But traffic was not the primary cause of my hatred of driving across
the Midwest and Plains. It was the endlessness of miles and miles of
nothing and nothing and more nothing. And the fact that I was doing
it the summer in a car without air-conditioning, in temperatures and
humidity as high as the miles were endless and the scenery
non-existent.

In the early 1960s my family would pile into a non-air-conditioned Pontiac
Super Chief each summer, and drive West for three weeks.

I know *exactly* what you mean. (Worse yet, 10 years later, when
air-conditioning finally DID become affordable, we'd do the same trip with
the windows UP -- and both parents were heavy smokers...)

However, having ridden a motorcycle through Iowa quite a few times, I can
assure you that there are many roads that offer scenery and curves as
beautiful as anything outside of the mountains. (NOTHING approaches riding
a motorcycle in the Rockies, of course. Although the Blue Ridge Parkway is
quite pretty...)

One key I've found to finding great roads in any state: Find the roads that
follow rivers. There are roads along the Mississippi that I would put up
against any motorcycle roads in America, for twisties and gorgeous scenery.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"