A Proper Road Trip

[derbo]

Happy motoring indeed!!

[Candide13]

The M3 is a hoot - even though it really likes to drink the go-juice.

Great adventure! As for the juice, we took our E90 coast-to-coast a few years ago; overall average was 19 mpg, I think, but that was on stock engine + no tune...

Those desert and mountain roads out West are otherworldly, and fun to drive.

Carpe diem, this is going to be a memory to take with you.

[MMachines]

Salt Lake City wasn't on your map, last minute reconsideration? Did you drive around temple square? It's a little scary IMO as someone who's not religious.

[6ixSpd]

That looks like an epic trip! have a blast and take lots of photos

[timothy2001]

Originally Posted by MMachines

Salt Lake City wasn't on your map, last minute reconsideration? Did you drive around temple square? It's a little scary IMO as someone who's not religious.

They don't burn non/believers in the center square anymore, the Church is much more friendly to outsiders these days.

Have you seen the secret handshake videos and other clandestine videos taken? Now that is come scary stuff.

In all seriousness though, SLC is beautiful and a very hot tech center. Those mountain views!!!

[MMachines]

Originally Posted by timothy2001

They don't burn non/believers in the center square anymore, the Church is much more friendly to outsiders these days.

Have you seen the secret handshake videos and other clandestine videos taken? Now that is come scary stuff.

In all seriousness though, SLC is beautiful and a very hot tech center. Those mountain views!!!

Proselytizing wouldn't work well if believers weren't nice to outsiders, would it? I have not seen handshake videos... some youtube time later today I suppose.

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by MMachines

Salt Lake City wasn't on your map, last minute reconsideration? Did you drive around temple square? It's a little scary IMO as someone who's not religious.

My wife is a geologist so she wanted to see the salt lake. We did not spend long there . And on a positive note, my hair did not light on fire at any point.

In Sonoma now. Very nice place. The petrified Forrest road from Calistoga to Sonoma is pretty dope.

Cheers,

[Scharbag]

Gunna head up highway #1 in Cali tomorrow - looks like an awesome trip!!

So many groovy roads. So few days.

[firstbimmer]

You're in my backyard! If you want to get to hwy 1 without getting on 101 tomorrow, and you are in the town of sonoma, take Adobe road across the hill over to petaluma, turn right onto old Adobe road, then left onto east Washington at the first stoplight. That road will take you all the way to the coast and turns into hwy1 heading north. Its that easy! Awesome roads, beautiful surroundings, no way to get lost And you'll drive right by my house.

[Scharbag]

I am in Petaluma and we went to bodega bay for lunch yesterday. Getting to 1 is sweetly simple!

[SYT_Shadow]

sounds like you're still having a blast! Enjoy!

[firstbimmer]

So many great driving roads west of petaluma, they are my happy place when I need a break from life🤣 Too bad memorial day weekend is going to clog them all up! Sorry for confusion on town, tourists in county tend to refer to being in sonoma no matter what town they're in, locals tend to refer to sonoma when talking about the town of.

Enjoy the drive up hwy 1 and be safe, lots of accidents north of Jenner from people driving too fast on very windy roads. It's a great drive but bumpy roads, blind corners with bicyclists, and drop offs to ocean. If you take that route, I suggest stopping at Fort Ross. If you take 101 up north, be sure to stop at the redwoods.

Have a great trip!

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by firstbimmer

So many great driving roads west of petaluma, they are my happy place when I need a break from life�� Too bad memorial day weekend is going to clog them all up! Sorry for confusion on town, tourists in county tend to refer to being in sonoma no matter what town they're in, locals tend to refer to sonoma when talking about the town of.

Enjoy the drive up hwy 1 and be safe, lots of accidents north of Jenner from people driving too fast on very windy roads. It's a great drive but bumpy roads, blind corners with bicyclists, and drop offs to ocean. If you take that route, I suggest stopping at Fort Ross. If you take 101 up north, be sure to stop at the redwoods.

Have a great trip!

Now the I have a computer to type on:

I can see how the roads around Petaluma would be therapeutic. Some amazing routes in that part of the world. I would be broke due to fuel and tire costs if I lived around there for sure.

We made it up California Highway 1 from Petaluma heading north. It took just over 6 hours to get from Petaluma to Trinidad. All I have to say is Highway 1 is a BLAST!!! What a fabulous road - like a solid 11. I can see how people can screw up bad on that one and park it in the ocean or down a gulley. And to all the bikers that ride it - good for you but you are a little nuts.

Simply an awesome drive.

[firstbimmer]

You literally are following our route! We love Trinidad. We try to spend a chunk of time at the trinidad bay bed and breakfast every couple years. It's the red house at the end of the road. I could sit on the porch and stare at the ocean all day long there, plus the drive up and back is part of the fun!

[firstbimmer]

Trinidad😊

[Scharbag]

101 up to Newport was also a hoot. The memorial day traffic is not too bad. Couple days here then on to Portland. This trip is stellar. Bit funny to have someone pump your fuel for you... Oregon is a little different I guess. But at least they sell 92 octane here!!

And I like the Cali style with their coffee!!

[firstbimmer]

I swear we must be related as you are copying all my driving routes and vacation stops. The aquarium in Newport is a great afternoon visit, plus Rogue Ales Brewery is a block away. We used to have a family beach house in Waldport (just south) and spend our time in Newport. You are in for a wonderful drive if you keep on 101 all the way up. We were just up there last week and head over to Corvallis from Newport and take 99 north towards Portland. That's a beautiful drive as well. Take care going thru the coastal towns on 101 in Oregon, I have had my share of police encounters from the many speed traps. So many awesome memories of the drives you are doing...have a blast!

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by firstbimmer

I swear we must be related as you are copying all my driving routes and vacation stops. The aquarium in Newport is a great afternoon visit, plus Rogue Ales Brewery is a block away. We used to have a family beach house in Waldport (just south) and spend our time in Newport. You are in for a wonderful drive if you keep on 101 all the way up. We were just up there last week and head over to Corvallis from Newport and take 99 north towards Portland. That's a beautiful drive as well. Take care going thru the coastal towns on 101 in Oregon, I have had my share of police encounters from the many speed traps. So many awesome memories of the drives you are doing...have a blast!

We are probably going to take the 20 to I-5 to get to Portland and chillax.

I have been behaving so no tickets yet!!

Cheers,

[firstbimmer]

20 is a great drive over from Newport, especially after construction ended on the bypass. If you have a little extra time, take 99w north when u hit Corvallis instead of continuing to Albany and I5 via 20. 99w is a great relaxing drive and wonderful scenery, I literally went out of my way to take that exact route last weekend while up on vacation. I5 from Albany to Portland is extremely boring, 99w doesn't add a ton of extra time but is much more satisfying. If you take 99w north, stop in mcminnville at evergreen space and air museum...definitely worth it, and you can go inside the spruce goose. It's off of 18 in mcminnville.

[R8T3D_M]

That Sounds like an awesome trip! I recently bought my M3 in Tacoma Washington and drove it back to Detroit MI. roughly 2800 miles! No issues!

[xander_g]

Sounds like you have a great road trip ahead of you. Have fun and be safe!

[Scharbag]

Car is running awesome. Fresh oil at the start of the 3000 mile voyage and the oil indicator has not budged off of the centre mark. Running a mix of Redline 10W60 (7.3 quarts) and 5W40 (2 quarts) for this trip. Pretty happy with that. The new Micheline PS4S tires are great - good gription and not overly noisy or harsh.

Last leg in the USA today through Washington State. Highway 504 and 505 near Mt. St. Helens are nice. LOTS of fuzz on the road though so be careful. Eating lots of go juice but not unreasonable I would say. The view at Mt. St. Helens was spectacular - what destruction can occur when mother nature has a bit of a hissy fit...

Also, followed some ass clown in a grass clipping hauler (for what reason it is economical to haul grass clippings I am unsure) that pulled out in front of me. He dumped grass all over the road for a few miles before I could pass and I will need to clean out my air-box when I get home... Every time I hit the gas I have grass come out of my hood vent. Not cool.

Heading up to B.C. through Spokane. That route I have done before a few times and I will have to say that there are some great roads in the B.C. interior. If you have the chance, drive highway 3A from Kootenay Bay to Creston. A fine piece of pavement and you will get to take the longest free ferry in the world I believe. Also, 31A from New Denver to Kaslo is just awesome and was re-paved not long ago. In the summer months there are lots of tourists but before June and September-October it is not congested and fun can be had. Not a ton of fun in winter I would suspect but hey, you can harness your inner rally driver if you want.

Next challenge: to see how many $$ that I will need to pay to bring wine we bought back into B.C... Not looking forward to that.

If there are any M3 members in Nelson B.C., let me know!

Cheers,