Across North America in Five Weeks!

[Birdmon]

I have been following you since you left. Love the pictures. Thanks for sharing.

Safe travels!!

PS - Congrats Chelsea!!

 

[JohnnyC]

Trip looks to be going really well!! And your keeping a good pace

Didn't realize you live in Somerville ... I lived in Boston area for 8 years ... Worked in southie near the battleship building if you know where that is

Riding like a dream?

love the long rides ... Kinda my daydream time ... Will be in wells for most of the summer... May need to get together sometime as Albany NY wouldn't be on anybody's top one thousand places to go lol

 

[hecrod]

Thanks everyone for the kudos and positive commentary... I hope it gives you a couple of minutes of enjoyment and maybe pushes some of you to get out and drive them far too!!! This is hard work at times... 14 hour days when all is said and done (packing, unpacking, gassing up, stopping for pictures, tours, eating, updating this blog )... but man...it's worth it! Do it!

So the day started a bit stressful for me... I had set up the alarm for 630... yet I started hearing noises coming from the area where my iPhone was way before that. Now, you guys helped me create a long list of key emergency /backup supplies to bring on a trip like this, yet no one mentioned a backup phone!!! My iPhone crashed! Wow, it's amazing how much we depend on technology these days... there are no pay phones anymore! In reality, the risk was limited, because my daughter had her phone with her, but the message is the same... backup ways to communicate, GPS (?), etc... is critical! Something else in the future to think about. Now, I had my computer, so I was able to "recover" the phone... using iTunes. Only an hour delay... could have been worse... Phew!

We visited the World Museum of Mining first, in Butte, Montana... went through a 2.5 hour tour of mining operations... a must for anyone if time is available. Even my 18 year old was impressed! To the category of did you know...

• Butte had the richest man in the world at one time (the Copper King)
• There are 10,000 miles (10,000 miles!!!) of mining tunnels criss-crossing underneath the city of Butte!
• Open pit mining is still big business there...
• Many thousands have died under atrocious historical safety conditions..., including 150+ in a single fire back in the 1910's
• In 7 years, the entire underground mining system (which stopped operating in 1982, and which goes a mile deep!) will be flooded up to the drinking water table... major problems coming up... but they have a plan in place...

Much, much more! Consider visiting if you can...

Had our second stop in Virginia City, MT... which was the Capital of Montana ~150 years ago. They've rebuilt the small town... good for a 1-hour stop to walk and stretch the legs...

Now, guess what I found driving the back roads (gravel roads of course) of Virginia City?

First one I come across on this trip... and oh so sad... looks pretty solid! If anyone in the area is interested, reach out to me and I'll pin point you to its location... it can be rescued (motor in place, very little rust!)... hopefully someone does!

Another cool kid in the neighborhood... I know... I know... give me a break on this one OK? Even if it's a Jeep, I think it's cool when people keep these cars on the road...

Now on to something interesting... one looks at the map when planning a trip like this, Rand McNally or Google Maps, and one sees numbers such as I90, I5, 16, etc... and for some reason one expects a "ho-hum" road. Just a road to take you from point A to point B. Route 287, heading South from Ennis, is no "ho-hum" road! I took so many good pictures on that leg of the trip that I'll load them up on a separate post... just WOW... I'm telling you, I had to take some dirt roads, because the view was too spectacular to pass speeding at my usual 50!!!

And we made it into Idaho... with Chelsea there celebrating in the background...

What is up with the sky in this part of the country! Is that amazing or what!

Grand Teton National Park tomorrow... already got a glimpse of them... need I say more???

On the Technical Side: the 40 is whining a bit when standing still in neutral... not always, but I noticed it. Low tranny fluid?

Other than that it's all good. Today we were constantly changing altitudes from 4,000 to 7,000 and in between... most of the time. The 40 continues strong...

 

[hecrod]

Now on to those Route 287 in Southern Montana pictures...

Finishing with a non-40 picture this time...

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Awesome pictures Hector!!

 

[corleykj]

Awesome Trip! Following.

 

[airon23]

Still loving this thread so good. This could be made into a mini film telling your story of the build up and inspiration for going along with all the cool stuff you are doing along the way. I'm sure once you're done you could compile all your videos together and create something special to commemorate the trip and memories. Hell maybe there is someone on here with those skills that could do something somewhat professionally for you when it's all said and done.

Keep the updates coming and best of luck in your travels. Your time with your daughter is like me looking into the future with my own 6 year old daughter. I hope we can make some good memories in the ol' FJ40. Awesome times.

 

[4mydogs]

Now on to something interesting... one looks at the map when planning a trip like this, Rand McNally or Google Maps, and one sees numbers such as I90, I5, 16, etc... and for some reason one expects a "ho-hum" road. Just a road to take you from point A to point B. Route 287, heading South from Ennis, is no "ho-hum" road! I took so many good pictures on that leg of the trip that I'll load them up on a separate post... just WOW... I'm telling you, I had to take some dirt roads, because the view was too spectacular to pass speeding at my usual 50!!!

Really enjoying being able to "tag along" with you on this epic journey. It's cool seeing photos from places I've been in earlier trips out west, and even more from places I haven't been (yet).

Glad you mentioned the above, because I was wondering just how you mapped out your trip. Did you have everything planned in advance, or are you "winging it" from place to place? I see a lot of photos taken on unpaved roads. Are those side trips, or are they your travel route, and how did you decide to take them?

Keep up the good work.

Cheers!

 

[onemanarmy]

Thats why they call it 'big sky country'

So want to do this in my FJ55 one day. thanks for the updates. hope the valve cover gasket fixes the leak. that is a relatively easy fix.

 

[micruz60]

Suggestion- Stop into the Emporium in Victor, Idaho for a huckleberry shake before heading over Teton pass to Jackson Hole. It is right across the street from the Phillips 66.
Great trip and photos!

 

[tls3601]

I think you were wise to keep her at 50

 

[eman375]

Hector, I turned my computer off last night before you updated your travels. I see you'll be visiting Teton National Park today. You will enjoy it. But please, don't tell me you spent last night (Wednesday) in or near Idaho Falls. I will feel like a complete schmuck for missing the opportunity to have met and visited with you and Chelsea.
I hope the rest of your trip is as enjoyable as it has been this far. You'll enjoy Teton National Park. It is truly one of the most beautiful places on earth! Cheers!

 

[Coolerman]

Wow does that bring back some memories! Beautiful pics! I remember driving across Montana ( West to East) in the mid 90's pulling a small trailer with my Nissan Pathfinder. Was on a 2 week whirl wind tour of the west. I thought I would NEVER get across that state! Sections were some of the loneliest I have ever traveled. Mile after mile with no houses, towns, nothing at all...

Set a personal, miles traveled in one day, record on the trip of 1019 miles! Being able to do 80 to 85 mph in that state helped a lot!

Be safe!

 

[NorthFJ]

WOW, really nice report on your trip! Safe travels and keep the pics / updates coming!

 

[cbmontgo]

Great report so far!

We go to Montana every summer and I've eyeballed that 40 in Virginia City for years...

 

[hecrod]

Still loving this thread so good. This could be made into a mini film telling your story of the build up and inspiration for going along with all the cool stuff you are doing along the way. I'm sure once you're done you could compile all your videos together and create something special to commemorate the trip and memories. Hell maybe there is someone on here with those skills that could do something somewhat professionally for you when it's all said and done.

Keep the updates coming and best of luck in your travels. Your time with your daughter is like me looking into the future with my own 6 year old daughter. I hope we can make some good memories in the ol' FJ40. Awesome times.

Interesting idea... maybe I'll do that... could be a good memory to document that way. To think that we're not even to the half-way point!

Really enjoying being able to "tag along" with you on this epic journey. It's cool seeing photos from places I've been in earlier trips out west, and even more from places I haven't been (yet).

Glad you mentioned the above, because I was wondering just how you mapped out your trip. Did you have everything planned in advance, or are you "winging it" from place to place? I see a lot of photos taken on unpaved roads. Are those side trips, or are they your travel route, and how did you decide to take them?

Keep up the good work.

Cheers!

The overall route was planned in advance, basically following spots I wanted to visit, and then finding a good route to connect the dots (and so far I am sticking to the plan!). That's why the actual route I'm taking looks a little weird... I wanted to visit those spots, hence...

Now, what I am finding out is that those routes, the ones "connecting the dots", are almost as interesting as the endpoints themselves!

And as far as the dirt roads... no, those were not part of the plans. I mean, I did expect to take plenty of dirt roads, I just did not know which ones I was going to take! So, driving slow helps here, I drive... see a road that seems cool, and there I go!

Case in point, yesterday in Virginia City, while walking the sidewalks, I spotted a pickup truck high up in the hills, and I tell Chelsea... we got to get up there... and that's how it goes. That's what I did today... but more on that later!

Suggestion- Stop into the Emporium in Victor, Idaho for a huckleberry shake before heading over Teton pass to Jackson Hole. It is right across the street from the Phillips 66.
Great trip and photos!

Hi @micruz60 ... thanks for the recommendation!

Need I say anything more!

Hector, I turned my computer off last night before you updated your travels. I see you'll be visiting Teton National Park today. You will enjoy it. But please, don't tell me you spent last night (Wednesday) in or near Idaho Falls. I will feel like a complete schmuck for missing the opportunity to have met and visited with you and Chelsea.
I hope the rest of your trip is as enjoyable as it has been this far. You'll enjoy Teton National Park. It is truly one of the most beautiful places on earth! Cheers!

@eman375 ... no worries... we slept in Ashton last night... not sure it would have been convenient... But thanks for the offer! And do feel free to call in next time you're in or around Boston...

Great report so far!

We go to Montana every summer and I've eyeballed that 40 in Virginia City for years...

Well, hopefully someone gets to it before it's too late... it would be a shame...

 

[hecrod]

So after that nice stop at the Emporium in Victor City (thanks again @micruz60 for the suggestion), we drove on towards Jackson, WY. That would take us through Teton Pass... and through the first struggles for the 40!

That climb up to the 8,400+ foot pass was steep! And non-relenting... we climbed a good portion of it on 2nd gear and 19 mph. That was it... we got to the top for the view above, with the temperature gauge starting to climb a little higher than I've ever seen it before. No issues / problems... but that was a hard climb. I let the 40 rest for a while, then got ready to go downhill on the other side... and that was no easier!

Now I know enough not to use the brakes too much, and was relying on down-shifting quite a bit, yet, halfway through the descent I started to smell the brakes... and then I felt them getting soft when having to go to a complete stop due to construction activities... honestly I'm not sure which one was easier, the climb or the descent... even Chelsea was a little unnerved by the whole thing (actually she is just telling me that she thought we were going to die, and started looking for the truck runaway lanes! ).

But, it worked out! And we made it to Jackson Hole fine... followed of course by...

Big Sky Country... Now I know what it means... (I like the look of those dusty tires... courtesy of Montana, stamped in Idaho, confirmed in Wyoming!)

The Grand Tetons... is there anything else after this???

This is the exact spot where they explain (in those white boards in the background) a significant portion of the geologic features of the Park... and where you can ACTUALLY see the Teton Fault!

I already reached my 5 picture maximum per post! ... will have to add another one... coming back in a few!

 

[hecrod]

So I turned around of course... Right!

Glad I didn't turn around...

This one, together the one taken in the Iceland Parkway with the snowy background may be the best two pictures so far...

And another one...

And my resting point as of right now... typing this little update...

What can you say...

Yellowstone tomorrow...

Read and ride along!


Hector & Chelsea

 

[micruz60]

Awesome!
Teton pass will probably be the steepest longest grade you will encounter.
Unless you go for Beartooth out of Yellowstone... Steep drive down into Red Lodge, but not as sustained.
The construction there is for a 'truck catcher' replacing the runaway ramp.
Eighteen wheelers should be banned on the Pass.
Google the Morrison road, if you want to REALLY go wheeling...

Watch out for bears where you camping!

 

[franklin40]

thanks to you and your posts my lift time bucket list just doubled!!

man you are sharing one awesome trip and I love reading your updates every day. I continue to wish you a safe uneventful journey