Hippie Retrospective Road Trip

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Imagine if you will that it is 1969, and a young man sets out across the Great American Nation, in search of the true meaning of life. He has adventures, and meets kind people, and learns a lot about the daily reality of life, if not its meaning.

So, now it’s 2001, and a not so very young man decides, “What the hell, why not?”

I’m taking six weeks off work, I have no plans, I have no car, I have great faith in the fundamental goodness of my fellow man. I do have a credit card, this time, and I don’t have any dope.

I realize that I don’t post in MPSIMS very often, so this particular slice of the SDMB teeming millions doesn’t know me as well as the GD’ers, and the sand pounders down in the pit. But, hey, ask around, I’m know, dammit! A genuine Doper, in the Cecilian tradition.

Now I get to the nitty gritty. Any suggestions as to points of interest? Recommendations on things which will be happening between April the 11th, and May 28th? Offers of hospitality will be avidly considered, but simple hometown tourist hucksterism is fine as well. I got a tent. The continental US, and nearby contiguous North America seem like reasonable limits. I’m backpacing, and will probably get a bus or train pass for the occasion, maybe both. But Hitchhiking is a part of the tradition!

If I meet dopers with access along the way, I might even open up a “Where the hell is Triskadecamus?” thread for the trip. A month to kick the idea around could work. Or, this subject might just set a record for dropping off the page in MPSIMS.

2

Don’t waste time in the cities. Focus on the small towns and rural communities. If you’re taking Amtrack, go ahead and take a train from Chicago to New York, but try getting off at some place like Crestline, Ohio for a day or two.

3

Gotta envy you a bit, but do remember that things have changed alot since you last did something like this.

Try to find out which states prohibit hitchhiking altogether, if that’s your plan, and so forth. If you’re not aware, make sure you have a sign with your destination(s) prominently displayed. It makes all the difference in the world to drivers, for some reason.

Don’t wear sunglasses, make sure that drivers can see you for a good distance before decision time, and have a decent place for them to pull off without obstructing traffic.

Trust your instincts without fail. If you don’t like the ride offered, politely decline. Either sleep in public or completely hidden, nothing in between.

And stay away from the dang interstate. There isn’t anything you want to see there anyway.

Going in April? You’ve just got to see Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon/Colorado River/Green River areas… Totally awesome in the spring. Have Fun!

4

Well… If your wanderlust brings you through Northern Idaho, and it should, I’d be happy to provide facilities or point you to some great camping grounds. If you were interseted, we could even check out one or two of the local watering holes.

Sounds like a great way to get back into your roots.

5

:slight_smile: I’m sure you remember the rest. Things have changed some, but things are also still the same. Let me know if you make it this far - I have a sofa that I am told is comfy!

6

(Raleigh) Would love to have you Tris!

Anytime, babe, anytime. :smiley:

7

Sounds like you’ll have a great time, man! If, by some twist of fate, you end up in Korea… I have a floor you’re welcome to!

8

Oh Wow!! As a long time fan of yours, in the Cecilian tradition or not, how 'bout coming on down to Stone Mountain, GA??? We’ve got the second largest rock sculpture, AND [as an added bonus!] I get FREE parking, okay, it IS only five bucks, but it’s five less dollars YOU’LL have to spend! :wink:

Your thread idea sounds great, just please work at keeping yourself safe, okay???

9

Well, first you’re going to need a towel…

If you’re set on doing this, I really wish you would rethink the hitchhiking part. If you take busses and/or trains, you’ll have an opportunity to socialize with your fellow passengers if you’re so inclined, or read or listen to music if you’re not. And you’d get more of a chance to see the countryside, rather than just stare at the road. If you head somewhere warm, you could hike or ride a bicycle or one of those other healthy things. Please don’t hitchhike - I’d worry.

Oh. Gee, I’m sorry, we’re going to be really busy those weeks. But what the hell do you care? You don’t want to come to northern Indiana anyway! It’s incredibly dull - even the sky over Gary isn’t orange anymore.

10

aseymayo,

Thanks for the kind thoughts. Between not looking like I have enough to be worth going after, (an accurate impression, in fact!) and generally being more trouble than that little bit would be worth, I have never had much trouble in the years of hitchhiking I have done.

On the whole, though, I will be traveling on trains and busses most of the time. Turns out that about 750 bucks will cover trains and busses anywhere in the US for the entire trip. The romance of hitchhiking no longer really holds much allure for me. It’s boring, and slow.

Anti-pro,

A fan? <blush> Well, I never!

Stone Mountain is an interesting idea. I saw Crazy Horse, and Rushmore on the last trip, in fact, so there is a pleasing symmetry in the idea of seeing The Generals this time around. Got any famous trees thereabouts? Trees and rocks are among my favorite things, after people, such as yourself.

Astroboy,

Korea. Uh, yeah. Well, if I do get to the asian mainland, I will make it a point to get in touch!

Aenea,

Raleigh is a pretty good bet, I have a sister in . . . one of those damn Carolina towns, So, I am sure to be nearby. What with the entire Raleigh SD contingent, I will be scaring up some sort of get together, for sure. In all likelihood, that will be a return swing, coming home.

Sassy,

I have sons in San Francisco. Two in fact, and a Granddaughter I have never had in my lap. At long last I am very likely to make it all the way to the Golden State. (Last trip, everyone I met was on their way there, and I figured it must be pretty near full, so I went south.) Toward trip time, I will set up email options and such for the trip, and I will definitely touch base. Given the vagaries of sons and daughter-in-laws, I might even check out that couch!

Bare,

I have a friend in Idaho, near Jackson Hole, I think. Works in forest service, or BLM, or somesuch. Hey, nevermind that I haven’t seen him since the seventies, I am sure he would love to have me drop in! I have to tell you, though, the southern half of the country has a strong advantage extending into May.

Tedster,

You forgot “make eye contact.” That makes it a personal matter, between you and the driver. I never doubt my instincts, and I have very good instincts. Funny thing is that people tell me that they don’t usually pick up hitchhikers, but *their * instincts told them I was OK.

Kunilou,

I never visit cities. People, trees, rocks, books, and stuff. Rivers are pretty nice, too.

Thanks everyone, pretty good for a first day!

11

Better take a map wherever you wander, Jackson Hole is in Wyoming.

12

Some suggestions:[ul][li]Canyon de Chelly[/li]
[li]The Grand Canyon[/li]
[li]Sedona Redrock and Walnut Canyon in Winona[/li]
[li]Zion and Bryce Canyon in Utah[/li]
[li]The Hoover Dam tour[/li]
[li]Yosemite[/li]
[li]The Sequoia tall trees[/li]
[li]The Getty Museum in Los Angeles[/li]
[li]The coastlines of California and Oregon[/li]
[li]Golden Gate park in San Francisco[/li]
[li]The Avenue of the Giants[/li]
[li]The Olympic Rain Forest in Washington State[/li]
[li]Yellowstone[/li]
[li]The Grand Tetons[/li]
[li]The Smithsonian and the National Art Gallery[/ul][/li]The list is endless. The suggestions are pretty much in a clockwise sweep from Arizona up to the Pacific Northwest. The Smithsonian is mentioned out of sheer principal.

Let me know when you’re in the area. I’m a mile from the Amtrak station in San Jose, California and you might get a hot dinner out of the deal. Send me some email about this. We’ll see about having a mini-dopefest in the SF Bay Area when you get here.

13

Ok, so, he lives halfway between Idaho Falls, which is in Idaho, and Jackson (Maybe not Jackson Hole, I don’t know) which, as you point out, is in Wyoming.

Zenster,

Definately going to see some trees. The patriarch’s grove, in Arizona, and the big trees in California.

The Smithsonian, and the National Gallery, . . . Well, I started seeing those in fourth grade, on field trips. :slight_smile:

I live ten miles from the Smithsonian.

Dopefests sound great! I am even more vague on California geography than I am about Idaho, though. However, I still have a month and a half to plan this deal. Email is gonna be pretty easy. I am Triskadecamus@Hotmail.com (not to mention several other Triskadecami, on other freebie mail systems.) However, I will be pretty much at the mercy of library systems, and other such methods, during the trip.

By the day of travel I expect to have my on line Address Book at Hotmail chock full of names to spam as I wander.

14

Canyon de Chelly is a fabulous idea! I was there about 2 years ago, and will never forget it!

Also a must to see is Yellowstone National Park. There are things you will see there that you cannot find anywhere else in the world. I cannot recommend it enough.

One other thing, it should be illegal to travel anywhere near the Grand Canyon and not at least stop and look.

15

I have to offer: a full-size bed, shower, computer access, and a great view of the bird feeder in the back yard. This area has 4 coal-fired electric generating plants, so generally the views suck. WV has some very good parks in the mountains, and Ohio has…oh yeah, Hocking Hills & several “caves”. So if you’re hard up on your way back home, and find yourself on US Route 35, let me know.

16

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Triskadecamus *
**

I actually think we * do * have some famous trees, I’ll look it up and get back to you on it. Have fun! Take pictures of the sights along your way, and be sure to post them!

17

I think it’s time for bed. Whilst scanning the MPSIMS thread titles for fishy stuff, I spot:

Hippo Retrospective Road Trip

I immediately imagine a large grey mammal, driving an MG-A down a deserted Arizona highway, playing Led Zep tunes on the stereo. After my eyes adjusted, I saw my mistake. But it would have been selfish of me NOT to share this story. :wink:

18

I’m in Northern California, Shasta County. It’s between San Francisco, and Idaho…
Anyhow, keep me in mind if you need a place to crash. It might be cold for a tent around here.
I’m on two acres, great views, lots of quiet, dogs and cats if you’re allergic.

19

But. . . but, I don’t have an MG-A!

20

Thanks DragonLady! What with the many very nice trees, various descencents and large contingent of Dopers in California, it seems a very likely place to spend some of my time. I will make more detailed plans as time passes, and probably do it right here on this thread. (Me and Blanche Du Bois have always relied on the kindness of strangers.)