Jul 14 - Jul 22

This section of my trip is pretty much free format, I don't have anything I particularly need to do. Discovered that there are so many factory tours available so headed east to Elkhart, Indiana, the RV capitol of the world. Stayed here a week, doing tours and resting up. 

I did a day trip to a Frank Lloyd Wright house (1909) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. OMG! It has been fully restored by a local company Steelcase. 

Steelcase is the company that provided the office furniture to FLW's Johnson Wax building. It is one of the best houses I have seen and they let you take photos inside. It is worth the trip to see it.

Many more photos - click here

The RV Museum was also fabulous.

Many more photos - click here

Fargo to LeClaire, Iowa

Jul 10 - Jul 13

Lots to do on this section, still avoiding major highways and interstates. (A-E on map)

1. Do factory tour of Winnebago, Forest City, IA (E on map)
2. Mason City, IA. Two Frank Lloyd Wright properties. (G on map)
3. Cedar Rocks, IA. Frank Lloyd Wright home (H on map)
4. LeClaire, IA home of American Pickers (I on map)

Winnegabo Industries, Forest City, Iowa

We weren't allowed to take photos inside the factory. They pretty much make every part onsite, except for chassis, engine and wheels. They are made to order and a 3rd party company provide the delivery service. Hmmmm that would be a great job, driving brand new Winnebago's to their delivery point.

 In the visitors centre, clay model in foreground and the "eyebrow" model in the background.

Old barns seen along the road

Mason City, Iowa

Home of the Music Man and the original "River City" also a beautifully restored hotel and a house by Frank Lloyd Wright.  Each tour leader told me that Walter Burly Griffin was working with FLW in this area but had to leave mid project for Australia to design Canberra.

This building was designed as a hotel, bank and law offices. It has now been restored to its former glory. The bank is now a function centre, the law offices - meeting rooms, and a fully functioning hotel. I didn't stay in it, my budget didn't allow.

Wright on the Park (1910)

Over the years it was turned into retail shops. They lowered the horizontal border (not sure how). All this renovation had to be undone.

The Stockman House (1908)

more photos here

Cedar Rock (1948-1950)

In the background is a table coming out from the end of the cupboard. It slides out to join the other table.

One of three bathrooms with this space saving contraption. The sink pivots out over the floor to reveal the rest of the toilet.

click to see more photos of Cedar Rock

LeClaire, Iowa - Home of American Pickers

Sigh, this is my second visit and still there was no sign of Mike, Frank or Danielle. Lots of others hoping to get a glimpse of them. Inside the new building....love big clocks.

Colorado-Nebraska-Fargo(ND)

July 6 - 10, 2014
Flew into Denver from Orlando, picked up a rental car that I will have for the next 40+ days and headed off on the next leg of my road trip.
Goals

1. Visit states I haven't been to before
1. Colorado
2. Nebraska
3. North Dakota (Fargo)
2. Alliance, NE to visit Carhenge
3. Visit the Woodchipper in Fargo

As usual I stay off the big Interstates, too many trucks, and you don't see anything. I stick to the smaller roads, connecting small towns and farms. Still in good condition, but you feel more connected and a more pleasant drive.

Click on pics for a larger view

I had no cell phone coverage with AT&T on this section. Really? In this day and age?

Carhenge in Alliance NE (B on map)

Another example of a "build it and they will come attraction". My favourite type of attraction.

Haystacks so neatly stacked, beautifully lit by the sun....

Travelled on small Highway 20 across Nebraska, then byway 12

Long forgotten towns

Fargo is a large town/city, not what I expected from the movie and TV show.

Outside the visitors centre

Inside the visitors centre, they will take your photo with the wood chipper. They have hats and shirts to put on, then take a pic with their own camera to add to the woodchippers own facebook page I am in the July 2014 lot.

Highway 50 - The Loneliest Highway

I haven't been covering enough miles each day so my path has to deviate. Utah is majestic. The colours of the landscapes are so varied and dramatic. A photo would not do it justice or capture the results and it is about 10 degrees cooler than Las Vegas.

Tomorrow, I start on Highway 50 across the middle of Nevada, dubbed the loneliest highway in USA. Will let you know :) ...... plus I had to go via Carson City as there is a board game with the same name. It is also the capital of Nevada.

Staying in a small hotel in the middle of a small town $30/night. Some of you might be cringing and think it is a flea pit :-) but you get a fridge, microwave, HD TV, free wifi, a/c etc. It's very clean, just tired, but who isn't?

Road Trip Utah

Just a little road trip to get in the groove. Have allowed a week. Lots of room to deviate from plan but main points are: -

• Visiting a new state - Utah
• Visit the Neon Boneyard in Las Vegas at night
• Do a part of Route 66 that I missed, from Kingman, AZ to Barstow, CA.
• See tiny little towns off the beaten path hoping to bump into the American Pickers :-)

also I am trying to avoid the mountains, I like the wide open spaces.

About 2300 miles/3700 kms

Last Trip for 2013

Objectives & Goals

• Attend EuroQuest in Baltimore
• Attend BGG Con in Dallas
• Visit a state/place I havent been to before - Louisiana & Maui
• Fly more than 28,000 miles to maintain my Premier Gold status with United

Maintaining my Premier Gold status allows me to

• pick my seat with I book my ticket :-)
• Free access to Economy Plus seating
• Automatic free upgrades when available
• Priority boarding
• Priority baggage claim
• More and heavier bags for free
• Free access to Red Carpet Lounge on international flight days

A few years back I lost my status by a few thousand miles and it was awful. Decided to not let that happen again when it was achievable with some planning. You need to fly 50k miles in a calendar year to retain privileges for the following year. Melb - LAX is approx 15K round trip

My flights are quite complicated as I chose the longest path to achieve 28K miles within the dates I had. This is more complicated due to the timing of Thanksgiving. Its very busy and more expensive to fly on those dates so I will avoid them by doing a road trip during Thanksgiving.

I hit some locations more than once, so the lower letters are covered up. (click image to enlarge)

Segment 1 A(O) ,B(N),C, D 
Nov 10 - 18 Mel - Baltimore, MD. EuroQuest gaming convention

Segment 2 D,E,F
Nov 18 - 24 Dallas, TX, BGG Con gaming convention

Segment 3 F, G
Nov 24 - Dec 2  Road Trip - Dallas, TX - Tampa, FL via New Orleans

Segment 4 G, H, I(M), J
Dec 2 - Dec 6 Maui, HI

Segment 5 J, K (M), L
Dec 7 - 9 Houston, TX

Segment 6 L, M, N, O
Dec 9 - 11 Fly to Melbourne

Travel 2013

Funds are tight this year until Oct 1, 2013 when I will have access to some travel money that "matures" on that date. Visiting friends and attending my 3rd World Boardgame Championships Convention.
Quick trip to San Francisco and Lancaster, PA. Got a great deal on the flight and accom in Lancaster was prepaid last year!