Backroad Odyssey : Travel Stories, Van Life & Road Trip Oddities

Today, we explore a region shrouded in mystery … An isolated land of rugged hills, carved river valleys, and secluded relics of ages past. The American Midwest. Specifically, a region untouched by the many terraforming glaciers that flattened much of what we now refer to as the Upper Midwest. What we find might surprise you... Recording Locations: Maquoketa Caves State Parkhttps://www.iowadnr.gov/places-go/state-parks/all-parks/maquoketa-caves-state-pa...

What is the REAL story of Iowa? Nestled among the limestone bluffs along the Mississippi River, we unearth the curious origin of Iowa as told through the story of its first permanent European settler, Julien Dubuque. … What was Iowa like before statehood? How, when, and why did it become a state? Finally, WHY should you care? Noodles and I explore these questions (and much more!) as we delve into the surprising history of our home state. Safe travels!...

Noodles and I summit Lookout Mountain to explore the monumental conflict that occurred along its slopes. Why is the subsequently named "Battle Above the Clouds" overlooked? How is it significant in FULLY understanding the events of the American Civil War? Let's find out! Works Cited: https://www.jstor.org/stable/40575782?searchText=the+battle+of+chattanooga&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dthe%2Bbattle%2Bof%2Bchattanooga%26so%3Drel&ab_segments=...

What's a National Park City? My dog Noodles and I hike the trails of America's FIRST National Park City - Chattanooga, Tennessee - to find out! The answer might surprise you ... We'll also answer listener question at the end - which include: How would you rank the National Parks you've been to? Just listened to the Civil War series, how much research would you recommend doing before visiting Gettysburg? What area of the country is most "van-friendly?" ...

Today Noodles and I camp in the Haze of the Blue Ridge Mountains to answer the following questions: What are the blue ridge mountains? Why are they worth exploring? Why has this section of the country long been steeped in mystery, supernatural stories and the occasional strain of true crime. We also answer listener questions including: What place would you not revisit? What’s a funny story from the road? What makes van life worth it? Do you have a favorite Noo...

A singular stretch of untamed wilderness lines Calirfonia's Northern Coast. A landscape so rugged and dramatic that the state's infamous 'route one' avoids it's sheer cliffs and crashing waves. My dog Noodles and I spend three days along this coast - while there we hear a love story. - We answer listener questions at the end, which include: How do you know where you're going next? Does your van get messy?Was there anything that surprised you in researching Plymouth Ro...

Who is The Skunk Ape? Noodles and I take the van to visit Skunk Ape Headquarters deep in the Florida Everglades in search of answers. We’ll also be answering listener question at the end, which include: What do you listen to while driving? Do you ever take showers in your van?How long does it take you to visit a location?How do you avoid conversation bias on the show? Brief Works Cited: https://www.skunkape.info/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/trail-flor...

How much do we REALLY know about eclipses? My answer one year ago would have been - not much. - To amend this, my dog and I witness a total solar eclipse and - nearly a year later - a lunar eclipse in Southern Florida. We use each experience to explore the profound cultural, historical and scientific significance of eclipses. Sit back, relax and join our venture into cosmic happenings well beyond the walls of our small van ... Listener questions at the end of the episode include:&nbsp...