So I think I am leaving for the west side of the country to suprise some friends in California. One friend is in on the suprise and will be taking the gang to Las Vegas on the 13th to meet me. I was saddened to learn the Vegas meet is the weekend before, but so is life.
Leave Detroit:....
First stop: So I plan on being in St Louis on the evening of the 10th for some sleep and fast sights. I think I’ll take a look at the arch as I more or less drive thru. Anyone know any good hotels along the I-55 or I-44 area? The cheaper the better, I do not need fancy, but I do not want my car stolen while on the trip.

Next will be Oklahoma City on the evening of the 11th. Again I am looking for a cheap place to sleep and anything I should see or eat while in town for a few hours. I’ll be right by a mini dealer ship this day so I thought I would take a photo there. After that I have no ideas.

Next will be Albuquerque New Mexico on the evening of the 12th. I have a old friend from here in Michigan that I worked with so I’ll be staying with him by some mountains and seeing his wife and newly on the way baby. But if you know of a have to do there please give me some ideas of places that are cool.

Next is Vegas on the 13th! Where I will walk up to a bunch of my friends that have no idea I am coming! Surprise! Happy v-day! I am sure the town will know I came and we will stay out of jails taking photos along the way to update you all.

After a night of fun we will head to Huntington Beach where they have a house a mile from the water. I will spend the next three days in the L.A. area having fun seeing sights. I am sure my friends will show me around, but they are still newer to the area with only a year or two under there belts. What sights do I have to do while in town since this is the first time for me to EVER be out west and might be the last for a while. Any idea’s would be great (i think i'll swim even if it's cold), be it a good place to eat (any food type) or a cool shop, night club/bar, attraction, or a MINI event? Would anyone be doing any canyon carving that weekend like I have heard about on this board? I am sure I could get some time in somewhere to do some cool driving. or at least point me to the road.

On the morning of the 17th I’ll be leaving for home not sure what way I’ll be taking home as of yet. I might just back track my steps a bit and stay at the same places on the way home. Or the cooler way is to go north to Denver and then head back east. Maybe a stop in at Randy’s to bother him? But I am also thinking about weather and the nicest way to go since it’s cold and snowy and plane crapy here, I would like to drive in nice weather for the trip. What do you think about the way home? Shape my trip for me. If there is a must see place along the route let me know. But keep in mind we are on a small budget right now. Since being unemployed has left me with a tone of time on my hands I am going to take a trip I have never done before in the car I love so much but we have to remember that the man will come a knocking and ask for money to pay the bills later on.
Thanks for any and all help. I know the people on this board will point me in the right direction.


_________________
Electric Blue/Black Mini S with Aero Kit. Plate: AGOKART **single** http://www.michiganmini.com .. who wants to go faster?

 

Hey come meet us for a canyon run sometime! A bunch of other minis, WRX's, mazdas, bikes etc hang out in front of a coffee shop and talk, hang out, and drive through the canyons. Good times, cool people and cool cars

Village Coffe Roaster, 23351 Mulholland Dr. Woodland Hills, CA 90058

pics from a few weeks ago here

More info on meets here

 

Hey,

Come down to San Diego and I'll take you and your friends to lunch/dinner depending on the time of day. Good Mexican food.

When you get to LA send me a pm and i will give you my cell phone number.

Earl

 

Check your PM I have some info for you concerning OKC

 

you really should stop at the Memorial if you're there during the morning.

 

have fun! :smile: I should plan something like that too sometime.

btw, don't take your favorite wheels through Oklahoma. If you have any
15's or 16's use those as most of the roads in that state is just AWFUL!

 

Thanks for the people that pm’ed me and gave me info here. I almost have the trip out there planed out and will have a return trip planed another direction if I decide to take it. I’ll be pm’ing back very shortly to hook up with some people on the way. I always love meeting mini people and talking about the cars. I’ll be taking photos along the way so I’ll post them here when I get back. For now I have to rap up things around here. Take the cat to the parent’s house and get the buddy to pick up the mail then I am off early Tuesday morning the see the world…I should just leave now!

 

I have done the drive between L.A. and Denver about a couple dozen times now, several times in the winter. Here's my advice.

Unless you have a clear forecast (i.e. there hasn't been snow in the past day or so, it's not going to snow the day of your travel, and it's not going to snow the following day) then don't go to Denver on I-15 and I-70.

The important spots to check weather at along the I-15 and I-70 route are:
- Cedar City, Utah
- Richfield, Utah
- Green River, Utah
- Glenwood Springs, Colorado
- Vail, Colorado

If you are green at all of those, then go north. It's a nice drive both in that it's about 2 hour shorter and it is also a much more senic route.

Otherwise, going back on I-40 and I-25 to Denver will only add a couple hours, but then you will have already seen significant parts of that drive already.

 

Amarillo, TX is a good lunch stop after you leave OKC. Don't miss Blue Sky right on I-40 at the Western exit. Amarillo is also the home of The Big Texan Steakhouse, kind of a tourist place we think, but lots of people like it. It's the place you get a 72 oz. steak dinner free if you eat it all in an hour. Palo Duro Canyon is south of town about 25 minutes if you can take the time to wind your way down into it you'll enjoy the drive and also see the Little Grand Canyon. Don't consider it if there's a chance of freezing precip! Sorry I'll be out of town or I'd meet you at Blue Sky for a real Texas burger if you stop. Have a great trip!

 

>>Hey come meet us for a canyon run sometime! A bunch of other minis, WRX's, mazdas, bikes etc hang out in front of a coffee shop and talk, hang out, and drive through the canyons. Good times, cool people and cool cars :smile: :smile: :smile:

 

Can't forget Cadillac Ranch while you're leaving Amarillo.

 

Oh my god! The mountains are huge!!!!!!! And there are so many of them! I had no idea. Well the trip is going well. I have a whole long story to tell about the trip out there. I have been taking notes along the way to tell you all about it when I get home. I am taking photos along the way to help out some of it. Thanks to D.J. for the great Mexican in OKC! It was cool to drive around OKC with Detroit plates on my car and Hawaiian plates on his car in OKC (more on that later). Tomorrow is a good lunch in Malibu with Clover, DID, and Calvin77! So I am excited. I will fill you all in more. This is the best trip. Everyone should make time for themselves for times like this! More to come……

 

Good to hear you made it to the West Coast!!! I knew you would like it

 

Clo/Wanda

 

WOW! What a trip! I have so many good stories and photo’s to share. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll be able to catch up on sleep, reading the NAM board, and writing the story. Just wanted to say I am back in the Motor City safe and sound with no harm to me or my mini. More to come….

 

Chow!

Donna

 

Day 1, Feb. 10th Detroit MI to St. Louis MO

I leave Detroit at 6:30 a.m. after packing the car and getting some donuts and coffee for the road. I wanted to leave at 6:00 a.m., but I was close. After being on the road about 30 minutes traffic comes to a dead stop. I hear on the radio that there is a three car pile up just ahead of me. So I glance at the map to see if there was a quick way around it, I would have to take a bunch of surface streets to do it so I think it’s best to stay on the freeway since I am trip mode. Two hours later I get through all the mess and am finally on my way. I took I-94 out of Detroit and across Michigan, to I-69 south towards Indianapolis IN to I-70 west, through Illinois and into down town St. Louis MO around 6:00 p.m. it was a easy drive once I got on the road. I went right into down town and drove along the river to the arch where I took some photos and looked around for a bit. I them took a trip over to the local mini dealer in the area to see what the set up was like there. Took a few more photo’s and talked a few minutes right at sunset. I had already gained an hour for the day; it was nice to have the extra time. I ate at a St. Louis Bread Company that night for dinner, they didn’t have the item I wanted on the menu so I decided this trip I would try a new place to eat and a new item every night I was out so I told here to order for me. She gave me this look like you want me to do what? And after a few questions she had for me put an order in. I think she enjoyed it after the fact, and I enjoyed the sandwich she picked. Another note: St. Louis Bread Company is the same as Panera Bread almost anywhere else, it’s good food if you have not tried them yet. I then headed back to the freeway for the short few miles to my hotel. I stayed at the Drury Inn off of I-44 and 141. It was brand new hotel and was to date the best hotel I have ever stayed in. The service was great, the rooms where every nice and clean, and the quick start breakfast was really good. There was any type of food you wanted to have for the morning hours and it was hot fresh and tasted good. I turn in after parking the car and taking up some bags.
:smile:

_________________
Electric Blue/Black Mini S with Aero Kit. http://www.michiganmini.com
who wants to go faster?

 

 

Fastastic stuff! What a great story. Certainly loved seeing the speedo pic Beautiful! Thanks again!

 

Did you notice when driving through Amarillo, TX, that all the restaurants off the highway seemed to be challenging for who has the biggest steak?
That's the land of beef alright!

 

:smile: Road trips are so much fun... :smile: Thanks for sharing the trip with us...

 

Marvelous photos and write-up! I'm jealous.

 

totally awesome, dude!
Love the pic of your being "California Fabulous" out on the Pier!

 

wow........must of been a mind blowing experince. I can't wait till I get going on mine hopely soon. My trip will start from houston,tx and to san fran., kali. I love the write up. And I hope you go another trip soon. Have fun with the mini, built to be driven!.......

good job on the write up. I hope mine will be as fun as yours!


:smile:

 

WOW, what a great trip and with pics too. Yep, I'm planning a trip to Ca this summer. Can't wait. Sure miss the great MINI roads that run along the ocean and those great mountain curves.

It was good to meet you while here in OKC and if ever I'm up your way, I will give a shout.