06-16-2009, 06:34 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Stamford, CT
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Transcontinental trip to Portland Convention
Greetings:
Under consideration is a whirlwind road trip from Connecticut to the Portland convention in July. There has been discussions of carrier transport, but logistics of drop-off and pick-up, along with the timing of those events and the significant $$$ involved are impediments.
So we are left with a plan for a 5-day trip out and a 8 day trip back, leaving three full days at the Convention. I have created a set of Google Maps to visualize the insanity.
The trip back, with more time, will attempt to cover the Canadian Rockies, and follow the spine down to Yellowstone, then running over the Beartooth Highway, which was closed when we passed through last June with the Alfetta.
The vehicle of choice will be our S4 Spider, which will need a new set of rubber and a fluids check. I also plan to swap out the upper adjustable control arm bushings that the BB seems to be encountering as an aftermarket supplier defect.
Anyone interested in joining us? Also, if anyone has plans to drive some similar routings, we could adjust to coincide with your trip.
- Michael
Last edited by Cintos; 07-02-2009 at 04:21 PM.
Reason: removed old map links
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06-16-2009, 06:55 AM
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*~*
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 2,439
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Can't join you Michael, but I sure am envious of you.
__________________
 Gordy Hyde
1971 Junior Zagato 1750 (1800605)
1974 Spider 2000 Iniezione (no carbs)
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06-16-2009, 07:02 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Stamford, CT
Posts: 686
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 Quote:
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I'd rather be in an Alfa praying to God that we'll make it home, than sitting in a church thinking about my Alfa.
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Greetings Godry:
Your assistance up to this point has been appreciated! Moreover, your signature line
continues to express my pirmary excuse for this activity...
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06-16-2009, 07:02 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Preppin' for The Glen
Posts: 7,037
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicola
Can't join you Michael, but I sure am envious of you.
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Ditto - he's the freakin' man . Your 1st night should be Rockford, Ill. If the Swedish Inn is still there, they offered a good deal pricewise. You can have breakfast in Camp Douglas (Wisconsin) the next morning after starting out.
 Fagetaboutit -  I see now that's your return route.
__________________
Loud pipes save lives.
1973 GTV - bought 3/06, intend to keep forever
1969 GTV, #AR1530021 - sold 10/72, guess didn't intend to keep forever
Current project: '69 Corvette bought in '73, DD '73 - '80, in storage 1989-2002, now apart
Last edited by lowmileage; 06-16-2009 at 07:16 AM.
Reason: getting the towns names sorted out
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06-16-2009, 07:22 AM
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George Schweikle
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 2,091
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Micheal,
A great trip!... especially in a S4 Spider. We're doing sort of the same thing from KY, but can't provide a schedule since the tow vehicle (motorhome) is in the shop getting all of the rocker arms & pushrods replaced. I'm not sure we could keep up with you anyway. I even have the route planned on I-80 through Cheyenne Wyoming to eliminate to long haul from Denver up through the Eisenhour tunnel on I-70
Rather than coming back through Chicago, consider going through the Michigan upper penninsula and across the Mackinac bridge toward Detroit (which can be completely bypassed if desired).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cintos
Greetings:
Under consideration is a whirlwind road trip from Connecticut to the Portland convention in July. There has been discussions of carrier transport, but logistics of drop-off and pick-up, along with the timing of those events and the significant $$$ involved are impediments.
So we are left with a plan for a 5-day trip out and a 8 day trip back, leaving three full days at the Convention. I have created a set of Google Maps to visualize the insanity.
The trip back, with more time, will attempt to cover the Canadian Rockies, and follow the spine down to Yellowstone, then running over the Beartooth Highway, which was closed when we passed through last June with the Alfetta.
The vehicle of choice will be our S4 Spider, which will need a new set of rubber and a fluids check. I also plan to swap out the upper adjustable control arm bushings that the BB seems to be encountering as an aftermarket supplier defect.
Anyone interested in joining us? Also, if anyone has plans to drive some similar routings, we could adjust to coincide with your trip.
- Michael
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__________________
George Schweikle
Co-chairman 2011 AROC Convention: ALFAS IN THE BLUEGRASS, Lexington, KY
1976 Spider (Dedicated Autocrosser, "SPICA, No Carbs")
1991 Spider Veloce (Retirement cruiser)
Scuderia Non Originale
Last edited by conedriver; 06-16-2009 at 07:25 AM.
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06-16-2009, 07:37 AM
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Director BC Chapter SNO
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Vancouver, B C
Posts: 3,175
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Living in SW British Columbia, I might intrude with some suggestions.
Your return map looks like you plan to overnight at Hope, and then head up the Coquihalla ( Highway 5) to Merritt. This is a 4-lane main highway.
An alternative would Highway 3 from Hope to Princeton--much less traffic, and more twisties, with passing lanes on most of the grades. From Princeton to Merritt to Kamloops on 5 A is also a lot of fun. This goes from West Coast rain forest to lakes to open ranching country.
This would put you on Highway 1 to Banff, which has traffic.
__________________
Bob
1962 Giulietta Spider: Grafite Grigio: "Tuned" 2L.
1963 101.12 Giulia Sprint: Acquired October 1/09: Restoration started Oct. 24.
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06-16-2009, 07:51 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Stamford, CT
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Quote:
Originally Posted by conedriver
.... Rather than coming back through Chicago, consider going through the Michigan upper penninsula and across the Mackinac bridge toward Detroit (which can be completely bypassed if desired).
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Greetings Conedriver: Mackinaw is a fine suggestion, but our loop of Huron on the Lago Huron Mili preceding the Detroit convention took us through that particular piece of geography. In fact, when we were on the TransCanadian and took the turn south down towards Mackinaw, the road west was beckoning... When I first plotted this, we stayed in Canada through Ottawa, but that looked like a day too far. The current plan is to let MN, WI, IL, IN, OH, PA pass as a blur. All the action will be in the west.
Yea, I would give anything to avoid Chicago... We took the Lake Michigan Ferry about 8 years ago, but as I recall (and Kathy certainly does) it was like being out in the middle of the Atlantic in a 'Noreaster"...
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06-16-2009, 07:55 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Stamford, CT
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Subtle
Living in SW British Columbia, I might intrude with some suggestions....An alternative would Highway 3 from Hope to Princeton--much less traffic, and more twisties, with passing lanes on most of the grades. From Princeton to Merritt to Kamloops on 5 A is also a lot of fun. This goes from West Coast rain forest to lakes to open ranching country... |
Greetings Subtle: Thanks for the suggestions. I have a number of ideas from Ruedi for that segment. It will get refined as the plan firms up. I am motivated to spending some addition time up there, but I'm trying to see how the puzzle fits together.
- Michael
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06-16-2009, 08:43 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Stamford, CT
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Thunder Bay
Interstate back from Bismarck is the dash route home. Any thoughts from our Canadian friends on the practicality of doing Bismarck to CT in three long days?
- Michael
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06-16-2009, 09:02 AM
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Director BC Chapter SNO
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Vancouver, B C
Posts: 3,175
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Haven't done that leg, but friends have and it long and slow, with never-ending bush. When you have seen the first mile of it --that's enough.
From Winnipeg east.
__________________
Bob
1962 Giulietta Spider: Grafite Grigio: "Tuned" 2L.
1963 101.12 Giulia Sprint: Acquired October 1/09: Restoration started Oct. 24.
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06-16-2009, 09:03 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Preppin' for The Glen
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As an old (not currently a fan, just my being old) Yankee fan, I'd definately make a stop here and tip my hat to one half of the M&M boys, #9.
Roger Maris (1934 - 1985) - Find A Grave Memorial
__________________
Loud pipes save lives.
1973 GTV - bought 3/06, intend to keep forever
1969 GTV, #AR1530021 - sold 10/72, guess didn't intend to keep forever
Current project: '69 Corvette bought in '73, DD '73 - '80, in storage 1989-2002, now apart
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06-16-2009, 09:26 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Stamford, CT
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Subtle
Haven't done that leg, but friends have and it long and slow, with never-ending bush. When you have seen the first mile of it --that's enough. From Winnipeg east.
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Ah, that seems to be the general thought. Thanks for the additional data point. My only consideration was to do something "different", as the run back from MN was done on the Interstate route I mapped. Boring, but at least not "slow", unless the water pump lets go...
- Michael
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06-16-2009, 09:40 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Stamford, CT
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lowmileage
As an old (not currently a fan, just my being old) Yankee fan, I'd definately make a stop here and tip my hat to one half of the M&M boys, #9.... |
Mr. Maris's resting spot may be an interesting side trip while in Faro. I believe my wife is more interested in finding the lake house where the Steve Buscemi was run through the chipper!
- Michael
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06-16-2009, 03:40 PM
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George Schweikle
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 2,091
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Michael,
If you do the northern route, the "Scenic Drive" from Duluth to the Canadian border is a nice, 175 mile, run along the north shore of Lake Superior. We did this after the Chicago convention and enjoyed the scenery. Also, downtown Duluth is very ship-oriented. They even have a website where you can track the inbound and outbound freighters.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cintos
Interstate back from Bismarck is the dash route home. Any thoughts from our Canadian friends on the practicality of doing Bismarck to CT in three long days?
- Michael
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__________________
George Schweikle
Co-chairman 2011 AROC Convention: ALFAS IN THE BLUEGRASS, Lexington, KY
1976 Spider (Dedicated Autocrosser, "SPICA, No Carbs")
1991 Spider Veloce (Retirement cruiser)
Scuderia Non Originale
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06-16-2009, 04:49 PM
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Director BC Chapter SNO
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Vancouver, B C
Posts: 3,175
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Decades ago a few folk south of the 49th thought that temperatures dropped just north of the border. As in ten months of hard winter, and two months of hard sledding. 
The mountain passes and dry interior valleys in Southern B C can get to 100 F.
I have driven Highway 3 at 42 C or 106 F in a black Alfetta Sport Sedan with no air conditioning. 
The official record high in one of those valleys is 112 F.
__________________
Bob
1962 Giulietta Spider: Grafite Grigio: "Tuned" 2L.
1963 101.12 Giulia Sprint: Acquired October 1/09: Restoration started Oct. 24.
Last edited by Subtle; 06-16-2009 at 04:57 PM.
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