r-blog @ r-dub.us

Yup. It’s been too long. Waaaaaay too long, actually.

So, I thought it best to post something, even if it’s just to keep the spambots off of my blog’s comment section.

My latest roadtrip, the Labor Day Runaround ‘09, is now online and ready for your perusal.

Check out some abandoned gas stations, a blatant copyright violation,  the Courthouse Roundabout Jamz, and an abandoned alignment. All this and more, right at this location.

Drop by, check it out, and then swing back here to comment on it!

Still in the hopper, I promise: Honeymoon Wanderings, Days 3-5 and Anniversary Autotour 09, days 1-5. Once I get the chance it’s all about the updates!

Laterz, netizens!

Had to get down to the Health Department to try to suck up for expansion of our coffee shop. On the way, I thought that I’d like to take some pictures. Wanna see? You know you do…… (clicky for big sized pictures!)

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Damn this whole work thing. Yeah, it’s absolutely wonderful that I own my own coffee shop, don’t get me wrong, but damn, I miss getting out on the road, feel the wind against my windshield, clicking away with the camera, and all that.

For now, though, I guess these pictures will have to do. *sigh*

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Hey all, I want to tell you a story. Care to listen/watch?

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Working away today, I had to move my laptop fast. The only spot that was open was on top of the coffee bean scale I use. This scale has been certified by the State of Colorado, so I can promise there’s no funny business going on here. The comp? A Dell Inspiron 1501.

Dell=EVIL!

Yeah, I promise there’s more roadgeekery ahead. I’ve got the Honeymoon Wanderings, two mini-trips, and a treat showing our tax dollars hard at work coming up soon, I promise. I just couldn’t resist putting this up…

Hey all, just a quick status update on the route change here in Colorado Springs.

• SH 21 is now posted in its entirety, including END! signs at both ends (see picts below)
• SH 83 now is signed as ending at SH 21 in northern COS
• SH 29, 38, and 83’s as well as BL I-25’s roadside signage has now been removed from the streets.
• Overhead signage on the interstate has been modified. All shields for US 85, BL 25, and the state highways above have been removed, leaving large gaps where the shields were. (picts to follow)

I’ll be taking more picts as I can, but here’s the current pictures of SH 21…

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Hey all! Posting from scenic downtown Winslow, AZ right now. The Ring and I are out on our honeymoon, and, since she is just as much of a roadgeek as I am (although she won’t admit it), we’ve decided to wander through the southwest. We’re on day 2.

Day 1 notes:

Route: I-25 from Colorado Springs to Raton, NM; US 64 from Raton, NM to Taos, NM.

Notes: The viaduct reconstruction on 25 in Trinidad is progressing nicely. Traffic is on the southbound viaduct and there are parts of the new northbound viaduct standing. US 64 west of Cimarron is HELLA curvy. The Ring was suffering a case of motion sickness at the time, and it made for a slow trip to try to keep dinner down. We ended up turning onto US 64 at dark, so I can’t tell you much more than there are a ton of elk on the way. Watch your speed.

Gas prices ranged from $4.09 in Cimarron to $3.79 in Trinidad.

Day 2: NM 68/US 84 from Taos, NM to Santa Fe, NM; I-25 from Santa Fe to Albuquerque; BUS 40/Historic US 66 through Albuquerque, I-40 and Bus 40/Historic US 66 routes from Albuquerque to Wilson, AZ.

Besides for what looks to be a light rail line being installed in the median of 25 from Santa Fe to about 20 miles south (west), there’s not a lot to report in the way of construction. There was a few bridge replacements here and there and a roadbed replacement for about 2 miles along 40 in far western New Mexico.

Now that I’ve seen it in person, I understand what everyone was talking about with the “Big I” project in Albuquerque. That is one massive interchange, and it is quite well constructed.

Found a lot of old signs along the way, from wooden hand-painted signs to button copy. Unfortunately, I also found some Clearview on a replacement gore point sign. Ugh.

Gas prices ranged from $4.09 in some podunk turnoff between Santa Fe and Albuquerque to $3.79 in multiple towns. For you Diesel users? Sorry. $4.72 is what I’m seeing.

Well, I’d like to upload some pictures, but I’m on an arcane wireless network that keeps dropping me. Hopefully I’ll have a better connection tomorrow night.

So what’s next for us? Only the roads know. We have a few stops we want to make (Sonoma, Cave Creek, Vegas, Grand Canyon, etc.), but we’ll take each day as it arrives. I’ll keep posting updates as I land in an Internet-based hotel!

Laterz, netizens!

Hey all in the Interwubs

I haven’t  forgotten about y’all yet. Honest! As proof, here’s a few picts:

What … the… hell.  That sign is an absolute mess.

  Colorado Springs is installing mini-VMSes along major arterials in the city. Can’t fix the light timing, but they’ll tell you that you’ll be stopping!

  BUSTED!

  Hiding in the surburban brush, waiting the next red light runner.

Just a great shot of the contrasts in seasons here. When we hear snow in the high country, this is what we sometimes see here on the Front Range.

random drain sucker sucking up… something. I guess.

  This guy was in such a hurry to pickup his dry cleaning!

Riding some poles in the construction site.

  Camera repair or high-tech peeping? You be the judge.

  Yup. Dats a truck.

More soon, as time and camera allow!

The great Colorado Springs route switch is upon us! From the CDOT website:

Bid February 7, 2008, awarded February 11, 2008, project C M240-112 consists of signing including removal of ground sign and sign panel, reset of ground sign and panel, mask sign legend, modification of sign legend, and preformed thermoplastic pavement marking at various locations on SH 21, I-25, SH 29, SH 38, SH 83, US 85, and SH 105 in El Paso County. Completion: 45 work days. Resident Engineer: Mark Andrew, CDOT Region 2, Colorado Springs. Awarded to: Rocky Mountain Enterprises Inc., Grand Junction, CO. Amount: $293,837.07

Changes seen in the field so far:

• The signage saying Begin BL25-Nevada Avenue and the closely placed US 85 shield are gone. (Pict of what it looked like)
• Advance signage forI-25’s exit 135, South Academy Bl, are new with no SH 83 shield.

I’ll keep you posted!

More pictures for your clicking enjoyment.

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