: Palm Springs, California
Aston Martin V12 Vantage S
American landscape makes you feel small
"This is a classic 'for the hell of it' out and back route, plotted here from the heart of Palm Springs strip on Palm Canyon Drive, up into the mountains and returning, for no reason other than we're a bit juvenile and it appeared on Google Maps, to a shop called 'Shag'.
"The bars and beers of Palm Canyon Drive will be a welcome destination after this drive too, because your mind will have been well and truly blown. We all know everything is bigger in America but the 300-odd miles you'll have just driven puts a different scale on everything, from gradients, corners, cambers, views, drops and landscape to heat, cake portions and driving manners alike.
"Heading out of Palm Springs and towards the main Interstate back to LA you quickly branch off, through the usual sprawl and then suddenly the road rears up and into the mountains, looping back on itself time after time as the landscape gets more and more rugged. Further up it becomes cooler, greener and more wooded before you branch off right and, via a short diversion scoped out by Aston boss Dr Bez, drop south from Temecula for a bit of Interstate before heading back up into the hills and to the arid Borrego Springs. The road up from here is just spectacular, a valley run taking you back the way you came before looping south back to Palm Springs via another incredible plunge down hairpin after hairpin after hairpin."
What, you thought US roads were all straight?
"So many reasons but, mainly, the quality of the driving and the incredible scenery through which it takes you. The roads that climb and descend the hills are just incredible, with huge constant radius bends, tight hairpins, steep cambers and drops you'll probably not want to look at but need to be aware of! Road surfaces are generally very good too and the roads quiet once out of the towns. You'll see it all too, from the glitz of Palm Springs to the bare, rocky mountainsides, lush tree-lined summits and white-fenced farms of the valleys. The sheer variety of scenery within this relatively small corner of California is breathtaking, as is the desert heat on the inland stretches. There's even a great coffee shop and diner which, by spooky coincidence, appears twice on the route..."
Highlights and lowlights:
"The climbs out of Palm Springs and Borrego Springs are both equally awe inspiring, the final descent likewise. Well-sighted and open corners combine with rapid-fire hairpins and you'll always be doing something so make sure you get a go in the passenger seat and have time to take in the views too.
Yes, it'll make you feel you're in a movie
"Even when the hairpin onslaught ends and the road becomes noticeably less intense, there's enough classic Americana to keep you entertained. It's not as jaw dropping as earlier parts of the route, but it's easily as entertaining as any British B-road you care to mention.
"Lowlights? Well, American road planners are very risk-averse and double yellows are everywhere, even on perfectly well-sighted straights. As such overtaking isn't always as easy as you'd hope but the roads are generally quiet and locals seemingly happy to pull over if you're enjoying a 'spirited drive' in something tasty. Speed limits are low though and Johnny Law is never too far away. And well armed. Out in the wilds it's quiet enough but you'd be advised to take particular care in towns and especially past schools. But, being a responsible adult, you'd be doing that anyway - right?"
Paradise Valley Cafe an essential stop
Sights, stop-offs and diversions:
"This is a quiet, sleepy corner of California and certainly more authentic than the endless strip malls (not that kind of 'strip') and grids of the suburbs. Out here you'll find more locally run bars and cafes than in the franchise-heavy populated areas, the
Paradise Valley Cafe
a particular highlight and featuring both on the outward and return legs of our route. Handy, eh? The apple pie comes heartily recommended... Just parallel to the end point you'll find McCormick's auctions, which has some eclectic vehicles on sale for your tyre-kicking pleasure, including while we were there this 'distinctive'
Rinspeed Porsche
. Oh, and we've included on the route a ridiculous roller coaster diversion shown to us by the ever enthusiastic Aston boss Dr Bez. It's only a short section but is certain to put a big grin on your face."
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