Another long distance adventure

jtfreels · 09-06-2006, 07:26 PM

After almost a year of searching I've finally found my 911. Pelican UTKarmann_Ghia (Matt) had his 82 Targa on the for sale forum, after viewing photos and several phone conversations I decided to buy the car.
Today I flew in to Denver from Memphis (via Atlanta), Matt picked me up at the airport, we spent a good amount of time going over the car. After a bit of my test driving in suburban Denver traffic, while trying to get my big feet on the pedals and coming to grips with the factory short shifter we did the deal. After a nice luch together Matt sent me on my way, but first with a suggestion of a short drive. I drove up to Boulder, about 30 miles in to the mountains on highway 119. Having been up since 3:30am I got a bit tired and headed back to Denver.

Tomorrow I head south to Santa Fe, then a day to Oklahoma City and if all goes well from there to Memphis on Saturday.

Unfortunately no photos, I've got the camera but for got the proper cable.

Jay

Dan in Pasadena · Dan in Pasadena's Garage

Dude, Stop off somewhere and get a cable from Radio Shack. GOTTA have pictures on a roadtrip thread!

LakeCleElum · 09-06-2006, 10:20 PM

Good luck Jay. Keep us posted on your progress....

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

As Nostatic would say

This Thread is Worth less without any pictures.

bkreigsr · 09-07-2006, 06:06 AM

Jay, have a good trip
the Sante Fe-Oak City-Memphis sounds like an ideal split for 3 leisurely days
I did the nj-socal last Oct in my 73, overnighting in Sullivan, Mo, then Gallup.
enjoy
Bill K

Eric-325I · 09-07-2006, 07:56 AM

Grats and yes, pics please :-)

Eric

jtfreels · 09-15-2006, 06:29 PM

Well a I did make it home

Total distance was 1601 miles from Denver to Memphis via Santa Fe. It was a great trip, I love SC! Fortunately nothing really spectacular occured, 3 days of driving with out a license plate over 5 states. A surprise to me I got almost 31MPG average, paid as much as $3.20 (in Denver) and a low of $2.41(Arkansas) for gas.

The day I bought the car I took a short side trip to Boulder just so I could see the mountains up close.

Here is the first picture in the hotel parking lot (hopefully these images load, I did read Grady's primer first.)

Then upto Boulder and a drive up Canyon road by Boulder creek.

jtfreels · 09-15-2006, 06:41 PM

Day 2 was the best driving day, this was Denver to Santa Fe.

Pikes Peak is in here some where.

From there it was up to 7000 something feet and then in to New Mexico. Once I crossed the state line I had the thought to get off the interstate, at Raton NM, I got off on highway 64, heading west to Taos, the first part of this was dead straight. About 40 miles to Cimarron.

At Cimarron, it began to rain and the road started up and twisty. Great driving... for a while till I got behind the FedEx truck.

But I got around him finally.

23 miles of great alpine road to Eagle Nest, the road came out of the forest to a small valley and a large lake.

Then it was more of the same road and rain down into Taos for another 30 miles.

jtfreels · 09-15-2006, 06:47 PM

Had lunch in Taos, green chili enchiladas, worth the trip!

From Taos, I followed the Rio Grande down to Sante Fe.

Pretty much rained the rest of the day and night till Santa Fe.

Twisted · 09-15-2006, 10:40 PM

cool

RSBob · RSBob's Garage

Congrats on the purchase - and thanks for sharing the trip.

450knotOffice · 450knotOffice's Garage

Yup. I enjoyed reading this. I always live vicariously through these cross country drives.

One of these days.

williecoyote · 09-16-2006, 05:13 AM

Thanks for the pictures, I enjoyed your trip. Nice car, best of luck with it. Green chili enchiladas...mmmm. I might have to check out Taos someday.

charleskieffner · 09-16-2006, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 450knotOffice
Yup. I enjoyed reading this. I always live vicariously through these cross country drives.

One of these days.

ditto ditto ditto i always enjoy these trips. someday also. i yearn for the open road!

jtfreels · 09-16-2006, 06:50 AM

I was surprised at how easy that trip was. I bet everybody as a good 500 or 600 mile tour near them. Just starts at the driveway

.

I may still make the tail of the dragon trip, only 400 miles away.

Jay

RickB · 09-16-2006, 08:50 AM

congrats on your Targa purchase.

Driving the alpine "Taos loop" open air is hard to beat. Make the drive often from the sweltering DFW area. The drive into
Cinamarron facing the Taos mountians is "magic."

Any locals who can recommend a B&B in northern NM would be greatly appreciated.

Rick
'84 RoW

Scooter · 09-16-2006, 09:10 AM

You call that a road trip? If it's not 4,000 or more miles, then it's comparable to a simple errand run.

j/k

Isn't it incredible driving the open road? Good times.

Congrats of the new car and thanks for the pics.

Jeff · 09-16-2006, 10:44 AM

Congrats on the new car and thanks for the photos. I got back from a road trip (Phoenix to Cincinnati to Phoenix) about a month and a half ago. After seeing these photos I'm ready to hit the road again.

Coming out of the mountains and seeing the lake at Eagle's Nest was a great suprise when I drove that route.

JohnKo · 09-16-2006, 10:49 AM

Wow! 31mpg is smokin' -- must be a very well tuned car (and pretty, too). Your pictures almost make me think I'd like a Targa. Especially liked the comment about the green chile enchilladas!

If you paid a max of $3.20 for premium, that's pretty good too. It's nasty high here in the NE.

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

Great car, great trip, great pics. Thanks for sharing!