[JimGnitecki]

I know this will sound really crazy, seeing as how I just picked up my brand new SSR TODAY, but both me and my wife, Karen, have just loved the first few hours of riding around in it, and I got this crazy idea for a road trip, and she supports it!

I am temporarily actually between contract assignments at the moment, afer spending the majority of 2004 traveling on business, all on multi-link airline trips. I didn't get to enjoy any vacation at all.

Today, I suggested, not really seriously, that I should really take this rod on a real road trip, while I actually have the time to do it (next assignment will almost certainly take me to another city for a few months, and limit available time off).

A team of our church musicians are traveling out to Sausalito, 1 to 3 at a time, back and forth, over the next 3 to 4 weeks, to record a Christian music record release at a very respected recording studio.

The distance from Austin to Sausalito is about 1750 miles each way, so a 3500 mile road trip, and I suggested maybe I would just get into the SSR sometime in the next few days and go there and back, spending 3 to 4 days in the Bay area. The total trip would be about 10 days. Karen thought it was a great idea!

I am really attracted to going out there by car, as I love the Bay area scenery and driving, and would be able to hang out with and provide some moral support to the musicians from our church as they work their 11 hour days on the recording project.

I'm a little intimidated by 3 things:

- Weather and driving conditions in West Texas can get a little bad in the winter, if I get unlucky

- I hate to make a trip like that in a car that has not yet proven its reliability

- I don't even have license plates yet!

Karen has to work, but she even suggested I consider inviting one of the guys from the church to come along, especially if they are relatives to one of the musicians on the project.

What do the rest of you SSR fanatics think? Am I nuts, or could this actually work?

Jim G

 

[Flassh]

Go for it, Jim - you'll love it.

I bought mine in May in North Carolina, and drove it cross country into Washington, and up to Canada.

My wife and I took it on a road trip in early November. Took it to Vancouver in my auto hauler to miss the nasty winter roads, then down into California, to Vegas for a week, over to the Grand Canyon, down to Phoenix, and across to Huntington Beach, and up the coastline, staying on Highway 1 whenever possible, except for a jaunt into the Napa Valley, and back to the coast.

It's amazing how a yellow SSR can stick out in a sea of Porsche Cayennes and Hummers - nothing annoys a Viper owner more than people pointing at the SSR in the next lane on the Vegas strip.

It's a great cruiser, and lots of room for luggage, but not quite enough for hitting the antique shops. Makes it pretty much perfect. The only weak link is the whole no spare situation - you tend to keep your eyes focused on possible junk in your lane. I'm at 22000 miles, and no problems at all once we got the new tonneau hinges. They were an issue on the first 1250 off the line.

Just watch the valet parking if you hit any upper crust places. We lucked out and got a great deal on a room at the Huntington Beach Hyatt Resort - everything was great except the parking - they insisted on valet, and I wouldn't let them. I said I'd park it, but they could come along for the ride. They put me in the first section, reserved for handicap. - apparently there were a few other anal guys there - check out the rides parked in the same corner. Next morning, a guy with a Dodge SRT-10 did the same thing - he was walking to his truck, with valet in tow - drove it out himself. Don't blame him - wouldn't want a valet playing with 500 HP inside the parkade.

I attached a shot taken going through the Avenue of the Giants in northern California, and of our chance meeting with RedRoadster in Monterey. We had made a last minute decision to take one more lap along the beach instead of getting back on the highway after doing the Pebble Beach 17 mile cruise. I'd had conversations with him on the Fanatic site, so meeting up accidentally and chatting for 30 minutes was a blast.

The SSR is the best cruiser we've ever had - very comfortable, and couldn't wait to get back in it each morning. We're toying with going cross country to the Maritimes, and down through the northeastern states, and back home next September. We'll pile up insane miles on it, but we bought it to play with it, and I've never enjoyed myself more - my wife and I joke about it being way cheaper than a mistress, if you have to have a mid-life reawakening.

Good luck - enjoy yourself. It doesn't get any better.


Ray

 

[wildcat66]

The weather is the only thing that would stop me a little. I wasn't worried when I set out for St. Louis on my own just two months after I got it. Read this site to maybe be more prepared for any upcoming issues, Take your washing stuff you will not want to see bugs or any road gunk all over your ride. Have a blast and enjoy. You can always stop or turn around if you feel the need. Happy Cruisin

 

[kwhopper89]

The SSR is a great road trip vehicle. My initial drive was from Missoula Montana back to Central California the first week of Dec 2003 - about 1500 miles. I too had weather/road condition worries. I had about 50 miles of slushy roads to drive - but the rest was just wet. No problems at all..

Your route will most likely bring only wet roads - if that. The major storms seem to be done for now (Just don't plan on Hwy 101 Out of LA north thru Ventura County for obvious mud slide reasons.) Which means that for some of your journey you'll need to go thru the San Joaquin valley - and with that some good possibility of early morning FOG. It can be really bad, so if you can schedule to pass thru here in the afternoon - do so.

Interstate 5 out of LA is now free of snow. BUT, If you want to avoid LA, you can route yourself through Barstow (I-40 then Hwy 58 over Tehachapi), Hwy 58 continues thru Bakersfield (stop and say howdy to Buck Owens at his Crystal Palace :lol ) and will connect back into Hwy 101 in San Luis Obispo County. This will prevent you from experiencing much of the wonderful TULE FOG I mentioned.

You may want to avoid Hwy 1 north of there (Between San Simeon and Monterey) - as that was closed near Big Sur too. (It happens EVERY time a good storm passes thru.) From the Monterey area, you may be able to take Hwy 1 on up the coast - as there are only a couple areas that are subject to mudslides - and I believe they are open and passable...

I think the long range is no rain - at least thru Sat the 22nd...

IF you do travel up Hwy 99 thru the Valley - I'd be glad to buy you a cup of coffee in the Fresno/Kingsburg area and talk SSR w/ you!!! :yesnod

Photo from Hwy 1 West of Sausalito... (FYI - check out the SSR-Club when you are there - lots of SSR fanaticals...)

 

[Bill Bogert]

Do it While You Can!!

I know this will sound really crazy, seeing as how I just picked up my brand new SSR TODAY, but both me and my wife, Karen, have just loved the first few hours of riding around in it, and I got this crazy idea for a road trip, and she supports it!

I am temporarily actually between contract assignments at the moment, afer spending the majority of 2004 traveling on business, all on multi-link airline trips. I didn't get to enjoy any vacation at all.

Today, I suggested, not really seriously, that I should really take this rod on a real road trip, while I actually have the time to do it (next assignment will almost certainly take me to another city for a few months, and limit available time off).

A team of our church musicians are traveling out to Sausalito, 1 to 3 at a time, back and forth, over the next 3 to 4 weeks, to record a Christian music record release at a very respected recording studio.

The distance from Austin to Sausalito is about 1750 miles each way, so a 3500 mile road trip, and I suggested maybe I would just get into the SSR sometime in the next few days and go there and back, spending 3 to 4 days in the Bay area. The total trip would be about 10 days. Karen thought it was a great idea!

I am really attracted to going out there by car, as I love the Bay area scenery and driving, and would be able to hang out with and provide some moral support to the musicians from our church as they work their 11 hour days on the recording project.

I'm a little intimidated by 3 things:

- Weather and driving conditions in West Texas can get a little bad in the winter, if I get unlucky

- I hate to make a trip like that in a car that has not yet proven its reliability

- I don't even have license plates yet!

Karen has to work, but she even suggested I consider inviting one of the guys from the church to come along, especially if they are relatives to one of the musicians on the project.

What do the rest of you SSR fanatics think? Am I nuts, or could this actually work?

Jim G

Jim :

Do it while you can. Don't wait... or you will miss-out. Please enjoy the trip and have a blast!!!!

PS- do take a bucket, sponge and shammy...Keep her clean, shinney, and have fun!

 

[JimGnitecki]

I'm going to do it!

Probably leave Saturday morning birght and early.

Jim G

 

[Bill Bogert]

I'm going to do it!

Probably leave Saturday morning birght and early.

Jim G

Good luck Jim..... Enjoy!!!!

 

[kwhopper89]

The major storms seem to be done for now (Just don't plan on Hwy 101 Out of LA north thru Ventura County for obvious mud slide reasons.)

California highway update: Hwy 101 is now open up the coast from LA - BUT Interstate 5 North out of LA has some major issues. CalTrans is trying to remove water from the soil UNDER the roadway (now that sounds like fun), The biggest issue is for SOUTHbound traffic - 3 to 6 hours delay going south into LA over the 'grapevine' - as there is only one useable lane. I understand that CalTrans is re-striping the road and will take some of the NORTHbound lanes to help with the SOUTHbound traffic. SO - both directions will be affected.

 

[JimGnitecki]

Keith: Thanks for the alert! I am in Benson, AZ already, and will stay in Ontario, CA Sunday night. I had planned to go up I-5, so now I'll check my atlas and devekop an alternate route. I don't have Internet access at my hotel in Benson!! I had to go out in the SSR and find this spot where someone kindly let me access their wireless. We take SO much for granted, don't we . . .

My hotel in Ontario DOES have wireless access (I checked!!)

I'm probabky stoppnig in Santa Ana Monday before going up the coast. So, if anyone has any helpful rotuing advice on getting from Ontario or Santa Ana to Sausilito on Monday, send it to me email address: [email protected].

Jim G