Well, looks like the next chapter in my ZOOM is about to commense. I will be leaving tomorrow for Cedar Rapids, IA for a funeral.

When: January 24 through 27.

Where: Highlands Ranch, CO to Cedar Rapids, IA and back- approximately 1630 miles.

Route: [url=http://[URL]http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Highlands+Ranch,+Colorado&daddr=S+Santa+Fe+Dr%2FUS-85+to:cedar+rapids,+ia&hl=en&geocode=%3BFRqHXAId7oy9-Q%3B&mra=mr&mrcr=0&via=1&sll=41.193123,-95.776062&sspn=1.440519,2.043457&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=6]Google[/url]

In this part of the country, taking back roads just pro-longs the agony of the boringness country side. I've made this drive a handful of times before in my old 626.

Similar to part 1, I will be taking lots of pictures of..... nothing really. Anyone ever been through Nebraska and Iowa? Not much really to take pics of. But I'm sure I'll find plenty of random crap to share with you guys.

And now the pics.

Working on the car getting ready to leave:


Getting some motion lotion at the beginning of the trip:


Early morning fuzzy pic:


Cruising:



I actually passed this truck and had to do a double take. I slowed down to let him pass me so I could get this pic:


Yea...............


Rocking some ear plugs!


Randomness in Nebraska:


More me:


Vroooooooom:

The ground on my water temp sendor was loose giving me incorrect readings (the gauge on the lower right).

Very weird.

This thing is HUGE. It's in the middle of basically nowhere in Nebraska- I'm sure the residents of Kearny would love to hear me say they live in the middle of nowhere. It's some kind of museum.

Yea................

The Explorer ahead of me nearly sideswiped the concrete barrier just after I snapped this pic.

You know you're in Iowa when they put their tractors up on pedistools:


On the way back I drove about 2 hours from Cedar Rapids to my parent's house in Des Moines to spend the night (and cut 2 hours off the drive the next day).


Hit up the Golden Arches in Lincoln, NE for some breakfast:


This time with snow:


Getting gas just down from the weird Archway:


Mmmmm...... snowy:


Almost home:


Last gas stop:


squish:


Thrilling pictures, I know. What can I say? Most of the trip was in single digit temps with double digit wind speeds so getting out for photo shoots didn't seem too appealing. Plus it's eastern Colorado, Nebraska and Iowa in the winter time. They are boring enough in the summer- it's even worse when everything is brown and dead for the winter.

I've made that drive too, seems like it takes a week! I think the huge arch is to attract attention to an old Fort. But I can't remember for sure. At least you kept yourself awake for the whole ttip.

nice pics tom....a bit too early in the morning to see your ugly mug tho.... j/k

Fun pics

it appears your wife/kids did not make the trip unless they rode in the trunk?

Nope. They stayed behind and were spared from the insanity.

Tom, what were you doing in the first pic to get the car ready for the trip? I see the back end is all jacked up.

Greasing the sway bar bushings. They clunk if you don't grease them occassionally.

MazdaTom wrote:Greasing the sway bar bushings. They clunk if you don't grease them occassionally.

ahh, I noticed mine had little or no grease last time I checked, yet I didn't think to lube them up...

just got back from a trip to Grand Island, NE. and yeah, the archway is quite interesting. but its just a monument for indians...lol. and ive been inside it, too. they have little windows with radar in them so the kids can see the speeds of cars, i dont remember the rest of it though. its interesting how my manual trans will sit about 3700RPM at 75mph where yours is around 3400.

I will be making a trip tomorrow to Grand Junction in the car. Not really a long trip but it is 5 hours and over 300 miles. Longest I've taken my car since the new motor.