Driving from Brooklyn to Oregon next week; What weird should I espy?

007ben

#1 – 10:22 AM February 20, 2009

I live in Eugene. I'd be willing to meet up/hang out sometime.

Portland has Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
http://omsi.edu
Lots of other stuff in Portland too. Most strip clubs and breweries per capita in the world.

There is also the shanghai tunnels http://www.shanghaitunnel.com/

Salem has the AC Gilbert House (inventor of the erector set). Though really more for kids but my friend took his Daughter recently but he loved it.

InfiniteAmmo

#2 – 10:22 AM February 20, 2009

Joel, if you're passing through St. Louis (and it looks like you are), you're highly recommended to visit the City Museum. It's quite unlike anything you've ever seen before. http://www.citymuseum.org/home.asp As a fellow happy mutant to another, you'd love it.

ccreitz

#3 – 10:36 AM February 20, 2009

Detour to Carhenge, in Alliance, Nebraska. It is especially mystical now, not quite halfway between the solstice and the equinox.

beecaper

#4 – 10:36 AM February 20, 2009

Looks like you might be driving through good ole St.Louis, Missouri. I would not pass up a chance to explore The City Museum. The vision of an eccentric artist in collaboration with kids from the City of St.Louis & other artists.

Included in the abandoned factory/bank-turned adult & child amusement alike:
1. 1. A bus hanging from the edge of the building
2. 2. Giant concrete whale you can crawl into to access tubes at the ceiling & just below the floor.
3. 3. Slide from the second floor down to the first.
4. 4. Skate park on third floor.
5. 5. Giant outside play area.
6. 6. A shoelace factory you can watch in action.
7. 7. The Museum of Mirth, Mystery, and Mayhem.
8. 8. Architectural artifacts from early St.Louis

Depending on when you pass I'd be up for hanging. Safe travels.

BCJ

#5 – 10:38 AM February 20, 2009

Well, obviously you should take a slight detour and hang out with me, some guy you've never met or talked to before.
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=new+york&daddr=HWY-174+E+to:oregon&hl=en&geocode=%3BFawotQIdeDZ--w%3B&mra=ls&via=1&sll=42.35944,-97.26999&sspn=28.711646,53.613281&ie=UTF8&ll=43.036776,-97.250977&spn=28.41244,53.613281&z=5

Seriously though, congrats. You are going through Salt Lake City, and I've been told you should definitely take a tour of a Morman Temple. They are supposed to be ornate to the point of making a Catholic Churches look plain.

pewma

#6 – 10:46 AM February 20, 2009

Agreed with #2 & #4

The city museum is a must. Also if it's not too cold, cement land is a good stop.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/25/arts/design/25ceme.html?hp
Map: http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Cement.Land.314-869-9096

taterpatch

#7 – 10:47 AM February 20, 2009

Though I live in Nebraska, if i were you i would take I-70 West out of KC and make it to the Garden of Eden,Lucas, Kansas.
http://www.garden-of-eden-lucas-kansas.com/

Cough up the 5 bucks for the tour. The place is wonderful and strange.

Icaruswing

#8 – 10:49 AM February 20, 2009

Joel,
You will be passing through Laramie Wyoming on Rt. 80 from the looks of it - if you need a place to crash we have a bedroom (and a small home brewery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/riverrats/) you are welcome to stop and enjoy if the timing is right for you. (it is worth mentioning that Rt 80 in Laramie gets closed in Wyoming off and on for weather this time of year).

Brandon West

#9 – 10:51 AM February 20, 2009

If you feel like swinging south a bit towards Denver let me know. It's about an hour and a half south of Cheyenne, or I'd even meet you in Ft. Collins (45 mins south) for a meal and some beers if work lets me get away with it.

If you need a place to stay I can help out as well. My house is dog friendly.

mappo

#10 – 11:04 AM February 20, 2009

Unless time is truly of the essence, my opinion is to get off the interstates and really *see* the country as you drive across it. Get on the old US Highway system as much as possible. They are so much more scenic, and pass through all sorts of cool small towns just oozing with Americana culture. Sure, it'll take you an extra week or so, but if you're taking the time to drive across an entire continent anyway, you might as well take a little longer and do it well. It won't even cost that much more, since eats and sleeps are unbelievable cheap in the "back country". I did this on a cross-country motorcycle trip a few years back, and can't recommend it highly enough. America is truly beautiful, geographically and culturally, and you just don't get to see it on the interstates. An excellent guidebook for such a voyage is "Road Trip USA".

TJ S

#11 – 11:04 AM February 20, 2009

@9:

I'd be happy to meetup with you and Pork Musket in Ft. Collins (or Denver, if you choose to take I-70 instead of I-80) for a meal and beer. My wife would like to meet you as well (she saw you on the video you did for the Pre and she thinks you're hilarious)

codekitchen

#12 – 11:05 AM February 20, 2009

#5, non-churchmembers are not allowed to even set foot inside the Mormon temples, though the tabernacle and downtown Temple Square in general are pretty interesting I guess (I've lived in Salt Lake City for 8 years or so).

But if you are passing through Salt Lake City, Joel, I'd give the city itself a miss completely and check out the surrounding mountains. It's beautiful here, I'll never get tired of it. Then stop downtown briefly for some chow, there's lots of good eats in SLC.

Anonymous Anonymous

#13 – 11:11 AM February 20, 2009

Devil's Tower National Monument is really cool.

MonkeyFez

#14 – 11:11 AM February 20, 2009

You are gonna want to be very careful in the passes through the rockies this time of year. It can get very scary, very fast up there. Like end of the world oh dear god! kinda scary. It wouldn't hurt to plan a backup for the area just in case you get snowed out. Good luck, be safe and congrats!

Anonymous Anonymous

#15 – 11:12 AM February 20, 2009

It will be in the panhandle of Nebraska that you will be falling asleep - booooring!!- At least there isn't much to hit, or canyons to swallow you, just occasional cows, fence posts and roadsigns.
Stop in Lincoln, NE to see the one of the tallest state houses, the state capitol - or the 'prick on the prairie' as we call it. There's actually a law that prohibits constructing anything that is taller than the state capitol in Lincoln. Kearney has some interesting Buffalo Bill/western frontier/homesteading crap but unless you like rock formations you won't see much interesting until you reach the mountains. Good luck!

Anonymous Anonymous

#16 – 11:12 AM February 20, 2009

Congrats on love and moving to the west coast, just remember to never honk your car horn or everyone will know you are from foreign lands (we are just that polite/laid back/damn dirty hippies.) You would have to go a bit more northerly but I highly recommend the unfinished Crazy Horse Memorial (crazyhorsememorial.org/), not that there's all that much to see, but the insane task they have set for themselves is inspiring.

Oddly the only "must" I can muster for my beloved Potland, OR is getting a giant, cream filled, phallus shaped donut at Voodoo donuts (voodoodoughnut.com). It's a great place to live but it's kinda low "sights".

Eugene's a nice town, just watch out for the tweaker bike thieves in downtown, the rednecks in Springfield, the students on campus and the Trustafarians everywhere and you'll be fine.

Good luck

mkultra

#17 – 11:30 AM February 20, 2009

Man, I truly love English bulldogs, have ever since I read "To Say Nothing of the Dog" by Connie Willis... I'm pretty sure the bulldog Cyril was my favorite character. It's a sci-fi comedy of manners with time travel paradoxes galore, and the best possible introduction to CW (IMO).

Of course, I'm also self-aware enough to realize that I would be a terrible dog owner: I don't have a big yard, I hate going for walkies, and I'm way too sensitive to having everything I own chewed into oblivion. I also don't like cleaning up their messes, of all kinds.

So I'll live with fawning shamefully over every bulldog I run into, and enjoying the company of my big-boned (honestly, she's not obese) Abyssinian cat.

Agies

#18 – 11:32 AM February 20, 2009

With Rob living here Pittsburgh seems like a reasonable place to stop by. We have the tallest academic structure in this half of the world, and a church they brew beer in.

Anonymous Anonymous

#19 – 11:46 AM February 20, 2009

You're more than welcome to swing by Chicago, we have delicious beer and a couch. Oh, and a dog! Porter and Addison can be BEST FRENDZ. Besides, we owe you for hosting us the last two times we visited NYC :)

-Vic and Ann

Willis

#20 – 12:14 PM February 20, 2009

I can't believe your route takes you around the Rockies in Colorado. The drive from the front range (Denver) to Eastern Utah is gorgeous no matter which roads you take. I would highly suggest braving the weather to drive though Glenwood canyon (on I-70) or over Lizardhead pass (outside of Telluride). However you get to Oregon, drive safe. People on the road are assholes, generally.

g.deck

#21 – 12:20 PM February 20, 2009

It looks like you're coming through Columbus, OH, so if you are there's plenty of good food/drink to be found, just say the world.

ZoopyFunk

#22 – 12:31 PM February 20, 2009

Allow me to just skip ahead to the end of the journey. As a 15 year verteran of Eugene, I say that you might actually love it. There simply is not city in the US like it. Great dog park in the south hills, Excellent bike trails(largest # of bike miles in the US, per capita, me thinks), excellent atmosphere if you can deal with the rain, which is not nearly as bad as it was 15 years ago. They don't have a rush hour, more like rush minute. Awesome Public transpo system. The Trinity, Lambs Breath, Snowbud, and Blueberry are the best in the country. Stay the hell out of Springfield, unless you wanna get killed by mobs of tweaked out methheads. No good electonics stores, (facesofmeth was started there, again me thinks). Excellent resturants, laid back atmosphere, great music clubs. Its a superb city. Did I mention that it is Mecca for Hippies? That is more of a plus than many may think. Have a damn good time. And stay out of Springfield.

mappo

#23 – 12:36 PM February 20, 2009

Don't bother posting here, Joel took his post over to the Mother Boing for greater exposure. He's too good for us backwater gadget slobs now.

Dance with the one who brung ya, Joel! :)

Eliot

#24 – 12:38 PM February 20, 2009

I also grew up in Nebraska. DO NOT go out of your way to see Carhenge. I also agree with Taterpatch. If you're looking to see the 'majesty' of the country. Take I-70 it'll put you into Denver and then you can drive through the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Check the weather though. If it looks bad, you're better off taking the Nebraska/Wyoming route. I love Nebraska, but you're not going to see anything driving I-80... except for that giant Jesus when you get into Wyoming.

You're current route goes through Nebraska City, home of Arbor Day, which is quite pleasant. Between Omaha and Lincoln is the Strategic Air Command (SAC) museum; it's a great military technology museum.

You can see what the Nebraska/Wyoming/Utah section looks like in the video from my move to Vegas in 2006. http://www.robotskirts.com/2006/09/27/dear-brigitte-01/

kshusker

#25 – 12:40 PM February 20, 2009

Definitely hit Lawrence, Kansas. It is one of the nicest little college towns in the USA (about 30 minutes west of Kansas City on I70)

Trisk

#26 – 12:43 PM February 20, 2009

If you end up sticking with 80 across Wyoming and don't take Icaruswing up on his offer to crash, save money by avoiding hotels in Laramie. It's the last town for 100 miles until Rawlins, and both Laramie and Rawlins gouge people on prices. Stay in Cheyenne or western Neb. before crossing that particular gap, and make sure you're getting to Rawlins before nightfall. Roads often close here, as IW said, and it's directly tied to the sun.

Brandon West

#27 – 12:47 PM February 20, 2009

I agree with the people suggesting going over the divide if the weather is good. Having spent so much time in Colorado I take it for granted but the mountains are truly magnificent, especially if you haven't seen them before.

oldmanjut

#28 – 12:52 PM February 20, 2009

If you're going thru Salt Lake City, you definitely need to go to Gilgal Gardens. http://tr.im/gCGN
The Joseph Smith sphinx is a sight to be seen. And there are lots of other bizarre mormon sculptures.

Horselover Fat

#29 – 1:04 PM February 20, 2009

Check out http://www.roadsideamerica.com/vortex.html -lists lots of offbeat tourist attractions

w000t

#30 – 1:31 PM February 20, 2009

Unfortunately, the best chicken fried steak with cream gravy is to be found in Texas, which would add quite a bit to your drive - especially so considering that my recommendations are all in Austin. Amarillo might be almost doable for this drive, but you'll have to ask others about that.

In Austin, the cream gravy flows like an unstoppable tide, appearing unbidden on plates with no apparent relation to gravy and nearly everywhere has chips and salsa on the table and sells margaritas.

At this point, I'm just whistling in the wind, but for any who may find themselves in Austin, I recommend Hut's for chicken-fried steak, Katz's Deli for a great sandwich (right across the street from Hut's), Casino El Caminofor perfect fries, The Taco Shack for transcendent tacos, and Angie's for authentic carnitas (get the corn tortillas - they're hand-made fresh).

Now I'm hungry.

Joel Johnson

#31 – 1:33 PM February 20, 2009

I love you guys, too. But I need lots of attention! I'm needy!

There is too much good info for me to get through at the moment, but I can already see a plan forming. I think I may try to go through some of the pretty parts of Nebraska, then cut back down to Colorado to meet up with some of you guys.

thechicgeek

#32 – 1:34 PM February 20, 2009

When you're on Rt. 78 westbound in Pennsylvania, you'll see signs for Roadside America at around mile marker 25. It's an old relic from a crazy recluse. A somewhat dusty model village! And don't miss the 20 foot tall Amish couple staring down at you. Best of all, it's right at the beginning of your trip, about 2 hours in. Huzzah!

Oddball

#33 – 1:35 PM February 20, 2009

If you're interested in aircraft at all, I would highly recommend stopping at the Air Force Museum (http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/) at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. They have a huge collection that represents the entire history of the U.S. Air Force.

gwax

#34 – 1:39 PM February 20, 2009

I would HIGHLY recommend heading north after Kansas City and going to Badlands National Park in South Dakota. The Badlands are one of the weirdest and prettiest places that I have ever been. While you're at that, you might as well stay north and check out Glacier National Park in Montana, while glaciers still exist and all.

Easily some of the most beautiful things that I've ever seen.

And if you encounter a man selling jerky out of an RV on top of a mountain in Wyoming, buy some, it's delicious.

LightningRose

#35 – 1:51 PM February 20, 2009

I-80 through Southern Wyoming is pretty boring.

I'd suggest detouring from Western Nebraska to Denver via I-76, then I-70 West through the absolutely gorgeous Rockies to Green River, Utah.

Then take US-6 Northwest through Price (another lovely drive) to Spanish Fork, Utah. And then take I-15 North to Salt Lake City as planned.

A major detour would be to stay on I-80 to San Francisco and take Highway 1 North as far as possible before heading inland to Eugene.

LightningRose

#36 – 1:55 PM February 20, 2009

Joel, I just saw your comment at 1:33 pm.

If you decide to drive through Denver over the Rockies, it will probably be faster to take I-70 from Kansas City to Denver, but Southern Nebraska is probably more scenic than Kansas.

GP

#37 – 1:58 PM February 20, 2009

Sioux City, Iowa. Hour and a half north of Omaha. I don't know what sort of budget you're on. You're welcome to stay at our place. Two girl dogs for Porter to hang out with. Meals included for you and Porter. WiFi. Friendly. Good coffee. Off street parking.

Brandon West

#38 – 1:59 PM February 20, 2009

@32 Trying to decide if Nebraska is more scenic than Kansas is like trying to decide which brand of saltines is the tastiest.

dculberson

#39 – 2:07 PM February 20, 2009

Joel, I was going to mention the Air Force Museum but Oddball beat me to it. It's awesome. It can take a lot of time to do it up right, but even just walking through really quickly (which still means a couple of hours) will net you some amazing sights. If you have time to take a shuttle onto the base, you can see the XB70 Valkyrie supersonic bomber prototype.

In the museum proper, there's everything from a Wright Flyer replica to a stealth bomber. There are so many different planes that toward the end they've just got them herringboned together and even overlapping when one plane is really big. The collection completely blows away the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum in DC. (Though that is definitely worth seeing too!)

hathawaysigns

#40 – 3:13 PM February 20, 2009

As MUCH as we, as Utah residents, second the many nominations of Southern Utah and its National Parks as gorgeous places to visit - well, WE happen to be in far northern Utah and quite literally two miles off the interstate exchange where you're going to split off I-15 onto I-84 for your trek into Idaho. That would be Tremonton Utah, home of Hathaway Signs (that's us) where READING BOINGBOING and its affiliated sites is our daily lunchtime activity. Really, we all do it together!

So, our suggestion isn't so much what to see, as what to EAT in this neck of the woods. If you happen to be passing through here between 11am and 9pm, any day of the week, we would be delighted to buy you lunch or dinner at El Parral, the fabulous, friendly, family-owned Mexican restaurant right next door to us. HUGE food, very authentic, 100% made from scratch every day, cooked and served by Papa Jose, Mama, and their two daughters who are undoubtedly the friendliest and most efficient servers on the face of the planet.

And Porter is quite welcome too; he might enjoy a romp with our shop Red Heeler, Marcus.

TheMadCreator

#41 – 4:06 PM February 20, 2009

There is an "Elvis is Alive" museum right off the interstate halfway through Missouri on that route. Worth a stop for some snickers.

DeWynken

#42 – 4:08 PM February 20, 2009

Las Vegas! Hookers! Strip clubs! Come on people!

beneditor

#43 – 4:59 PM February 20, 2009

Ender's Game. (sigh). Lucky sod.

upnorth

#44 – 5:56 PM February 20, 2009

If you have some time, a whole northern route would be **fabulous**. I HIGHLY recommend heading north at Denver and taking I-90 through Montana and Idaho all the way to Ellensberg, WA. The mountain scenery is unbeatable. It's a nice compromise if you want to stay on the interstate to make time, but don't want days of unbroken flatness.

From Ellensberg, I recommend taking I-82 for a short distance, then taking US 97. You'll go through the Yakama Rez, which is interesting.

You can go straight to Oregon across the Biggs Bridge, or for the super-scenic route, take State Route 14 through the gorge to the bridge at Astoria. You can stop at Lewis and Clark's Station Camp, where they spent a winter mapping the mouth of the Columbia (you'll have to go just a few miles west past the Astoria Bridge).
http://home.nps.gov/lewi/historyculture/images/1805map.gif

Then you can head down the coast to Florence, stopping at all the great coast lookouts. In Newport, be sure to stop at the Galley Ho restaurant if you want a t-shirt that says "I love the Ho".

I would invite you to visit, but we're in AK and I suppose you're not going that far north.

Good luck and happy travels!!

Anonymous Anonymous

#45 – 6:32 PM February 20, 2009

Kansas City? Best check out Cowtown Computer Congress's new hackerspace INSIDE A CAVE!
Opening week is March 2nd - 7th.
http://blog.cowtowncomputercongress.org/

chiefted

#46 – 6:42 PM February 20, 2009

Well if you were going to take a Southern route, or if you really want to detour, would suggest the NRAO Very Large Array http://www.vla.nrao.edu/ fifty miles west of Socorro, New Mexico.

Total science geek heaven. (sorry Jodi Foster doesn't not make
an appearance there).

gaboury

#47 – 12:55 AM February 21, 2009

I'd just like to add a few points, as someone who was born in CA, raised in CO, went to high school in KS, and college in WA.

I agree with everyone that you should take I-70 as far as you can through Colorado. It is beautiful and MUCH more interesting than the northern route through Wyoming and Idaho. Honestly Colorado is the only interesting part of your trip at the moment, unless you run through Utah and then cut up to Oregon.

Speaking of which, Eugene is...wierd. I love Oregon and it's a great state to live in, but Eugene is of a type. It is very much in contrast to Springfield, which is its poorer and more diverse neighbor, and the city is almost ebarassingly liberal and hippie. They do have an amazing comic book shop and a great fish and chips restaurant, but the whole city is a bit silly. None the less, it is an absolutely amazing place to live and, coming as a current New Yorker, an infinitely more enjoyable and progressive lifestyle than any East coast experience. You are in for a treat.

burnout

#48 – 11:33 AM February 21, 2009

Since your stopping by St. Louis, MO you might want to detour down to Springfield and visit the 1984 arcade. A couple of guys have gotten together and refurbished a ton of classic video games from the 80's and they'll let you play all you want for a $5 cover charge.

Check it out:http://www.1984arcade.com/

Not much else in Springfield though.

CraziestGadgetsdotcom

#49 – 12:33 PM February 21, 2009

Columbia, MO. the world's largest indoor Mcdonald's playground...across the street from the largest Burger King playground.

RedShirt77

#50 – 2:46 PM February 21, 2009

Dog + airbag = baby + airbag

Dog in back seat

Chrs

#51 – 4:57 PM February 21, 2009

You're going right by it, so stop and check Shoshone Falls, it's impressive.

privacyisaright

#52 – 8:43 PM February 21, 2009

Two words: Corn Palace

Two more words: Wall Drug

phi

#53 – 7:09 AM February 22, 2009

What about the 2002? Will it be towed by said mini-van?

Vinnie

#54 – 7:12 AM February 22, 2009

#12 -- While it is normally true that non-mormons are not allowed to enter the temples after they have been dedicated, anyone passing through Salt Lake City this month has a very special once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. In Draper Utah, which looks to just be a suburb of SLC, there is a brand new temple that isn't going to be dedicated until March. This means that not only are the public allowed, they have an open and standing invitation to see the beautiful architecture and artwork.

I don't actually live in SLC (and thusly I heard about this second-hand) but if you end up going through Columbia Missouri and need a break from the road I know some pretty tasty restaurants (plus I've been trying to convince my wife to let me get a netbook and I wouldn't mind some help ;) ).

icky2000

#55 – 8:10 AM February 22, 2009

Have a great trip. Good luck with the girl!

whyisjake

#56 – 10:19 AM February 22, 2009

When you swing by Salt Lake, let me know and I will take you skiing up in the great rocky mountains! I run the SkiUtah Blog loads of fun!

enealio

#57 – 12:04 PM February 22, 2009

In Nebraska, you'll be tempted to stop at the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument. Don't. It's a waste of time. Instead, stop in Hastings, NB to visit the Kool-Aide museum. Trust me. You'll be glad you did. Be sure to plop yourself down in the Kool Aide theatre to watch old Kool-Aide commercials including some very trippy ones with the Monkees.

mralistair

#58 – 4:20 PM February 22, 2009

you should do what dave gorman did and try to do the whole trip, only shopping, eating, sleeping and (most tricky) pumping gas, from independently run buisnesses

http://www.channel4.com/more4/documentaries/doc-feature.jsp?id=188

he just managed it, it's a fascinating show

SamF

#59 – 8:19 AM February 23, 2009

I think I can change your mind on "America's perfect food" if you're willing to take a slight detour. On your way between IN and St. Louis, head a bit more westerly and go through the little IL capital city of Springifeld. The regional specialty is a dish called the Horseshoe. It consists of: Some type of bread (usually toast). Topped with some kind of meat (traditionally ham, I think, but I think a hamburger patty is more popular), topped by a mess of french fries. All topped with cheese sauce.

The best place to get one in Springfield is a place called Darcy's Pint. They make some specialty horseshoes that are awesome (like one with andouille sausage).

The horseshoe was also featured on an episode of Diners Drive-Ins and Dives on Food Network (I think they filmed it at Charlie Parker's diner, but I like Darcy's shoes better).

I live in the area on Friday thru Sunday. So if you're passing through around that time, I'll buy.

Oh, and we have some Lincoln crap, and some Route 66 crap.

rijrunner1

#60 – 9:04 AM February 23, 2009

CarHenge in western Nebraska. Its a replica of Stonehenge made from Buicks. It is also a monument to having too much alcohol at a family reunion and nothing to do in western Nebraska.

Anonymous Anonymous

#61 – 10:08 AM February 23, 2009

WALL DRUG

Anonymous Anonymous

#62 – 10:48 AM February 23, 2009

Don't take 80.

If southern Wyoming doesn't make you want to eat a gun, Utah will.

90 is infinitely better.

You get to see the Tetons.

Anonymous Anonymous

#63 – 10:50 AM February 23, 2009

Kansas City has a really neat off-leash dog area (trails through the woods, a dog beach, large grassy knoll) at Shawnee Mission Park. Your buddy Jason can probably help you find it.

City Museum in St. Louis would be a great place to stop...though I doubt they'd let you bring Porter.

Oh, and if you have to get gas while driving west, Missouri has cheaper gas than both Kansas and Illinois. Oak Grove is usually the cheapest place along I-70 in MO.

Anonymous Anonymous

#64 – 6:11 PM June 15, 2009

Thanks so much for posting this - I'm going on a trip from Philly to Long Beach this summer and a lot of it overlaps! And thanks to all the commenters - especially for tips to get through Nebraska!