We weren’t able to go to the South by South West music festival in Austin, Texas, because I wasn’t able to get time off from my day job.
As a consolation prize, we will be breaking out and having a big looping road-trip from LA to the mid-USA and back.
We’re planning a similar east-coast route later in the year.
Here’s a link to the current version of the proposed route.
We will be taking portable studio equipment; audio and video recording tools and a couple of stills cameras; the cunning plan is to make audio and video content as we travel.
Sure, this has been done before. But not by us. And not been done by anyone with the unique way of looking at life (and people) as we do.
As our noisy offspring, This Reality Podcast, is a music-based show, we would be keen to meet up with bands, artists and entertainers – and other interesting people – who might like to be interviewed and have their work discussed, as we cross the US.
We’re going to spread the word using various channels of communication, but if you know anyone who might be interested in meeting up with two Brits who happen to host a weekly, music-based, entertainment show, would you like to get them on board?
As well as looking for interesting people, we are also looking for interesting things to see and unique places to visit.
If you have any suggestions for any of these things, we would be very grateful if you could leave a comment below, or drop us a line at studio@thisrealitypodcast.com.
Thanks!
Some suggestions:
– Your drive up the California coast will be terrific. But think about getting off of I-5 and go up the 101 along the coast – at least from the San Luis Obispo area up through Monterey.
– I’m lost in Oregon and Washington, so you’re on your own.
– I know you want to take back roads, but some of the area in Montana and South Dakota is nothing but mile after mile of mile after mile.
– Crossing the line (sorry) into South Dakota, Mt. Rushmore is not far from Rapid City. I know it’s touristy, but why not?
– Sioux Falls and Sioux City: Nothing to see, nothing to see, move along, move along. There’s a good lat.
– You’re going close enough to Omaha to drop by and see Lisa and Ian. Think about M’s Pub in the Old Market. Try the Pub Special. There’s nothing to see in Fremont anyhow.
– The Strategic Air Command Museum is just outside Omaha on I-80.
– Coming through central Kansas, it may be worth a shift to the left to go south through Hutchinson and stop at the Dutch Mill Bakery in Yoder, KS. They have the world’s greatest cinnamon rolls.
– Oklahoma City might be more interesting than Tulsa. The memorial built after McVeigh’s cowardly assault on the federal building is very sobering.
– I’m not sure what that little penis-looking loop near Paris, Texas is, but Paris isn’t worh the effort. And some of the back roads you have in that area are really, really back roads. Watch your gas gauge and keep your eye open for places to stay.
– You’re going so close to Austin and San Antonio that it seems a shame to miss them both.
– Don’t cross the border into Juarez, Mexico. Major drug gang action. It’s not even safe for locals.
Thanks for the 101 tip, we’ve amended the route to accommodate that. We always were going to Mt Rushmore (just as we were always going to San Fran and Vegas), but the first draft just didn’t show that much detail. The SAC museum is a must for me. And it would be just rude not to see Lisa and Ian.
I’ve spent an hour updating the map and will have a second draft for inspection soon.
Thanks for your thoughts.