Category Archives: Trip Report

Scenic Texas Road Quick-Trip: Plano – Leonard #Motorama

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Today I mapped out a scenic road trip in North Texas from Plano through Melissa and Blue Ridge to Leonard, Texas.

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I selected this route because FM 545 from Melissa to Blue Ridge is noted as a curvy, tight road that serves well for an afternoon drive. I am happy to confirm this, although because it is tree lined and tight, not a good place to see just how fast you can get around the corners so much as a good place to enjoy a drive.

I stopped off and shot this pond in a field just along the road in or near Leonard.

Across from Lea’s, Leonard field-house wall shows Leonard High School’s records.  This is how you communicate to your competitors lol.

Lea’s is very unassuming from the outside.  The building in the middle is Lea’s, and it is sort of tucked in behind the grocery store in the middle of a corner.

I had the lunch buffet, selecting chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, fried okra, and corn bread.

I rate Lea’s as Bring your Own Beverage — the only diet soft drink they serve is Diet Dr. Pepper.  Next time through I will plan to duck into the grocery next door and get a diet coke on the way.  I shot this pic with my camera phone, so please forgive that part.

I caught this shot to give you an idea of the road on the way; lots of nice 2-lane with or without shoulders and farm land.

Route Summary:

545 was exactly as advertised — tight curvy 2 lane.  Overall the route was a good quick run and made a relaxing tour.  Another day I would make this the first leg, since I was just getting to some good rural driving areas by the time I headed back to 75 via 121.

 

QuickDrive: 2011 Cadillac DTS

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Dropped my 2005 Cadillac CTS over to Crest Cadillac in Plano for a few minor items — replace the bulb for the front blinker, oil change, chase a squeak down.   I grabbed a coupon off their website before I arrived.  I know, I know — change a bulb?  But keep in mind the front lights are buried behind layers of trim secured with bayonet clips, so I’d rather just let the Dealer handle it.

The drop-off was quick and easy, and I was off in a rental / loaner 2011 Cadillac DTS 1SD in 20-30 minutes from when I arrived.

2011 Cadillac DTS

2011 Cadillac DTS 1SD

The DTS is a handsome car, probably on its last year of production in this 2011 model.  Front wheel drive, with a transverse Northstar V8 engine and loaded with options, it is an all-weather luxury sedan.

Ran by Sam’s Club for my normal weekend commodities.  After I got everything into the trunk it was clear that I needed more groceries.

Today's groceries don't come close to filling the trunk

Love the sunroof in the DTS.  It has a manual pull-cover, which is fine.  The roof can either open fully, or the rear of the roof will tilt up for just the right amount of fresh-air access.  I like the fully-open sun in my hair fresh air approach today, but I like to have options.

The Loaner appears to have nav but no nav disk; odd.  It has XM radio of course but the subscription is not turned on darn it.    Overall it is a very interesting Cadillac to have for the day or weekend or however it works out, and I totally get the continued allure of this model for DTS fans.

The 1SD as this example is the DTS Premium Collection, which is a fully loaded example.  Only the 1SE Platinum Edition would have more features. Those are 17×7″ Chrometech Aluminum wheels.

I am looking forward to enjoying the DTS for the rest of my weekend errands.

 

Oh, its only 14 hours

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I enjoy drives with my family.   We learned simple rules, like stop every 2 or 3 hours and stretch, get a snack, gas or a meal if needed, and back on the road.

Our ‘long’ regular trip is from Plano Texas to Georgetown, South Carolina to visit my Wife’s family.   That tends to be a 20 hour drive.  Some years we tried to do it in 2 parts, stopping overnight along the way.  After bad experiences with hotel stays, we just decided that if you keep going eventually you get there.  Now we leave home at 7 am and arrive there at 3 or 4 am the next day.     It is a long driving day, but you end up with more vacation time at our destination in the bargain.

Today we’re headed back from Indianapolis to Plano.   Hopefully it will take around 14 hours.   Compared to our South Carolina trips, the family thinks of this as a shorter trip lol.   But we’ll generally follow the same pace, stopping every couple of hours 0r as needed.

On the way here we were regaled with Irish Drinking songs, but on the way back I suspect the singers will still be asleep most of the way.  I am not sure when they finally got back to the hotel, but good that it was before we left!

There is some promise of speech practice sessions, and of course the Cadillac has XM radio with plentiful choices for third party entertainments.  Should be a fun driving day.  After all, it’s only 14 hours.   If I can ever get everyone awake, and their stuff in the car, and on the road…