The Joy of Traveling by Car!!!!!!
I hate flying, I hate airports, and I hate dealing with the TSA, and packing for weight and bulk and size…. solution! Drive yourself! There is something about seeing America at 60 mph as you drive through it, versus being at 40,000 feet above it, at 550 mph!!! It’s the people, the places, the weather, the fresh air, being able to take all the photo gear you want, a cooler full of ice, your favorite foods, and the clothes, you may not need, but what the heck, there’s room!!! A good book on CD, maybe some Ricky Skaggs tearing up the Mandolin, or light Jazz, wow, gonna be nice! Finally got my iPhone 6 and so I’m good to go with bluetooth in the new ride.
Over the coming three weeks I promise to try and blog every day, and share where I am, and what I’m seeing, and photographing. The subject matter on this trip will vary widely! Americana along Route 66 in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. The wonderful Nelson Ghost town near Henderson, NV (near Las Vegas), more Americana and antiques there!!! My favorite National Parks, Arches and Canyonlands in Utah. Spectacular vista like nothing else in the national park system! Can’t wait!
What gear for this trip?
Since I had the room I brought my Guru Gear Bataflae 18L loaded with:
2 Fuji X-T1 bodies (one with the Battery Grip)
8mm f 2.8 Rokinon Fisheye (12mm equivalent)
10-24 f 4 Fuji wide angle zoom (15-36 equivalent)
14mm f 2.8 Fuji wide angle lens (21 equivalent)
23mm f 1.4 Fuji wide angle lens (35mm equivalent)
18-55 f 2.8/f4 Fuji mid range zoom (28-85 equivalent)
18-135 f 3.5/f5.6 Fuji Super zoom (28-200 equivalent)
56mm f 1.2 Fuji telephoto lens (85 equivalent)
60mm f 2.4 Fuji Micro lens (with three Fuji Ext tubes) (90 equivalent)
50-140 f 2.8 Fuji telephoto zoom ( 75-210 equivalent)
Nikkor 300mm f 4.5 IF-ED manual focus lens with Fuji adapter (450 equivalent)
1 Fuji X100T (In an extra 5XB Dome bag with chargers and spare batteries)
8 extra batteries for X-T1s
5 extra batteries for X100T
Two chargers for each camera type.
Cleaning supplies
Polarizers (Singh Ray) for all lenses except the Fisheye
Really Right Stuff TVC-33 Versa Series 3 Tripod
Really right Stuff BH-55 LR ball head
Apple Mini iPad for operating remote shooting App from Fuji
The Guru Gear is a trunk bag, to be worked out of, When walking away from the car, I have both a Dome Vest and a Think Tank belt system, depending on how much I will be carrying.
I leave in the morning for Peoria, I’m ready and prepared, but please pray that I give them a great talk and seminar! I’m happy to be brought in for them, and I want it to be a great experience for them!!!
I’m really looking forward to a couple of weeks with Jack out west, shooting and having fellowship with my dear friend, and killer shooter! I always shoot better when Jack and I teach together, he makes me get to the top of my game! Jim Begley has the same affect on me, run around with great shooters and it will elevate y our game too!!!
Stay tuned and come along with me!
Blessings,
the pilgrim
Visit my bookstore!
This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 11th, 2015 at 1:41 pm
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Best of luck on your road trip. Looking forward to seeing some great images from you.
In 2013 my wife, our golden retriever, and I drove across country from Maine on a month long trip to visit our national parks. All was good until the government shut down on October 1st and didn’t reopen until we were at the Grand Canyon. Hope nothing happens to close down Route 66.
Drive safely!
Sorry that happened to you, I was in Northern Ohio when it happened and we were denied access to
Cuyahoga National Park! We were able to enter one section so not all was lost! Stay tuned I hope to share a lot work over the next few weeks!
See you at Nelson. I envy your journey there.
Jerry & Bessie
Looking forward to seignior Jerry and Bessie too!! I hope to have some shots to share while we are there!
I’m with you Bill, I always choose driving over flying, except Alaska, that was a bit to long. 🙂
Mike, it would be great to have you along, I go to your blog often and continue to be amazed by your incredible work! I’m a fan and a friend!
Have fun Bill. Will say a prayer for a safe and memorable trip!
Thanks Rodney I appreciate your good wishes and especially your prayers!!
Excited to have you in Peoria! Safe travels, see you on Saturday.
I’m excited to be with you folks, please come up and introduce yourself to me Marie!!
Have a safe trip and blob when you can. A few missed days just means more material for later.
That should be blog not blob. I must proofread more carefully.
I’ll do both, blog and blob!
Looking forward to your journal. Safe travels. Hope the road guide helps.
And what’s with Mr. America at 500 Feet hating flying???
Hey Dick, thanks so much, the book came with no indication of who bought it for me! I’ve worried that I hadn’t properly thanked the giver!!! What a kind gesture, and what a great book! It will set in the passengers seat next to me! Thank you again!
It probably goes without saying, but watch for critters, especially in AZ. They come out of nowhere. Also if you have to travel any at night stay alert (it is the desert out there). Lastly my friend, find you a stretch of desert with NO lights around, note where the train track is. There is nothing more peaceful than a train running through the pitch black desert . All you see are the lights, a faint shadow of the train and NO sound. (I promise it will top off your day) ! Stay safe buddy !
Thanks Jimmy, your knowledge and wisdom will make this a great trip!!!
Safe travels Bill. Say hi to Jack for me. Enjoy Nelson, it was great last year!
It was, look forward to seeing you later!
I would love to take a road trip like that. Have a wonderful and safe trip, Bill.
You’ll get the chance next year! Thesis theatrical run!!
I am packing for Nelson and have a couple of questions. Why do you pack both the 18-55 and the 18-135? What ext. tubes do you have to get the 60 mm to a 90 mm?
Jerry R
Jerry,
The 60 mm is an equiv. 90mm because of the APS-C sensors 1.5 factor.
I have two of the Fuji 16 mm tubes and one 12mm, even though they say you can’t stack them, you can!
18-135 & the 18-55? Why both! The 18-55 is compact and sharp and faster, so it’s easy to throw in. The 18-135 is only very, very slightly less sharp ( an insignificant difference to me). And is really convient as a one lens system, and I love the Weather Resistant qualities! Both are great!
Boys and their toys…….
Well, if I would read your wisdom with great care, I would have noticed that you gave the FF Equivalent on all of the lenses. They say IQ drops with age after 25 or 30 or so, mine is dropping fast. Thanks for your patient and polite clarification.
See you in a few days,
Jerry
No sweat!!!!!