CzarDestructo Posted June 27, 2009 Author Share Posted June 27, 2009 California's wine country are worth a stop. In Arizona, I'd spend a day in Sedona. The rock formations are really spectacular, think of the buttes in the old cowboy movies. The ride immediately north out of Sedona on your way to the Grand Canyon, is another road made for a Subaru. Mountain switchback and all that. You basically go from the desert floor to the high deseret plateau that the top of the GC is on. Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park north of Denver (& stop in Boulder) is more scenic beauty and a another good Subie drive. I could go on and on. Leave your watch at home, it's more fun not to be on a schedule. Thank you for this, I revised my trip map a bit but I'm not quite sure what I'll actually have time for. I can't believe I forgot about Napa Valley. I'll make a quick cameo there and also swing through Sedona to sleep after visiting Grand Canyon for the day. If I fall in love with the scenery I'll skip some Utah stuff and stay there another day. Also thanks for the Boulder recommendation. There are a few tiny winding highways just north of the main route into Denver that I'm looking forward to driving around on to get into Boulder. Route as of right now. 7 day count down before I leave. I'm about to go replace all the brakes and rotors on my car, never done anything like this before but the job seems pretty straight forward. Wish me luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CzarDestructo Posted June 27, 2009 Author Share Posted June 27, 2009 If you do not have it already get a AAA gold (unlimited miles) card incase you need to get towed anywhere including back to boston. I'm definately going to be investing in this before I go, everyone keeps saying to get AAA. But if I'm not mistaken doesn't new Subarus come with roadside assistance for the first 60k miles? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
error Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 I don't see a radiator bug screen listed. Great thing to have in some places. Those baked-on dead bugs are PITA to clean from the rad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRSCobra Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 Wall Drug in SD. If you travel along I-80, you'll stop. It's right off the interstate and it's not worth more than an hour's stay. I seem to think it's like being on drugs after driving on a flat hiway with nothing to see. Lol you can't miss Wall Drug; there are signs every mile or so for 100+ miles before you get to it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrjk77 Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 +1 on the gold AAA. i have it and it has saved me many times over. i just did a trip to VA beach and back...makes that trip look puny compared to yours. i've done the trip on I90 all the way to chicago. and let me tell you...it...is...a...bore. upstate NY there are cops everywhere, so don't do more than 5 mph over. also, ohio wasn't too exciting either. PCH will be super fun...spend some time in carmel, big sur, and all the state parks around there. santa barbara county is nice too. here's a taste of what you'll see...this was at julie pfeiffer state park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imrac Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 The only thing I saw a member suggest that I wouldn't is a fix a flat can, they will destroy the TPMS sensor. Everything else +1. Bring some road flares, maybe a outlet battery charger, a disposable camera, maybe keep an old phone with bat removed in the car. You can always dial 911 with old phones w/o service. Invest in a rock blocker film. And have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctorbrody Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 You're absolutely going to need a copy of Road Food ([ame=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0767928296/roadfood]Amazon.com: Roadfood: The Coast-to-Coast Guide to 700 of the Best Barbecue Joints, Lobster Shacks, Ice Cream Parlors[/ame]) - This book will REALLY come in handy in the Midwest, where good restaurants are few and far between. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaccaroja Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 If my camera was not so expensive i would lone it to you its a professional camera, wish i could go... 12 Mega Pixles. 13.6 @ 102 untuned FTW SmartWax - Spec Clutch - Team Scp 1 http://newenglandsubarus.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CzarDestructo Posted June 30, 2009 Author Share Posted June 30, 2009 I have a Sony Alpha 100 and a variety of snazzy Minolta lenses to go with it I plan to take many, many photos and post them here of course! Another update. I'm pretty sure I'm going to squeeze my mountain bike on the back of the car so I can cover more ground at most of these parks. I'm trying to figure out how I want to mount U bolts to the back of the rack to cradle the bike's tires. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burnout8488 Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 If it was me, I'd get Mobil1 EP and a very good oil filter, and not change the oil until I got home. 10,000 miles shouldn't be a problem on one OCI, especially considering the short amount of time the miles will be racked up. Were you going to do 3,000mi oil changes on synthetic?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongHiway Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 I have a Sony Alpha 100 and a variety of snazzy Minolta lenses to go with it I plan to take many, many photos and post them here of course! Another update. I'm pretty sure I'm going to squeeze my mountain bike on the back of the car so I can cover more ground at most of these parks. I'm trying to figure out how I want to mount U bolts to the back of the rack to cradle the bike's tires. Jealous. We did mention bringing a GPS, right? One other thought, after South Dakota, se if you can swing through Wyoming, Jackson Hole and the Grand Tetons. There's a road though the base of the mountains which almost go straight up to the sky. Not sure if it is a big detour or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CzarDestructo Posted June 30, 2009 Author Share Posted June 30, 2009 If it was me, I'd get Mobil1 EP and a very good oil filter, and not change the oil until I got home. 10,000 miles shouldn't be a problem on one OCI, especially considering the short amount of time the miles will be racked up. Were you going to do 3,000mi oil changes on synthetic?! Where did I say I was doing 3k synthetic oil changes? I get 4-5k miles out of Mobile 1, 6 if I'm busy and can't get around to changing it. I know I can probably get more out of it but I don't want to skimp on something so cheap. I'm not sure how I feel about 10k+ on the same oil change. I'm sure the oil is up to the task however what about the filter? Jealous. We did mention bringing a GPS, right? One other thought, after South Dakota, se if you can swing through Wyoming, Jackson Hole and the Grand Tetons. There's a road though the base of the mountains which almost go straight up to the sky. Not sure if it is a big detour or not. Def bringing a GPS although I'm not sure how much I'll use it. I prefer to study map and just go. Thank you big time on the Grand Tetons recommendation, I wouldn't have visited it if you hadn't pointed it out. I'm driving from Badlands National Park to the Yellowstone area, a full day of driving. Thanks to your recommendation I'm going to camp out on Jackson Lake (Colter Bay Village) the first night, wake up with the Tetons and lake outside my tent then head into Yellowstone for a day of hiking/biking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongHiway Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 The Badlands were really cool. There's more to see than you have time, I was able to take 2 months off but, would do the trip again in a heartbeat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burnout8488 Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 Where did I say I was doing 3k synthetic oil changes? I believe I thought it was implied somewhere in the thread; My bad! I used to spend a lot of time on bobistheoilguy.com forums... I'd say the filter would probably outlast the oil as long as you don't have a major problem, and since you have an '08, I doubt it. On some Hondas, I believe they spec the oil to be changed every 10,000mi, and the filter every OTHER oil change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RomanTaylor Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 For the chips and rocks protection purpose you could do a "invisible" film. Call your local tint shops, some of them might do it for you. It's only about 100$ job I believe, but it looks great compare to tape / leather and other shields. (almost invisible) Here is how it will look: http://tommyswindowtinting.com/joomla/images/phocagallery/thumbs/phoca_thumb_l_11.jpg http://tommyswindowtinting.com/joomla/images/phocagallery/thumbs/phoca_thumb_l_pict0059.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CzarDestructo Posted July 26, 2009 Author Share Posted July 26, 2009 I'm back! Car was a champ, only had a few minor issues. One of my brand new tires has a very slow leak in it, I initially though the TPMS was going crazy because of all the changes in temperature but upon testing the air pressure I found the leak. I have the flat repair so I'm going to get it fixed up tomorrow. I have at least 4 chips and cracks in the windshield but I have insurance for its replacement thankfully. Going to need a second windshield since I owned the car, only 2 years! I think a heat shield is loose somewhere and it rattles and makes a ton of annoying noise. I need to get under the car and hunt it down when it's cooled off. The car over heated in Death Valley. I was stuck going up a hill behind a bunch of tourists and wasn't watching my temp. I looked down and saw that it was just starting to approach the red so I passed everyone and coasted down the hill, the temp went right down. After a few more states I noticed my car kept easily over heating when I left it idling, I assumed it was all the bugs in the radiator. When I got home and got under the car I realized how baddly it over heated. I was down about half the raditor fluid. Topped it off and everything is fine. I hope running low on fluid didn't cause the pump to run dry... http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC01647.jpg Badlands, SD - 'tailgate' BBQ http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC01687.jpg Badlands, SD http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC01795.jpg WY http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC02001.jpg Hayden Valley - Yellowstone Park http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC02062.jpg Yellowstone Park http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC02181.jpg MT http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC02327.jpg Glacier National Park,MT http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC02633.jpg North western corner of WA, coastline http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC02803.jpg Redwood Forest, CA http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC02983.jpg Old bunker overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, CA http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC03118.jpg RT1 / Big Sur, northern CA http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC03169.jpg Central CA BBQ http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC03379.jpg Death Valley, it was actually 126 that day in the shade. http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC03428.jpg Death Valley http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC03707.jpg Utah http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC03810.jpg Arches National Park - Moab, UT http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC03871.jpg Arches National Park - Moab, UT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CzarDestructo Posted July 26, 2009 Author Share Posted July 26, 2009 Home: http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC04236.jpg Home, trip total. Averaged 27.8 MPG http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC04238.jpg Insect protien http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC04242.jpg In case you're curious about the clearance. Very little. http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC04244.jpg Don't buy a full size hitch, they bang on speed bumps and inclines like whoa. http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC04246.jpg Sacrificial U-bolt I stuck on the end of the cargo rack to prevent it from getting chewed up. http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC04249.jpg Radiator took a beating... http://members.cox.net/spedonabike/Legacy/thumb/DSC04255.jpg The car over heated in Death Valley, the radiator fluid all over the underside of the car. I didn't realize it was this bad until I got home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrjk77 Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 nice! glad you and the car made it back safely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongHiway Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Pretty cool uh, just the pix! What was best? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CzarDestructo Posted July 27, 2009 Author Share Posted July 27, 2009 One of my next vacations is going to be spending at least a week in Glacier National Park and seeing all of it. It's so obscenely beautiful there. The entire rocky mountain strip is beautiful, if I had another 3-4 weeks off I'd go directly to Montana and work my way south along the mountains and spend way more time hiking and biking. Utah was also fantastic, but not in portions like every other state, every inch is a photograph. If you've never visited I suggest you put it on your list of things to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongHiway Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 One of my next vacations is going to be spending at least a week in Glacier National Park and seeing all of it. It's so obscenely beautiful there. The entire rocky mountain strip is beautiful, if I had another 3-4 weeks off I'd go directly to Montana and work my way south along the mountains and spend way more time hiking and biking. Utah was also fantastic, but not in portions like every other state, every inch is a photograph. If you've never visited I suggest you put it on your list of things to do. Cool ride up and down, Lake of the Clouds IIRC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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