One of the challenges for those of us living on the road is figuring out where to go next. For some road trippers, why not go to all of the lower 48?
For many road enthusiasts, the ultimate road trip is where you touch all of the lower 48 states. Some people have made a competition of trying to do it in 96 hours legally. There are others who like to try to set driving speed records but may have to wait for the statute of limitations to run out on their potential speeding fines. There are some who have taken the time to map out the route to make this possible. Perhaps there's also some debate about whether to just see all 48, or make a loop around and return to a particular destination along the route, which for the casual road tripper would seem a more plausible strategy.
If the goal is to visit all 48 states, you merely only need to go a little bit inside of the border, and not necessarily to a city. This will involve "clipping" a few states. Some take this to an extreme and use a driveway, but let's assume you want to stick to public roads. What are some good options? Needles, California is a good one, as you can go into the state from a city bridge, bypassing the "agriculture checkpoints" altogether. One good one we found was using Interstate 29 and State Highway 11 to clip North Dakota. The Four Corners monument is tempting, but out of the way and has a cost to it, so how about US routes 385 and 138 through Julesburg, Colorado? You'll pick up the other three easy enough on the basic route. There are a few others out there, just peruse a map.
In case any of you were wondering, Freedom Rolling doesn't have plans to do this sort of an adventure anytime soon, especially not against the clock. The subject just happened to come up during a forum discussion of road trips one day, and looking at a map. Draw it out yourself, and see what you come up with. Our original drawing is long gone, sadly, and was quite a bit inefficient, having to do some wackiness in order to reach Kentucky. The aforementioned "clips" were used, and perhaps we'll try drawing it our again in the future, though it looks like many other people and companies have taken quite a bit of time to optimize it.
So if your Internal Compass takes you on the road, and you don't know where to go, see it all.
A unique city park is out there waiting for zoologically-minded visitors.
Welcome to Garden City, Kansas and Finnup Park, home of the Lee Richardson Zoo. Owned and operated by the city's zoo department, this menagerie of several hundred species from around the world is a welcome destination for visitors of all ages throughout the entire year. Lee Richardson Zoo is unique in that it offers a choice of experiences, whether it be a traditional walk through the property at no cost to the visitor, or a safari-style drive for a small fee to help maintain the grounds.
Heading to this property was slightly unique in that, because it was done during the travel portion of this trip, we had the trailer in tow. After calling ahead, the staff was quite helpful in how we would be able to park to enjoy the zoo, although parking the "heart" elsewhere is recommended during peak times, as it is a small parking lot. Naturally the walking tour was experienced, and although we recommend taking a picture of the map as you walk in, all of the different sections of the zoo are well labeled, and both drivers and walkers are able to co-exist through the property quite harmoniously. To further help fund the zoo, various animal feeding opportunities are offered throughout the day while clearly publicly announced by loudspeaker and schedule.
At the end of the day, the experience at Lee Richardson Zoo is one that you would come to expect from an organization, whether private or public, that participates in this sort of activity. It may not necessarily be the sort of place that one would want to go out of their way to visit, especially when compared to some of the other major menageries across North America, but if you're crossing the country on either US routes 83, 50, or 400, it's not a bad spot to make a pit stop and enjoy the city, especially when the price cannot be beat for a large family.
So as you Follow Your Internal Compass to a particular destination, do take some time to see what's on the way. You may just find a hidden gem such as this.
Well folks, exactly two years ago as of the day this is published, we closed on selling the house and went full-time for good.
Since then, after two years, twelve trips (14 total), 27 states (31 total), and nearly 50,000 miles later, this has been quite the ride. Surprisingly we are still in the same trailer, although we've since switched vehicles and spent a good chunk of the time in a mobile home apartment attached to a workamping office. We're a long ways from when we were piling all the rest of what we had into the trailer and rushing to get it into storage so we could have somewhere to sleep, but we've since figured out what we need, what we don't, what works for us, and how we can enjoy our lives to the fullest.
Taking a look back even to the six month post, the one thing we've learned is that we really have to be able to fly by the seat of our pants. Configurations have changed a few times both inside and out as we discover what works for us, but that's the beauty of a house being on wheels: As the landscape outside changes, so do things inside. We've had to make some additional changes electronically, and though it seems for the better now, perhaps it will change in the future. We're finally OK with using the stove, but haven't touched the oven. The patio kitchen has had upgrades, fun for both of us to use.
So what's in store for the future? It'd be tough not to say "more of the same", but as of right now, that's what it will be. Figure out where to go next, plan it all out, and then live life in a different environment. We're not at the point where we want to settle on a couple of different places yet, but we do have some favorites. We've also met some wonderful people, and maybe they'll get a visit from us; who knows. That's the beauty of living on the road: We never know, and can do pretty much whatever, wherever.
So be sure to Follow Your Internal Compass as we continue on our journey through this great country of ours.
Trip thirteen found us at Arkalon Park in southwestern Kansas. Although owned by the city of Liberal, this park is situated on what was once the now-ghost town of Arkalon. Although there are still some dirt roads around to show what once was, the building material has since been recycled. While in transit to the next location, a two-night stay was had.
Grounds: The park is a few miles east of Liberal on US Highway 54. It's clearly marked from the highway, but will take a little bit of dirt road driving along with paved roads while crossing railroad tracks and a couple cattle guards. Freight trains do run nearby along a rail bridge. The city of Liberal is a good re-supply point. Be aware the park is seasonal, and only open from April to mid-October. In addition, the gates are locked between 10PM and 7AM.
Sites: Arkalon is a small city park with about 15 RV and 30 tent sites, along with day use. These may be reserved online, or paid with the camp host upon entering. The RV sites are electric and water only, with a single dump station available at the campground entrance. Tent sites are dry. RV sites are level concrete pads and a mix of pull-thru and back-in. There is a 14-day limit to stay, and the check-out time is a fairly late 4PM. Both 30 and 50 amp electric is offered, but there is an extra charge to use 50 amp.
Staff: There is a single camp host on site that has morning and evening hours, along with on-call. They are very friendly and accommodating for extenuating circumstances.
Amenities: Arkalon's amenities are minimal but available. There is a fishing pond for catch-and-release only, along with a sizable playground for the children. A couple of walking trails adorn the grounds. There is a bathhouse with metal toilets and push-button cold showers. Several pavilions, both near the playground and campsites, have picnic tables, fire pits, and grills. There are also several dumpsters around the grounds and, should the need arise, tornado shelters.
Atmosphere: Our visit to the park was around the beginning of the season, so it was fairly quiet with only a couple of campers, both tent and RV, around us. There are no quiet hours so a few events around the fire happened after the gates were closed, but otherwise uneventful. There was a children's event happening during the daytime and evening; they were quite respectful of the other campers.
Overall, Arkalon Park receives a 9 out a possible 10 rating. The price is one of the best for what is offered, and the city noticeably takes great pride in maintaining not only this park, but the entire city itself. This may not exactly be the best longer-term "destination", but if your Internal Compass takes you towards southwestern Kansas, make a few day stop in Liberal and Arkalon Park.
It started as a free water stop during a long road trip. Here's the beef. A brain, a heart, a home, and courage meet here.
Welcome to Liberal, Kansas, where despite the political premonitions of many travelers out there, this destination has no relation whatsoever. Liberal is tucked in the southwestern part of the Sunflower State at the junction of US routes 54, 83, and 270, just on the border with Oklahoma. A small city of approximately 20,000, Liberal has historically been, and still is today, an oasis among the vast surrounding prairies. First founded by a generous settler who "liberally" offered water at no cost to travelers, the city became a center for farmers and ranchers. Although many ghosted towns surround the area, meat packing remains one of the top industries in Liberal, as evidenced by the large National Beef Packing plant on the way out of town.
One of the top attraction points to draw people to Liberal, Kansas, is the replica of Dorothy's House, as made famous by the L. Frank Baum book series, and later feature film, "The Wizard of Oz". Visitors are able to tour inside Dorothy's house to catch a glimpse of life in Kansas around the turn of the 20th century. A young lady, costumed to represent Dorothy Gale from the feature film, explains the house and all the general tasks of "her family" to the visitors before taking them through a short skit portraying the famous story and showing a collection of book and film-related memorabilia. The museum at Dorothy's House also houses the free Coronado museum, which takes visitors through the history of the Liberal area around the time of both its discovery and founding, including Native settlements, city planning, and the surrounding ghost towns.
Dorothy's House isn't the only thing to experience while in Liberal. The local Chamber of Commerce takes great pride in helping people experience the entirety of the town, going so far as to create a scavanger hunt by strategically placing "Dorothy" statues all about the city. One of these locations is the Mid-America Air Museum, a collection of various military aircraft throughout history. Other points highlighted include Light Park, which includes a small water amusement center, the Pancake House after which one of the major route's street names is given, and the old Train Station. Although passengers are no longer served in Liberal, the railroad remains in integral part of the city, especially freight servicing the area.
Next time your Internal Compass takes you toward Western Kansas, make a stop in Liberal, and you may just realize: "There's no place like home."
Looking for a nice breakfast spot? Try this place on for size.
Welcome to Papa Pete's, Home of the Giant Pancakes. Papa Pete's is located along the Molly Stark Trail (State Route 9) near Bennington, Vermont. Travelers heading into or out of New England while looking to route their way around Bennington won't miss this conveniently located place. The building itself is a bit on the small side with limited parking if they're busy and you happen to be towing your home. Though they've since limited their hours to mornings from Thursday to Sunday as of the time of writing, it is going to be worth the wait even if they happen to be crowded.
When Papa Pete's says they are Home of the Giant Pancakes, they aren't joking around. Instead of a traditional plate, these pancakes will be served to you on a pizza pan. As for utensils, you can forget that knife that comes with traditional flatware, as they'll provide you with a pizza cutter. Naturally, because you're in Vermont, the pride of the state in pure maple syrup is included. They do have a "full stack" challenge of three pancakes if you dare, although some of us have difficulty with two. Even if you're not in the flapjack mood, there are plenty of other breakfast options available.
Overall, Papa Pete's brings great food and great value to the table. We found this place by accident, but were glad we did. Granted, our last visit was prior to the drop in hours so the lunch menu items likely won't be available, but it's still worth a return trip with the friendly staff. Even if you want to try their challenge, it's not going to break the bank, unlike some of the other popular "pig out" locations across the country. They do take pride in their cooking means, and it shows in the taste of their food.
So the next time your Internal Compass takes you to New England, give Papa Pete's a try.
Freedom Rolling once again brings you their famous Brew Review, this time looking at three different locations for a particular beer they offer. As always, please ensure that these, or any brews, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws wherever you may be.
Starting in Fort Worth, Texas, just off the west fork of the Trinity River, one can find the Martin House Brewing Company. While in Texas, if you want a bit of a change from one of the most popular brewed bock beers in the state, then try on for size the "Bockslider". Bocks are sometimes also referred to as a "dark lager", giving a darker color for those with the preference, though not quite as dark as a porter or stout. A slight amount of bitterness will reach your palette from the light hops, but otherwise a smooth taste the experienced drinker will be able to enjoy, possibly in their Bock-yard.
We head northwest to our next stop in Sheridan Wyoming, home of the Black Tooth Brewing Company. Black Tooth brings to the table the Bomber Mountain Amber Ale, named after a peak at over two and a half miles of elevation where a famous aviation accident happened during World War II. The first pour of this selection for home distribution suffers from over-carbonation. Once you get past that, the body of this amber is what one would delightfully expect from this brew and more. The beer has won several awards from various festivals, and we can certainly understand why. The brewery has opened two other locations in Cheyenne and Casper, and it may just be a good place to visit.
Going back towards the Black Hills of South Dakota, we visit Spearfish and the Crow Peak Brewing Company to try their Canyon Cream Ale. Crow Peak has been brewing in-house since 2007, undergoing several expansions to keep up with demand in the northern mid- and mountain west. Although the beer doesn't necessarily look creamy when first pouring, the creamy taste is certainly there as it goes down smoothly. The subtle sweetness comes from locally procured honey, but does not overpower the taste. As a blonde, this is a wonderful addition to any summer gathering, and is one to enjoy again and again.
So as your Internal Compass takes you across the country, try some of the local craft beers as able, and see how they fare for you.
When in the south, one of the cuisines that comes to mind is Barbecue. Perhaps this place is a winner.
Welcome to Swadley's BBQ, a regional chain of barbecue offerings within greater Oklahoma City, along with a couple of locations to the north and south. Swadley's is a family-owned business that first began from the popularity of a Texas general store owner back in the 1930's and 40's. Since then, four generations of the family have been smoking meats and offering home cooking to the people of Oklahoma. In addition to the restaurants, Swadley's is also committed to their disaster relief efforts, as the wild weather of Oklahoma takes its toll on the area.
One visit has been had to Swadley's at the Midwest City location, on a weeknight near closing time with the trailer in tow. We were able to get our rig into their easy-off easy-on location, but would not recommend trying to do this during peak times, as the parking lot is moderately sized but maneuverable. Both the outside and the inside seemed like a cookie cutter of a popular southern-style steakhouse, but there is more to a restaurant than what the eye shows you.
Swadley's offers an array of different products that would make any barbecue lover know that they are at home. If you're not quite sure what you want to try from their menu, get a sampler of their several meats at a reasonable price for what they offer. As they do smoke their meats fresh daily, they will run out of product closer to the end of the day, but is a sign that they value quality over quantity. Professional critics have come to notice this as well, as barbecue awards and other accolades were won by Swadley's in 2020.
So the next time your Internal Compass takes you to or through Oklahoma City, make a stop at Swadley's, as they will positively satisfy any barbecue craving.
One of its largest industries was outlawed for several decades. If you're holding aces and eights, watch your back. Allow Freedom Rolling to Lead you down to this twin city.
Welcome to Deadwood, South Dakota. Just off the northern terminus of US Route 385, Deadwood is a place for gamblers, gold seekers, and other enthusiasts of the wild west. Although Deadwood has quite the history of these activities, both before and after South Dakota officially became a state, public gaming of this sort was outlawed shortly after World War II. Although the pastime continued in secret, the town was even further declined as a result of a fire in 1987 that ravaged the city. Looking to save Deadwood from becoming just another ghost town, the "Deadwood You Bet!" campaign successfully lobbied the state to once again legalize gambling. Although many fuel stations will have the colloquially known "Video Lottery" machines in their so-aptly titled "casinos", Deadwood remains the place in the state to find full service gaming.
Deadwood has much more history to it than simple gambling. In the mid-1870's, the city of Deadwood was founded as a result of one of the primary industries in the west: Mining of gold. Once Frank Bryant found the metal, it was just a matter of time before the city was built to what is seen today. There was an additional fire that ravaged the area in the late 1800's, but Deadwood was re-built and is still preserved by today's historical society. Other notable names of Deadwood include James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok, a former deputy who had moved to Deadwood and was shot by a recent poker opponent, along with Martha "Calamity" Jane Cannary, who supposedly had once married and had children with Wild Bill and remained in Deadwood after his death.
Today, Deadwood remains a real-life replica of what life once was in the city. Take a stroll down Main Street, visiting Saloon No. 10 where Wild Bill was shot, or perhaps see a re-enactment of one of the several famous gunfights of the city. Take a drive up Mount Moriah to the final resting places of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane, or slightly north to see the Tatanka Story of Bison. If the few streets of Deadwood have tickled your fancy, take a trip across the other side of the terminus of US Route 385 and up the mountain to the twin city of Lead. While there, experience the Black Hills Mining Museum, dedicated to an industry that still exists in the area today.
So the next time you want to experience the history of the Wild West, Follow your Internal Compass right to the city of Deadwood.
Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'! Time to head to the southern midwest, out to the 46th state annexed in the early 1900's. Wait, what?! That late?! It's a Scandal! It's a Outrage!
Welcome to Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain. Anyone who has looked at maps of what the United States was in the 1800's will notice a large chunk of either "Unorganized" or "Indian" territory around where Oklahoma is today. Indian Nations still adorn the east side of the state, and was originally going to become the state of "Sequoyah" before President Roosevelt made a compromise to combine it and the Oklahoma territory to the west. Throughout the former Indian Territory, there are the Cherokees in the north, the Choctaws in the south, and the Creeks, Seminoles, and Chickasaws a bit further to the center of the present day state. Some of this autonomy can still be seen to today, especially when looking at the license plates. Among those from the state of Oklahoma, there are also Nation plates. Not much of a Lonely Room in those parts.
Not all of Oklahoma is plains and tornadoes, as popular media may have you think. Head into the Choctaw Nation of southeastern Oklahoma, near the Kiamichi River. While there, take a drive along the Talimena Scenic Byway through the Ouachita National Forest. The breathtaking views are such a site to behold, you Cain't Say No to the opportunity, even if it's just along the other US or state highways that traverse the area. Once you hit Talihina, consider making a stop at the Bigfoot Museum and art gallery, a small yet free-to-enter collection which pays tribute to one of the more controversial species known to man, the sasquatch. They may not be able to explain why Pore Jud is Daid if he wandered out into the forest, but the curator has some interesting stories to tell.
Maybe you're just taking a drive from Kansas City and want to see the rolling plains. You could still take a nice drive down historic Route 66, the Mother Road. After heading through the eastern parts of the state, route 66 doubles with Interstate 35, giving the driver lovely views of the Oklahoma City skyline before heading through the northwest suburbs. Although much of the route seems like a decrepit byway when compared to interstate 40, dump your grey and black tanks in the city of El Reno before seeing the eastbound-pointed Giants display along one of the multitude of farms across the west side of the state. It may feel like a Lonely Room when you drive through it, but there's some nice scenery out there.
Many a New Day happens when Following your Internal Compass, and perhaps it will take you to Oklahoma. But we won't go on about it much longer here, otherwise People Will Say We're in Love.
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