Sun
Jun 30 2019
11:33 am
By: R. Neal
We just got back from a road trip out West. 21 days, 6600 miles, 18 states. Temps from 33 to 102F and elevations from 0 to 9700+ feet. We drove the northern part of CA-1 up the Pacific coast (which is like 129 to Fontana except 200 miles long), US-101 up the Oregon Pacific coast, up to Portland and through the Columbia River Gorge, then back to Seattle, over to Yellowstone, through the Bighorn Mountains and the Watipi Valley in WY, and then the Badlands in SD. Call us the Breeze because we didn't stay in any one place very long. We're happy to be home.
Click here to see a snapshot gallery, or click here for the thumbnail index...
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Discussing:
- Stop the Raids (4 replies)
- Bring the vaccines TO the people (7 replies)
- The situation (467 replies)
- Knox County COVID deaths are increasing too dramatically (3 replies)
- Coronavirus vaccine conundrum (9 replies)
- CMS approves Tennessee block grant for Medicaid/TennCare (4 replies)
- Vaccine tourism (1 reply)
- President Biden's press conference (2 replies)
- Executive Order on Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing (3 replies)
- How to stay safe as coyotes are out and about in East Tennessee (2 replies)
- Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors, as of January 1, 2021 (2 replies)
- Burchett imprecise on 25th Amendment (9 replies)
TN Progressive
- 28% of Blount County coronavirus deaths in last 3 weeks (BlountViews)
- 81 Covid Dead in Roane County (RoaneViews)
- Friday Toons (RoaneViews)
- Breathe deeply (Domestic Psychology)
- If You See One Thing Today... (RoaneViews)
- Sometime Today Roane County Will Record Its 80th Covid Death (RoaneViews)
- Blount County coronavirus cases over 9,300 as of 12/27/2020 (BlountViews)
- Blount County coronavirus cases nearly 8,000 as of 12/17/2020 (BlountViews)
- Blount County coronavirus cases over 7,000 as of 12/11/2020 (BlountViews)
- The 2020 Presidential Debate: We've Been Here Before (Joe Powell)
- Recommendations for August 6 (Left Wing Cracker)
- Facts and Truth - the Vaccine for Our Nation (Joe Powell)
TN Politics
- Tennessee Dems send Medicaid block grant objections to Biden (TN Journal)
- New TNDP Leader: Emphasize Economic Issues (Nashville Scene)
- Analysis: Education stakeholders fear Gov. Lee will push for takeover of Nashville schools (TN Lookout)
- Republicans back new healthcare plan after Tennessee rejects Medicaid expansion (TN Lookout)
- Commentary: End asset forfeiture in Tennessee (TN Lookout)
- Lawmaker searched by FBI misses campaign finance deadline (TN Journal)
- Several state-authorized schools remain virtual as Lee blasts Nashville and Memphis for not reopening (TN Lookout)
- Lawmakers warn education commissioner about reading screener contract (TN Lookout)
- After a law for pregnant workers quietly passed in 2020, advocates turn to education (TN Lookout)
- Casada PAC attacks from 2018 appear to be templates for hit pieces on Tillis (TN Journal)
- Phoenix calling: Mystery vendor received more than $200K in 2020 (UPDATED) (TN Journal)
- Tennessee Moves Corrections Officers Up on Vaccine Priority List, Leaving Prisoners Behind (Nashville Scene)
- Former Sen. Jim Tracy joins Commerce Department (TN Journal)
- COVID diagnosis in Senate raises concerns (UPDATED) (TN Journal)
- New Affordable Housing Task Force Has Plenty to Tackle (Nashville Scene)
- Attorneys Say DNA Testing Results Consistent With Pervis Payne’s Innocence Claim (Nashville Scene)
- Tennessee Democrats Elect Hendrell Remus New Party Chair (Nashville Scene)
- The Weekly Links: The Insurrectionists, Justin Townes Earle and Trump's Last Execution (Nashville Scene)
Knox TN Today
- White runs circle route, selects Josh Heupel (Knox TN Today)
- Fewer people adds a lot of magic at Disney World (Knox TN Today)
- Alex Brandau III: Poking holes in Old Hickory (Knox TN Today)
- Come plant a tree at Collier Preserve (Knox TN Today)
- KCS deadline approaches for transfer requests (Knox TN Today)
- Girl Scouts help Random Acts of Flowers (Knox TN Today)
- Teacher of the Week winners (Knox TN Today)
- Morgan plans weekend concerts (Knox TN Today)
- ‘Hokey Pokey’ is Blackburn’s dance (Knox TN Today)
- Knox Health Board: Life support extended (Knox TN Today)
- Stride Rites on a hot tin roof (Knox TN Today)
- Lenders busy in January (Knox TN Today)
Local TV News
- Board of Health votes to push 10 p.m. curfew to 11 p.m. (WATE)
- East Tennessee radio executive Randy Ross dies (WBIR)
- American Airlines flight diverted to McGhee Tyson after possible mechanical issue (WATE)
- 4 people safe after house fire in East Knoxville Wednesday night (WATE)
- Experts share tips and changes ahead of upcoming 2020 tax season (WATE)
- Access to COVID-19 vaccines could be stress reliever needed during pandemic, mental health professionals say (WATE)
- Can Heupel continue quarterback success at UT? (WATE)
- What about...? Answering your questions about Josh Heupel's contract and other key football program issues (WBIR)
- Knox County reports 9 new deaths, decline in hospitalizations, active cases (WBIR)
- In custody: NY gang member captured after Knoxville standoff, shots fired by US marshal (WBIR)
- Debate over concealed carry permits continues in Tennessee state legislature (WBIR)
- Learn about efforts to create safe wildlife passage near I-40 during virtual event (WBIR)
News Sentinel
- Tennessee sports gambling continues record-setting streak with $180.9M in December bets (KNS News)
- Tennessee sports gambling continues record-setting streak with $180.9M in December bets (KNS Business)
- President Joe Biden has set a clear goal to bring unity back to America. Is he too late? | Opinion (KNS Opinion)
- Striving for equity and trust in Tennessee's education system, one student at a time | Opinion (KNS Opinion)
- University of Tennessee, Knox County Schools and Knox County COVID-19 case counts (KNS News)
- The Deep State beat Donald Trump. That's a win for America. | Opinion (KNS Opinion)
- BlueCross/Meharry partnership addresses racial health inequities, vaccinations | Opinion (KNS Opinion)
- Knoxville Biz Ticker: Knoxville Bar Foundation announces grant deadline is March 5 (KNS Business)
- 'You're delivering hope': Lasagna Mamas and Papas fight food insecurity in Tennessee (KNS News)
- What to know about how Tennessee's new education measures will affect your family (KNS News)
- COVID-19 cases, deaths could become Gov. Bill Lee's legacy | Opinion (KNS Opinion)
- CoreCivic fires back after President Biden targets private prison contracts with executive order (KNS News)
- CoreCivic fires back after President Biden targets private prison contracts with executive order (KNS Business)
- Knox County Commission saves board of health ... at least until April. Here's why (KNS Business)
State News
- Financing approved for new affordable housing complex in Chattanooga's Alton Park - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
- Tennessee sports gambling continues record-setting streak with $180.9M in December bets (Tennessean)
- A look back and ahead: Freeman leaves mark on National Civil Rights Museum. What's next after her exit? (Commercial Appeal)
- 'It is too complicated.' National supply problems, local errors delay vaccinations in Shelby County (Commercial Appeal)
- New autism-focused charter school intends to apply to open in Williamson County (Tennessean)
- 2 dead, 1 injured after Madison crash (Tennessean)
- Sumner County Schools closed Thursday because of inclement weather (Tennessean)
- Biden's climate steps could have big impact on energy firms - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
- If this is what Memphis basketball is going to be like, the rest of this season should be fun | Giannotto (Commercial Appeal)
- Georgia refuses to reveal where new virus strain is lurking - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
- Chattanooga area weather for Wednesday, January 27 - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
- In-person school is great. So is living. It's wrong to force Shelby County to choose|Weathersbee (Commercial Appeal)
Local .GOV
- Update: I-275 Business Park Access Improvements Project Making Major Progress (Knoxville)
- Both Jackson Avenue Ramps Now Open; Compare 'Before' and 'After' Photos (Knoxville)
- New Jackson Avenue West Ramp About to Open; East Ramp to Open by Mid-January (Knoxville)
- Neighborhoods Decorate for Holiday Trails (Knoxville)
- Facade Funding Recipient Likewise Coffee Open on Magnolia (Knoxville)
- Winter Fishing at Fountain City Lake Made Possible by Years of Restoration Work (Knoxville)
Wire Reports
- Steven Cohen's fund Point72 suffers 15% loss amid GameStop frenzy: NYT - Reuters (Business)
- Biden's first big Covid test: Can he keep frustrated parents at bay? - POLITICO (US News)
- Suspect in deadly Portland hit-and-run rampage charged with murder - NBC News (US News)
- Apple, Facebook, Tesla Report Earnings — Live Updates - The Wall Street Journal (Business)
- Elon Musk says Tesla Semi is ready for production, but limited by battery cell output - TechCrunch (Business)
- Homeland security warns of heightened domestic terror threat after US Capitol attack - The Guardian (US News)
- Samsung Net Profit Misses Estimates After 5G iPhone’s Debut - Yahoo Finance (Business)
- Abraham Lincoln, out. George Washington, gone. San Francisco votes to rename 44 schools for namesakes' ties to racism, slavery. - USA TODAY (US News)
- Bernie Sanders' inauguration mittens help raise $1.8 million for charity - CBS News (US News)
- Man pleads guilty in plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer - CNN (US News)
- Discord bans the r/WallStreetBets server - The Verge (Business)
- Biden immigration bill would make illegal immigrant farmworkers immediately eligible for green cards - Fox News (US News)
- Joe Biden declares war on American jobs with far-left climate plan - New York Post (US News)
- Tesla earnings miss on bottom line, but revenues come in higher than estimates - CNBC Television (Business)
- Fed chair Jerome Powell on the potential of longer-term damage to the job market - CNBC Television (Business)
Lost Medicaid Funding
To date, the failure to expand Medicaid/TennCare has cost the State of Tennessee ? in lost federal funding. (Source)
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The pup did great. Her first
The pup did great. Her first looonnnggg trip. She was a trooper.
One of the most notable
One of the most notable things about this trip was the wind. It started in Kansas, continued across Colorado, up to Wyoming, across Utah and Nevada, all the way to the California coast and up through Oregon.
And this wasn't just a pleasant breeze. It was constant 30MPH winds with gusts probably up to 50. And it was cold. Especially on the coast. Not sure I could get used to living in it. Everybody we asked said it's normal all the time. We had planned to hang out on Oregon dog friendly beaches for a couple of days, but the weather was too unpleasant so we moved on.
On the plus side there are wind turbines starting in Kansas and going as far as the eye can see all the way to California. They must be generating some serious gigawattage.
Pacific beaches
(in reply to R. Neal)
I remember being really underwhelmed with Oregon and California beaches. Cold, windy, and they smelled like rotting kelp. I think I'll stick with the right coast.
Sorry you had bad weather on
Sorry you had bad weather on the Oregon coast. It's one of my favorite places in the world - and it seems to like me cause the weather cooperates when I visit. Can be windy, tho.
Beautiful
The photos are great. I love the west. Isn't it beautiful?!
It occurred to me on this
It occurred to me on this trip that smartphones are pretty amazing technology that we sometimes take for granted. We used ours to make and receive calls, send and receive texts and emails, navigate (1), play music, listen to audiobooks (2), take pictures, find stores, hotels and restaurants (and place to-go orders), look up interesting info about people and places, catch up on news back home and around the world, and provide a safe and secure wi-fi hotspot (3) wherever we were. Pretty cool for a device that fits in your pocket.
(1) Google navigation works pretty great and includes a lot of real-time road condition info (including speed traps). Except in Seattle. Trying to get to Pike Place market sent us around in circles until we finally used a map and the car GPS/navigation. In fact, directions were messed up all over Washington. Maybe google is messing with Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos? Does Bing have navigation? Anyway, we took a new AAA USA Road Atlas for backup, and referred to it quite a bit.
(2) Audiobooks are great on long drives. Get the "Libby" app and your library card and log in to Tennessee R.E.A.D.S for free, instant access to thousands and thousands of current, high-quality audiobooks that you can download and listen to while tooling down the Interstate without having to pull off and rent CDs from a Cracker Barrel. (Besides, our ride doesn't even have a CD player.)
(3) Some hotels are hijacking your wi-fi and trying to force you to use their networks and portals. It's easy enough to defeat though. Just "forget" their network and log in to your own secure mobile wi-fi. Speaking of security, several hotels we stayed at had unsecured, password-free wi-fi. Who uses that?
Here's some trivia we learned
Here's some trivia we learned along the way.
• John Mellencamp has a highway named after him in his home town of Seymour, Indiana.
• The elevation at West Yellowstone, MT is 6667 feet. The elevation at Old Faithful is 7,349 feet. The highest elevation road in Yellowstone National Park is Dunraven Pass at 8878 feet.
• Symptoms of Altitude Sickness: headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and loss of energy, shortness of breath, problems with sleep, loss of appetite.
• Spring floods in the Midwest delayed planting which threatens 2019 corn and other crop production.
• The age requirement for a Lifetime Senior National Park pass is 62. They are $80.
• Oscar's Bar and Grill in Limon, CO has over 400 types of whiskey. The food's not that great, but 400 types of whiskey.
• The Smoky Hills Wind Farm near Salina Kansas covers 20,000 acres and has a peak production capacity of 250MW. The farm has more than 150 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 1.5MW to 1.8MW. Annual output is about 900,000 MWh, or 900 GWh. Watts Bar annual output is about 13,650 GWh. (Somebody smarter should check my facts on all that.)
• McCarran airport in Las Vegas is named for Sen. Pat McCarran, a proponent of the aviation industry and author of the 1950 Subversive Activities Control Act.
• Toxic plants in California include Pacific Poison-oak, Jimsonweed, Stinging Nettle, Lantana, Foxglove and Oleander.
• Holiday Inn Express has excellent cinnamon rolls for their "free" breakfast. Many, but not all, allow pets.
• The Amana Colonies were started in east-central Iowa in 1855 by a German religious sect seeking isolation and escape from Lutheran persecution. They were self-sufficient for decades, but during the Depression formed the Amana Corporation which produced the first commercial upright freezer, made refrigerators and air conditioners and the first commercially viable microwave.
• The Stockman House in Mason City Iowa was Frank Lloyd Wright's first Prairie School architecture design in Iowa. The house was relocated from its original location to save it from demolition for a Methodist Church parking lot expansion. Wright also designed the Park Inn Hotel and City National Bank buildings there. Other Mason City developers adopted Wright's ideas and built what is now a National Historic District made up of Prairie School homes in natural settings.
• The hotel we stayed at in Cedar Rapids, Iowa was surrounded by the Collins Aerospace company campus. I wasn't familiar with them. The company was founded in 1933 by Arthur A. Collins (no relation to Apollo Astronaut Michael Collins). They made shortwave and AM broadcast equipment. They supplied the radio equipment for Admiral Byrd's expedition to the South Pole in 1933. After WWII they expanded into avionics, satellite voice transmission, and more. They supplied the voice communications equipment for NASA's Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions.
• American Bison, commonly referred to "buffalo," aren't. It's said that early explorers called them buffalo because they resembled buffalo in Europe and Asia.
• There is one Tesla Supercharger station near Yellowstone National Park. It's in West Yellowstone, Montana.
• A single Quaker Oats facility in Cedar Rapids Iowa accounts for more than 18 percent of oats processed in the United States. Mills in Cedar Rapids processed more than 6 billion corn bushels in 2016 – 4 percent of all U.S. corn processed that year. 36.5 million bushels of soybeans were processed in Cedar Rapids in 2017. Three ethanol plants in Cedar Rapids produce 540 million gallons of ethanol worth $900 million per year.
• The Great Salt Lake has a surface area of 1699 square miles. (Rhode Island is 1545 square miles). The surface area of Yellowstone Lake is 136 square miles. The surface area of Fort Loudoun Reservoir is 23 square miles.
• One company in Idaho, the J.R. Simplot Company, supplies more than half of the french fries for McDonalds.
• Barge traffic on the Columbia River system handles 52 million tons of international trade worth $21 billion and supports 40,000 local jobs. The system is #1 in U.S. wheat exports, #2 in U.S. corn and soy exports, #1 West Coast wood exports, #1 West Coast in mineral exports, and #1 West Coast auto exports.
• Cracker Barrels in Portland Oregon serves Mayfield ice cream. When they first started up, Cracker Barrel made a deal with Mayfield that has been in place ever since, according to the store manager. Apparently company history is part of their training.
• Oregon commercial fisheries harvested 300 million pounds of fish and shellfish worth $173 million in 2018.
If I had known that when we
If I had known that when we reached the California border we would be stopped at an agricultural inspection checkpoint, I would have had my passport out and ready to show.
The only other inspection we had was at the Bonneville Dam facility by an armed Homeland Security guard. He asked if we had any firearms, explosives, or (something?). I asked, firearms, explosives or what? Drones, he said. Having none of the above he waved us through, after looking thru the windows into our cargo space.
California has had
(in reply to R. Neal)
California has had agricultural checkpoints at the border as long as I can remember. I know they had them in the 60's when my family took a cross country camping trip, and my all time favorite movie " Grapes of Wrath", which was about the Dust Bowl of the early 30's, showed that they must have had them around that time too.
Hmmm... Don't remember
(in reply to JaHu)
Hmmm... Don't remember encountering a check point when we drove there last time. But, hey it has been a while. Maybe we crossed the border on a back road on our previous trip.
"Maybe we crossed the border
(in reply to bizgrrl)
"Maybe we crossed the border on a back road on our previous trip."
From what I just read, that could explain why you didn't encounter it on a previous border crossing. This Ca government website, linked below, says they've had checkpoints on the "major" highways since the 20's.
(link...)