You couldn’t pay me enough to drive a big motorhome on America’s highways. But a rail pass for unlimited travel on Amtrak might interest me, as long as it included a private room, which currently is not available.
About 15 years ago my brother tried to ride his motorcycle around the borders of the US starting in PA. He said the absolute worst was crossing Texas, it seemed like infinite miles of absolute nothing! He headed home after Texas. It took him a number of weeks anyway but he saw a lot of wonderful sights and he got lots of great pictures.
In the early ‘80’s a hippie couple I knew decided to do this. My friends and I gathered at Big Sur, CA for the send off. They made it over the coast range to King City, hitched a ride to Fresno where I picked them up.
Split the difference, Earl. You can avoid the walk and still not be shut off from everything you’re trying to see; get a motorcycle (get one with a sidecar & Roscoe can come, too).
In 65 we went tent camping in eastern Canada. Began with a tent just long enough for two in sleeping bags as long as our heights were exactly 6’. No A/C, no electricity. Just coolers, grocery bags, water jugs, groceries, camp stove, gas lanterns, sleeping bags and cookware. Then in 66 we hitched our old Pontiac to a Nimrod pop-up tent trailer and loaded all our old camping duff. Was a great little tag-a-long.
Hauled it to Montreal Expo in ‘67. Camped in it until 69, when we regretfully sold it and went back to tent camping. During those same years, state campgrounds, which used to be truly natural, followed franchises and added paved sites, water and electricity to sites. To us, that kinda killed the purpose of having natural parks. After a couple of summers the old enjoyment failed. Just couldn’t tolerate the sounds of trailer a/cs and tvs and radios, barking dogs, or the the big sausage shaped homes on wheels.
Have missed those early days a lot recently. Memory does that.
In the 80’s I had a VW bus and a girlfriend who knew all the out-of-the-way places to go camping. Northern CA best place to hike and camp in the USA! Best summer of my life.
Maybe he can fall asleep in front of a documentary about some people who have walked across the country, some more than once. I recently read about a family taking their third hike going up and down the country. It’s apparently a “thing” to do that on certain routes. I would like to do it, but I don’t think my knees would anymore. I only knew about the Appalachian Trail before.
we did that two summers ago. epic road trip around the country (OK we skipped North Dakota and California) now we need to work on more interior states!
I’m sure you can find that walk in YouTube. At 100, my late father-in-law strolled the streets of Paris for hours on a daily basis from his couch, beer in hand.
enigmamz 7 months ago
Yeah, actually walking across the Kansas/Nebraska/Oklahoma/Dakota/Texas part is quite the long, boring jaunt.
Ratkin 7 months ago
I’ve driven coast-to-coast a couple of times and driven from California to Austin a couple of times. It was never fun.
j_m_kuehl 7 months ago
bet you can’t back it out of the driveway
Argythree 7 months ago
Driving a motor home makes a lot more sense than taking a long hike. But be sure to bring the ukulele…
juicebruce 7 months ago
Been walking 2 miles a day for the last 13 years … Yep I made it across the USA distance wise ;-)
Doug K 7 months ago
He literally figures that a figurative walk across America would better than a literal walk across America.
Botulism Bob 7 months ago
@Doug K Dr. Spaetzle from the comic Frazz did that over a month ago. It’s like Jim Stafford once sang, “take a trip without leaving the farm”.
cracker65 7 months ago
Now he’s talking
NeedaChuckle Premium Member 7 months ago
Drove across country to Grand Canyon and back. Very good trip, saw a lot of interesting places and roadside attractions like Flintstone Land.
tremaine53 7 months ago
Or an airplane, Earl. Walk across America in an airplane.
jagedlo 7 months ago
The only problem is that you would have to take Opal along…
phritzg Premium Member 7 months ago
You couldn’t pay me enough to drive a big motorhome on America’s highways. But a rail pass for unlimited travel on Amtrak might interest me, as long as it included a private room, which currently is not available.
scote1379 Premium Member 7 months ago
Wal-Mart parking lot to Wal-Mart parking lot, JOY!
chris_o42 7 months ago
About 15 years ago my brother tried to ride his motorcycle around the borders of the US starting in PA. He said the absolute worst was crossing Texas, it seemed like infinite miles of absolute nothing! He headed home after Texas. It took him a number of weeks anyway but he saw a lot of wonderful sights and he got lots of great pictures.
Slowly, he turned... 7 months ago
He could catch a ride with Justice Thomas!
Walrus Gumbo Premium Member 7 months ago
In the early ‘80’s a hippie couple I knew decided to do this. My friends and I gathered at Big Sur, CA for the send off. They made it over the coast range to King City, hitched a ride to Fresno where I picked them up.
bmckee 7 months ago
Earl, that’s very popular these days based on some of the YouTube channels I watch.
Cozmik Cowboy 7 months ago
Split the difference, Earl. You can avoid the walk and still not be shut off from everything you’re trying to see; get a motorcycle (get one with a sidecar & Roscoe can come, too).
ANIMAL 7 months ago
THERE we go……………
sandpiper 7 months ago
In 65 we went tent camping in eastern Canada. Began with a tent just long enough for two in sleeping bags as long as our heights were exactly 6’. No A/C, no electricity. Just coolers, grocery bags, water jugs, groceries, camp stove, gas lanterns, sleeping bags and cookware. Then in 66 we hitched our old Pontiac to a Nimrod pop-up tent trailer and loaded all our old camping duff. Was a great little tag-a-long.
Hauled it to Montreal Expo in ‘67. Camped in it until 69, when we regretfully sold it and went back to tent camping. During those same years, state campgrounds, which used to be truly natural, followed franchises and added paved sites, water and electricity to sites. To us, that kinda killed the purpose of having natural parks. After a couple of summers the old enjoyment failed. Just couldn’t tolerate the sounds of trailer a/cs and tvs and radios, barking dogs, or the the big sausage shaped homes on wheels.
Have missed those early days a lot recently. Memory does that.
mfrasca 7 months ago
If he needs a motor home, he should talk to Anthony Welters who can arrange a loan with interest-only payments that is forgiven after nine years.
BB71 7 months ago
Haven`t you heard? Joe has cancelled all air conditioners.
herlihym Premium Member 7 months ago
I wonder why they swapped places on the bench from yesterday’s strip. Or does this happen all the time and I just noticed today?
Teto85 Premium Member 7 months ago
Bikecentennial trail 1982 West to East. Ride across Canada 1990 Vancouver to Halifax and back to Montreal.
MaCookie7 7 months ago
I notice they’ve swapped seats on the bench. Earl’s on the other side now. :-)
wildlandwaters 7 months ago
…now you’re talkin’!
Camiyami Premium Member 7 months ago
Sounds like a splendid idea! There are so many places I have yet to visit in our awesome country! :)
Moonkey Premium Member 7 months ago
Earl probably drove to the bench. He’s not walking more than around the block.
paulscon Premium Member 7 months ago
In the 80’s I had a VW bus and a girlfriend who knew all the out-of-the-way places to go camping. Northern CA best place to hike and camp in the USA! Best summer of my life.
paulscon Premium Member 7 months ago
Until you get in a car and start traveling you have no idea how big this country is. It took me two days to get from SF to Billings!
Mike Baldwin creator 7 months ago
Ha! There’s Meals on Wheels, why not dreams on wheels?
zeexenon 7 months ago
Not easy getting the thing down in the Grand Canyon.
David Huie Green LosersBlameOthers&It'sYOURfault 7 months ago
“….but it is essentially the same thing.”
bwswolf 7 months ago
It would be a nice trip for You ….. Earl, with Roscoe …….. :)
heathcliff2 7 months ago
Wanting to see all the details. Few people can handle the overload.
Teresa Burritt (Frog Applause) creator 7 months ago
With the price of gas, you might want to rethink that, too.
eced52 7 months ago
I vote for option B.
Moonkey Premium Member 7 months ago
Maybe he can fall asleep in front of a documentary about some people who have walked across the country, some more than once. I recently read about a family taking their third hike going up and down the country. It’s apparently a “thing” to do that on certain routes. I would like to do it, but I don’t think my knees would anymore. I only knew about the Appalachian Trail before.
car2ner 7 months ago
we did that two summers ago. epic road trip around the country (OK we skipped North Dakota and California) now we need to work on more interior states!
Cerabooge 7 months ago
An air conditioned motor home ride over the concrete and asphalt of this amazing country.
Jaime Jean M 7 months ago
I’m sure you can find that walk in YouTube. At 100, my late father-in-law strolled the streets of Paris for hours on a daily basis from his couch, beer in hand.