A Honeymoon, A GTO, and The Back Roads of California. (She Ain't No Garage Queen)
06-05-2006, 10:29 AM
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teh Senior Instigator
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A Honeymoon, A GTO, and The Back Roads of California. (She Ain't No Garage Queen)
Finally got to do my first road trip in the Goat. My wife and I are huge fans of the open road (driven cross country 5x's, last time only on 2 lane roads), and our favorite trips have no destinations, we pick up a map and try to find some back roads that'd be interesting to drive. So for our honeymoon, what better thing for us to do then pack up the GTO and head out to drive some familiar and new roads in California.
We left L.A. and our first night was spent in Solvang, after that we headed up north.
First stop was on Harris Grade rd right above Lompoc, CA. Great little road about 30 miles long full of tight turns.
After that we decided to head back inland in order to catch our favorite road, we took HWY 166 over to the 33, great road, it was pretty crowded but luckily the car has great passing power.
We left L.A. and our first night was spent in Solvang, after that we headed up north.
First stop was on Harris Grade rd right above Lompoc, CA. Great little road about 30 miles long full of tight turns.
After that we decided to head back inland in order to catch our favorite road, we took HWY 166 over to the 33, great road, it was pretty crowded but luckily the car has great passing power.
06-05-2006, 10:30 AM
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We were trying to head over to 58, which until this weekend was probably the greatest road I had ever driven in this country (driving road, not scenic road), my wife found a short cut so we took it, turned out to be a dirt road, after spending about 10 miles on this dirt road, it turned into a paved road, which quickly turned back into a dirt road. As I said, she ain't no garage queen, and I definately gave in to the urge to turn the T/C off and go at it (can't wait to finally clean her and see what the rock chips look like).
and to our destination, HWY 58, this is a FANTASTIC road, and anyone who is in California and heading north or south, please allow yourself to drive it. It has a good 60 miles of great mountain twisties along w/ REAL long straight (was able to cruise at 140 for a good amount of time, never seen a cop on this road in the dozen or so times i've driven it). Only other people we saw were bikers, but for the most part we had the road to ourselves.
gotta put in a picture of my wife
and to our destination, HWY 58, this is a FANTASTIC road, and anyone who is in California and heading north or south, please allow yourself to drive it. It has a good 60 miles of great mountain twisties along w/ REAL long straight (was able to cruise at 140 for a good amount of time, never seen a cop on this road in the dozen or so times i've driven it). Only other people we saw were bikers, but for the most part we had the road to ourselves.
gotta put in a picture of my wife
06-05-2006, 10:30 AM
#3
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after that we headed over to HWY 1 which goes along the CA coast
and spent the night in Carmel @ the Park Hyatt, this is the view out of our hotel room's balcony
_jpg.jpg)
http://www.reflections-detailing.net...Hyatt)_jpg.jpg
After that, we continued to head North on HWY 1 up to Half Moon Bay where we cut inland to tackle the back roads up above Santa Cruz (Hwy 84 and 9). What a fantastic drive was this, empty roads, lots of tight turns, and gorgeous scenery.
This is HWY 9 and a sign that was familiar to us throughout the whole trip.
gotta love it, spend the morning along the coast and then have lunch amongst the Redwoods
and spent the night in Carmel @ the Park Hyatt, this is the view out of our hotel room's balcony
http://www.reflections-detailing.net...Hyatt)_jpg.jpg
After that, we continued to head North on HWY 1 up to Half Moon Bay where we cut inland to tackle the back roads up above Santa Cruz (Hwy 84 and 9). What a fantastic drive was this, empty roads, lots of tight turns, and gorgeous scenery.
This is HWY 9 and a sign that was familiar to us throughout the whole trip.
gotta love it, spend the morning along the coast and then have lunch amongst the Redwoods
06-05-2006, 10:31 AM
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after this we headed back down south down the 1 and then cut over on I believe 156 towards Gilroy (My favorite town since i'm an absolute garlic nut) and then to HWY 25, which may now have taken the honors of my favorite road over HWY 58. Empty, gorgeous, no cops, no people, only speed limit is the one you set for yourself.
I'd love to get back on this road when everything is green, but regardless it was still gorgeous
I'd love to get back on this road when everything is green, but regardless it was still gorgeous
06-05-2006, 10:31 AM
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after this we found a little road on the map called Peach Tree rd, this virtually turned into a single lane road that went through the middle of nothing except for a few farms. It was roughly 40 miles long and we didn't see a single car the whole time. I was expecting for it to turn into a dirt road like the ones we were on earlier.
Deep canyon we came across
only life form we came across
after that we stayed the night in Paso Robles and the next morning headed inland on the 46 I believe to the 33 and back towards home. The 33 was another great road, empty, high speeds, etc. At one point we got stuck for about 45 minutes because they were repaving the road.
but atleast where we got stuck had a good view of the valley
Once we got passed that, it was an empty road in front of us, I had never driven this road and man was it a lot of fun, some very tight turns.
Here's a shot of part of the road from up on a bluff.
that took us down to Ojai where we headed over to the 5
and thus sending us home. All in all it was a fantastic trip, we covered roughly 1500 miles and spent a total of 28 hours in the car over 4 days.
BTW, I can't believe how much I enjoyed this car, even w/ the stock tires it was just perfect. The suspension needs some work, but it handled great in stock form. I'm not sure if i'm really going to do anything to it though because these roads would have been brutal w/ a good stiff suspension. I couldn't imagine doing it in my old Acura.
And the aftermath, as I said, she's no garage queen, this will be a good challenge for my detailing skills
Deep canyon we came across
only life form we came across
after that we stayed the night in Paso Robles and the next morning headed inland on the 46 I believe to the 33 and back towards home. The 33 was another great road, empty, high speeds, etc. At one point we got stuck for about 45 minutes because they were repaving the road.
but atleast where we got stuck had a good view of the valley
Once we got passed that, it was an empty road in front of us, I had never driven this road and man was it a lot of fun, some very tight turns.
Here's a shot of part of the road from up on a bluff.
that took us down to Ojai where we headed over to the 5
and thus sending us home. All in all it was a fantastic trip, we covered roughly 1500 miles and spent a total of 28 hours in the car over 4 days.
BTW, I can't believe how much I enjoyed this car, even w/ the stock tires it was just perfect. The suspension needs some work, but it handled great in stock form. I'm not sure if i'm really going to do anything to it though because these roads would have been brutal w/ a good stiff suspension. I couldn't imagine doing it in my old Acura.
And the aftermath, as I said, she's no garage queen, this will be a good challenge for my detailing skills
06-05-2006, 10:32 AM
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I just gotta say, I love this car, this was the perfect car to do this trip in, it never got uncomfortable even on the shittiest roads and long hours. And it just GOES, it pulls to 150 as hard as it pulls to 60 and the handling was perfect.
06-05-2006, 10:34 AM
#7
The sizzle in the Steak
Nice, VERY Nice!!!
I love the 33...great rode. Riden it about a half dozen times on the bike.
A great ride from Ojai to Interstate 5.
I love the 33...great rode. Riden it about a half dozen times on the bike.
A great ride from Ojai to Interstate 5.
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06-05-2006, 10:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Moog-Type-S
Nice, VERY Nice!!!
I love the 33...great rode. Riden it about a half dozen times on the bike.
A great ride from Ojai to Interstate 5.
I love the 33...great rode. Riden it about a half dozen times on the bike.
A great ride from Ojai to Interstate 5.
you must give 58 a try, it's fantastic, and if you get chance, get up to 25!!
06-05-2006, 10:42 AM
#12
Suzuka Master
Awesome post Scott, good to hear you guys had fun!
So where did you put your luggage? My g/f would have brought so much crap there is no way it would fit in the truck of the goat.
BTW, I think my GTO seats are the most comfortable I have had in ANY car.
So where did you put your luggage? My g/f would have brought so much crap there is no way it would fit in the truck of the goat.
BTW, I think my GTO seats are the most comfortable I have had in ANY car.
06-05-2006, 10:45 AM
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Originally Posted by Ashburner
Awesome post Scott, good to hear you guys had fun!
So where did you put your luggage? My g/f would have brought so much crap there is no way it would fit in the truck of the goat.
BTW, I think my GTO seats are the most comfortable I have had in ANY car.
So where did you put your luggage? My g/f would have brought so much crap there is no way it would fit in the truck of the goat.
BTW, I think my GTO seats are the most comfortable I have had in ANY car.
suprisingly, both our standard size carry-on roll aways fit perfectly w/ room for a set of golf clubs, but that was it
While the trunk is tiny, and it's always bothered me, I am realizing it's a tad bit bigger then I give it credit for
06-05-2006, 10:49 AM
#16
The sizzle in the Steak
Originally Posted by CLpower
you must give 58 a try, it's fantastic, and if you get chance, get up to 25!!
Since you were up by Lompoc....next time you should go to Jalama Beach.
A great twisty road from PCH to the beach. It's a beach with one road in and out....very remote secluded beach. They have a campground and restaurant/store.
Take the 101 freeway north approximately 30 miles to
PCH 1(Pacific coast highway 1), then exit north on PCH 1 to (exit sign says
"Lompoc & Vandenberg AFB"). Travel approximately 15 miles to Jalama Road.
Take Jalama road, and 14 miles later, you're there.
PCH 1(Pacific coast highway 1), then exit north on PCH 1 to (exit sign says
"Lompoc & Vandenberg AFB"). Travel approximately 15 miles to Jalama Road.
Take Jalama road, and 14 miles later, you're there.
06-05-2006, 10:53 AM
#17
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Nice pics and writeup! I agree about modding the suspension. Its nice to be able to drive your car despite the road conditions.
Not like it matters, but how was your mpg through those roads?
Not like it matters, but how was your mpg through those roads?
06-05-2006, 10:56 AM
#18
teh Senior Instigator
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Originally Posted by SakiGT
Nice pics and writeup! I agree about modding the suspension. Its nice to be able to drive your car despite the road conditions.
Not like it matters, but how was your mpg through those roads?
Not like it matters, but how was your mpg through those roads?
06-05-2006, 10:58 AM
#19
teh Senior Instigator
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Originally Posted by Ashburner
Oh yeah, NEVER HAVE KIDS or you'll never be able to do something like this again and actually enjoy it!
I'm with ya
06-05-2006, 04:03 PM
#21
Senior Moderator
Nice write up!
....as kids do grow up and leave the nest (ideally) at some point, road trips (for the sake thereof) just become few and far between for 18-22 years. 
But yes! They can make a leisurely road trip 'less enjoyable'. 
Originally Posted by ASHBURNER
Oh yeah, NEVER HAVE KIDS or you'll never be able to do something like this again and actually enjoy it!
But yes! They can make a leisurely road trip 'less enjoyable'.
06-05-2006, 06:54 PM
#25
Go Giants
Very cool....
06-05-2006, 08:23 PM
#26
COME AT ME BRO!
holy sheeet scott thats an awsome trip mang.. i think its even better you decided to stop and snap pics for you guys and to share with us.. CONGRATS AGAIN YOU 2!!!!
06-06-2006, 10:31 AM
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Originally Posted by evilone
holy sheeet scott thats an awsome trip mang.. i think its even better you decided to stop and snap pics for you guys and to share with us.. CONGRATS AGAIN YOU 2!!!!
06-06-2006, 12:31 PM
#28
Three Wheelin'
congrats on the marriage, and what an awesome trip. Post some before and after pics of the Goat pre and post detailing.
EDIT: You have some MAJOR bug genocide on that front bumper
EDIT: You have some MAJOR bug genocide on that front bumper
06-06-2006, 12:32 PM
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I just realized I left all my car wash shit up at my parents house 
Looks like she'll finally have to see a real car wash as she really needs to get cleaned up
Looks like she'll finally have to see a real car wash as she really needs to get cleaned up
06-07-2006, 12:01 PM
#31
Engineer
great pics, i def want to drive along the coast next time i am in cali... only wish i would have my tsx out there though...
06-07-2006, 01:10 PM
#32
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Wow, nice road trip. I think I've been on all those roads (went to school in San Luis Obispo). Haven't had time to go on many road trips with the CL and I miss it... girlfriend can't get much time off work/school. It'd be fun to go on a cruise sometime... I'm in Huntington Beach too.
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