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Old 10-08-2007, 08:39 PM   #1
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Suggestions on route

I am going to pick up a bus in Parkersburg, WV and bring it back to California. I am looking for any suggestions as to which route to take. I'll be driving a gas bus so I would like to avoid as many hills as possible.

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Old 10-08-2007, 09:46 PM   #2
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Re: Suggestions on route

You must really be crazy to drive across america just to get another bus. Just as long as you are having fun doing it. I'd personaly would look for things to sight see along the way, but that is just me.
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Old 10-08-2007, 11:54 PM   #3
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Re: Suggestions on route

I've been called that a few times. I own the bus, so the trip is not an option. Any sightseeing will be done from the driver's seat.
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Old 10-09-2007, 01:52 AM   #4
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Re: Suggestions on route

as its getting towards winter I would stay in the southern part of the country as much as possible...once past the rockies an upward swing would be ok though
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Old 10-09-2007, 08:18 AM   #5
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Re: Suggestions on route

I second I-40. I don't know that I would go across Wyoming in October. They get some snow ya know. Where in Cali are you trying to go? Where in WV are you coming from? I'd say, jump on I-70 if it's close. Follow it all the way to St. Louis and then take I-44 all the way to Oklahoma City. In OKC, get on I-40 all the way to California. There aren't any serious hills anywhere along that route. Not like you'd encounter on I-70 or I-80 anyways. Also, your chances of encountering bad weather and a lot less too. If you come through OKC, I have a big comfy couch you could spend the night on and my wife would probably make you some eggs and oatmeal to get you on the road again. I-40 is less than a mile from my house. I also have another big ugly couch that you could take with you and sleep on the rest of the way home if you don't have seats in the bus and it will fit. It even folds out into a bed.
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Old 10-09-2007, 08:21 AM   #6
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Re: Suggestions on route

i've taken both I 80 and I 70 in my bus to get from michigan to california and back. I 70 is very beautiful, but is a terrible road to drive in a bus. Not only does it have really steep hills, it has lots of curves when you're coming downhill requireing lots of brakes.

I 80 is an easy drive in a bus. I stopped and asked my buddy in wyoming how much further it was gonna be before the mountains got bad,,,,he said we were already past the worse of it....and i didn't even notice.

it's been a few years since i rode my motorcycle across i 40, i think i remember soem pretty serious hill climbs.

the previous poster had a good point about snow in the north. that's the one downside to i 80.
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Old 10-09-2007, 08:36 AM   #7
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Re: Suggestions on route

If you're going to far northern California, then I'd look into I-80. I drove across I-80 at the very end of April this year and it was snowing like crazy. My dad was there in June and it was snowing. They have huge snow fences all along that highway for hundreds of miles for a reason. If it were a car, I'd say no big deal. But I've never driven a big bus on the highway in the snow. Just a thought. I have driven the length of I-40 before. West of Memphis, I don't remember any really serious hills. There's some steep hills, but they're short. It's been a while since I've been past Flagstaff, AZ on I-40, but I don't seem to recall anything serious headed into California. I would definitely avoid I-70. You've got some serious hills from Denver all the way to central Utah.
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Old 10-09-2007, 08:53 AM   #8
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Re: Suggestions on route

The trip will be from Parkersbug, WV to S.F., CA. I have taken all three routes suggested, but it's been a long time. I took I40 starting in Detroit back in '84 and I don't really remember the terrain. That was because of the weather to the north. I've taken I70 to Denver then turned north to I80, but that was about 10 years ago. Don't remember much on that route either. I have also taken I80. I do remember mountains near Utah. None of the bad memory is from drugs. I have a condition called "CRS". Some of your might be afflicted with the same thing to varying degrees. It stands for "Can't Remember S**t".
Plus all those trips where "balls to the wall" trips. Little sleep and lots of driving. I wasn't paying much attention to anything but the road. I'm leaning towards the southern route. The weather is one reason. If anyone wants to add anything, please do.
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Old 10-09-2007, 12:09 PM   #9
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Re: Suggestions on route

If you come to OKC, the lovely couch you see in this photo can be all yours... for free! Sleep on it on the way home then trash it. It's ugly, but clean. That's motivation to take I-40 right there!

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Old 10-09-2007, 06:54 PM   #10
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Re: Suggestions on route

Kinda fits the floral theme I was after, but I don't know if it will fit. All the seats are still in the bus.



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Old 10-15-2007, 01:14 PM   #11
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Re: Suggestions on route

Well, for me MPG is an issue and for that I'd stay on I-80. There's about three passes in Nevada that will slow you down and Donner pass in CA but nothing too bad. Downhill into SLC might be a little scary.

Of course, coming down I-81 and then over on I-40 would be easy. We're an hour south of Nashville, come by for dinner!!
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Old 10-16-2007, 09:09 AM   #12
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Re: Suggestions on route

I would take I-40 this time of year. Flagstaff Is not to hard a pull but it's cold up there. Needles is a hard pull but you can take hwy 95 around it in about the same amount of time without all of the bus abuse.
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Old 10-18-2007, 09:07 AM   #13
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Re: Suggestions on route

Thank you for all the input. I think I40 will be the route. I don't know exactly when in the next month or two I will be going, so weather will be a consideration. I might just wait thou. The price of gas and diesel has shot up like crazy in the last couple of weeks. Crude hit an all time high, and if Turkey goes into Iraq, the oil traders will go crazy. I'm sure we will be paying $4-5 a gallon for fuel. I paid $3.54 for diesel 2 days ago. Just remember the old days folks because they are gone and will never be back.
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Old 10-18-2007, 09:25 AM   #14
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Re: Suggestions on route

I did a google earth on that area and refreshed my memory. When entering Needles Take "searchlight highway" to goffs road. back in the 80's they had good food at Goffs store. Don't know now. Follow goffs road back to I-40 and you have driven around needles mountain in about the same amount of time it takes to go over it.
Hope this helps, If this is inaccurate someone let me know.
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Old 10-18-2007, 01:13 PM   #15
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Re: Suggestions on route

Quote:
Originally Posted by crazycal
Thank you for all the input. I think I40 will be the route. I don't know exactly when in the next month or two I will be going, so weather will be a consideration. I might just wait thou. The price of gas and diesel has shot up like crazy in the last couple of weeks. Crude hit an all time high, and if Turkey goes into Iraq, the oil traders will go crazy. I'm sure we will be paying $4-5 a gallon for fuel. I paid $3.54 for diesel 2 days ago. Just remember the old days folks because they are gone and will never be back.
Yeah, if you're waiting a month or two, that means November or December for your drive. I sure wouldn't take off across Wyoming or even Nebraska for that matter. Maybe in a car if the roads weren't bad, but it will be c-c-c-c-COLD out there in a month or two. Again, if you need a place to stay in OKC, I have a big comfy couch. You could park your bus in my driveway and make my neighbors think I bought another one!
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Old 10-18-2007, 03:35 PM   #16
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Re: Suggestions on route

I don't live too far south of I-40 (at Little Rock) if you need a place to stay
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Old 10-20-2007, 01:15 PM   #17
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Re: Suggestions on route

Thank you for the offers. I will post when I am about to make my trip.
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Old 11-13-2007, 11:49 AM   #18
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Re: Suggestions on route

Wow, I spent 2 years living in Parkersburg when I was a kid. Dad was transfered there with duPont for 2 years. Ahhh the memories.
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