Across North America in Five Weeks!

[GA Architect]

Well done Sir, Well done!

Thank you for sharing your trip across the US.........."Welcome back Home!"

 

[hecrod]

And as promised... the loop was completed... Millie came to meet me in Manhattan! Spent a very good time in Mid-Town (the Roof Top in 23rd Street) and Times Square. Is this a great Country or what???

Today? We spent it at One World Trade Center and at the 9/11 Memorial...


First the views from One World Trade Center... the Hudson River on the left...

The Verrazano Bridge in the distance... Statue of Liberty on the right... it was hazy, but still...

To be continued...

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

This entire thread was awesome! From the contributions by the entire mud community, to the "ride" along across the country with you, not to mention the work that you did to the 40 beforehand!

This has been a very good thread.

 

[hecrod]

Now about the 9/11 Memorial... Wow... what a nice job they've done here. What memories do you have of this? As I mentioned before, we used to live in NJ... Millie was working in Mid-Town at the time... and our memories are vivid... still. Weeks later, depending on the direction of the wind, we could smell the electrical fires... how can one forget that??? It had been years since I had been back... glad I came.

The Museum??? Fantastic... moving... it's one thing to talk about the 3,000+ people that died there... quite another to see their pictures and hear their stories. Solemn... hundreds of people walking through the museum... deep quiet. Goosebumps just writing this...

The Reflecting Pools...

All 11 responding Firefighters from Ladder Co 3 perished... they got to the WTC on this truck...

One can walk multiple levels down... where the retaining walls are still in place... you can see some of the columns... windows... the actual staircase that did not collapse, and where a few survivors were found...

Rebirth... we won't forget...

Tomorrow? Home...

Hector and Millie

 

[JohnnyC]

I do remember that...

I am from eastern LI originally

My brother is on the NYPD and was there when it happened... He had just worked to midnight when a call came from a buddy in the morning.... he hungup on him thinking he was F-ing with him.... his friend called again then came by and picked him up (they live on eastern LI)

The LIE long island expressway was closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles and responders/officers inbound to the towers... it was the fastest they had ever drove to the city... and said to mom "you dont want to know how fast" they were redlining the hyundai (somewhere 120-125 MPH) my brother was calling others to wake them during the drive... they were shutting down the city and assigned to subway patrols and were not too far away when 7 came down later in the day

Very scary times... Very sad memories .... But can't be forgotten

That is one place EVERYBODY needs to visit

 

[airon23]

Wow! What a way to finish off the trip. After driving across America and seeing what makes this country special throughout much of the country, and then this your last stop. Special finishing touch to end on.

I was happy to read and ride along @hecrod. Glad you made it safe and the 40 didn't give you too many issues.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[hecrod]

And we did get home late yesterday... after 5 weeks out... and 6,737 miles! Good feeling... very good feeling. Slept a lot in the last 24 hours!!!

By the Atlantic Ocean... in Plymouth MA... by the "Plimoth Plantation" a nice Museum depicting life of the Pilgrims in the early 1600's

After following just about the exact route I originally planned (see below)... lots of little detours added to the total mileage... from the expected 5,500 to 6,700+!!! Not surprised...

And the three of us together at last (Alex, my brother, is back home...)...

To be continued...

 

[hecrod]

Some final comments...

I would do it again... no doubt about it. Next time though I will select a shorter route, or more time. I spent a lot of time on the road, more than I expected. Maybe plan for a trip averaging 100 miles a day as opposed to 200 miles a day would be optimal... for me at least.


Some highlights:

Most impressive sunsets... Pacific Ocean...

Most stunning 100+ miles of my life... Icefields Parkway... between Jasper and Banff, BC...

Life of a different era... and of a different place...

The Alberta Canada plains...

Southwestern Montana... Southern Idaho... Wow...

To be continued...

 

[hecrod]

The Tetons!!!!!!!

The Lucky Shot... By Jackson Lake...

The Tundra... Beartooth Highway...

At Devils' Tower...

And in the Badlands of South Dakota...

To be continued...

 

[hecrod]

By the Missouri River...

And through the Bridges of Madison County!

Through hundreds of Small Towns...

Many evidencing better days in the past...

And coming across many of these!!!

To be continued...

 

[hecrod]

Agriculture... and dirt roads... EVERYWHERE!!!!

The Mighty Mississippi...

The luscious greenness of Southern Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia...

Pristine horse farms in Kentucky...

When Coal was King in West Virginia...

To be continued...

 

[handcannon]

Wow! What a trip/story! Thank you for the "ride", it was impressive. I loved both the pictures and the story that went with it.

That pic of the 40, the Pacific Ocean, and the sunset is absolutely gorgeous. That would make a great poster, or screen saver. I really enjoyed all the pics, but to me that one would be hard to beat.

I'm glad, yet sad, that the trip is over. But, without any real big problems. I'm going to have to plan for some special time to re-read the whole thread in one sitting. I don't think I have ever before followed a travelogue that took a cross country trip from ocean to ocean.

Many, many thanks!

Don

ps---That pic of the covered bridge has renewed my intent to get pics of as many of the covered bridges close by here as possible. I wish my 40 was running, as pics of it on each bridge would be great. But, that won't happen any time soon due to a cracked head, and currently no money for repairs. Somehow I'll figure a way to get them posted here on Mud.

 

[ginmtb]

Awesome trip and amazing photos! Was great to join you on your journey!

You asked about where we were on 9/11... Interestingly, I did something similar to this trip for you. I was in Hartford, CT and watched on the TV live when the second plane went into the WTC... Not knowing how long flights were going to be grounded, me and two other people who I didn't know started our trek across the country. First stop was Niagara Falls - went to the Canadian side to check it out the next morning since the park was closed on the US side. Getting back in was interesting, with the border patrol using mirrors to look under our car, dogs sniffing and investigating. We didn't think that one out too well. We made our way to St. Louis in 12-13 hours, I parted ways with the others. I then grabbed another rental car and made it to Kansas City where I swear someone was trying to get into my room in the flea bag motel I was in. From there to Price, UT, snowed a bit which was not typical for the time of the year and made the trip a little more stressful then it already was. Another 16 hour day. And then home from there across the Nevada desert. Went coast to coast in 3.5 days. A little different trip than yours... I need to do that trip again but the way you did it!!! Thanks again for sharing this trip with us. Was amazing to follow along!

 

[hecrod]

And finally Lower Manhattan...

Other places that impacted me...

• Indian Reservations in the West...
• Pella, Iowa... pristine beautiful town
  
• Abraham Lincoln's Museum in Springfield...
• Music City!
• The Bourbon Trail!
• Gettysburg...
• 9/11 Memorial

But my most favorite moment???


The 40 basically cranked up every single time... every single time! Drove through snow, hail, hard rain, extreme heat and humidity, dirt trails, climbed to 11,000+ feet... and it purrs like a baby.

Thanks to @rkymtnflyfisher @Irish11 @Dagha Boy @Healey @jetranger @darwink1 @DSRTRDR @1911 @powderjay @tls3601 @Captn Conch @JohnnyC @tmarx @bikersmurf @jim land @roma042987 @FJam @handcannon @Weber Sarge @FJ40Mitchell @Honger @Coolerman @drnekFJ40 @White Stripe @airon23 @romey @franklin40 @ginmtb @sggoat @micruz60 @spotcruiser @Birdmon @4mydogs @eman375 @cbmontgo @hsumbal @crashn @Kris @Hogan @collk22 @Jetlander @Bluegrass40 @Jdc1 @scrapdaddy @shipmag @GA Architect

for engaging with me on this trip!

and to the several of you who sent me private notes... much appreciated!

Special thanks to @pngunme @45Kevin @brian... for meeting with me and / or helping keep my head on straight!



This one is done... Thanks for reading and riding along!!!

Millie, Chelsea, Alex and Hector...

 

[1911]

Epic journey Hector; thanks for documenting it for the rest of us.

 

[UZJ40]

Thank you for the story and pictures!!

What was your favorite state?

Does your trip make you want to move anywhere in particular?

 

[edwjmcgrath]

Does your trip make you want to move anywhere in particular?

What? And leave Somerville?

 

[Irish11]

This looks like it was an AWESOME trip! The photos are great.

 

[tstepp920]

Thank you.

 

[Bluegrass40]

what an awesome trip! Glad you made it home with out any major issues!

Thanks again for taking us along. I looked forward to your updates every evening! Well done!