East through Kansas

DustyRooster wrote:


@JRscooby, thank you very much!

I don't like hearing passing through Wichita is a pain from a retired trucker, so that is enough for me to take the route your experience recommends!
You mention its a good route. Not to jog your memory too much, and it may have been improved. How were the roads on the said route? I imagine the Interstates are "decent", but how about K61 and US50, US24? US54 had some atrocious areas in OK. It was manageable, but they were absolutely awful with no obvious signs of construction.

Also, by "watch your snot" did you mean watch the road with the big rigs? I can push along around 62Mph, but those big rigs on 54 are literally helping me move as a passing lane shows up. I know, the speed limit is 75 in many of those areas, but I try to stay off the interstates to not slow the trucks, and I end up doing it anyway on the US Highways....

Thanks again, JR, the feedback is much appreciated!

DR

To be fair Wichita might be improved by now. I spent a lot of "off duty" time there back in the mid/late '70s. I can remember often I could move across town using side streets, on my bicycle than traffic moved on 54. In 2010, I got involved in moving a crane out of the area, and permit ran us thru that way. Seemed like 40eleven traffic lights, and had to stop for each 1 twice. I hauled a few loads where that was most practical route, would time it for late night.
The roads I listed where a mix of 4-lane, and improved 2 lane. Fairly flat, (you will be running mostly down hill), good shoulders, swing around most small towns, and passing areas well marked.
The "watch" has little to do with traffic. (I always prefer to set my cruise about 62, and when it was clear in left lane, hug the right edge to make it easier to see to pass.) Many do not like to discuss things like this, but one night I heard the head of Kansas HP addressing The National Press Club. When asked what actions HP expected to take because of statewide budget cuts, his reply was basically with the laws in Co, we will be watching east bound traffic real close. If we stop enough vehicles, CAF will make up the shortage.

Now I ran irregular routes nearly all the time. Meaning pick up load here, deliver there, you pick which roads to use. Over the years I have made some observations. Deciding this way or that, look at railroad tracks in the area. If one route runs along side the tracks, much less likely to have steep grades but if is a old line likely to have a small town about every 10 miles or so. (Many of the water stops never grew, many died, highways where routed around others)
Any time interstates or US highways cross, likely to be a fuel stop. Nearly always a US highway running along side the interstate. Often it is not as well maintained as the I, but in rural areas, it is often a more pleasant drive. Maybe that jump on and off the bridge is less harsh because going slower?