Starting point to be determined. Basically just take 101 South.
The target for today is an "Eagles on Highway" sign somewhere between Vegas and Utah (most likely in Utah). Mapping software estimates that we'll take about 8.5 hours to get there. Also, on this leg, we are picking up the rest of the Southern California crew, which will probably cost us an hour, plus we'll probably need another hour for lunch and misc gas breaks. To get to this sign while it is still light so we can take the obvious picture (4pm, say), we will have to leave by 6am. That puts us at our Pasadena pickup point at 7:30am. Hopefully, we won't hit much LA traffic, as it is Mother's Day today.
This stiff schedule will put us in our hotel in Springfield well before 6pm. This is a good thing, because the next day will be a whirlwind tour of National Parks and the most awesome stretch of highway in the country. We'll have to be well rested to conquer Utah 12. Springfield doesn't have much in the way of chain hotels, but there is a good sampling anyway, since Zion is a pretty big tourist attraction.
Hopefully, we'll be able to get out of the hotel before 7am. Kind of early, but we need to beat any traffic crawling through Zion Natl Park. It is quite a popular park and crowded even on weekdays (like Yosemite). Zion is pretty much how you would think Yosemite would look like if it were moved to Utah. We'll plan to spend a couple hours in the valley. There is also spectacular driving leading out of the park (including some cool switchbacks and a quarter-mile tunnel, but the Ranger Factor and Bago Factor here are high.
On the way out of Zion, we'll hop onto US89 - this will give you a good taste of what's to come, as this highway has also made Car & Driver's Ten Best list. We'll have just started enjoying Utah 12 when we approach Bryce Canyon Natl Park. We'll definitely want to spend a couple hours here (learning about hoodoos), and probably pick up a late lunch at the famous Ruby's Inn.
Next, we get to rip it up on Utah 12. 70 miles of the most scenic driver's roads in America. Even your passenger will have a good time. More than once, we'll be stopping to catch our breath and rest our horses as we climb over 9000 foot passes.
Next, it is the more sedate (but enjoyable still) Utah 24. Capitol Reef is a relatively new Natl Park, and therefore has a lot fewer visitors and a more natural atmosphere. If we have time, we'll hike 1500 feet up to Cassidy Arch for a view you will never forget.
This time of year, there should be light until at least 8pm. If we're lucky and have some extra time, we'll stop over at Goblin State Park. Dusk should add to the eerie atmosphere of these very interesting formations.
Green River has a good selection of hotel, fast food, and gasoline chains.
This day is still pretty much up in the air. We'll have to see how people are feeling after the grueling previous day. If we want to hit a couple more Natl Parks (therefore seeing all five in Utah), we'll have to get up early again. Even if we decide to skip the Natl Parks, we'll probably still detour down to Moab so we can drive through the spectacular Castle Valley.
On I-70 outside of Green River, there is another "Eagles on Highway" sign. However, I am unsure as to its exact location, and we might be doing a loop around it. Anyway, if we get a chance, we'll all mug for the camera.
Canyonlands will be the first Natl Park of the day. The road in the park is a great twisty drive, but I've only been there late in the day when the Bago factor was low. This park really requires a true 4WD offroad vehicle to appreciate fully, but the view from the overlooks will absolutely blow you away. If you have ever played with fractals, you will feel like you are trapped in the world's largest Mandlebrot set. The Grand Canyon don't look so grand after you scope out the view from Dead Horse Point.
Arches Natl Park is probably the most famous park in Utah. Another beautiful valley to drive through, only this time you are surrounded by all sorts of arches. Plenty to see and do here. If we can pull it off, a picnic lunch would be nice here, else we can eat and gas up in Moab, a few miles to the south.
I've only driven through the Castle Valley late at night under a full moon. Actually, I was a passenger at the time, and fully enjoyed the flying buttresses passing by my window. The road follows a winding river - not as challenging as Utah 12, but a spectacular drive nonetheless.
You better have enjoyed the Castle Valley drive, because the rest of the way is the dreaded Interstate. Boring, but functional, and we ought to make great time, as all the speed limits have been raised to 75mph out here, in most places.
I70 through Colorado is a nice highway as Interstates go. The scenery ain't too bad, at least in the mountains, plus we get to blast past all those normally-aspirated cars choking heavy at high altitude. Might get another good road sign shot in the town of Eagle. But for the most part, we'll be blasting through the state trying to reach North Platte at a decent hour. This town has the usual selection of chain hotels, etc.
This is a high-mileage day, but we don't have anything planned, so we ought to be able to make Normal in well under 12 hours, including stops.
We provide our own entertainment today - an entire stream of 100 pure DSMs cruising along... it will be an awesome sight!
We are stopping for a special dinner at the Holiday Inn in Angola, Indiana. Here's the scoop from the guy who set it up.... "I just reserved the banquet room at the Holiday Inn for the group. Here's the details-Roast Top Round of Beef, BBQ Pork Ribs (supposedly a GREAT BBQ sauce), Baked Potatoes, Green Beens, Cherry Cheesecake, Softdrinks, Milk, Coffee or Tea, Tip and Tax included $9.95/person. We'll have the room from 5:00 to 7:00pm with dinner scheduled to start at 5:30." Note that Angola is near the intersection of I-80 and I-69 towards the east end of Indiana.
Total mileage for trip is 2583 miles.
Last updated April 22nd, 1997.