What happens when your 16 yo son wants to drive a 911 xcountry

[tcar]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Sounds like fun. Driving in LA is not a big deal if you do it between rush hours. Like 10AM to 3 PM

Don't forget 10PM to 3AM also!

[Seabear]

And since you are headed to Seattle, get some new wiper blades. Summer starts some time after July 5th around here.

[Laneco]

So many wonderful drives that it's hard to decide which to take! One great and very favorite scenic one for me is to drive through Colorado. Wolf Creek Pass down to Pagosa Springs, then Durango, then head over to Cortez and visit 4 corners, Mesa Verde, etc. You can drive the 911 through Mesa Verde National Park. It's quite spectacular. The entire west coast is lovely, don't overlook Oregon, Big Sur has nothing on our coast line. Don't forget the Redwoods! And Lake Tahoe...

Wow, this is going to be an AMAZING adventure!

angela

[NOLAsc]

Originally Posted by Laneco

One great and very favorite scenic one for me is to drive through Colorado. Wolf Creek Pass down to Pagosa Springs, then Durango, then head over to Cortez and visit 4 corners, Mesa Verde, etc. You can drive the 911 through Mesa Verde National Park.

angela

Wow. And then to the great Utah parks and then over to Grand Canyon... but that's a totally different trip isn't it. (I wish I had a 911 during my years in New Mexico.)

Have fun. Be safe. And post often!

Shawn

[dicklague]

Originally Posted by tcar

Don't forget 10PM to 3AM also!

LA has beautiful roads.....get off the freeways.

[s2911]

While your in monterey you should go check out laguna seca, its a 10 minute drive from the coast. And if your coming down the 101 from there i highly suggest checking out the hurst castle, it is truly amazing in person if you have never been.

[chris.817]

Thank you all for the well wishes and detailed comments. I hope to do this community justice with updates, pictures and travel information to help others. I plan to respond to all your posts without a bunch of "thank you" posts in this thread... If I forget to say it later, we had a GREAT time sharing this with you.

Thoughts and logistics update.

First, I commented earlier that a goal was to GET across country. I should have said DRIVE across country. Brian does not want to fly to the west coast, he wants to drive. I did it when I was 16 with some friends and I remember every day, and every stop along the way. An example would be a steak house in Amarillo with the 6lb steak free if you finish it... No, I did not take that bet.

Second is a comment on routing. While I would dearly love to spend a month kicking around every place west of the Mississippi, I do have a limited timeline. I'm still nervous about being away from work for two weeks... Brian has seen very little of this country so it's all new to him. I have spent a lot of time in southern CA but little elsewhere along this route. I have a bit of an attachment through my father with Seattle and have to go there just because. We like big cities. Trains. Walking the streets. Sporting events. Theater. A slice of pizza. I'm trying to marry a great drive through country side that is new to both of us, with some fun and excitement in new places. I'm really not sure how to explain that... Seems like a week getting xcountry and doing all we can do in the process, and a week enjoying the west coast is a good mix.

I, personally, have no problem with 700 mile days. I have not tried to do it 3-5 days in a row. At the same time, we are out there for a drive so maybe I could push a little harder. I have dozens of places on my list that you folks have suggested but am a bit leary to get too ambishious. Any thoughts?

Technical stuff... I did 100 miles cruise tonight for a little shakedown on new tires, etc. Tightend RF wheel bearing. Remounted steering wheel straight. Changed oil and filter. Borrowed Valentine 1 (thank you John, Jack and Gina). Received a thumbs up from my detailing guru that I have polished my "turd" as best as it can be polished and left with a Griot's collapsible bucket to boot! (thank you Wham and Pam) Re-installed windshield wipers and have new blades on my shopping list for Seattle. Have front sunroof seal to replace. I burned through the old one. The back seal will have to wait. Tried to add 19mm socket to tool bag in case I have brake caliper work to do along the way. As most of you know that's lug nut size, so it's a wash...

I have no hotel reservations between Chicago and Seattle. I'm leary of showing up at some place and asking for a room (I've been stiffed and gouged). Anyone have thoughts on that? I'd like to just drive until it's too much but... I'd also like lodging suggestions in LA and San Diego. I like the beach.

That's it for tonight. 80 hours to departure.

[NickP]

Chris

Sounds like an epic adventure, I'm jealous! I live in San Diego and am happy to help you figure out lodging and activities in San Diego. I sent you a PM with my phone number, so just give me a ring.

It would be great if you could make it to Car's & Coffee in Irvine on Saturday AM. We always have 20-30 vintage Porsche's in attendance and most of us frequent Pelican so you would have a great time meeting our group and recalling your adventure. There are usually 400-500 (my guess?) cars there on a typical Saturday and I guarantee it's an event you and your son would enjoy. I know your timing may not work for this but its worth a mention.

Nick

[Jeff Curtis]

WOW Chris! ...that's awesome.

Great story to share, thank you SO much for turning me on to this thread.

On another note, it's been a LONG time since I've posted to Pelican!

[chris.817]

[chris.817]

Glad to see you back Jeff.

[Jeff Curtis]

OH, I neglected to parallel your story to one insanely related to mine, back in 1991.

I drove from Portland, Maine to Omaha, Ne. - from Omaha (family) to Phoenix (family again) from Phoenix to Riverside, Ca. ("adopted" family through a friend while in the Navy) from Riverside to Salt Lake City, from Salt Lake back to Omaha for a few days then onto my next duty station...where I never left - Norfolk, Va. (although I live in Chesapeake now...close enough)

WHAT a trip, did this in my 1983 944 and tripped 100,000mi. on I-90 going through Ohio, I still have the pics of the odometer at 99,999.99mi. and 100,000 mi - yes, took them myself, knees steering the wheel - ONE MORE INTERESTING FACT: I did those pics at 100mph!

[patssle]

I have no hotel reservations between Chicago and Seattle. I'm leary of showing up at some place and asking for a room (I've been stiffed and gouged). Anyone have thoughts on that?

All of my 3 week/7k mile+ road trips (3 of them in the past 3 years), I had zero hotel reservations. I stopped wherever I felt like, and never had a problem with hotels or camp grounds. In fact, I negotiate lower rates at the hotels. From the little towns in Kentucky to cabins along a river in Colorado to a block away from the piers of San Francisco.

[Raleigh993]

Chris,

Enjoy the time with your son. They grow up too quickly. Looks like a fun itinerary.

I did the reverse trip via the southern route in January when I picked up my car in San Diego. Got to see Phoenix, Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Carlsbad Caverns, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, Pensacola, Atlanta, back to Raleigh and all points in between.

The wife and I took 14 days to drive back and only ran into rain once. I think I recognize your car from a guest day at VIR about 1-1/2 yrs ago due to the outstanding choice of model year and your unusual number.

Anyway, good luck and have fun. I will look you up the next time I'm at VIR.

Best,
Chip

[chris.817]

Cool story Jeff. And thanks Patssle, that's good to know. And thanks Chip. Yeah, I don't have much trouble with duplicate numbers. It's a birthday.

[RoninLB]

Originally Posted by chris.817

Brian does not want to fly to the west coast, he wants to drive.
....being away from work for two weeks...

and a week enjoying the west coast is a good mix.

I, personally, have no problem with 700 mile days.
I have not tried to do it 3-5 days in a row.

leary to get too ambitious. Any thoughts?

I have no hotel reservations between Chicago and Seattle.

I'm leary of showing up at some place and asking for a room........... Anyone have thoughts on that?

I like the beach.

I worked 2 full time jobs and a part time one at the same time to buy a 1969 427/390 black/black 'vette coupe. I bought it new for cash on my 20th bd. At 21 me and a bud drove it x-country. We did 8,000 miles in 2 weeks. We got about 7 mpg at 90mph but whole ride averaged 9mpg. It was worth the beating. We saw everything we could



The car is your living room. Don't stop for lunch. Take it to go. Even if it's the slow lane, don't matter. It's a mental trip

zig zag west of Kansas around weather. Don't get caught up in 3 days of rain. Screw appointments

You can do the whole west coast in 3 days and drive by forests, a temperate rain forest, Bagley Hot Springs, high end towns, Venice, Newport and San Diego etc.
[And the biggest beach inland is the sand dunes in N Mich. It's also a good looking state to circle once you're N of the big cities.]

After the coast keep rolling because you're in your living room. After 4pm or 5-600 miles start looking for a place to sleep. That could take 2-6 hours to dial in. No big deal


........ and somehow all cities look the same

[chris.817]

Thanks again for all the well wishes,help and information. It's gonna be a great trip.

[175K911]

Have a great trip! Some of my fondest memories are the road trips my parents took us kids on. And that was back when we were allowed to just lay down on sleeping bags in the back of the family wagon.

Take lots of pics. And if you need anything in the Chicago area, let me know. Go Cubbies.

[Grady Clay]

Guys,

Have a great trip – and a safe one also.

Best wishes,
Grady

[Jim Richards]

Have a great trip, guys!