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-   -   Sunflower's Inaugural West Coast Adventure (https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/travel-stories/305812-sunflowers-inaugural-west-coast-adventure.html)

sarom058 08-09-2016 06:26 PM

Sunflower's Inaugural West Coast Adventure
 
Hey guys!

I joined NAM 5 months ago, immediately before deciding to buy my boss’ irresponsibly maintained R53 MCS. I then proceeded to frantically work as much as I could at my internship to be able to fix my newly acquired MINI before the end of the summer, so (hopefully) I could go on a West Coast road trip with my girlfriend….

Everything that could have gone wrong with preparations had gone wrong. Two weeks ago, my A/C compressor seized and blew chunks of metal through the entire system. The following day, my window motor broke. Last week, when I went to get an alignment on the $600 of suspension components I put in, they couldn’t align it because BOTH wheel bearings were jiggling (the following day, they started growling btw). Good eye, Mr. Mechanic. :thumbsup:

Well, against all odds/speculation, it happened. Without a/c, sure—but it happened. I’m not much of a blogger/internet type, but I’ve really come to appreciate the community and advice I’ve found here. So...I’ve decided to tell the following tale of Sunflower’s West Coast Adventure here! Nobody I’m friends with on Facebook gives a crap anyway, haha. It'll be blog-style, with as many photos as I can fit. Sorry in advance--I'm really bad at being succinct. :impatient:

sarom058 08-20-2016 11:55 AM

Changed my mind on the format of the posts. I think a photo with a little blurb about each will be easier.

---------DAY 1---------

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...825f183a35.jpg

I snapped this photo at the Desert View rest area, after driving through 120F desert heat with no air conditioning.

sarom058 08-20-2016 11:58 AM

---------DAY 2---------

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...8a20e2923d.jpg

The owner of the AirBnB we stayed at also drove a MINI! Had to snap this photo.

sarom058 08-20-2016 12:05 PM

---------DAY 3---------


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...a4a83f7f4a.jpg

Broke camp at Morro Dunes RV Park. Highly recommend, $30/night and right on the beach!

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...8ac962556c.jpg

Morro Bay was so peaceful. The rocky outcropping dominated the skyline in the best of ways.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...d8a83e7256.jpg

ZEBRAS on the PCH. WHAT?!

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...51f4a59d06.jpg

Stopped for a quick photo at Big Sur!


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...edb91f90f6.jpg

Who said MINIs weren't versatile vehicles? The roof of mine worked wonderfully as a kitchen. :D

sarom058 08-20-2016 12:18 PM

---------DAY 4---------


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...e73f5909e2.jpg

Broke camp in Monterey Veterans' Memorial State Park. Great place to camp!

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...2542e27d3f.jpg

Bought a sunflower for Sunflower. Figured $1 was worth a nice photo.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...10e4e8e029.jpg

Stopped for a photo along the PCH about an hour north of Monterey.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...99dd66ffbd.jpg

Sunflower visits a farm!

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...9df1c721db.jpg

Drove by an airfield south of San Francisco, figured it would be a cool photo.

sarom058 08-20-2016 12:25 PM

---------DAYS 5 & 6---------

We explored San Francisco mostly on foot, so the only MINI photos I got were on our way out of the city.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...c30db087d5.jpg

We ate lunch in a park on the the Painted Ladies.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...c3cb534749.jpg

Sunflower at the Painted Ladies!

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...3b0d66d2fc.jpg

Sunflower at the Golden Gate Bridge! It was way too windy and cold to set up a nice photo.

sarom058 08-20-2016 12:33 PM

---------DAY 7 & 8---------

We hightailed it from San Francisco to the Avenue of the Giants in the middle of the night. Didn't stop for many photos.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...a1b46a3bb6.jpg

Sunflower in the Avenue of the Giants!

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...f1833a73ab.jpg

Someplace between Avenue of the Giants and Portland. Fog was awesome, though.

sarom058 08-20-2016 12:39 PM

---------DAY 9 & 10---------


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...ee2725020b.jpg

The entrance to Washington Park in Portland!

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...5d2dbea578.jpg

Sunflower takes Mt. St. Helens!

CooperSAZ 09-06-2016 01:50 PM

Oh very cool pics! Thanks for sharing.

Looks like a fun trip for sure!


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