TRIP HIGHLIGHTS


BACK ROADS ACROSS AMERICA TEAM

Us at the Gas StationWe are Back Roads Across America Team, Van and Kyle. Between June 26th to July 6th we traveled across America from Arizona to Georgia. With this site you can feel like you were part of the trip!

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ROAD TRIP OVERVIEW

Trip MapThis is a quick overview of the full road trip that was taken.



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BATS

BatsWe saw amazing bats come out of Carlsbad Caverns for their nightly feeding! They are only about 2 inches long!


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WHO WILL CLEAN OUR WINDOWS

Dirty Windows Our windows were really dirty so Kyle had a thought that one of those window washers would clean the window, but how?


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LEARNING TO DRIVE

Learning to Drive One of the goals on the trip was for Kyle to learn stick shift! Be careful! No one drive one the road until we tell you its safe!!


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PROBLEMS

Engine Problem Oh No! We ran into some problems! Nothing we could not handle..maybe..I think...



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PSYCHO

Dancing Hey, life is short we have to party!!



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Thursday, July 16, 2009

Untold Story #2

Wind Farms Across America
One of my biggest surprises of the trip was the quantity of wind turbines (farms). United States ranks #1 in world with 28,635 MW megawatts (MW) of installed capacity.

Friday, July 10, 2009

The Greatest Fan

Brent trying to figure out the Round 4 Question, Whos House is Pretty Boy Floyd's?

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Round 4 Contest Question

WHICH HOUSE WAS PRETTY BOY FLOYD BORN IN?
Charles Arthur Floyd (February 3, 1904 – October 22, 1934), aka "Pretty Boy Floyd," was an American bank robber and alleged killer, romanticized by the press and by folk singer Woody Guthrie in his song "Pretty Boy Floyd".
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Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Monday, July 6, 2009

My Blog Widget!

Round 4 Contest Question

WHICH HOUSE WAS PRETTY BOY FLOYD BORN IN?
Charles Arthur Floyd (February 3, 1904 – October 22, 1934), aka "Pretty Boy Floyd," was an American bank robber and alleged killer, romanticized by the press and by folk singer Woody Guthrie in his song "Pretty Boy Floyd".
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Untold Story #1










What Is worse than engine failure?

On our trip going east and traveling through southern Texas the temperature was around 105. The day before we had engine problems that we had worked to resolve but what was about to happen would be far worse.

The A/C stopped working and we started to panic and contemplating turning around. After trying to turn the A/C off and on several times without any result and the temperature rising in the car we decided to try leaving the A/C off for 10 minutes. Fortunately this worked and we continued our trip.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Shamrock Texas devastated by storm



Driving in the Storm!









Back in Texas!

Texas!

Oklahoma

Driving Stick Shift!!

Sign from Heaven!


Traveling North in Texas and Oklahoma

Turkeys!!

Wild turkey's in Gordon & Lois' backyard

Updated trip plans






Another long day traveling over 600 miles from Fort Worth to Moriarty NM. Had good back roads starting on US287 and taking a detour through Oklahoma and picking up US66. Kyle ended up driving most of the day






Gordon & Lois

We spent last night at my Aunt Lois & Uncle Gordon’s house in Fort Worth. Even though it was very short it was wonderful to spend some time visiting and was also really nice to visit with Rick & Pam. After a good night sleep we had a huge breakfast and were off on our journey.


Friday, July 3, 2009

Round 3 Identify The Sound

We Made It To Texas!!

Updated trip plans

Today was a long day traveling 813 miles from Adairsville Georgia to Fort Worth Texas.



THE CONTEST

YOU CAN WIN A PRIZE!!
Only one will win!

Playing Rules:

Everytime you are the winner of a one of many quizes we have, we will put your name in a hat, and at the end of the Road Trip we will draw one name out. Whoever that name is will win the PRIZE!!

The More Quizes You Win The More Chances You Have Of Winning A Prize!!

And the answer is.......

DUCKS!!


Brent won!!
Stay tune for round 3!!

Kung Fu Fighting!

What the Alligators Eat!!

Alligator Videos! SUPER COOL!!





More Alligator Pictures!!

We Found Alligators!!

Back on June 27th we listed 3 objectives for the trip.
1) Visit Papa in Georgia for his 80 birthday
2) Travel and see America via back roads avoiding interstates
3) Kyle learn to drive
We had a wonderful visit with Papa over the past few days for our first objective and we are still working on #2 & #3. A few days ago we added a 4th objective
4) See some Alligators
When Kyle found out that Alligators lived in the Louisiana bayou he became obsessed. On our trip east when we stopped at the Sprague’s home Donna took us on a side trip to the bayou but unfortunately they were in hiding, and from a reliable source they had gone to Florida. Kyle was disappointed but never gave up hope. On our trip back west we had an extremely aggressive day planned traveling 813 miles.
As we were traveling through Louisiana today I caught a glimpse of a sign about alligators. After inquiring at a gas station we were off in pursuit. After a few miles we came to the gator farm but it was closed. After explaining to the proprietor our sad story of our journey across America and my son who so longed to see an Alligator, the proprietor let us in the park and we didn't have to pay admissions. It was an incredible park and the alligators were awesome


Louisiana

Mississippi River

Hello again Mississippi, we're back

More Krystal Fun!

Will you ever eat Chicken again?

Makes you wonder what you eat!

Hey! Look, its Alabama again!

Bye, South! Here Comes the West!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Ordering at Krystal!!

Around Town in Adairsville

Adairsville

Adairsville was originally a small Cherokee village named after Chief Walter (John) S. Adair, a Scottish settler who married a Cherokee Indian woman. Hotels, mills, and blacksmith shops were built up around where the railroad in 1847. During the Civil War on April 12, 1862, Adairsville was part of the great locomotive chase and then the Battle of Adairsville. After the Civil War ended in 1865, Adairsville rebuilt and became a hub for the carpet and textile industries, and for farm and transportation services, including its famous railroad. Some historical buildings still intact in the town include the original train depot which was involved in "The Great Locomotive Chase". Adairsville is also well known for Barnsley Gardens, which is now a golf resort. Barnsley Gardens is situated southwest of the city center of Adairsville. The home was built by Sir Godfrey Barnsley of Derbyshire, England in the late 1840s for his wife Julia. She died before the house could be completed, but it is said that her ghost appeared to Sir Godfrey, telling him to complete the work. It was brought about by the visions of Andrew Jackson Downing, the architect who designed the grounds of the U.S. Capitol and White House. The ruins of the great main house remain. Almost lost to time and the elements, the land, including all of the ruins, was bought in 1988 by Prince Hubertus Fugger who restored the gardens and renovated the grounds into an upscale golf resort.


Entering Krystal!!

Cracker Barrel

Krystal Fun!

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Eye of the Cat!

Another Chance to Win!!

Guess this sound round 2.

Whoever guesses the most correct answers during the road trip will win a grand prize


And the answer is.......


Refer to "Identify this sound" on June 29th. Papa Had the correct answer, it was a Green Treefrog.


This frog reaches 2.5 inches in length. The color is generally a bright green as seen here. Occasionally specimens may be lighter or even fade to a yellowish green. There is normally a distinct white or yellowish line running laterally along the side of the frog from the snout to the vent , but this stripe may occasionally be reduced or absent. They also can also have yellow flecks on the back. Green Treefrogs may be heard calling anytime from March to October in the South, and during the spring in the northern part of its range - Species Hyla cinerea

We're Home!!!

After traveling 2000 miles on backroads accross America we have made it to Papa's in Adairsville Georgia.

After traveling 2000 miles on back roads across America we have made it to Papa in Adairsville Georgia.
This New England cottage was built by my great-grandfather in 1905 and was one of the first homes in town to have electricity. The house featured inside shutters on the windows, four fire places, stained glass on doors and gabled windows, 11 ft wood ceilings and sliding panel doors.

Accelerator stuck

THE OPEN ROAD

Almost There!!