Marco's holiday pics August 2012 in Normandy

[The Grand Wazoo]

Montana/Wyoming & Idaho, Marco - one of the most fantastic holidays we ever had.
We flew to Calgary, drove east in Saskatchewan, then south into Montana near the Missouri Breaks. From there, we spent 4 or 5 days making our way south through the State, driving into Yellowstone via the Beartooth Highway, an astonishingly & breathtakingly beautiful mountain pass. Then after a few days in Cooke City, a little town on the edge of Yellowstone, we drove down into the Grand Teton mountains in Wyoming, north west into Idaho, up the Snake River (the river of no return - wolf country) & back into Montana, Glacier National Park and back to Calgary.

[Marco]

Sounds ace, Chris. How long were you there for and what type of car did you hire, suitable for the job, as it were?

I'm thinking something big & comfy (especially for the undoubted heat) that takes long distances in its stride, but that doesn't eat fuel too much. Also, best time of the year to go?

Marco.

[The Grand Wazoo]

We took a couple of weeks, but drove ~2,500 miles.
You're pretty reliant on using the passes through the mountains to get to the most stunning areas, so winter is probably not best as the high passes are closed to normal traffic - we were there in the summer, but even so, there was a snow 'event' when we were travelling on the 'Going to the Sun' Highway:



I took this photo the previous day:



I can't remember the car we used - but we could have done with something different when I decided to go off-piste in the sandy tracks through the Missouri Breaks!

Just remembered, I did a thread about this trip yonks ago.

Arizona is good too - and November is a good time for that. We've been a couple of times, first to do the Grand Canyon type touristy stuff, then to concentrate a bit more on the back-roads and little places.

[Rare Bird]

Yup, I was also thinking of Montana, Virginia and New England - gotta be somewhere well off of the beaten path, MILES from tourists and any form of mass commercialisation/consumerism, laidback slow-paced lifestyle, no hustle and bustle, somewhere 'unspoiled', which reflects the way that people used to live, say 30-odd years ago.

Oh, and there must be plenty of quality very typical American-style 'diners'/truck stops - the kind you find just off the highway (with a neon sign above), in the middle of nowhere, that do amazing hot-dogs, steaks, ribs and burgers!

Marco.

There a programme on TV called 'Heart Of Dixie' thats Alabama, you of course have Georgia, tennesse, carolina all down south of it which is all nice & i'd have though the type of thing your looking for..

However i would have though that New England: Boston, Massachusetts etc although nice would be too much like home..

[Marco]

Cheers, dude.

Have you seen the film 'Duel', where that mad truck driver hounds that guy in the car all over the American countryside (dunno what area it was in), and at one point he drives into a remote diner, just off of the dusty road, to escape?

It's *exactly* on roads and in areas like that I'd to go! For those who watched The Sopranos, I also liked the look of the area where Vito escaped to for a while, after being found out to be gay, and where he made friends with another gay guy, who made the 'Johnny cakes', in a diner (that diner also looked superb!)

Chris, cheers for the info - noted!

Marco.

[goraman]

Lol, Jeff... You're right, but somehow we managed to brave the deprivation and enjoy ourselves

P.S When we visit the US (which we plan to do in the next few years), we'd like to go to a similarly remote and rural area, full of little 'one-horse towns', surrounded by amazing scenery. The plan is a 'fly-drive' type holiday, for say, a month, and to tour around a designated area, experiencing American 'village life'.

Any recommendations?

Marco.

I would be happy to help out in any way Marco.
But it would be a mistake not to see some of the west coast and some really crazy shit to remember!
More important where to stay clear of, BTW I'd love to make you a proper hamburger!
If you want to really go back in time that trip would have to include some southern states (timeless beauty)
Just don't order spotted dick in a small southern diner that could cause a small riot!
And don't travel with Jeremy Clarkson he will get you in trouble.

[Reid Malenfant]

Some stunning pictures Marco, cheers for sharing I can't say I'm surprised that you all enjoyed yourselves

[Barry]

Have you seen the film 'Duel', where that mad truck driver hounds that guy in the car all over the American countryside (dunno what area it was in), and at one point he drives into a remote diner, just off of the dusty road, to escape?

One of Spielberg's better films - based on his final year project at college!

[goraman]

Cheers, dude.

Have you seen the film 'Duel', where that mad truck driver hounds that guy in the car all over the American countryside (dunno what area it was in), and at one point he drives into a remote diner, just off of the dusty road, to escape?

It's *exactly* on roads and in areas like that I'd to go! For those who watched The Sopranos, I also liked the look of the area where Vito escaped to for a while, after being found out to be gay, and where he made friends with another gay guy, who made the 'Johnny cakes', in a diner (that diner also looked superb!)
2000 miles of heavenly peace in a place time has left behind for the most part. Take a whole 7 day week and rent a convertible mustang in late spring of early summer.

Chris, cheers for the info - noted!

Marco.

Night Hawlks at the Dinner Huh Marco
You may just meet some one like in the movie Kalifornia with Brad Pit and Juliette Lewis, or if you happen across a small southern town and hear dueling banjos being played run! Deliverance with Burt Reynolds.

This should be on your short list.
You'll go to all the old historic dinners seen in movies ( the real deal) the old Motels off the beaten path since the interstate went in.
Rout 66 is no longer travailed much but there are historic motels with pictures of old movie stars no one even remembers anymore.
It's as cool a road trip as you will ever make and the old timers are full of storys that can be heard over a hot cup of coffee.
If you want to meet real people in small towns this is made to order it starts in the big city of Chicago goes right through the heart of America and ends in L.A. on the west coast of California. I hope to take my own family on this trip when Conner gets older.
Living on an Island coast lines are most likley not a big deal for you but California dose have a fantastic one and that is where the journey ends.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J0Jz...eature=related
http://www.historic66.com/

[goraman]

2000 miles of heavenly peace in a place time mostly forgot.
Rent a Mustang Convertible GT or Corvette convertible Z06 from Herz rental cars in Chicago and go in late spring or early summer.
You'll have a few long stretches where you can open up a fast car with no one around you.
Take a full 7 days and enjoy!
This road is not much traveled anymore there are major interstate freeways that get you across the country much faster.
So the only business they get is old car clubs some bike clubs and now and then a Hollywood film crew
Some celebratory s make the trip in classic cars or new Ferrari's just to escape and get there heads straight.
I have been on stretches in Ca. and Nevada but never the whole thing.