Perfect Proficiency Flight

I've driven across Iowa several times ... it IS flat and barren. :-)
I wouldn't call it wasteland though as it does grow lots of corn!

I must admit though that I found Kansas even more boring to traverse on a
motorcycle than Iowa. I literally started falling asleep riding my
motorcycle across Kansas! I didn't even think that was possible up until
then.

Yeah, back when we lived in Wisconsin (and rode touring motorcycles all over
the country) we used to hate the ride from Illinois to the foothills of the
Rocky Mountains, simply because it was so flat and boring.

Only later did we realize that, by sticking to the interstates, we made
great time but had denied ourselves the true beauty and terrain of the
Midwest. Remember, the interstate system is *designed* to be flat and
boring. Once we figured that out, and got off of I-80, Iowa, Nebraska and
Kansas became just as much fun to see as the rest of the country.

Even Illinois has pretty parts, although they're harder to find once you get
away from Lake Michigan. (And that part of Illinois has been all but
destroyed by development.) Down-state Illinois is truly what people tend
to think of as Iowa-like -- pool table flat and treeless to the horizon.

Iowa, believe it or not, is remarkably hilly. We've been searching the
area, casually, for the last 18 months, trying to find a piece of land flat
enough to put an airstrip on. We thought that this would be a relatively
simple job, and have been quite amazed to find that there is little flat
land in our area. And go over by Dubuque, and you'll find entire parts of
the city carved into incredibly steep hillsides.

Get off of I-80. Take some back roads. Really *see* the country for what
it is.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:

I've driven across Iowa several times ... it IS flat and barren. :-)
I wouldn't call it wasteland though as it does grow lots of corn!

I must admit though that I found Kansas even more boring to traverse on a
motorcycle than Iowa. I literally started falling asleep riding my
motorcycle across Kansas! I didn't even think that was possible up until
then.


Yeah, back when we lived in Wisconsin (and rode touring motorcycles all over
the country) we used to hate the ride from Illinois to the foothills of the
Rocky Mountains, simply because it was so flat and boring.

Only later did we realize that, by sticking to the interstates, we made
great time but had denied ourselves the true beauty and terrain of the
Midwest. Remember, the interstate system is *designed* to be flat and
boring. Once we figured that out, and got off of I-80, Iowa, Nebraska and
Kansas became just as much fun to see as the rest of the country.

Yes, you make a good point about the interstates, but even the
interstates in PA are neither flat nor straight. My destinations were
always in or west of the Rockies so smelling the roses in the midwest
wasn't on the agenda, but I agree it is something I should do some day
when I get another bike. With kids about to enter college and a new
house to pay for and a compay that barely survived bankruptcy after the
telecomm bust, I no longer have either an airplane or a motorcycle.
Hopefully, some day when my ship comes back in...

Matt

Once we figured that out, and got off of I-80, Iowa, Nebraska and
Kansas became just as much fun to see as the rest of the country.

I drove from Illinois to Estes Park, Colorado, and back several times
before the Interstates were built. I hated every goddam mile, until
we reached the Rockies, although Iowa was not as utterly depressing as
Nebraska.

"Just as much fun to see as the rest of the country"? As much as the
Rockies, or the Cascades, or New England? Come on!

Even Illinois has pretty parts......

More true of Iowa than of Illinois. Small towns in Iowa are prettier
than small towns in Illinois.

Iowa, believe it or not, is remarkably hilly.

I remember how hard it was to pass a truck or a school bus on those
two-lane highways.

vince norris

I drove from Illinois to Estes Park, Colorado, and back several times
before the Interstates were built. I hated every goddam mile, until
we reached the Rockies, although Iowa was not as utterly depressing as
Nebraska.

The beauty of taking the two-lane highways now is that NO ONE else is on
'em.

It ain't like the old, pre-interstate days, when you could spend an hour
trying to pass a single truck. In fact, the motorcycling on these mostly
abandoned roads is wonderful!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

I drove from Illinois to Estes Park, Colorado, and back several times
before the Interstates were built. I hated every goddam mile, until
we reached the Rockies, although Iowa was not as utterly depressing as
Nebraska.

The beauty of taking the two-lane highways now is that NO ONE else is on
'em.

I appreciate that, Jay; it's the same here in PA and I often take the
old roads instead of the interstates, for the beauty of the
countryside.

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.

I don't have that antipathy to flying over the same territory; from on
high once can find beauty in the terrain that can't bee seen from the
perspective of an ant. (Although flying over Nebraska is not as
wonderful as flying over PA, NY, New England, the Rockies, the
Cascades, Alaska...................

vince norris

"vincent p. norris" wrote

I appreciate that, Jay; it's the same here in PA and I often take the
old roads instead of the interstates, for the beauty of the
countryside.

I did the very same thing, in the mountains of Kentucky, on the way home
from OSH this year. I will likely do it again, as it took less than 1/2
hour more, and was some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen.
--
Jim in NC

Which part of the KY hills did you go through Jim? It really is a pretty
drive in alot of southeastern KY.

Patrick
student SPL
aircraft structural mech

"Morgans" wrote in message
...


I did the very same thing, in the mountains of Kentucky, on the way home
from OSH this year. I will likely do it again, as it took less than 1/2
hour more, and was some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen.
--
Jim in NC

"W P Dixon" wrote in message

Which part of the KY hills did you go through Jim? It really is a pretty
drive in alot of southeastern KY.

We got off near Corbin, onto 25E, down through the Cumberlin Gap, and into
Tennessee, and then eventually back to I-40.

The last overlook before you start down, looking out over the lakes was
spectacular. I think I was last there in around 1967, or 68, when I was 9
or 10 years old. I don't suppose I really appreciated the view, back then.
g

Required aviation component: You could only see a better view, if you were
flying over it. :-)

Jim in NC

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"