of corn.

I drove through Kansas City, MO, and stopped in Independence, MO, to take some photos of President Harry Truman’s house there.

DOT FACT #6: The state of Missouri has work zone signs that say:
“Hit a worker
$10,000 Fine and
Lose Your License”
Also, they have state highways that are lettered -- YY, V, E, etc. Not just numbers. I thought that was very unique.

Stayed the night at a little hole-in-the-wall, no-brand-name hotel. Nothing fancy, just cheap and place to actually sleep in a bed rather than the back of my truck.

June 30: Stopped in St. Louis, MO, to visit the The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (a.k.a. St. Louis Arch).
The Gateway Arch was built to honor St. Louis’ role in the Western Expansion of the United States in the 19th century. The park is a memorial to Thomas Jefferson for his role in opening the west, and to the pioneer who helped shape its history. Underneath the 630-foot arch, there is the Museum of Western Expansion and a couple of theaters where you can view a movie on the arch’s construction and on western expansion. You can also ride to the top of the tower in what the park calls a tram, but I call a claustrophobic bubble.

Stayed at a little campground in Illinois for the night.

July 1: Continued the drive across southern Illinois and Indiana. Lots of farmland.
Made it to Louisville, KY, and stopped by the Louisville Slugger Museum. Bought some bats. Went to the Louisville Science Center and watched an IMAX video on the effects of hurricanes in the bayous near New Orleans.

I stopped by a house Thomas Edison lived in when he worked in Louisville. The Thomas Edison Butchertown House is where Edison rented a room in 1866-67. The young inventor conducted lots of experiments and one day, at his job as a telegraph operator, he spilt acid while doing one of his experiments. He was fired, left Louisville and later developed over 1000 patents for devices like the photograph and microphone and perfected the incandescent light.

Stayed the night at yet another no-named hotel. This one was scary. I think I’ve realized why some of these hotels charge so little. They don’t have employees cleaning the rooms.

July 2: Hodgenville, KY, is the site of Sinking Springs Farm, Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace. I walked up 56 stairs up to the Memorial built around a log cabin representing Lincoln’s family cabin on Sinking Springs Farm. (The 56-steps represent the 56 years of Lincoln’s life.) Lincoln was the first President to be born outside the original 13 colonies, and was the first president not to come from established or more well-to-do families. Lincoln’s family lived at Sinking Springs Farm until he was two years old.

Traveled 10 miles across the county to Knob Creek Farm, Abraham Lincoln’s Boyhood home. Although his cabin isn’t there, his best friend’s cabin has survived and is very interesting to see. There are also fields located at the Boyhood Home site where Lincoln and his family grew corn and pumpkin. I ate lunch at a picnic table looking over the cornfield and just thinking about the view I had was the same as Lincoln had in the early 1800s. Lincoln lived here from 1811 until 1816, from age two to seven.

Continued on to Cave City, KY, where Mammoth Cave National Park is located. Mammoth Cave is the largest cave system in the world with 365 miles of caves discovered so far. They have estimated that by the time they find all the caves connected to the system there may be 600 miles of caves. Enjoyed a two-hour, two-mile journey through the cave that took me to depths 310 feet below the ground.

Stayed the night in Lebanon, TN, a town outside of Nashville.

July 3: Drove into Nashville, TN, where I shot a photo of the state house as I drove by.

I visited The Hermitage, the home of our seventh president Andrew Jackson. Toured grounds and rode a horse wagon through plantation. There are slave quarters behind the main house. No slaves lived inside the white picket fence area where the main house is located. I thought it was strange to have a fence segregate where folks could live. The tomb of Andrew Jackson and his wife, Rachel, are in a garden area beside the house.

I hit the road and made it to a friend’s house in Town Creek, Alabama.

July 4-5: Spent the day with old friends at their new home. Actually spent most of the time in the pool. Proceeded to add more burn to the wonderful brown desert suntan I’d developed along the trip.

July 6: Headed to I-20 to Atlanta, GA, to I-85 to Greenville, SC, where I shot a freelance photography job at 6 p.m. Left Greenville around 10 p.m. via I-385 and I-26 to arrived back in Columbia, SC, at 11:45 p.m.

July 7: 1 a.m. Finally slept in my own bed after my three-week journey.

All along the trip I met lots of nice people who were also doing cross-country trips. They were doing similar routes and stopping at some of the same points. It’s a great family adventure, but it’s also a great solo journey that gives you a great appreciation for this country.

Our country is overflowing with historical sites and beauty that must seen firsthand to enjoy. I challenge each of you to set out on your own adventures to explore this beautiful country






ODDS AND ENDS....
A FEW INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS....

A number of states now feature Wi-Fi internet access at their welcome centers and rest areas. A number of states had sponsored rest areas where oil companies and fast food restaurants

The single most valuable piece of equipment I carried on the trip was my trusty GPS. If you’re on the road a lot, you’ve got to get one. I never felt lost during the entire trip across the country. An atlas or map is great for planning your route, but the GPS acts like your personal navigator (or co-pilot) helping you maneuver turns and find places with ease. Without it, I think I would have been even more of a nervous wreck on the L.A. freeways with high-speed traffic and exits a quarter quarter-mile apart on the right and left! It took me directly the best photo location to shoot the famous “HOLLYWOOD” sign. In fact, a tour guide drove up in his tour bus, saw my South Carolina license tag and asked me how I found this vantage point in the complicated Hollywood Hills area. When I told him about my GPS, he said, “I’ve got to get one of those.”

You can save a lot of money by buying a National Park Pass. The America The Beautiful annual pass is $80 and gets you free admission for a year to all the national parks in the country.
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BY THE NUMBERS.....

7,219 - Miles Driven

1,231 - Dollars spent on gasoline

3,942 - Photographs shot (digital)

23 - States visited

21 - Days on the road

6 - State Capitol buildings photographed

1 - Warning ticket for speeding (Utah)




States visited chronologically

South Carolina
Georgia
Alabama
Mississippi
Tennessee
Arkansas
Oklahoma
Texas
New Mexico
Arizona
California
Nevada
Utah
Idaho
Wyoming
South Dakota
Iowa
Nebraska
Kansas
Missouri
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky