I Never Finish Anyth...

I've Been Everywhere, Man!
Well, here's an interesting idea: take an old travel song, identify the cities and towns along the way, then visit them all! It would be fairly easy to visit the places mentioned in the very fun road tune (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66, but how about the sites in "I've been Everywhere" by Geoff Mack?

The song (as originally written) listed Australian towns. It was later adapted by Hank Snow for North American (predominantly US) place names. There were four versions from the original record: Great Britain, USA, New Zealand and Australia.

Are you up for a challenge? Well, here's a fun contest for people who want to do just that. One of my Long Distance Rider heroes, Ron Ayres, was able to document visits to 75 of the 92 sites.

My friend and fellow KLR enthusiast Jeff in Illinois (Spiderman), put together this fine video: I've Been Everywhere video

I'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE by Geoff Mack

I was totin' my pack
Along the dusty Winnemucca road
When along came a semi
With a high and canvas covered load
If you're going to Winnemucca, Mack
With me you can ride
So I climbed into the cab
And then I settled down inside
He asked me if I'd seen a road
With so much dust and sand
And I said,

Listen, Bud I've traveled every road in this here land

I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
'Cross the deserts bare, man
I've breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel, I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere

Been to Reno, Chicago, Fargo, Minnesota
Buffalo, Toronto, Winslow, Sarasota
Wichita, Tulsa, Ottawa, Oklahoma
Tampa, Panama, Mattawa, La Paloma
Bangor, Baltimore, Salvador, Amarillo
Tocopilla, Barranquilla, and Padilla, I'm a killer

Boston, Charleston, Dayton, Louisiana
Washington, Houston, Kingston, Texarkana
Monterey, Ferriday, Santa Fe, Tallapoosa
Glen Rock, Black Rock, Little Rock, Oskaloosa
Tennessee, Hennessey, Chicopee, Spirit Lake
Grand Lake, Devil's Lake, Crater Lake, for Pete's sake

Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Ombabika
Shefferville, Jacksonville, Waterville, Costa Rica
Pittsfield, Springfield, Bakersfield, Shreveport
Hackensack, Cadillac, Fond Du Lac, Davenport
Idaho, Jellicoe, Argentina, Diamontina
Pasadena, Catalina, see what I mean, sir

Pittsburgh, Parkersburg, Gravellburg, Colorado
Ellensburg, Rexburg, Vicksburg, Eldorado
Larrimore, Atmore, Haverstraw, Chattanika
Chaska, Nebraska, Alaska, Opelika
Baraboo, Waterloo, Kalamazoo, Kansas City
Sioux City, Cedar City, Dodge City, what a pity

I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
'Cross the deserts bare, man
I've breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel, I've had my share, man
I know some place you haven't been
I've been everywhere

Here's a map: Google Map

So, all a rider needs to do is visit these places and snap a photo. Easy!

Winnemucca
Reno
Chicago

Fargo
Minnesota
Buffalo
Toronto

Winslow
Sarasota
Wichita
Tulsa
Ottawa

Oklahoma
Tampa
Panama
Mattawa
La Paloma
Bangor
Baltimore
Salvador

Amarillo
Tocopilla
Barranquilla
Pardilla

Boston
Charleston
Dayton
Louisiana
Washington

Houston
Kingston

Texarkana
Monterey
Faraday
Santa Fe
Tallapoosa
Glen Rock
Black Rock
Little Rock
Oskaloosa

Tennessee
Hennessey
Chicopee
Spirit Lake
Grand Lake
Devils Lake
Crater Lake
Louisville
Nashville
Knoxville
Ombabika

Schefferville
Jacksonville
Waterville
Costa Rica

Pittsfield
Springfield
Bakersfield
Shreveport
Hackensack
Cadillac
Fond du Lac
Davenport
Idaho
Jellico

Argentina
Diamantina
Pasadena
Catalina

Pittsburgh
Parkersburg
Gravelbourg

Colorado
Ellisburg
Rexburg
Vicksburg
Eldorado
Larimore
Ardmore
Haverstraw
Chatanika
Chaska
Nebraska
Alaska
Opelika
Baraboo
Waterloo

Kalamazoo
Kansas City
Sioux City

Cedar City
Dodge City

Whew!

(BTW: I've hit 46 of these places.)