Author Topic: Road Trip ?? (Read 2963 times)

PJ Rowland · « **on:** January 26, 2011, 06:59:40 PM »

I was thinking of going on a road trip after the Nats to see some of the Sites and sounds .

Ive got 6 days from Sunday to Saturday..
Id be Leaving Muncie after the Nats on the Sunday to go to Memphis - then see the jack daniels Distilery, then Drive to see the Smithsonian , then Drive to Dayton see the Air museum there then Back to Indiana to fly on Saturday.

Does anyone think Memphis to Washington DC is ok to hit up in one day? I estimate its about 14 hrs.

Drive Muncie to Memphis Sunday
Stay Overnight Sunday Night in Memphis
Visit Graceland then Drive to see the jack Daniel Distillery
Stay Somewhere Monday night
Drive To washintgon Tuesday
Spend Wednesday In Smithsonian
Stay OVernight In Washinton Wed Night
Drive to Dayton Thursday
Visit Air museum Friday Stay Overnight
Saturday Drive to Indiana Airport to fly on 4pm

To much ??

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #1 on:** January 26, 2011, 08:07:29 PM »

Googlemaps is showing it only to be 700 miles. ( 1100 odd kms.. ) which isnt that far Ive done it before - 12 hrs - 14 depending on traffic.. However if others HAVE done the journey id like to hear the expereince.

Skip the Jack daniels distillery - are you mad

??

I want a free sample ! I do enjoy a drop.

I figured if I spend a full day at each of the two museums thats fair. I agree I went to daytonn before and would have liked more time, but part of the fun will be the road trip - Its the journey not the destination.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #2 on:** January 26, 2011, 08:30:30 PM »

You haven't driven in that eastern traffic.

Bill Little · « **Reply #3 on:** January 26, 2011, 08:46:15 PM »

Quote from: PJ Rowland on January 26, 2011, 08:07:29 PM

(snip)
Skip the Jack daniels distillery - are you mad ?? I want a free sample ! I do enjoy a drop.
(snip)

PJ,

You didn't read Ty's message: NO FREE SAMPLES. And it is in a "dry" county in Tenn., so no liquor is sold in the county.

You might "Could" make the trip in 12-14 hrs., but I don't know how those Hwy Patrol guys would react if you get pulled. And you just might have to pay the fine on the spot.

On another note, I have a very great friend who runs "The Daisy", an historic night club on Beale Street. He is also the gas man on our NASCAR/ARCA team and an ex WWF wrestler.

Quite a good guy, overall!

Big Bear

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #4 on:** January 26, 2011, 08:59:12 PM »

PJ,
I am here in Memphis and as long as you know that Graceland was kind of preserved after Elvis died, it looks like you are stuck in the late 60's. You can go thru it in a few hours, unless you want to go thru his planes, maybe another hour. Not much else here in Memphis unless you go to Beale Street, or Tunica, MS has casinos. Good place to lose some $.
It is about a 3 hour drive toward Nashville to JD distillery, and like Ty said, you will not get a drop to drink.

Unless you are a big Elvis fan, I would say go to DC. And why drive back to Indiana? Just leave from DC.

If you do make it to Memphis, give me a heads up. Maybe we can do lunch? Best BBQ in the US.

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #5 on:** January 26, 2011, 09:02:41 PM »

Ok ok so this is really what im after.

I didnt actually realise what TY mean when he said dry ( missed the no samples - I thought he meant like no corn grows.. ( Been to outback Aust.. thats DRY as we dont mean the fosters isnt flowing! )

Ok so perhaps we skip the whiskey factory.. - isnt it freeway most of the way? from Memphis to Washington ? I didnt factor in going in and out of towns, so could possibly push it out to 14 hrs..

My real question is ; Is it worth it ? I want to see graceland, but could skip the Smithsonian and jsut cruise back to dayton and spend a few days at the air musuem - But ive got 6 days to spend and the last thing I want to do is spend 3 of them sitting around doing nothing !

Plus I love road trips.

Paul taylor - Thanks for that - Say gday at the Nats and we can work somthing out. DAD is a massive elvis fan.. Me.. I can take it or leave it... To be honest Id rather check out Paul walkers new Flying field than look at Graceland.. no disrespect to either but Im a plane fan more than a hunka hunka burn' love fan.. Dad is the giant Elvis fan.. So I gotta go there.

I might skip the JD factory.. on that advice.. and just go through to Washington then ? Or is that still a no go ?

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #6 on:** January 26, 2011, 09:35:39 PM »

Thansk for that TY..

I will rearrpaise the journey.. to 18 hrs.. HAH!

Yes Dad will be making the trip with me this time around ( he's flying in advanced only ) He insists we see graceland.. Just to say he saw it.. As I mentioned I can take it or leave it.

After five miles on the Interstate, you have seen it all, trees, bushes, more trees, hard to see any real scenery. It's the destination that counts, not the trip.

Comone TY what are you saying here.. you mean on the Road you actually see..... TREES??? BUSHES.... and more TREES?? WOW!

Do the roads have bends in them ??

This is outback Australia..... about 200 miles inland.

Now thats scenery.. lucky to see a dead kangeroo!

and if you REALLY get into the outback.. 500 miles in.. you get more on offer

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #7 on:** January 26, 2011, 09:49:48 PM »

One of the best road trips I did was to see the outback did 1400 miles in 1 week. Saw ALOT of towns and alot of flatness.

You get some BIG roos mate

Check out the biceps.. This is only a tiny 7 foot big red.

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #8 on:** January 26, 2011, 10:34:50 PM »

PJ...On my trip through Nevada last October, I saw several straight stretches of road that appeared to just disappear into the distance...easily longer than the pictures you posted. You won't see that anywhere E. of the Mississippi. I've used Google Maps a bit, and prefer MapQuest, so maybe you should give that a try. I tend to drive 5mph (maybe 10 on the freeway if the other traffic is doing it) over the speedlimit, but exactly legal through all towns. Enough over the speed limit to feel good about it, but not enough to draw attention of the police. At least, ours don't ever work off an airhose speed trap like yours. Radar, Laser, and aircraft are tricky enough.

I can beat MapQuest's times by a little, but they are a pretty good indicator of what it could be, I think. I gotta say, I'd go Muncie > Dayton > DC and exit there, and avoid some of the driving. Another thought would be to take the train for a few trips, or maybe to return to Muncie for your departure. The trains take a lot of scenic routes. I enjoyed the train ride from Cabulture into Brisbane...we don't use our trains enough over here. I also enjoyed my drive from Brisbane to Sydney immensely, despite the POS rentaheap. Have fun!

Steve

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #9 on:** January 26, 2011, 11:06:28 PM »

Steve ; Ive got a car ive hired for the duration of my trip, and im flying out of Indianpolious airport on Saturday week after Nats, so I cant Alter that.. Plus Father dear must see Graceland, cant get outta that either!

If you ever get a chance, try Kangeroo meat. without a doubt VERY nice.. carves like chicken, but tastes like a suculnet Juicy Steak.

Easy to cook also.

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #10 on:** January 27, 2011, 01:39:14 AM »

Ok so I've made a tough call - based on the above information.

We will skip Memphis all together - Just go from Indiana to Dayton to Washington DC - There seems to be alot to see around in washington, and one can spend 3 days there quite easily.

Joe Gilbert · « **Reply #11 on:** January 27, 2011, 06:37:58 AM »

PJ while in DC a short trip to Maryland and you can see the Aviation Museum: Paul E. Garber Facility . A no frills place of lots of airplanes. Somes times called Silver hill. Have a great time while you are hear.

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #12 on:** January 27, 2011, 07:08:30 AM »

Sounds good.. Did'nt realise it was there- In fact there is probably LOTS of stuff at Washington DC that Im not aware of.

I'm really not a touristy sorta person. Just places to say " Hey I've been there " You guys are lucky - Such a big place with alot of famous places to visit. I would even love to visit someone's shop like Windys or Bob Hunts just to see some of the moulds ect.. But none are even close.

Any suggestions either here or When I'm over at the L-pad would go down a treat.

Maybe I can convince Brett Buck to take me to Area 51 with his secret Nasa rocket scientist pass

Knock 3 times and repeat the following :
" The Blue lagoon Travels south in the winter. "

dave siegler · « **Reply #13 on:** January 27, 2011, 04:52:29 PM »

If you head north, you can see the EAA muesum in oshkosh. maybee see chicago on the way. 400 miles.

david beazley · « **Reply #14 on:** January 27, 2011, 05:17:47 PM »

If you do go to DC and want to go to the Garber facility you need to make a reservation and you will have a guided tour of the restoration facility. It is well worth the time. Another must see is the new National Air & Space museum next to Dulles airport in northern Virginia, official name is the Udvar-Hazy center. Much bigger and more to see than the one on the downtown DC mall. The Enola-Gay, Concorde, prototype of the 707, space shuttle and a bunch of other aircraft and artifacts under one roof. Well worth the trip. DC to Muncie took every bit if 12-14 hours when I did it back in 2000. Its a long haul anyway you slice it. One thing to consider is the timing of the Nats and July 4th. I think that CL is around the 4th so time your trip to DC away from the July 4th weekend. Been there, done that! Unless you like being with a gazillion people!

Brett Buck · « **Reply #15 on:** January 27, 2011, 05:21:46 PM »

Quote from: PJ Rowland on January 27, 2011, 07:08:30 AM

Maybe I can convince Brett Buck to take me to Area 51 with his secret Nasa rocket scientist pass

NASA badges won't get you very far and i would expect that NASA has nothing to do with any hypothetical secret base. Most people don't realize this, but NASA is a pretty small player in the space business. The program I (as well as Keith Trostle and Floyd "Dr. Spark" Carter) worked on before had a ~~budget~~ cost that was the same order of magnitude as the entire NASA budget for the same time. That was *one* program of many, albeit a big one and NASA had nothing to do with it. I struck out budget because it grossly over-ran the budget. At one point it was exceeding the allocated funds by more than $1 million A DAY (long about the 1987 or 88 time frame). However all 5 spacecraft are still going strong and every person on Earth's life depends on it, to first approximation.

Brett

Steve Fitton · « **Reply #16 on:** January 27, 2011, 06:28:00 PM »

Love those pictures of the road in the outback there. Must be where they filmed Mad Max....!

Jo Ann Keville · « **Reply #17 on:** January 27, 2011, 07:36:44 PM »

There are roads like that driving across the pan handle in Texas. Nothing out there at all as far as the eye can see.
I looked up on Yahoo Maps and from the center of Memphis to the center of DC is 885.19 miles and time would be 13 hours 37 minutes. And most freeways now bypass the main part of any city so unless you hit one at rush hour that time should be about right. I have traveled back and forth between Arizona and Maine several times and yahoo maps has always been a pretty good bet to follow. No matter what you decide to see just have fun and enjoy this big beautiful country. But I would sure allow as much time in DC as possible, Beautiful city. So much to see, so little time. I was there for a full 5 days once and still didn't see it all.

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #18 on:** January 27, 2011, 08:32:44 PM »

On strong advice we are ommiting Memphis. - Straight to DC - Kim M - Suggested some Brilliant places to see - so I will be looking closely at all of those options. One thing that is hard from an Outsiders perpective is what to see and where to do. Everyone on here has given me some fantasic adivce on what to see.

Not to concerned about not seeing it all this Trip - I plan on coming back in 2013 - and possibly every 2 years. I had such a good time in 2004 and I cant beleive its been 6 years since then - time just FLIES. I do not want to wait another 6 years to re visit, my Work has altered somewhat recently so getting time off Around Christmas 25 - 5th Jan ( when Our Nats are ) is proving very VERY difficult as our work load increases due to demand.

However getting time off over June - July - is a breeze - so it makes sense to not fly out here - but instead jump on a plane see a magnificent town, and catch up with old friends.

Thanks to everyone - NASA badges won't get you very far and i would expect that NASA has nothing to do with any hypothetical secret base. Comeon Brett - dont deny your obvious involvement in gathering and reverse engineering alien intelligence on downed interstellar craft for your own gain in the World of Stunt.

How else do you explain your " Ultra strong Pa .61 " Strongest ever engine..

( that whole area 51 thing was a bit of a teaser anyway brett, its all good mate. )

frank williams · « **Reply #19 on:** January 27, 2011, 09:59:00 PM »

PJ,
I've got to agree with Jo Ann .... straight to DC.
The Air and Space museum will take the better part of a day.
The other parts of the Smithsonian are all within walking of each other.
As I recall, aren't you a commercial artist, there's the National Gallery of Art, Natural History museum,.... a couple of days just on the Washington mall at least, and pick up the AF museum in Daton on the way back. Nothing like a B52 hanging from the ceiling.
Frank Williams

Chris McMillin · « **Reply #20 on:** January 27, 2011, 10:15:31 PM »

I could spend one day in each of the Air and Space, Natural History and National Art Gallery, and then the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum at Dulles, in Virginia. Then another day at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, if you run. Each are fabulous and worth as much time as one can spend.
Chris...

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #21 on:** January 27, 2011, 10:26:59 PM »

Frank Yes I am - well graphic Designer.. Commerical artist can be a lot of different things I dont really do any computer animation or music videos.. ..More Visualisation and Art interpretation.. I dont actually DO that much art - more art generation and concept work, infact sometimes its even more boring that you might think - Client says I want a logo with a light bulb on it - here is what I think it should look like - can you put words with it.. HAHHA Sure $ 2000..

With all the modern software people are doing alot of their own work and we tweak it..

I plan to get my art fix in the Louve when I go next year.. but your National Gallery of Art sounds Very appealing and defenetly on the Must see list. all suggestions welcomed.

I have made the choice - Straight to DC - Skip Memphis and Anything down that side of the border.

Thankyou so much everyone for your input. I almost forgot that Im going over for the Nats and sightseeing is secondary but your all making me feel very excited about both. - And thrilled at all the input. Im happy to have more conversations on the L-Pad so say G'day.

Howard Rush · « **Reply #22 on:** January 27, 2011, 11:01:21 PM »

The Hirshhorn gallery is next to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum: http://hirshhorn.si.edu/ .

Dennis Moritz · « **Reply #23 on:** January 27, 2011, 11:25:40 PM »

NYC. Guggenheim. Met. MoMa. Whitney. Rubin. Brooklyn Museum of Art. Cloisters. Bronx Botanical Gardens. Japan Society.
Wikipidedia lists a hundred or so (!) NYC museums. I can vouch for the ones I've listed. Usually good food in the caf. The Met is endless, lovely, examples of almost EVERYTHING ART. No model airplanes, however. Oversight. I preferred the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) when it was housed in its earlier venue. More homey and intimate. A fun place for an adolescent boy to study the artistic physical configuration of the complementary sex. WAY BEFORE THE INTERNET. Gaugin. He had a way with the female form.

NYC is three hours north of DC. (Maybe 3 and 1/2). Hotels in Washington approach the cost of hotels in NYC. Some reasonable (for NY) bargains these days.

NYC is probably the safest big city in the USA. Baffling. After all it has the strictest gun control laws in the USA. Own one, a long one, a short one, any one, without a license, (very few are given out) and you get shipped to Rikers Island, a terrible place, for two years. The coincidence of strict gun control legislation and a safe city absolutely defies logic.

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #24 on:** January 27, 2011, 11:40:10 PM »

Are you offering your tour guide services Howard?

Id like to see NYC - and see just how busy is BUSY.. - Can one drive around or should you park and catch the train?

Dennis Moritz · « **Reply #25 on:** January 27, 2011, 11:50:48 PM »

You can drive to NYC but be prepared to pay to park. It'll be ridiculously expensive. Perhaps $50 or so a day. Then get around by subway, bus, or cab. Cabs are reasonable. Tho they use to be a lot cheaper. Howard lives on the other coast. I'm often in NYC. If you're interested in going, send me a message.

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #26 on:** January 28, 2011, 12:38:31 AM »

$ 50 a day!!

Will you be at the Nats Dennis? - Im starting to feel like Im going down the path of annoying touristy questions now..

Dennis Moritz · « **Reply #27 on:** January 28, 2011, 04:48:06 AM »

I'll be at the NATs. Ask away. If you make it to Gotham I'd be happy to tour guide.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #28 on:** January 28, 2011, 04:22:09 PM »

If you go to DC don't stay there if there is a motel/hotel. Melvin, Brenda and myself stayed in a motel outside of DC and rode the subway. By the have I ever mentioned I do not like being under ground. It is not that hard to get around of you read the signs. If I remember right the subway maps are color coded. The other thing was Melvin and Brenda didn't tell me about crossing the bay after DC to get to Chesipeake VA for the NATS that year. Needless to say I had to make a stop when we got to the other side. Anyway I hope you make it to the states and enjoy yourself. All the people aren't as mean and crabby as I am.

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #29 on:** January 28, 2011, 05:50:04 PM »

100% will be there - Ive already got my airline tickets.. and paid for car hire, and booked the Motel in Muncie..