Palms to Pines to Palms

onethumb · #1 (**permalink**) 04-19-2005, 03:30 PM

Will anyone here be joining the Alfa train in San Juan Capistrano?

Bruce Colby · #2 (**permalink**) 04-19-2005, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onethumb

Will anyone here be joining the Alfa train in San Juan Capistrano?

**sidewaysalfa** · #3 (**permalink**) 04-19-2005, 05:40 PM

Here's another "southerner" that needs redezvous info for the Palms to Pines portion of the tour:

Dave Mericle" <veloce@cox.net

onethumb · #4 (**permalink**) 04-20-2005, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Colby

That's our plan. We'll hang on for the picnic, then bail. I figure to wait somethere just east of the I-5 on the Ortega Hwy.

Bruce Colby · #5 (**permalink**) 04-20-2005, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onethumb

Oooh...I don't suppose you'll be bringing one of your TS cars?

My TS engine is on it's way across the pond, and I'd love to crawl around one of yours for a bit!

Stacy Faught
'87 Spider Quad (eager to test new tires)
'78 Alfetta Sport Sedan (patiently waiting for a TS)

Bruce Colby · #6 (**permalink**) 04-21-2005, 03:55 PM

I just found my copy of the event flyer for this and it says:

Option #1: join us at the I-5 and Hwy. 74 in San Juan Capistrano at about 10 AM.

So at least we have a target time to work with.

**sidewaysalfa** · #7 (**permalink**) 04-21-2005, 04:02 PM

You southern folks should decide where we northerners will meet up with you. Gas station? Knowing us we will all want to stop and get out and look at each other's cars before continuing on to Winchester and the cheese stop.
And remember lunch is from YOUR picnic basket. Nice picnic area at the park in Idlywild Bring a couple of bucks for the Entrance Fee.
It is NOT impolite to look at someone elses lunch and ask to sample. We always bring too much food, an Alfa tradition.
See you Saturday morning.

Bruce Colby · #8 (**permalink**) 04-21-2005, 04:55 PM

I wish I knew what was at/near the Rt 74 exit but I don't. Anyone got any ideas?

**sidewaysalfa** · #9 (**permalink**) 04-21-2005, 05:04 PM

I sent Jim Barrett a PM with this question.

onethumb · #10 (**permalink**) 04-21-2005, 05:57 PM

Well, I live just off the 74, about 1/2 mile east of the 5

On the east side of the 5, there is a Chevron (there is also one on the west side, so...). There is also a hotel and a Denny's there. A bit further down the road (200 yards), there is a convience store with a small deli on the south side of the road, and on the north side of the road is a car wash/oil change place, a starbucks, a B of A atm, and a reasonably nice Italian place called Tannins. The Gnocchi there is quite good (although not as good as Capriccio in Mission Viejo--that place is worth a trip on it's own...best Italian food EVER).

I digress...

1/4 mile further, on the north side, is where I live....so if anyone is having car issues at that time, I can provide garage space and a decent selection of tools and fluids (for the car, or adult beverages if required--I suppose this depends on the nature of the problem!).

According to the sheet, the planned meeting point is at the Chevron on the east side of the 5. There is a parking area type thing nearby. I would probably suggest the convience store just a few yards down the road, though--parking lot is bigger, and the one person who always forgets sunscreen can get some (the Chevron doesn't have a store---it's just a gas station). It's all the same to me, however...

Stacy Faught
'87 Spider Quad (itching to run around)
'78 Alfetta Sport Sedan (jealous of the Spider)

Cobralfa · #11 (**permalink**) 04-21-2005, 09:40 PM

Breaker, breaker, looks like we got us a CONVOY, little buddy! I'm sure we'll all get together somehow- I mean if you see a bunch of Alfas drive by (wherever you're waiting), engage your drivetrain, push the go pedal, and join the fun!

The (east side of the 5 freeway) Chevron will be a stoping spot for some folks arriving from Palms (El Lay) who want to top off their petrol supply. So as we're rolling out of there, we'll look for other tourers, and honk/flash/wave madly as we rumble on.

If anyone has a question, my cell phone is 714/642-1593.

Also, another thought: The CHP patrols the Ortega Highway with mobile radar; not that we would break any laws (heavens!), but some nimble motorcycle riders have been known to do some serious time trials on that road...

Bonus thought, at no extra charge: it will be warm, so make sure your cooling system is happy.

Cheers!

Jim Barrett

1982 Suede-No-More-Mobile (aka GTV6)

Bruce Colby · #12 (**permalink**) 04-22-2005, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobralfa

... it will be warm ...

Cobralfa · #13 (**permalink**) 04-22-2005, 06:14 PM

We may have an excellent opportunity to engage in another version of Murphy's Law: if everyone brings an umbrella, it shouldn't rain.

Simple, eh?

**sidewaysalfa** · #14 (**permalink**) 04-22-2005, 11:31 PM

I have the umbrella and some RainEx.
See you all in the morning.

Bruce Colby · #15 (**permalink**) 04-25-2005, 10:07 AM

Well Paul didn't need the umbrella. It was overcast and occasionally looked like it might rain. But it didn’t, at least not on Saturday. We had a fine run from Capistrano to Idyllwild. Sure, Hemet was a pain, but at least we didn't crawl through the downtown section. The picnic was a site to behold. It's hard to figure how so much food could have been packed into the Alfas (plus Audi & Jag I think). Maybe some who were staying in Palm Springs weren't planning on wearing clean cloths on Sunday because there is no way they could have had room to pack any. Unfortunately we couldn't stay to find out. We did make the run down to Palm Springs but turned around at the Desert Museum and headed home. We hadn’t planned on doing the downhill run but there was time and it meant we could drive back up. Jim and Elyse Barnett deserve a big THANKS for doing all the planning. Maybe someone else has some pictures they can post.