September Sojurn 2014, Where To Go & What To Drive...

"Andrew T. Maness" (theroadlessdriven) 09/11/2014 at 23:00 • Filed to: Road Trip, Adventure Calls, TRLD, Get Out Of Town, Oppositelock, Test Drive, Happenings, New Cars, Oppositelock Review

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Repost for the nighttime crowd.

This time last year I was planning my September mission for Ford's "Fiesta Movement". I had the Fiesta ST, a gas card and my only responsibility was to create a piece of content somehow related to "style". I interpreted this as Pacific Northwest lifestyle and the result was this piece of content below.

Now while I felt the trip was a success(caught my first fish) I also felt a-lot of meat had been left on the proverbial bone. Though I'm no stranger to Oregon, Idaho and Northern California, there's a ton of exploring still to be done.

Used to be I looked at places with my snowboard/skateboard eyes. While I'm still very active in both disciplines they're not what could potentially pay the bills anymore.

With the help of years spent on the road traveling from mountain to mountain and skate spot to skate spot, I've developed a pretty good set of driver's eyes if I do say so myself. Now that I've somehow found myself in a position where automakers will lend me cars, I'm always itching to get out there and put those eyes to good use.

The map up above is the tentative route for this year's September Sojurn. I'll be stopping by to see old friends, hopefully making some new ones and definitely driving some phenomenal new roads.

If you live along any of the routes drop me a line, maybe we can link up for a drive, a beer or to just shoot the breeze. Planned overnight stops are Truckee,CA, Boise, ID, Lewiston, ID, Portland, OR, Klamath Falls, OR and San Francisco. 5 nights, 6 days, 2,733 miles. The aggressive time frame is due to the scheduling of the vehicle which I will be using for this adventure.

Ah yes, the mystery chariot. I could tell you what I'm going to be finding new roads in, but I think it's more fun to hold back that information for at least a couple of days. What I will say is that few people would choose to take it on such a trip and that's exactly why I want to do it.

I'll give you a hint, it's got 4 wheels and it's powered by two of them. Could be front, could be rear, hard tellin not knowin.

Cheers!

*Alternate route added. Kind looks like a bad ass race track when you zoomed out.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Andrew T. Maness 09/10/2014 at 21:07

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It would add an extra day to your trip or possible alter your router, but I can NOT let you do this without pointing out the Beartooth Highway out in western montana/wyoming. 60+ miles of absolute nirvana and breathtaking scenery. September will be the tail end of the open season for that road as they close it when the snow starts falling. I drove extra hard on my road trip in my own Fiesta ST to make it and mother of GOD that was the perfect combo to drive hard. Incredibly nimble yet plenty of torque for passing slowpokes and meanderers on bikes and in SUVs who can't stay in their lane.

Decay buys too many beaters > Andrew T. Maness 09/10/2014 at 21:09

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I'm in Portland and would love to bring either the FR-S or the Bike out to play for a bit (depending entirely on weather)

Andrew T. Maness > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 09/10/2014 at 21:33

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Oh yeah, that one is on my short list of roads in the US that I need to drive. It's just a little too far out for this particular trip given the time constraints that I have and what I want to accomplish.

Where does your Fiesta ST live at? I have a Thule Rack and set of brand new winter tires in storage that I never used when I had one.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Andrew T. Maness 09/10/2014 at 21:34

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Seriously? I'm in Michigan but if you aren't going to keep the car, what wheels and tires do you have?

Andrew T. Maness > Decay buys too many beaters 09/10/2014 at 21:34

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Right on, the FR-S could potentially make for an interesting comparison vehicle to what I'll be driving. That is to say that they're very different machines that aim to achieve the same goal, total driver engagement.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Andrew T. Maness 09/10/2014 at 21:36

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Have you been up to Mt. Hood and Timberline? Definitely worth it if you haven't. Not much to see in Klamath Falls, though it's surrounding areas are quite nice in places. Perhaps you should go to PIR while you are in Portland if whatever you are driving is something fun and trackable.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Andrew T. Maness 09/10/2014 at 21:47

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You will be passing one of my favorite roads in Washington on your way out of Portland. If you can spare an hour or two, it's probably worth checking out. Plus you get to drive across the bridge of the gods, which is gorgeous if its nice out. If you REALLY have time, continue up NF25 to mt st helens. It's a little bumpy, but it's a solid couple of hours of predominantly twisty awesome back roads.

http://goo.gl/maps/ZWO16

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Andrew T. Maness > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 09/10/2014 at 21:50

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I had to give the FiST back last December, was just part of a Ford campaign.

The tires are Bridgestone Blizzak WS60's 205/45r/17XL & the Thule is for skiis/boards.

Andrew T. Maness > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 09/10/2014 at 21:54

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Matter o' fact, I have, many times. Was a camper then coach at Windells Snowboard Camp for a number of years.

Klamath was going to be a spot to spend the night after seeing Crater Lake but I could easily head down to Medford or further depending on time.

I'm certainly getting in touch with the folks at PIR, got any contacts there?

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Andrew T. Maness 09/10/2014 at 21:59

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Ah, gotcha. How much for the tires to be shipped?

Andrew T. Maness > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 09/10/2014 at 22:38

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shoot me an email, theroadlessdriven@gmail.com

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Andrew T. Maness 09/10/2014 at 22:48

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Nice!

There's really not a whole lot I can recommend in southern Oregon area unless you want to cross the border, the redwoods are always a good bet and there are some great driving roads in there.

Unfortunately I don't.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Andrew T. Maness 09/11/2014 at 11:41

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Great stuff!

http://oppositeblog.kinja.com/

CAcoalminer > Andrew T. Maness 09/11/2014 at 11:44

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If you're ever in Colorado, these two routes are easy to get to and take you to interesting destinations.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/39.07…

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/37.33…

Andrew T. Maness > CAcoalminer 09/11/2014 at 11:51

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Always wanted to go that way into Aspen, been there so many times, have always come down from 70. Other route looks pretty badass as well, thanks for the suggestions, should be handy when I head to CO to shoot my friend's E63 AMG Wagon.

Andrew T. Maness > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 09/11/2014 at 11:55

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Thanks Dave! I can't wait to share with everyone what it is I'll be driving, perhaps a clue this afternoon is in order...

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > CAcoalminer 09/11/2014 at 12:00

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Loved visiting Mesa Verde as a kid. Need to get that one on the schedule for our kids soon.

CAcoalminer > Andrew T. Maness 09/11/2014 at 12:01

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It is definitely worth it. Through some parts of it you'll swear you are in Switzerland.

The other route is quite exciting but the scenery isn't nearly as nice. However, it does have a tunnel and if you're into Indian ruins then they're at the end of the route.

CAcoalminer > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 09/11/2014 at 12:06

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It definitely is a fantastic place, as the staff are so knowledgeable about these incredible structures. However, I would definitely plan on going early in the morning as you will have the fantastic road almost completely to yourself and making the hike to the sites can be tough in the midday heat.

lone_liberal > Andrew T. Maness 09/11/2014 at 12:09

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As a proud resident of the inland part of the PNW I don't know that I'd recommend the Portland to Lewiston drive unless necessary to get to another part you want to see. It's pretty damn boring and the speed limit is artificially low.

handsoff > Andrew T. Maness 09/11/2014 at 12:44

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The stretch between Boise and Lewiston, are you doing it on a weekend or a weekday? Hopefully it's a weekday (avoiding weekend traffic), you will LOVE that road in anything that's fun to drive.

Also, where it looks like you're going down I84 from Hermiston to Portland, there's a road on the Washington side for most/all of it, that would be a lot more fun.

RoverMan > Andrew T. Maness 09/11/2014 at 14:06

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Alot of native Californians disagree with me but everytime I drove down to Cali from Portland I took the lost highway (RT1 i beleive its called) in NorCal it is much slower speed limit (15-35) but outside of the towns you call haul A$$. Beautiful views of ocean and beaches as well as some of the scariest cliff driving I've ever experienced near the end entering SF.

Andrew T. Maness > lone_liberal 09/11/2014 at 22:57

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I'll be going east to west if that makes any difference, making a big loop out of the trip, never backtracking.

I've done the section along the Snake River before but it was when I was 16 and late at night in a Subaru Legacy wagon.

Andrew T. Maness > RoverMan 09/11/2014 at 22:58

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Have always wanted to do the Lost Coast Highway, this might be the trip.

promoted by the color red > Andrew T. Maness 09/11/2014 at 23:21

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Take Ca Rd. 121 and 128 around Lake Berryessa. You go from Winters (backwater shithole) all the way to Napa and along mountain roads. Lots of fun in the daytime.

D > Andrew T. Maness 09/12/2014 at 00:03

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Skip Salinas and hit Santa Cruz, they're very near

lone_liberal > Andrew T. Maness 09/12/2014 at 00:44

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At least that way you're heading toward the more interesting scenery instead of away from it. If you ever get the chance go up further north and take HWY20 across Washington including Sherman Pass and the North Cascades Highway. It's stunning.

sketchcat > Andrew T. Maness 09/12/2014 at 01:30

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Construction in sac town, and car crashes in San Jose.

sounds about right.

You drove right past me on your way to Truckee.

RoverMan > Andrew T. Maness 09/12/2014 at 10:21

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Probably a better time than any to do so as there are less likely to be the annoying RV's slowing you down and what not. There are also some amazing beach campsites in Bodega Bay if the weather is still good enough.

Andrew T. Maness > sketchcat 09/12/2014 at 13:14

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Will be on the road two weeks from today, that route map is off too, wouldn't let me drag the route over to 395 which is what I'll be taking up to Tahoe.

Decay buys too many beaters > Andrew T. Maness 09/15/2014 at 13:33

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If you are planning to be in the Portland area on a weekend (not sure of your planned schedule) let me know and we can set something up.

athought123 > Andrew T. Maness 09/15/2014 at 13:50

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Anyone have any suggestions for central ohio/northwestern wv?

Strange Noises Alou > Andrew T. Maness 09/15/2014 at 14:03

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heh, I'll be doing a similar trek starting on Thursday. I'm starting from San Diego, and will have to be back at work Monday. so looking at ~3300 miles in 4 days.

alas, I cannot bring my CRX (damn electrical gremlins!) so we shall see what rental they give me.

Strange Noises Alou > lone_liberal 09/15/2014 at 14:11

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I disagree. 84 is indeed boring, but current or former US-30 runs alongside it in many places, including the Historic Columbia River Highway.

then when one crosses the river, 12 in southeast Washington takes you across the Palouse mountains. for an alternate to 12 (that does take you quite a bit out fo the way), consider heading to La Grande, OR, then follow route OR-82 to route OR-3 which becomes WA-129. near the state line is a spectacular drop as the highway crosses the Grande Ronde river.

Andrew T. Maness > Strange Noises Alou 09/15/2014 at 14:21

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Fight for anything RWD!

Strange Noises Alou > Andrew T. Maness 09/15/2014 at 15:31

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my primary concern is miles per gallon. what's a relatively fun car that gets over 30 these days, that one would expect to find in the "economy" to "standard" classifications of a rental car fleet?

I remember enjoying a 2012 Ford Focus I rented a few years ago, and getting 34mpg out of it.

Nimrod > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 09/15/2014 at 16:06

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Did this drive in a Lincoln Town Car. It was June and went from 100deg in Billings to 12 foot snowpack at the highest ridges. One of the most beautiful drives I've ever done and I was only 18 at the time!

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Andrew T. Maness 09/24/2014 at 19:55

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I live 30 miles north of lewiston Idaho, it would be cool to meet a fellow opponaught.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Andrew T. Maness 09/24/2014 at 20:01

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here's a road that goes right into lewiston Idaho, and its the best driving road in the area, 63 curves, 8 miles long, a drop of 2000 ft, and you can see lewiston down in the valley below.

Edit: crap, I forgot the link and the picture. http://roadsnw.com/rnw/15

Andrew T. Maness > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man 09/24/2014 at 21:17

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Next time I'm up that way I'll drop a line.