If you pull up google maps and you look at the area surrounding Chicago (or St. Louis or anything east of St. Louis) you will notice how many interstate highways there are. When you are driving on an interstate there is little character. It's kinda like going to a mall --they all have the same stores and everything looks kinda the same.
Go West of Kansas City and all of a sudden you will find fewer interstate highways relative to the area covered. Yesterday I didn't choose to drive on state highways as opposed to interstates, I didn't have a choice.
Things I saw along my way:
1. Sign indicating last gas station for 65 miles--and they weren't kidding.
2. 40% of the drive had no cell phone coverage (good thing I wrote directions down on a piece of paper--old school)
3. I drove through Somerset CO twice--Coal mining science 1860s --- coal is not the future. This has got to be one of the most depressing places you will see. And it sure doesn't look like it was ever nice, no edifices of brick buildings, just crappy poorly built homes. If you think we need to protect coal check out Somerset and then move on to solar or wind.
4. I forgot the name of the town on 133 but it indicated it was the friendliest town on their welcome sign---along with a crucifix. Friendly for whom?
5. Inexpensive gas---Montrose. Expensive gas Telluride. like 25% more expensive. Ski town pricing is in a whole different league. Also true in small towns with no competition.
6. shockingly beautiful views (I didn't want to slow down to snap picks but here is a a shot from lizards pass near telluride at 60 mph)
8. Slow AAA service. Since my cell number is Chicago based I was automatically routed to IL then had to get routed back to CO then had to explain that Montrose (I was 20 miles South of Montrose) didn't have a V in it. After 20 minutes on the phone they sent someone who should be there in 20-min to an hour. It was an hour. But AAA kept calling back to ask if I was safe---just as safe as the last time you called was my increasingly short tempered response as I feared not being able to make it to Montrose in time to get a new tire which would have necessitated an overnight stay in Montrose adding to the bill.
9. PS if you were driving along 145 near Telluride and your camper van dropped a 4 in long bolt I have it. Seems that after it shredded my tire it embedded itself in my wheel well. Happy to return it to you for the price of 4 tires.
10. Lots of beauty.
11. Lots of cool looking not chain stores.
12. Lots of less cool-kinda spooky not chain stores.
13. Pick up trucks.
14. a number of MAGA bumper stickers, no hillary bumper stickers, and one sign outside of Telluride that said elect a clown expect a circus
My advice--if you live in a city or town go for a state highway road trip if you can---normally to be balanced I would suggest rural folk go visit a city but my bet is that already happens because if you need to buy something or see a medical specialist you're hoping in your car and driving to the big city more often than not.
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