Help me plan a cross-country trip

[Jgordon]

Hey there. I'm leaving on a cross-country trip on Friday.

I have below my first attempt at an itinerary. It's comprised of places where I have friends I can crash with and things I want to see.

If you guys have any thoughts, I'd love to hear them.

I'm looking to stay off thruways as much as possible, and keep on older historic highways or just nice roads.

I do want to travel on route 66, but am not sure how to work that in here.

The stops below are not concrete. If you have other thoughts, I can change them. I'm budgeting about a month for this, but it's not concrete either way.

Thanks a lot.

My plan is:

Leave New york

Washington DC

Atlanta, GA

New Orleans, LA

Houston, TX

Somewhere between Houston and Tempe, AZ

Tempe, AZ

San Diego, CA

PCH from San Diego up through San Francisco

(Mrs. Orcutt's Driveway)

Los Angeles, CA

San Francisco, CA

Yosemite National Park

Bonneville Salt Flats

YellowStone National Park

South Dakota (Badlands, Mt. Rushmore)

Des Moines, IA

Chicago, IL

New York

[rlh930]

If you have never been there, western Oregon, the Olympic Peninsula in Washington and in fact most of the Pacific Northwest are beautiful. Come east along the Columbia Rover. The drive from Lewiston ID to Missoula MT is remarkable. Then through Yellowstone and back. Also, unless you have a specific reason to visit Chicago and Des Moines, I would suggest going through Canada around the top of the Great Lakes. Not really out of your way and much more scenic.

[vash]

sounding like an epic trip! i like the part "somewhere between tempe and houston" that is about two days hard driving of NOTHING. unless you are towing a bassboat.

you are welcome to change oil in my garage, san francisco bay area. i would hit moab, utah.

[ZOA NOM]

When will you hit the Bay Area? We could have a BA Pelican BBQ at my place. Vash, you're invited. Oil change welcome here too. Maybe there'd be time to take him on a Mines run.

[steve911]

Be forewarned that Yosemite is closed right now (5/17) due to flooding in the valley. They had to evacuate the valley yesterday due to rain/runoff. The Merced river is expected to crest at 13 feet today, 3 feet above flood stage. More rain and then warm temperatures are forecast, which could exacerbate the problem.

Sounds like a great trip though - safe travels. I like the detour to Mrs. Orcutt's driveway - I just reread about it in Car & Driver last week.

[randywebb]

I hope you have a good air conditioner!

New Orleans is not a good 911 area - bad drivers, some crime & narrow streets with little parking in some areas. BUT it is a great place to visit, so park your car and walk and use the street cars as much as you can.

Is all of Yosemite closed, or just the valley? The Tuolome Meadows area is fabulous as are most of the other passes over the Sierras.

I think you need to post some of your interests and time constraints to get the best feedback...

[Rich76_911s]

You could stop in Amarillo and try to eat a 72 ounce steak in an hour. I hear it is free if you can finish! I would concur with the Moab suggestion it could get you on route 66, I think, but it would be way out of your way. Moab is probably 6 hours north of I-40 and it would take you roughly 9-10 hours to get from moab to pheonix. Although that drive can be cool going through monument valley, and the painted desert. The grand canyon would be easier for you to get to.

You could check out the painted desert, regardless of traveling up to Moab, on your way to Tempe it is just off of I-40. Another location that I have heard is nice that I have never been to is, Window Rock AZ. It is the capitol of the Navajo nation. These are all on the western edge of your drive from Houston to Tempe though.

[chuckr]

Birmingham Alabama on I-20 out of Atlanta heading to New Orleans
Barber Motorsports Park. Home of the Porsche Driving Experience
and one fantastic motorcycle and car museum. Randy is right about
New Orleans... bad roads, bad drivers, bad crime BUT lots of fun !
You can park in the Riverwalk Hilton, it is covered and safe and
a short walk to the French Quarter. I-20 to Houston is a good
drive, there is a streach between Baton Rouge and Lafayette
that goes over a swamp for 20 miles, I used to call it haul-ass
alley! be careful lots of State Troupers and they have NO
sense of humor. Try and avoid Houston during rush hour
both morning and afternoon, it is brutal !! especially in a
Porsche. Good Luck !!

Chuck

[dfink]

Don't have anything good in Nebraska but I am near Omaha if you need anything while on your trip. Wednesdays I go to the track at Mid America Motorplex. About 30 miles south of Omaha. It is a club run and you have to be a member to Drive [damn insurance] But could probably find and instructor to give you a ride if we pleaded. Can [edit: Can't ] ride with just anyone [damn insurance] I will PM you my number don't want it posted but that way you can build up a support list if you need it.

[Quicksilver]

If you could alter your route a bit you could hit California state route 4. Maybe head from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe and then use hiway 4 to go from south Lake Tahoe to the west end of Yosemite. It is the best road I have seen in California.

Here is the good bit outlined in red...


Here is a pic from a few years ago. The road is marked "No vehicles over 22 feet". I have seen driveways that are wider.


I suspect that your sit'n parts are going to give out before you can do such an unreal tour of the country.

[d5c5b]

Originally posted by chuckr
Birmingham Alabama on I-20 out of Atlanta heading to New Orleans
Barber Motorsports Park. Home of the Porsche Driving Experience
and one fantastic motorcycle and car museum.
Chuck

[lally911]

From New Mexico take I-40 in to Flagstaff AZ then down through Sedona, Jerome, Prescott to the highway that leads to California.

Or

Take I-40 in to Flagstaff then detour up to the Grand Canyon, then out to California through Williams. Its only 90 miles from Flagstaff to the Canyon but well worth it. Watch out for elk on the road near the canyon.

[steve911]

Originally posted by randywebb
I hope you have a good air conditioner!

Is all of Yosemite closed, or just the valley? The Tuolome Meadows area is fabulous as are most of the other passes over the Sierras.

I just check the Yosemite website. Park has been reopened. . My understanding is that the entire park was closed due to flooding yesterday, but I'm not certain. A couple of pictures from yesterday on the website:

Lower Yosemite Falls:


I'm absolutely astounded by the volume of water that is coming over the falls - and there's a lot more snow pack left...

Sentinel Meadow:


Yosemite Creek Footbridge:

[vash]

anyone climb halfdome yet? almost made it, but we took some hot chick on the climb and she bailed at the very end. we all wanted to act like gentlemen and turn back with her. looking back she never touch any of us. we should have ditched her.

[randywebb]

Last time it flooded, that helped get rid of a lot of inapporpriate development in the Park -- here's hoping...

[silverc4s]

JGordon,
In Texas, from Houston you can take US HWY 290 West to AUSTIN the live music capital, AND the state capitol, AND the home of the University of Texas. It is also the gateway to the Texas Hill Country to the west. It's about a 4 hour drive through pretty nice country.

Let us know if you can stop here for a day or so, you can hang with jpnovak, donk, and many other Pelicanheads here in the area. We will give you barbeque lessons and introduce you to Shiner Bock!!!

When you depart Austin, you can drive thru the hill country for about 200 miles then join up with the interslab to make your way to El Paso and beyond.. A/C strongly recommended at this time of year.

[Grady Clay]

JG,

Some thoughts:

To do remote justice, a trip like this should start May 20 and end October 20. An alternative is to blitz to the scenic places and then stay for a few days in each.

Join AAA today. You get free maps, Trip-Tic itineraries, road service and much more. It is a real bargain.

I would pack the 911 as if it were a large backpack/suitcase. Take camping gear so you can car-camp in the National Parks and Forests and nice clothes for fine restaurants and hotels. I am a firm believer of grocery store campfire food and campgrounds and then spend nights in 4-star hotels and eat at fine restaurants. Motel 6 and Holliday Inns are for when there isn’t a suitable camping opportunity. The Historic NP lodges and great B&Bs are a must.

I’ll work on your list and offer some suggestions for various sections. I would skip DC for now as you can see the sights there with weekend trips. I would start off by staying in the Allegheny Mountains, Shenandoah NP. The Blue Ridge Parkway should be high enough to still be spring time. A night in Ashland, NC and tour the Biltmore Estate would be fun and then the Great Smokey NP. If you like mountain crafts the area around Gatlinburg – Pigeon Forge is interesting.

I’ll let others find you interesting things in Atlanta – New Orleans – Houston. I would head straight west to Lake-of-the-Ozarks and find a nice resort, rent a fishing boat, and kick back. My next stop would be Santa Fe, NM. As you go west (along Rt. 66) stop at the Painted Desert/ Petrified Forest NP and Meteor Crater on your way to the Grand Canyon NP. Make reservations for the big Lodge and the mule trip down to the Colorado River. Take an early morning scenic flight over the Canyon and up to Lake Powell. The lake is at its lowest point since it was being filled during WWII and will give you a perspective on water resources (or lack thereof) in the West.

Now head south and west across Arizona. With some research there is a lot to see on your way to San Diego. The section of I-17 from Flagstaff to Phoenix will show you the remarkable difference between high desert and low altitude.

Plan your trip north on the I-5 to be off rush hour. That means traveling at 3-5 AM and seeing sights during the day. Take the 101 north from LA to San Louis Obispo (stay in a nice resort overlooking the Pacific Ocean at Morro Bay) and then the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) (California Highway1) to Monterrey. The Hurst Castle is interesting and the Monterrey Aquarium is a must. Of course Laguna Seca is close by – a day of lapping in a Formula Ford would be fun.

Continue north on the PCH. Make a reservation to see the Elephant Seals. There is a lot to do in the Bay area and in the City. Just like SoCal, plan your driving off rush hour.

Yes, you can take a side trip to Yosmite.

North of SF, plan Muir Woods NM and Point Reyes NS. Continue up the PCH to Redwoods NP.

From here I would head east; Klamath Falls and Crater Lake, then north along the Cascades. The east side is dry desert and the west side is very wet. There is a lot to see in the Pacific NW, particularly Portland and Seattle-Tacoma area.

Next head east across Washington on I-90 mostly. Learn about the Channeled Scablands. Spokane, Missoula, Butte, to Livingston, Mt. and turn south into Yellowstone NP. Make reservations at the old Lodge near Old Faithful. Park the 911 and use the antique 1930’s busses. Spend a few days; take your swim suit for the rivers where only a few inches separate 102F from 34F water.

Make sure you have more than the required documents to get back into the States, duplicates also. Now backtrack north into Canada to Banff NP and stay in the resort. Horse pack through the snow into the high country. Make a reservation for you and the 911 on the CN Railway from Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, to Thunder Bay. After this much driving (even in a 911) the luxury of a Pullman Car is worth it. Take the ferry across Lake Superior to Sault St. Marie. Travel south and see the Henry Ford Museum north of Detroit.

Continue east in Canada to Niagara Falls and work your way south in the Hudson Valley. The Adirondacks and Catskills are weekend trips for you.

Phew …. Quite a trip.

Some fun additions would be to locate all the race tracks and events (big and small) and be volunteer Porsche crew. There are many PCA events (DE and tours) that would be fun. Another would be to locate all the automotive museums and trick shops.

Clearly you want to connect with PCA members and Pelicans for pit stops, Gatherings of the Flock, and rescue missions.

A wireless internet connection in addition to 800 dial-up is worthwhile for road reports, weather, and keeping touch with Pelicans. Of course we expect regular progress reports with images.

More to come.

Best,
Grady

Fishcop, post your actual itinerary from last year.

[einreb]

Originally posted by vash
anyone climb halfdome yet? almost made it, but we took some hot chick on the climb and she bailed at the very end. we all wanted to act like gentlemen and turn back with her. looking back she never touch any of us. we should have ditched her.

Yup... thats a nice little trail with a 3000 foot drop off on either side. I had some lady drop her camera on me as I was going up the cable ladder. Its well worth the effort though. It makes for a long day hike from the valley. (we did it as part of a week long hiking trip with a good portion off trail.)

[randywebb]

" are for when there isn’t a suitable camping opportunity"

Wow - I didn't know Grady was a Dharma Bum...

JG - post or contact me if you want my multi-page notes on things in New Orleans and San Francisco... you bear all risk for visiting something that scares you or gives you some horrible disease...

[Grady Clay]

Randy,

E-mail me your list also (gradyclay@hotmail.com); I’ll add it to my growing Porsche travel collection.

You will have to remember I have been an “out doors type” since I was a pre-teen in the late ‘40s and early ‘50s. I think I have been in places in the Rocky Mountain West where no man, white or native ever had been.

The days of 60# packs and week+ treks are now history. I settle for car camping. The old Land Cruiser has been in some pretty remote places. The disappointment is being in some remote and beautiful place and some hot-shoe cranks full power on a 737 or Military Power for weekend night exercises. It spoils any attempt at satori.

Best,
Grady