Travel Trivia and Our Final Thoughts
Travel Trivia
Total Number of Miles Driven: 3563 miles (Contest Question Answer)
Total Number of Gallons of Gasoline Consumed: 268.580 gallons
Average MPG: 13.266 miles per gallon
Most expensive gas: Needles, CA at $1.979 / gal
Least expensive gas: Amarillo, TX at $1.519 / gal. Yes…all gasoline purchased was high octane!
Cheapest Motel: The Twilite Motel in Flagstaff, AZ - $28.00 with tax! (Contest Question Answer)
Most Expensive Hotel: The ElTovar at the Grand Canyon - $ you really don't want to know $
Food and Beverages Consumed in Car or Motel Room:
1 loaf of bread, 1 lb of sliced turkey, 1/2 lb baby swiss cheese, 12 pack Dr. Pepper, 19 bottles of water, 12 pack 7-Up, 6 pack Root Beer, 24 cans + 3 bottles caffeine free Diet Coke, 1 bag Nacho Cheese Dorritos, 2 Snickers bars, 2 Ice Cream Bars, 1/2 bag pretzels, 1 bag of Sour Cream and Onion Rice Cakes (Dean says they taste like styrofoam peanuts), 1 box Little Debbie Oatmeal Cookies, 1 box Chocolate Rice Crispy Bars, 18 bananas, and 3 pears.
Music: We brought along CDs to listen to. We listened to a total of 63 CDs. We didn't have any repeat songs!
Total times lost: 11 (Contest Question Answer). The last one was at Mile 2645 on Day #6 after getting gas at Sierra Blanca.
Number of Pictures Taken: 220 digital pics, 30 pics with Dean's regular camera, and 118 pics with Travis' regular camera. That's a total of 368 pictures!!!
Number of Trips to Wal-Mart: ZERO!
Cost of rebuilt alternator in Waco, TX for a '67 Firebird with an external voltage regulator: $28.68 including tax (exchange). What a bargain!
Firsts for Dean: First time into California, first time to Mexico, first time to Grand Canyon, first time to Big Bend.
Firsts for Travis: First time driving across continental divide (he usually flies!), first time to Big Bend.
How many times were we stopped at a Border Patrol Inspection Station: We lost count! We even took our shoes and socks off so we could start counting on our toes.
Actual weight of Travis' laptop computer: 6.76 lbs, but it felt like 26.76 lbs lugging it through the Grand Canyon.
Our Final Thoughts
What was the best part about our trip?
Dean - I can't possibly name one item that was my favorite: Historic Route 66, the Grand Canyon, Big Bend, our jog into Mexico, the people, the open road, the desert, the historic places, the bridges, and even the Marfa Mystery Lights. Those of you that know me know that I like to have a good time, no matter what I am doing. Just ask me about my trip, and I'll talk your ear off, just ask the guy who was next to me on the airplane! The bottom line, the entire trip was my favorite part.
Travis - The entire trip was outstanding. I am still in awe that we did all of that stuff, and we didn't have any problems (with a minor alternator incident). However, two things really stand out about this trip: Day #2 when we went to the Ghost Town of Glen Rio (mile 767) and Day #3 at the Old Iron Bridge over the Cavern (mile 1290). It made me realize what the people in the past went through to travel across the country and what a major financial impact the location of a road has on a community. There are a lot of awesome spots hidden away and people with some fascinating stories that we never see. You just have to get out of your zooming air conditioned fancy automobile to experience it. I'm just glad that I got to do it. I'm also glad that we decided to do this web site. It was a lot of fun to reflect back at the end of each day. Besides, without it, there is no way I would ever remember everything that we did.
What was the worst part about our trip?
Dean - Although the speeding ticket in Arizona is high on my list, I have to rate being away from my family and long stretches of unavoidable interstate as the worst. Especially upsetting were the stretches where Route 66 was gone altogether.
Travis - Ending the trip. I didn't care much for the cold blowing rain prior to Amarillo (where it rained in the car!), but I was really sad when the trip ended. I had a blast, and I wish I could do more stuff like this! My travel partner was most excellent too!
What would we change if we were to do it again?
Both Dean and Travis - Take more time. This was really a combination vacation. We could have easily spent a full week on Route 66 alone, and we probably should have. We would love to do the remaining portions: Chicago to Shamrock, TX and Needles to Los Angeles, CA. The Grand Canyon should really be done on its own. There's a lot there, and Dean really wants to go hiking down into the canyon and go to the North Rim as well.
Many thanks to everyone who encouraged and supported our completing this adventure. It was great hearing from everyone during our journey, and we appreciate your following our story. We may have a picture gallery at a later date when we get caught up with everything else. Thanks!