Joshua Tree National Park, CA

I have managed to not go to Joshua Tree on 2 previous occasions. Both times I had been on road trips which went nearby but not quite close enough or with enough time to actually see it. This time, however, I was not going to miss out. I spent some time in La Quinta, just […]

Chicago to Portland – Epilogue – Road Trippin’

Interstate driving in the United States gives you a wonderful feeling of freedom. You rarely meet any significant traffic and it is possible to feel, at once, powerful and dominating in whatever giant vehicle you may be driving, yet small and insignificant against the vast, imposing, landscape. It is a baffling paradox in so many […]

Chicago to Portland – Day 5 – Home Stretch

Wed 12th August 2015 Day 4 Missoula, MT to Portland, OR 16 Hours – 547 Miles – 4 States MT+ID+WA+OR Arriving early in Missoula last night afforded us the luxury of time to find a good dinner. Our hotel was on the edge of town and we didn’t fancy a drive through the streets in the […]

Chicago to Portland – Day 4 – Early Start

Wed 12th August 2015 Day 4 Gillette, WY to Missoula, MT 13 Hours – 579 Miles – 2 States WY+MT We were up and out and buying coffee by 6am and on the road; our own private highway. during the first hour of our drive we encountered only a handful of cars. It was as if […]

Chicago to Portland – Day 3 – Bad Lands

Tues 11th August 2015 Day 3 Sioux Falls, SD to Gillette, WY 13 Hours – 566 Miles – 2 States SD+WY We pulled in to our hotel in sioux falls after dark last night. It was a comfortable place but we did not have the time or energy to use the swimming pool and water slides […]

Chicago to Portland – Day 2 – Slow Start

Mon 10th August 2015 Day 2 Chicago, IL to Sioux Falls, SD 11.5 Hours – 581 Miles – 4 States IL+WI+MN+SD We awoke this morning full of anticipation and a confidence that Budget Car Rental would come through with a solution and save the day. It is now 9.15am they have done nothing for us. In fact, their ineptitude […]

Chicago to Portland – Day 1 – False Start

I have never yet said no to a road trip in America. If you are moving across country and need to split the drive or have a wedding to go 4 states away and need a date, then I am your man. The lure of a long 2 lane high way stretching out in front of […]