Landscapes and Skylines: Continental USA in 100 pictures or less
 

I've been sitting on these pics since last summer, when my band was fortunate enough to take part in a tour across the continental 48 states of America plus a quick jaunt up into Toronto.

It was a dizzying and highly positive three months on the road nonstop, seeing virtually every nook and cranny of the country. This includes both the glamorous stuff such as national parks and major skylines, as well as the more mundane side of American life such as random Walmart trips in the most random and unheralded of places.

Some notes:

--Since we were driving a big diesel RV, we got to know what it's like fueling up at the huge truck stops... places with the name of Pilot, Love's, Flying J, and how it feels to sit eye to eye with the big boy truckers, how it feels to sleep at truck stops, how it feels to shower at truck stops, etc etc.

--Being in a touring band that is, for instance, "playing Chicago tonight", you would think we'd get to enjoy the locale. But that usually doesn't happen since A) we had to be at the venue by 2pm for load-in/soundcheck and B) we were driving ourselves and oftentimes had a 6+ hour drive to get to the next city (means we either drive through the night and/or in the morning) and C) the venues a lot of times were not in a perfect downtown location so we couldn't just walk out the building and be in the thick of things. Maybe around dinnertime we'd be able to wander, but that usually was about it.

--And although the tour began in Washington State and ended in Vegas, we live in NYC so we had to make our way out there and then back. All told, we logged in roughly 26,000 miles in 80 days. I'll say it again: dizzying.

--All these pics plus a zillion more can be found in my Flickr album https://www.flickr.com/photos/276720...57673241261241

-----

OK we start the journey by making our way across the Great Plains, in this case somewhere along I-90 in South Dakota

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8366/2...2de1236a_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8617/2...6aac2414_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7547/2...f04b4cd3_b.jpg

Into Montana

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8115/2...32abc452_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5249/2...4e704275_b.jpg

Washington and Oregon along the Columbia River

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8344/2...f1cdf095_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8093/2...749a0c05_b.jpg

Oregon

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8198/2...942b2a62_b.jpg

Mount Shasta in CA

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8541/2...b7eb4b57_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8172/2...f33e7f42_b.jpg

Bay Area

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8205/2...2861b976_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8134/2...f0703e0b_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5090/2...7c726ddf_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8119/2...37323bb1_b.jpg

Carmel

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5755/2...759c2c1b_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5444/2...67fb59c4_b.jpg

San Luis Reservoir in Merced County drawn down due to drought

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8495/2...93d833c1_b.jpg

Santa Barbara

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8231/2...d3c2aaa9_b.jpg

not Santa Barbara

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8010/2...36466f9f_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8570/2...93e2b124_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8425/2...25886e13_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8061/2...53d2349a_b.jpg

Arizona

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5336/2...da9e1299_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5562/2...8d4333ed_b.jpg

Albuquerque

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8553/2...5974a451_b.jpg

Colorado plains

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8366/2...5c3d8d2c_b.jpg

Omaha

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8557/2...abf1f78f_b.jpg

not Omaha

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8198/2...7eb384e3_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8140/2...aab3ed79_b.jpg

Wisconsin

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8283/2...b8c75300_b.jpg

Duluth, MN

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8512/2...80bb46c2_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8626/2...04263438_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5321/2...626aea54_b.jpg

Nashville... witnessed a dude loudly drop the "N" word in a restaurant and then immediately get floored. Good times!

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7774/2...c4d7a420_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5270/2...219f3dfe_b.jpg

Indy

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8665/2...c2566bf3_b.jpg

Detroit

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5294/2...54c1fced_b.jpg

Toronto

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5025/3...b7cb890e_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5781/3...7b280775_b.jpg

MURICA

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8149/2...2341d4fc_b.jpg

Cleveland

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5814/2...64c87d26_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8807/2...0e16236a_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5578/3...f16ae7f0_b.jpg

Jones Beach NYC

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8649/2...f8bab41d_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8094/2...a345c388_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8271/2...3aee4765_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8535/2...80c495d4_b.jpg

Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5602/2...d89cfd4b_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8705/2...771e6a3b_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8539/2...3cb3ce92_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5585/3...0ce09ea9_b.jpg

Bawstin

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8592/2...93daa2f2_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8155/2...d9190ca5_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8288/2...6aa3cc95_b.jpg

Portland, Maine

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5028/2...ebf5be02_b.jpg

In the Jersey pines... that's our rig on the left

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5131/3...3460846b_b.jpg

Philly

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5723/3...f74c8ca3_b.jpg

Golden hour in a DC area park

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8768/2...143e1e70_b.jpg

Detour to Cape Cod for a wedding

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5012/2...a9fd955a_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8761/2...7799d9e4_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5255/3...deb5064b_b.jpg

And then a drive straight down I-95 to Florida

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8129/2...e829c388_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8542/2...5bf2f3dc_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7503/2...706c6c77_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7703/2...9da82ac5_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8164/2...6845d1da_b.jpg

ATL

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8702/2...6de11b35_b.jpg

Arkansas Ozarks

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7505/3...71c4a621_b.jpg

San Antonio... first time here and I gotta say I was impressed

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8420/2...b3b49661_b.jpg

Good ol' Austin

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5264/3...a1133a96_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8029/3...72348741_b.jpg

West Texas

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5779/2...38bae014_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5179/2...cd1184a3_b.jpg

Colorado again

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5509/2...f23588ae_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8275/2...4e4dd74d_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5076/3...c72fe92f_b.jpg

I'm so incredibly fortunate to be able to say I have now performed at Red Rocks... a huge honor

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5130/2...5c609a23_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8759/2...436bf5ae_b.jpg

The vast nothingness of Wyoming via I-80

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8796/3...f601e883_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5177/2...c44bea86_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8723/3...fc5774d3_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5339/3...ecdfba6b_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8134/3...c5b84747_b.jpg

Utah approaching SLC

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5785/3...c77b398b_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8729/2...ee2a05c6_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8139/3...b1d11cce_b.jpg

Utah heading for Vegas via I-15

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8072/3...12764a90_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5187/3...344a3aa4_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7547/2...4ac970db_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5811/2...e927e85f_b.jpg

Nevada

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8539/2...0cff7d6f_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5834/2...fcea4c71_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8729/2...2e7ff9f4_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8647/3...1af6ae3a_b.jpg

Sin City

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5028/3...6d1965df_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5128/3...82c15bbc_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8129/3...bb8c96dc_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5770/2...dc80772e_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5832/2...3d008891_b.jpg

Last show of the tour :slob:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5548/2...76b59e5b_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5052/2...1ecd8ccb_b.jpg

And driving back from fucking Vegas to fucking NYC

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8677/2...cec85f54_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8127/2...7fca970f_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5634/2...2983f10d_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8267/2...e4082039_b.jpg

St George, UT

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5336/3...d6f6e12e_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8652/3...0518f481_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5704/3...611af444_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5517/2...b8cd7a1a_b.jpg

Colorado Rockies

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5709/2...0e200ac9_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5680/3...9d850865_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5486/2...0951f94a_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5520/2...d798ba9d_b.jpg

Back through the Plains one more time

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5501/2...c2b0f2e6_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8547/3...7b25d6ed_b.jpg

And finally the last picture, we practically lived here. When you're driving a 13 ton diesel vehicle you don't have a ton of options on where you can fuel up, let alone park the behemoth's fat ass

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5818/3...397b3687_b.jpg

Welp I hope you enjoyed. And once again: if this wasn't already way too many photos then feel free to check out the full album on Flickr :cheers:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/276720...57673241261241

That was awesome. Congrats on the tour and thanks so much for sharing! Montana looks really beautiful... gotta get up to that part of the country at some point. Cheers from not Santa Barbara :cheers:

Wonderful photos...what a fantastic experience! It's too bad everyone doesn't have the opportunity to road trip across the country and see how incredible it is.

I'm literally emailing the link to friends and family. lol That was amazing!

Wow that was a great tour!

Living the dream. Epic thread!

So cool!!

I love road trips! Beautiful!

Gotta admit you are really an atmosphere agitator, not only read the title turned me on but also made me high enough to spare myself for minutes.

Wait a minute touring across America with only one stop in Toronto...is it H.I.M's farewell tour 2017?

beyond epic. thanks for these pics!

Great pictures! Sometimes these pictures from the scenery along the highway are the best. It's America unfiltered: no great places to get a picture, no obscure place that is hard to get to, nothing hidden for some that isn't for others. I loved our pictures of the scenery out west!

What band are you in, if you care to tell us?

Spectacular!

Amazing thread - you criss-crossed the continent AND took a photo on my block! :cheers:

Incredible! Thanks so much.

Wow, super interesting, thanks!

That's your band, right? :notacrook:

Enjoyed the photos of this road trip very much. Thanks!

Beautiful. And there's just nothing like the American West, with its wide open spaces with mountains visible all around.

Sweet photo tour!

Glad people appreciate all these shots!

Hey there, so my band is Tribe Society, I'm the drummer in the band, and we are thus far best known for the song Kings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RbGZZnUR3g

Also, there's plenty of videos of us from on this tour, which was opening up for Collective Soul and the Goo Goo Dolls. Here's a halfway decent one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI11aNmD_HY

:cheers: