Old Highway Notes

Down The Mississippi Part 1: Minnesota, Clearwater County: Headwaters of Mississippi at Itasca State Park to Coffee Pot Landing

2020-09-20T15:49:00.320-07:00

Not all highways are on land. Some are on water. The Mississippi River is one. A ribbon of water that begins in the Great Lakes region. It runs a course through ten states. Draining into the Gulf Of Mexico. 2320 miles of watershed. 

This river is a very Old Highway. Native Americans traveled its course since at least 500 BC. Today we travel from its headwaters.   

The headwaters of the Mississippi are in Clearwater County. Minnesota. Sprouting from Lake Itasca, the mighty river begins as a stream. The shallow water  passable in only canoe or kayak. Tourists at the headlands walk with ease across the shallow creek bed. 

The Mississippi River passes the Itasca State Park visitor center.  We stop to explore Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center.

Back on the river. Here we scrape along a shallow stream. The trickling river meanders through park lands. At Coffee Pot Landing the river leaves Clearwater County.

Headwaters of Mississippi at Itasca State Park

1970's Headwaters Postcard

Part 1

A Mississippi River Journey—Headwaters to Delta—in five minutes CGEEmultimedia 4:58
Mississippi Headwaters; Itasca State Park MN Prairie Public 2:46
Where Does The Mississippi River Begin? Lake Itasca, MN 4K video Larry Richardson 1:56
Lake Itasca, Minnesota-Mississippi Headwaters the david rush travel show 8:14
Mississippi Headwaters Itasca State Park MN MarkTheLostTraveler 6:39
Lake Itasca - headwaters of the Mississippi River in Minnesota myveryownvideos 4:09
4k Mississippi Headwaters Lake Itasca in Minnesota Chris Boats 6:43
The source of the MIssissippi River from Lake Itasca, Minnesota Mike Jackson 0:25
Lake Itasca Headwaters of the Mississippi daylightintheswamp 8:00

Part 2

Headwaters - Mississippi River (Ep.1) Peter Bragiel 5:43
Mississippi Headwaters / Sioux Falls, SD / The ugly side of RV Living Embracing Detours 18:17
Boating at Lake Itasca State Park (Sept 15, 2019) Phoebe Snow 1:00
boating on Lake Itasca.MOV Robert Edgell 0:23
Ice Cutting Demonstration on Lake Itasca 2/10/18 Deborah Mattson 2:12
Walking across the Mississippi River at its source, outlet of Lake Itasca in MN. artfd 1:02
MISSISSIPPI HEADWATERS - ITASCA STATE PARK, MN | Mayumi’s Diary Mayumi's Diary ??? 3:49
Itasca State Park Mississippi Headwaters Our National Adventure 7:14

Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center

Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center Itasca Minnesota

Itasca State Park, Park Rapids Minnesota TullyTubeNetwork 0:58
Itasca State Park, Minnesota - Mississippi Headwaters Center CampsiteReports 1:05
Mary Gibbs: Heroine of Itasca State Park Prairie Public 6:04

Coffee Pot Landing

Coffee Pot Landing

Kayak Camping the Mississippi Headwaters Ep. 1 Itasca to Coffee Pot Landing escape with jay 29:40
Itasca State Park to Coffee Pot Landing Minnesota State Parks and Trails 1:25
Video of Coffee Pot Landing, MN from Janet R. The Dyrt 4:46
Video of Coffee Pot Landing, MN from Janet R. The Dyrt 4:55

Mileage Stats

Route 66: 1/4 Mile/1 State/1097 Tracks/394 Videos/43 Posts

Highway 101: 25 Miles/2 Countries/1 State/702 Tracks/418 Videos/33 Posts

Interstate 95: 219 Miles/1 State/149 Tracks/201 Videos/20 Posts

Pan American Highway: 184 Miles/1 Nation/1 State/21 Videos/1 Post

Trans-Canadian Highway: 14 Miles/1 Province/1 District/35 Videos/1 Post

Lincoln Highway: 0 Miles/0 States/0 Counties/33 Videos/1 Post

Alcan Highway: 0 Miles/0 States/0 Counties/10 Videos/1 Post

Down The Mississippi: 15.4 Miles/1 States/1 Counties/24 Videos/1 Post

And Now A Word From Our Sponsor...

If you like what you have read here I'd like to ask you a favor. If you purchase any item on Amazon after you link to them in the Amazon banner below, I will get a little something from them. It doesn't cost you any extra and I cannot see what you have purchased.
With your help, I can keep the show on the road for you.

You Can Give me a Karma Donation Via PayPal

Keep Traveling!

To read more Old Highway Notes, choose an off ramp and click on the highway sign:

Vista Points

Be social, Get more info, View our YouTube playlist and more

Creating The Alcan Highway

2020-06-28T11:05:00.004-07:00

The Alcan Highway, also known as the Alaska Highway, has long had a reputation among roads. It is famous for being one of the most remote and rugged major highways in North America.

The Alaska Highway begins in Dawson Creek, British Columbia. It runs 1387 miles (2232 km) through the British Columbian Canadian Rockies. It goes through Whitehorse, and Yukon Territories. Ending in Delta Junction, Alaska, outside of Fairbanks.

In early 1942, America was mobilizing after Japan had recently attacked Pearl Harbor. Japans was active off of the US West Coast. Threats to the Aleutian Islands were obvious. The was a need for an inland route to Alaska from the lower 48. A highway could transport supplies, men and equipment to Alaska.

In the 1920's a proposal were made for a highway. It would connect Central British Columbia with the Yukon Territory and Alaska. Cost and lack of serviced communities had prevented its construction. The plan was introduced several times without success. The war caused the highway to be approved.

Alaska Highway Proposed Route 1938

The United States was anxious to address the supply chain issues. They offered to build pay and provide labor to build the highway. America would use it during the war. After the war, Canada was then to take over. The segment of the highway that passed through Canada was to be Canadian. Operations and maintenance expenses belonging to Canada. The Canadians agreed. Construction began in March 9, 1942.

The route connected airports found along the Northwest Staging Route. This was a network of airstrips built at the same time as the highway. The air bases were to transport planes to the Soviet Union, our ally at the time. The Staging Route never was used to supply the Soviets. It did provide stations for equipment to be flown in. This was helpful when building the highway.

Conditions were extreme. It was difficult for road building. There was Sub Arctic weather and heavy forests. Water was everywhere. Many lakes and rivers needed a bypass or forging. Large areas of permafrost created unique challenges. There was plenty of wildlife, especially bears.

Building The Highway

Building was in a dangerous environment. The job was almost always menial labor using shovels and axes. There is an obvious example of Army racism tied to the highway. The Army sent three of its new formed "Negro Regiments" to weather the extreme conditions. The heavy lifting of the remote and challenging project done by them.

When construction began that winter in 1942, the ground was frozen hard. The troops made fast progress. They worked with hand tools and light bulldozers. Slowly the troops scratched a path through the wilderness. At river crossings, pontoon bridges served until more permanent structures were built.

The troops had no experience building on permafrost. Some of the early road failed. As warmer weather hit the road exposed now thawing frozen areas. The sunlight was actually melting the ground the highway was built on. The roadbed in places sank into a swampy murk.

Solving this problem, a technique was adopted. New felled trees were placed down across the roadbed. They made a sort of corrugated cover to the permafrost. Several layers would be added. The logs to sank into the swampy earth. More layers would settle into a surface solid enough to overlay with gravel.

The workers had no pipeline to supply fuel for the heavy equipment. Fuel was airlifted to the site in 55 gallon oil cans. Many empty cans littered the construction sites. The road was jokingly called the Oilcan Highway by some.

An amazing display of urgency, the highway was completed in only 9 months. It was almost 1400 miles of rough, yet passable roadway. Teams from both working from both ends of the highway project met at Soldiers Summit on October 28th. A November 21 radio program aired of the grand opening ceremony. It was not until 1943 that the Alaska Highway was usable for general vehicles.

Cpl. Refines Sims Jr., left, and Pvt. Alfred Jalufkamet from the US Army Corps of Engineers meeting in the middle after completing construction of the Alaska Highway

After the Allies won World War II, the Canadian Segment of highway returned to Canada in 1946. It wasn't until 1960 that the US portions were paved. The Canadian government took longer. They determined that the area served by the highway was too remote. It would cost to much to pave the gravel highway. It was not until the late 1980s that Canada completed paving of their part of highway.

Annual construction projects continue to this day. The highway requires constant repaving. Damage from winter storms and frost heaving take their toll every year. Bridges wash out. Things get damaged. Realignments are constant. Improving on the original quick, and sometimes poorly chosen routes.

The highways reputation for rugged scenic beauty has made it a bucket list drive for many RVers. On the Alcan, the guidebook of choice is an annual called The MILEPOST®. The guide lists the current status of services and general highway conditions. Even in a digital era, this paper guidebook is a must for those making the trip.

Alcan Highway Construction Map

Videos

1.Building The Alaskan Highway - National Geographic (The Alcan) Documentary and Film 44:47
2.Alaskan Highway documentary Sherway Academy of Music 58:18
3.The ALASKA HIGHWAY - Yukon Travel Documentary Lucas T. Jahn 9:24
4.Road Religion: Yukon and the Alaska/Alcan Highway Documentary Linescrew1 39:51
5.THE ALASKA HIGHWAY (IN 4K!) & Solving Keep Your Daydream's Riddle TIM and FIN 12:41
6.10 TIPS for traveling the Alaska Canada Highway (Alcan) Wild Faith 14:49
7.RVING THE ALASKA HIGHWAY (EASIER THAN WE THOUGHT) Keep Your Daydream 22:33
8.The Alaska Highway // 8 Things to do on the Drive to Alaska Nomads with a Purpose: Adventure Travel Family 15:02
9.THE ALASKA HIGHWAY // Hasta Alaska // S04E13 Kombi Life 21:24
10.??"Secrets of the Alaska Highway" (or How to Take Your RV to Alaska and Live to Tell the Tale!) ?? Long Long Honeymoon 13:43

Mileage Stats

Route 66: 1/4 Mile/1 State/1097 Tracks/394 Videos/43 Posts

Highway 101: 25 Miles/2 Countries/1 State/702 Tracks/418 Videos/33 Posts

Interstate 95: 219 Miles/1 State/149 Tracks/201 Videos/20 Posts

Pan American Highway: 184 Miles/1 Nation/1 State/21 Videos/1 Post

Trans-Canadian Highway: 14 Miles/1 Province/1 District/35 Videos/1 Post

Lincoln Highway: 0 Miles/0 States/0 Counties/33 Videos/1 Post

Alcan Highway: 0 Miles/0 States/0 Counties/10 Videos/1 Post

And Now A Word From Our Sponsor...

You Can Give me a Karma Donation Via PayPal

Keep Traveling!

To read more Old Highway Notes, choose an off ramp and click on the highway sign:

Vista Points

Be social, Get more info, View our YouTube playlist and more

Lincoln Highway Notes 1914-1940

2020-03-22T15:53:00.000-07:00

It was 1914. Cars had been around for a few years. Lately they had become a national craze. Henry Ford began producing the Model T in 1908. This made car ownership a reality for hundreds of thousands of Americans.

People loved the new cars, but there was a problem. The roads were awful. Larger cities had paved sections. A few early paved connector roads between cities existed. People wanted to use there cars to explore the country outside of the cities. That became difficult when the pavement ended.

Motorists in those early days in rural areas had to contend with muddy roads and deep wagon ruts. Railroad bridges were sometimes the only available river crossings. Horses still using the old dirt roads would get spooked by the automobiles. It was a difficult and often dangerous situation. Something needed to change.

1909 New York to Seattle Road Race Britannica

Groups of early automotive boosters organized themselves. Their goal: establishing a paved road linking the east and west coast of the United States. They urged Congress to oppropriate funding for a national highway. They argued benefits to shipping. More important, the mobility of US troops within the nation would improve. The benefits to the average citizen were also stressed. Congress approved the Lincoln Highway. Construction began.

Opening in 1914, the highway was not one paved route throughout the country. It was a network of existing paved roads. New paving now connected these pre-existing roads. Together they would form one long, paved Lincoln Highway.

Lincoln Highway near Pennsylvania Tunnel-September 1922 Wikipedia

The Lincoln Highway was America's first national highway. The road was legendary long before Route 66 gained its infamy. This highway was at the birth of our modern road trip culture. It saw the rise of motor touring and the development of the car camp. Those old car camps sometimes added cabins and the motel was born.

Old Highway Notes asks you to join us. We will explore the Lincoln Highway in our usual style. A handpicked blend of YouTube video clips and music with a touch of history and tourism.

Flickr (Lydia Darnell)

Before we hit the road here are some songs about cars from the Golden age of the highway 1914-1940.

1 In My Merry Oldsmobile Billy Murray 3:01
2 He'd Have To Get Out And Get Under (To Fix Up His Automobile) Billy Murray 3:19
3 The Little Ford Rambled Right Along Billy Murray 2:21
4 Uncle Josh Buys An Automobile Cal Stewart 3:17
5 I'm Wild About Horns On Automobiles Jack Dalton and The 7 Blue Babies 5:09
6 Steppin' On The Gas Sam Morgan's Jazz Band 3:23
7 Get 'Em In A Rumble Seat Billy Jones & Ernest Hare 3:28
8 Henry's Made A Lady Out Of Lizzie Clicquot Club Eskimos 2:40
9 The Chevrolet Six Frank Hutchison 3:10
10 A Race Between a Ford and a Chevrolet Oscar Ford 3:20
11 Henry Ford Blues Roosevelt Sykes 3:11
12 Chevrolet Car Sam McGee 3:11
13 Car Song Woody Guthrie 1:53
14 Hard Travelin' Woody Guthrie 2:40
15 This Land Is Your Land Woody Guthrie 4:31
16 Lost Highway Hank Williams 3:13
17 Terraplane Blues Robert Johnson 3:02
18 My Little Machine Sonny Boy Williamson I 3:03
19 Mean Old Highway Sonny Boy Williamson I 3:25
20 Hard Driving Blues Amos Milburn 2:43

Here is a bonus I found.

An American Songline: A Musical Journey Along the Lincoln Highway
Cecelia Otto

1 It's a Long Way to California 3:49
2 Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life 1:22
3 Second Hand Rose 0:42
4 Beautiful Ohio 2:30
5 [Preparing for The] Lincoln Way 5:40
6 Along the Way 6:34
7 Goin' Home 5:03
8 In My Merry Oldsmobile 3:10
9 Let Me Stray 3:02
10 I Always Wear My Amber Shades (Even On a Cloudy Day) 3:23
11 Out Where the West Begins 1:49
12 I'm Always Chasing Rainbows 3:13
13 Land Of Lincoln 2:53

Mileage Stats

Route 66: 1/4 Mile/1 State/1097 Tracks/394 Videos/43 Posts

Highway 101: 25 Miles/2 Countries/1 State/702 Tracks/418 Videos/33 Posts

Interstate 95: 219 Miles/1 State/149 Tracks/201 Videos/20 Posts

Pan American Highway: 184 Miles/1 Nation/1 State/21 Videos/1 Post

Trans-Canadian Highway: 14 Miles/1 Province/1 District/35 Videos/1 Post

Lincoln Highway: 0 Miles/0 States/0 Counties/33 Videos/1 Post

And Now A Word From Our Sponsor...

You Can Give me a Karma Donation Via PayPal

Keep Traveling!

To read more Old Highway Notes, choose an off ramp and click on the highway sign:

Vista Points

Be social, Get more info, View our YouTube playlist and more