2010 Chase 1 Log May 16-26, 2010
Day before leaving May 15, 2010
20z: Met in the weather center to discuss the syllabus, safety, technology, and got the hotel room groups picked. Then went and got the cars wired up and had a photo op. Planned meeting tomorrow at 13z to discuss situation and pick our destination.
Mile guess
Inflow: 5950
Clifford: 5824.8
Halestorm: 5700
BIG BUFF: 6051
THE: 6000
Watch Box Guesses
Inflow: 9
Clifford: 12
Halestorm: 10
BIG BUFF: 8
THE: 7
License plates seen
Alabama
Alaska
Alberta
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Ontario
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Quebec
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Yukon
Taco chains seen:
Taco Bell
Taco Bueno
Taco Cabana
Taco Mayo
Taco Villa
Taco Company
Taco Village
Taco Grande
Taco John’s
All time are Zulu time
Day 1 May 16, 2010
1322 Leaving Valparaiso University
1323 turn right on IN state road 130
1324 arrive at speedway for gas: price 2.93, put wiper fluid in cars
1339 leave gas station turn left on IN state road 130
1340 turn right (west) on US 30
1342 turn left (south) on IN state road 2
1400 turned right (west) to continue on IN state road 2
1411 entered Lowell, IN
1420 turned left (south) onto US 41
1421 realized that we left weather radio at Valparaiso University and have to turn around
1423 turned back north on US 41
1425 turned right (east) on IN state road 2
1426 parked at Super Hicks Gas propane station while THE went back to Valparaiso University to find the weather radio
1616 THE rejoined group
1619 turned left(west) on IN state road 2
1620 turned left (south) on US 41
1630 turned right (west) on IN state road 10
1635 enter the state of Illinois
1642 turn right on to IL (north) state road 114
1643 turn left onto IL 1&17
1649 continue straight on IL 17 towards Kankakee
1651 passed huge biker party
1655 merged onto Interstate 57 South
1707 started recording license plates seen
1737 day 2 outlook updated to include slight risk in entire Texas panhandle
1751 driving through some rain
1813 still raining
1818 BIG BUFF’s antenna blew off the roof
1825 got off interstate at Tuscola for lunch and to fix antenna
1900 regroup at Subway
1904 found black car at DQ
1905 merged back onto Interstate 57 South
1909 discussed the next day chasing probabilities and target areas
1923 Adam found the Blackhawks game on the radio
1940 comments made about amount of water in the fields surrounding the highway
1948 merge onto Interstate 57 South/ 70 West
1953 took the Interstate 70 West part of the fork
2023 noticed that it stopped raining
2032 took exit 45 (Greenville) for gas at Loves Price 2.87
2054 Loves wouldn’t take the credit card more than twice so left to go to Jumpin Jimmies down the road
2055 Arrived at Jumpin’ Jimmy’s
2100 tuned left (South) out of Jumpin Jimmy’s onto IL 127
2102 took ramp back onto Interstate 70 West
2116 saw a State Trooper have some one pulled over
2128 Inflow has reported rude gestures from Ohio drivers
2144 Gateway Arch visible
2148 Crossing Mississippi River and entering Missouri
2150 moved onto Interstate 55 South
2151 took exit to Interstate 44 West
2258 saw minor accident clean up in opposite side of road
0001 “This isn’t the gold rush we aren’t claiming anything” Adam
0008 Entered Lebanon, MO
0011 taking exit 127 highway W
0012 pulling into Sinclair gas station Price 2.65
0028 arrive at Holiday Inn Express
Day 1 and Trip mileage: 558.5
Day 2 May 17, 2010
1231 left hotel and merged onto Interstate 44 West
1303 new Day 1 discussed- heading towards slight risk
1354 morning stock check
1419 enter Oklahoma
1440 “Drive up to 10 miles from a supercell and have Mr. T say ‘Get some nuts!’ ” Bart
1454 Pull up to Oklahoma toll plaza
1457 leave toll plaza and continue on Interstate 44 West
1518 Saw police car with license plate “Jail 2”
1534 take exit 34 to continue on Interstate 44 West
1550 passed over very dry Arkansas River
1625 entered 2nd toll plaza
1629 left toll plaza and back on Interstate 44 West
1632 Halestorm left group unexpectedly to use bathroom. Group pushed on and expect them to catch up at lunch stop
1705 take left fork to continue on Interstate 44 towards Oklahoma City
1709 take exit 133 to stay on Interstate 44
1711 take exit 128B for gas at Conaco. Price 2.71. Halestorm rejoins group
1715 had to go to Valero across the street due to card system not working at Conaco. After a call to the credit card company we were able to gas up and use the subway inside as our lunch stop.
1803 leaving Valero
1805 back on Interstate 44 West
1810 Discussion began on new day 2 outlook
1814 exit 120A to Interstate 40 West towards Amarillo
1847 Kestrel readings taken
1852 “If The would like to replace Kevin Deitsch there are miniature donkeys at the next exit” Adam
1934 noticed cumulus starting to form on the horizon
2004 BIG BUFF pegged Halestorm with peanut M&Ms. Halestorm replies, “Car 2, what did you just throw out the window?”
2016 entered Texas
2023 elevation is 2300 feet
2041 storms are about 240 miles away
2047 elevation 2900 feet
2057 “The tree out to the right is the East Texas Panhandle State Forrest” Bart
2110 “Look at all of those crosses around the big one. Oh wait they are telephone poles.”-Jacki Ritzman
2118 elevation is 3400 feet
2203 elevations is 3900 feet
2213 take exit 36(Vega) for gas at Shell. Price 2.85
2236 leaving Shell, turn right on north US 385
2239 turned around to head back towards Dairy Queen
2241 turned into Dairy Queen
2325 left Dairy Queen
2327 back on Interstate 40 West
2349 Pulled over on side of road for sick rider in THE
2353 ready to go back on the road
0001 enter New Mexico
0006 “I think that is a meteorology professor in the front and I think that they are having a big weather discussion and are trying to be weather guys.” Trucker on cb
0014 exit 356 to NM state road 469, turn left to head south on 469
Entered Severe Storm Watch 181 at some point.
0017 looked at a dirt road to park on but decided to find another
0022 found a dirt road and pulled over to observe the storms to the west
0101 left dirt road and horses, continued south on NM state road 469 towards the Cap Rock
0104 pulled off into turn around for pictures
0108 continuing our journey towards the Cap Rock
0112 on top of Cap Rock, elevation 4900 feet
0118 continue our journey south on NM state road 469
0125 turned down NM state road 275 but decided to turn back and find a different road
0131 turned right onto NM state road 231
0135 pulled over on side of road to watch and take pictures
0225 turning around after seeing some nice CG and our county is under a severe thunderstorm warning lasting for over the next hour
0230 turned right (south) on to NM state road 469
0238 turned left (east) on NM state highway 209
0246 turned left (north) onto NM state road 241
0259 entered the state of Texas
Guess for how many severe weather reports will be recorded on the SPC page tomorrow?
BIG BUFF: 89
Inflow: 92
Clifford: 102
Halestorm: 79
THE: 1
Guess for how many tornado reports will there be tomorrow?
THE: 12
Inflow: 7
Clifford: 10
Halestorm: 8
BIG BUFF: 9
What time will the 1st weather watch be issued for the southern plains?
BIG BUFF: 1820z
Clifford: 1919z
Halestorm: 1930z
Inflow: 1752z
THE: 1200z
0336 road that we are on changed to loop 211
0338 take a left on US 60
0407 US 60 joins with US 87 North
0410 US60/87 merge with Interstate 27 North
0416 take exit 116 (Loop 335) for our hotel
0417 take a left towards our hotel and pull into a Holiday Inn Express
Day mileage: 809
Trip: 1367.5
Day 3 May 18, 2010
1330 met for morning weather discussion, plan was to stay close, we are under a moderate risk, reconvene at 1600 for an update
1600 thinking is to head southwest, new day 1 discussed and pushed threat more north while thinking is to still head southwest and to put up a balloon, meet at cars at 1730
1737 leaving the hotel
1740 pulled into Whataburger for lunch
1810 regrouped in McDonald’s parking lot
1816 pulled into Love’s for gas Price 2.74
1837 left Love’s
1844 merged on Interstate 27 North
1845 1st severe watch issued for the area, we are not under it, BIG BUFF wins the competition
1848 take exit 123B to get onto Interstate 40
1930 take exit 23 (Texas state road 214) Yo’ Adrian
1933 turned on Grand Ave in Adrian to go around the block to find the road going north
1938 left Adrian and went south on Texas state road 214
1941 turned right onto county road C
1942 pulled over to set up for the weather balloon launch
2026 balloon launched
2035 We are under newly issued Tornado Watch valid until 0400
2125 leaving launch site
2128 taking ramp onto Interstate 40 East
2140 take exit 36 (Vega US 385) for gas
2141 pull into Shell for gas Price 2.85
2202 left Shell heading south on US 385
2203 turn left on county road 37, turn around to wait
2211 “There may be a few storms forming” Adam “Nah we got plans” Lady in White SUV
2339 decided to move and went south on US 385
2353 turned into a driveway to wait some more
0006 left and continued south on US 385
0019 decided to call it a bust and go back to the hotel. Turned left on loop 211
0023 turned left onto US 60 East
0047 US 60 merged with US 87
0050 US60/87 merge with Interstate 27 North
0056 take exit for hotel
0058 turned left onto loop 335 towards the hotel and pull into the Holiday Inn Express
Day 3 mileage: 147.1
Trip: 1514.6
Total storm reports: 98 Winner Inflow
Total tornado reports: 26 Winner THE
Day 4 May 19, 2010
1300 morning weather briefing, moderate risk in Oklahoma with 15% hatched area of tornadoes, will be heading into Oklahoma
1345 leaving the hotel
1346 merged onto Interstate 27 North
1353 take exit onto Interstate 40 East
1519 entered Oklahoma
1602 passed inmate road crew
1628 take exit 84 for our hotel
1629 pulled into our hotel in Weatherford, Oklahoma
New Day 1 updates us to a high risk
1646 leaving hotel to find food
1647 taking ramp to Interstate 40 West to find food
1649 taking ramp 82 for food stop
1728 regrouped at McDonald’s
1730 pulled into Shell for gas. Price 2.73
1747 pulled back on Interstate 40 West
1754 “I’m just trying to get it back to your generation” Evan Bentley in reference to the F scale
1816 take exit 47
1817 pulled into Shell for gas. Price 2.63
1841 leaving Shell
1842 took ramp to Interstate 40 East
1847 take exit 53 (OK state road 44)
1848 turned left to head north on OK state road 44
1851 “That’s why I wanted these gas tanks full because nothing lets the authorities know where we are better than lighting hitting a full gas tank” Bart
1903 Continue north on county road 2140 as OK state road 44 ends
1904 pull over on the side of the road to wait
1909 we are under just issued Tornado Watch #190
1916 we turned around and started to move
1917 turned right onto OK state road 33
1920 3 nice towers forming
1926 turn right onto North county road 2060
1928 county road was not favorable turned around to try and find a better road
1930 turned right on North county road 2050
1931 pulled over on the side of road
1955 started heading north on county road to try and catch the north storm
2000 turned left onto East county road 910
2002 turned right onto OK state road 34
2008 turned left on East county road 850 for pictures
2014 under a severe thunderstorm warning
2019 turn right on OK state road 47
2021 turn left on a county road to watch
2025 positioned 2 miles SE of Leedey we spotted tornado
2030 Tornado warning issued
2033 moving east on 47
2049 stopping
2057 moving east again
2107 turn right on OK state road 47 and US 183
2114 turn right onto county road
2119 going east on OK state road 47
2129 enter Thomas, Oklahoma
2131 pulled over to look at data to make decision
2135 turning left onto OK state road 33 East
2148 veering right onto US 281/270 and OK state road 3/33
2221 enter Kingfisher, OK birthplace of Sam Walton
2223 tornado warning for our county
2224 getting gas Price 2.71
2231 heading back west
2251 moving east after stopping to watch
2301 heading south on OK state road 3 had to get out of town in a hurry
23something Tornado Warning for the storm that was just over our heads
2326 moving south again on US 81
2332 continued east on OK state road 3
2339 driving through a storm
2340 doing a U turn at Richland Rd
2343 drove out of the storm
2344 deciding to call it a day chase wise with the storms overhead and to the east
2347 took a county road
2352 taking a left to go south on US 81
0001 turning into Conoco for bathroom
0010 leaving Conoco
0011 turn right onto Business 40
0017 taking ramp to Interstate 40 West
0026 taking exit 108(US 281) heading north on US 281 towards Watonga
0050 turning left to continue on US 281
0116 taking OK state road 51
0130 took the left fork to go on OK state road 58
0144 enter Fairview, Oklahoma
0145 turned into a Conoco to wait on the storm to roll us
0159 we were under a severe thunderstorm warning
0207 storms dissipated leaving Conoco, heading south on OK state road 58
0214 turned left onto OK state highway 51A
0236 turn right on OK state highway 8
0237 “We’ll chest bump later” Bart
0241 turn right on US 281/270
0251 turn left on OK state road 33
0301 turning left on OK state road 54
0319 turning onto Interstate 40 East
0321 taking exit 84 towards our hotel
0322 pulling into hotel
Day 4 mileage: 607.6
Trip: 2122.2
Day 5 May 20, 2010
1300 morning briefing, planning down day, going sight seeing
1356 leaving hotel
1358 turn into Phillips 66 for gas. Price 2.79
1406 leaving gas station
1413 making right turn onto OK state road 54
1427 turn right onto OK state road 33 East
1437 continued straight onto OK state road 58
1452 enter Canton, OK
1453 right turn onto OK state road 51/58
1454 took left fork to continue on OK state road 58
1511 turning into Conoco in Fairview for gas. Price 2.57
1527 leaving gas station
1529 continued north on US 60
1535 turning right to continue on US 60 and joining US 412 and OK state road 8
1538 left turn on to continue on OK state road 8 North
1607 turn right onto OK state road 11 East
1626 passing through debris field from May 10th tornadoes
1630 turning left onto OK state highway 11A North
1634 entering Wakita
1636 pulled up to the Twister movie museum
1711 leaving the Twister museum
1713 turning back on OK state highway 11A heading South and leaving Wakita
1718 turn right on OK state road 11
1739 continue straight onto US 64 West
1753 enter Alva, OK
1754 pulling into Pizza Hut for a buffet lunch
1845 leaving Pizza Hut heading west on US 64
1909 new day 2 outlook discussed
1922 turn right onto OK state road 34 North
1922 “Don’t have to worry about dinner” Ian in reference to a bird stuck in Big Buff’s grill “It was probably a 72oz bird” Adam
1931 entered Kansas, road changes to KS state road 1
1942 KS state road ends, continue north on US 160/183
1949 continued north on US 183
2009 turned right on US 54/400 towards Greensburg, KS
2010 entered Greensburg, KS
2024 pull into Dillions Food Stores for gas after taking a road tour through Greensburg. Price 2.69
2046 leaving gas station and heading west on US 54/400
2054 continuing straight on US 400
2126 enter Dodge City, Kansas
2136 making a left turn to continue on US 400
2140 making right turn to stay on US 400 while joining US 50
2223 veering right to join US 83 with US 400/50
2229 turning right to continue on US 83 North
2323 turning right onto Jayhawk road to head to Monument Rocks
2331 making a right on another dirt road to continue to the Monument Rocks
2338 stopping at the rocks
0006 leaving the rocks
0023 turning right back onto US 83 North
0029 stopped for construction
0033 moving again
0048 turn right onto US 40 East to catch Interstate 70
0051 taking on ramp to Interstate 70 West
“Is Justin having a seizure in your car?” Evan Bentley
0139 take exit 17 for our hotel
0140 turning into the hotel
Day 5 mileage: 535.6
Trip: 2657.8
Day 6 May 21, 2010
1453 leaving the hotel
1454 taking ramp onto Interstate 70 West
1509 enter Colorado
1519 taking exit 437 to avoid towns, making right turn on US 385 North
1520 making a right turn to continue on US 385 North and joining US 24
1521 making left turn to continue on US 385
1536 coming off Palmer Divide
1544 stopping for construction
1549 moving again, THE is following a pilot car
1558 leaving construction
1559 joining US 36
1602 turning left to continue on US 385
1607 entering another construction zone with a pilot car
1614 following pilot car again
1624 leaving the construction zone
1640 enter Wray, Colorado
1642 pulling into Cenex for gas. Price 3.00
1659 leaving gas station
1700 turn right onto US 34 West
1740 Weather Works becomes unresponsive
1750 enter Akron, Colorado
1751 pulling into KT subs for lunch
1843 leaving KT’s subs heading west on US 34
1906 passed by Brush Dental
1916 making a turn to head towards Interstate 76
1917 taking ramp onto Interstate 76 West
1930 taking exit 66A (CO state road 52)
1931 pulling into Sinclair for gas. Price 2.70
1942 leaving gas station and heading west on CO state road 52
1944 turning left onto County road Q
1945 turning around
1948 back onto CO state road 52
1950 turning left onto a dirt road
1953 pulling over to wait and watch
2027 Tornado Watch #200 issued for us
2217 leaving dirt road pull off for bathroom break
2220 turned right on CO state road 52
2223 turned into Sinclair gas station
2244 leaving gas station, taking ramp onto Interstate 76 West
2252 taking exit 57 and went through tunnel with bats or birds
2255 going East on Interstate 76 trying to catch some storms
2312 taking exit 80(CO state road 52), making a left onto CO state road 52
2335 make right turn onto CO state road 14
2341 making left turn onto CO state road 71
2353 making right turn onto county road 112
2356 pulling over on county road after making a turn around
0008 starting to make the trip back to where we were
0020 turning right on CO state road 14/52
0021 turn left on county road 145
0022 stopping to wait/watch
0059 leaving dirt road after seeing nothing and the Sky Blazer failing, turning right onto CO state road 14
0106 Tornado Watch #200 cancelled for us in CO
0128 turning left onto US 6
0131 taking ramp onto Interstate 76 East
0220 enter Nebraska
0223 join Interstate 80 East as Interstate 76 ends
0246 exit 126 for Ogallala and our hotel
0247 pulled into our hotel
Day 6 mileage: 408.6
Trip: 3066.4
Day 7 May 22, 2010
1300 morning briefing, 7000+ CAPE but huge capping
1430 leaving hotel
1432 turning left on US 30
1434 turning into Cenex for gas. Price 2.75
1450 leaving gas station
1451 turning right onto US 26 and NE state road 61
1454 turning right to continue on NE state road 61
1502 turned into Lake McConaughy overlook
1517 leaving overlook and heading north on NE state road 61
1545 enter Arthur, Nebraska
1615 turn left to continue on NE state road 61 and join NE state road 2
1618 turn right to continue on NE state road 61
1717 enter Merriman, Nebraska population 118
1723 enter South Dakota, road changes to SD state road 73
1734 turning right to continue on SD state road 73 and joining US 18
1745 continuing east on US 18
1825 turning into Cenex in Mission, SD for gas and bathroom. Price 2.73
1844 leaving gas station
1921 enter Winner, South Dakota
1925 turned on SD state road 44
1927 splitting up for lunch
2000 leaving Winner, South Dakota after meeting at hotel and heading east on SD state road 44
2005 turn left onto SD state road 49
2020 discussed new day 1 outlook, tornado threat now hatched
2027 turning left onto SD state road 47
2037 continuing on SD state road 47 as it parallels Interstate 90
2039 turning right to continue on SD state road 47
2052 crossing Lake Sharpe/Missouri River
2057 turning left to stay on SD state road 47 while joining SD state road 34
2109 turning into Sinclair for gas. Price 2.77
2126 leaving gas station, going down a county road
2128 turning around
2129 going north on SD state road 47
2133 turning onto county road 213 st
2134 stopping
2140 heading north on SD state road 47
2154 enter Highmore, South Dakota
2156 crossing US 14, continuing north on SD state road 47
2207 turning right onto county road 186 st
2209 stopping again, Tornado Watch # 202 issued for us
2214 heading north again
2220 moving into intercept mode as storm we are watch is tornado warned
2233 turning left to stay on SD state road 47 joining US 212
2245 turn right to continue on SD state road 47
2255 turning east on SD state road 20
2301 turning left on county road 327 ave
2315 turning left on a county road to watch wall cloud
2318 we spot a tornado which we believe to be north of Lowery, South Dakota
2322 called in the tornado to NWS
2332 deciding to head south and east as new storm forms overhead. As we leave looking north we see what appears to be a wedge tornado
2335 driving through some hail
2343 turn right onto county road 149 st
2349 trying to get east
2352 turning left going east on SD state road 20
0000 turning right onto a county road
0013 heading east on SD state road 20
0032 turning right(south) on SD state road 45 and continuing on SD state road 20
0034 continuing south on SD state road 45. Our new storm is given a severe thunderstorm warning
0036 “Wouldn’t it be great if a cow got struck by lightning, you wouldn’t even have to cook your meal.” Justin Thompson-Gee
0041 joining US 212
0043 turning around
0045 turning left to head west on US 212
0049 entering Faulkton, South Dakota for gas at Shell. Price 2.89
0059 leaving gas station heading west on US 212
0102 turning around after deciding to go back south on SD state road 45
0109 turning right onto SD state road 45
0112 turn left onto county road 167 st
0114 heading back south on SD state road 45
0118 turn left onto county road 170 st
0146 leaving pull off spot after taking some beautiful pictures from an awesome storm
0151 turning right to stay on SD state road 45
0152 a new Tornado Watch is issued for us
0201 “We are the party.” Evan Bentley
0207 “Can the weather crashers become the wedding crashers?” Adam
0214 joining US 14 in Miller, South Dakota
0216 pulling over to asses our situation
0218 THE running recon mission to see if there is a place to eat and ride out the storm
0229 seeing if Dairy Queen is open to wait out the storm
0320 leaving DQ after riding the storm out, heading south on SD state road 45
0326 “This is pretty sweet.” Bart
0332 driving through a decent storm
0340 exiting precip
0420 turning left to stay on SD state road 45 and head towards Interstate 90
0422 taking ramp for Interstate 90 West
0450 taking exit 251 for SD state road 47, turning left and heading south on the road
0500 turn right onto SD state road 49
0524 turn right onto SD state road 44
0531 turning into our hotel
Day 7 mileage: 700.2
Trip: 3766.6
Day 8 May 23, 2010
1532 leaving hotel heading west on SD state road 44
1534 pull into Casey’s general store for gas. Price 2.63
1549 leaving gas station heading west on US 18
1626 turning left onto US 83 South
1645 enter Nebraska
1654 turning right to stay on US 83
1655 turning left to continue on US 83 while joining US 20
1701 turning right to continue following US 83
1752 turning right to continue on US 83 while joining NE state road 2
1754 turning right to stay on US 83
1850 continuing on US 83 through North Platte, Nebraska and passing the TIV
1919 reached the 4000 mile point of the trip
1955 turning into our hotel
2005 splitting up for lunch
2046 heading south on US 83 after meeting at the hotel after lunch
2048 making left turn to stay on US 83 while joining US 6/34
2049 pulling into Casey’s General Store for gas. Price 2.75
2102 leaving gas station and heading south on US 83
2105 turning right to stay on US 83
2119 enter Kansas
2129 still heading south on US 83 as we cross US 36
2147 going straight to follow KS state road 23
2151 turn right to continue on KS state road 23
2152 Tornado Watch issued for us
2203 enter Hoxie, Kansas
2204 turn right onto US 24 West
2224 turn left onto US 83 South
2236 pulling into Phillips 66 for gas. Price 2.61
2247 leaving gas station heading east on Interstate 70
2317 taking exit 107 (KS state road 212) and heading south on Castle Rock Road
2320 road turns to a gravel one
2335 pulling over to watch
0000 moving again trying to get east to see new storm
0021 right turn onto paved KS state road 4
0032 turn right to stay on KS state road 4 and joining KS state road 23 after having a Pineapple scare
0034 new storm we are following is tornado warned
0052 turning right to head north on US 83
0058 turned down muddy county road and are now stuck
0126 heading back north on US 83 after pushing the vans out of the mud
0155 turning left to continue on US 83 and joining US 40
0156 turning right to stay on US 83
0236 turn left staying on US 83
0305 enter Nebraska
0318 enter McCook, Nebraska and a severe thunderstorm watch
0320 turn left to stay on US 83
0323 pull into our hotel
Day 8 mileage: 614.8
Trip: 4381.4
Day 9 May 24, 2010
1540 leaving the hotel
1541 turning right onto US 34/6
1554 continuing straight on US 34
1630 continuing straight on NE state road 61
1632 enter Kansas road changes to KS state road 161
1647 Tornado Watch issued for us valid until 0000
1649 turning right on US 36
1658 turn left onto KS state road 27 South making the call that THE should make it to Goodland, KS with its gas situation
1709 switching car positions to try and save gas in THE by drafting
1724 sending scout car ahead to find gas station
1728 turning into a Cenex for gas. Price 2.65
1735 THE’s 19.3 gas tank took 18.8 gallons to fill
1753 leaving the gas station going south on KS state road 27
1754 storm to our southwest is severe thunderstorm warned with hail the size of walnuts
1759 stopping on a county road
1829 heading back north on KS state road 27 to keep up with the storm
1900 turning right to head east on US 36
1911 turn right onto county road 31 and stopping to watch
1922 turning right back onto US 36 East
1944 enter Atwood, Kansas
1945 turning around on Fifth Street. Heading west on US 36
1946 turning left onto KS state road 25 south
2011 enter Colby, Kansas
2017 turning into Dillion’s for gas. Price 2.63
2020 splitting up for lunch
2047 regroup at McDonald’s
2110 leaving McDonald’s and heading north on KS 25
2114 make right turn onto US 24 East
2124 making left turn onto US 83 North
2145 left turn to stay on US 83 North
2201 enter Oberlin, Kansas
2203 pulling into a parking lot to sit
2213 continuing north on US 83
2225 enter Nebraska
2238 turn right onto US 34/6 East
2248 turn right onto a dirt road
2250 turn right out of the dirt road in fear that it was private property
2253 enter Indianola, Nebraska
2256 turn left on a county road
2300 pulling over
2346 moving south on the dirt road as the storms we were watching died
2349 turn left back onto US 34/6
0014 enter Arapahoe, Nebraska
0015 turn right onto US 283 South
0030 turning around to head back towards Beaver City
0031 new Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for us
0033 taking a right turn onto NE state road 89 towards Beaver City
0037 enter Beaver City, Nebraska
0038 pulled into a closed gas station to wait on the storms to arrive
0107 leaving the gas station and heading west out of town on NE state road 89
0112 turn right onto US 283 North
0118 Moderate Risk and hatching has been dropped
0122 enter Arapahoe, Nebraska and now under a severe thunderstorm warning
0125 turn left onto North street to wait on getting rolled
0144 turning around after the storm passed and are turning left on US 283 North
0154 turning right on county road 731 for a quick picture
0200 heading back north on US 283
0233 having trouble finding our hotel entrance
0235 finally found a entrance to our hotel
Day 9 mileage: 418.6
Trip: 4800.0
Day 10 May 25, 2010
1405 pulling out of the hotel, BIG BUFF got separated from the rest of group due to traffic
1407 taking exit onto Interstate 80 East
1455 BIG BUFF gets a visual on the rest of the group
1459 BIG BUFF rejoins group
1538 taking exit 353(US 81) for gas
1539 turning right on US 81 South and turning into Phillips 66 for gas. Price 2.67
1555 leaving gas station and taking ramp back onto Interstate 80 East
1710 enter Omaha, Nebraska
1715 taking exit 449 to 72nd street to try to find food
1716 heading south on 72nd street
1719 lunch time, going to King Kong, huge burgers
1806 leaving lunch, trying to head north on 72nd street
1809 heading north on 72nd street
1811 taking ramp onto Interstate 80 East
1816 passing the College World Series stadium
1818 enter Iowa
1906 took several rounds to decide base color. Had to use several new tiebreakers to decide a winner
1953 taking exit 117 to try and get rolled
1954 heading north on county road R22
1956 “Severe Thunderstorm capable of producing hail the size and shape of peanuts” Evan Bentley
2000 taking left turn onto US 6
2007 turn right onto US 169 North
2014 making a left turn on IA state road 44
2031 enter Panora, Iowa
2032 turning into Conoco for gas. Price 2.55 and under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning
2050 turning left on Wagon road
2110 taking ramp onto Interstate 80 West
2117 taking exit 86 for IA state road 25 and heading south on IA state road 25
2133 turning left onto IA state road 92
2137 being rolled
2145 now under Flash Flood Warning
2201 turning left to stay on IA state road 92 and joining US 169
2204 going straight to stay on IA state road 92
2218 taking ramp onto Interstate 35 North
2243 following the signage to follow Interstate 80 East
2253 turning into a rest area for bathroom stop
2303 leaving rest stop back on Interstate 80 East
0020 taking exit 140(US 6) for our supper stop
0022 turning left onto US 6
0025 turn into Outback Steak House
0213 leaving Outback Steak House after playing a trick on Adam
0215 taking ramp onto Interstate 80 East
0236 taking exit for gas station for bathroom
0247 taking the ramp back onto Interstate 80 East
0318 “This is Jason Country” Bart
0321 pulling into a rest area
0332 leaving rest area
0338 being forced to take exit 306 because of construction
0339 turning left on US 67 North
0341 turning into our hotel
Day 10 mileage: 655.1
Trip: 5455.1
Day 11 May 26, 2010
1236 leaving hotel
1237 turning south on US 67
1242 pulling into BP gas station for gas. Price 2.59
1254 heading back south on US 67
1303 taking ramp onto Interstate 74 East
1307 crossing Mississippi River
1309 enter Illinois
1317 taking ramp to still follow Interstate 74 East while joining Interstate 280 East
1326 joining Interstate 80 East
1538 entering toll booth
1541 making exit for Lincoln Oasis
1550 leaving Oasis, back on Interstate 80 East
1553 back in Indiana
1618 taking exit 26A for IN state road 49 towards Valparaiso
1632 turning right onto LaPorte Ave.
1635 going around the roundabout turning onto IN state road 130
1636 turning into Valparaiso University
Day 11 mileage: 218.8
Trip: 5673.9
No mileage guess winner
Total watches: 9 Winner Inflow
T-shirt details
Base color: Red
Secondary Color: White
Front: normal with field study crossed out with weather crashers above it with mileage and the map showing the states we have been
Symbol nominations:
83 mph sign in western Kansas
Weather balloon in New Mexico
Birds in Colorado tunnel
Windmill on the cap rock in New Mexico
Tornado in Dewy county in Oklahoma
UFO in South Dakota
Cow in Texas Panhandle
Some depiction of being stuck in mud in western Kansas
Snake charmer in southern Nebraska
Lightning bolt in South Dakota
Something to depict the failed Sky Blazer in Colorado (maybe a stick of dynamite or puff of smoke with a line through it)
Mileage being a roll of smarties with last ones being the digits of the mileage
Back:
4Weather crasher movie poster 17
2Weather crashers with map in Oklahoma 3
1Quotes
3Team names with participations
Winner will be Weather Crasher movie poster
Put a walnut on a sleeve
Shirt designers: Justin, Rebecca, Amanda