Ft. Jackson/Columbia, SC to Seattle, WA

[Astrodokk]

Thx Sman. Didn’t want to go further south and ad more time and distance. Kind of on a time constraint here.
Its beautiful and sunny right now as I’m stopped for a quick nap short of Gallup. We’ll see how it all goes. If I get diverted again it’s no big deal, but I prefer to go where they tell me rather than fighting out later that I could have gone the way I wanted in the first place.
I hope the good weather lasts. But in Seattle, I’m used to, “wait five minutes”.

[Blue~Go]

Hi-ho!

Kingman (well, do make sure to drive at least 15 miles west of town and drop down 3,000') or bust!

I used one of the Little Buddies for a while (the tall, sunflower shaped one). It's okay if you are careful with it, but like you say, you do have to watch it. And that shape is inherently tippy.

Now I have a Wave 3. That can be secured to a wall (or use very sturdy portable legs as an option). Also no open flame. However, it's radiant like a wood stove, so you have to be where you can "feel" the heat that comes off the front. The 3 is small as a primary heater unless you only have temps in the high 40's or 50's (in my opinion). However, it would make a great compliment to the furnace. It's silent, doesn't have the slight odor the buddy does, and uses zero electrical power. So flip on the main furnace to quickly warm up the place, then go to Wave for maintenance heating. Also the Wave natively runs off the big main propane tank (you can convert the buddys I think).

If I had it to do over I might get the Wave 6, but then it's a bigger thing to deal with.

Now let's have a look at the weather...

[Blue~Go]

Well, just so you know, by tomorrow morning there will be the edge of that next big snow system coming down to Flagstaff. So keep on going!

Today looks like no "weather" and no (!!) wind on your route to Kingman. Unless there is leftover road stuff from yesterday. But it's sunny the whole way and even Flag is going to get up to 40º

Tonight..... way too much "pretty purple" at altitude, but if you can get past Kingman you'll be looking at lows in the high 30's. Ahhhhh. (Well it beats what you'd have otherwise.) Obviously if you get too tired and can't make it, then stop. If I couldn't get the whole way, I'd probably choose to stop at Winslow Wal-mart. You'll see it just north of I-40, then you take the next exit and double back on the service road. That's maybe 45 minutes (or so) east of Flagstaff off I-40 and is about as low (warm) as you are going to get unless you get all the way to the other side of Kingman.

Then about your route north...

It looks like you could perhaps go up through Nevada and etc. Lots of nice scenic drive possibilities, but you'll be fighting cold weather the whole way. Guess you'll know after today if you are in the mood for that. There is that next big snow system, but it looks right now like it would be east of the Nevada/CA border. I guess I'd say see how far you get today and then look again tonight or tomorrow morning for latest forecasts.

BTW, if you were truly going to go the fastest way up to Vegas, you'd head north on 93 out of Kingman vs. dropping all the way down on I-40. Bit cooler tonight. OTOH, if you do want to drop down tonight and then wait and see, you can also take I-40 west to just past Needles, CA and then either continue west to California warm route, or go up on 95 to Vegas. Adds about an hour (if you go to Vegas) but gives you choices, plus warmer night tonight.

If you are going on over to Cali, the last cheap gas stop is exit 9 off I-40 in Arizona - there is a Love's, Pilot, the usual. There is parking in quite a few large dirt lots south of Love's, or maybe 1/4 mile further there is some desert "boondocking" to the west of 95 (in quotes because it's still near the road and not a place you'd camp for camping's sake, but you wouldn't have any trucks).

[Astrodokk]

Made it to Kingman!
Still gorgeous out!
Decided to drive in to Barstow, then north to Bakersfield on 58.
I’ll take 99 scenic to Sacramento and hit 5 all the way up.
Thanks everyone for your help. I hope this can help other travelers thinking about driving the I-40 across the US.
I recommend it. Next time I’ll experience a different route.

[Blue~Go]

Go you! I'm impressed. Especially given the tempting new living room and kitchen RIGHT behind the driver's seat

Granted, it's ridiculously cold here (Mohave), but even ridiculously cold is still above freezing.

In case you want to stop, there is a rest area on 58 just a bit west of the intersection with 395 north (Kramer Junction - there is a stoplight, gas, and major truck action there, so it's pretty obvious). I'm going to say the rest area is 10-20 miles past there. Has been quiet when I was there. I mean, unless you are in Sacramento already

BTW, the rest areas on I-5 north do tend to fill up with trucks. So either get there early or park on the car side (beauty of 21'). I've had times when I was towing (so had to take the truck side) and felt like the proverbial desert wanderer with no room at the inn, then go another 50 miles, no room, another 50....OMG I'm so tired... argh.

I think you made a good choice to route up through the valley in CA. It's not that much further, and you are going to be a lot warmer, and no storms that "might change direction or path" and bother you up in the mountains in NV/OR/WA. Just Siskiyou Pass, which looks fine now.

[chin_k]

I tried not to use the truck stops, since one of them will pull right next to you, and give you the classical diesel engine "music" as well as the fume for the rest of the night. Seems like you will be fine as soon as you get to the Mojave and be able to relax for the rest of the trip.

[Blue~Go]

Agreed. A truck stop is just about my last resort. Noisy, fumes... ugh.

However I will say that in the past few years when I have needed to stop in a highway rest area and use the truck section (say if I'm towing), that most of the trucks now shut their engines off. Not all (beware the reefers that go on and off) but most.

Astro: Maybe your next trip won't be in January Also, I'm half expecting you to check in from OREGON tonight. You aren't half making time! Of course there's nothing like a potential single digit night to motivate one to keep on heading down in altitude

[Astrodokk]

Chin, I used to like the trucks sounds and felt quite at home with them on my sides when I had the Airstream 28’.
Now that I’m in the Chinook, I’m using the car area and I like it very well. As Blue said, the truckers shut down now I’ve noticed.
As a matter of fact, I holed up at a rest stop in Bakersfield early this morning, and am just getting around now.
Weather still good for me. Trying to decide if I will veer off into Santa Rosa ( the real one) to visit now that I know I’m closer to home and a little less of the unknown.
Will be taking 99 up to Sacramento for now.
Happy New Year everyone!

[Blue~Go]

You're now over most of the humps - yay! And the rest of them look very good. Here are a few snapshots:

"weather," 1p.m. PST today:

Lows tonight:

"weather," tomorrow, Tuesday, 7 a.m. PST. Note that that fog is out of the forecast by a little later in the morning.

Lows tomorrow (Tuesday) night (don't stop in Weed! )

(Continued...)

[Blue~Go]

"weather" Wednesday 7 a.m. PST (the precip around Seattle is not there until this time frame when it shows starting up - but then you're a pro at rain )

And here is the cloud cover. I chose the 1 p.m. PST time frame each day. Looks sunny! Got the AC on yet?

Today, Monday

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Will this be the first time you have seen Santa Rosa since the fire? I only became aware of it then and it looks like a very nice neighborhood feeling place, plus pretty landscape (and probably great weather).

Ahhhh, the home stretch. Now you can relax a bit (should you so choose).

BG