R50/53 5,534 mile Mini Road Trip
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2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 110
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From: Wittmann, Az
5,534 mile Mini Road Trip
5,534 mile Mini Road Trip
Road Trip 2005
Sept 1st and the road to happiness has been washed out by Katrina.
The plan was to head west on I-10 to El Paso, then up I-25 to Albuquerque, NM but Katrina had made that impossible. So, on Thursday morning with the Mini packed to the roof, the Wife, Gidget our 8-month-old Westie and I headed out for our journey in search of vacation happiness.
So, with the tank filled, we headed west across Orlando to the Turnpike. North on the Turnpike to I-75 and then west again on I-10 to Tallahassee where we got off the interstate to find fuel and a sandwich. With Subway BMTs in hand, I stopped at a Chevron for fuel. $2.93 a gal for premium. Across the street, the Shell is selling premium for $3.49 a gal. And there are cars in the lot filling up?
Once the Mini’s tank and our’s are full, we continue to head west on I-10 to SR 231 where we head north towards Montgomery, Al. SR231 is a combination of 2 and 4 lanes going through several little towns and bigger towns such as Dothan. From Montgomery, we catch 65 to Birmingham and on to Memphis Tn where we reach I-40. This path while shorter in overall mileage, took longer due to all the slow traffic and stoplights getting from I-10 to Birmingham.
We make it, but not before spending the night in Jasper Ms . The Jameson Inn looked right nice from the outside. Once inside the room, we found the bed to have likely made more than one trip through Goodwill. Then I noticed four small patches on the inside of the outer door. Further inspection revealed four similar patches on the outside of the door. Little things that most of us would consider reason enough to check out and look elsewhere, but the Inn is full of evacuees from Katrina that are more than happy to have this place to call home. So how could we complain?
Friday morning we’re up early and with the car loaded, we’re off to Memphis. Not to find Elvis but I-40 West. Once into Memphis we find our first and only problem with getting fuel. It took three stations before we were able to get fuel and even at this, Premium at a Shell station was no more than $3.21 per gallon. Not bad after hearing about the scum in Atlanta charging 5 bucks a gallon. Vote me in, as President and these are the guys that you’ll see hanging from the bridges!
So, we hit I-40 and make our second stop of the day at the Mississippi Welcoming Center. What we found was the nicest rest areas we would visit until we were back in Florida. Back on the road and headed to road hell USA. Oklahoma! By far, Oklahoma had the worst roads and the worst rest areas we encountered through the whole trip. Or were the rest areas actually the worst? We hit the Texas state line and can you believe it? Of three major highways to cross the USA, the great state of Texas not only doesn’t have a welcoming center; it doesn’t even have rest areas! Yea, they have picnic areas and parking areas, but you’ll have to Pee behind a tree, as there is no rest rooms. And the roads, they’re no better than Oklahoma.
So far, we’ve spent the night in Jasper Alabama & Oklahoma City. Saturday night we’re in Albuquerque, NM and Sunday we head to Durango Co. While we went over one good size mountain getting to Albuquerque, the real mountains are now coming into view.
This is what we came for. We’re definitely not in Florida. The Mini is starting to get a workout while my right arm is starting to get sore as the wife keeps hitting me to get me to slow down.
In Durango, we find our Motel and after checking in, drive around town checking things out. We drive out to Willow Tree Kennel to make sure I know where it is and also look the place over.
Monday morning it raining and not expected to clear up. We jump in the car and head off to Silverton. With a couple of 10,000 foot passes along the way, the scenery is magnificent. In Silverton we eat at “Handle Bars” a restaurant and bar right out of the 1800s. After lunch, with it pouring rain outside, we walk to the store in front of Handle Bars and manage to drop some major bucks on Southwestern vases and plates. But where to put them? These places should really offer shipping. With the stuff in the Mini, we’re off to the gold mine out past Howardsville. The gold mine which was worked out in the 30s was wet and cold. Unlike the coalmines I worked in years ago, these mines out west have no problems with Methane gas.
After returning to the mines outer portal, we loaded back up and started up the muddy canyon towards Eureka, an old ghost town. Beyond Eureka, the signs say 4-wheel drive is recommended and damage can be expected. With enough mud on the Mini to make the most diehard Red Neck proud the wife said I’d went far enough and so we turned around and headed back to paved roads.
Leaving Silverton, we headed further north over the 11,075 feet Red Mtn Pass to Ouray.
At sea level, the Cooper S has plenty of spunk for a four banger. But at 11,000 feet? I thought I was going to have to get out and push, but the Cooper pulled through and down the mountain we went. Cliffs going up on one side. Cliffs going down on the other. 6 inch off the pavement and you’re either scraping the side of the car or taking a dive to the bottom of the canyon. This is not the place to be talking on the cell phone or arguing with the kids. NO guard rails here.
Tuesday morning we board Gidget for the day and head off to catch the Durango/Silverton Narrow Gauge R/R train to Silverton and back. In the Parlor car, we’re served free champagne, soft drinks and a couple locally brewed beers. The scenery from the train is outstanding. In Silverton, we have lunch at the Bent Elbow, good food, but not the same as the Handle Bar Saloon. When we make it back to the train, we find that it has had a copper pressure line blown and we would be about 30 minutes late heading back to Durango.
On Wed morning we load up and head out for Flagstaff, Az. Gidget at 8 months goes into heat. Interestingly, no boy dogs have yet to try getting to her. We stop off at 4 corners and fork over more bucks for Native American jewelry. We then drove over into Utah on our way to Monument Pass. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, this is the back drop where Forrest Gump stopped running in the movie. This shot has also been in many other western movies.
Once in Flagstaff, it’s decided that the grand kids and their mother would accompany us to the Grand Canyon. So, being the kids had never been on a train, I called up the Grand Canyon R/R and bought tickets to ride the train from Williams, Az to the Grand Canyon and back. While the trip on the train was great fun for the kids and I, the scenery was really quite boring compared to the ride to Silverton from Durango. Sure, once at the Grand Canyon, the scenery was immense.
While in Flagstaff we made a trip over to Sedona to see the red rocks. While the rocks were beautiful, the trip up and down the mountain to Sedona was simply great.
On Monday we left for Safford to see friends of the wife and then it was a stop at MSD in El Paso on Wed for a tour of the plant and to meet some of the people I work with over the phone and through e-mail.
Thursday morning we headed to Austin Tx for a Sat wedding of the wife’s niece. On Sunday morning we left out of Austin at 6:30am and headed to Montgomery, Al. We reach the hotel at Montgomery at 9pm and hit the sack. Monday morning we’re up and on the road by 7am and after driving through a horde of love bugs, we pulled in the driveway at 4:30pm.
Total 19 day vacation
Out of 19 days, we were on the road 13 days
Only 6 days were not traveling in the car
5,534 total miles
202 total gallons consumed
27.40 avg miles per gallon
33 mpg in mtns around Durango and Silverton. No a/c and lower speeds
26-28 mpg on interstates with a/c on and the revs running about 3,300 – 3,400 rpm.
$2.749 lowest price paid for premium in Liberty City Tx
$3.299 highest paid for premium in Flagstaff
$3.59 highest price seen along the way but not purchased.
Oil consumption: less than 1 quart
Non run flat tires: No punctures Great ride
Temps along the way
100 degrees Highest temp in Phoenix
Low 40s at night in Flagstaff
Avg was low 90s
Recap:
Durango to Ouray Co: Must see areas. Great drive
Durango Silverton Rail Road: Must Do
160 and 162 over Monument pass: Must do. Great drive
Grand Canyon R/R: No scenery during the ride but if you have never ridden a train or like trains, it worth taking to the Grand Canyon. If you have to choose between the Durango Silverton R/R and the Grand Canyon R/R, go for the Durango Silverton
Grand Canyon: Must see area.
Sedona: Must see area. Great drive
Road Trip 2005
Sept 1st and the road to happiness has been washed out by Katrina.
The plan was to head west on I-10 to El Paso, then up I-25 to Albuquerque, NM but Katrina had made that impossible. So, on Thursday morning with the Mini packed to the roof, the Wife, Gidget our 8-month-old Westie and I headed out for our journey in search of vacation happiness.
So, with the tank filled, we headed west across Orlando to the Turnpike. North on the Turnpike to I-75 and then west again on I-10 to Tallahassee where we got off the interstate to find fuel and a sandwich. With Subway BMTs in hand, I stopped at a Chevron for fuel. $2.93 a gal for premium. Across the street, the Shell is selling premium for $3.49 a gal. And there are cars in the lot filling up?
Once the Mini’s tank and our’s are full, we continue to head west on I-10 to SR 231 where we head north towards Montgomery, Al. SR231 is a combination of 2 and 4 lanes going through several little towns and bigger towns such as Dothan. From Montgomery, we catch 65 to Birmingham and on to Memphis Tn where we reach I-40. This path while shorter in overall mileage, took longer due to all the slow traffic and stoplights getting from I-10 to Birmingham.
We make it, but not before spending the night in Jasper Ms . The Jameson Inn looked right nice from the outside. Once inside the room, we found the bed to have likely made more than one trip through Goodwill. Then I noticed four small patches on the inside of the outer door. Further inspection revealed four similar patches on the outside of the door. Little things that most of us would consider reason enough to check out and look elsewhere, but the Inn is full of evacuees from Katrina that are more than happy to have this place to call home. So how could we complain?
Friday morning we’re up early and with the car loaded, we’re off to Memphis. Not to find Elvis but I-40 West. Once into Memphis we find our first and only problem with getting fuel. It took three stations before we were able to get fuel and even at this, Premium at a Shell station was no more than $3.21 per gallon. Not bad after hearing about the scum in Atlanta charging 5 bucks a gallon. Vote me in, as President and these are the guys that you’ll see hanging from the bridges!
So, we hit I-40 and make our second stop of the day at the Mississippi Welcoming Center. What we found was the nicest rest areas we would visit until we were back in Florida. Back on the road and headed to road hell USA. Oklahoma! By far, Oklahoma had the worst roads and the worst rest areas we encountered through the whole trip. Or were the rest areas actually the worst? We hit the Texas state line and can you believe it? Of three major highways to cross the USA, the great state of Texas not only doesn’t have a welcoming center; it doesn’t even have rest areas! Yea, they have picnic areas and parking areas, but you’ll have to Pee behind a tree, as there is no rest rooms. And the roads, they’re no better than Oklahoma.
So far, we’ve spent the night in Jasper Alabama & Oklahoma City. Saturday night we’re in Albuquerque, NM and Sunday we head to Durango Co. While we went over one good size mountain getting to Albuquerque, the real mountains are now coming into view.
This is what we came for. We’re definitely not in Florida. The Mini is starting to get a workout while my right arm is starting to get sore as the wife keeps hitting me to get me to slow down.
In Durango, we find our Motel and after checking in, drive around town checking things out. We drive out to Willow Tree Kennel to make sure I know where it is and also look the place over.
Monday morning it raining and not expected to clear up. We jump in the car and head off to Silverton. With a couple of 10,000 foot passes along the way, the scenery is magnificent. In Silverton we eat at “Handle Bars” a restaurant and bar right out of the 1800s. After lunch, with it pouring rain outside, we walk to the store in front of Handle Bars and manage to drop some major bucks on Southwestern vases and plates. But where to put them? These places should really offer shipping. With the stuff in the Mini, we’re off to the gold mine out past Howardsville. The gold mine which was worked out in the 30s was wet and cold. Unlike the coalmines I worked in years ago, these mines out west have no problems with Methane gas.
After returning to the mines outer portal, we loaded back up and started up the muddy canyon towards Eureka, an old ghost town. Beyond Eureka, the signs say 4-wheel drive is recommended and damage can be expected. With enough mud on the Mini to make the most diehard Red Neck proud the wife said I’d went far enough and so we turned around and headed back to paved roads.
Leaving Silverton, we headed further north over the 11,075 feet Red Mtn Pass to Ouray.
At sea level, the Cooper S has plenty of spunk for a four banger. But at 11,000 feet? I thought I was going to have to get out and push, but the Cooper pulled through and down the mountain we went. Cliffs going up on one side. Cliffs going down on the other. 6 inch off the pavement and you’re either scraping the side of the car or taking a dive to the bottom of the canyon. This is not the place to be talking on the cell phone or arguing with the kids. NO guard rails here.
Tuesday morning we board Gidget for the day and head off to catch the Durango/Silverton Narrow Gauge R/R train to Silverton and back. In the Parlor car, we’re served free champagne, soft drinks and a couple locally brewed beers. The scenery from the train is outstanding. In Silverton, we have lunch at the Bent Elbow, good food, but not the same as the Handle Bar Saloon. When we make it back to the train, we find that it has had a copper pressure line blown and we would be about 30 minutes late heading back to Durango.
On Wed morning we load up and head out for Flagstaff, Az. Gidget at 8 months goes into heat. Interestingly, no boy dogs have yet to try getting to her. We stop off at 4 corners and fork over more bucks for Native American jewelry. We then drove over into Utah on our way to Monument Pass. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, this is the back drop where Forrest Gump stopped running in the movie. This shot has also been in many other western movies.
Once in Flagstaff, it’s decided that the grand kids and their mother would accompany us to the Grand Canyon. So, being the kids had never been on a train, I called up the Grand Canyon R/R and bought tickets to ride the train from Williams, Az to the Grand Canyon and back. While the trip on the train was great fun for the kids and I, the scenery was really quite boring compared to the ride to Silverton from Durango. Sure, once at the Grand Canyon, the scenery was immense.
While in Flagstaff we made a trip over to Sedona to see the red rocks. While the rocks were beautiful, the trip up and down the mountain to Sedona was simply great.
On Monday we left for Safford to see friends of the wife and then it was a stop at MSD in El Paso on Wed for a tour of the plant and to meet some of the people I work with over the phone and through e-mail.
Thursday morning we headed to Austin Tx for a Sat wedding of the wife’s niece. On Sunday morning we left out of Austin at 6:30am and headed to Montgomery, Al. We reach the hotel at Montgomery at 9pm and hit the sack. Monday morning we’re up and on the road by 7am and after driving through a horde of love bugs, we pulled in the driveway at 4:30pm.
Total 19 day vacation
Out of 19 days, we were on the road 13 days
Only 6 days were not traveling in the car
5,534 total miles
202 total gallons consumed
27.40 avg miles per gallon
33 mpg in mtns around Durango and Silverton. No a/c and lower speeds
26-28 mpg on interstates with a/c on and the revs running about 3,300 – 3,400 rpm.
$2.749 lowest price paid for premium in Liberty City Tx
$3.299 highest paid for premium in Flagstaff
$3.59 highest price seen along the way but not purchased.
Oil consumption: less than 1 quart
Non run flat tires: No punctures Great ride
Temps along the way
100 degrees Highest temp in Phoenix
Low 40s at night in Flagstaff
Avg was low 90s
Recap:
Durango to Ouray Co: Must see areas. Great drive
Durango Silverton Rail Road: Must Do
160 and 162 over Monument pass: Must do. Great drive
Grand Canyon R/R: No scenery during the ride but if you have never ridden a train or like trains, it worth taking to the Grand Canyon. If you have to choose between the Durango Silverton R/R and the Grand Canyon R/R, go for the Durango Silverton
Grand Canyon: Must see area.
Sedona: Must see area. Great drive
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 98
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From: SoFLA
I miss CO...I grew up there, and now call SoFLA home....I am anxious to take a trip back in my mini....I know some great roads through southeastern Utah,,,,Moab and Monument Valley area.
I could picture the entire trip...thanks for the great report, and happy to hear the Mini did well. Did you see many others on the road during your travels?
I could picture the entire trip...thanks for the great report, and happy to hear the Mini did well. Did you see many others on the road during your travels?
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2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 110
Likes: 2
From: Wittmann, Az
Originally Posted by nvus111
Did you see many others on the road during your travels?
While I waved to all, I 'm not sure any one of them waved back.
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Sounds like a great trip. You traveled through some of the country I visit and thouroughly enjoy often...Northern AZ, Western NM, SE Ut and SW CO. All are great MINI roads. When I bought my car from MOTW in Houston in July, I went to Galveston and then took all the 2-lane roads through SW TX, through SW NM and then the roads through rural AZ. That was a blast!
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