Experience the fascination of a tourist; Feel the comfort of the local
Parking Mae for the final time was …. hard. We checked the mailbox, happy that it was empty even though we knew there would be piles of inanity once we got inside. We opened the door and the cat yowled. She does that. I’m not sure what we were supposed to feel. I’m not sure …
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 1: Chapter 43 – The Journey BeginsRead More
When I watched the videos from our trip there’s one thing that surprised me: we didn’t name the lady in the GPS. We should have. That gal was BOSSY. “In a quarter mile turn right on Kansas 177 North. In a thousand feet turn right on Kansas 177 North. YOU’RE AT KANSAS 177 NORTH TURN …
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 1: Chapter 42 – The Final StretchRead More
Properly fortified, we resumed our exploration of Wichita with a visit to Aero Plains Brewing. How can you not love that name? They’re in the Air Capitol, in the Great Plains, it’s brilliant. We took a quick tour with co-owner Lance Minor and he pointed out that this country, and specifically Kansas, had gone from …
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 1: Chapter 41 – Vittles and FiddlesRead More
On our drive through Arizona, we’d felt like a soggy version of Pig-Pen, stalked by rain instead of dust clouds. Walking into the Wichita Marriott, we felt like actual Pig-Pen, swirls of dirt and grime clouding around us in the perfectly pristine lobby. Because this was a classy establishment, no one remarked on our disheveled …
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 1: Chapter 40 – Whoa There, WichitaRead More
Right before the turnoff to Bent’s Old Fort was a cobblestone arch and two stone markers. The first marker was a stone that had been installed in 1908 by the Daughters of the American Revolution and the State of Colorado to commemorate the Santa Fe Trail. Originally installed on a farm to the west, it …
Everything looks better in the morning. In addition to the general exhaustion and impatience I’d felt the night before, I had also been nervous. The closer we got to home the more I doubted what we were doing. Would any of it make sense? We were on this random trip that had no apparent continuity …
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 1: Chapter 38 – From Silent Sands to Dusty GrasslandsRead More
The day’s agenda had one item: Mesa Verde. Once again, we had no idea where we were sleeping that night, although we did know it would be someplace with plumbing. We were getting Stinky. Capital S. We smelled like hiking and campfire and multiple hours inside an enclosed vehicle. This trip sounds enticing, doesn’t it? …
We left Burr Trail Road, land of switchbacks and slot canyons and really nice pit toilets, and headed north through Capitol Reef National Park on Notom-Bullfrog Road. There were no gates; I guess if you can make it in the back way, they figure you’ve earned that $10 entrance fee. We followed a dirt path …
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 1: Chapter 36 – If I was any better I’d have to be twinsRead More
If you’re driving through southern Utah, don’t blink. If you do, you’ll most likely miss something spectacular. A drive from one National Park to another in canyon country is not like going from one roller coaster to the next. You don’t wait in line, experience the thrill, and then deal with tedium until you’re in …
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 1: Chapter 35 – Hoodoo You Think You Are?Read More
I consider myself to be fairly well versed in the English language. My high school graduation present was an unabridged dictionary and, despite multiple moves in the intervening years, it’s so cherished it’s never seen the inside of a box. I was in Latin club. I am fascinated by etymology. According to one of those …
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 1: Chapter 34 – Look, Jim, I’m a Goat!Read More
Driving through Nevada reminded me of walking in Las Vegas. If you’ve ever strolled down the Strip, you’ve probably experienced the sensation of seeing one of the big flashy casinos and thinking it’s within walking distance. And then you walk, and walk, and walk, and maybe half an hour later you finally reach the driveway …
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 1: Chapter 33 – So. Many. People.Read More
To be a member of the Historic Hotels of America, you have to meet a few criteria. You have to be at least 50 years old. You must “have been designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark or listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of …
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 1: Chapter 32 – The Town That’s So In-ClinedRead More
