As I write this, I realize I’ve been (or will be) either out of town or entertaining guests at home for 8 out of 9 weekends! (I’m not sure when I wrote this, but it still happens.) Only one was actually at home, and another was flying somewhere. But I rented a car for a couple of days, so it likely counts as a road trip.”?”!!!

Categories of rambling thoughts:

Serious

On my Presidents and Parks trip, visiting 16 states, 20 presidential sites and other notable attractions, I realized I wanted the trip to last longer. The only reason I wanted to go home was that I missed my lovely wife!

Rants

Rants are easy to do. Just think about something long enough and you can get yourself worked up!

Independence Day Rant

Every Independence Day, I go off on a rant about people referring to it as “Fourth of July,” when it’s the day the US celebrates its independence back in 1776. Then I realize Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexican heritage and culture, and Cinco de Mayo just means the Fifth of May!

And Syttende Mai means the 17th of May and is Norwegian Constitution Day.

At least the Canadians have it right. Canada Day commemorates the anniversary of the British North America Act (now known as the Constitution Act, 1867). This act officially joined three British colonies – New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the Province of Canada – into a single, self-governing Dominion called Canada.

Attempts at humor

My daughter’s favorite joke. Two cannibals were eating a clown. One said to the other, “Does this taste funny?”

Here are some “dad” jokes. Link.

Offhand comments about roadtripping

My road tripping came from a long desire to visit all 50 states. And I completed that nearly 40 years ago. So in 2014, I “started over.” Reset the counter to zero, if you will. Now, I can’t seem to stop. In fact, in September of 2025, I will attend/did attend a conference for the All Fifty States Club! I can be with “my people” for a couple of days!

Random Facts

Did you know that Reno, NV, is further west than Los Angeles?

Did you know that another Hawaiian Island is forming south of the Big Island? You can go back in about 10,000 years to visit it!

Opinions

Everybody should get out of their hometown, at least for a while. There’s a lot of world to see “out there.”

If you think about visiting all 50 states… Go for it!

More Highlights from published newsletters

Most impressive bridges in each state

There are so many bridges across the country that it’s challenging to get a count. Some of them are impressive, while many of them are just plain bridges across a river, gorge, other roads, railroad tracks, etc. I’ve lived in the same place for years and don’t remember many of the bridges I cross regularly. Bridges over freeways are crossed without a thought. Or across railroad tracks.

Here’s the link to the Love Exploring article about the most impressive per state.

Here’s the list of bridges on that list I’ve crossed or observed. A couple of them are railroad bridges that I didn’t drive across!

Edmund Pettus Bridge – Alabama – A role in “Bloody Sunday, on March 7, 1965, activists marched to demand the vote for Black people. When they reached the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the 600 Civil Rights protesters were pushed back by police using tear gas and force. Seventeen people were seriously injured, and now the bridge is a National Historic Landmark.
Arlington Memorial Bridge – DC I’m “relatively” sure I’ve crossed this bridge during one of my visits to Washington, DC.
Kansas Keeper of the Plains – Kansas – The bridge stands in Wichita. The 44-foot steel sculpture represents a Native American warrior with hands raised to the Great Spirit.
Penobscot Narrows Bridge – Maine. Again, not sure I’ve passed this one, but I do have a photo of this or a very similar bridge!
Chain of Rocks Bridge – Missouri (and Illinois). Route 66 once crossed this bridge near St. Louis, MO, crossing from Illinois. It’s now a bike-and-pedestrian bridge. It’s known for the bend in the middle of the bridge.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge & Tunnel – Virginia. Crossed the Chesapeake Bay near the Atlantic. Seemingly near the middle, the bridge becomes a tunnel. Or the tunnel becomes a bridge, depending on your direction of travel!
Hi-Line Bridge – ND. In Valley City, ND, it’s impressive for its height and its location in a small town in an area generally known as the plains.
Lowry Avenue Bridge – MN. I live about ten miles from this bridge in Minneapolis, MN.
Chamberlain Rail Bridge – SD. Located near I-90 and the Dignity Statue of a Native American woman, which you “should” stop to visit on your way across South Dakota.
Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge –  NE. I walked this bridge recently!
Mackinac Bridge – MI. Connects Michigan’s two peninsulas.
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway – LA. The bridge spans nearly 24 miles. It’s a twin-span toll bridge across Lake Pontchartrain connecting the north area to New Orleans. The bridge suffered damage during Hurricane Katrina but remained structurally intact and reopened soon after.
New River Gorge Bridge – WV. Very impressive bridge over a gorge near the New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia. Built in 1956, it still holds a Guinness World Record as the longest span over water.
Seven Mile Bridge – FL. This bridge is part of the Overseas Highway from Miami to Key West through most of the major islands in the Keys.
Golden Gate Bridge – CA. What more needs to be said about this bridge! I drove over it again recently.

If you have thoughts or questions about impressive bridges, please let me know. Here’s the link to leave comments.

Thanks for reading!

I’m interested in hearing your comments on anything in this post, other posts, or general information about road trips in the US.

Classic Rock Recollection

“Ramblin’ Man” by The Allman Brothers

Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man
Tryin’ to make a livin’ and doin’ the best I can
And when it’s time for leavin’
I hope you’ll understand
That I was born a ramblin’ man

Written by Forrest Richard Betts