27 Day Miata Trip - 7000 miles

[datsun40146]

Miata Prep! MREs stowed behind the seats. Enough food for 7 days for 2 men. One more duffel bag will be loaded into the trunk. Its going to be a full load. Clothing enough for 5 days in the bag, a two man tent, and two sleeping bags.

 

[Marshwheeling]

For camping, do not overlook municipal campgrounds, usually free, sometimes with showers and swimming pools. I like the campgrounds in Wessington Spgs, SD (but don't drink the city water), Miller, Highmore, and Spearfish, SD, Lander WY, Meeteetse WY (but beware the sprinkler system that comes on about 3:00 a.m. DAMHIK). Nice camping with hot pools at Hot Well Dunes, between Bowie and Safford, AZ, $3/night. At the lodges in the Big Horns (Bear Lodge, Arrowhead lodge), try the cabins, cheaper than regular rooms, with just a short walk to the bar and restaurant facilities.

 

[Silversmok3]

I noticed on your itenerary that you're taking I-29. I offer the suggestion to stop by Gary's Gun Shop in Sioux Falls, SD. They have a Glock 18 and an HK UMP, both full auto guns available for rent to clients .As Ferris Bueller said, if you have the means ($40.00) I highly recommend trying them out. Plus Sioux Falls is one of the few places in South Dakota with its own Taco Bell, so thats another reason for a stop.

Safe travels, and I look forward to your updates!

 

[5-Shot]

You do realize that you will hit some areas where it will be very cold, especially at night. A couple of my friends departed KY for the west a few years ago on motorcycles without that bit of information. Thought I'd warn you...just in case.

Ed

 

[Texas Star]

Can someone passing through CA legally load a handgun in a motel room? Does the room become a temporary residence?

 

[A10]

Nice looking NB! I had one for a few years, really loved the thing. If you're headed through Seattle there's lots to see. If aircraft are your thing the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field is one of those must see places. And I have a yard if you want to pitch a tent! No charge, either! PM me if you want, let me know the schedule.

 

[USAFret]

Wall Drug store in Wall, SD (right off the Interstate) and then visit the Badlands National Park. Spectactular scenery. I've owned two Miata's and have been on extended vacations with both, including visits up to Canada. It's a challenge to pack all that you need. Good luck!

 

[USAFret]

One other thing, the Strategic Air Command Museum is no longer in Omaha. It's now in Ashland, NE quite a ways west on the Interstate. Still an interesting place to visit with some great aerospace displays.

 

[sheepdawg]

Anyone going down the Coast Highway in California needs to go to the Hearst Castle in San Simeon.

Hearst San Simeon SHM
Hearst Castle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And watch out for Albuquerque, Bugs Bunny always got lost around there.

 

[jkc]

Can someone passing through CA legally load a handgun in a motel room? Does the room become a temporary residence?

Yes, it's your temporary domicile. It also includes tents, travel trailers, etc.

It's a shame that California, with its riches of natural wonders, has fallen under the control of statist facists working day and night to limit civil liberties and create a nanny state, poisoning the wells and salting the fields of a free society. Why these social nazis are called "liberals" escapes me...

 

[Bob R]

While in Montana you can spend the night in Great Falls, take a side trip to the C.M. Russell museum ( C.M. Russell Museum | The Russell is for Everyone! ), take a short trip to Giant Springs State Park and see the world's shortest river ( Montana State Parks :: Visit a State Park ) . After that take I- 15 north a ways and then get off at Valier cut across ( Hwy 44 off of I-15). As soon as you go back across the interstate you will see a missle silo on your right. Follow that road to the end and turn right on Hwy 89 and go through the Blackfeet rez. Watch out for cows, horses and drunk drivers on the rez. Go through Browning up to the St. Mary entrance to Glacier Nat PArk, pitch your tent for the night. In the AM, take the drive across the Going to the Sun road, which just opened on Jun 20, so watch out for rock slides, loose stuff in the corners and running water from the snow melt, and end up in West Glacier.

bob

 

[datsun40146]

We are now in Ohmaha Neberaska. Slept last night at Glenn Cunningham Campgound. What a great place! We made sure to stop in St.Louis following in Man v. Food's footsteps when we had lunch at Iron Barley. Great Food! Saw the arch while we were in St. Louis. Pork Loin over barley with gravy served in a sizzling skillet. Were at the McDonalds at the moment. I can see right now that they are going to be out best friends with thier cheap coffee and free WiFi. As far as today goes we will be heading out to the Badlands via Hwy 275. Its a bit slower than the interstate, but the views should be much improved. On to the pictures.

This place managed to get us to stop, again free WiFi, they got their moneys worth when the charged us 6 bucks for chocolate covered peanuts!

Not really in mexico, but I thought hey why not mess with you folks.

The 1st Sunset over Nebraska!

Breaking down the tent!

The lake not 100 yards from our tent, we picked a great spot considering it was near midnight!

Next update will be either tonight or tomorrow from the badlands.

 

[Cyrano]

Wonderful! Please keep 'em coming.

 

[datsun40146]

We are now in Rapid City South Dakota. We drove through Nebraska to the badlands and went through that beatiful peice of ground. we had planned on camping in the badlands but since it was early that we expected we went on to Rushmore. At the Mt we saw the lighting ceremony were they lit up the mountain and played a small movie about the four presidents. At the end they had all the military veterans come up and fold the flag. Great place to visit. Driving through Nebraska and then the Indian reservations was quite unexciting. There's just not much out there but flat and brown. Rushmore was a bit of a rip, yes the park is free but its 10 bucks to park. Geez! The Miatas running great however some of these 75 mph speed limits are a bit much for it. So we just cruise around 70 nice and relaxed. On to the pictures.
1st one of these we've seen in a LONG time, we dont have them anymore back east.

Driving Through Flatness

The scenery begins to change after about 3 hours HA!

Dad took over after 400 miles Plus I wanted to see the Badlands

Badlands in the distance, were close!

The nice park ranger wouldn't take our military ID, 15 bucks down

The posted limit was 45....we didn't always follow it. There were alot of COOL roads in that park.

I got a little artsy! Thanks BossFrog for the great roll bar!

The BUG killer. We even somehow had dead bugs in the wheels! The 6ULs are a big killiong machines!

The mighty Miata iron horse beats the Badlands

The 1st time we had to button up the car is because of this baby coming in. We were in route to rushmore.

BTW speaking or Rushmore, that place is a Freaking tourist trap at the bottom.

Flags were at half because of a Ranger who was killed on a rescue mission on Mt. St. Helens.

 

[Marshwheeling]

Nice trip report.

I love that part of the world. I'll be out there next weekend for some dual sport riding, and again in August for Rally Week.

 

[TheHobbyist]

Very cool. Glad you and your Dad are able to enjoy the trip and time together. The more I think on it, the more I need to do a trip like this.

 

[datsun40146]

We've been alot of places since my last update. The Needles highway was in a word amazing! The videos do NOT do it justice. The same goes for the Iron Mountain Road. Great scenery and roads. We hit Custer's Last Stand on the anniversary of the battle by a random bit of luck and got to see a lot of reenactments. That night we camped in the Indian camp next to the battle field...for free! The Indians were great they had fireworks, dancing and a general party on the anniversary. It was great. From there we hit Devils tower and got the Miata stuck in a fire pit that we didn't see in the high grass. Not a huge deal just kinda irksome. We then hit the Beartooth highway and had a snowball fight at 10500 feet. So great! I had alot of video running the Beartooth and the Needles Highway. The videos will have to come later when I have a really good connection. It just takes too long on these roadside 'free' wifi joints. From Beartooth we were in Yellowstone and then the Gran Tetons. That brings us up to date. Next will be from Glacier Park.
Campsite outside Rushmore.

Indian Dance on the battlefield

Police were out in force, to keep everything civil

This guy said he wanted to trade his white horse for mine...

Laying the Peace reef.

CUSTER!

50 yard long tunnel, cool place for a Miata, I'll post the videos later.

 

[datsun40146]

This was a wonderful woman's truck, she was 73....yep she was a badass.

This was the Beartooth! We were in the middle of a classic car run!

That is snow....

 

[Bullet Bob]

I'll bet that Miata seemed a tad small when you were next to that buffalo!

 

[datsun40146]

Windy was an understatment

This was the going to the sun road...a bit snow covered. and we picked up a flat

White out!

Filling up the bottles with Mt. Water

A very helpful road worker!

The Flat...it was a rock that did it.

Brand new S.drives too...

Coffee in the aftermath

En route to seattle or Spokane I dont remeber

Made it to Seattle and got a great tour! Thanks Rennee! Most are cell phone shots and wont be here sorry. You guys wont see Pikes Place

Camping in Ranier

Right by our camp

Did I mention it was COLD up here?

Mountain Goats

cooling down the water bottles

Still in Rainier

Now were headed to St. Helens hopefully it doesn't blow.