kristopher_d

Well, today I took advantage of the beautiful weather and finished up a project I've been working on for more than 6 years.

I have now driven the entire pacific coast of the continental US. That's right. ALL of US 101 and ALL off CA 1. Now, aside froma few really long straights, and some fairly decent curves in a couple spots, the last 80 miles or so (what I covered today) was nothing too awful exciting, but it was something I needed to do to make this claim. Unfortunately, on my way home, in some of the best (and admittedly most dangerous) corners on US 101, I got stuck behind a Porsche 911 turbo. Another one of those 50 something jerks who thinks he bought his fast, but never really DRIVES the car.

Okay, so the SL is 35 along the shore of Lake Crescent, and if you do wind up in the water, your car will wind up under several hundred feet of it, but there are guard rails, and it was a Porsche. Every once in a while he'd start to play a bit, I kept up with a downshift to 3rd, and at 35 he should have walked away if I grabbed 2nd. However, all he every had in him was 3 or 4 turns at most, then he'd slow way down again. Now, if I had to work to keep up in the corners I'd have been a little happier, but usually it was a brief slap of the throttle, then cruising. The jerk had to know I was behind him, but he refused to use the pull outs. It was frustrating, but I have played in those curves before (not with my 8), and I'm sort of used to being held up by the really fast cars with really slow drivers.

So, here's a quick overview of the parts of the coast you WANT to drive. US 101 from Port Angeles to Sol Duc (the best bit is the shore of crescent lake). Probably the best curves on the highway. Most of the rest of 101 is just a little too blah for my tastes, but if you prefer less technical, more sweeping turns, 101 still has a lot to offer. However, the Hood Canal portion of 101 has some great stuff too. In the, Kristopher-you're-f***ing-crazy,-I-don't-feel-like-risking-my-life-just-for-a-few-good-corners category there is US 101 between Grays Harbor and Long Beach WA, the Souther half of the Oregon Coast, and the Red Woods section in N California. Most of Ca 1 falls into this category as well, however, there are plenty of technical bits sprinkled along the coast as far south as Morrow Bay. South of there, both 101 and 1 SUCK!!!! The best bit is US 1 from Legget to the coast. Think of it as a 22 mile auto-cross course. Damn I love that streatch of tarmac. My first summer with this car I ran that part in 18 minutes (without crossing either the center line or the fog line). That was when the only upgrade I'd made was to the tweaters, and on a car that shipped with the original wouldn't-wish-them-on-your-worst-enemy Bridgestones. Anyone who's driven that bit of road knows just how fast that is. Know I've got much better suspension tires and brakes, and the throttle response with the MM_04_MT_NA_2 map loaded.

When I first started this I was shocked to see premium gas for 2.97 in San Francisco. Now look at the prices. I'd be just as shocked, but in a good way. Hell, I almost cut off a State Trooper when I saw a sign advertising premium for 3.73. Luckily the station had gone out of business, so I was saved from that transgression.

So what's next? Well, I haven't decided yet. At some point I plan to get back down to that lovely bit of CA 1 and try for 15 minutes or better. The car's capable. Hell, she was probably capable in 04. Luckily we've both gotten better at handling the road. If I could get the road closed I'd try for sub 10 minutes, but that's way out of reach there's any chance of someone else being on the road. 15 is streatching it in any car. With the road open. Luckily the SL on it is 60 (which is hauling you know what).

I've thought about the Atlantic coast, or the Gulf Coast, but there are some financial hurdles in the logistics of getting there, let alone driving them.

There are also some great roads I've been on in Montanna and Wyoming in a Ford E-150 conversion van. I'm definitely open to suggestions. For me the road is the destination

dmp

Seattle to Panama City Beach, Florida. Trust me. Except for MO and IL, it's a blast

05TiGr8Lady

I think this might be my new sig... But then this is something you won't hear me saying

Kristopher - You can give me suggestions for my road trip to Cali - the Bay area - in July I'm going to go visit friends in San Rafael, San Jose and Hollister. Although, depending on gas prices, I may just fly down and rent a car to go visit them.

05TiGr8Lady

Woohoo, Darin, you made it! Did you update your blog - I need to go check it.

kristopher_d

Good Route For Anyone with a Sports Car This one skips the boring bits. I'd recommend Staying the night in Medford or Ashland so you can enjoy the Klamath River Hwy fresh and relaxed.

Bat **** Crazy Route This one will have you working very hard to keep the car on the road for nearly 200 conitinuous miles. And in many places the consequences of a lapse in concentration are extreme.

05TiGr8Lady

Yikes.... Based on your trips Kristopher, I just calculated about $550 in gas round trip, with a little padding for gas price fluctuation and gas mileage. I can get a round trip flight for around $200 - oh, and I have FF miles too! And I don't think it will cost that much for a rental car. Shoot... A big part of the trip for me was to drive... I'll decide when I get back from Denmark and see how much money I have after that trip.

kristopher_d

Yup, gas prices are trying to kill the Great American Road Trip.

demonsniper1

Yea I remember last year when I first got back from Korea. Got on I-40 right out side Greensboro, N.C. and took it all the way west then got on I-5 north to Ft. Lewis. I think it cost me about 1k to go from coast to coast then. Wasnt there long cause after 2 months I was sent to the sandbox to play. Now almost done i'll have to go get my car from brothers house outside Ridgecrest, CA and drive back up to Lewis again. Then in October-November driving back to N.C. cause i'll be done with the army, oh the fun i'll have with the gas prices during the holiday season that time around.

kristopher_d

Luckily TWR is around to help save the Road Trip. I've got ideas to pursue, but I'm finding it difficult to flesh out the business plans.