2012 JK-Experience Heartland Tour : The Journey Out

[wayoflife]

Born and raised in Southern California, our idea of off-roading has always been about big rocks, wide open desert and alpine forests. Of course, there is really is a so much more to off-roading than just that and, thanks to the Off Road Evolution JK-Experience, presented by Nitto Tire, we got a chance to see how those who live east of the Rockies play. Starting in the town of Terre Haute, Indiana, our 1,100 mile adventure would take us up through the state of Ohio and end all the way up at the Canadian border on Michigan's beautiful, Drummond Island.

Here are some pics of our journey out to the starting point in Indiana and pics from each day of our trip will be posted up this week. I hope you enjoy

The Journey Out - Destination Terre Haute, IN
All stickered and ready to head out to the starting point of the 2012 JK-Experience in Terre Haute, IN approximately 2,000 miles away...


Ironic that the heartland had been suffering one of the worst droughts in years and yet, when it came time for us to head out there, Hurricane Isaac decided to roll in too...


Making our way out to Vegas to drop off Tessa with the inlaws...


Pulling over to take one last shot in the dry and wide open Californian Desert...


Goodbye California, hello Nevada!!


Time for a cold one before turning in for the night - CHEERS!!


Day 1 - Vegas to Albuquerque
GOOD MORNING!! Say hello to Carl and Mike, the very first JKX participants we met along the way and would be caravanning out with us to Indiana...


Picking up some last minute supplies before hitting the road...


Goodbye Nevada - Hello Arizona!!


Making a quick stop to check out the old Santa Land, a road side attraction along Highway 95 that was once popular back in the early 20th century...


Cruising through Kingman, AZ and getting our kicks on Old Route 66...


Heading into the storm...


HERE IT IS!!


Giddyup!! Or, is that - Hop to it? Carl having some fun on a Route 66 roadside rabbit...


Making a quick stop in Holbrook, AZ to take a pic next to the worlds biggest Route 66 Map...


And, to take a shot next to the Wigwam Village...


Goodbye Arizona - Hello New Mexico!!


Starting to see things - I think it's time to call it a night...


Day 2 - Albuquerque to Oklahoma City
Hopping off the Interstate to drive along one of the only stretches of Route 66 that is unpaved...


Cool old bridge along the way...


Goodbye New Mexico - Hello Texas...


Beautiful old iron that we found at a gas station just before heading into Texas...


Making a stop at the old First and Last Motel in Texas...


Just before getting back on the Interstate, we came across a family in distress and pulled over to lend a hand...


Fortunately, it's just a flat - one tire change coming right up...


Wouldn't you know it, the spare is flat - good thing we had a WARN PowerPlant...


Making the swap...


And were done - time to wrap things up...


Can't pull into Amarillo without a visit to the Cadillac Ranch...


Following tradition, Mike takes some time to tag one of the Cadillacs...


Of course, you can't pass through Amarillo without stopping for some grub over at the Big Texan - YUM!!


On the road again and passing by the leaning tower of Briton...


Crossed into Oklahoma and cruising through downtown Texola on Old Route 66...


Filler-up...


More pics to come...

[wayoflife]

Day 3 - Oklahoma City to St. Louis
Welcome to the land of tollroads...


Stopping to say hello to the Blue Whale of Catoosa...




Goodbye Oklahoma - Hello Kansas...


Crossing the last remaining Rainbow bridges you can still drive on Old Route 66...


Saying a quick hello to Mater in Galena, KS...


Crossing into Missouri...


Just had to make a stop over at the zombie station...


Calling it a night - CHEERS!!


Day 4: St. Louis to Terre Haute
A lovely morning in St. Louis - Where else would we have breakfast other than the Mud House...




A Mud Slinger - YUM!!


Time to go visit the gateway to the west... even though we're heading east...


Worlds largest wind chime anyone...


Hurray!! We finally made it!!




Looks like we're not the first to get here...


Say hello to JKX participants, Rhonda and Dave...


Here's Randy and Jonathan...


Alejandro and Melanie...


And here's Phill and Jeff...


Looks like it's time for some HONEY - CHEERS!!


Wrapping up the night with new friends and old...


Click on the link below to see more photos from our first day on the 2012 JK-Experience:

Day 1 - Check-In Photos

[RockIt Man]

I can't wait to one day join you in one of your inspiring adventures.

A question though, how do you find all of these neat things to check out along the way?

[JKRay]

Looks like a great time for the ride over, I bet it was fun driving In that storm!

[RockyJk]

Half the fun is getting there!

[wayoflife]

oh yeah, getting out to a destination is always a big part of the fun. this is probably the biggest reason why we would never want to trailer our jeep. there's just so much to see and do.

as far as how we find things, a lot of it is research and the rest is just looking around and saying "hey - let's check that out!!"