Just an update to this. My personal funding for the trip just got solidified and is safe and secure. My vacation time was approved and locked in 2 weeks ago.

Nothing to stop me now.

 

On the road again,, I can't wait to be on the road again.

Be sure to let us know when you get near Phoenix.

 

Will do. I kinda have to, as CRH offered BHR bunks for the night of the 16th to roll with your caravan to LA on the 17th.


How many of those bunks will be occupied by other people as well....that remains to be seen.

 

Good luck on your trip! As you come up the west coast and make your turn to go east, I recommend taking I-90. Great scenery. Coeur d'Alene is incredible and would be worth hanging out for a while.

 

i think i will need to do side jobs, oh sigh. I've been moved to 80% heart 20% reality category of this trip.

 

Thanks

I-90 is the northern route option right now, with I-84 to I-80 the southern route option. I really don't know which one I will want to do more than the other. Both look fantastic. If we turn east at Seattle, it will likely be I-90, if we turn east at Portland, it will likely be 84/80.

 

Understood

Hope you can, but if not, I certainly understand.

 

yeah it sucks, because I need to work overtime to get the PTO, so I need about 6 weeks of 10hours of OT per week. Then somehow get spare cash...

 

I84 to I90 will save you some time. Going through Seattle is the long route.

I have done lots of road trips but nothing like this! The longest to be around 2500 miles. Hope your guys cars do not have any issues.

 

I am hoping to have a new motor from Mazda in the next few weeks, and now that funding for the trip is locked in, I am going to try to get at least the BHR ignition, water pump and thermostat prior to the trip. I don't expect any car related issues on my end. I do alot of 1,000-1,500 mile (round tirp) road trips every year, and granted this is longer, so we have to schedule maintenance during the trip, but beyond that only physical exhaustion is a concern to me.

 

I have yet taken my 8 on a long drive besides a couple hundred miles. I wish I knew about this trip back in december of last year! haha


I am not too sure my car can handle it without having problems. 2005 with 48k miles...

 

My reman and bhr ignition was ordered yesterday I spaced the water pump though so I will look into ordering that today.

 

Back in December I still had 1.5 years left on the car loan for my wife's 5 and 2.8 years left on my 8's loan, so going to Sevenstock was just a wish. Eliminating those payments made it possible.

Any car that survives day to day can easily survive several thousand all at once. It is arguably easier on the car, less stops and starts, the car runs at optimum temperatures (fluids, cat, block, etc...) for a larger percentage of those miles. The only difference is if there is an issue, it is generally more costly as you are far from home and at the mercy of whatever shops can do the repairs, or worse if there are no shops that can repair.

As long as the fluids are maintained correctly and manage your exhaustion levels, there is no reason why 7,000 miles in 8 days is worse than 7,000 miles in 8 months, and quite a few reasons why it is better for the car.

 

True that. I only drive my car few times a week during the spring/summer and early fall months. I normally use my beater for my 500 miles per week commute.

I guess I should be smart and pay off a couple of loans I have out now before taking the plunge on this trip. But this is the chance of a life time.... maybe I will just open another one

 

Updated the first post with current donors.

 

You will be getting fed (drinks if you are like Easy and myself) and meeting 05RX8Mazda, too, while we install new fuel injectors and possibly a Sohn OMP Adapter on his car. That's how BHR rolls!

"How's it taste, ************!?"
"It'll getcha drunk!"
"You'll be ******* fat girls in NO time."
"You might even fight a ***** or two!"

 

Thanks again Ray.

 

RIWWP,

It is looking like I will be going to SS this year I am going to spend time with my mom in San Fran and have not decided if I will visit her before or after SS. If I do before then I will caravan with you up the WC

 

Sounds good to me!

I plan on leaving LA on Monday morning, taking Sunday to relax and rest up, hit some of LA's canyons and stuff with the locals.

Not sure if that delay of a day would factor in at all for you, as I could see wanting to use it to get most of the travel done and only have to take 1 day off that week.

 

Not sure if that will be an issue right now but will check into it. I was planning on being back in the office on Tuesday.

 

Gas are still going to be the biggest money swing in cost. Just filled up today at $2.81 for premium, which if that is the average for the trip, then it drops the cost down to about $1,100 from $1,300 at $3.30. Still earmarking $1,300 for gas alone, as I know prices are higher in CA, lower in some other places I will be traveling through, and I'm likely to get rev happy quite a bit out west.

Every 10 cent drop in gas prices is $40 saved....

 

Lots of great roads on the WC What route you thinking again to come up the WC?

 

PCH the whole way. Probably hitting side canyons as I feel the urge or pass great ones.

 

Coming up HWY 1/101 is a lot of fun. But there are times you get stuck behind campers for long stretches

 

That is where I'd hit side canyons.