Panamera's winter US 12,000km adventures. - Part 1
Discussion
V12GT said:
Came here via the retirement thread, so knew you wintered in AZ, but some great photos and a lovely travelogue - thanks.
We used to live in MO and have done the Western States in a big circle - a great trip and amazing views, but we didn't get to Monument Valley as someone rear ended us near Bloomfield, NM and the nearest garage was in Durango, so we ended up doing a different route back.
It’ll still be there;) Am planning the back trip now and then a Fall trip when I am shipping my 992RS back to Europe for some events there.We used to live in MO and have done the Western States in a big circle - a great trip and amazing views, but we didn't get to Monument Valley as someone rear ended us near Bloomfield, NM and the nearest garage was in Durango, so we ended up doing a different route back.
omniflow said:
Hi RDMcG - Yet another interesting post, and apologies for the slight thread hi-jack, but I suspect you're the person on here with the right level of local knowledge to advise me accurately.
I'm in the process of planning a roadtrip for Feb 2025 - 12th - 23rd. Starting in Las Vegas and travelling anti-clockwise roughly according to the route below. The $64,000 question is "What car should I rent for the trip"? My current plan is a V8 convertible Mustang, mainly because I think that roof down you'll get better views and feel a bit more immersed in the surroundings. However, a few things I have read, including parts of this thread, lead me to think that some kind of 4*4 might be a better bet. I have a convertible V8 powered car in the UK, so there is no "itch to scratch", but I definitely don't have any hankering to drive a GMC Yukon, Dodge Durango or any other kind of over specified US 4*4. However, I do want to make sure I choose a car that will allow us to get the most out of the trip, so I am putting all of my personal preferences to one side for the moment. I would be picking up and returning to Las Vegas, so I assume this gives me pretty much free choice?
Any suggestions? TIA
One other thought is Death Valley which is not that far beyond Vegas as recall......couple of pics I took there at Zabriskie Point...............I'm in the process of planning a roadtrip for Feb 2025 - 12th - 23rd. Starting in Las Vegas and travelling anti-clockwise roughly according to the route below. The $64,000 question is "What car should I rent for the trip"? My current plan is a V8 convertible Mustang, mainly because I think that roof down you'll get better views and feel a bit more immersed in the surroundings. However, a few things I have read, including parts of this thread, lead me to think that some kind of 4*4 might be a better bet. I have a convertible V8 powered car in the UK, so there is no "itch to scratch", but I definitely don't have any hankering to drive a GMC Yukon, Dodge Durango or any other kind of over specified US 4*4. However, I do want to make sure I choose a car that will allow us to get the most out of the trip, so I am putting all of my personal preferences to one side for the moment. I would be picking up and returning to Las Vegas, so I assume this gives me pretty much free choice?
Any suggestions? TIA
Truly great images there! The early light is just stunning in that landscape, jaw-dropping, otherworldly. Something very spiritual about dawn's warm comfort washing through as one stands tiny and silent in a giant scene. Humbling. Bucket list destination. Really like the plentiful American metal too!
Thanks for sharing your expertly composed travelogue once again RD.
Thanks for sharing your expertly composed travelogue once again RD.
gruffgriff said:
Truly great images there! The early light is just stunning in that landscape, jaw-dropping, otherworldly. Something very spiritual about dawn's warm comfort washing through as one stands tiny and silent in a giant scene. Humbling. Bucket list destination. Really like the plentiful American metal too!
Thanks for sharing your expertly composed travelogue once again RD.
All you need is an iPhone and a tank of gasThanks for sharing your expertly composed travelogue once again RD.
.....RDMcG said:
One other thought is Death Valley which is not that far beyond Vegas as recall......couple of pics I took there at Zabriskie Point...............
Can second Death Valley - we didn’t see enough of it at all when we went but the formations and the scenery is stunning. Not to mention the stars at night - never seen a sky like it.My wife preferred it to The Grand Canyon
gruffgriff said:
Well there's a little more to consider...home counties to AZ will need a VERY early alarm to arrive by dawn, any dawn....
I have the opposite direction problem...have some events in Europe In September so putting a car in a container to Munich and hoping it arrives in one piece. Always fun to see the Polizei trying to decipher Canadian registration plates!
rlw said:
Great pics and a great thread. Almost enough to make me think flying won't necessarily end in a fiery death....
Well, we’re all going to die anyway and my sense was that time is a valuable diminishing resource more than money or the like. The chances of an air crash are lower than slipping in the bath and breaking your neck though I appreciate that we have different fears.I will be 76 this year and have the same sense of not postponing experiences that I had at 15. There is of course less time!
gruffgriff said:
And good fortune 737s aren`t doing the Atlantic run...it`ll be fine!
The Porsche has more aero tech than Alcock and Brown`s Vimy, can you not just fly it back to Europe? Air paddles on the wheels? The larger of the desk fans taped to the boot?
It has brilliant takeoff. Landing is rough though.The Porsche has more aero tech than Alcock and Brown`s Vimy, can you not just fly it back to Europe? Air paddles on the wheels? The larger of the desk fans taped to the boot?
Another fantastic thread, thank you for posting and sharing these trips with us.
I’ve found myself on a two week business trip out west, week one at a conference in Vegas (awful place) and week two will be next week about 30 miles south of Tucson. Most of my colleagues are from the US so have flown home for the weekend, but I decided to drive. Picked up the rental car from National this morning.
As always I asked if they had anything interesting, particularly a Mustang V8. I got the answer I expected, but they did offer me a BMW 430i cab as a FOC upgrade. Far better than the usual drab SUV I normally get.
Having visited the Grand Caynon a couple of times prior, I decided to go via Death Valley even though it was in the opposite direction. Today I completed 400 miles and had one of the best road trips ever. Weather was a perfect 20deg C, roof down, scenery out of this world. Death Valley far exceeded my expectations, my favourite was Badwater Basin, the lowest place in the USA. The roads were long, scenic and almost empty. One section was 10 miles long. Amazing place. Also saw a convoy of Tesla Cyber Trucks which was cool to see.
Tomorrow I will head towards Phoenix through Joshua Tree National Park and early Monday morning head down to Tucson.
A few pictures of today’s adventures are below.
I will explore a few of the towns you’ve recommended south of Tucson this week too.
I’ve found myself on a two week business trip out west, week one at a conference in Vegas (awful place) and week two will be next week about 30 miles south of Tucson. Most of my colleagues are from the US so have flown home for the weekend, but I decided to drive. Picked up the rental car from National this morning.
As always I asked if they had anything interesting, particularly a Mustang V8. I got the answer I expected, but they did offer me a BMW 430i cab as a FOC upgrade. Far better than the usual drab SUV I normally get.
Having visited the Grand Caynon a couple of times prior, I decided to go via Death Valley even though it was in the opposite direction. Today I completed 400 miles and had one of the best road trips ever. Weather was a perfect 20deg C, roof down, scenery out of this world. Death Valley far exceeded my expectations, my favourite was Badwater Basin, the lowest place in the USA. The roads were long, scenic and almost empty. One section was 10 miles long. Amazing place. Also saw a convoy of Tesla Cyber Trucks which was cool to see.
Tomorrow I will head towards Phoenix through Joshua Tree National Park and early Monday morning head down to Tucson.
A few pictures of today’s adventures are below.
I will explore a few of the towns you’ve recommended south of Tucson this week too.
Edited by matt21 on Sunday 28th January 06:05
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff