Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Day 15
Day 16
Day 17
Day 18
Day 19
Day 20
Day 21
Day 22
Day 23
Day 24 |
Postlude - May 13, 2018 Most miles were paved but not all. In fact, about 207 miles, or roughly 9% of the plotted Jefferson Highway route, was unpaved. Missouri, with 68.8 miles of gravel or dirt, contributed the most. Minnesota was second with 60.5. The rest of the unpaved miles were in Manitoba (32.6), Iowa (10.9), Kansas (5.9), and Oklahoma (27.9). Everything I drove in Texas and Louisiana was paved. As I've mentioned, several sources were used in planning my route, but the full length Jefferson Highway map recently completed and shared by JHA VP Mike Curtis was the linchpin of the whole thing. I know Mike will be improving it, and that he and JHA map coordinator David Sterns will continue to work toward an official JHA map but at this instant it is possible for anyone to drive all or any part of the route without the risk of encountering huge gaps along the way. This was an uncommon for me international road trip. It was the longest continuous north-south trip I've ever taken. There were huge piles of snow at one end balmy breezes at the other. I drove through the edges of a blizzard in Iowa and the edges of a big-time lightening storm in Texas. The timing was right for attending the conference in Saint Joseph but it was a little early in the year for some sites in the north. Some parks and other seasonal attractions were not yet open and others were still operating on a reduced wintertime schedule. I encourage everyone to drive any piece of the Jefferson Highway anytime you want but suggest targeting the northern bits during the summer. That's especially true if your plans include wading across the Mississippi headwaters at 47 degrees north latitude.
May 10, 2018 (day 24)
May 9, 2018 (day 23)
May 8, 2018 (day 22)
May 7, 2018 (day 21)
May 6, 2018 (day 20)
May 5, 2018 (day 19)
May 4, 2018 (day 18)
May 3, 2018 (day 17)
May 2, 2018 (day 16)
May 1, 2018 (day 15)
April 30, 2018 (day 14)
April 29, 2018 (day 13)
April 28, 2018 (day 12)
April 27, 2018 (day 11)
April 26, 2018 (day 10)
April 25, 2018 (day 9)
April 24, 2018 (day 8)
April 23, 2018 (day 7)
April 22, 2018 (day 6)
April 21, 2018 (day 5)
April 20, 2018 (day 4)
April 19, 2018 (day 3)
April 18, 2018 (day 2)
April 17, 2018 (day 1)
Prelude 2 - March 14, 2018
Prelude 1 - January 16, 2018 Even the timing for driving the entire Jefferson Highway seems pretty good as more knowledge of the route becomes generally available. Prior to the 2015 JHA conference in Muskogee, Jane Ballard produced a guide to the highway in Oklahoma. In 2016 Lyell Henry published a book on the Jefferson Highway in Iowa. Last year the Lincoln Highway Association followed their annual conference with a tour to the highway's northern terminus. In support of that tour, LHA map guru, Paul Gilger, charted a route from Colo, Iowa, to Winnipeg, Manitoba. Also last year, Mike and Sharon Curtis visited the southern terminus and documented their drive through Louisiana and Texas. The only modern full length Jefferson Highway drive that I'm aware of is the one Lynda and Jerry Alger made in 2014. They had a great time and saw lots of roadside attractions but had to do a fair amount of guessing when it came to the route. I may have to do a little guessing, too, but nowhere near what the Algers did, and one of the reasons is that Lynda is sharing her notes with me. I really appreciate folks like Lynda, Mike, Paul, Lyell, and Jane who make it possible for folks like me to drive down old roads as if we know what we're doing. |