Boxster Road Trip

Day 81 of #BoxsterRoadTrip and we are traveling from Ventura, California to the Bay Area and HOME!!!

We said this trip was going to be 83 days and we cut it by two.  It was 81 days.  Almost 12 weeks, but not quite.  Yep, we got a little bit homesick!

We left Ventura after breakfast and headed north on US-101.  We decided we would take Highway 1 (the Coast Highway) if the sun came out or stay on US-101 if it was raining.  The rain won out (which is actually great news for Californians), so US-101 it was!  Not quite as scenic, but we’ve done the coastal highway a number of times.  I say not as scenic, but California is always beautiful to us!

I know you’ve heard about the drought, but I wanted to let you see it.  The hills are brown (golden) and there are stretches of the valley that should be green with crops and all you see is plowed ground, waiting for rain and a time when the farmers can once again grow their crops.

The vineyards, however, seem to be doing okay and, who knows, this could be a good wine year!  I’m bet the dry ground is forcing the roots of the vines to go deeper, which might be a good thing.

We continued up the coast and the weather stayed grey, with intermittent rain.  But, by the time we got home, it was pouring.  Yeah!  We stopped at the grocery store and bought a few necessities (but not too much cuz there wasn’t any spare space in the Boxster) and then pulled into our driveway at about 4:00 pm.

It was wonderful to get home.   We spent the next few hours going through 3 months of mail and paying bills.  Back to reality!

I will write one more blog, summarizing everything.  How many miles, how much gas, high points, low points, everything we can think of to help anyone else who might want to try a 48 State Roadtrip (which we recommend).  And now I can finally say . . .

The journey is over (or is it?)!

Day 80 of #BoxsterRoadTrip and we traveled from Saint George, Utah through Nevada and on to Ventura, California.

The goal today was to reach the Pacific Ocean – and we did it!  We got up early (way too early) because we knew this was going to be the longest day of this trip.  We left Saint George at 7:30 am (which was 6:30 am California time) and headed to Nevada and the Hoover Dam.  The scenery as we were leaving Utah was absolutely spectacular, as you can see from the photos.  And it wasn’t too long before we were in Nevada.  And then we drove and drove and drove until we finally reached Las Vegas and then headed south to Boulder City and the Hoover Dam.

It is kind of exciting to actually drive across the dam!  We put the top down (even though it was only 55 degrees) so we could have the best view possible.  And it was worth it!  The first view we got was looking up at the highway bridge that goes from Nevada into Arizona.  Then we got to drive across the dam and we could then park and take photos.  We didn’t take the tour because of the time constraints, but the view of the dam was enough for us.  It is a true engineering feat.

After leaving the Hoover Dam, came another long (rather boring) drive from Las Vegas to Barstow (the first major California city west of Las Vegas).  All in all, today we drove 537 miles!  But arriving back in California made the drive well worth it!

Tomorrow we make the final drive north to the Bay Area and home.  We intend to slow down on this last leg and enjoy our last day on the road.  You may not see my final blog for a day or two – I’m sure we’ll be sleeping, going through three months worth of mail, paying bills, and just enjoying “home”.  But I will write a final blog and summarize this adventure.  Until you hear from me, assume . . .

The journey continues . . .

Day 79 of #BoxsterRoadTrip takes us from the Grand Canyon in Arizona to Saint George, Utah by way of Zion National Park.

We left the south rim of the Grand Canyon at 8:30 am and the temperature was 6 degrees Fahrenheit (a brisk minus 17 Celsius) and the sun was shining.  We started out by going east on the Desert View Drive (toward the east entrance to the park).  We then headed north on US-89.  The plan was to take US-89 into Utah and then connect with UT-9, which would take us through Zion National Park.

But, sometimes plans just don’t work out.  We did start out on US-89 but after a short distance, came to a road  closure and we were routed onto US-89-Alternate.  Turned out to be a great road, with almost no traffic.  On our way, not only did we encounter beautiful scenery but we also reached a milestone – we clocked 111,111 miles on our car!  And then we crossed into Utah and encountered a herd of bison!

We stopped for lunch at Escobar’s Mexican Restaurant in Kanab, UT and it was great – the best Chili Rellenos Jo has had since college (and that was quite some time ago)!  The temperature was now 66 degrees, so we decided it was time to put the top down!  From 6 to 66 in just over 4 hours!  We then continued on to Zion National Park.  The scenery was even more spectacular than the Grand Canyon, probably because we were so close to everything.  And there was the one mile long tunnel!  Wowee!  I am just going to put a few of the photos below so you can share in the awe!

Tomorrow we continue our trek westward, as . . .

The journey continues . . .

Day 78 of #BoxsterRoadTrip was dedicated to sightseeing at The Grand Canyon!

Rather than write a lot of words, I am going to let the photos do the talking.  We took the Hermits Rest Route (by shuttle bus) and stopped at every opportunity and spent time walking and taking photos.  So, here is a photo journal of this lovely route, by stop:

Maricopa Point:

Powell Point:

Hopi Point:

Mojave Point:

The Abyss:

Monument Creek Vista:

Pima Point:

Hermits Rest:

Tomorrow we are heading to Zion National Park, as . . .

The journey continues . . .

Day 77 of #BoxsterRoadTrip takes us from Durango, Colorado to the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

We left the lovely Airbnb 2nd Wind Aspen Room in Durango and headed toward the Four Corners Monument, the one place in the USA where four states intersect.  However, the weather turned very ugly, with visibility almost zero.  So we decided seeing the monument was not worth the risk and we turned around and headed south.  This added about 30% more to our planned miles and time, but without the stress of the weather conditions we had encountered on the northern route!  So, all in all, we put 468 miles on the car today!  Yawn . . .

So we left Colorado and crossed back into New Mexico, this time heading south to Gallup and then jumping on I-40, where we could travel at 75 MPH.  Most of the journey was uneventful.  Most of I-40 tracks the old Route 66, which is kind of fun and scenic.  However, it is long and even though the altitude ranges from 4500 to 7500 feet, it is mostly what I would call high desert.

We ultimately crossed into Arizona, our 46th state.  Two more to go!  We continued traveling west until we passed Flagstaff and got to Williams, where we turned due north on Arizona 64, which takes you straight (literally) to the Grand Canyon.  By the time we got to the Canyon, it was almost dark, so we checked in and went for dinner.  Tomorrow will be our day of sightseeing.  Oh, and the temperature is a brisk 19 degrees (which is MINUS 7 for my Celsius friends).

We are spending the night at the Thunderbird Lodge, so we will be able to maximize the time we have in this lovely National Park.  Tomorrow, we bundle up and . . .

The journey continues . . .

Day 76 of #BoxsterRoadTrip has us traveling northward from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Durango, Colorado.

Because we knew today was a shorter drive than normal, we took our own sweet time having breakfast and packing.  It was in the 40’s when we left Albuquerque, which seemed quite warm, compared to the last few days!  The sun was shining but we DID NOT put the top down.  We may have seen our last topless days until we get to California (maybe Nevada, who knows).  Leaving Albuquerque, the scenery was spectacular, however . . .

As we drove north, the scenery got even more spectacular, with beautiful colored outcroppings of rocks and plateaus.  The road (US-550) was very lightly traveled and pretty darn straight.  So straight it was putting Steve to sleep, so Jo took over driving and Steve took a little snooze.  The one worry we have is that there might be snow tonight (check out the increasing clouds in the photos).  We are hoping it passes over Durango!

We arrived in Colorado in the early afternoon and headed into downtown Durango for Starbuck’s, some window shopping, and a little walk.  The temperature remained in the high 40’s.  Durango is a lovely town and we enjoyed looking around but we wanted to check into our Airbnb before sundown, so we headed to 2nd Wind Aspen Room, where we are spending the night.

Tomorrow we head to Arizona and THE GRAND CANYON, where . . .

The journey continues . . .

Day 75 of #BoxsterRoadTrip takes us from frigid (Amaraillo) Canyon, Texas to warm Albuquerque, New Mexico.

When we left Canyon, Texas, it was 21 degrees with a wind chill factor of 10 degrees.  Even after warming the car up for 10 minutes, the floor boards were still so cold you could feel the coldess through your shoes and socks.  And the clutch pedal squeaked each time I clutched.  BRRRRRR.  We were going to go to Cadillac Ranch but forgot to program it into the GPS and missed it.  By the time we thought about it, we were 25 miles beyond it and did not want to go back.  And, besides, it was too darn cold to get out of the car to see it anyway!  Even the ponds in Texas were frozen over!  So we traveled west, in search of warmer weather and New Mexico.

After we reached New Mexico the temperature started to go up.  From the 20’s to the 30’s to the 40’s and finally 58 degrees in Albuquerque.  It felt almost tropical!

We didn’t realize how much we were going to climb today, but we reached an altitude of 7,055 feet at one point.  And there was some snow along the roads (but not enough to worry us).

Once we reached Albuquerque we stopped for an early dinner and I took a photo of Steve after he enjoyed a great meal and Margarita!  Amazing what some warm weather and a good meal will do!!!

New Mexico is our 44th state.  Tomorrow we head to Colorado, which will be number 45 and . . .

The journey continues . . .

Day 74 of #BoxsterRoadTrip had us driving from Colleyville, Texas (Fort Worth) to Canyon, Texas (Amarillo).

We left Colleyville at 8:00 am and it was COLD!  The temperature was 30 degrees and it was kind of grey (but no rain or snow, thank goodness).  We took US 287 northwest for almost the entire trip.  It was pretty boring.  As the sun came out, the temperature DROPPED!!!  By the time we pulled into Amarillo for a very late lunch, it was 21 degrees!

We stopped at the grocery store for a few items then on to Walmart to gas up.  This was our second Walmart gas stop today.  The first one was $2.93 per gallon and the second was $2.96 (for premium).  Both of these are the best we’ve seen so far!

We checked into our Airbnb accommodation for the evening “Be a guest in our empty nest“, which is an absolutely lovely and warm home.

Tomorrow we continue our westward trek, as . . .

The journey continues . . .

Day 73 of #BoxsterRoadTrip is another visiting friends day in the Dallas / Fort Worth area.

We started the day with a trip to the Fort Worth Stockyards with our good friend (and host), Bob.  I have to say, it was an incredibly COLD day, with temperatures hovering between 27 and 41 (and with the wind chill factor, 41 feels like 32).  Us Californians are just not used to this frigid weather!  Wimps!!!

We wandered around for a while, checked out some of the shops, and then headed to Riscky’s Bar-B-Q for lunch.  It was delicious!

After lunch, we stopped at the White Elephant Saloon on our way to do some more “window shopping” (since there is no room in the Boxster for “real shopping”!  We even stopped at M.L. Leddy’s, even though we know this store is way out of our league!  But we can dream and drool!!!

The day was capped off with a trip to a working ranch, where we were treated to a tour of the heated barn, where there were a number of beautiful horses.  After the tour, we went to dinner at the Texas Roadhouse, and we enjoyed a fabulous steak dinner with our friends (and host) Bob and Mary.  Another evening of stories and laughter and reminiscing!  Tomorrow we head northwest to Amarillo and . . .

The journey continues . . .

Day 72 of #BoxsterRoadTrip and we are visiting friends in Dallas.

(Today is written by Steve).  Okay, you are right, we are late writing this blog.  Today has been both hectic, exciting and a walk down memory lane (for Jo).  The day started with a bit of a sleep-in, followed by a frantic search for a Starbucks.  Dallas road construction and major fly-overs are a lot safer and easier in the daylight!

Next stop was Judy’s.  Judy had pre-warned us that no GPS could find her home and she gave us excellent directions via email.  Well, in fact, both worked and J & J met up again face to face for the first time in over 30 years.  I heard Jo whisper under her breath “Damn, she looks good!!!”.  The next four hours went by far too quickly for all the questions and stories to be asked and recounted.  For me (Steve), this was a fascinating and lovely time to see these two friends catching up.

But then it was on to our next reunion – via Starbucks, of course.  Did someone say Jo liked coffee?  Did I also mention that I forgot the camera today (of all days)?

The wind was starting to pick up and temperatures were dropping as we made our way to meet up with Jerry and Nancy at Maguire’s for dinner.  These two old friends of Jo’s and strangers to Steve walked into the restaurant, we all embraced, and suddenly we were all good friends and it was as if everyone had known each other for years.  And those years during which we had not seen each other were relived at the speed of light through tales and stories.  Boy, can the girls talk!  The evening went by too fast, just like our time with Judy did earlier in the day.

So, it was now back to our host Bob and his lovely home to crash, prepare for tomorrow, and write the blog (we got two done).  Tomorrow . . .

The journey continues . . .

Day 71 of #BoxsterRoadTrip has us traveling from Bossier City, Louisiana to Colleyville, Texas by way of Oklahoma!

We decided to alter our driving plans today to include Oklahoma.  This was certainly the long way to Colleyville (near Dallas and Fort Worth), but we had the time, so why not?  We took an interstate north out of Bossier City and felt like we had entered another dimension.  Yes, folks, that photo on the left is an Interstate and we are just about the only car on the road.  Where is everyone?  It was a little bit spooky.  But the 75 MPH speed limit helped us to overcome our trepidation and we flew north toward Oklahoma (our 42nd state).

After leaving Oklahoma, we went on a quest to find a Starbuck’s (for Jo) and finally found one in Sherman Texas.  Texas, our 43rd state!  Yeah!

Then it was on to Richardson, TX to visit Jo’s high school friend, Barbara.  But before that stop, we had to drive by Jo’s old home at 1904 Vassar Drive in Richardson.  We took a few photos for old times sake.

Dinner with Barb and Rick was wonderful.  It was great for Jo and Barbara to catch up (and reminisce).  There were lots of stories, lots of wine and beer and loads of laughs.  We learned that Barb shot her first bear and has it mounted in her den (see photo).  Brave woman!

Thanks to Rick for grilling up a great dinner and thanks to both Rick and Steve for putting up with all the stories.

It was almost 10:00 pm by the time we pulled into our “home” in Colleyville, where we are staying with another of Jo’s friends, Bob.   Tomorrow it is more visiting and more stories for Steve to have to listen to.  Oh well, he’ll get over it and as you know by now . . .

The journey continues . . .

Day 70 of #BoxsterRoadTrip has us driving from Memphis, Tennessee to Bossier City, Louisiana.

After breakfast, one of the other guests at the Marriott Residence Inn in Memphis suggested I go up on the roof and take some photos.  Wow, what a nice view (and another sunny day, of course).

The first part of the trip took us south along the Mississippi River.  It was cold, but sunny, so the top was down.  There are not too many more days we will be able to go topless, so we are taking advantage of the good days while we can.

In less than an hour, we were out off Tennessee and into Mississippi heading south.  The road was lightly traveled and very straight (yawn).  And, like so many southern states, there was cotton field after cotton field.  And not a Starbuck’s in sight!

We continued on.

We crossed the Mississippi River into Arkansas (with Steve driving over this bridge) and continued southward.

We continued following the river for a little while longer (it was beautiful) before turning west and crossing into Louisiana.  Here, the crops changed from cotton to grain and rice.

Our destination for tonight is Bossier City, Louisiana (a superb of Shreveport).  Tomorrow . . .

The journey continues . . .

Day 69 of #BoxsterRoadTrip is a day of touring Graceland. We started the day doing laundry.  Oh, how exciting is that!  But we didn’t want to go to Graceland looking shabby or grubby!

Steve’s comment was that Graceland was more interesting than Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame, and I agree.   The memorabilia was interesting and it was kind of fun to listen to Elvis’ songs as you traversed the various museums.

We really enjoyed Elvis’ automobile collection, as you can tell from the number of photos!

We continued on to Elvis’ actual home, Graceland.  It is as if time stands still.  The décor is definitely 70’s, but lovely, nonetheless.

We took loads of photos of Graceland, and I’m only including a few in this blog.

We continued to the racquetball court, which now houses Elvis’ numerous gold records, awards and more memorabilia. And all the while we were touring, there was great music playing.

Lastly, we went to the gravesite, where Elvis, his parents and his grandmother are all buried.

Did you know Elvis was a twin?

Tomorrow we head to Louisiana!  And . . .

The journey continues . . .

Day 68 of #BoxsterRoadTrip is a trip from Nashville to Memphis, Tennessee.

We left Nashville after an early breakfast and headed for the back roads.  The rain was gone and the day was sunny but COLD.  Along the way we saw lots of cotton, most of which had been harvested; however, there are still a few fields waiting to be harvested.

Speaking of cold, there is a huge storm, the remains of Typhoon Nuri, which is about to hit Alaska and head south, bringing frigid weather with it.  And it will hit us in two days, most likely while we are in Dallas.  The weather is expected to drop 30 degrees in one day!  Brrrrrrr!

As we drove into Memphis, we saw lots of cute brick and rock homes (something we don’t see in California).  A nice change from the Spanish Style we are used to seeing.

We checked into the Marriott’s Residence Inn in downtown Memphis and then headed to Beale Street.  We had dinner at Blues City Café, where we enjoyed the food as well as the service!  Our server, Lonnie, was a lot of fun and took excellent care of us and made wonderful recommendations.  If you stop at this well known establishment, ask for Lonnie!

After listing to some of the music (I’m not the best at doing videos, so be merciful on me) and doing a little people watching, we headed back to the hotel.  Tomorrow we go on the search for Elvis and . . .

The journey continues . . .

Day 67 of #BoxsterRoadTrip and we were sightseeing in Nashville, Tennessee.

After breakfast, we headed to downtown Nashville and the Country Music Hall of Fame.  It is three stories of country!  We spent hours here, wandering, gawking, listening, and oooohing and aaaaahing.  It was fun but, boy oh boy, were we exhausted (and a little bit achy).

There is an entire section dedicated to inductees.  Jo had to have a photo of her favorite cowboy, Gene Autry!  Steve opted for Vince Gill.

After wandering through the exhibits, we decided it was time for some real music.  We walked by many of the clubs, but the music just didn’t touch us.  We stopped at a few, but it was just loud.  Not good, just loud!  We must be getting old!  We grabbed a bite to eat at Rock Bottom Brewery and then decided to call it a day.  Tomorrow, we head off to Memphis and . . .

The journey continues . . .

Day 66 of #BoxsterRoadTrip has us traveling from Asheville to Nashville (North Carolina to Tennessee)!

Today was the first really “yukky” day we’ve had.  We said goodbye to Ingrid and John and headed north and then west to Nashville.  And it was pouring!  Visibility was pretty much horrible and, because we couldn’t really enjoy any sights, we took the Interstate.  And that meant trucks and crazy drivers.  The sun did peak through a couple of times and Jo did manage to get a few photos of the beautiful color and interesting rock formations in the Smokey Mountains.

We did finally cross into Tennessee (our 38th state so far) and headed to The Big Bungalow Bed & Breakfast, where we will be spending two nights.  After a short rest, we headed to Sambuca for some dinner and music.  We listened to a great group called “The Jenerators”, had a good meal and we are hoping that the rain stops and tomorrow is a little drier!  The plan is to do some sightseeing (and music listening) in Nashville and we sure would like sun (or at least no rain).  Wet or dry . . .

The journey continues . . .

Day 65 of #BoxsterRoadTrip has us sightseeing in beautiful Asheville, North Carolina!

We started the day with a trip to the Asheville Farmers Market, where Jo had her first taste of boiled peanuts.  Since it was a weekday, the market was smaller than a weekend market, but still had loads of food and crafts.  After leaving there, we headed to the Basilica of St Lawrence in downtown Asheville.  A lovely church.

We wandered around town and did a little shopping before heading to 12 Bones for lunch.  Great barbeque!  And Steve even signed the wall!

After lunch we headed to the Biltmore Estate and we walked and we walked and then we walked some more.  The estate is HUGE and it is really too bad you can’t take any photos inside, but we did get some beautiful shots of the outside of our new summer home!

Overall, we walked over 5 miles today (and we are all feeling the after effects).   But it was worth every minute and every aching muscle!

We had a lovely dinner at The Corner Kitchen in the Biltmore Village (after walking around some more!).

Tomorrow we head to Nashville and . . .

The journey continues. . .

Day 64 of #BoxsterRoadTrip and we are back in North Carolina!

We left Atlanta, Georgia and headed northeast toward our destination of Asheville, North Carolina.  Yes, we have been in North Carolina earlier, but we liked it so much, we wanted to visit it twice!  This time, we are saying with Jo’s cousin Ingrid and her husband John.  On our way out of Georgia, we took a few photos of the lovely large homes which seem to be the norm in Georgia.  We also snapped the a smaller home for sale, which would probably go for $1.5 million (or more) in California!  (grin).  A starter home.

We crossed the North Carolina State line once again and headed back into the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Lovely scenery and almost empty roads (once again).  And sunny weather.  I think we have been incredibly lucky on the weather this trip, although we did see some snow today.  However, as long as it is not on the road, we are happy!

We took a couple more photos in North Carolina on our way to Asheville and then headed to Ingrid and John’s, where we will be staying for two nights.

This evening we went to the Grove Park Inn for a beautiful sunset view and drinks and then headed off for dinner at Papa’s & Beer, where the meals are huge and good!  We are now happily stuffed and exceedingly exhausted.

Tomorrow . . .

The Journey Continues . . .

Day 63 of #BoxsterRoadTrip finds us sightseeing in Atlanta, Georgia.

Best news was that today was not as cold and windy as yesterday!  It was still colder than normal (in the mid 30’s when we left for breakfast), but no wind to speak of.  Thank goodness!

On our way to meet Bill & Bettte for brunch, we passed the US Headquarters for Porsche and it reminded me that I never received a reply from Porsche about sponsoring our 48 state, 12 week trip in a 1998 Porsche Boxster.  What a disappointment that I never even got a reply!  Tsk tsk, Porsche USA!!!

Anyway, we had a lovely brunch with Bill & Bette and got caught up on all their travels and visa versa.  Thanks, guys, for a lovely morning!

Then we headed off to visit “The World of Coca Cola“.  Certainly a great deal of marketing went into this site, but it was fun and tasting all the different sodas (over 100) was interesting.  I wish some of them were available in the US!  We had a great afternoon wandering around the exhibits and then we headed off for an early dinner of soup and salad at Sweet Tomatoes (Jo has been craving a salad)!  One of our goals is to arrive home at the same weight (or less) than we were when we left, so a salad is a good thing!

Tomorrow we head northeast to Asheville, North Carolina.

The journey continues . . .