BuDDaH

Welcome to the first ever TFP Online Road Trip!!
As most of you who visits the chat room, when I returned from deployment, I decided I was going rent an RV and travel around the States to show Nunu what exactly how great and beautiful this country is.

Since my return to active duty, she has become a contractor to the Army and they offered her a higher postion at work, but her not being a citizen hurt her. So to make up for it, they naturalized her and since she doesn't want to be a "paper" citizen, she wants to see and exerience it firsthand. We decided to drive through, state to state, as many as we can. I will update this as I go.

The next major city we are heading for is somewhere near Rock Island, Illinois to drop 2 buddies of mine off.

Hey, if we are coming along your way, post it up and lets meet up and take pictures to add to this adventure.
THIS will be totally INTERACTIVE, I will post here and also be on our chat...

Fast forward..>

Fort Drum, N.Y.

As of 10:30 a.m., we started, and one hour later, we were knee-deep in N.Y.'s
snow belt and guess who decided to join our party?

60-80 mile an hour winds and 4 feet of snow. (I'll upload the video once we get to stable place to do it.) I-81 was shut down for 2 hours so we crept along at 5 mph. The funny thing is the snowbelt is about 4 or 5 exits long, (39 to 34) and once we got over that hump, the skies were clear again and the frigging birds were singing. (We named it the Pulaski Triangle.) It is truly freakish nature acting there.

Syracuse, N.Y.

I-90 has been reduced to a crawl due to too many cars off the road coupled with these 60 mph winds tearing up the place. I am not in a hurry so I been driving along, puttering.

Buffalo / Niagara Falls, N.Y.

Bad snow dump going on.
Made a stop and had some McD's. Traffic report says from exit 91 on is closed and all the rest area is totally packed with truckers and rigs. Gonna putter along and see if the road have opened up.
Going west, toward Erie, Pa.

Fredonia / Dunkirk, N.Y. / Exit 91 10:30 p.m.

Yup, roads closed. Was given directions to an alternate road (Route 20) but I dont think its a good idea. If you cant take the interstate, them small roads has to be a mess. So with that said, I am sitting in a Walmart parking lot near the interstate, waiting for the road to be opened up.
I think I will start time-stamping my updates..

__________________
I'd hit that so hard whoever could pull me out would become King of England!

amonkie

This is awesome buddah!!

If you stay on the 90, let us know when you're in Town.

__________________
Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

uncle phil

when are you going to maine?

__________________
"We were wrong, terribly wrong. (We) should not have tried to fight a guerrilla war with conventional military tactics against a foe willing to absorb enormous casualties...in a country lacking the fundamental political stability necessary to conduct effective military and pacification operations. It could not be done and it was not done."
- Robert S. McNamara
-----------------------------------------
"We will take our napalm and flame throwers out of the land that scarcely knows the use of matches...
We will leave you your small joys and smaller troubles."
- Eugene McCarthy in "Vietnam Message"
-----------------------------------------
never wrestle with a pig.
you both get dirty;
the pig likes it.

genuinegirly

What a great trip! I hope it's a delightful journey!

__________________
"Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq

"violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

dlish

when you're in dubai. give us a visit

like you said..next deployment!

__________________
An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere

I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay?
- Filthy

LordEden

You have to come by NC, there are so many TFPers here that it isn't funny.

__________________
Vice-President of the CinnamonGirl Fan Club - The Meat of the Zombiesquirrel and CinnamonGirl Sandwich

telekinetic

How far west are you coming? You should go into Google Wave and look for clusters of flags!

__________________
twisted no more

BuDDaH

Update: Mentor, Ohio
Time 1:32 p.m.

I had pulled over and took an 5 hour nap. The trip between Erie and here was a mess, roads iced over so I stopped all forward movement until safer conditions. We went to my first Waffle House since Fort Lee, Va. 2 years ago.
A shout-out to all our TFP Ohio family!
Gonna start rolling again, sat here bullshitting at Starbuck's that most of the snow has melted, leaving primo driving conditions.

Check in later...

__________________
I'd hit that so hard whoever could pull me out would become King of England!

genuinegirly

If you pass through SW Ohio, let us know!

__________________
"Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq

"violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

ratbastid

It's a little funny.

amonkie

Sounds like Buddah is enroute to chicago... if he doesn't make it here I'll know it was one of you who Kidnapped him!!

__________________
Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

BuDDaH

Update: Rest stop outside Toledo, Ohio
Time 4:35 p.m.
Making a stop to take a shower / freshen up, all is good. Still a little wind kicking up now and then. Gonna see how we hold up, if its clear and good, might push near Chi-town..

__________________
I'd hit that so hard whoever could pull me out would become King of England!

Martian

BuDDaH's on tour?



Oh, schnap!

Have fun. We expect lots of pictures.

__________________
I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said

- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

RangerJoe

I expect there to be a stop in Indiana at some point...

BuDDaH

Update: 41.588697,-87.216157 - Google Maps
Time: I have no idea due to the time-line we crossed or havent crossed..

1143 p.m. on my watch..

Sitting in Indy as we speak but no one spoke up, so I have no one to drop in on. But I will go to Rock Island to drop off my buddy, then possibly come back to Chicago to spend a few hours there with Amonkie and other TFPer's.

I'd make it my way to you RJ to say hello. Let me know whats up, my travel plans are very fluid right now.

__________________
I'd hit that so hard whoever could pull me out would become King of England!

sapiens

Indiana can be a very confusing place, time-wise. Good luck in your travels!

BuDDaH

Update: 41.443676,-90.583152 (801-1099 10th St W, Milan, IL 61264, USA) - Google Maps

Time: 1:29 p.m.

Dropped my buddies off to their home, resting for a sec, then making the turn-around to Chicago. Makes no sense to drive by people I know and not say hello, eh?
Besides, I have a promise to keep, right Amonkie?

__________________
I'd hit that so hard whoever could pull me out would become King of England!

amonkie

Dinner is ON! TONIGHT!

For those in the Chicagoland area... we're meeting for dinner at Laredo's - Buddah's estimated arrival time is about 5-5:30pm, so meet for dinner between 5:30-6pm?

Laredo's
9797 West Higgins Road
Rosemont, IL 60018-4744
(847) 685-0673‎

This is an awesome tex mex place in a strip mall, so there is plenty of free parking.

If you need to get ahold of me for an update, I'm gonna grab my laptop and get going, PM me for my number if you don't already have it.

__________________
Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

RangerJoe

Well, I have to work tomorrow night but if you're driving on 65 through Indy tomorrow around lunch, we should meet up for a cup of coffee or something. I'm right off of the interstate.

BuDDaH

Touchdown in Chicago...
Amonkie representing and holding it down for Chi-town..
We ate some Mexican while I kept piling the magaritas on Amonkie for waiting on us..
After that, we went and hung out in the RV before taking or tour of the city..





Picture order:
Nunu.
A margarita'ed Amonkie.
Buddah and Amonkie in a group TFP hug.
Us chatting in realtime with the TFP.
Just before the power went out again..

Next stop: Indiana before 4 p.m.

__________________
I'd hit that so hard whoever could pull me out would become King of England!

RangerJoe

WOO INDIANA!!

Lovely pictures. I'm bringing my camera and they will be big pictures!

amonkie

Just so you have an idea... 4 of these (I put in the pepper shaker for scale)

Great to see my big brudder Buddah again

Attached Images

margarita.jpg (91.7 KB, 212 views)

__________________
Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

RangerJoe

That looks really good, monkie...

SecretMethod70

Wish I had been able to make it... how dare my niece celebrate her birthday at such an inconvenient time!

__________________
Le temps détruit tout

"Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

RangerJoe

So, here are my pictures from the visit. Buddah has a couple more when he gets to uploading them.


Nunu and Buddah in the RV
Picture 237.jpg

Buddah
Picture 238.jpg

Buddah and I

Picture 239.jpg
Picture 240.jpg

If you can meet up with Buddah and Nunu while they are driving around, you definitely should. I had a great time, even if work cut it short. And I apologize to Buddah and Nunu... I'm very awkward with people and a horrible conversationalist. But, I couldn't miss out on meeting you two!

ShaniFaye

Ok big man...when are you hitting Ga? (please please please dont say anywhere from the 31st-3rd or Dec 23-24)

__________________
I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!

World's King

Are you still coming to Denver?

__________________
heavy is the head that wears the crown

Giant Hamburger

I know where all the delicious hamburgers live.
Find me and we will eat them.

JStrider

Let me know if you pass thru houston... theres a few of us down here.

__________________
-=JStrider=-

~Clatto Verata Nicto

BuDDaH

dammit, dammit, dammit!
Why y'all wait until AFTER I've passed you to let me know?

Already in Albuquerque, having a day away from driving, about to start the second leg through Flagstaff, California, then Denver..

__________________
I'd hit that so hard whoever could pull me out would become King of England!

Martian

King's in Denver.

And if you make it out to Oregon and see snowy, you have to give her a hug from me. I'll know if you don't.

__________________
I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said

- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

uncle phil

when you get back to drum, hang loose; i'll be back upstate by the end of may...

__________________
"We were wrong, terribly wrong. (We) should not have tried to fight a guerrilla war with conventional military tactics against a foe willing to absorb enormous casualties...in a country lacking the fundamental political stability necessary to conduct effective military and pacification operations. It could not be done and it was not done."
- Robert S. McNamara
-----------------------------------------
"We will take our napalm and flame throwers out of the land that scarcely knows the use of matches...
We will leave you your small joys and smaller troubles."
- Eugene McCarthy in "Vietnam Message"
-----------------------------------------
never wrestle with a pig.
you both get dirty;
the pig likes it.

JStrider

ahhh bummer! I didnt see this thread till today! sounds like your taking I40... thats a drive I made many times in college have fun!

__________________
-=JStrider=-

~Clatto Verata Nicto

SSJTWIZTA

i should get online more when i travel. i just came back from an indiana/florida road trip. i could have been in that RV too.

__________________
First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the communists and I did not speak out because I was not a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for me And there was no one left to speak out for me.
-Pastor Martin Niemoller

BuDDaH

Bad news, WK.
Just got hit with an alert status and our unit is getting spun up on something, so they are calling a recall formation for accountability, and once I reported in by phone, the company commander doesn't like the storm system heading your way, so under HIS advisement, I SHOULD travel the southern states on the way back. I am in Las Vegas now and still havent hit Los Angeles yet, so I'll decide how I will go about it in the morning..

__________________
I'd hit that so hard whoever could pull me out would become King of England!

BuDDaH

Made it to see WK! A storm blowing in the north so we are going
south, gonna take I-70 so that means you Ohio people might get
a second chance to meet up. Put it up here if you want to!

__________________
I'd hit that so hard whoever could pull me out would become King of England!

Cynthetiq

Hey was great to see the 3 of you last night in the vid chat....

__________________
I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

PonyPotato

If I wasn't so insanely busy from today until Sunday, I'd totally be up for a meetup. As it is, though, my days are quite full.

__________________
"Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark."
— Henri-Frédéric Amiel

amonkie

I don't get a second Buddah Visit? BOOO


stay safe guys.... I wouldn't want to be out there driving in that mess.

__________________
Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

BuDDaH

Booo! I hit Springfield and now in Columbus, not a TFPer reply in sight.

Heading home..
Hey WK, you gonna post those pictures up?
When I get back to stable internet back at home, I'll put up the rest of the trip pictures..

__________________
I'd hit that so hard whoever could pull me out would become King of England!