What to do when you boss says "Yes. You can take your 3 weeks of vacation at once"

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

A lot of people I know would love to take off from work for three weeks and go see the country. I think most of them are on this board. :wave1: I have been lucky enough to be able to do it twice now. The most recent was last summer, I have a lot of pictures from that trip so I decided I would share some of them here. I wont be doing a lot of writing in this one so even Bob should enjoy it.

We left on July 1st at 3 in the morning. We had a reservation for the night in Crossville, TN and that was a lot of miles before we were stopping. Our journey took us from CT, through NY and into PA where we made our first stop. I had promised SIlvia a stop at Hershy so she could get a chocolate shake.

We stopped at a truck stop in PA and I had to walk to the other end of the lot to take a look at this.

First time I have seen one of those but it was pretty cool. I didn't go in so that's all you get. Our next stop was Hershey.

For those of you who have not met her that is my wife Silvia in the shadows. She was really excited about her milkshake .

Sorry no actual pic of her milkshake. I think it was on her phone. I was busy exploring as 9:30 in the morning was a little to early for a milkshake for me.

We did see this guy though and he was kind enough to pose for me.

Continuing on we went through Maryland.

West Virginia

and Virginia sorry no sign picture before entering Tennessee.

We saw a hot air balloon before reaching our campground.

W stayed that night at the Crossville KOA. It was almost time for them to close up the office when we arrived and they were worried we had gotten lost. They forgave us when we told them we had driven straight from Connecticut. This was a very nice campground. We were tenting it so we had a site by a pond that had a picnic table and the area was nice and grassy. The comfort stations wer clean as well.

Some pics of the KOA were taken at night and some in the morning. Sorry for the lighting.

Our tent for our travels.

Just big enough to hold a queen size air matress.

The office/store

We setup the tent broke out the grill and made some hot dogs. After dinner we took a shower and went to bed. It had been a long day and we had many miles to go tomorrow.

I will pause here. In the next installment we cross the Mississippi River and head to Alma, AK Spinach capital of the world.(so the signs said anyway).

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

Day 2. We stopped at the gas station near the highway for fuel and so Silvia could get a Coffee. And then hopped on the road. It was about 7 am. We headed down I40 passing through Nashville and Memphis and then Crossing the Mississippi River into Arkansas.

Nashville

Memphis

Crossing the Mississippi

And cue the flat land.

Silvia had never been off the east coast besides flying to a destination so the changes in the land were a source of constant amazement for her. I also found the differences striking and beautiful.

We made it to Alma around 5 that evening and took a ride through the town to check it out and find a grocery store.

At a park in Alma.

And you finally get a picture of me in this trip report.

They put a lot of detail into the fountain of Popeye.

We stopped and picked up a couple of steaks to make for dinner and headed to our campground. We were staying this night at the Alma KOA. It was an okay campground. Not sure I would want to spend more than 1 night there but tit worked for our purposes. The bathrooms were fairly clean. This stop was one of our warmest nights. The midwest was in the beginning of that heat wave last summer and the low for the night was going to be 85 degrees I think. We decided to leave the rain fly off the tent to improve circulation. There were a lot of bugs around here as well.

Sorry forgot to take pictures of the rest of the amenities.

Continued in next post. Day 3 Oklahoma, Texas, and Roswell, NM for the last day of the International UFO Festival.

[photogal06...Sommer 10]

Hooray! I love long road trips! We're heading to Hershey next year on our way to ME and PEI....that milkshake sounds good. Can't wait to see more of your trip---especially the parts out west, as I've never been west of Memphis!

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

Day 3. We headed out from Alma pretty early as we really wanted to make it to Roswell before the UFO museum closed for the day. Back onto I40 we went zipping right into Oklahoma. Last time I did this trip with a buddy of mine were detoured off of I40 because a barge had hit a bridge. We saw a memorial for that in our travels. We also had chance to hop onto Rt. 66 for a little bit and stopped at the Oklahoma Rt. 66 museum but they weren't open yet. We continued on through to Texas where we switched roads in Amarillo at the signs for the 72 ounce steak (nope didn't get one) and headed across country to Roswell. We made it to Roswell at around 5 p.m. and had enough time to visit the museum before it closed. Then we got some dinner at Golden Corral before heading out to our campground. More on that later. But for now Pictures!

We missed the welcome to OK sign to I took this at our first rest area stop.

Driving through OK

Rt. 66

First wind turbines of the trip.

Heading down more of Rt. 66

At the Rt. 66 museum

eh close enough

Back on I40

And entering Texas

In case you weren't sure they give you plenty of signs your in TX

and our first giant cross of the trip.

our first and I think only old windmill

at a rest area on I40

There was a prevailing wind blowing that had made the trees grow up a little bit funny.

Amarillo

Heading towards Roswell

We saw a lot of really big long trains on this trip. You don't see them to much in the northeast.

Dust Devil

Welcome to New Mexico!

This was on an island in the middle of the road.

Driving to Roswell. Wishing I had filled up at the last gas station we passed even though we didnt need it yet.

Photo Limit. To be continued.

[ftwildernessguy 778]

I know exactly where that truck stop is in PA. I live about 1/2 hour from there and used to stop there on the way to work when I was with the VA hospital in Lebanon, PA. There are much nicer truck stops nearby now, Jason, with cleaner rest rooms. I won't hold it against you that you didn't stop by and say howdy.

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

Welcome aboard photogal. We have a lot more pictures to go. When we made the trip we ended up with 3500 pictures. We cut that down to just over 800 to print for albums and I am cutting just a little bit more so far for this report. If you or anyone else sees something they want to see more pics of speak up and I will see what I have.

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

I know exactly where that truck stop is in PA. I live about 1/2 hour from there and used to stop there on the way to work when I was with the VA hospital in Lebanon, PA. There are much nicer truck stops nearby now, Jason, with cleaner rest rooms. I won't hold it against you that you didn't stop by and say howdy.

I believe that one was a Pilot and I have had good luck with those in the past but this one was not quite the same level. It was a necessity stop though so we did use the restrooms and grab some munchies though.

[TnBob 311]

:thumbsup3: good job!

[mgsmom 9]

Enjoying your pics and story tremendously! You guys covered a LOT of ground.

[BouncingTiggers 98]

This is looks like a fun trip. Great pics!

[rdancemom... Pam 113]

I'm in! Couldn't miss a TR from my tenting buddies. :jumpforjoy

I've had those milkshakes. I'd drive down miles of long flat roads to get to them. Not sure why you're driving away from them but enjoying the sights along the way...

oh and :wave1: Silvia!

[doodlebug....Cherie 461]

I'm along for the ride!! This is great so far. :heartsmiley:

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Not sure I would want to spend more than 1 night there but tit worked for our purposes. .

Well I'll be. I thought that might be one of the words that gets filtered.

Enjoying the report!!

[caveat lector 181]

.....9:30 in the morning was a little to early for a milkshake for me.

Whoa there cowboy, I don't quite understand/believe this sentence.

Just kidding.

Great TR. cool idea to show all the you are now entering.......state signs

[caveat lector 181]

Btw, I am pro wind turbine. Cool variety on the pics

[stefa70 205]

Looks like quite an adventure!

Looking forward to hearing more :popcorn:

[wak648...Bill 94]

I believe that one was a Pilot and I have had good luck with those in the past but this one was not quite the same level. It was a necessity stop though so we did use the restrooms and grab some munchies though.

Hope you waved as you passed me on 81 in the Wilkes Barre area. My kids always laugh when they see at truck chapel.

[Brent... Just Brent 83]

Thanks for doing this TR Jason. It's good to see Silvia included, too. Now she just needs an account so she can tell us what she thought of everything.

[Judy in Texas 150]

Road Trip, Rt 66 and UFO's. Good deal!

PS: When you are in west Texas and on into New Mexico, stop every time you see a gas station. You never know where the next will be. Same goes for the Dakotas. Packing stuff for lunch is also a good idea. You might find a Dairy Queen but that's about it.

[dblr....Rennie 224]

Looks like a fun trip, those mobile chapels are at a lot of truck stops some never move, a guy I worked with years ago would preach at the one near my house but I never went down to hear him. Looking forward to more of your adventure!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

This is awesome!!!!!!! Can't wait to read more!!!! Don't feel bashful about posting pictures. If you got 3000 post em!!!!

[Heidi-meetsTCD@TSM 5]

This is going to be a fun read!!! We just got home on Thursday from an almost three week traveling vacation.....put on aroung 2,800 miles. It was our third western adventure. We are from the east coast too....NH. However, we fly out west, rent a van and stay in different hotels every night as we travel around. You guys are awesome to do all that traveling and set up a tent every night!!!! My hat goes off to you!!!!!

We LOVE Hershey too!!! We used to sneak in a trip every year. Its only 8 hours from our house to Hershey. We havent been for three years now....darn kids growing up and getting too busy!!!

I hear you about getting gas when you can.....sometimes little towns are few and far between.

Can't wait for your next update!!

[PureTcrazy...rita 380]

Jason, I am so glad you are doing this! Love it so far and looking forward to more!

[fladogfan aka Gretchen 259]

I love long road trips even when it's someone else doing the driving....you really cover a lot of ground ..fast

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

:thumbsup3: good job!

Thanks Bob!

Enjoying your pics and story tremendously! You guys covered a LOT of ground.

Especially on the first day of our trip we do a long drive. I think it has to do with me wanting to get out of range of being called back if there is an emergency.

This is looks like a fun trip. Great pics!

Thanks! It was a great time and Silvia is always asking when we can go again.

I'm in! Couldn't miss a TR from my tenting buddies. :jumpforjoy

I've had those milkshakes. I'd drive down miles of long flat roads to get to them. Not sure why you're driving away from them but enjoying the sights along the way...

oh and :wave1: Silvia!

Hi camping buddy!!! Silvia could have spent much more time at Hershey but we had so much to cover on this trip that we had to get moving.

I'm along for the ride!! This is great so far. :heartsmiley:

Welcome aboard! I am glad you are enjoying it.

Well I'll be. I thought that might be one of the words that gets filtered.

Enjoying the report!!

Doh! I wish I could claim i was typing on my phone and auto correct got me. But I was on my regular computer. Glad you are aboard and clearly paying attention.

Whoa there cowboy, I don't quite understand/believe this sentence.

Just kidding.

Great TR. cool idea to show all the you are now entering.......state signs

It also helped when we were trying to keep track of where the pictures were taken. Sometimes stretches of road are hard to tell apart.

Looks like quite an adventure!

Looking forward to hearing more :popcorn:

More coming up after my replies.

Hope you waved as you passed me on 81 in the Wilkes Barre area. My kids always laugh when they see at truck chapel.

Sorry Bill. I didn't know the fiends last year. I will definitely wave next time though.

Thanks for doing this TR Jason. It's good to see Silvia included, too. Now she just needs an account so she can tell us what she thought of everything.

Silvia's thoughts are really easy to channel. "OOOOHHHH SO pretty!" Silvia isn't a big boards person and right now she is starting Grad school so I don't know how often I will be seeing her to begin with. Maybe in 2 years I can convince her to join up.