Tales from the West Coast
Discussion
Wasn't sure where to put this, but as it's travel i figured here...
We went to California back in October, something we've been planning for a while and had a lot of fun...
So, i though i'd share the tale..
It started with an idea, one of those back of the fag packet moments that normally get tossed into the bin after the last one has been smoked. Each of us had driven roads all over the West Coast of America and begged to differ when told that all of them were straight and boring. We also knew that the latest C6 Corvette was a car worthy of higher praise than it ever received outside of the USA.
So, why not put them together? Great roads, a great car, friendly people and a new slant on the road trip idea
Fast forward a year, intensive research, haggling, conversations with local experts and our own experience had brought us to this moment and as we waited at San Francisco airport for first to arrive Pete and I smiled to ourselves knowing that the next 8 days were going to be a lot of fun. For our first American dream tour we kept the numbers small but even so, we would have a total of 6 cars with petrolheads from all over the world (a Dutch couple living in France, a Yorkshireman living in Australia with his Aussie mate, An Australian and his wife living in London but flying in from Canada, and four from the UK, plus Pete and myself)
Five bright yellow Corvette convertibles awaited us in the underground car park (the sixth would join us in Santa Barbara), fluorescent lights glowing and bouncing off the sinuous curves. America’s only real Supercar was about to be put through its paces Petrolhead Nirvana style.
The first task was to perform an intricate and complicated modification to each of the cars so it would meet our requirements to the full. A fuse just under the dashboard controlling the active exhaust was removed, the cars would now rumble and burble from start up all the way through the rev range.
The first stop was in the Pacific Coast town of Santa Cruz, home of the film ‘The Lost Boys’ we parked up at out hotel (with reserved parking of course) and wandered onto the boardwalk, checking for Vampires. Dinner was on ‘The Wharf’ (or the pier as we would call it), fresh seafood with an ocean view. A perfect end to the first day.
____________________________________________________________________
Day 2
Pete and I had arranged for breakfast in a small seafront restaurant owned by a typically friendly couple who were almost as excited as we were when we told them our plan. Our first taste of sourdough bread, pancakes, syrup, bacon, eggs and sausages made us grateful that the ‘vettes packed a 434 horses: they were going to need every single one with the extra weight we were going to carry.
We hit the road heading south - destination Santa Barbara. Taking Highway 1 past Laguna Seca, Monteray Bay and Pebble Beach, we then peeled off the main road onto the first of many amazing roads; the mythical Pacific Coast Highway. This gorgeous ribbon of tarmac follows the coast as if it had been traced onto the edge of the cliffs by a draughtsman.
The only way to drive it is south so nothing interrupts your view. Not only is it beautiful, it’s twisty and fun too. There are plenty of places to stop and admire the view and more than enough hairpins to make you want to go back and do it again.
The sight of 5 yellow Corvettes threading their way through the hills was to become familiar to us, but would never get old. As for the locals, they greeted us like celebrities - something we would discover the next morning.
PCH runs all the way from Santa Cruz down to our second nights stop in Santa Barbara just outside Los Angeles. However before we got there we had a little detour across the hills which was all about fun technical driving, it was a real eye opener to everyone, a deserted road with perfectly cambered bends twisting one way then the other before descending back down to the coast and yet another beachfront hotel with views across their own wharf and of course the mighty Pacific ocean. We had dinner at a restaurant next to the hotel where we welcomed our 6th car, the Dutch couple who had flown into LAX.
__________________________________________________________________
Day 3
After breakfast, I went down to check the cars and start loading our bags. I noticed 3 guys wandering around looking at the cars, they approached me brandishing press cards and explained they were from Newspress.com. They had heard of our arrival and wanted to know more.
Stories told and photos taken we got back on the road. Today the sat nav files we had devised would come into their own as would the powerful licensed walkie talkies. The first part of day 3 would be a taste of the movies, taking in Malibu beach, Beverley Hills, Mulholland Drive (Jay Leno’s favourite road) we marvelled at the houses and played spot the film star (well actually we didn’t really care). The banter coming from each of the cars over the walkie talkies was all about how many Priuses (or is the plural Pri’i?) were parked in driveways made for Ferraris.
A relaxing stop for lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe on Hollywood Boulevard, and a chance to wander around outside Mans Chinese cinema where the handprints of film stars throughout the ages litter the paving stones. After a spot of shopping it was time to get back in to the cars to head for another amazing road in the shape of the 7000ft climb up the Angeles Crest Highway. Sadly this was the only disappointment of the whole trip. Due to a combination of bad weather (yes really!) and roadworks they had closed the road we were looking forward to, so, sadly, we had no option but to take the highway route to our nights stop in Barstow.
We chose this town because of its location and because it reminded us of the film ‘From dusk til Dawn’; true American Kitsch.
___________________________________________________________________
Day 4
Talking of Kitsch we were about to head to a town built on it. Las Vegas beckoned. However there was another reason we chose to stay in Barstow. It’s the gateway to the Mojave National Park, home of the world’s largest Joshua tree forest. First though, another fun detour to the Calico Ghost town, an old mining settlement in the middle of the desert, reborn as a tourist attraction.
Wandering around rubbing shoulders with Cowboys in the desert heat made us head for the saloon with it’s archetypal swinging shutter doors. The piano in the corner had already stopped playing so we walked up to the bar and ordered Sarsparilla (rootbeer) which Pete instantly fell in love with and would not stop talking about for the rest of the trip. He’s an odd boy.
Having dragged him out of the bar (and yes, it really is a soft drink), we argued about who was driving - he won - on account of missing his drink already. We took the convoy to Mojave and stunned the group again with the beauty, desolation and sheer fun factor of the road we were driving on.
Long straights, gentle bends and undulations to test the Corvettes suspension surrounded by Joshua tress made it yet another day filled with smiling faces. Arriving in Las Vegas we took our six yellow Corvettes for a cruise along the strip and literally stopped the traffic in its tracks. In a town born of excess, we had made an entrance worthy of true high rollers.
We checked into our hotel just off the strip, chosen because it is one of the best in the town: huge rooms, balconies and ample safe parking for our cars. We had saved another treat up for the end of the day, a trip to the Hoover Dam. This architectural marvel provides much of the power Las Vegas needs and has to be seen to be believed. Because we were staying two nights in Vegas there was no need for an early start which meant we all hit the town, the details of the nights events are sketchy and anyway, are covered by an important rule. What goes on tour, stays on tour.
___________________________________________________________________
Day 5
Breakfast was actually lunch, local knowledge provided us with an off strip restaurant called Hot’n’juicy crawfish (which we found later was famous for starring in the TV show Man versus food about eating to excess), bags of fresh seafood (just how do you get fresh seafood in the middle of the desert?) full of flavour: soft shell crab, crawfish, langoustines, lobster and more. Pete and I then went to the local Chevy dealership to ask about Corvettes. Yes, we liked them that much. In the evening some went to see the Blue Man Group, some back to the casinos and some just relaxed and kicked back soaking in the atmosphere of this oasis town. Las Vegas is famous for people doing crazy things, so I decided to follow suit. I took my winnings from the previous night and blew them all on one purchase; an Apple Mac laptop...20 years of PCs down the drain in one moment of madness (ok, so maybe it’s not rock and roll, but Pete bullied me into it as revenge for wrenching him from his beloved Sarsparilla).
___________________________________________________________________
Day 6
Another change of pace, actually several changes of pace. Day 6 was all about Death Valley, home of the lowest, driest and hottest locations in North America and of course we were hitting it in our convertibles throwing caution to the wind. The very reason we chose October for this trip was to make sure the weather was in our favour; warm enough to get a tan but cool enough to be safe and fun.
There are many viewpoints in Death Valley, but if you have to stop at one then make it Zabriskie point. The beautiful sedimentary rock formed by Furnace creek lake which dried up 5 million years ago takes your breath away.
That and the fact that the landscape in general give you the impression that you’re actually on the surface of Tatooine has you looking over your shoulder for sand people and the odd Jedi knight.
Death Valley is also home to a little known wonder of roadbuilding known as Artists Drive.
A 9 mile long, one way stretch of road that twists and turns its way through narrow canyons and stunning rock formations. If anyone doubts that the Americans have great roads then one trip along this road will change their minds forever.
Perfect tarmac and cambers, the right mix of sweeping bends, 90 degree corners and hairpins, we just had to do it twice. This road was worth the price of the trip all on its own, and that wasn’t just our opinion.
Departing Artists Drive we went deeper into Death Valley and stopped off for a rest in the middle of nowhere. We’d been there 5 minutes when a tourist coach stopped off just to take pictures of us. Once they had finished we made a suitably theatrical exit and made haste to our next stop; lunch at Furnace Creek.
The second part of Death Valley is as spectacular as the first.
The road climbs and twists through mountains and drops into gorges and valleys. there is one point where you can see the valley floor stretching out for almost 20 miles as you wind your way towards it and the road arrows its way straight across it. Perfect visibility for a little fun.
We exit Death Valley and realise the world does still exist outside our group, Green is a real colour and all the water has not yet evaporated. Fortunately the town of Bishop was proof of this and after checking into our hotel we made our way to our restaurant, an excellent mix of Sushi and Tempura which was slightly incongruent to our surroundings, but very tasty.
____________________________________________________________________
Day 7
Departing Bishop, we headed to Mono Lake, the American equivalent of the Dead Sea flanked by the mountains that mark the entrance to Yosemite National Park.
A quick stop for photos and then back to the cars to head for the hills. Actually the hills are mountains, snow covered mountains in fact. After the heat and desolation of the previous day, it’s almost a culture shock to be surrounded by lush greenery and snow. Yosemite is as beautiful as Death Valley: imposing and austere.
The roads in Yosemite remind us of the Alpine roads we love; the only difference is that we are higher, almost 10,000ft in some places and there is less traffic. As we descend into the valley the boulders that have fallen over the last few thousand years are partly hidden by the giant Sequoias - the oldest of which is 3,500 years old. This spectacular backdrop isn’t lost on us and although the driving roads are just as spectacular, we all want to make frequent photo stops.
We stopped for lunch at the visitors’ centre and marvelled at the landscape that surround us.
Massive rock outcrops that seem to be suspended in space, defying gravity and the trees below that seem to reach up ready to catch them should they fall. After lunch we are diverted by proof that gravity always wins. A huge rockfall has taken out a mile or so of the road, so we cross hastily erected bridges and get a good view of the power of nature. It’s a humbling sight and a very impressive one. Just how do you clear up half a mountain?
Without forgetting the quality of the roads, which have been amazing, more twists and turns than anyone could wish for, fast flowing bends that open up into tree lined straights, Yosemite has been all about the landscape around us.
A jaw dropping conclusion to the American Dream tour and one of the many highlights discussed at dinner that night in Modesto.
____________________________________________________________________
Day 8
A short drive to San Francisco, enjoying the company of the other corvettes and remembering just what an impact they have on the locals. The Corvette is Americas Ferrari, and is revered by young and old alike. We have been greeted by smiles and thumbs up wherever we’ve been and the last day is no exception. As we drive onto Treasure Island for a photo opportunity prior to dropping the cars off at the airport and flying home we attract the attention of the police and the local security guys. All they want to know about is the cars, the very dirty cars that have just spent a week they will never forget. Neither, it seems will we, because we’re already planning to come back and do it all again in October 2011. Feel free to join us.
A quick note about the cars;
The Corvettes handled the whole trip with ease. You would expect an American car to soak up any bumps and be a great mile muncher on the motorway, but it’s when you took these cars ‘off piste’ that they dropped your jaw. Holding the road more than you would think and staying neutral unless provoked into power oversteer. The chassis is so communicative that it gives you the confidence to explore the car fully. The steering is sharp enough that even going beyond the limit means a quick flick of the wheel is enough to bring it back into line.
Bearing in mind that all the cars had around 20k miles of hire car driving under their belts and they took everything we threw at them and came back for more without missing a beat speaks volumes about their quality. They were comfortable, well equipped and sounded amazing. The boot was a little on the small side but with some management it still swallowed two peoples’ luggage for a week long trip, so it’s very useable.
What really surprised us was the fuel consumption from the 6.3 litre LS3 V8. We averaged over 22 miles per gallon over the course trip and a lot of the time the cars were being driven in the spirit to which they should be accustomed.
Granted, the plastic bodies flex and the wheels are a bit bling for European tastes, the flappy paddle autobox takes longer to change than one would like, but we were all so impressed with them that the chances are you may see one gracing my driveway soon (if i can find one in the right colour and spec that hasn’t been carted off to Europe due to the Euro’s strength).
We went to California back in October, something we've been planning for a while and had a lot of fun...
So, i though i'd share the tale..
It started with an idea, one of those back of the fag packet moments that normally get tossed into the bin after the last one has been smoked. Each of us had driven roads all over the West Coast of America and begged to differ when told that all of them were straight and boring. We also knew that the latest C6 Corvette was a car worthy of higher praise than it ever received outside of the USA.
So, why not put them together? Great roads, a great car, friendly people and a new slant on the road trip idea
Fast forward a year, intensive research, haggling, conversations with local experts and our own experience had brought us to this moment and as we waited at San Francisco airport for first to arrive Pete and I smiled to ourselves knowing that the next 8 days were going to be a lot of fun. For our first American dream tour we kept the numbers small but even so, we would have a total of 6 cars with petrolheads from all over the world (a Dutch couple living in France, a Yorkshireman living in Australia with his Aussie mate, An Australian and his wife living in London but flying in from Canada, and four from the UK, plus Pete and myself)
Five bright yellow Corvette convertibles awaited us in the underground car park (the sixth would join us in Santa Barbara), fluorescent lights glowing and bouncing off the sinuous curves. America’s only real Supercar was about to be put through its paces Petrolhead Nirvana style.
The first task was to perform an intricate and complicated modification to each of the cars so it would meet our requirements to the full. A fuse just under the dashboard controlling the active exhaust was removed, the cars would now rumble and burble from start up all the way through the rev range.
The first stop was in the Pacific Coast town of Santa Cruz, home of the film ‘The Lost Boys’ we parked up at out hotel (with reserved parking of course) and wandered onto the boardwalk, checking for Vampires. Dinner was on ‘The Wharf’ (or the pier as we would call it), fresh seafood with an ocean view. A perfect end to the first day.
____________________________________________________________________
Day 2
Pete and I had arranged for breakfast in a small seafront restaurant owned by a typically friendly couple who were almost as excited as we were when we told them our plan. Our first taste of sourdough bread, pancakes, syrup, bacon, eggs and sausages made us grateful that the ‘vettes packed a 434 horses: they were going to need every single one with the extra weight we were going to carry.
We hit the road heading south - destination Santa Barbara. Taking Highway 1 past Laguna Seca, Monteray Bay and Pebble Beach, we then peeled off the main road onto the first of many amazing roads; the mythical Pacific Coast Highway. This gorgeous ribbon of tarmac follows the coast as if it had been traced onto the edge of the cliffs by a draughtsman.
The only way to drive it is south so nothing interrupts your view. Not only is it beautiful, it’s twisty and fun too. There are plenty of places to stop and admire the view and more than enough hairpins to make you want to go back and do it again.
The sight of 5 yellow Corvettes threading their way through the hills was to become familiar to us, but would never get old. As for the locals, they greeted us like celebrities - something we would discover the next morning.
PCH runs all the way from Santa Cruz down to our second nights stop in Santa Barbara just outside Los Angeles. However before we got there we had a little detour across the hills which was all about fun technical driving, it was a real eye opener to everyone, a deserted road with perfectly cambered bends twisting one way then the other before descending back down to the coast and yet another beachfront hotel with views across their own wharf and of course the mighty Pacific ocean. We had dinner at a restaurant next to the hotel where we welcomed our 6th car, the Dutch couple who had flown into LAX.
__________________________________________________________________
Day 3
After breakfast, I went down to check the cars and start loading our bags. I noticed 3 guys wandering around looking at the cars, they approached me brandishing press cards and explained they were from Newspress.com. They had heard of our arrival and wanted to know more.
Stories told and photos taken we got back on the road. Today the sat nav files we had devised would come into their own as would the powerful licensed walkie talkies. The first part of day 3 would be a taste of the movies, taking in Malibu beach, Beverley Hills, Mulholland Drive (Jay Leno’s favourite road) we marvelled at the houses and played spot the film star (well actually we didn’t really care). The banter coming from each of the cars over the walkie talkies was all about how many Priuses (or is the plural Pri’i?) were parked in driveways made for Ferraris.
A relaxing stop for lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe on Hollywood Boulevard, and a chance to wander around outside Mans Chinese cinema where the handprints of film stars throughout the ages litter the paving stones. After a spot of shopping it was time to get back in to the cars to head for another amazing road in the shape of the 7000ft climb up the Angeles Crest Highway. Sadly this was the only disappointment of the whole trip. Due to a combination of bad weather (yes really!) and roadworks they had closed the road we were looking forward to, so, sadly, we had no option but to take the highway route to our nights stop in Barstow.
We chose this town because of its location and because it reminded us of the film ‘From dusk til Dawn’; true American Kitsch.
___________________________________________________________________
Day 4
Talking of Kitsch we were about to head to a town built on it. Las Vegas beckoned. However there was another reason we chose to stay in Barstow. It’s the gateway to the Mojave National Park, home of the world’s largest Joshua tree forest. First though, another fun detour to the Calico Ghost town, an old mining settlement in the middle of the desert, reborn as a tourist attraction.
Wandering around rubbing shoulders with Cowboys in the desert heat made us head for the saloon with it’s archetypal swinging shutter doors. The piano in the corner had already stopped playing so we walked up to the bar and ordered Sarsparilla (rootbeer) which Pete instantly fell in love with and would not stop talking about for the rest of the trip. He’s an odd boy.
Having dragged him out of the bar (and yes, it really is a soft drink), we argued about who was driving - he won - on account of missing his drink already. We took the convoy to Mojave and stunned the group again with the beauty, desolation and sheer fun factor of the road we were driving on.
Long straights, gentle bends and undulations to test the Corvettes suspension surrounded by Joshua tress made it yet another day filled with smiling faces. Arriving in Las Vegas we took our six yellow Corvettes for a cruise along the strip and literally stopped the traffic in its tracks. In a town born of excess, we had made an entrance worthy of true high rollers.
We checked into our hotel just off the strip, chosen because it is one of the best in the town: huge rooms, balconies and ample safe parking for our cars. We had saved another treat up for the end of the day, a trip to the Hoover Dam. This architectural marvel provides much of the power Las Vegas needs and has to be seen to be believed. Because we were staying two nights in Vegas there was no need for an early start which meant we all hit the town, the details of the nights events are sketchy and anyway, are covered by an important rule. What goes on tour, stays on tour.
___________________________________________________________________
Day 5
Breakfast was actually lunch, local knowledge provided us with an off strip restaurant called Hot’n’juicy crawfish (which we found later was famous for starring in the TV show Man versus food about eating to excess), bags of fresh seafood (just how do you get fresh seafood in the middle of the desert?) full of flavour: soft shell crab, crawfish, langoustines, lobster and more. Pete and I then went to the local Chevy dealership to ask about Corvettes. Yes, we liked them that much. In the evening some went to see the Blue Man Group, some back to the casinos and some just relaxed and kicked back soaking in the atmosphere of this oasis town. Las Vegas is famous for people doing crazy things, so I decided to follow suit. I took my winnings from the previous night and blew them all on one purchase; an Apple Mac laptop...20 years of PCs down the drain in one moment of madness (ok, so maybe it’s not rock and roll, but Pete bullied me into it as revenge for wrenching him from his beloved Sarsparilla).
___________________________________________________________________
Day 6
Another change of pace, actually several changes of pace. Day 6 was all about Death Valley, home of the lowest, driest and hottest locations in North America and of course we were hitting it in our convertibles throwing caution to the wind. The very reason we chose October for this trip was to make sure the weather was in our favour; warm enough to get a tan but cool enough to be safe and fun.
There are many viewpoints in Death Valley, but if you have to stop at one then make it Zabriskie point. The beautiful sedimentary rock formed by Furnace creek lake which dried up 5 million years ago takes your breath away.
That and the fact that the landscape in general give you the impression that you’re actually on the surface of Tatooine has you looking over your shoulder for sand people and the odd Jedi knight.
Death Valley is also home to a little known wonder of roadbuilding known as Artists Drive.
A 9 mile long, one way stretch of road that twists and turns its way through narrow canyons and stunning rock formations. If anyone doubts that the Americans have great roads then one trip along this road will change their minds forever.
Perfect tarmac and cambers, the right mix of sweeping bends, 90 degree corners and hairpins, we just had to do it twice. This road was worth the price of the trip all on its own, and that wasn’t just our opinion.
Departing Artists Drive we went deeper into Death Valley and stopped off for a rest in the middle of nowhere. We’d been there 5 minutes when a tourist coach stopped off just to take pictures of us. Once they had finished we made a suitably theatrical exit and made haste to our next stop; lunch at Furnace Creek.
The second part of Death Valley is as spectacular as the first.
The road climbs and twists through mountains and drops into gorges and valleys. there is one point where you can see the valley floor stretching out for almost 20 miles as you wind your way towards it and the road arrows its way straight across it. Perfect visibility for a little fun.
We exit Death Valley and realise the world does still exist outside our group, Green is a real colour and all the water has not yet evaporated. Fortunately the town of Bishop was proof of this and after checking into our hotel we made our way to our restaurant, an excellent mix of Sushi and Tempura which was slightly incongruent to our surroundings, but very tasty.
____________________________________________________________________
Day 7
Departing Bishop, we headed to Mono Lake, the American equivalent of the Dead Sea flanked by the mountains that mark the entrance to Yosemite National Park.
A quick stop for photos and then back to the cars to head for the hills. Actually the hills are mountains, snow covered mountains in fact. After the heat and desolation of the previous day, it’s almost a culture shock to be surrounded by lush greenery and snow. Yosemite is as beautiful as Death Valley: imposing and austere.
The roads in Yosemite remind us of the Alpine roads we love; the only difference is that we are higher, almost 10,000ft in some places and there is less traffic. As we descend into the valley the boulders that have fallen over the last few thousand years are partly hidden by the giant Sequoias - the oldest of which is 3,500 years old. This spectacular backdrop isn’t lost on us and although the driving roads are just as spectacular, we all want to make frequent photo stops.
We stopped for lunch at the visitors’ centre and marvelled at the landscape that surround us.
Massive rock outcrops that seem to be suspended in space, defying gravity and the trees below that seem to reach up ready to catch them should they fall. After lunch we are diverted by proof that gravity always wins. A huge rockfall has taken out a mile or so of the road, so we cross hastily erected bridges and get a good view of the power of nature. It’s a humbling sight and a very impressive one. Just how do you clear up half a mountain?
Without forgetting the quality of the roads, which have been amazing, more twists and turns than anyone could wish for, fast flowing bends that open up into tree lined straights, Yosemite has been all about the landscape around us.
A jaw dropping conclusion to the American Dream tour and one of the many highlights discussed at dinner that night in Modesto.
____________________________________________________________________
Day 8
A short drive to San Francisco, enjoying the company of the other corvettes and remembering just what an impact they have on the locals. The Corvette is Americas Ferrari, and is revered by young and old alike. We have been greeted by smiles and thumbs up wherever we’ve been and the last day is no exception. As we drive onto Treasure Island for a photo opportunity prior to dropping the cars off at the airport and flying home we attract the attention of the police and the local security guys. All they want to know about is the cars, the very dirty cars that have just spent a week they will never forget. Neither, it seems will we, because we’re already planning to come back and do it all again in October 2011. Feel free to join us.
A quick note about the cars;
The Corvettes handled the whole trip with ease. You would expect an American car to soak up any bumps and be a great mile muncher on the motorway, but it’s when you took these cars ‘off piste’ that they dropped your jaw. Holding the road more than you would think and staying neutral unless provoked into power oversteer. The chassis is so communicative that it gives you the confidence to explore the car fully. The steering is sharp enough that even going beyond the limit means a quick flick of the wheel is enough to bring it back into line.
Bearing in mind that all the cars had around 20k miles of hire car driving under their belts and they took everything we threw at them and came back for more without missing a beat speaks volumes about their quality. They were comfortable, well equipped and sounded amazing. The boot was a little on the small side but with some management it still swallowed two peoples’ luggage for a week long trip, so it’s very useable.
What really surprised us was the fuel consumption from the 6.3 litre LS3 V8. We averaged over 22 miles per gallon over the course trip and a lot of the time the cars were being driven in the spirit to which they should be accustomed.
Granted, the plastic bodies flex and the wheels are a bit bling for European tastes, the flappy paddle autobox takes longer to change than one would like, but we were all so impressed with them that the chances are you may see one gracing my driveway soon (if i can find one in the right colour and spec that hasn’t been carted off to Europe due to the Euro’s strength).
monkey boy uk said:
Great trip, report and photos, what was the cost of this trip for two inc car and everything elese?
Hi Colin, the 2011 trip is in October next year, PH will be releasing the details sometime next week i believe.Hire of the cars (including the excess mileage allowances and all insurances), the hotels and breakfast will be included as will all the other 'extras' we think are needed to make the tour special i.e. tour managers, sat nav files, walkie talkies will be included in the price...the only thing we don't include is flights as people come from all over the place and most have their own preferred airline, airmiles etc and some make it a two week break so either arrive early or stay on afterwards.
watch this space...
Just spotted this - we probably passed your convoy, as we took an almost identical road trip after getting married in Vegas (in a Mustang). Highway 1 is indeed magical and Death Valley is just deader than a dead thing and bigger than big - spectacular.
Great write up - it's a fabulous part of the world.
Great write up - it's a fabulous part of the world.
Harsh said:
monkey boy uk said:
Great trip, report and photos, what was the cost of this trip for two inc car and everything elese?
Hi Colin, the 2011 trip is in October next year, PH will be releasing the details sometime next week i believe.Hire of the cars (including the excess mileage allowances and all insurances), the hotels and breakfast will be included as will all the other 'extras' we think are needed to make the tour special i.e. tour managers, sat nav files, walkie talkies will be included in the price...the only thing we don't include is flights as people come from all over the place and most have their own preferred airline, airmiles etc and some make it a two week break so either arrive early or stay on afterwards.
watch this space...
[/quoteHave I missed the thread about this year's trip?
Sooty said:
Harsh said:
monkey boy uk said:
Great trip, report and photos, what was the cost of this trip for two inc car and everything elese?
Hi Colin, the 2011 trip is in October next year, PH will be releasing the details sometime next week i believe.Hire of the cars (including the excess mileage allowances and all insurances), the hotels and breakfast will be included as will all the other 'extras' we think are needed to make the tour special i.e. tour managers, sat nav files, walkie talkies will be included in the price...the only thing we don't include is flights as people come from all over the place and most have their own preferred airline, airmiles etc and some make it a two week break so either arrive early or stay on afterwards.
watch this space...
[/quoteHave I missed the thread about this year's trip?
I have it in good authority that the trip will be released on PH tomorrow
Harsh said:
Thanks. I'm still semi-interested having been put off mostly by the price. Only because I'm used to doing things on the cheap with my airmiles and hotel points. Will discuss when I get back to the UK and make a decision then.
Sooty said:
Harsh said:
Thanks. I'm still semi-interested having been put off mostly by the price. Only because I'm used to doing things on the cheap with my airmiles and hotel points. Will discuss when I get back to the UK and make a decision then.
airmiles was one of the main reasons we kept the flights out of it as a lot of people would use them, others might want to extend the holiday either side of the tour.
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