Three reasons for this trip:
1. Get closer to Visiting my 300th National Park site
2. Photograph the last of the campus signs on several colleges/universities in southwestern states
3. Visit my brother in Texas

LOUISIANA: Visit one national park
TEXAS: Visit two national parks and two colleges plus one brother
NEW MEXICO: Visit three national parks (and miss two others)
ARIZONA: Visit four national parks
COLORADO: Visit one national park
UTAH: Visit (for the third time) Zion National Park and another national park just southeast of Salt Lake City plus one college in St. George to photograph its campus sign
WYOMING: Visit one national park plus finalkly visit the town of Casper (it has three nice museums, one of them being on a college campus I was unaware of before)
NORTH DAKOTA: Visit two national parks
SOUTH DAKOTA: Visit Falls Park, mostly because I have never before stopped in Sioux Falls, only driven through it, and my paternal grandmother was born and raised in this town
MINNESOTA: Visit two national parks

MISSED VISITING:
--New Mexico national parks of Gila Cliff and Salinas Missions
--all of California -- weather issues of late, missed thirteen first-visit national parks (Mojave, Manzanar, Devils Postpile, Eugene ONeill, Port Chicago, John Muir, Rosie Riveter, San Fran Maritime, Ft.Point, Muir Wood, Point Reyes, Whiskeytown-Shasta and Lava Beds) and two repeat visit national parks (Lassen and Yosemite)
--driving through a new-for-me section of Nevada but maybe I can drive the reverse of it in the June 2023 trip
--Mississippi River National Park site in St. Paul -- it was closed due to staffing shortages
--Keweenaw national park -- saw on their website that they are having staffing shortages thus difficult to predict a schedule of when they are open

OBSERVATIONS: Some observations made while traveling in this area:

• For some reason the trains in Arkansas and Louisiana that run alongside the two-lane highway were MUCH noisier than I have ever hear. When I heard them the first two times, I thought something had come crashing down just behind the trees where the tracks were (and I did not know there were tracks there until I heard the trains!).
• I was surprised at the amount of traffic in southwestern Arkansas, both late at night on Saturday and very early Sunday morning
• Speed limits by state produces some strange results. Texas allows 75 MPH on many of their curvy and narrow two-lane highways whereas nearly everywhere east of the Mississippi River the interstate maximum is only 70 MPH. Would love to understand the logic behind each state's speed limits determinations!
• It might be a bit of an exaggeration but it seems like there are more Dollar General stores in the U.S. than there are, COMBINED, MacDonalds and Pizza Huts. Those DG stores appear in very small towns. Their newest-built stores look quite upscale.
• In a manner similar to how post offices seem to have just enough staff at the customer counters to make all customers always stand in line for a while, cities and towns seem to build their highways and streets to make cars wait a while in traffic. Wonder what would happen, if say, Springfield Illinois or Greenville North Carolina built a highway/roadway system that could currently handle, say, Houston's traffic. Bet the people in Springfield and Greenville would rarely get caught in traffic!
• Texas highways really had the colors with the wildflowers in the medians and along the sides. Colors were: blue, orange, yellow, pink, purple, brown, white and red.
• Texans seem to be slower than other states for getting started after a traffic light turns green whereas New Mexico drivers tend to go several MPH below the speed limits
• US Highway 281 in Texas has many passing lane sections whereas New Mexico's US 60 has none and really needed it since two large trucks led a line of over twenty vehicles for over 50 miles with no way to pass them because of traffic continually coming from the other direction.
• Interesting how Texas uses the word "branch" for "river" or "creed"
• Most states have a numerous highway signs that say "Bridges Ices Before Road" (or, as I call that, BIBR"). However, warmer Texas signs say "Bridge may freeze in cold weather" and colder weather Montana signs say "Watch for Ice on Bridge".
• New Mexico easily has the best looking highway overpasses as well as retaining walls along the highways. Artistic looking indeed and uses the southwestern theme.
• I get a kick out of New Mexico's occcasional "Safety Corridor" roads which say that fines double and turn on headlights. However, the locals seem to ignore both of these warnings.
• New Mexico has a really windy day on April 04. Tumbleweeds were flying everywhere and vehicles on the roads were having steering issues, especially with the crosswinds. And, the winds often causes thick dust clouds to blow over the roads.
• Because New Mexico has so much sand, and, it blows everywhere, when a big truck passes by going the other direction on a two-lane highway, they kick up a blast of sand at cars going their opposite direction
• Many people are either walking along the highways or trying to be a hitchhiker (I thought hitchhikers went away decades ago!)
• Wyoming has some interesting "warnings" for motorists: high winds, slush on roads, slick spots on roads, damaged road, antelopes enter highways at 55 MPH, heavy sideroad traffic (even when no sideroad is present)
• Along two-lane highways, I first noticed this in New Mexico and it was also true in Arizona, Utah and Wyoming, I call it the Thirty-Seconds Rule. That is, there is almost never more than 30 seconds when a vehicle is NOT coming from the opposite direction. It is as if someone was spacing out the vehicles.
• Since Wyoming gets deep snows, they have heavy-duty snowplows. I saw one -- V-shaped blade that is eight-foot tall. Cuts a "snow wall" along the side of the highway.
• While driving along Highway 16 in Wyoming, I noticed my car said the outside temperature was MINUS NINE!
• Lots of cows and horses in Wyoming. At one place I saw about a dozen horses and several had their stomachs on the snow-covered ground. Guess that feels good to a horse.
• Because of the large amount of snow Utah and Wyoming received last week, and since grazing animals need to eat, I saw one field where the owner had "plowed" a huge area of grassy area so grazing could continue. First time I ever saw that done!
• Despite their increasing popularity around the country, I have yet to spot a single power-generating windmill in Arizona, Utah and Wyoming
• Montana has highways signs that say "Local Access. No Services".
• North Dakota has the flaming pipes where underground gas is "on fire". Also, the state just generally seems to have a stinky smell in all the rural parts, much moreso than any other state. Uncertain why.
• Many western states have a "Port of Entry". Uncertain if that is just how they handle trucks hauling freight or if it is a way to get a handle on illegal immigrants.
• Along I-90 in Wyoming there is a sign about every three miles that says "Deer next 5 miles" (shrug!!)
• Dawson county in Montana has a road named "Bad Route Road". That is about equally funny as the Michigan town named "Bad Axe".
• Throughout the western states I noticed many, many sets of rail cars just sitting on tracks in various places, as if the rail companies need a place to stick cars that they are unable/unwilling to move/haul. This was very noticeable and maybe is yet another sign of the "Supply Chain" issues.
• It would seem that the unemployment rate should be a negative value because I saw hundreds of signs at a multitude of businesses saying "We Are Hiring" and that was often followed with "For All Positions".
• It would be great if, during the debate of climate change and alternative fuels, we could phase out the super stinky diesel vehicles.

The Bests:

1. Big Thicket national park is quite amazing. All kids grades 4 thru 9 would love it and they would learn so many things about nature such as bugs and plants and fossils.
2. Wildflowers along highways of Texas
3. I was really impressed with the display at the Fossil Butte National Park site just west of Kemmerer Wyoming
4. Casper has at least three museums worth a visit: Tate Geological, Trail Interpretive and Fort Caspar (yes, "ar" vs. "er")
5. Weather was wonderful. Northern Arizona plus most of Utah, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota all had huge piles of snow from the previous week but roads were fine and sky was sunny with highs 50 to 70 every day. Just two brief rains while driving and both helped clean the windshield!

The Worsts:

1. Too many big trucks on the highways -- and they say there is a shortage of truck drivers??? Wonder why trains don't carry the bulk of the freight between towns then let trucks deliver locally, thus, staying off highways, Of course, train tracks don't go to all towns.
2. The U.S. National Park Service is incredible, one of the country's best ideas ever. However, other than them all having very well-done brochures, there is little consistency in how they run the 420-ish sites. 1, holidays observed varies. Hours open varies. Some sites do not have a visitor center. Visitor centers closed with little notice due to issues including staffing shortages, fires, landslides, water issues, etc. If only Congress would allocate sufficient funds to keep these American Favorites open and kept up in good consistent working order.

The Totals:

• Miles Driven: 5840
• Driving: 120 hours in 10 day
• States: 14 -- Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, NMontana, orth Dakota, Minnesota, Soouth Dakota, Iowa
• Universities: 10 - Houston Christian, Incarnate Word, Tarleton State, Utah Tech, Casper College, Hamline, Concordia, Macalester, St. Thomas and St. Catherine (525 of 537 visited)
• Pictures Taken: 647 (40 deleted)
• National Parks: 21 (297 visited) - Cane River, Big Thicket, San Antonio Missions, Bandelier, El Malpais, El Morro, Hubbell Trading, Canyon de Chelly, Yucca House, Navajo, Montezuma Castle, Tuzigoot (closed for fire), Pipe Spring, Zion, Timpanogos (closed for snow), Fossil Butte, Fort Union Trading, Knife River Indian, Mississippi River (closed for staffing shortage), Pipestone and MISSED in California oer their weather issues of late: Mojave, Manzanar, Devils Postpile, Yosemite, Eugene ONeill, John Muir, Rosie, Ft Point, Muir Woods, Port Reyes, Lassen Volcanic, Whiskeytown, Lava Beds plus MISSED in New Mexico: Salinas Pueblo Missions (traffic and highway issues) plus missed in Michigan: Keweenawq (staffing shortage

Remaining to Visit by State/Province
• AL - DONE but want to revisit Russell Cave in Sept. 2023 trip
• AK - DONE
• AZ - Tuzigoot was closed (forest fire) and would like to at least photograph the sign at Hohokam Pima although visitors no longer allowed there
• AR - DONE
• CA - Over a dozen NP's yet to visit and two to re-visit (Yosemite and Lassen) plus would would like to see JPL facilities and Mt. Wilson near L.A.
• CO - DONE
• CT - DONE
• DC - DONE but there could be some exhibit or other thing that someday brings me back to the capital city. Could also visit Fort Bayard National Park as well as photograph the campus signs at three colleges: Trinity, Galluadet and Univ. of D.C.
• DE - DONE
• FL - Likely will visit Orlando area where a high school classmate and a cousin both live, still want to take the ferry at Fort Matanzas, and, re-attempt to visit a couple of places on the Gulf Coast: Sarasota (downtown), Pine Island and the Naples Botanical Gardens
• GA - Would like to actually get into the Chattahooche National Park Ford visitor center plus other parks for the first time visit: Cumberland Island, Arabia Mountain, Augusta Canal, Gullah/Geechee and Trail of Tears (which runs through AL, AR, GA, IL, KY, MO, NC, OK, TN). Also could photograph campus sign at Valdosta State University.
• HI - DONE
• ID - DONE but would like to drive from Boise to Moscow to cover that part of the state to yet drive through
• IL - Chicago has some places yet to visit, also, maybe more family history research in Danville, Pecatonica as well as Washington county (town of Nashville)
• IN - Total eclipse in April 2024, family history research in Ft.Wayne plus maybe find ancestral cemeteries in Brown county
• IA - DONE
• KS - DONE, but currently live here
• KY - DONE
• LA - Maybe visit cousins in New Orleans plus see national parks: Atchafalaya, El Camino Real de los Tejas and Jean Lafitte plus photograph the campus sign at the University of New Orleans
• ME - Revisit Acadia National Park to photograph the park sign and just see the park again (was there in 1986), also visit the area around Eastport-Lubec and nearby International Park
• MD - could visit Piscataway NP just southeast of D.C. in the Sept.2023 trip
• MA - Visit Martha's Vineyard, also, family history research plus I know many fellow Toastmasters in Boston. And, a good friend lives in this state.
• MI - maybe visit Keweenaw NP in june 2023 trip and would like to determine what (and where) scenic things can be seen in Pictured Rocks National Park
• MN - DONE Grand Portage in June 2023 trip, maybe someday go to Isle Royale National Park from Grand Portage
• MS - DONE
• MO - DONE, but I live too close to KCMO to avoid it
• MT - DONE unless I try a fourth attempt someday to Glacier National Park to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road. MT does have gorgeous scenery.
• NE - DONE
• NV - DONE
• NH - DONE
• NJ - DONE
• NM - Visit national parks Salinas (Gran QUivira visitor center) and Gila Cliff Dwellings
• NY - Many many places yet to revisit (from the 2015 trip) in this state
• NC - DONE
• ND - DONE, but would like to drive from Bowman to Rapid City, South Dakota to cover a part of those states I have yet to drive through
• OH - Family research in several towns, one cousin in Columbus
• OK - DONE
• OR - DONE
• PA - DONE but it is possible that future family history discoveries brings me back here to check out something
• RI - DONE
• SC - DONE
• SD - DONE but would like to drive from Rapid City to Bowman North Dakota to cover a part of those states I have yet to drive through
• TN - DONE
• TX - Brother lives in this state as does a friend, also, would like to drive from Amarillo through Lubbock and on to San Angelo to cover a big chunck on the state I have yet to drive through
• UT - DONE
• VT - Want to drive entirely around Lake Champlain, also, maybe some family history research in Windham county
• VA - cousins live here, plus, could photograph the campus sign at the University of Lynchburg in Sept.2023 trip
• WA - Visit Whitman Missions NP in June 2023 trip, plus, a friend lives in Seattle
• WV - photograph Concord University in the Sept.2023 trip
• WI - DONE but would like to maybe re-attempt (it was pouring rain years ago when there) to visit the House of the Rocks and Taliesman near the town of Spring Green
• WY - DONE
• AB - REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want to see Banff National Park and Lake Louise someday near Calgary in Alberta
• BC - Love Vancouver and Butchart Gardens plus much more north along the coast to see on Vancouver Island all the way to Port Hardy
• LB - Newfoundland/Labrador is worth one visit someday but it is a big undertaking since it takes a day each way just to ferry from Nova Scotia
• MB - Winnepeg, Manitoba is worth one visit someday
• NB - New Brunswick was gorgeous with the fall colors and I liked the three highways I drove going across the province but I never really stopped to see anything. Want to see Saint Johns and along the coast northeast of it, also the Kouchibouguac national park
• NS - Missed much here and would like to return someday, two national parks to visit: Cape Breton and Kejimkujik (dark skies)
• ON - DONE since visited Toronto and Ottawa
• PE - DONE since Prince Edward Island was unimpressive, so likely done here although I did entirely miss the western half of the province
• QC - DONE since visited Montreal and Quebec city and some towns south of them, plus, drove the entire coastline so unknown if will return here -- do not like feeling ostricized with the French everywhere
• SK - Regina and Saskatoon in Saskatchwean are worth one visit someday
• YK - Yukon is iffy if it is worth a visit someday since it is a long way to there and really nothing in particular to see or do except the scenery. Ditton Nanuvut and the Northwest Territories.