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Travels With Randy PodcastAuthor: Randy Smythe and Kevin Harmon
Randy Smythe has retired and now spends his time travelling all over the United States, visiting National Parks, baseball stadiums, and this year - ALL of Route 66 Our weekly podcast will follow Randy and get weekly updates on where he's been, what he's seen, and who he's met - as well as sprinkle in some retirement planning advice, income stream ideas, and e-commerce news and discussion with his good friend Kevin "Bubba" Harmon. Language: en Genres: Business, Entrepreneurship, Places & Travel, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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TWR Summer of '26 Ep 2: The Oregon Coast
Episode 2
Wednesday, 3 June, 2026
Travels With Randy Summer Of '26 Episode 2 is here! The Oregon Coast Randy's Travel and Health Routine Randy and Bubba discussed Randy's routine while traveling in Washington, including his daily visits to Starbucks and his property maintenance activities. Randy shared that he has lost nearly 20 pounds by eating only twice daily (at 9 AM and 2 PM) with under 1,500 calories, and his goal is to live to at least 90 years old to match his father's age at death. The conversation touched on health and aging, including discussions about maintaining mental faculties and the appearance of older actors in media. Aging, Stunts, and Road Trip Bubba and Randy discussed memory lapses associated with aging, followed by a conversation about Tom Cruise's physical stunts at his age. The discussion then shifted to Randy's current road trip along Highway 101, where he shared his observations about the Oregon coast, including its long beaches and sand dunes, particularly in the Bandon area. Highway 101 Coastal Route Challenges Randy discussed the historical context of Highway 101, which was built in the 1920s-1930s around the same time as Route 66, and described how sand dunes are encroaching on the road in some sections. He explained the challenges of driving along the Oregon coast, including erosion, rockslides, and rough road conditions that require careful driving at lower speeds. Randy shared that this was his first successful attempt at completing the entire coastal route in four years, as previous attempts were hampered by storms and road closures. Oregon Travel Exploration Highlights Randy shared details about their recent trip through Oregon, describing how they slowed down their typical fast travel style to explore small towns and experience local attractions. They visited several lighthouses including Heiseta Head Lighthouse, stayed at a Harvest Host location at a cheese farm in Tillamook, and tried sparkling Chardonnay wine for the first time. Randy explained their approach of using meal times as a guide to find popular local restaurants and making use of free overnight stays at businesses like wineries through the Harvest Host program. Oregon Coast Travel and Photography Randy discussed his recent trip along the Oregon coast, describing the distinctive characteristics of West Coast beaches including rocky terrain, driftwood, and tide pools. He compared the coastal development to Route 66, noting that the Oregon coast road has consistent demand due to its proximity to major population centers like Portland and Salem, resulting in more homes for rent rather than the motel-heavy development seen on Route 66. Randy also shared his approach to photography, explaining how they use AI to remove unwanted elements from photos, particularly power lines and people, while emphasizing the ethical importance of disclosing when AI modifications are made to images. AI Tools and Travel Discussion The participants discussed their use of AI tools, particularly Beth (an AI assistant) and ChatGPT, with Randy explaining he primarily uses Beth for questions while traveling and recently started using ChatGPT's image editing features. They had an extended conversation about Route 66, including details about Ted Drewes custard shop in St. Louis and the history of Highway 101 in Oregon, which was completed in 1936. The discussion concluded with Randy sharing his positive experiences visiting Newport on the Oregon coast, describing its various attractions including lighthouses, wildlife, and restaurants. US Road Trip Recommendations Randy shared recommendations for road trips in the United States, highlighting the Pacific coast route as their top choice due to its beauty, while Route 66 holds personal significance. He discussed driving conditions along the coast, including winding roads and the need for flat terrain for data center construction. The conversation also touched on recent stock market gains in AI-related companies like Dell and AMD, with Randy noting that while consumer AI applications may not generate significant revenue, the technology is creating efficiency and job opportunities rather than replacing them. Future Travel Planning Discussion Bubba and Randy discussed their recent travels and plans for future trips. Randy shared details about his upcoming road trips, including a planned journey along Highway 2 and a potential ferry trip to Alaska. They also talked about the upcoming centennial celebration of Route 66 and Randy's plans to travel it again in September. The conversation included recommendations for visiting the Oregon coast and the Columbia River area. SO. MANY. PHOTOS - Come join the conversation on Facebook with our 33,000 friends! https://www.facebook.com/travelswithrandypodcast Have a great idea for the guys? Want to sponsor us? Want us to sell something National Park or Route 66 related? Want to be a guest? Want to pay for both of us to go to Alaska? Want me to stop asking questions? bubba@travelswithrandypodcast.com !!
