Coast-to-Coast "Paix et Soleil" - Autumn 2008

[Carlos.]

just sent you another.......have you got a pop up blocker on?

[Carlos.]

Quote: Originally Posted by pappillon (original)

I'll have a fiddle now.

What you do in your own time......

[Goonery]

Quote: Originally Posted by pappillon (original)

Here's the route... sort of ish... but a couple of days might have to be pruned off somewhere (there are soo many places to go and great roads to drive that I'm finding it hard to miss anything out )

Google Maps

I'd really appreciate some input from you guys in the States on the route, planned stops and whether that distance is actually doable in 14 days and, if we had to lose something, what would you let go of (for example, we're doing a huge 'U' in the South so we can drive throuh the Smoky Mountains. Is it worth it? And there's the tug between time spent on the road seeing as much as possible or speeding though, missing out a couple of stops and having more time to spend at each stop)

I suppose there is always the option of making the final decision when we're there doing it

All in all around 3800 miles not including scenic detours

[AprilWhine]

Pappi, I've done the parkway drive and it is amazing for a while, but gets boring after a few hours.

When we drive through Zion Nat Park, let Fuzzy and me lead. We'll have to pay the fee to make the main tunnel one way, then all of you can drive down the middle of the road right behind us. The TARDIS is just a bit too wide to fit in one lane, so for a very small fee we can inconvenience many people and let our friends enjoy the view on both sides.

[pappillon]

Thanks, Sherry!

You think we could do away with the Parkway drive altogether and maybe spend a little more time elsewhere (Utah or the South)? It would mean we could take a different route out of Savannah and spend a little more time near the coast or in the Carolinas on the way to Washington

[pappillon]

Thoughts on this, everyone, please: Visit Nashville and Memphis or spend the two days driving through Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia?

To me, they're iconic places that are must-sees but are they over-run by tourists (like us)? Are we better off seeing these other states and finding some charming little places to stay on the way?

Also, we've done the drive between Cambria and San Fran before and the roads were stunning. One idea was to head north out of San Fran towards Mendocino. Is that route as amazing as heading south? Any of you ever stay in Mendocino, and if so, what's it like?

[pooper]

Pappi,

The drive north from San Francisco is spectacular. You will drive along the winding twisty "roller-coaster cliffs above the Pacific Ocean. Last year we did the "Lighthouse Tour" where we started in Crescent City on the California/Oregon Boarder and drove along the coast visiting all the light houses along the way.

Here is a link to the photo album on the Redwood Empire Mini Enthusiasts website:

Photo albums

and a short video of the run:

REME 2007 Lighthouse Tour

We could map you out a run and suggest hotels along the way. How far north did you want to go?

[AprilWhine]

Memphis and Nashville are good, but if you are considering the deep south, might look at going from Dallas to New Orleans, then along the Gulf Coast for a while? We just finished driving from VA to NV along Interstate 10 and took a day off driving to visit the Gulf Coast. The aftereffects of Katrina is an added interest here, some of the places will probably never fully recover. If you want to try this, we'll have to stop at a small local place Fuzzy and I love. They serve all you can eat catfish and southern veggies, we'll probably have to translate for you.

No problem dropping the Blue Ridge parkway, it is beautiful scenery but not many interesting stops. Also, it's heavily patroled by rangers and those speeding tickets are very expensive!

[pappillon]

Quote: Originally Posted by pooper (original)

Pappi,

The drive north from San Francisco is spectacular. You will drive along the winding twisty "roller-coaster cliffs above the Pacific Ocean. Last year we did the "Lighthouse Tour" where we started in Crescent City on the California/Oregon Boarder and drove along the coast visiting all the light houses along the way.

Here is a link to the photo album on the Redwood Empire Mini Enthusiasts website:

Photo albums

and a short video of the run:

REME 2007 Lighthouse Tour

We could map you out a run and suggest hotels along the way. How far north did you want to go?

Thanks, Norm

Would be wonderful to go all the way up to the border but time, sadly, only allows 1 day's driving along HWY 1, so the idea would be to go from San Fran to Zion National Park via Mendocino and taking no longer than 2 days. Doable? What do you think?

[pappillon]

Quote: Originally Posted by AprilWhine (original)

Memphis and Nashville are good, but if you are considering the deep south, might look at going from Dallas to New Orleans, then along the Gulf Coast for a while? We just finished driving from VA to NV along Interstate 10 and took a day off driving to visit the Gulf Coast. The aftereffects of Katrina is an added interest here, some of the places will probably never fully recover. If you want to try this, we'll have to stop at a small local place Fuzzy and I love. They serve all you can eat catfish and southern veggies, we'll probably have to translate for you.

No problem dropping the Blue Ridge parkway, it is beautiful scenery but not many interesting stops. Also, it's heavily patroled by rangers and those speeding tickets are very expensive!

Definitely swaying for the more southern route Not sure whether we'll have time to go all the way down to New Orleans but I'll rejig the route and see (but your special little place is definite if we're in the area)

[pooper]

Pappi,

SF to Zion via Mendocino:
Time Mile Instruction For Toward
Summary: 1032.8 miles (2 days, 4 hours, 28 minutes)
DAY 1
9:00 AM 0.0 Depart SR-1, San Francisco, CA 94129 on Local road(s) (South) 0.5 mi
9:01 AM 0.5 Road name changes to Marine Dr 0.4 mi
9:03 AM 0.8 *Gate access required* Bear RIGHT (South) onto Long Ave 0.2 mi
9:04 AM 1.0 *Gate access required* Turn RIGHT (North-West) onto Lincoln Blvd 0.2 mi
9:05 AM 1.2 Turn RIGHT (North-West) onto Vista Access, then immediately turn LEFT (West) onto Merchant Rd 120 yds
9:07 AM 1.3 Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto US-101 [SR-1] 5.6 mi US-101 / Golden Gate Bridge
9:13 AM 6.9 Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto SR-1 [Shoreline Hwy] 0.6 mi CA-1 / Mill Valley / Stinson Beach
9:14 AM 7.5 At 168 SR-1, Mill Valley, CA 94941, stay on SR-1 [Shoreline Hwy] (West) 11.8 mi
9:28 AM 19.4 At Stinson Beach, stay on SR-1 [Shoreline Hwy] (West) 15.9 mi
9:47 AM 35.3 Turn LEFT to stay on SR-1 [Shoreline Hwy] 0.2 mi
9:47 AM 35.5 Turn RIGHT to stay on SR-1 [Shoreline Hwy] 21.8 mi
10:17 AM 57.3 Turn LEFT (West) onto SR-1 [Valley Ford Rd] 10.5 mi
10:34 AM 67.8 At Bodega Bay, stay on SR-1 (West) 86.4 mi
12:18 PM 154.2 Turn LEFT (West) onto SR-1 [Shoreline Hwy] 20.1 mi
12:43 PM 174.3 At Fort Bragg, return South on SR-1 [N Main St] 1.8 mi
12:46 PM 176.1 Turn LEFT (East) onto SR-20 [Fort Bragg-Willits Rd] 0.6 mi
12:47 PM 176.7 At SR-20, stay on SR-20 [Fort Bragg-Willits Rd] (East) 32.5 mi
1:27 PM 209.1 At Willits, stay on SR-20 [Flower St] (East) 65 yds
1:27 PM 209.2 Turn RIGHT (South) onto US-101 [SR-20] 15.7 mi
1:46 PM 224.8 Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto SR-20 79.7 mi CA-20 / Upper Lake / Williams
3:14 PM 304.6 Turn LEFT (North) onto Local road(s) 0.2 mi
3:15 PM 304.7 At I-5, return South on Local road(s) 0.2 mi
3:15 PM 304.9 Turn LEFT (East) onto SR-20 8.0 mi
3:25 PM 312.9 Turn RIGHT (East) onto Sioc St 0.8 mi
3:27 PM 313.7 Turn RIGHT (South) onto SR-20 [SR-45] 23.2 mi
3:56 PM 336.9 At Yuba City, stay on SR-20 [Colusa Ave] (East) 1.6 mi
3:59 PM 338.5 Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-70 [E St] 4.6 mi
4:04 PM 343.1 At exit 17, take Ramp (LEFT) onto SR-65 20.1 mi CA-65
4:28 PM 363.1 Turn LEFT (East) onto SR-193 9.8 mi
4:44 PM 372.9 Turn RIGHT (North-East) onto SR-193 [Taylor Rd] 0.3 mi
4:44 PM 373.2 Keep RIGHT onto Local road(s) 54 yds
4:44 PM 373.3 Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-193 0.2 mi
4:45 PM 373.5 Take Ramp onto I-80 [SR-193] 2.7 mi I-80
4:47 PM 376.2 Turn RIGHT onto Ramp 65 yds Maple St / Auburn
4:47 PM 376.3 Keep RIGHT to stay on Ramp 43 yds Old Town Auburn
4:47 PM 376.3 Bear RIGHT (South-East) onto Lincoln Way 43 yds
4:47 PM 376.3 At Auburn, return North-West on Lincoln Way 65 yds
4:47 PM 376.3 Take Ramp onto I-80 [SR-193] 14.5 mi I-80
5:00 PM 390.9 End of day
DAY 2
9:00 AM 390.9 Stay on I-80 84.0 mi
9:59 AM 461.7 Entering Nevada
10:10 AM 474.9 At exit 13, turn RIGHT onto Ramp 0.1 mi Downtown Reno / Virginia St
10:11 AM 475.0 Road name changes to Maple St 131 yds
10:11 AM 475.1 Turn RIGHT (South) onto US-395 Bus [N Virginia St] 0.7 mi
10:13 AM 475.8 Turn LEFT (East) onto Mill St 54 yds
10:13 AM 475.8 At Reno, return West on Mill St 54 yds
10:13 AM 475.9 Turn RIGHT (North) onto US-395 Bus [S Virginia St] 0.7 mi
10:15 AM 476.6 Turn RIGHT (East) onto E Maple St 131 yds
10:16 AM 476.6 Take Ramp onto I-80 34.8 mi I-80
10:46 AM 511.4 At exit 48, turn RIGHT onto Ramp 0.5 mi US-50-Alt / US-95 / East Fernley
10:46 AM 511.9 Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto SR-343 0.8 mi Fernley / Fallon / Ely / Great Basin National Park
10:48 AM 512.7 Turn LEFT (East) onto US-50 Alt 17.0 mi
11:08 AM 529.7 Keep STRAIGHT onto US-50 [Reno Hwy] 56.4 mi
12:18 PM 586.1 Keep RIGHT onto SR-361 35.9 mi
1:01 PM 622.0 Turn LEFT (South) onto SR-89 61.3 mi
2:42 PM 683.3 Keep STRAIGHT onto Gabbs Pole Line Rd 2.7 mi
2:47 PM 686.1 Bear LEFT (East) onto US-6 [US-95] 5.2 mi
2:54 PM 691.2 Turn LEFT (North) onto US-6 49.3 mi
3:54 PM 740.5 Turn RIGHT (East) onto SR-375 [The Extraterrestrial Hwy] 54.2 mi
5:00 PM 794.8 End of day
DAY 3
Check your departure time; the next stop is in a different time zone.
9:00 AM 794.8 Stay on SR-375 [The Extraterrestrial Hwy] 44.2 mi
9:53 AM 839.0 Bear RIGHT (East) onto SR-318 [The Extraterrestrial Hwy] 0.6 mi
9:54 AM 839.6 Turn RIGHT (South-West) onto US-93 54.5 mi
10:59 AM 894.2 Turn LEFT (East) onto SR-168 23.8 mi
11:25 AM 918.0 Turn LEFT (North-East) onto E Glendale Blvd 0.8 mi
11:26 AM 918.8 Turn RIGHT (South) onto Lewis Rd 0.1 mi
11:27 AM 918.9 Take Ramp (LEFT) onto I-15 77.3 mi I-15
11:54 AM 951.1 Entering Arizona
12:21 PM 980.4 Entering Utah
12:34 PM 996.2 At exit 16, turn RIGHT onto Ramp 0.2 mi UT-9 / Hurricane / Zion Natl. Park
12:35 PM 996.4 Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto SR-9 [W State St] 12.3 mi Hurricane
12:49 PM 1008.7 Keep RIGHT onto Local road(s) 131 yds
12:49 PM 1008.7 Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-9 [W 500 St N] 6.2 mi
12:55 PM 1015.0 Turn LEFT (North) onto 100 St E [Kolob Rd] 0.2 mi
12:56 PM 1015.2 Keep STRAIGHT onto 100 St (E) [Kolob Reservoir Rd] 0.3 mi
12:57 PM 1015.4 Road name changes to Kolob Rd 15.3 mi
Check local time; this stop is in a different time zone.
1:22 PM 1030.7 Bear LEFT (East) onto Local road(s) 2.1 mi
1:28 PM 1032.8 Arrive Zion National Park

SUMMARY
Driving distance: 1032.8 miles
Trip duration: 2 days, 4 hours, 28 minutes
Driving time: 20 hours, 28 minutes
Cost: $87.99

I can draw up a map and email if you like. This is starting on the Golden Gate Bridge, then north on highway 1 to Ft. Bragg (just north of Mendocino). Then cutting across highway 20 abck near Scaramento, then 80 to Reno/Fallon, then down to Zion.

[pappillon]

Over a 1000 miles! I wasn't expecting that, Norm Thanks for doing that. Going to have to have some more thinking time.

Anyone with any ideas or suggestion for good drives, places to stop, things to see, please don't hold back We would all really appreciate your input

[Goonery]

I've got all the USA Tom Tom maps now so as long as we know a destination we can play with routes, fastest, shortest avoid freeways etc . That last mileage is a bit on the large side but hey, you have to push the boundary sometimes

Here is a decent site that might prove useful
Free Road Map RV Itinerary Guides

[AprilWhine]

Pappi, the Gulf Coast route I suggested would be instead of Memphis/Nashville. I don't think you could do both with the time limits. Could do the more southerly route, then north on US129 to the Smokey Mtns and pick up your route again.

[pooper]

For those planning on attending the Magical Mystery Mini Tour in San Francisco as a start to "Paix et Soleil":

We have had an outpouring of generousity from the Mini community to share rides on the runs for those coming from abroad. Even with just the early sign-ups we have plenty of people willing to take along a fellow Mini owner from "across-the-pond" or "down-under". This will be a great way for visitors from abroad to meet some of the finest Mini owners from the US and visa versa.

A great Mini cultural exchange.