US95: Another US Highway Without End

Is there proper US95 "End" or "Begin" signage at the border with Canada? In a word, no.

The Eastport port of entry is all business, dominated by substantial facilities of both the US and Canada. There were only a few vehicles, almost all of them trucks, most of those transporting cattle.

There is no town at the border, of any kind on either side. Besides customs and border control facilities, there's a post office, though I have no idea why it is there. There is also a duty free shop, which seems to be ubiquitous at borders.

Now, down to the big question: No, there is no "End" sign for US95 at the border. In fact, heading north, the last sign of any kind is quite a ways down the road to the south.

Immediately upon entering from Canada, this sign provides a pointer to the south. I guess it's too much to ask to have it embellished with "South" and "Begin."

After finding so much proper signage at the southern border, I was disappointed not to find any at the northern border. Such is life, right?

In brief summary, I have only marginally enjoyed driving US95 from border to border. It's a useful commercial corridor, but short on points of interest for the rest of us.

The geography is interesting, of course, as it must be since it spans desert to farmland to woodland to mountains. It has that in common with my previous transits of US93 and US191, but doesn't do it in nearly as enjoyable a fashion.

That said, it's possible that I've driven so many of these roads that I've lost my appreciation for them. Considering how many previous routes I crossed on this drive, it's also possible that I've reached my limit on end-to-end US Highway drives.

One of these days, I'll post a map showing all the road trips I've done in the last 10 years. I suspect it will shock all of us... Stay tuned!

US95: Idaho Panhandle

Heading north out of Lewiston, ID, US95 is a long, steep climb up from the river valley. Considering the size of the valley, one can only try to imagine how big the rivers must once have been. This is an area of spectacular geologic history, one which makes me wish (again!) that I knew more about it. Eventually, you get up onto the great plateau and are faced with endless vistas of wheat farms.

Considering the relatively small amount of geographic land mass that Idaho has to offer for growing wheat, it is pretty impressive that the state ranks sixth in the nation for production. At nearly 100 million bushels, Idaho ranks between Oklahoma and Colorado.

I must admit that I have always been intrigued by the state of Idaho, especially its western border. The state is so long north/south that it spans both Washington and Oregon. As a consequence, it has an unusually broad diversity related to its wide range of latitude. From desert in the south to woodland in the north, there's a lot to appreciate and enjoy. Hells Canyon is a "must visit" for everyone.

Just north of wheat country, US95 joins another of our old friends, US2, for a lengthy run up into timber country. Like the rest of US95, from its origin at the Mexico border, the road here is a transportation conduit. Due to the geography of nearby mountains, the truck and train routes are very closely located.



Just a few miles from the border, a scenic overlook offers a spectacular vista into Canada.



Is there proper US95 "End" and "Begin" signage at the border? You'll just have to wait and see... Stay tuned!

US95: Western Idaho

It was a pretty morning as we started our drive north on US95 in western Idaho, more or less paralleling the Snake River. It was fun to drive curves and hills after so many straights in the desert.

For about the first hundred miles, we drove through a series of passes, valleys and small towns. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Just as I was appreciating the abundance of flora, I saw one of my favorite signs coming up. The lack of traffic allowed me to come to an abrupt stop and take a photo.

As you probably know if you've been following this log over the years, I'm generally happiest at latitudes above 45 degrees. Color me happy!

In due course, we started a long, sustained climb. The already pleasing scenery was enhanced by spots of fall color.



In the town of Riggins, ID, we stopped for a break, right where the Salmon River meets with US95.



From there, it was a long, steady downhill run along the river. Sometimes we were at river level, but other times we were above it. Eventually, we broke off on our own, traversing the terrain northwest.

Approaching Lewiston, ID, we ran into another old friend, US12 which we drove two years ago. By my count, that's at least a half-dozen previous highways that we have new crossed this drive.

Lewiston is a lovely little city, nestled in the confluence of the Clearwater and Snake rivers. Definitely worth a visit whenever you have the chance.

Tomorrow morning we will continue north on US95, possibly getting to the Canadian border... Stay tuned!

US95: Desert Departure

It was a crispy 19 degrees when Happy and I went for our morning walk in Winnemucca, NV. For those of you keeping track, that's an 80 degree swing in two days.

The rapid change is attributable to three primary factors: higher latitude, higher altitude and an arctic high pressure area over the northwest.

I put on a couple of extra layers to deal with it, but Happy was obviously pleased about being back in her natural temperature range.

Continuing north, it was clear we were still in the Great Basin desert, though the addition of some greenery indicated we might be approaching our desert departure. Sometimes, hope is all you have.



By the mid-point of our driving day, we had crossed into Oregon and climbed up onto the Columbia Plateau. That led us to the Snake River and its surrounding plain, where things started to green up.



Before we stopped for the day, we crossed another couple of our old US Highway friends: US20 and US30 which we drove back in 2012 and 2013. Those road trips seem like a lifetime ago!

We stopped for the day in Ontario, OR, and plan to take a day off here. I'm ready for a break from driving and the chance to watch a Seahawks game.

Happy is obviously thrilled to be back on grass for doing her business. She has been a very good sport as always about peeing on rocks and gravel, but greenery is by far her preferred canvas!

Looking at the map, we are only two or three stints from reaching the Canadian border on US95. The weather forecast looks pretty good, so let's hope we complete our trip with ease... Stay tuned!

US95: Northern Great Basin

Tonopah, NV, was once a robust silver mining town, but today seems to basically be a travel plaza. It is so remotely located in the middle of the Great Basin desert, that many travelers make a stop for fuel and/or overnight like me. This photo speaks volumes about that reality and my day on the road.



Heading north out of Tonopah, US95 is co-signed with US6 for about 40 miles. The road is good, traffic is light and the desert is immense. Even at high speeds, the mountains seem unreachable.



Turing north away from US6, it's still 60 miles of nothing but desert and distant mountains before reaching Hawthorne, NV. I don't think I saw so much as an historical marker on the way.



Approaching Hawthorne, I saw thousands of low structures in the desert, which a quick search indicated are ammunition storage bunkers for the US Army. There's a huge military installation in Hawthorne – covering some 226 square miles – that you can easily research if you are interested.

Leaving Hawthorne, I got stuck in a very long line of vehicles following a slow moving, immensely oversized vehicle. The 80 miles north to Fallon, NV, were a mind-numbing two hour stint!

Fallon, NV, is rightly called "The oasis of Nevada" due to it being at least partially green with a little bit of agriculture. I have stayed there before and found it hospitable.

It's also the point where US95 crosses my old friend US50. I took a moment to reflect on my first time crossing the Great Basin, grabbed a bite to eat and hit the road again.

Within a mile north of Fallon, you are fully back in the desert, only glad that you are making progress toward the end of it. Today was my third day-long stint, hopefully with only one more to go!



About 35 miles north of Fallon, US95 joins I-80 for a very high speed 100 miles to Winnemucca, NV, where I have stopped for the night. If all goes well, I will cross the border into Oregon tomorrow and finally make my way out of the Northern Great Basin... Stay tuned!

US95: Hi-Desert

After a week of near-100 degree days in the desert, it was a bit of a shock to walk my dog this morning with a temp in the 40s and a biting wind chill factor. Apparently, winter arrived overnight.

As usual, it took almost an hour to clear the immensely sprawling Las Vegas area, but then we were back in the desert. A few years ago, I drove US93 north through the eastern side of the Great Basin. US95 traverses the western edge of the basin, and seemed to offer almost exactly the same geology, scenery and lack of points of interest.



After about 100 miles of driving, the road started steadily rising. Probably as a result, the greenery got even more sparse. It's hard to describe the vast barrenness, and photos don't really help.



We have stopped for the day in Tonopah, NV, another town that seems to have no earthly reason to be here. At just over 6,000 feet of elevation, it is still cold and windy... Stay tuned!

US95: Desert Duo

Driving north on US95 through Yuma, AZ, this morning, I was struck by two things: 1) I was deep in the Sonoran Desert (possibly in the Colorado sub-region), and 2) there is a vast amount of irrigated farmland in that desert. I suspect they're getting the water from the Colorado River, or what's left of it after everyone upriver has taken their share. Continuing north, the road is a typical two-lane affair.



On the left below is an overview map of the deserts for reference. On the right is a customs and border patrol checkpoint. I clearly didn't fit the profile, because I was waved right through.



About 100 miles north of the border, US95 joins I-10 for a brief climb over a mountain pass and a drop down to cross the Colorado River into California. The road then breaks off to the north, parallel to the river and moving through the heart of the Mojave Desert. Still a two-lane affair, the road almost constantly goes up and down small elevation changes. I don't understand all the geology, but I think it has to do with the desert once being the undulating floor of an ocean.



Another 100 miles north, US95 crosses into Nevada and becomes a very high-speed divided four-lane highway into Henderson, NV, where we have stopped for a rest day tomorrow... Stay tuned!

US95: A Proper Beginning At The Border

From where I reached the end of US60 this morning near Brenda, AZ, it was only a short drive to be in position to begin my border-to-border drive of US95 in San Luis, a few miles south of Yuma, AZ.

Approaching the border crossing with Mexico, I was very happy to find an "End" sign just steps from where the road turns into the checkpoint. I was thrilled to find a "Begin" sign within a block of where checkpoint traffic enters the US. I know my feelings may seem weird, but they're well earned!



I would have to go back and review many of my previous posts to be sure, but I think this may be the first time that I have found both "Begin" and "End" signs at the same US Highway terminus. If it isn't the first time, it's at least been a long time since there's been proper signage.

It's probably a good thing, because I have been warned that there may be neither sign where I will finish my US95 drive far to the north at the border of Idaho with Canada... Stay tuned!

Time For Another Road Trip!

I have some family matters to attend to on the east coast next month, so I've decided to make a road trip out of it. Since I've already driven all of the long-distance US highways in the northern part of the country – (you may not believe my cumulative road trip map when you see it!) – I plan to stick mainly to the interstates on my way east. That said, if the weather holds I may try to drive WA 20 end-to-end from my home in Burlington to north of Spokane. Hopefully it will be after mudslide season, before fire season, and I can finally make it all the way end to end!



After taking care of things in the east, I plan to drop down to Virginia Beach, VA, and begin a coast-to-end drive of US60 to the southwest corner of Arizona where the road now ends. If all goes well, I will drive a quick stint south to the Mexico border in Yuma, AZ, and drive US95 north to the Canada border at Eastport, ID. If you have a ridiculously good memory, you may recall that I planned to drive US95 back in 2014, but shifted to US191 instead.

Altogether, it should be about a 7,500 mile road trip, a proper expedition by any standards. I have no end date in mind, but I'm guessing I'll be back in the Pacific Northwest sometime in October, about two months from now. I'm honestly out of practice being Macgellan, so I don't know how much I'll post, but I will at least log enough to memorialize the voyage!

Change Of Plans

My "plan" — insofar as I had one — was that after driving US70 to its end, I'd make a jog southwest to the Mexican border in Yuma, AZ, then drive US95 all the way to the Canadian border in Idaho.

The scorching heat of the past few days in southern Arizona — and especially the forecast for even worse heat in Yuma — started me thinking about making a change in my plan. Realizing that US95 would take me north through the western desert of Nevada and then through even more desert conditions in southeast Oregon and southwest Idaho made up my mind. It's just too late in the season for me -- and my dog Happy -- to spend that much time in the desert heat.

Instead, I will make a short hop from here in Tucson to the southern terminus of US191 at the Mexican border in Douglas, AZ, and drive it north to its other terminus at the Canadian border in Montana.

I've made this mash-up of the two routes superimposed on a map to show their comparative border-to-border pathways.

In many ways, US191 is a better route than US95. Besides not crossing so much desert, there's a lot more of interest along the way, including several National Parks.

It should be a prettier route, with fewer "awesome desert landscapes" and more "majestic mountain views" to enjoy.

US191 has been on my "radar" for a long time. I've crossed it repeatedly on my coast-to-coast road trips: Malta, MT, on US2; Rock Springs, WY, on US30; Green River, UT, on US50; and just two days ago near Safford, AZ, on US70. I've even driven a bit of it during my US20 blizzard-escape detour south of Jackson, WY.

As a "three-digit" route, US191 was initially a spur of US91, the original border-to-border highway. US91 has long since been subsumed into modern interstates and now only exists across 178 miles of northern Utah and southern Idaho.

Over time, US191 has been extended to become the international route it is today. One anomaly is its short break passing through Yellowstone National Park. The southern portion is 1,465 miles and the northern portion is 440 miles, giving it a total length of about 2,000 miles.

One of the things I've learned -- and teach! -- is that when you start changing plans, go back to the drawing board and reconsider the entire plan. Don't just start making incremental alterations. Before you know it, you'll have a mess on your hands that fails miserably at achieving your goals.

My criteria for this road trip -- and what initially made me choose US95 -- are to drive a US Highway from end-to-end and border to border. US191 fully satisfies all three, and I'm pretty excited about it... Stay tuned!

Click here to see exactly where I am posting this from on Google Maps.

Glancing Back, Looking Forward

Glancing back, I have to admit that the past year and a half have pretty much been a bust for me.

Following the October 2012 debacle of having my truck stolen, I spent the nastiest weather winter ever in the Pacific Northwest. Eager to get away from that, I hit the road last April 1st and spent two months slogging my way through blizzards, winds and hail storms on US 20 from the Oregon coast to New York.

What I thought was going to be a brief detour to Pennsylvania turned out to be a seven month campaign, and it was winter again before I could get out of there. I never got back up to US 20 to finish the route to Boston, so I’ll have to find a way to do those miles on some future expedition.

This past new year, I repositioned to Maryland where I have enjoyed three months of work with an old colleague and friend, despite it being another pretty miserable winter.

If you add it all up, I’ve had barely two months of exploration in the past eighteen months, and those were more of a hardship tour than a proper expedition. You can imagine that’s not a ratio I’m happy with. Speaking of Happy, she and I have been together for over a year now, and she has definitely been a consistent bright spot in an otherwise dim era.

Looking forward, it’s time to get moving again! The first of next week I will hit the road south to the North Carolina shore, where I will begin a long western trek on US 70. Here’s the basic map:



I will make a very brief detour to Atlanta (for a couple of fun events that I’ll tell you about later) then continue on US 70 through Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and well into Arizona. I’ve now driven four of the northernmost coast to coast routes (2, 20, 30 and 50) so it will be a fun change to be a bit south. I’m also hoping, frankly, that the weather will be better!

Although US 70 doesn’t go all the way to the west coast, it will qualify as an end-to-end road trip for me. When I reach its end in Arizona, I plan to turn north and drive US 95 border-to-border from Mexico to Canada. Here is that basic map:



From the end of 95 at the Canadian border, it’s a nice little drive across the North Cascades to the Pacific Northwest, where I hope to arrive sometime this summer. I’ve got some things that need doing in the Seattle area, and some pretty cool prospects for fun in the Puget Sound region.

That’s my plan, insofar as I have one. Happy and I hope you will ride along with us. If you live anywhere along the route or have suggestions of things for us to see or do, please let us know. Otherwise, as we always say… Stay tuned!