Geek Roadtrips Through the Heartland

While researching a roadtrip which I'll be taking from St. Paul, Minnesota to Placerville, Ca I did what any geek would do, I checked out the t-mobile hotspots along the route (some), did various searching on wi-finder (some) and other sites and have been doing some googling around on the topic. I know that there must be some 802.11b access points along and inside the towns along I-80, but for the life of me I'm finding it difficult for me to find any of them. I of course have various wireless sniffing apps, but that is hardly an efficient way to find access. I don't mind paying a small fee, so....with that in mind, if you were to take a trip across the country, where would you stop for access? For specifics, Read More... If you live along I-80, what are your favorite haunts with wireless? Specifically, I plan on stopping for meals or sleep in Des Moines, Lexington, Cheyanne, Rock Springs or thereabouts, Salt Lake City and maybe Reno and points along the long, bleak road between Reno and Salt Lake. But it's clear that the net needs a good reference for places to check your email through out middle america, so post here even if you want to talk about a great unknown spot in Oklahoma or something away from my route. If you own such an establishment, let us know!

On a side note, the futility of my search seems soemwhat silly, as there are clearly people who use the internet in these towns. Anyhow, I really look forward to seeing your responses! Also, any high quality, unique dining reccomendations would be really appreciated. Also, funny roadside attractions or must see geek spots are welcome, as I intend on blogging my cross country trip as it happens and would like to have something to talk about other than the state lines I cross and the number of retreads I dodge.

Comments

Must be a Mac user

[polv0]

As a native Midwesterner (born and raised in Kansas) who has migrated to the City (Manhattan to be specific) and who misses the countryside, I must protest.

To proceed somewhat logically:

1. You are not traveling for the purpose of arriving at your destination, for clearly airfare is cheaper, therefore you must be traveling for some alternative reason.
2. The Midwest, by definition as only partway to somewhere else, is an intermediary place. You don't travel to the Midwest, you travel through it. Therefore stopping is tantamount to etymological excoriation.

Since you are not traveling to arrive at a destination, you must be traveling to either:

1. Enjoy the ubiquitous spaciousness of the scenery, or
2. Hyper-inflate your ego

The very act of bringing your computer along with you obfuscates the beauty of the Midwest. Attempting to remain connected to the internet and actually blogging your journey, undeniably proves the latter reason.

I can therefore conclude, as my final non sequitur, that you are a Mac user, since they obviously enjoy appending useless hype to revered foundations.