If anyone is interested.

[selurcspi]

Well, we've just returned from our Trans US sojourn and Frontsight visit.
We took a lazy 3 days to drive out there through South Dakota with the obligatory visit to Wall Drug and Mount Rushmore, both are spectacular but for different reasons. From Mount Rushmore we took the County Roads down through Wyoming. The scenery was amazing and well worth the detour. A word of warning: County Roads in Wyoming are literally two ruts in the grass. We saw parts of the state that no one but the locals see. The views were spectacular, with some amazing rock formations and fantastic scenery in general. We were very lucky with the weather in this part of the trip, the roads (LOL) were dry and easily passable, if there had been any significant rain or snow, we could have had real problems.
The Class at Frontsight went well, a different set of instructors with some different insights. I shot a 5” 625 for the whole thing and finished just 3 points shy of perfect, (graduated DG, my second). China shot an XDm and moved up in the test scores (you can teach an old dog new tricks) to finish 11 points shy of DG, next time, she’s going to get it. The possibility of our trying our hand at the instructor’s class was discussed with the Range Master and we’re thinking about giving it a go, perhaps in the spring.
We took an extra day in the area and drove through “Death Valley” a beautiful place at this time of the year; with some interesting ruined buildings, pretty canyons, salt flats and alkali pools. The road is 70 miles or so, but the whole valley is something over a hundred; it’s easy to see why many people died out there; it’s the hottest area in the US, with temps above 130F and more or less no drinkable water.
The next day we drove out to the Hoover Dam and then on to the Grand Canyon. I was amazed at the structure of the canyon, I expected a big trench kind of formation, but in fact there is an amazing network of valleys and canyons that make up the whole canyon. On to Flagstaff for a night’s sleep before driving out to “Meteor Crater”; I had no idea a hole in the ground could be so interesting, but this thing was huge and has a very interesting story behind it.
Pushing on to Albuquerque and a visit to the old town center was next. Some of the buildings are over three hundred years old and we had our anniversary dinner in one of these old mansions turned restaurant, 27 years, and we haven’t even shot each other yet…LOL. Another night of well-deserved rest and on to OK City; I had to have a visit to Tucumcari (does anyone know why), we spent quite a bit of the day driving Route 66; it’s sad really, most of the towns along the way are run down and basically dying since the Interstate has become the quick way across the country. Main Street in all of these towns can be noted as a row of old gas stations, restaurants and motels that have mostly gone out of business.
From OK City heading for Des Moines, we went to visit Buffalo at the “Tall Grass Prairie” preserve, somewhere in the middle of Kansas. I was promised Buffalo, but all I got was a two hour hike into virgin prairie all to find no beasties. Just when we thought we might find some of these mystical animals, we climbed another hill to find more nothing on the other side. In all seriousness, it was really quite beautiful and pretty much as the settlers found it 150 plus years ago. Well, that was our touristical thing to do in Kansas and we arrived in Des Moines tired and ready to sleep.
Our final day of travel was started in earnest with a plan to find another Buffalo viewing location and this one, after a quick phone call, promised to get us close enough to hand feed these prairie monarchs. We had to drive about 130 miles out of our way to find the farm, but we were rewarded with the sight of the Buffalo way across the field. Dan the owner of the place gave us the history of the farm which has been in his family for almost 160 years. Another family arrived for the tour and we all climbed into a wagon and headed off into the fields in search of a close encounter. After passing a couple of mustangs (equine variety), two burros and a llama, we pressed on through the increasing sleet and we were rewarded with the appearance of about 20 Buffalo with two older bulls 10 or 12 cows and half a dozen younger animals of various ages. We spent about half an hour feeding the herd and then made a bee line for the gate before they found out we had no more corn and attacked. From The Buffalo Farm we headed home and our own bed for the night.
Well, that’s the story and we had a great road trip and actually SAW some of our great country.

I'll get some Photos up once I get them off the camera.

[PhilaBOR]

Sounds like a great trip. Sounds like you had a good experience at Front Sight, and a lot of fun on the rest of the loop.

[Drizzle]

I'm getting the idea that driving anywhere might be the only way to go. I hate to use up two days minimum on either side of my destination getting there, but such are the hazards of living in the midwest. With a co-driver it's much easier to go 6-800 miles in a day, but I'm solo and left with about a 500 mile per day arc to go somewhere, many of which places I've been. I'm still hope to drive to Colorado for a gun school next year, unless they do it closer, and Farnham's school or something in Missouri would be doable.

[MrVvrroomm]

With a co-driver it's much easier to go 6-800 miles in a day, but I'm solo and left with about a 500 mile per day arc to go somewhere

I regularly do 700+ miles per day....on 2 wheels. In August I left my place in Shakopee at 5am, solo on the bike, and was in Denver by 730pm local. This was an 875 mile trip, less than half of which was interstate.

[Dawn]

Sounds like a great trip all a round! congrats on 27 years and no leaks!

[gyrfalcon]

I regularly do 700+ miles per day....on 2 wheels. In August I left my place in Shakopee at 5am, solo on the bike, and was in Denver by 730pm local. This was an 875 mile trip, less than half of which was interstate.

Well at least with two wheels it helps you stay awake a bit better... Nothing worse than a long dark stretch of road with those *@&#&$% reflectors from hell.

[Pat Cannon]

I'm jealous, sounds like a great time. Welcome home!

[chinakay]

That "old dog" jab is going to cost you another dinner, smartaleck

[Pezhead]

Thanks for the summary of your trip. It sounds like you really had a fun time time. You get to see so much more on road trips especially if you get off the interstate. Driving Route 66 in the west is really interesting. It makes you wonder what it would have been like to actually see it in it's hayday. Anytime we can get off the beaten path is always fun.
Tucumcari-Cadillac Ranch?

[princewally]

I regularly do 700+ miles per day....on 2 wheels. In August I left my place in Shakopee at 5am, solo on the bike, and was in Denver by 730pm local. This was an 875 mile trip, less than half of which was interstate.

Well at least with two wheels it helps you stay awake a bit better...

Not always. The last time I rode to Colorado, I found a reason to be thankful I sleepwalk and, apparently, ride.

[Grandpa Rex]

The wife and I tend to avoid interstates if we have the time. We hit side roads and small towns and see a lot more of the good and not so good of the midwest. The only problem we have is the whiplash from the sudden braking when the driver sees something interesting!

Great report! I look forward to some pics!

[Pezhead]

Granpa Rex I agree.

[xd ED]

Granpa Rex I agree.

As do I. Due to airlines and freeways, traveling has become a lost art. There is more to getting there than just getting there.

[Pezhead]

You usually find some of the best food off the beaten path. You know when you find a good place when they have to give you a menu but the local just say the usual.

[chinakay]

Tucumcari-Cadillac Ranch?

Nope. Think Clint