thehefner | Plotting the road home.

My time in Seattle is almost at an end, and I'm plotting my road trip back home. The trick will be weather conditions, as I have neither four-wheel drive nor chains for my tires. But I'm gonna need to get a concrete plan one way or another so I can figure out what dates I'll need to book to stay at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas.

Following ROAD TRIP USA, I'd like to take the Oregon Trail route from Portland to Goodling, hooking up with Highway 93 to Twin Falls, Idaho, all the way to Vegas. But I don't want risk getting snowbound or fucked up by icy roads if I can help it. I looked up the quick and dirty Google Maps route from here to Vegas, but it had me going through Southwest Washington State, which I was warned might be a bad idea. I'd hate to sacrifice a road trip experience for a whole lot of safe, boring, horrible long driving, but that may be how things'll have to go.

Once I get South, though, everything will be coo-coo. Theoretically. From Vegas, I'll continue on Highway 93 down to Tuscon, AZ, where I can hook up with Route 80, the Southern Pacific route, all the way through the South in January. Should be pleasant enough. And I will definitely be sure to take more advantage of Texas this time around. The route goes all the way to Savanna, Georgia, but I think I may save Savanna for the Spring, when I head down to Orlando Fringe like I did last time.

But a major goal is Tuscaloosa, Alabammy, where I shall meet up with my new LJ-found geek pal

bitemetechie. She's actually up for not just giving me crash space, but letting me subject her to a triple feature of LAST OF THE MOHICANS, GANGS OF NEW YORK, and THERE WILL BE BLOOD. I want to test a theory if we could watch all three films as the arc of the same character, reincarnated three times over. She will also supply me with pie. Clearly, Tuscaloosa is a priority stop.

From there, depending on how I feel, I may keep on the interesting routes or just shoot straight for DC. I need to be back to refill my acid reflux medication, not to mention getting there in time for Inauguration. I really don't want to go, since I do not revel the prospect of those crowds nor that weather, but my brother insists. The things I do for history.

So that's the plan, or the plans for the plan. Come Monday, we'll find out one way or another.