Loneliest-American-Highway-US-50-Bob Davis Podcast 1161

Loneliest American Highway

Firstly US Route 50 is unofficially called the Loneliest American Highway. Join me for the trip in Loneliest-American-Highway-US-50-Bob Davis Podcast 1161.

Best American Highway

But Route 50 turns out to be one of the best road trips you can take.

Mega Road Trip California

With this in mind as I ended my mega road trip up the California coast…

Sacramento To The East Coast

I headed for Sacramento as soon as I wrapped up on the Pacific Coast Highway.

Here’s The California Road Trip Podcasts

As a matter of fact if you want to check out the PCH trips go here for part one; https://thebobdavispodcasts.com/mega-road-trip-2025-bob-davis-podcast-1159/

And here for part two;https://thebobdavispodcasts.com/perfect-pacific-vibe-bob-davis-podcast-1160/

YouTube Channel

And here’s the YouTube channel link if you want to see video versions of these podcasts; https://www.youtube.com/@thebobdavispodcasts9768

US 50 Is Different

However US Route 50 is something altogether different.

Mountains To Deserts

That is to say we start in the mountains and deserts of Eastern California.

Free Camping

In particular in these mountains I encountered my first ‘free’ campsite.

In contrast with the bracing breezes on the West Coast my first campground was a thriving babbling brook.

Most importantly I arrived too early in the year for the campground to be open.

But the gate was down and other people were camping.

Therefore I spent a great first night at the side of the brook.

Subsequently on into the California and Nevada deserts.

Nothing Like A Two Lane Highway For Freedom

Above all I can say there is little more in this life more therapeutic than a deserted two lane highway stretching into infinity.

Open Road

In other words if what you seek is the open road US 50 has it in spades.

Mountains To Valleys

Equally important are the shifts from mountains to valleys and deserts as we travel this route.

Life Pressure

Certainly these days we all wonder what will happen next.

Corporate Grind

Even more the pressures of day to day life and corporate life are heavy for many.

Small Town Antidote

I took a closer look at many small towns along the way with this purpose in mind

What Comes Next

In other words if you didn’t do what you’re doing now how would you do whatever comes next

Small Town Life

As an illustration of that question small towns like Ely, Nevada and Delta Colorado help the traveler imagine what life would be like if things were a little different.

Colorado Mountains and Continental Divide

Finally moving into the Colorado Mountains including crossing the Continental Divide at Mammoth Mountain.

Plains

Then we moved straightaway into the plains of Eastern Colorado and Western Kansas.

National Parks and Truck Stop Camping

From time to time camping at more free campgrounds, national parks like The Great Basin and Black Canyon, and an occasional Truck Stop.

Meditating On History

In addition to the meditation of driving there’s a lot of history in this region of the country.

Farming Ranching Mining

Especially ending in Fort Dodge Kansas, I am reminded of the ranching history of the plains as well as the mining, pioneer and Native American history of Colorado, Nevada and California.

Ancient People

To this end there are artifacts like the Petroglyphs in Nevada where people lived and thrived more than ten thousand years ago.

Full Experience

To sum up all of this is waiting to be experienced on supposedly the loneliest highway in the United States.

But I think Route 50 is one of the best highways.

Sponsored by 36LYN

Loneliest-American-Highway-US-50-Bob Davis Podcast 1161

Mega-Road-Trip-2025-Bob Davis Podcast 1159

Mega Road Trip California 2025

I am on a Mega Road Trip for 2025. Most importantly this podcast covers my trip from the desert, mountains and beaches. Details in Mega-Road-Trip-2025-Bob Davis Podcast 1159.

Take Your Your Time On A Roadtrip

In the first place I’ve learned doing Roadtrips with hell bent for leather travel isn’t so great.

Low and Slow

Most importantly if the traveler has the time low and slow is the way to go.

2 Months From California to Oregon

For example I plan on taking almost two months to get to the California-Oregon border.

Furthermore I plan on taking the same approach to Oregon and Washington if possible.

Desert Mountain Beaches

Generally this podcast covers my trip for the deserts in Eastern California, to the mountains about thirty miles from San Diego and ultimately to the beaches south of Los Angeles.

History

Certainly there is history involved.

Spanish California

That is to say that the purpose I’ve selected for this trip is to learn more about the Mission System in California dating back to the Spanish.

Jedediah Smith

Even more one of the historical figures I am interested in is Jedediah Smith.

By all means Smith blazed many trails in his life.

Southern Route

But perhaps the most important exploration he accomplished was to find the southern route to California.

With this purpose in mind Smith was both saved and incarcerated by the Spanish at the mission at San Gabriel and at the Presidio in San Diego.

In Mega-Road-Trip-2025-Bob Davis Podcast 1159 I tell that story.

But there’s more.

Mountain and Beach Campgrounds

All in all I got to spend some time at superb mountain campgrounds and on the Beach at Carlsbad, California.

Just The Beginning

Finally it’s amazing to me that I am only a short way into this Mega Roadtrip for 2025.

Follow My Progress

So follow my progress as I head north and eventually east to Wisconsin.

Subscribe and See

Above all subscribe to my YouTube channel and watch as well.

Mega-Road-Trip-2025-Bob Davis Podcast 1159

 

Nomad-Winter-Escape-Adventure-Bob Davis Podcast-1156

Nomad Winter Escape Adventure

Firstly time for a Nomad Winter Escape Adventure. Details in Nomad-Winter-Escape-Adventure-Bob Davis Podcast-1156.

Winter Break Up North

Secondly right about now just about everyone in North America is looking for a winter break.

Polar Vortex

Certainly the arrival of the Polar Vortex and Winter Storms are key.

Cold In The West Too

In addition even out west it’s cold in the higher elevations.

Nomads

Equally important is the need for nomads for warm days and nights.

Challenged

Accordingly the adventure here is the often challenged nomad migration from the higher altitudes to the lower.

Life On The Road

Of course because life on the road requires multiple stops in transit it becomes an adventure.

Eastern Sierra

Thirdly I love the Eastern Sierras.

Spring and Fall

However this locale is a lot more palatable in the Spring and Fall.

Lone Pine To Organ Pipe

Since I just made the trip from Lone Pine California to Organ Pipe National Monument in Arizona I can tell the story.

All things considered I was warmer in the below sea level reaches of Death Valley.

But I don’t like to back track.

San Diego

It’s for this reason that I headed toward San Diego.

Owing to the fact that I had video to upload I was in search of a Starbucks and a place to hole up for a night while I uploaded.

In reality apparently San Diego doesn’t like Truck Stops or National Forests.

And, like Florida, this part of the California frowns on stays in Walmart parking lots, Cracker Barrel’s, or Denny’s.

All things considered any nomad out there is nodding their head.

In the final analysis I do not blame the San Diego area.

Rest Area

At the same time the best I could do was a rest area about forty miles east of the city.

At length let the downloading begin!

Campground

Finally found a great campground a little farther east.

Santa Ana Winds

At length I found the nights still too cold with the Santa Ana winds and headed for Arizona.

Mundane Adventure

With this in mind Nomad-Winter-Escape-Adventure-Bob Davis Podcast-1156 is all about the little errands and things we have to do that makes nomad life an adventure sometimes.

In any case any refugee from the current Polar Vortex will find California and Arizona quite pleasant despite slightly cool evenings.

Organ Pipe Dream

And Organ Pipe National Monument is a dream.

Sponsored by 36 LYN

Nomad-Winter-Escape-Adventure-Bob Davis Podcast-1156