Grand Tetons then heading East, not sure of the route yet if we are doing 80 or another way.
Heading back from Monterey, the long way
- Thread starter adawil2002
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Grand Tetons then heading East, not sure of the route yet if we are doing 80 or another way.
Andrew,
Done several trips from the west to mid-atlantic area. Consider I-90, then going up around the top of Lake MI, and down through MI, then skirt the bottom of the lakes and into NW PA and western NY. Much more interesting and scenic roads than I-80 (I helped build parts of I-80 during summer breaks when in college).
IF you do I-90, there is a great museum of the Lakota Souix Indians in Chamberland SD, and also a good museum of the Wounded Knee Indian massacre at Wall SD (same stop as Wall Drug!
Safe travels.
Done several trips from the west to mid-atlantic area. Consider I-90, then going up around the top of Lake MI, and down through MI, then skirt the bottom of the lakes and into NW PA and western NY. Much more interesting and scenic roads than I-80 (I helped build parts of I-80 during summer breaks when in college).
IF you do I-90, there is a great museum of the Lakota Souix Indians in Chamberland SD, and also a good museum of the Wounded Knee Indian massacre at Wall SD (same stop as Wall Drug!
Safe travels.
2nd September: Last day in Yellowstone, met up with Bill Whetstone, the brother of my BMW friend John Whetstone, who works at the Old Faithful Visitors Center. Then we headed out for our geothermal adventure. Saw some cool 'Paint Pots' brightly colored pools of acidic water burbling steam and some containing small geysers. We saw dozens of these pools, our favorite was the bubbling mud. We stopped a Gibbon Falls, just a waterfall, nothing truly spectacular. Then made our way to the Lamar Valley to see some distant Buffalo and we spotted two beavers going home for the night.
On our way to Mammoth Hot Springs, I saw some men running to their cars and taking off in their cars really fast...there was a pissed of bull buffalo chasing them, some people are idiots and don't heed the warning signs.
Then we walked on the boardwalk and paths of Mammoth Hot Springs to see the terraced pools and crystalline formations of calcium and other minerals.
On our way to Mammoth Hot Springs, I saw some men running to their cars and taking off in their cars really fast...there was a pissed of bull buffalo chasing them, some people are idiots and don't heed the warning signs.
Then we walked on the boardwalk and paths of Mammoth Hot Springs to see the terraced pools and crystalline formations of calcium and other minerals.
Grand Teton's yesterday, absolutely loved the spectacular craggy mountains. Did some walking around Jenny Lake. I imagine it was what Spirit Lake was like before Mt. St. Helens erupted. Fantastic vistas, waterfalls and hundreds enjoying it on the Labor Day Weekend, parking was a nightmare. Stopped in Jackson formerly known as Jackson Hole Wyoming. Peter C., we are going to the hat store here to get me a 'proper hat'. Now we actually start making miles to get home, time to get a move on. 2400+ miles to go before we get home.
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Andrew,
Forgot to mention Devils Tower in southeastern WY, and of course the black hills and the national park with the presidential busts on Mt. Rushmore as well as a magnificent - incredibly large - mountain carving of Chief Crazy Horse. It would be unfortunate to miss these when you are so close - if you haven't already seen them.
Safe travels whatever route you choose.
Forgot to mention Devils Tower in southeastern WY, and of course the black hills and the national park with the presidential busts on Mt. Rushmore as well as a magnificent - incredibly large - mountain carving of Chief Crazy Horse. It would be unfortunate to miss these when you are so close - if you haven't already seen them.
Safe travels whatever route you choose.
Did all that with Vern in 2010, had a great time on the Needles Highway in the Black Hills. Wish we had time to do those again this time.
Not much to report, up at 5 am to do laundry, all done by 7:15 am. Breakfast at 8 am. Repacked and cleaned the rain off Athena. Out of the hotel by 9. Headed into Jackson to buy a "real" hat at the Beavercreek Hat & Leather Co. Grabbed a coffee and actually drove out of Jackson at 11 am. Drove like a man possessed, speed limits just helped the cause, 70, 75 & 80 I'm an over-acheiver so add 10-15 mph. Made North Platte in 11 hours. Changed time zones so we lost an hour, going East sucks.
Andrew, my friend, you need to switch to steamed broccoli and water for a while! I am afraid you will not fit back into Vern!!!
Last 2 days were long. North Platte NE, to Avon OH 1054 miles in 15 hours. Then Avon, OH to Brunswick, ME 807 miles in 11:45.
We covered 9,406 miles in one day less than a month. Only issue was the mystery stall climbing to South Lake Tahoe. Athena ran fine the rest of the trip.
Photos: Male Praying Mantis in North Platte. At GAS FOOD Shell, stopped there in Vern last year, it was a coincidence. Sunset in Illinois or Indiana, don't remember. Checking oil and fluids in Avon OH. In the garage, after I came back from bowling.
We covered 9,406 miles in one day less than a month. Only issue was the mystery stall climbing to South Lake Tahoe. Athena ran fine the rest of the trip.
Photos: Male Praying Mantis in North Platte. At GAS FOOD Shell, stopped there in Vern last year, it was a coincidence. Sunset in Illinois or Indiana, don't remember. Checking oil and fluids in Avon OH. In the garage, after I came back from bowling.
Are you sending Athena to the spa for her splendid performance?
Yes, oil change and full detail next Tuesday.
What a amazing trip back and forth across the Country in a spectacular car! Nice to hear you made it back safe and sound although those were some crazy hours the last 2 days.
Andrew,
After living many years in the great plains, I am amazed that you could cross NE and IA without getting the front of your car and the windshield 'plastered' with carcasses of big bugs! In late summer and early fall, they just seemed to swarm on the highways!
Glad you've had such an enjoyable and safe journey.
After living many years in the great plains, I am amazed that you could cross NE and IA without getting the front of your car and the windshield 'plastered' with carcasses of big bugs! In late summer and early fall, they just seemed to swarm on the highways!
Glad you've had such an enjoyable and safe journey.
Andrew, you are a real adventurer! I think we all took the trip with you. Cowboy hats' off to your lovely wife for making the trip with you; I can tell you if it were me with my wife I would have made the trip allot quicker, or it's far more likely that she would have asked to fly home and then it would have taken me ALLOT longer 
. It would be nice to do an unofficial e9 trip with you and the clan members some time- maybe next year when there is not so much pressure to have all the coupes fancy and shined up 24/7. The trouble free ride at such distances is a true testament to the way you maintain your car and the expertise of Mario and his crew. Thank you both so much for your posts and words I think we are all humbled by your(s) sense of exploration. Too bad you can't fit "Vasco de Gama" on a license plate!
Peter
. It would be nice to do an unofficial e9 trip with you and the clan members some time- maybe next year when there is not so much pressure to have all the coupes fancy and shined up 24/7. The trouble free ride at such distances is a true testament to the way you maintain your car and the expertise of Mario and his crew. Thank you both so much for your posts and words I think we are all humbled by your(s) sense of exploration. Too bad you can't fit "Vasco de Gama" on a license plate!Peter
Cindy kept the windshield pretty clean. Every fill up she was scrubbing off thousands of bugs and cleaning the headlights. Hit a swarm of gnats or something, thought it was starting to rain. At times the the windshield was so covered I could barely see. Right now the whole nose and air dam are peppered with bugs.
We had a wonderful time on this big adventure, so glad to meet so many of you out in Monterey or along the way.
Unpacked Athena today and she let out a sigh of relief. Checked her oil and she needed a quart, so every 3,136/quart is pretty good for a 43 year old motor. Plan to clean her up a bit. Athena and I have a trip to Connecticut on Saturday and Sunday for a Caffeine & Carbs then the BMW CCA Humpa Picnic.
We had a wonderful time on this big adventure, so glad to meet so many of you out in Monterey or along the way.
Unpacked Athena today and she let out a sigh of relief. Checked her oil and she needed a quart, so every 3,136/quart is pretty good for a 43 year old motor. Plan to clean her up a bit. Athena and I have a trip to Connecticut on Saturday and Sunday for a Caffeine & Carbs then the BMW CCA Humpa Picnic.
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What a sigh of relief. We all talk about how these cars need to be driven but you were making me nervous! 
A great ending to an Epic adventure!
A great ending to an Epic adventure!Bwana
Well-Known Member
That must be a D-Jet free zone going up that hill. We too had an issue, it almost shut down but fired back up at the last minute. It ran brilliantly after that all the way home, never figured out the problem.
Excellent adventure! Any shots of going across the Plains?
Just the Praying Mantis, GAS FOOD and the sunset pic. Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and upper Ohio are similar except trees increase heading East.
It was just a show of solidarity/sympathy from your coupes directed toward mine (original CSI converted to carbs) and the struggles I had keeping up with you guys crossing the mountains in Nevada. Jeff, glad to hear you and Jackie also made it back home safely.
Doug
Well Done Andrew! Good to meet you @ Laguna Seca. Hope our paths cross again soon.