beckyrepp

We were traveling in Northern Maine two weeks ago- the colors were just starting to turn. Farmers along the two-lanes were selling fresh Maple Syrup (of course we had to buy some). We traveled to Michigan via some two-lanes in Quebec and Ontario - 50% of the trees were already turning. . . spectacular - especially the view from the top of some of the hills (with 13% grade!).

Regarding the concern about this Forum being affected by economic downturn, I'm not sure that I agree with that. That is certainly not reflected in our website statistics. They have continued to climb despite soaring gas prices. (I gave the monthly average of our website stats in a previous post. And only two months ago, the page views/impression average was over 100,000 less. Website growth has been outstanding.). Our subscriptions have also continued to grow. I've been receiving phone calls from individuals eager for their next issue of American Road stating "With gas prices the way they are, I REALLY look forward to my copy of American Road for unique and fun ideas to plan our next trip." American Road (and this Forum), inherently, provides affordable vacation ideas. One individual even told me that he thinks "American Road is the every man's magazine." His reason, he said it's because the trip ideas in American Road are actually attainable by most people--unlike those in luxury travel publications.

Hi Gang, I've been reviewing all the posts in this thread. I've not formulated any plans. But, I have some information to share: First, a few FYI items: 1) We invite all new subscribers to the magazine who have email addresses to join the American Road Forum. Here is the invitation language: Be sure to check out the AMERICAN ROAD FORUM. Joining the group is free and its a great opportunity to share stories with fellow roadies. The new FORUM even allows you to send e-cards to friends and family so you can share your vacation pictures while you are on the road! The link to sign up for the group may be found on our website at www.americanroadmagazine.com. If you have recommendations to modify the language, please send me a PM or email me at becky@americanroadmagazine.com 2) Those individuals who do not have email addresses receive a postcard inviting them to visit americanroadmagazine.com and check out the Forum. 3) I attempt to include a mention in the Forum in every e-newsletter that we send. I'm going to share some info that I found when doing a bit of research about how American Road's Forum compares to other Forums: 1) There is a magazine (initials AH). It has sizable distribution (reportedly hundreds of thousands of subscribers). They, too, have a Forum. Here is the data: they have 19757 registered users on their Forum who have only posted only 1130 times. I couldn't get an exact start date from their site - but, it looks like they have been around since at least May 6, 2006. 2) Another group (an e-group) about an historic highway that I recently visited indicated that they have just over 300 members since January of 2007. I could not figure out how to get posting data. To me, based upon the above two Forums, our activity looks great. However, that does not indicate that we should stop striving to improve. I took a look at our Forum statistics (a quick glance) and it appears that roughly 116-120 different members have posted since January 1, 08 (between 9 - 10%). Re: our website statistics, the six month average: 6 month average as of Oct 1: Uniques: 52,669/month Page Impressions/Views: 613,727/month Hits: 1,151,839 Our Forum does get pulled up frequently by Google News. I automatically receive messages from Google News on subjects pertaining to "road trips" and "American Road" and the Forum makes that news at least 3x per week (if not more). I can tell you that the Forum is one of the most popular sections of our website to visit. In order, the top six most popular pages according to Google Analytics are: the Home page the Forums the Calendar page the Sweepstakes page the Road News page the Road Trip Itinerary page I'm not sure how to find this data - but, it would be interesting to learn how many people simply visit the forum each day. I believe that, too, would be a measure of success. I will see what I can learn with respect to this information. A few thoughts: 1) If you belong to other Forum's features do you like about that Forum that we might be able to accommodate on the American Road Forum? Are there Forums who have more than 9-10% of their Forum members posting. If so, what are they doing differently? 2) I believe someone said that they personally invite other people to join the Forum - this is absolutely wonderful and we thank you for doing so. This is perhaps one of the best ways to encourage growth on the American Road Forum. 3) I wonder if the ongoing political elections and recent economic developments have monopolized everyone's time. It will be interesting to see what happens after election day. I look forward to hearing additional thoughts and ideas as to ways we can continue to meet the needs and interests of Forum Members, American Road readers, and the large community of individuals interested in traveling North America's back roads. Becky

Pat, I'm speechless. Thank you. I remember that day at the Springfield Festival very well. I agree with you wholeheartedly that the American Road magazine and Forum family are very special--and that is due in no small part because of you and Jennifer, our great team of moderators, and of course our dedicated and talented Forum members. I can say that it is truly an honor to have you and Jennifer running the American Road Forum. American Road magazine wouldn't be what it is today without you both. So, what shall we do to celebrate our upcoming Birthday?

Just wanting to comment on the 'grass roots effort' to gain official recognition for Michigan Road. The American Road Foundation would certainly be a supportive non-profit organization for this. If you need a statement/letter indicating the importance of preserving and promoting this historic road, we would be more than happy to help. About a month or two ago now I was officially designated by the board to run day-to-day operations of the Foundation. So, please pm or email me and we can get to work! Thanks! Beciky

You may want to post in the Route 6 sub-forum or PM Russ Lombard from the US Route 6 Tourist Assn. He may be able to shed some additional light on your awesome find. Thanks for sharing! Becky

Oh this is sad news. We are very sorry to hear of Fran's passing. I always enjoyed visiting with Fran whenever we had an opportunity to talk. Becky

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Americanroadmagazine.com Announces New Road Trip Itineraries Page ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEW FEATURES ON AMERICANROADMAGAZINE.COM We've added some new features to the Americanroadmagazine.com website. In November, we conducted a survey to identify our readers' needs and desires. In response to your feedback we made some additions to Americanroadmagazine.com. You'll discover that you may now download regional road trip itineraries-sponsored by American Road advertisers. Use the American Road Magazine Itinerary page to plan your next road trip. You'll discover things to do, sights to see, places to stay, and routes to explore. We plan to update this page regularly. Click the url below to begin your journey: http://americanroadmagazine.com/itineraries/itineraries.html Additional updates to our website include the ability for you to: -Search for Fuel prices: http://www.americanroadmagazine.com/gas_prices.html -Calculate Miles Per Gallon: http://www.americanroadmagazine.com/mpg.html -Find out weather reports for your travel routes and destinations: http://www.americanroadmagazine.com/weather.html -Track Flights: http://www.americanroadmagazine.com/flights.html Don't waste a drop of gas! Start your travel preparations by utilizing all the features on the Americanroadmagazine.com website. We hope that you find these features add to your enjoyment of Americanroadmagazine.com. Dream well and drive safely on the American Road! Sincerely, Becky Repp General Manager 1-877-285-5434 x1

Does this mean that there is still a problem? Let me know the details please and I'll have Guy try to fix. Thanks everyone for your input and patience as we work on the technical issues. Best, Becky

Hi Gang, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. It's been a pretty hectic summer. In the future, please don't hesitate to contact Pat, Jennifer, or myself directly. If there is an urgent concern, suggestion, etc. feel free to PM or email me. Anyway, this one is beyond my technical abilities (which are limited) so I'm turfing this to our webmaster, Guy Cook. One of us will keep you apprised on this situation. Thanks much! We do appreciate your input on how we can continue to improve the Forum and make it the best possible road trip Forum around! PS: Denny, you're definitely more than an honorary admin! We sure appreciate your help.

Greetings! The American Road staff would like to extend a hearty welcome to all new subscribers and American Road Forum members. We are thrilled to have you join the growing list of American Road enthusiasts! Summer 2008 issue of American Road The Summer 2008 print edition of American Road magazine mailed to subscribers in June. If you are a subscriber and have not yet received your copy, please let us know. We have a second mailing going out in two weeks for individuals that subscribed after the initial Summer issue mailing. There are lots of great road trip ideas in the Summer 2008 issue. Have fun planning your next getaway with articles and information from this edition of American Road! CONSUMER REPORTS DEVELOPS NEW FIGURE TO COMPARE VEHICLE COST EFFECTIVENESS. Fuel efficient cars aren't necessarily cheaper to own. YONKERS, NY - With four-dollar-a-gallon gas now a reality and many considering a move to more fuel efficient vehicles the auto experts at Consumer Reports have developed a new figure for consumers to compare a vehicle's cost effectiveness. The July issue of Consumer Reports magazine features a list of vehicles with the best price per mpg, plus money-saving tips and advice from the country's largest expert, independent, non-profit consumer product testing organization. Price per mpg is a unique approach to calculating cost/fuel efficiency determined by dividing the CR test vehicle's purchased price by its overall miles per gallon (mpg) in CR's tests. "Just because a vehicle is fuel efficient doesn't necessarily mean it's cheaper to live with," said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports' Auto Test Center. "If you want a car with great gas mileage and must make every dollar count, look for a vehicle with a low price per mpg," he said. Topping the price per mpg list of recommended vehicles recently tested by Consumer Reports is the Honda Fit Sport (manual). With a purchased price of $15,765 and an overall mpg rating of 34, the Fit costs just $464 per mpg. While the base Toyota Prius gets 44 mpg, it has a price per mpg of $540, third on the list, because of its $23,780 price tag. At the other extreme is the Mercedes SL550, with a price per mpg of more than $6,000. It is interesting to note that three of the ten cars with the lowest price per mpg are hybrids: two trim lines of the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic. But while buying a more fuel efficient new car will lower gas bills, drivers who switch may end up paying more in the end. New-vehicle depreciation, trade-in losses, and potentially higher insurance premiums can dramatically offset any gas cost savings. Which is why the July issue of Consumer Reports also includes a list of the most fuel efficient and reliable used cars under $20,000. Whichever car they're driving, Consumer Reports' auto experts recommend drivers save gas by keeping speeds down, avoiding fast starts and hard stops, not using premium fuel if it's not required, and not falling for gimmicks that promised increased mileage. Typically, sports and luxury cars require premium fuel. ROAD TRIP MONEY-SAVERS & NEW AMERICAN ROAD TREASURE HUNT CONTEST Road Trip Money-Savers Don't let gas prices halt your road-trip plans. The staff at American road found money-saving travel promotions around the country to help ease the pain at the pump. To read the article visit: http://americanroadmagazine.com/road_news/road_news.html American Road Treasure Hunt Contest Geocache and Treasure Hunt Prize Contest Announced The American Road Geocache and Treasure Hunt Contest has begun. All you need to do to be the winner is correctly identify the location of the Hidden Treasure. One of the American Road gang has hidden a treasure box at a popular site on one of America's two lane roads. There are two winners for each treasure box. One winner may guess the location a second winner actually finds the treasure box. Let the games begin! Contest rules are posted on the American Road Forum. To view go to: http://americanroadmagazine.com/forum/inde...p?showtopic=914 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU We welcome your correspondence and questions. Have you paid a recent visit to one or more of the places mentioned in a previous issue of AMERICAN ROAD? We want to hear about it. Are there specific highways or auto trails that you would like to read about in American Road? Let us know. We love receiving your cards, letters and e-mails. Photographs are great, too! You may send us a letter or e-mail. Send letters via US mail to: American Road PO Box 46519 Mt. Clemens, MI 48046 You may send e-mails to becky@americanroadmagazine.com. (Letters and e-mail may be published in an upcoming issue of AMERICAN ROAD and may be edited for style and available space.) Our advertisers and affiliate programs help support the free information provided via americanroadmagazine.com and our e-newsletter. Be sure to tell them you heard about them through American Road magazine. To request more information and FREE trip planning guides from our advertisers visit: http://americanroadmagazine.com/advertising/adv_request.html IS IT TIME TO RENEW/SUBSCRIBE TO AMERICAN ROAD? A batch of renewal notices will be e-mailed and mailed in the next few weeks. If you just mailed in your renewal form with payment, it is possible that the next renewal letter may cross your payment in the mail. Please disregard the notice if that is the case. You may now renew or subscribe on line at: http://americanroadmagazine.com/subscribe/...ibe.html#online You may also subscribe or renew by calling our toll-free number at 1-877-285-5434 x1. If we are assisting another caller, please leave a message. If all lines are busy and calls do not forward to voice mail, please e-mail us (and we can call you back) or try calling us back later. We are always happy to call you back. DREAM WELL AND DRIVE SAFELY ON THE AMERICAN ROAD! You received this message because you provided your address to Mock Turtle Press-publisher of AMERICAN ROAD magazine. We use your e-mail to periodically provide you with information (subscription renewals, announcements, surveys, etc.) We do not sell e-mail addresses. If you wish to be removed from the list to receive future e-mail newsletters from us please e-mail becky@americanroadmagazine.com. Sincerely, Becky Repp American Road Magazine Get a FREE cup of Joe! It's not gasoline for your car, but, we can fuel you for your next road trip! Buy a gift subscription for a friend and we'll send you 2 oz of gourmet coffee roasted exclusively for American Road by Rona Coffees - FREE! To place your order visit: https://americanroad.magazinemanager.com/su...mp;source=ARCOJ When we receive your order, you will get a confirmation e-mail. At that time, we will obtain your information to send you the FREE 2 oz sampler of American Road coffee. It's EASY! American Road magazine is the perfect gift for: *Mother's Day *Father's Day *Birthday's *Retirement *Customer Appreciation *Anytime Offer Expires: July 31, 2008

Hi - you're correct, I'm not Geocacher.

Hi, Here's what I found: http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/pa/mvs-news/Chain-Rocks1.html

I am sad to say that I received an email from David Knudson reporting that his wife, Mary Lou, passed away in her sleep at 2 pm Saturday July 5th at Mountains Community Hospital in Lake Arrowhead. She had been very sick for about 3 weeks. Mary Lou was a very accomplished woman. She was voted into the "Who's Who Of American Women" when there was only one and it was a great honor. Mary Lou was a professional model, she managed a chain of women's clothing stores, she was president of the Riverside Women's Club and with her husband David, founded the National Route 66 Federation. This nonprofit organization spearheaded the Congressional bill which allocated $10 million for the restoration of properties and communities along the legendary road. Mary Lou was born at March Air Force Base in Riverside, CA while her father was in the Air Force. If you want information about the services or would like to send flowers, please let me know and I will provide the details.

Terrible news. We always enjoyed stopping there on our 66 trips. Raise that Coke glass to Dawn tonight Pat - and let's show her our support for the Rock Cafe as it was and perhaps as it will be.

Don't miss the opportunity to enter our April/May 2008 American Road Trip Sweepstakes. Discover South Carolina’s Military Heritage and the National Heritage Corridor by registering to win the American Road Trip Sweepstakes! This prize package is valued at over $500 and is sponsored by the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor. For more prize package information and details on how to register to win visit: http://americanroadmagazine.com/sweepstakes/sweepstakes.html Happy Travels!

Hi there! Glad to hear you're enjoying the Spring issue. We love to get feedback from everyone. I only wish that were our new car! Sorry for my delay in posting, taxes have been taking their toll. Gotta get back to it. We're looking forward to hearing about your journey on the Hypotenuse Trail!

Denny, I won't censor that bit of road nostalgia. . . not unless we get complaints! I haven't heard any yet.

Hi Fran, If any post deserves the "Happy Guy" icon dancing around celebrating your post does! :happyguy:

AMERICAN ROAD Two-lane Trivia The 3rd person that responded to me with the correct answer to the trivia question (below) won a copy of "Cheap Motels and a Hot Plate," by Michael D. Yates. Published by Monthly Review Press. Retail value: $15.95. Trivia Question: In what city and state would you find the frog that is on the Winter 07 issue of American Road? Answer: Windham, Connecticut Winner: William Bauer from Lincoln, Nebraska Congrats!

The American Road staff would like to extend a hearty welcome to all new subscribers and American Road Forum members. We are thrilled to have you join the growing list of American Road enthusiasts! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Spring 2008 issue of American Road The Spring 2008 print edition of American Road magazine mailed this week to subscribers. Watch your mailbox! The digital edition was sent to digital edition subscribers. There are lots of great road trip ideas in the Spring 2008 issue. We hope that you find your next getaway in this edition of American Road! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ American Road® Trip Sweepstakes American Road Magazine is pleased to announce the Spring 2008 American Road Trip Sweepstakes, sponsored by the South Carolina Heritage Corridor. Discover South Carolina's Military Heritage and the National Heritage Corridor by registering to win the American Road Trip Sweepstakes! This prize package is valued at over $500. Package includes: -One night stay at the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina - http://www.charlestonharborresort.com/ -Lunch for 2 at The Blarney Stone in Downtown Walterboro as you stroll the quaint Antique Store filled streets and stop by the SC Artisans Center. -Dinner for 2 at Bocci's located in Historic Downtown Charleston. http://www.boccis.com/cms_pages/ -2 passes to The Hunley Museum, North Charleston. http://www.hunley.org/ -2 admissions to Charles Towne Landing Historic Site, America's Birthplace. http://www.charlestowne.org/visitus.shtml -2 Passes to the South Carolina Aquarium. http://www.scaquarium.org/ -2 passes to Fort Moultrie. http://www.nps.gov/fosu/historyculture/fort_moultrie.htm -2 passes to Fort Sumter. Don't miss the feature editorial about Fort Sumter in the Spring 08 issue of American Road magazine!) http://www.nps.gov/fosu/ With so much to do, the winner will want to extend their stay in Charleston! You, too, could be a winner of an American Road Trip Sweepstakes! There is no purchase necessary to enter the 2008 American Road Trip Sweepstakes, and anyone who subscribes to American Road Magazine between March 15, 2008 and May 15, 2008 will automatically be entered in the upcoming drawing. Contest entry rules are provided at americanroadmagazine.com/sweepstakes/sweepstakes.html Take a break from doing taxes, rev up your engines, and crank up the tunes. And get ready to hit the American Road! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mock Turtle Press releases new book by Disney artist and American Road photographer Tony Craig left North Carolina in 1987 to pursue a career in animation. He has worked as a producer and director on programs for the Warner Brothers Studios, Hanna-Barbera, and the Walt Disney Company. Tony grew to miss his home state so much, that he often returned to the American South to photograph the landscape's vanishing icons, the General Store. You'll find Country Stores in North Carolina's Tony Craig's love letter to these havens that seem to sell yesterday from their shelves. For eight years, he traveled the counties of North Carolina photographing old general stores and interviewing their owners. His odyssey took him everywhere from Min-O-Pon in Stanly County to Priddy's Store near Danbury. Everywhere he visited, he found a bargain in one gentle truth: Sometimes you can go home again. If you read the Winter edition of American Road magazine, you saw Tony's photo essay about Hot Springs, Arkansas. When Tony isn't taking pictures he's busy creating watercolor paintings from his photographs. Samples of his paintings can be seen at tonycraig.net. To find out more about Country Stores in North Carolina or to purchase an advance copy, click on this link: http://americanroadmagazine.com/catalog/pr...products_id=349 The 3rd person that responds to me via e-mail with the correct answer to the trivia question (below) wins a copy of "Cheap Motels and a Hot Plate," by Michael D. Yates. Published by Monthly Review Press. Retail value: $15.95. Trivia Question: In what city and state would you find the frog that is on the Winter 07 issue of American Road? Good luck! BREATHITT COUNTY MUSEUM The Breathitt County Museum is seeking to raise several hundred...READ ROAD NEWS, REVIEWS, AND VACATION TIPS ON OUR WEBSITE! http://americanroadmagazine.com/road_news/road_news.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU We welcome your correspondence and questions. Have you paid a recent visit to one or more of the places mentioned in a previous issue of AMERICAN ROAD? We want to hear about it. We love receiving your cards, letters and e-mails. Photographs are great, too! You may send us a letter or e-mail. Send letters via US mail to: American Road PO Box 46519 Mt. Clemens, MI 48046 You may send e-mails to becky@americanroadmagazine.com. (Letters and e-mail may be published in an upcoming issue of AMERICAN ROAD and may be edited for style and available space.) ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC HIGHWAYS OR AUTO TRAILS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ ABOUT IN AMERICAN ROAD? Let us know. We review reader input when planning our feature schedule. SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR ADVERTISERS Our advertisers and affiliate programs help support the free information provided via americanroadmagazine.com and our e-newsletter. Be sure to tell them you heard about them through American Road magazine. Click on this link to request information: http://americanroadmagazine.com/catalog/pr...products_id=349 IS IT TIME TO RENEW/SUBSCRIBE TO AMERICAN ROAD? A batch of renewal notices will be e-mailed and mailed in the next few weeks. If you just mailed in your renewal form with payment, it is possible that the next renewal letter may cross your payment in the mail. Please disregard the notice if that is the case. You may now renew or subscribe on line. Simply go to the following link: http://americanroadmagazine.com/subscribe/subscribe.html ou may also subscribe or renew by calling our toll-free number at 1-877-285-5434 x1. If we are assisting another caller, it will roll over to voice mail-so please leave us a message. We are always happy to call you back. DREAM WELL AND DRIVE SAFELY ON THE AMERICAN ROAD! You received this message because you provided your address to Mock Turtle Press-publisher of AMERICAN ROAD magazine. We use your e-mail to periodically provide you with information (subscription renewals, announcements, surveys, etc.) We do not sell e-mail addresses. If you wish to be removed from the list to receive future e-mail newsletters from us please e-mail becky@americanroadmagazine.com. Sincerely, Becky Repp American Road Magazine

Another possibility in some states (like Oregon) is to try a Yurt. The state parks have them. The concept is similar to the KOA cabin. Becky

That's what we do - but, in the back of our Ford Econoline Van. We'll camp one night and motel it the next. We did some tent camping a while back (almost 10 years ago now). It was allot of fun until the one morning we woke up in a HUGE puddle and had to break camp in a downpour. . . It was definitely unforgettable! Becky

Don't let Denny fool you. He, Pat, and Jennifer did some fancy footwork immediately following our spam attacks. They also gave Guy some valuable feedback during the site upgrade, too. Let's give Guy, Pat, Jennifer, and Denny a big American Road round of applause! Becky

He hasn't posted any updates because he's finishing the book! We're keeping him a wee-bit busy! Best, Becky