Road Trip: Day 5

Today was less about the roads and more about the scenery… I don’t think I drove a single “technical” stretch all day. Sure, there were some twists and turns, but much of the day was spent on straight roads just trying to make good time to/from Crater Lake National Park.

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Before I got too far into the wilderness I stopped to top-off my gas tank. This was the first time I’ve bought fuel in Oregon, and having someone else pump my gas was a bit awkward. The attendant did complement the G8, and I was able to get 92 octane, so maybe it’s not a bad concept?

I reached Crater Lake and was able to jump to the head of the entrance line due to my National Parks Pass. I headed-up to the crater and it didn’t take me long to find a good location for my daily photo of the G8.

I also had a nice conversation with a photographer who was shooting on 8×10 film. I felt like such a “tourist” showing-up at 10am with my DSLR… especially since he’d been there since sun-up. We spent a few minutes talking about the lost art of film… and we discussed a few photo locations around Yellowstone. While I didn’t have a tripod or a large format camera, I’m happy with the “snapshots” I came away with.

Despite several attempts, I wasn’t able to meet-up with my parents at Crater Lake. The first try I went the wrong way around the lake… the second I just couldn’t find them in the sea of people around the visitor center. Cell reception was also spotty, so after waiting around a while (and taking some more artsy landscape photos) I headed North out of the park.

That reminds me… I can’t wait for the Labor Day Weekend to be over! I know I spent the day in a National Park, but the number of people was just ridiculous The morning wasn’t bad, but the afternoon was just wall-to-wall people. To put it into perspective… when I left Crater Lake there was a line of cars 8/10ths of a mile long waiting to get in!

While I’m venting, several times today I was surrounded by the most annoying type of driver. It’s one thing to be going slow (I complain about them), but if you’re going to be driving fast… make the pass or get off my ass! I was cruising along going the speed limit, and I understand people who don’t want to drive 55mph, but if you want to drive faster than me… and you have a broken center-line with no oncoming traffic… just pass me! At least three times I pulled off the road to let people by, despite numerous passing lanes… argh!

Tomorrow is scheduled to be a really long day (I have over 8 hours of driving planned), but with all the holiday traffic I have a feeling I might call an audible once I get on the road.

Road Trip: Day 4

Several times on my trip I’ve seen hitch hikers on the side of the road… I keep thinking to myself; what it would be like to pick one up? I know it’s not something I’d do, but it would be kinda fun to see their reaction to my driving in the turns.

The drive on US199 from Crescent City up into Oregon was a bit hit-and-miss. The road was good, but all the weekend travelers made for lots of slow sections. There was one time I got stuck behind a minivan driving 35mph (in a 55mph zone)… seriously? To make it even worse, they wouldn’t use any of the turnouts! I can understand slowing down in the corners, but even if you have a screaming/puking kid in the back seat… there is no excuse for going that slow.

When I eventually got some clear road ahead of me, I started playing a new game… how far can I coast in neutral without using the brakes. With two lanes to use (and light traffic) it was great fun to setup the corners, drop to the apex, and run-out onto the straights… trying to stay as smooth as possible.

Once I entered Oregon the road straightened-out, but I was OK with that… it made for quick travels. Besides, I kept thinking about the new sticker I was able to add to my state map!

I arrived at my hotel early in the afternoon and settled-in for a relaxing evening. Tomorrow I have a nice day of mountain climbing, and might even rendezvous with my parents at Crater Lake!

Road Trip: Day 3

I’m really glad tomorrow is a “recovery day”, as today was another long day of driving through the twisties.

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After waking-up a bit earlier than planned, I headed out to get some breakfast, then started North on Highway 32 towards Lassen Volcanic National Park. I didn’t know what to expect from this route, but it turned-out to be a nice drive. The road worked its way through the pine trees following a river (complete with a fisherman), steadily climbing up into the mountains.

I had a great time laughing at just how much torque the G8 has… I easily climbed to an elevation 7,000 feet at 55mph in 6th gear! Even when I needed to pass a slower vehicle, I didn’t even need to down-shift… just added a few revs and away I went. That being said, there were a few times I “quickly” made the pass… you know, so the other driver didn’t have to stop when using a turnout… and the G8 performed flawlessly at WOT.

When I got to Lassen National Park I was able to purchase a new America the Beautiful annual pass. Last year it took me forever to find one, but this year I’ll have one for my entire trip!

I planned my route to drive through Lassen National Park, because of the twisty roads, but never really thought about the park itself. While the roads only had a 35mph speed limit, I barely noticed… I was far too busy looking at all the scenery.

After leaving Lassen I jumped on Highway 44, but it was boring… very much a “point A to point B” sort of road. I also found myself stuck behind several groups of Labor Day Weekend campers (towing trailers). It was so bad that when I reached Redding I didn’t want to stop for lunch and risk being stuck again.

Yesterday I drove Highway 36, which turned out to be a euphoric experience. Today it was time for Highway 299, and while it wasn’t as good, it was still enjoyable…. lots of long sweeping corners!

This road is more heavily traveled, and with the holiday weekend, I spent more time behind slower traffic (many hauling trailers). In addition to the weekenders, it was also spotted with large road construction projects. Over the ~135 miles there must have been at least a dozen sections that were closed-down to a single lane of traffic. Unfortunately this resulted in large groups of cars closely spaced on the road… at least the G8 had no problems taking advantage of passing lanes!

Tomorrow I get to sleep in and recover a bit. With only 190 miles to drive I can take my time on my way into Oregon.

Road Trip: Day 2

The first word that comes to mind about today’s drive is… WOW! I know I’ve not been driving the G8 much over the past few months, but I didn’t expect to feel like this worn-out so quickly… I feel like I just got my ass kicked.

The route for today headed North out of Ukiah up the coast on Highway 1 then across into the Central Valley on Highway 36.

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The drive up Highway 101 wasn’t anything to write home about, but the traffic was light. Things really started to pick-up when I turned onto Highway 20 and headed into the redwoods. These road and scenery reminded me of the Santa Cruz hills, and I really enjoyed pushing the G8 through the turns.

During one of the descents I found myself behind an 18-wheeler hauling lumber. It clearly wasn’t the driver’s first time on the road, as he was doing a great job “using all the road”… including the “rumble-strips”. I was shocked just how quickly he was driving, especially with such a heavy load. The great thing about roads designed for trucking is that they are perfect for “spirited driving”.

The fog at the coast was fairly heavy, so while the roads were great the views of the Pacific Ocean were not as spectacular as I’d hoped. Hopefully one of the days I’ve planned driving along the coast will be clear.

When Highway 1 left the coast and headed inland towards Hwy101 it really got good.

For about 20 miles the road snaked up and over the mountains, curving through large redwoods. The road was flawless, and it made for a nice drive.

Despite getting slowed by a couple construction zones, the spirits of Pontiac were looking down on me today… There wasn’t a single time all day where I was held-up behind a slow moving vehicle! I even found a cool carving for today’s obligatory photo.

I was also blessed with an abundance of 55mph speed limits… despite roads that were nearly impossible to even drive at that speed. I kept asking myself, “How do they expect me to drive 55mph on this road… I’m pushing hard, yet only going 45mph.”

After stopping for a quick lunch (and to call-in for a work telecon) I started Eastbound on Highway 36. I’ve been looking forward to driving this road for quite a while, as it “has taken on an almost higher state” for some. After driving this road, I have to agree with them 100%.

What makes this road so great? Well, it starts with a sign warning semi-trucks of tight corners for the next 140 miles! The speed limit is almost entirely at 55mph (but you’d have to be completely insane to try to take most stretches at that speed). The majority of the pavement is smooth and well maintained. Still not convinced? Check out the elevation profile!

My favorite part about Hwy 36 is the wide variety of corners. Traveling Eastbound the drive starts out with a steep climb with lots of technical corners (little banking, blind exits, etc.). The middle section has a mix of climbs and descents with sweeping corners. The final section is truly a “natural terrain road course” that drapes like a ribbon over the countryside.

Now the road didn’t come without it’s excitement… the early part was being repaved, resulting in several long delays. Just after the “trucks beware” sign was one saying “pavement ends 2 miles”. At this point I was afraid as there isn’t an alternate route (and every other vehicle ahead of me are 4×4 trucks). Fortunately the unpaved road was only ~100 yards long and I was able to tip-toe my way through. Another fun part was when I came around a corner to find a cow standing in my lane!

Of all the roads I’ve driven, Highway 39 definitely one of the Top 5. I’d put it up against The Tail of the Dragon and The Cherohala Skyway. If it was closer to home it would for sure be my favorite road in California.

Overall today was awesome, but it definitely was tiring. I will need to drink a bunch of water and get a good night sleep… as tomorrow has another 290 miles of twisty roads scheduled!

On the Road Again: Day 1

Today I set out on another crazy Road Trip. The destination, like last year, is the National G8 Meet in Iowa… but this year I’m not taking the long way there. Over the next few weeks I’ll be driving thousands of miles on all sorts of fun roads!

After packing the final provisions I headed-out to start my journey. Today’s drive was a short one (only ~5 hours), but it covered several great roads I’ve never driven before.

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The freeways leaving the Bay Area were congested, like always, and I was really looking forward to get out on the backroads. Once I pulled-off the I-80 and headed into the foothills I started to really feel like I’m on a vacation. The traffic today was really light, being mid-day on a weekday I’m sure helped, and made the drive very enjoyable.

The last time I drove around Lake Berryessa I saw some cool animals (deer, turkey, etc.), and today was no different… first there was a roadrunner (running on the road) and then a peacock!

Highway 128 looked to have been recently re-paved, and it made for a smooth ride around the lake and down into Napa. With moderate climbs and sweeping turns this was a great road to warm-up on. One of these days I need to lead the NorCal GOATs on a cruise up here.

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Being late-August the hills were golden in color, and the vineyards really stood-out on the landscape. On my way out of Napa I made the mandatory stop for a quick photo.

After leaving Napa I turned onto Highway 29 North and started on the best section of road of the day.

The route around Clear Lake wasn’t as fun as I’d hoped, with many slow radar-monitored sections, but it was quite scenic. I found a spot to pull-off the road to take a couple photos.

The remainder of the drive was mundane, but went by quickly. I’m spending the night in Ukiah, and the air quality is very poor due to a 34,119 acre wildfire… also, the hotel parking lots are packed with fire trucks (I’m glad I made hotel reservations).

Tomorrow I continue my trip by driving to Chico… It’s going to be a long day (~7hrs), but most of the roads will be nice and twisty!

Santa Cruz Cruise

After taking two months off from work earlier this year for my Road Trip, it felt a little weird taking more time off for trips home. The end of the year is also packed with holidays that makes travel a nightmare… so when I only have a weekend off, the last thing I want to do is spend it in an airport. After two months of solid work, I was really needing a break… fortunately here is a holiday shutdown that makes braving the airports worthwhile.

Having a few days back home, one the the things on the top of my “To Do List” was getting out with some NorCal GOATs for a cruise. A group of us met-up in Saratoga and headed out into towards Santa Cruz.

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The roads in the South Bay hills are really some of the best in the Country. At times there can be some annoying traffic, but today most of the people were courteous and pulled aside when they saw us approaching.

Normally I would have lead the group North on Skyline Dr. to Alice’s before turning onto La Honda Rd. for the journey to Pescadero Creek Rd. At the suggestion of one of those going on the cruise, and because we didn’t have a big group, we decided to take Alpine Rd. instead.

I’d never driven Alpine Rd. before, but based on the Google Street View anticipated it to be quite tight/twisty… boy was it! While there was a painted center line, the road was only one-and-a-half lanes wide. Fortunately there was zero traffic on the road (not another car or even a bicycle)! While it was fun, the road was a bit too tight/twisty for a large car like the G8.

I’ve been looking forward to driving Pescadero Creek Rd. ever since the last time. This road is truly the ideal place for my car to play… perfect pavement and fast sweeping corners. This time we weren’t any cars to slow us down and we made great time!

We made such great time that we had to wait a couple extra minutes at Highway 1 for one of the GTOs that was meeting-up after work. We took the opportunity to take some photos and talk-shop about our cars.

When we first arrived at the coast it was fairly cool and overcast, but it didn’t take long for the sun to burn through the clouds and really make the scenery beautiful.

Once the final GTO arrived we headed out along Highway 1 towards Santa Cruz.

Having spent so much time away from the West Coast, I was really enjoying the views. There is nothing line a sunny day driving down Highway 1 to make you realize why you live in California!

I had planned on simply driving along the coast into Santa Cruz, but we found ourselves stuck behind some slow cars/trucks. Someone suggested we take an alternate route, so I gladly pulled-over and let him take the lead.

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I was very impressed with the suggested route, will definitely be adding these roads to my repertoire!

Due to the detour we were running a little late, but that just made lunch that much better. We stopped at a small BBQ joint that has a really incredible menu. I finally decided to get a Tri-Tip Sandwitch with garlic fries… yum! I’m sure I’ll have to make another trip here to try their ribs, and maybe even their fish and chips!

I was really looking forward to trying to dive on Bear Creek Rd., but unfortunately we were running behind schedule. As a result I had to leave the rest of the group and take the direct route back on Highway 17.

I was really happy with the way the day turned-out. The choice of roads, planned and improvised, made for a very enjoyable drive. Being on the road with other people was a great change, and really makes me want to spend more time at home.

P2135 and “Limp Mode”

During my Cross Country Drive I was having a reoccurring P2135 Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) accompanied by the car going into “Limp Mode”. When I returned from my trip, I dropped the G8 off at Synergy Motorsports to get things looked at.

It was determined that the “drive by wire” system used on the throttle of the G8 is “very sensitive”. As I understand it… there are two sensors (A and B) that measure the voltage going from the peddle to the throttle body, and then back. If the voltages going to/from are not the same the car throws the P2135 (TPS/pedal position sensor/switch a/b voltage correlation). Basically, the car goes into “Limp Mode” so there isn’t a chance of a run-away throttle condition (eg. Toyota).

With the installation of the TVS1900 Magnacharger, there were a few modifications made to the wiring harness under the hood. Some of these changes are done with connectors… and the theory is that one of these connections might be loose, resulting in the DTC. To remove the chance of a loose connection, we removed the connectors and directly wired everything.

I’ve only driven the G8 a couple hundred miles since the re-wiring, but so I’ve not yet received a DTC. Time will tell if this is the fix, but I’m fairly confident we are on the right path.

Cross Country Drive: Wrap-up

I’ve spent the last month driving all over the United States, and it was an extremely enjoyable experience. The specifics of the drive are covered in the daily updates, but there are a few topics I’ve been wanting to cover.

I’m quite proud that over 9218 miles, I did not receive a single ticket! As I spent quite some time driving on back roads (with posted limits well below the “fun” speed), one of my major concerns through-out the drive was receiving a speeding ticket. I also spent many hours driving on perfectly straight interstates just begging for high-speed runs.

While the Valentine 1 and smart driving couldn’t have hurt, the main reason for no tickets was that I nearly spent all of my time on the interstates driving at the posted speed limit. The easiest way not to get a speeding ticket is just not to speed… and I found it relaxing not to need to worry about LEO’s all the time. Never the less, it was fun finding all their speed traps.

As I was making the drive, I kept asking myself if there was anything I would have done differently…

Having made the drive in September, I was constantly taunted by the colorful metamorphosis that was to soon happen.

Doing the drive through the Appalachians only a few weeks later would have been accompanied in an explosion of color along the roads. Unfortunately it would have also come with cold/rainy weather and loads of tourists (and I’d not have been able to make it to Las Vegas in time for GoatRun).

Having made the trip with my own car was great, as I’ve not been able to spend as much time driving it as I’d like, but a “sporty” rental car would have had its perks. Being in a rental car would have allowed me to “skip” several of the boring sections by flying. It would have also been nice to “trade-in cars” when I was having the “Limp Mode” issues. Not having to “skip” sections of the planned route due to mechanical problems would have been really nice.

While I came prepared, I captured very little video footage along the road trip. Most of the time I was driving unfamiliar roads, so I never really know when I’d want to be recording. There were many times where I thought to myself, “That would have made a great video”… but I didn’t want to backtrack just to take one. It also takes a fair amount of time to setup all the video cameras, and when driving so much… adding extra time makes things daunting.

Despite driving for a month, I felt like I didn’t have enough time to truly “explore” as I was driving. Because of the route, and staying in free hotels, my schedule was fairly strict. My goal was to drive roads, which was accomplished, but there were many interesting sights that I would have liked to have seen if I wasn’t on such a per-determined route/schedule.

I was really lucky with weather, not having to drive much in the rain, but if the weather had been different it could have thrown a big wrench in my plans. Having additional time in the schedule for delays would have been a great idea… I was really lucky that the one time I was to spend two nights in the same hotel just happened to be the day I was having a package shipped to me.

In the end, the road trip was a great success. I’m sure some things could have gone a little better, but I’m sure they could have been worse. Now the only thing I need to do is plan for next year and GONE 2012!

Post-GoatRun

Since I only had 2 hours of driving today, I decided to really sleep in this morning. I checked-out of my hotel just before noon and set-off on the road without eating breakfast (or would it be lunch at that point?).

After last night’s “Limp Mode” fiasco, I didn’t want to take any chances today. Generally, the G8 does OK the first time it is started… and only starts to have problems after stopping. Because of this, I decided to drive all the way home without turning-off the car.

I also took some extra measures to make sure I’d make it home… the entire way I was talking to the G8. I talked to her (all cars are female), providing encouraging words, promising that I would take good care of her once we made it home… get the oil changed, a nice car wash, etc. Apparently this tactic worked, as I made it all the way home without going into limp mode once!

Entering the San Francisco Bay Area, I decided rather than just sticking to I-580 that I would take the scenic route along Altamont Pass Rd. Quite fittingly, this route is part of the old Lincoln Highway (“the first named automobile road that crossed the United States”). Along the way I decided to stop briefly and take the last photos of my road trip.

Having spent so much time away from California, it was quite refreshing to see the golden rolling hills again.

The remainder of my drive was uneventful, and I pulled into my parking garage to finish my trip in the same place it began. Total distance traveled… 9281 miles!

GoatRun: Day 4

Today was the final day of GoatRun 2011, and started out with the traditional brunch at the Bellagio. I packed-up my car, checked out of the hotel, and headed over to the Bellagio. I arrived a little early, so decided to take some photos.

One of the great things about the brunch at the Bellagio is that we have a reserved parking area on the top of their structure. With all the GTO’s and G8’s lined-up, it is quite a sight.

The Brunch was incredible, as always, and I’m sure I ate way more than I should have! I’d have to say that my favorite part was the eggs benedict with a side of prime rib (and horseradish)… ‘drool!

Normally a few of the NorCal GOATs members try to get together for the return trip to the Bay Area. This year a couple people are staying a few extra days, and a couple others needed to do some repair work on a GTO. I really wanted to drive with everyone else, but I decided to get on the road early… and it really was a good thing I wasn’t part of a larger group.

During GoatRun my car has been behaving very well, only going into “Limp Mode” on the trip to my hotel in the evenings. I was really afraid that I was going to have issue on the cruise, but I made it with no problems…

… well, that was not the case with my drive home. I set-off from the Bellagio and made it two blocks before my first DTC. I was able to clear it out and get moving again, but only a few minutes later I received another DTC… This would be the theme for the rest of the day…

I had a 546 mile drive to make, and every 10-25 miles the G8 was going into Limp Mode. Sometimes it would make it farther, other times it wouldn’t make it a mile. While I had to pull-off the interstate quite a few times, I was also able to recover without stopping the car.

By the time I was driving through the Fresno area the sun had set, and the car was going limp every 3-5 minutes. I never needed to pull off the road (thankfully), but I just couldn’t take it any more. I pulled-off at a hotel I’d stayed at before in Madera, Ca and decided to call it a night.

Despite getting a good night sleep last night, driving over 400 miles with an unhappy car took a toll on me… I was exhausted!

Hopefully tomorrow my drive will be less stressful… I’m only 135 miles from home!