Trip Stats

Figures:

* Distance driven: 8,290 miles or 13,341 km

* Number of days: 56

* Number of Time Zones traveled: 5

* Accidents: 1 - Accidentally sprayed myself with bear spray. It stung.
* Close calls: 1 - Almost hit a running Elk on the highway in Colorado.
* Flat tires: 0
* Oil changes: 2

Animals:

* Confirmed wild animal sightings:

• Coyote
• Black bear
• Brown bear
• Black bear cubs
• Grizzly bear
• Grizzly bear cubs
• Cougar
• Lynx
• Dall sheep
• Big horn sheep
• Arctic caribou
• Moose
• Bull moose
• Bison
• Elk
• Gray wolf

* Unconfirmed:

• Bald eagle
• Golden eagle
• Mountain lion

Food:

* Best paid breakfasts:

1. Mullets, Des Moines, IA:

Everybody in town seems to come here, with good reason. We went on a Sunday and waited 5 minutes for a table. I had the Breakfast Burrito, Ezequiel’s famous farmer’s market burrito with chorizo, bacon, egg, potato and cheese for only $4.95. It was so good I ate half of it and saved the other half for breakfast the morning after! Yumm.

2. Yolk, Chicago, IL:

Eggs Benedict - voted best in town! Two poached eggs and Canadian bacon atop English muffin halves. Topped with their homemade hollandaise sauce. Delicious! They also give you fresh fruit along with it, making it a super deal at $9.99

3. The Cookie Jar, Fairbanks, AK:

Oh my god, I ordered the Breakfast Bagel, a fat toasted bagel with a layer of scrambled eggs, sliced ham and cheddar cheese for only $5.95, I asked for turkey instead of ham and it was delish! Service is also excellent.


* Best Pizza:

Beau Jo's, Idaho Springs, CO:

Beau Jo's pizza is legendary among Colorado outdoor enthusiasts. First off you order your pie by the pound. Then you get your beer (from neighboring Tommy Knocker Brewery) in mason jars. They also have a famous "14 Pound Pizza Challenge" in which you get your pizza for free, if you eat 14 pounds of it. Gross lol.

* Best Burger:

Not in Nebraska, not in Montana, the best burger I had, in my opinion, was near the Arctic Circle in Livengood, Alaska. The place is called Yukon River Camp, it is on Mile 56 of the Dalton Highway and I savored every delicious bite of their bacon burger with homemade fries. Perfect after a long trip like this.

* Best Beer:

This one is hard to say, I tasted so many good beers along the way I can't really pinpoint the best one. But, some of the best selections were at bars in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa and Colorado.

* Best Coffee:

By far, Einstein Brother's all over Colorado. They have the best bagels and the best coffee, with consistent great service and good prices. Their White Chocolate Mocha is ten times better then Starbucks' and a few dollars cheaper. Unlike Starbucks, Einstein Bros serves delicious fresh toasted bagels with double whipped FLAVORED cream cheese shmear. Ahhhhh!! This place was so good that at one time I drove 6 miles off course just to stop at an Einstein Bros Bagel shop.