Comments on: Road Trip to Wenatchee

By: Paul Niedermeyer

Paul Niedermeyer — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:14:43 +0000

Wolven: I stand corrected. I tend to think of “high desert” generically, anything east of the Cascades, where its dry and sunny instead of wet and soggy.

By: Wolven

Wolven — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:41:32 +0000

Since I’m a native son of Wenatchee, I gotta question the “high desert town” part. We live in a valley, right on the Columbia river and the foothills of the Cascade mountain range. It’s called the Wenatchee Valley. Now, 20 miles east, and I agree, you’re in the high, flat, boring, constantly windy desert known as the Columbia Basin… more appropriately known as “hell” by us Wenatcheeites. As for Washingtons fine police forces… yeah, we’ve got some of the most prickly you’d ever hate to run across. But you gotta understand, after CA, Washington is the biggest Communist state in the union, and striving mightily to be the biggest period. Traffic fines are just one of the less imaginative ways the government here steals our money.

By: Facebook User

Facebook User — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:32:27 +0000

optic :
March 29th, 2008 at 12:04 pm

the thing to do in vegas is head up to the valley of fire. last time I was there we took a day away from the city, rented a z4, and made a day of it at the valley and the dam. awesome.

Valley of Fire or the closer Red Rock are great as long as it isn’t summer. Then you can catch a show or just party at night. Vegas isn’t all bad.

For a great drive, I really enjoyed driving Hwy 242 between Sisters and McKenzie Bridge, Oregon. The Oakville Grade between Napa and Sonoma Counties is pretty fun as long as you don’t get stuck behind a slow poke. The road from Hwy 101 to Shelter Cove, CA is nice and winding with plenty of rolling green sceenery, just make sure you have very good brakes for the last very steep section down into Shelter Cove. Because it is fairly winding with passing lanes, Hwy 29 between Callistoga and Middletown, CA can raise the adrenaline some.

By: Queensmet

Queensmet — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:04:24 +0000

I love the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are few “tourist” roads to beat it.
I live in Northern New York. For those of you who are thinking Westchester county, think again. About 500 miles north of NYC. Yes it is still New York. Drving around here is great. There are no interstates for 90 miles and there is always a road that goes somewhere you have never been before. Paul I know exactly how you feel.

theflyersfan
If you are on teh East coast, Try NY Rte 73 from I 87 to Lake Placid. Not very long, but sure has some nice turns and climbs in it.

Oh yeah, and if you are ever in Alaska, take the road to Eagle. The soutern part isn’t much, but the part of the road as you apporach Eagle is where you can disappear off the side and never be found again is a treat.

By: theflyersfan

theflyersfan — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:29:02 +0000

Possible question of the day down the road: What is your favorite scenic/speeding/urban/winding route? I’m always looking for some new routes for the next road trip!

By: David Holzman

David Holzman — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 03:27:18 +0000

Paul,

the Corvair story is wonderful. and I definitely agree about the barn.

By: Andy D

Andy D — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:16:25 +0000

great read, Paul. Just got back from a 680 mile shake down cruise for my newest 528e. I travelled from just south of Boston to the Baseball Hall of Fame via Hartford. The trip revealed a few minor issues I hope to correct before a 2k mile cruise to N. Carolina Memorial Day weekend. The last few jaunts have been taken with my eldest son as a co-driver.

By: Dinu Uscatu

Dinu Uscatu — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:35:32 +0000

Fantastic prose Mr. Niedermeyer! Thanks again!

By: Paul Niedermeyer

Paul Niedermeyer — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 06:31:05 +0000

David, I’ve made that wonderful drive all the way to the Smokey Mts. twice; the first time in the Corvair: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/auto-biography-12-training-wheels/

It was late fall, and back then the Blue Ridge Parkway (after Skyline Dr.) was practically deserted. It was the first and one of my all-time favorite pleasure drives.

By: David Holzman

David Holzman — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 03:14:38 +0000

Paul you make me envious with your tales of glorious drives out west, but it’s worth noting that there are some gorgeous drives in the east. The best may well be skyline along the top of the Appalachians in Virginia (I think it goes into the ‘linas but I’ve never been further south on it than near Charlottesville VA). Constant twists, and constant gorgeous views, great hiking if you feel like stopping. Good slightly in the off season, so that there’s no traffic.

I live in Boston, and my best friend in Albany NY. I often go out Rt. 2, and cut up into southern Vermont at the Connecticut River. The ride from the border until you get to the Troy-Albany-Schenectady area is very nice, and the way I drive it’s 3.5-4 hrs instead of 2.5.

By: Paul Niedermeyer

Paul Niedermeyer — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 23:41:33 +0000

chuck,

Loved the video. Your son so reminded me of Ted (Edward on TTAC) at that age, advanced verbal development and all. Beautiful car, and what a sound! Thanks for sharing.

By: David Holzman

David Holzman — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 21:05:42 +0000

I coasted down into Wenatchee from Stevens Pass, on my bicycle, on the way from Seattle to Boston, nearly 33 years ago. Then an hour or so along the river, then up another set of switchbacks for several hours to the top of the plateau.

Great story.

Chuck, the video is a riot! Nice to put a face to your name.

By: chuckgoolsbee

chuckgoolsbee — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 17:35:46 +0000

Great story. Washington state is home to some of the best 2-lane highways in the country. Oregon has some great roads too.

I’ll be returning to the Gorge this summer a couple of times in vintage car rallies (The Run To The Gorge & The Monte Shelton Northwest Classic) but for a taste of driving on the Washington side here is some (Sorry RF VERY minor hoonage-100mph alert) video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpXeMt7LYR8

My 13 year old son (now 18 and embarrassed by this video) is the overly enthusiastic cameraman & narrator. ;)

–chuck

By: CliffG

CliffG — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 17:19:13 +0000

We do have some nice out of the way roads here in Wash., the mountains around Wenootchee have some splendid gravel stuff if you like that kind of thing (i.e. have a car you don’t care THAT much about). Also, we have no real crime here so that allows all of our police forces to spend time on speed traps on I-5 at 8:30 on Sunday mornings, cops sitting on a very lightly traveled windy ex-urban roads looking for sport bikers, cops in Ephrata* etting angry about people going 60 in a 50 zone, that kind of thing. So, hey, welcome to our state!

*Ephrata: Middle of nowhere, take a left, there it is…..

By: optic

optic — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:04:46 +0000

(we didn’t have the $1500 for the lamborghini)

By: optic

optic — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:04:12 +0000

the thing to do in vegas is head up to the valley of fire. last time I was there we took a day away from the city, rented a z4, and made a day of it at the valley and the dam. awesome.

By: yankinwaoz

yankinwaoz — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 15:05:21 +0000

Reminds me of some of the road trips I would take in Australia. I could drive for hours and not see another car. Beautiful scenery… rolling hills, forests, beaches.

On those infrequently used roads, they only bother to pave a one-car wide strip down the middle. So on the rare occasion when you encounter another car, you both have drive on the gravel a bit.

*sigh* they were awesome trips.

By: olddavid

olddavid — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:39:50 +0000

Paul- You should be nominated for sainthood- this site would die from lack of readers if not for your entertaining missives. You must live damn close to me, because I too, wander past Crown Point at a moments notice, but usually on the Old Columbia River Highway. Anyway, keep it up, and thanks.

By: JK43123

JK43123 — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:22:08 +0000

I’ve been to Vegas and I’ve been on I-84. I’d take the rural beauty to tacky Vegas anytime.

John

By: UnclePete

UnclePete — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:56:59 +0000

Another wonderful story Paul. I feel the same way as you – if I can find the back roads to get somewhere, that’s the way I go. It’s even better when I can ride the motorcycle; you can get into quite a zen-like groove in the twisties on a bike.