Hey...
A buddy and I are planning an east to west cross country trek this coming summer (possibly July). Google maps mapped the route out...
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Gatineau,+QC&daddr=Sault+Ste.+Marie,+ON+to:Duluth,+MN,+USA+to:Bismarck,+ND,+USA+to:Billings,+Mt,+USA+to:Spokane,+WA,+USA+to:Shawnigan+Lake,+BC&hl=en&geocode=FUZYtQIdER98-ylx1sUpRwPOTDHALVL5bezZbg%3BFdD9xQId0Ov4-il7jIEIFTE2TTHNIdsTtQ5bxQ%3BFXDoyQIde6iC-in_Ny54flKuUjFyDFjrdr_9kA%3BFQc9ygIdhSn--Slj6dhXEoPXUjGTyrv5Er2qzA%3BFfaYugIdLmmI-SmXnfqIiG9IUzFQtXnx1FY1Nw%3BFRw31wIdgTgA-Snl57swXBieVDGx2YQL1sn83Q%3BFWBb5gIdelOh-ClZTQuTuj6PVDErycKxJaZqxQ&mra=ls&sll=46.012224,-90.307617&sspn=10.60535,25.444336&ie=UTF8&z=5

The idea of heading into States seems good since price of gas is cheaper and the most direct route takes us to the destination. Just not sure if the roads laid out are the best. Maybe we should stay in Canada? Realistically, how much time would it add to the trip?
On a fairly short schedule (three weeks) and the trip is a two way...there and back (wanna spend a bit of time in BC with friends).
Any better alternate routes? Things to avoid? Weather? Cool stops that shouldn't be missed? etc.

Any advice or places to find it would be greatly appreciated.
thxz

Map:

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Andrea