U. S. HIGHWAY 2

[Don Bradner]

We spent a couple of weeks along US 2 at the end of August and beginning of
September this past year. We picked it up at Havre, MT (traveling north on 87
out of Great Falls) and headed east, leaving 2 at Wakefield in the Michigan UP.
We spent nights, or multiple nights in Malta, MT, Minot and Turtle River State
Park, ND, and Duluth, MN.

Traveling the US highways rather than the interstate is our normal method when
not in a hurry. US 2 is not a problem on that long stretch with one caveat I'll
get to in a minute. We've also crossed the Tetons on US 89/2 from I-15 to US 93,
again not a problem. Only touched the road in sporadic locations west of US 93,
and have never crossed the Cascades on it, so can't say anything there.

The caveat is construction. That is an issue on any route, local, US, or
interstate, that varies so much from year-to-year that one person's experience
is pertinent only to that particular year. On US 2, there was very major
construction going on in Eastern Montana and Western North Dakota. On one
10-mile stretch in Montana we were on a temporary gravel road parallel to 2 that
was really bad. Picked up 4 significant chips on the coach windshield and 2 on
the toad in just that one stretch. Had them filled nicely by a mobile windshield
guy in Minot.

I imagine that stretch is fine this year, and can't tell you where the coming
year's construction will be.

On 3/10/2007 at 9:28 AM Wallace Craig wrote:

>I am looking at the idea of traveling U.S. highway 2 which starts in
>Wisconsin and ends in Washington state. It seems to be the northern most
>route that is not an interstate.
>
> Having said that, has anyone had any travel experience on that road,
>even a portion of it? Thoughts and advice appreciated on 95WBWL42 to make
>that route.

Don Bradner
90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
Eureka, CA