JohnCh Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Two years ago, Hudson, Alaskossie, and I did a tour post Monterey car week that took us from there up to northern WA. Alaskossie, of course, continued on all the way to Alaska, while Hudson and I headed south to my house near Seattle. This year, Hudson and I decided it was time to do a repeat. After spending several days in the Monterey area doing the various shows, auctions, and races, we hooked up with Pierats, and assaulted the roads above Santa Cruz, followed by my favorite stretch of Highway 1 that begins shortly after Stinson Beach. That day was in a word, epic. Yes, we had a little more traffic than last time, but the roads were superb. By the time we arrived at the hotel in picturesque Gualala, I felt like I had run about 8 sessions at the track, and my tires looked like they had done the same (new set is already on order). The next morning, Pierats had to head back home, but Hudson and I soldiered on to Willow Creek, the home of Bigfoot (everything in town is the Bigfoot something: Bigfoot Motel, Bigfoot Grocery, Bigfoot Hemp Shop. The hotel even mentions the creature in their wireless password). This was a rough day. It started out cold and foggy, but it quickly dried out and the road was incredible. Corner, after corner, after corner. Most marked at around 25mph and all taken at speeds *just* a bit faster. The period after lunch, however, was miserable. When we took this route two years ago, the road was a little rough and there were several short sections where the pavement was replaced by gravel, but the inconvenience was offset by the great twisties and relatively smooth tarmac on the other side. The passing 24 months have not been kind to the road. We literally had to idle through certain sections in first gear, and were constantly dodging potholes and what looked like frost heaves from hell. My car was shaken so much, that not only did the nuts on the back of some gauges work their way off, but today I discovered that a zip tie that was holding some wires in place under the scuttle had come undone. I didn’t even know that was possible. Today started out much as yesterday. Fantastic road with little traffic, but after lunch, the temps climbed and the roads straightened, so the driving was all about the scenery. We still have a few days to go. Tomorrow starts out on winding back roads in Oregon, followed by a long patch of straight boring road, and then a bunch of great roads that begin right before we cross the border into WA. We’ll hit Rainier and the North Cascades Highway before finishing up on the local roads I drive on weekends. Here are a few pictures from Monterey. http://www.throttle-steer.com/uploads/1/1/0/8/11083275/3556211_orig.jpg http://www.throttle-steer.com/uploads/1/1/0/8/11083275/4082014_orig.jpg http://www.throttle-steer.com/uploads/1/1/0/8/11083275/3141936_orig.jpg http://www.throttle-steer.com/uploads/1/1/0/8/11083275/500268_orig.jpg -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted August 23, 2012 Author Share Posted August 23, 2012 And a few more including a few from the Blat. BTW Alaskossie, when we stopped at the Chevron in Weaverville, not only did they remember us from 2010, but they asked about you :-) http://www.throttle-steer.com/uploads/1/1/0/8/11083275/3073849_orig.jpg http://www.throttle-steer.com/uploads/1/1/0/8/11083275/6961932_orig.jpg http://www.throttle-steer.com/uploads/1/1/0/8/11083275/723734_orig.jpg http://www.throttle-steer.com/uploads/1/1/0/8/11083275/9089453_orig.jpg Hudson has a number of great photos, so hopefully he'll post a few here. -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 After spending several days in the Monterey area doing the various shows, auctions, and races, we hooked up with Pierats, and assaulted the roads above Santa Cruz, followed by my favorite stretch of Highway 1 that begins shortly after Stinson Beach. That day was in a word, epic. If I would have known about this, I would have liked to have tagged along for that day. Oh well... :nopity: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted August 23, 2012 Author Share Posted August 23, 2012 Sorry Sean, would have been great to have you along. I bet you could convince Tom to rerun all or part of that leg before the weather turns - just make sure you have fresh rubber on the car -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudson Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Just a few pictures while waiting for the fog to burn off. WiFi is in and out more later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudson Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 A few more WiFi still acting up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 Beautiful cars, scenery, roads, and all experienced while touring in a se7en, sounds like the perfect trip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted August 24, 2012 Author Share Posted August 24, 2012 Aside from the potholes that tried to eat us, the frost heaves that attempted to send us into the air, and the heat on a few of the days, it has been just about perfect. The roads yesterday leading into our overnight stop were pretty incredible. Smooth for very long stretches with most corners marked at 20-25mph. Unfortunately the weather report is showing that Mt Rainier is fogged in until mid morning, so we either need to wait for the fog to lift and have a late arrival into our next overnight, or leave at the usual time and miss the views. I guess when that's your toughest decision in the morning, it's a pretty good vacation I only took a few photos yesterday, and it appears there's a problem with my camera. I tried to take this one over my shoulder, but somehow the camera messed up and didn't take the picture where I was pointing :jester: -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 Ya got it tough there John, that's fer sure! I, however, am enjoying a quiet Friday at work, listening to clients complain non-stop. The calls will peak late this afternoon, as they do every Friday afternoon, abt the time you will be headed up your own peak, Mt Rainier. Yes, ya got my sympathy out there suffering away like you are:). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slomove Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 (edited) Hope this is not considered a highjack, but since we have been pootling around NorCal and Oregon week earlier, maybe I can help out with a few pics. Also, it saves me starting a new thread.... The unavoidable Yosemite Valley picture. Pretty busy with tourists but is has been worse. At least no traffic jam. Preparing far the hail storm on Tioga Pass. We were in good shape with the sunroof and screen/wipers but 2 other participants had only goggles. Could not see a thing when the rain and hail got bad and apparently quite painful. On Monitor Pass Road (near lake Tahoe) Near Lotus, CA (could not find a sign that was 7 miles away) Edited August 24, 2012 by slomove Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wemtd Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 Beautiful pics, where were they taken? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted August 25, 2012 Author Share Posted August 25, 2012 Here are a couple of more from today. When we entered Mt. Rainier, the Park Ranger told us "No racing" to which Hudson replied with the ambiguous "Absolutely." Given that we weren't trying to see who could make it out of the park first, I think we safely satisfied the ranger's edict. Of course if you asked our tires if we were racing, they might offer a differing opinion. -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 John, thanks for the head's-up on this thread! You are certainly re-tracing our 2010 tire tracks -- your narrative really brings back memories (some very good, some not so good). My solo drive at night up the Pacific Coast Highway to catch you and Hudson at Gualala was one of the highlight-reel drives of my life. No traffic at all, in either direction. And the next afternoon, fainting on the floor of the Chevron station in Weaverville with heat exhaustion, was one of the worst days... Glad to hear that the person at the station asked about me in kindly tones -- I just wonder who cleaned up their floor after I was carted by ambulance to the hospital.... Let's all do a repeat (of the good times) in two years, ok? Start with the Monterey Historics, and then point 'em north. This time I'll run with the bikini top up (even if the sun is out), and drink lot of fluids... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudson Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 Most of the roads were like the first two pics but there was an enduro section Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted August 26, 2012 Author Share Posted August 26, 2012 Tom, sounds like a plan. We'll want to do a minor reroute to avoid the hell that now exists after Garberville, and perhaps to cut out the painfully straight and boring sections of OR, but that should be easy to accommodate. We made it back home safely yesterday. The Westfield covered just a touch under 3000 miles, which included about 925 freeway miles to Monterey. Aside from (what I believe is) a failing TPS sensor in my car that resulted in a little unhappiness when cruising at speeds below 45mph, the cars ran flawlessly. The weather was great the entire trip, with only a couple of hot afternoons, and a few very cold - and sometimes foggy - mornings preventing me from deeming it perfect. Even traffic and speed enforcement officials were light to nonexistent the entire route. For those of you who have never toured backroads in your se7en, you need to change that. Yes, track days are a blast, but getting out in the middle of nowhere with beautiful scenery, empty winding roads, friends, and your se7en is an incredible experience. Here's a parting shot taken on the North Cascades Highway yesterday morning. Now why would someone spend their vacation on a beach, when they could do this instead? -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 John, That definitely sounds like a plan. Perhaps we could hope to make it a formal 2014 regional USA7s Tour & Blat? I would aim for summer of 2013, but I'm planning to join the Grizzly Bear Blat in Edmonton next August, if all goes well. One long Sevens trip per summer is fine by me; I'm not retired yet! Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted August 27, 2012 Author Share Posted August 27, 2012 Tom, both of the Monterey tours were official tours. However, no one really seemed interested. Perhaps the third time is the charm? Went through all my photos today and found a few more to post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 John, I hope you don't lose your enthusiasm for organizing such a tour. Perhaps getting the California Sevens touring folks on board and committed to such a tour (not that you haven't made that effort before)?.....as well as the Pacific NW folks and those in-between. The Black Hills Tour last year was at least as ambitious, and we had a good turnout. There is an interesting California-bsed motorcycle-touring website that has an atlas of motorcycle-appropriate roads, most of which are just down the Sevens' alley. I'll try to find the link. There may be some good roads there that could replace this year's enduro-style gravel roads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rnr Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 There is an interesting California-bsed motorcycle-touring website that has an atlas of motorcycle-appropriate roads, most of which are just down the Sevens' alley. I'll try to find the link. There may be some good roads there that could replace this year's enduro-style gravel roads. http://www.pashnit.com/motoroads.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Rahul, That's it! Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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