Winter Trek 2018-2019

It was lovely, but it was time to leave:

First Snow, November 2018

The national radar picture looked good. No nasty storms headed eastward. The local weather was cool (about 35F) and overcast. To the southwest the daytime high temperatures were 50F, with nighttime lows in the mid 30s. Good driving conditions along the planned route.

NWS Radar Mosaic

The winter trek began on November 18. We had already had several light snows and it was clearly time to go to warmth. Total distance would be about 1,821 miles. I travelled with traffic, in the second from the right lane in 3-lane interstates, or in the right lane on 2-lane roads and U.S. Highways. There was rain part of the way, and I did stop early one evening when temperatures hovered at 33F with light rain. I was concerned about freezing conditions. Departure the next morning was delayed by heavy fog, which lifted at about 7:45am.

Here’s some statistics.

The trip summary via GPS. I guess I was travelling at Warp 2!

Here's the actual. The fuel costs and consumption is based on receipts:

• Driving distance: 1,821 miles.
• Driving time: 28.75 hours.
• Average speed: 63.34 MPH (using driving time clock).
• Peak speed limit 75 MPH.
• Average gasoline cost per gallon (86, 87, 88 octane): $2.433.
• Lowest fuel price: $1.979 per gallon Missouri, 87 octane.
• Highest fuel price: $2.869 for 88 octane.
• MPG for the trip, including idling time, speeds most of the way at 70-75 MPH: 14.6 MPG.

Travel Route 1821 miles (some "detours" on the way)

I was surprised by the haze throughout much of Oklahoma and portions of Missouri. I attribute this to the fires in California. I’ve travelled portions of this route many times, and I’ve never seen conditions this poor.

Tulsa, unretouched photo

Oklahoma City, unretouched photo

I took interstates and U.S. highways for the most part. The speed limits on the interstates were 70-75 MPH and on the U.S. highways 70-75 MPH with occasional areas posted 50 MPH.

Of course, using highways means encountering slow patches, and the occasional house moving down the road (see photo). It does take one on long stretches of up to 40 miles with no stops. It also takes one through small towns where the speed limit may be  20MPH. However, the U.S. highways provide some interesting scenic opportunities and shortcuts.

Here’s the basic route I followed: Local roads, I-88 to I-355 to I-55 south, I-255 to I-270 (bypass St. Louis) to I-40 Oklahoma City, etc. U.S. 54 south, U.S. 70 south to I-10 west to local roads.  I did a short trek out of the way on I-44. Actual minimum distance could have been as low as 1730 miles, but I did some scenic drives.

Interior of Texas Rest Stop

Texas Rest Stop, early morning

At the beginning of Mountain Time Zone

On U.S. 54 south, in New Mexico

New Mexico U.S. 54

Arizona ahead

Entering Arizona

First evening with friends at the destination

Threesome: baby ship, daughter ship, mother ship

Original material:  https://roadtrek210.blogspot.com/

Morton Arboretum, Lisle Illinois

Driving through the Arboretum in mid-November, after an early snow. 

"The Morton Arboretum, in Lisle, Illinois, is a public garden and outdoor museum with a library, herbarium, and program in tree research including the Center for Tree Science. Its grounds, covering 1,700 acres (6.9 Square kilometres), include cataloged collections of trees and other living plants, gardens, and restored areas, among which is a restored tallgrass prairie. The living collections include more than 4,100 different plant species. There are more than 200,000 cataloged plants.

 As a place of recreation, the Arboretum has hiking trails, roadways for driving and bicycling, a 4-acre (16,000 m2) interactive children's garden and a 1-acre (4,000 m2) maze.

The Schulenberg Prairie  at the arboretum was one of the earliest prairie restoration projects in the Midwest, begun in 1962. It is one of the largest restored prairies in the Chicago suburban area.

The arboretum offers an extensive nature-centered education program for children, families, school groups, scouts, and adults, including tree and restoration professionals. The Woodland Stewardship Program offers classroom and online courses in ecological restoration techniques. The arboretum also offers credit courses through the Associated Colleges of the Chicago Area, a regional consortium."
--- from Wikipedia

View of the Meadow Lake from the Dining Area of the Visitors Center

Pat, a friend has a Morton Arboretum membership pass. She was kind enough to take us to this unique place and we saw the troll exhibit. We dined at the Visitors Center and enjoyed the view of the Meadow Lake via the floor to ceiling glass windows.

Then we went to visit the trolls.  Here's only a few of the photos of the many trolls. This is a permanent exhibit and when Spring returns, one will be able to take the Tram and walk to these.

This one is at the main parking lot

This one is observing traffic on I-88

This one is lurking in the woods. 

Another view of the Meadow Lake.

Original material:  https://roadtrek210.blogspot.com/