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BLOG

The aim of this ”Road Trip in the USA” blog is just to share some fresh memories with our family and some friends. Blog is written in English and Finnish (depends on feelings which language selected).

There will be also some ”tips” for travelers whose have a dream to do something same. Tips will be written mainly after we are back at home.

Blog is written by Kimmo.

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OUR TRIP

Car Yes, Mum – I needed to add this data first! So, she is…

• Dodge Challenger R/T
• Toxic Orange color w/black stripes
• 372HP 5.7L V8 HEMI engine
• 5-speed auto trans
• Performance four-wheel disc brakes
• 20″ polished aluminum wheels
• Dark gray leather seats
• 276-Watt Boston Acoustics 7-speaker sound system.

Our car is from Hertz’s adrenaline collection.

Schedule August 19 … September 18, 2015

Route Start and end point in L.A. California – Circle route from west to east and back – Going first to the northern States and back from Southern route. Our targets have been marked with yellow stars (see map below).

Many places to go and see now we’ve been there before (but about 25 years ago!). Definitely plenty of new areas and cities are there on the route too, especially in the East. Our plan was done quite detailed in advance (as very typical for us) but we left possibilities for day by day re-planning too. Many hotels we booked already but those can be cancelled if needed/ wanted and front tires in the car are ”turnable”.

 

Travelers We are ”Kimmo” and ”Heka” from Helsinki, Finland. We are twins that have an independent life BUT our paths have been going to the same direction and on same time zone (Schools, military service, UN mission in Lebanon, jobs, interests, etc.). When we had an idea to do a road trip in the USA, we very quickly realized, it’s guaranteed…there are not any others whose can have a commitment to do trip like we are planning to do (see theme explained below).

Theme of the trip ”Vanishing point”

For our family members we’d like to make it clear. This is not a real ”vanishing point” for us but it’s a point to stop for a while to go through our life so far and think a bit how to continue. *So…we are not going to drive like crazy (even we have HEMI with her almost 400 horses), we don’t take any drugs (except couple of American thin beers), we don’t have (for sure) any conflicts with local police and especially we are not going to hit a caterpillar at the end of the trip.

*) Anna, Linda, Otto, Julia, Janita – watch the movie!

The Trip will include…

…A lot of asphalt – 8500mi (13700km) – Means, time enough on the road to have a dialog and inside jokes. We also see those 8500 miles as a sporty challenge.

…A lot of  fitness training – hiking in the national parks (partly we run there!), sightseeing running (means we run in the cities), gym (when ever possible).

…A lot of photographing – I think we are typical husbands/ fathers, means we are always on the other side of lens. So, there are not many photos as ”daddy included”. This time it’s differently. I think, it’s good to have some memories for kids too.

Anna, Linda, Otto, Julia, Janita – we promise, we’ll try to learn a ”Selfie world” too!

…Live American music – Hopefully we have chance to see some local live country, blues and rock bands.

…Chance to win a high altitude fear – This is just for Kimmo who has a slight fear. Anyhow, my challenges will be ”Half Dome” in Yosemite and ”Angels landing” in Zion National Park.

…Lots of American amusement parks – A&L&O&J&J, this is a joke for you. It’s guaranteed, we avoid all kind of amusement parks as ”plague” (rutto)!!!