Maps

Des Moines, IA

This summer, I'm taking a few months (from June to about the Middle of September) and my motorcycle and setting foot in all 48 continental states. The plan is pretty flexible, though I have a few dates I need to meet - Be in Vegas around the 20th of July or so, be in Memphis around the beginning of August. Other than that, it's pretty open to whatever I feel like doing. The route I'm planning on taking is roughly like this (this is NOT the actual roads I'll be taking, just a general area I'll be in).

First half: http://bit.ly/gMoUHx

Second half: http://bit.ly/f9ktIB

Whole thing combined (not editable): http://bit.ly/hKW98G

So here's what I need from you guys.

1. Do you know of an awesome place that I should definitely see that (hopefully) isn't too far off my planned path? An awesome state park, a cool microbrewery (definitely let me know about these), a monument, or just the coolest thing in one of the cities I'm visiting? Let me know. The first two links go to a "my maps" page which should allow you to edit the maps and add placemarks of places you think I should go. Put your name, what it is, and why I should stop there, etc.
2. Do you have a place I can crash for a few nights? I'll mostly be couch-surfing for the trip, but I'd much rather stay with friends or acquaintance if possible. All I need is a couch and a place to park a motorcycle, and maybe a shower. Actually, let's make that shower a requirement, as I'll be coming in from a few hours on the bike. If you can house me for a while, put a placemark on the map, let me know for how long and if there's any restrictions on it (weekends only, have to get up early, have to share the couch with your pet goat, etc.).

So that's pretty much it. Let me know what you guys think. Rate the map, comment on it, whatever. Just try not to move the actual destinations that I marked down on there - I'll move those if I actually decide on a route change.

Here's a map that I'm updating as I can to record where I've actually gone.  (Note: there's multiple pages, so you need to scroll down in the left pane and click "next" to see later parts.)
48 States Actual: http://bit.ly/ldDQeL


TO EDIT THE MAPS:
Note: Apparently you need a google (gmail) account to edit the maps. I'd recommend getting one anyway, since they have a lot of good services, but if you don't have one then the "edit" button doesn't show up. I'll try to add locations for people who can't.

Click on one of the two links above - first one is from Peoria out to the west coast to Las Vegas, second one is Las Vegas through the South, up the east coast and then back to Peoria. Then follow these directions:

Edit the map by clicking here:

Add a placemark by right-clicking where you want to add it, then selecting "Add a placemark"




Add a title, a description of why I should go there (or when you can offer me a couch), and your name, and click "Ok"

Click Save if you still want to add another, or Done if you're finished.

Ideal Couchsurfing Experience

Kansas City, KS

If I had to picture my ideal couchsurfing experience, it would probably be something like this:

Cool guy in a nice apartment.  Go out for some craft beers and a meal, ideally brewed at the restaurant. Get some kind of tour of the city from someone who knows it.  Hang out with his group of friends, maybe see a concert or local show. Go to a low-key bar and talk.

Anybody want to guess how my night was last night?  I'll give you a hint: I did all of those.

Sitting at the Bar

Somewhere in Missouri

One of my favorite stops so far happened yesterday on the way from St. Louis to Lake of the Ozarks.  I was driving through a small town called Rosebud.  It was getting to be about dinner time, and I saw a place called M.Clancy's Irish Pub and Grill.  "Awesome!" I thought.  "I can get a Guinness and some Irish food."  Well, apparently in Rosebud, they're pretty liberal with the definition of Irish - they didn't have Guinness, and their special of the day was Catfish.  I didn't check out the rest of the menu because catfish sounded pretty good, but I'm not sure how Irish they actually were.

I spent the first half of my meal just sitting and listening to the conversations around me... apparently one of the guys had just gotten back from someplace near China, or as his friend called it, "that commie country."  "I wasn't actually in the commie country, just nearby."

Might As Well Be Walking On the Sun

St. Louis, MO

Holy cow it's hot today.  91 degrees, feels like 98.  I believe it, and let me tell you, when I'm getting ready to get on the motorcycle in a black helmet, black jacket, and long pants, it's not pleasant.


I'm currently sitting at St. Louis Bread Co. (also known as Panera outside of St. Louis), enjoying the people watching and the use of an outlet.  I'm not sure how things will work out if/when I get to areas where outlets aren't available, but my laptop tells me it has between 12 and 18 hours of charge on it, and I can charge my phone off of it, so I should be able to make it through those areas without too much trouble.

I think it finally hit me that I'm going on this trip about halfway to St. Louis yesterday.

You Are Now Leaving Illinois

So I've left Illinois, and other than one weekend, won't be back until September.  I don't know that it's really sunk in yet...

I will say one thing though - this is probably the most comfortable bed I'll sleep in this entire trip.

I took some pictures today, I'll post them tomorrow.

Here's a thought: I saw some random people while going through small towns today, and was curious what their lives are like.  What do people think about me doing interviews of random people as I travel through towns, and posting videos? Worth it, or just creepy and I should avoid it?  What kind of questions should I ask if I did it?  I'd have to get some video editing software to make that work, but I think it'd be doable.

Struggling Through Concerts

I mentioned before that I went to summer camp this past weekend.  I noticed something this year in particular, though I've kind of noticed it in the back of my mind other years as well as at other concerts.

It's become pretty regular for me that at some point on Friday of summer camp, usually during one of the later shows in the evening, I start wondering if I really want to do this for two more days.  It's pretty rough, especially if it's sunny the whole time - which (I suppose I can be grateful for the weather somehow) it was not this time.  You get tired quickly, you have to work pretty hard to stay hydrated, and you're standing for really long periods of time.  As enjoyable as the concerts are, it's hard to go to that many.  (I assume it's easier if you are, like most of the people there, not 100% sober, whether from legal or illegal substances.)

Summer Camp

So this weekend was my fourth Summer Camp, and what may end up being my last.

For those who don't know what Summer Camp is, it's a 3-day music/camping festival in Chillicothe, just north of Peoria.  Five (or more) stages with bands switching in and out from 11am until 1am Friday until Sunday, and sometimes more concerts after that until 3am or later.  You camp out in a field (or if you get there early enough, in the woods), wake up in the morning, go to concerts all day, and then crash in the tent whenever you decide sleep becomes a high enough priority to override whatever concerts are left.

This year was pretty amazing, even though going in I wasn't too excited for many of the bands.  Bela Fleck, the Avett Brothers, Punch Brothers, and a few others were on my radar, as were the usual suspects like moe. and Umphrey's McGee.  This year was certainly notable, however, for the weather.