Out in the wild, PNW drives

[Transfer]

Yesterday my wife and I wanted to get out of Seattle so we drove up to La Conner to see if any flowers were out yet and we had never been up there so why not. It was a beautiful day and it got me excited for spring/summer driving trips.

Let's use this thread for planned and unplanned trips as well as photos. I know that drives were a bit of a bust last year so let's change that. Trips that I would like to do this year include:

1) North Cascades Hwy to Liberty Bell
2) Mt. Baker including North Fork Brewery and Beer Shrine (best beer in WA by my estimate)
3) Leavenworth (could include Blewett Pass to Iron Horse Brewery)
4) Mt. Saint Helens
5) Hurricane Ridge or Strait of Juan de Fuca Highway (Port Angeles)

Each trip is about 3 hours each way. Feedback? Other places?


Pics from this weekend:

[bruza]

Nice pics and great drive (close to my neck of the woods).

Agreed, we need to get some drives planned as the weather gets better in the NW. Yesterday I went up to Vancouver for their Spring Meet and met w/ some of the local Bimmer Folks. We were joking about how the NW Forum is/ has been dead of late. Some of those guys were interested in drives too.

We talked about a cruise up to Whistler and even the Oregon Coast came up.

[kerrit]

Nice pics. I grew up in the Skagit Valley - I enjoy ripping down the country roads when visiting family.

Can we start a fund to get you painted reflectors and matte kidneys?

[Carrozzeria]

Originally Posted by kerrit

Nice pics. I grew up in the Skagit Valley - I enjoy ripping down the country roads when visiting family.

Can we start a fund to get you painted reflectors and matte kidneys?

the performance kidney grills are the way to go though for sure!

[bruza]

Originally Posted by Transfer

Feedback? Other places?

Forgot to comment here:

Not a long drive (compared to your choices - all good btw)

Chuckanut Drive is a solid short drive along the water. I've taken the ///M down there on a quick loop then up I-5. Good times.

[Transfer]

YES start me a fund. I like that idea, at least for the reflectors. The old man in me kind of likes the classic BMW grill.

Whistler - Too far for me as a day trip but I go up there a few times each summer for downhill biking. The problem is, I take our other car because I won't put a heavy, dirty DH bike on my M.
Oregon coast - Could work although that would be an overnighter for me at least.
Chuckanut - I grew up in Bellingham so Chuckanut is always a favorite. It's definitely more of a cruiser and not a sporty drive due to traffic, state patrol.

[kerrit]

No matte kidneys, no deal.

I have some extra cans of plastidip, want them?

[urBan_dK]

I'm always down for a drive

[Fen335i]

Originally Posted by bruza

Nice pics and great drive (close to my neck of the woods).

Agreed, we need to get some drives planned as the weather gets better in the NW. Yesterday I went up to Vancouver for their Spring Meet and met w/ some of the local Bimmer Folks. We were joking about how the NW Forum is/ has been dead of late. Some of those guys were interested in drives too.

We talked about a cruise up to Whistler and even the Oregon Coast came up.

Whistler would be a great drive in an M-car. I've been up there many many times, but always in winter (driving the winter SUV)...and every time I drive that twisty sea-to-sky highway I think about how fun it would be on a sunny day in a proper car.

[Transfer]

I'm putting a feeler out for a mid-week drive somewhere between May 20 and 23. This would probably be North Cascades highway. Who would be interested and more importantly, who could be free those dates?

[Fen335i]

Originally Posted by Transfer

I'm putting a feeler out for a mid-week drive somewhere between May 20 and 23. This would probably be North Cascades highway. Who would be interested and more importantly, who could be free those dates?

Better check to see if that highway is open by then....they shut that one down in winter and depending on spring snowfall it can be pretty late to open back up for the summer season. I think it's usually open by Memorial Day though.

[Transfer]

Good thinking but it's already open. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/04...NCHReopens.htm
Weather will of course be a big question though. If it's sunny, it's beautiful in May.

[Fen335i]

^ That's great! A gorgeous drive for sure....and Winthrop is a great overnight stay if you want to do it in 2 days and take your time. We took my wife's Z4M roadster over and had a great time last fall.

[urBan_dK]

Mid-week doesn't work for me, unfortunately.

[Transfer]

What about Sunday May 19th? (weather dependent)

[1MOREMOD]

i should have my car back by then im hoping. depends on the distance but i may do this.

[bruza]

May 19th would likely work for me. How long a drive is that roundtrip?

Hoping the plan would be to start early (work at 630 AM Monday).

[Transfer]

Full round trip from Seattle to Washington Pass and back with minimal stopping is about 6 hours. Add another hour or so for some stops so if thats too long we could pick a different drive.

[urBan_dK]

Sundays don't typically work well for me, unless afternoon only. So count me out for the 19th.

[Fen335i]

How bout something a little shorter? US2 to Leavenworth (lunch) and back? I might be available that day...depending on fam stuff of course.

[Transfer]

Originally Posted by urBan_dK

Sundays don't typically work well for me, unless afternoon only. So count me out for the 19th.

So saturday only then eh?



Alright, tentative drive May 19th to Leavenworth, weather dependent. Stay tuned...

[urBan_dK]

Originally Posted by Transfer

So saturday only then eh?

Sunday, works...if in the afternoon/evening. Day long drives, yeah Saturday only.