Going on a Journey! Also, More Story News!

So, the big trip I've been hinting at has finally arrived!
Been wanting to do this for nearly 11 years and have been seriously planning for it since February.

Here's the breakdown:

Texas-New Mexico-Colorado-Wyoming Travel Itinerary---2016

Estimated Gas Prices Average:
Texas: $1.98/gallon
New Mexico: $2.09/gallon
Colorado: $2.10/gallon
Wyoming: $2.20/gallon
------
Buffer Zone pricing: $2.50/gallon
-----
Acura RSX MPG average= 30

Aug 20------DAY 1:
Starting point: 1710 Crosshaven Dr, Lewisville TX, 75077
Projected Destination: Budget Host-Raton, 136 Canyon Dr, Raton NM, 87740

Departure Time: 6 AM

--Take N Garden Ridge Blvd to I-35E N
(10 mins, 3.0 miles)

--Follow I-35E N, US-380 W and US-287 N to 6th St in Wichita Falls. Take the 6th St exit from US-287 N
(2 hours, 113 miles)

--------Wichita Falls---------arrive @ 8:45---gas up

--Get on I-44 E from 5th St
(2 mins, 0.8 miles)

--Follow US-287 N to I-40 Frontage Rd in Potter County. Take exit 62A from I-40 W
(3.5 hours, 229 miles)

--Drive to I-40 Frontage Rd
(3 min, 1.5 miles)

-----Cadillac Ranch-----Interstate 40 Frontage Road, Amarillo, TX 79124---arrive @ 12:30---eat---gas up---leave by 1:30 PM

--Take FM2381 and Ranch to Market Rd 1061 to US-385 N in Oldham County
(45 mins, 34 miles)

--Take US-87 N to NM-325 N in Capulin
(2 hours-15 mins, 143 miles)

--Continue on NM-325 N to your destination
(15 mins, 5.4 miles)

----Mt Capulin Volcano National Monument-----arrive @ 4 PM (gain 1 hour due to Mountain time)-----tour volcano, hike, photos, etc. Leave by 5:30 PM

--Turn right onto US-64 W/US-87 N

--Turn right onto S 2nd St

--Continue on to Canyon Dr.
Arrive @ Budget Host Raton
(45 mins, 35 miles)

----Budget Host-Raton-----arrive @ 6:30---check in, rest, dinner, gas.

----------END OF FIRST DAY----------

--Total miles driven: ~575
--Total estimated fuel used: 19.5 gallons
---Total fuel cost: $50

-----------------------------------------------------------

Aug 21st-----DAY 2

Starting point: Budget Host-Raton, 136 Canyon Drive, Raton, NM 87740
Projected Destination: The Academy Hotel, 8110 Academy Blvd N, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

--Leave by 6 AM

--Get on I-25 N
(2 mins, 2 miles)

--Follow I-25 N and CO-12 W to City Ave/East Ave in Huerfano County
(1.5 hours, 71 miles)

--Drive to City Ave/East Ave-------------Cuchara, CO

--Follow CO-12 W and Co Rd 450 to US-160 W
(30 mins, 16 miles)

--Turn left onto US-160 W
(30 mins, 31 miles)

--Continue on US-160 W to Blanca, CO
(10 mins, 5 miles)

--Continue on US-160 W, then turn right onto CO-150 N. Continue to Great Sand Dunes National Park Visitor Center
(40 mins, 26 miles)

-----Great Sand Dunes National Park-----arrive @ 9:30 AM---hang out, photos, video, etc. Leave by 11 AM

--Continue to CO-150 S
(1 min, 0.1 miles)

--Turn right onto CO-150 S
(10 mins, 6 miles)

--Follow Ln 6 and Lane 6 N to CO-17
(20 mins, 17 miles)

--Follow CO-17 to E 4th St in Alamosa
(20 mins, 14 miles)

--Follow E 4th St to Ross Ave
(2 mins, .5 miles)

-----Alamosa-----arrive @ 12 PM---eat, gas up, check out the Rio Grande head out by 1 PM

--Head south on Ross Ave toward E 4th St
--Turn right at the 2nd cross street onto US-160 W/Main St
--Continue to follow US-160 W
(20 mins, 18 miles)

--Turn right onto US-285 N/N Broadway/Gunbarrel Rd
--Continue to follow US-285 N to Saguache, CO--arrive @ 2 PM
(40 mins, 35 miles)

--Head west on Denver Ave toward 8th St
--Turn right at the 1st cross street onto US-285 N/8th St
--Continue to follow US-285 N
(41 miles)

--Turn right to stay on US-285 N (in Poncha Springs, CO)
(22 miles)

--Continue onto US-24 W to Leadville,CO
(37 miles)

--Leadville---arrive @ 4 PM, gas up.

--Take US-24 W/Poplar St to CO-91 N
(3 min, 1.1 miles)

--Get on I-70 E in Summit County
(30 mins, 23 miles)

--Take CO-9 S to Valley Dr in Park County--arrive in Hartsel @ 6 PM
(1 hour-15 mins, 58 miles)

--Continue from CO-9 S to US-24 E
--Continue on US-24 E/W Hwy 24 to your destination in El Paso County. Take exit 150 from I-25 N
(1.5 hours, 70 miles)

--Use the right lane to turn right onto Academy Blvd N (signs for CO-83 S)
--Destination will be on the right
(1 min)

-----The Academy Hotel in Colorado Springs-----arrive @ 7:30---dinner, gas, Skype, rest

----------END OF THE SECOND DAY----------

Total miles driven: ~510
Total estimated fuel used: 18 gallons
Total fuel cost: $40

Aug 22nd----------DAY 3

-----Starting point: The Academy Hotel
---Travel Points: Spyderco Factory Outlet, Fort Collins, Cheyenne, WY
-----Projected Ending point: The Academy Hotel

--Get on I-25 N by 8 AM
(1 mile, 3 mins)

--Follow I-25 N and CO-470 W to CO-93 N in Golden
(1 hour, 10 mins, 74 miles)

--Continue on CO-93 N. Drive to Spyderco Way
(5 mins, 3 miles)

--Arrive @ Spyderco Factory Outlet by 9:30 AM---Check out the place, meet some folks, leave by 11 for Fort Collins, CO

--Follow CO-93 S to CO-58 E
(3 mins, 2 miles)

--Take I-25 N to CO-14 W/E Mulberry St in Larimer County. Take exit 269B from I-25 N
(1 hour, 68 miles)

--Continue on CO-14 W/E Mulberry St. Drive to S College Ave in Fort Collins
(10 mins, 5 miles)

Arrive @ HuHot Grill by 12:30---eat, meet Matthew, leave by 2 for Cheyenne, WY (Train Depot Museum)

--Get on I-25 N
(10 mins, 5 miles)

--Follow I-25 N to US-30 E/W Lincolnway in Laramie County. Take exit 9 from I-25 N
(35 mins, 39 miles)

--Follow US-30 E/W Lincolnway to W 15th St in Cheyenne
(5 mins, 2 miles)

--Arrive @ Cheyenne Train Depot Museum
121 West 15th Street Suite 300, Cheyenne, WY 82001
By 3 PM---Check out the museum, trains, etc. Gas up. Leave Cheyenne by 5 for The Academy Hotel

--Head back to I-25 S
--Follow South back to Colorado Springs.
(3 hours, 161 miles)

--Arrive @ hotel by 8. Eat, rest.

Miles traveled: 360
Fuel used: 15
Fuel Cost: $30

----------END OF THE 3RD DAY---------

Aug 23rd---4th DAY

--Starting Location: The Academy Hotel
--Projected Destinations:
-Devil’s Head Lookout
-Royal Gorge Bridge
-The Academy Hotel

--Get on I-25 N by 7 AM
3 min (0.8 mi)

--Follow I-25 N to Sky View Ln in Douglas County. Take exit 174 from I-25 N
19 min (23.0 mi)

--Follow Frontage Rd and Tomah Rd to CO-105 W
8 min (6.2 mi)

--Turn right onto CO-105 WStreet View
6 min (5.0 mi

--Continue on W Jackson Creek Rd to your destination
36 min (12.1 mi)

Arrive @ Devil’s Head Lookout Trail by 8:30AM---hike the trail, snack, photos and video, leave by 11 AM

--Devils Head Lookout
Rampart Range Road, Sedalia, CO 80135

--Follow S Rampart Range Rd to CO-67 S
27 min (9.4 mi)

--Continue on CO-67 S to Teller County
1 h 15 min (48.7 mi)

--Take High Park Rd to CO-9 S in Fremont County
46 min (34.2 mi)

--Continue on CO-9 S to Co Rd 3A
11 min (9.7 mi)

--Drive to Co Rd 3A
9 min (4.3 mi)

Arrive @ Royal Gorge Bridge by 2:30PM

Royal Gorge Bridge and Park
4218 County Road 3A, Cañon City, CO 81212
--Tour the park, check out the bridge, leave by 4 PM and head back to the hotel

--Head east on Co Rd 3A/Royal Gorge Bridge toward Co Rd 381B
(10 mins, 5 miles)

--Follow US-50 E to CO-115 N in Penrose. Take theCO-115 exit from US-50 E
25 min (19.2 mi)

--Turn left onto CO-115 NStreet View
33 min (31.7 mi)

--Drive along I-25 N. Take exit 150 from I-25 N
15 min (12.0 mi)

--Use the right lane to turn right onto Academy Blvd N (signs for CO-83 S)
Arrive back @ the hotel by 6 PM
Gas up, eat, rest.

----------END OF THE 4TH DAY----------

Miles traveled: 230
Fuel used: 10 gallons
Fuel Cost: $21

Aug 24th---DAY 5

Starting location: The Academy Hotel
Destinations: Olympic Training Facility, Garden of the Gods, Cave of the Winds, Peterson Air Force Base

--Leave by 9 AM
Head to the Olympic Training Facility
(20 mins, 9 miles)
--Arrive by 9:30AM
---Recreate Olympic Rings photo, tour facility, meet athletes(?), leave by 10:30 AM

--Head to Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs
(15 mins, 7 miles via E Platte Ave.)
--Arrive by 11 AM
---Tour the grounds and museum, grab lunch, leave by 1PM

--Head for the Garden of the Gods

--Take Suffolk St to Stewart Ave
1 min (0.2 mi)
Take E Platte Ave and E Uintah St to your destination
29 min (12.9 mi)

Turn right

Destination will be on the rightStreet View
1 min (0.1 mi)

--Arrive by 1:45PM
--Tour visitor center, hike trails, leave by 3:30

--Head for Cave of the Winds
(15 mins, 6 miles via US-24 W)
--Arrive by 4 PM
Take the tour, leave by 6:30, head back to the hotel. Eat, gas up, rest.

----------END OF THE 5TH DAY----------

Miles traveled: 47
Fuel used: 3 gallons
Fuel cost: $10

Aug 25th----DAY 6

Starting location: The Academy Hotel
Destinations: Pike’s Peak, North Slope Recreation Area.

Leave by 9 AM
--Take I-25 S, US-24 W, Pikes Peak Hwy and Pikes Peak Toll Rd to your destination
1 h 14 min (35.7 mi)

--Arrive by 10:30 AM
--Check out the peak, photos, video, donuts. Leave whenever we feel like it.

---Head to the North Slope Recreation Area in Cascade-Chipita Park via the Pikes Peak Toll Rd
(1 hour, 22 miles)
---Hike the trails, leave when we want to.
--Head back to the hotel and decide what we want to do with the rest of the day.

----------END OF THE 6TH DAY----------

Miles traveled: 65
Fuel Used: 4 gallons
Fuel Cost: $10

Aug 26th----Day 7

Starting Location: The Academy Hotel
Destinations: Palo Duro Canyon and Abilene (Tanner)

Leave by 7 AM

--Get on I-25 S
3 min (0.8 mi)

--Follow I-25 S and US-87 S to Ranch to Market Rd 1061 in Oldham County
4 h 54 min (330 mi)

--Continue on Ranch to Market Rd 1061 to Randall County
42 min (42.1 mi)

--Take I-27 S to Interstate 27 Service Rd S in Canyon. Take exit 106 from I-27 S
11 min (11.4 mi)

--Follow TX-217 E and State Hwy Park Rd 5 to your destination
30 min (17.4 mi)

--Arrive @ Palo Duro Canyon State Park
11450 State Highway Park Road 5, Canyon, TX 79015
By 2 PM

--Tour the canyon, leave by 4 PM
(~40 miles)

--Head for Abilene Christian University
--Get on I-27 S from State Hwy Park Rd 5, TX-217 Wand Farm to Market Rd 1541
31 min (18.7 mi)

Follow I-27 S to Southeast Dr in Lubbock. Take the Southeast Dr exit from TX-289 Loop E
1 h 27 min (105 mi)

Continue to Nolan County. Take the I-20 E exit from US-84 E
1 h 33 min (111 mi)

Follow I-20 E to E Stamford St in Abilene. Take exit288 from I-20 E
40 min (48.2 mi)

Follow E Stamford St, N Judge Ely Blvd and ACU Drto your destination
4 min (1.5 mi)
---Arrive @ Tanner’s apartment by 8:30PM

----------END OF THE 7TH DAY----------

Miles Traveled: 730
Fuel Used: 25 gallons
Fuel Cost: $65

Aug 27th------Day 8

Starting location: Abilene Christian University
Destination: 1710 Crosshaven Dr, Lewisville TX

Get on I-20 E from E Ambler Ave and E Stamford St
5 min (2.1 mi)

Continue on I-20 E to Grapevine. Take theGrapevine Mills Pkwy exit from TX-121
2 h 26 min (174 mi)

Continue on FM2499. Take Gerault Rd and S Garden Ridge Blvd to Crosshaven Dr in Lewisville
17 min (7.9 mi)

Miles Traveled: 190
Fuel Used: 8 gallons
Fuel Cost: $20
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Total Miles Expected to travel: ~2700
Total Fuel Expected to Use: 90 gallons
Total Expected Fuel Cost (@ est $2.50/gallon): $225--->$250

As you can see, it's gonna be a wild ride!

Gonna be taking loads of photos and Go-pro'ing most of the trip. I'll upload them, GPS tag, and link them to my facebook page, which can be found here for those that wanna follow along:
V-Pony's Facebook

Another bit of big news is during this trip: I'll be meeting one of my long-time readers and supporters American Brony for the first time!
We'll make sure to take pics and such for ya'll!

Anyways, big story news stuff:
I've decided to split the next chapter of Blue Angel up into two parts, otherwise we'll end up with less of a chapter and more of a friggin BOOK by the time it's finished

Other big story news: The next chapter of CMC Fly Delta Airlines in basically complete. I'd hoped to upload it before I'd left on this trip, but work and real life stuff caught me a bit flat-footed and I just ran out of time
That said, I'll try to upload it during the trip.

Many thanks to all those who have continued to support me during these years. I swear it's gonna pay off.

See ya'll when I get back (or just Skype me at night, cuz I'll likely be on there too)

Comments

[Biker_Dash]

*coughcough-Blue Angel edits and shit-coughcough*

[totallynotabrony]

I still think too much planning ruins the spirit of a roadtrip, but better than not enough planning I suppose. Good luck and have a good time.

[Biker_Dash]

4159885 I bet Luna had no issues with nearly zero planning
Other than being kinda cramped in that tiny gokart of yours

[harts fire]

4159925 this is a good idea but not really needed at this time.
after the short story brake (cough) I will be extremely happy to see the story back up and flying.

[More Dakka]

Safe travels.

[sorenxoras]

Blue angel? what is....... Looks like i have something to reread. If I can't remember it, it must have been a long ass time since a chapter has been posted. Well, i'm sure i'll enjoy a reread, and i'll look forward to whatever else you put out for it.

[M1_A4_Abrams]

For some reason I thought you were in California, don't know why.

And how are you going to drive over half of Texas in one go?! You must have the Carseat of the Gods or buns of tungsten to be crazy enough for that.

[djthomp]

Great Sand Dunes is a pretty neat place to visit, and the rest of that sounds fun too.

[ThornFlametooth]

Just a heads up for when you are in Lubbock. If someone flashes their lights at you, don't flash back. It's part of the initiation for some of the gangs. They'll shoot at you three times.

[ThornFlametooth]

4160242 I drove from my old town in NE Texas to Lubbock in one day. Took 8 hours in my manual Jeep without cruise control. Got to see a badass concert tho