PCH IS OPEN!!! Time for a drive!

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678) 07/23/2018 at 13:29 • Filed to: None

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Maybe this is not such big news to you if you live far from the West Coast, but being in Los Angeles with a Miata, this is like a dream come true! Part of the PCH (arguably the most scenic within a day’s drive of home) has been closed since May 2017. Considering I just moved here in November of 2017, I have been impatiently awaiting the road to reopen. To my surprise, the road has opened 2 whole months ahead of schedule! So a trip ASAP is in order.

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I have driven this section of road twice now. First time was in a rental Ford Fiesta. I was a lurker on Oppo in 2014 though so I didnt make a post.

I know I must have taken more photos on that trip but it was before google photos worked properly so I will have to look for them elsewhere on my hard drives. I know I must have taken a picture of that Fiesta on the PCH somewhere. Sunset in Monterey was nice though!

Second time was in a Turo rental of a Mini Cooper S. A much better trip considering how fun of a car that was. Especially having a Manual made that even more special. But it still wasn’t my car. Although, it did remind me of home considering how much oil it leaked...

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This time though, I am bringing my Miata! And anyone from the Oppoverse is welcome to join. We have an email chain going with the local Oppo community and I am sure driving the PCH is on others’ bucket lists as well. Shooting for a Saturday in August/September this year for an epic drive through one of my favorite places on the planet.

PCH near home is nice and surely scenic as well. But nowhere near as special as through Big Sur. I might even have California plates for this upcoming trip so I will really be settled in then!

This view for hours on end while tackling some nice technical curves. Sure there are more challenging and exciting roads, but none have anywhere close to this view.

Just Jeepin' > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/23/2018 at 13:35

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That’s awesome. H opefully Jalopnik will do a road review now that it’s open again.

If it wouldn’t take me 3 weeks to drive out there (maybe someday I’ll do a post on how much I hate interstate highways) I’d be up for coming along, although the deliberate pace I typically take in my Wrangler might not suit everyone’s taste.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/23/2018 at 13:38

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Come up to seattle!  PNW is a nice place

DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/23/2018 at 13:41

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Been patiently waiting as well. Might be down for a trip. I’m in Ontario (CA)

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 07/23/2018 at 13:41

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On my list of places to road trip to for sure. But that is a much bigger ordeal and a long adventure. Funny to me that it’s only two states away but is actually a further trip (roundtrip total) than my drive across the country. So I actually should do some maintenance and form some sort of plan for that trip. But yeah its definitely happening eventually. 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Just Jeepin' 07/23/2018 at 13:43

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Considering the amount of RVs you get stuck behind on this section of the road, maintaining any sort of pace is impossible anyways. It is more about taking in the scenic beauty than canyon carving anyways. 

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/23/2018 at 13:44

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Really? It’s that far? wow.  My sister in-law just drove down to LA this past week from Vancouver, BC

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By 07/23/2018 at 13:45

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Long drive but that is another adventure in itself anyways =)

Just Jeepin' > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/23/2018 at 13:45

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In that case, w ere my travel budget not dedicated to visiting my grandmother for her 95th birthday at the end of August, I’d consider flying out and renting a Wrangler . Hope much fun is had by all.

DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/23/2018 at 13:49

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Sorry, ontario california! only about an hour away

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 07/23/2018 at 13:49

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2700 miles and showing 48 hours of drive time with the route that I planned out.

Google Maps Link

And my general plan:

LA to North of SF - 10 hours

North of SF to CA/OR border - 6 hours

CA/OR border to midway OR - 6 hours

Midway OR to OR/WA border - 6 hours

OR/WA border to Seattle, WA - 6 hours

Seattle - 0 hours

Seattle - 0 hours

Seattle to Portland - 4 hours

Portland to Sacramento - 4 hours

Sacramento to LA - 6 hours

So I have something roughly thought out but its just finding the time to do it and the effort to put in the real planning work. 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Just Jeepin' 07/23/2018 at 13:53

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Always another time, hoping to make it an annual (or more often) trip. I’m sure there will be more landslides and global warming and shit so the road won’t be there forever. Gotta keep visiting while I can. 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By 07/23/2018 at 13:55

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Lol I am an idiot. I was wondering why you would just say Ontario anyways and not a city there. But my brain for some reason ignored the much closer and reasonable one.

You can reach me at rduncan5678@gmail.com if you would like to be included on the email then. Got some positive response already from the other locals. 

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/23/2018 at 13:57

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I’m in Marin, I don’t think I’ll go anywhere near it right now, I go up the coast to Mendocino. I did a few days ago, up to Portuguese beach. It’s tourist time and NPR was interviewing businesses about the closure/opening , some said they had no parking, I’ll wait!

DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/23/2018 at 13:59

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emailed!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 07/23/2018 at 14:19

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I find that area even more interesting honestly. But that is a much longer trip for me really. Definitely will be heading more north at some point though!

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/23/2018 at 14:34

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This is my bucket list. One day surely, and I need to rent the right car.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/23/2018 at 14:41

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I do prefer it, there are a lot of coun try roads that go off as well so you can always mix it up. O n a weekday off really peak times it is way more relaxing up there. We like Portuguese Bea ch because there is a creek that runs right down across the beach and my dog loves it. Actually the creek is Scotty Creek beach, but you can walk right to it from there. I also love t he drive out on Pt. Reyes down to the southern end, and the South Beach allows dogs, sometimes we have it to ourselves. 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 07/23/2018 at 15:01

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I think have been to that beach actually, agreed it was quite awesome. That area has more of a PNW feel, although I havent been to the PNW yet haha. But anyways, the PCH right after the Golden Gate bridge out to there was awesome the one time I drove on it. There is probably some awesome hiking around there too. 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 07/23/2018 at 15:03

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Convertible is the way to go! Although not a Mustang unless you want to be like the other 1000 tourists in one lol. And it is foggy there 99% of the time so bundle up regardless of the season. This will be my first time going with a convertible so I am pumped for that. 

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/23/2018 at 15:14

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I’m thinking if I took the 348, I could drive to SLO Friday night, rendezvous Sat morning. Then crash another night in SLO and come back Sunday morning. That way, it’s only ~250 miles a day. Just in case my car is being Italian or my butt starts hurting after an hour hahah

AM3R, lost another burner > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/23/2018 at 16:08

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I was in LA and drove up the PCH to point dume in Malibu in late June. Was an absolute blast and I loved the views. 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor 07/23/2018 at 16:27

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I would probably be looking to do something similar due to similar butt hurting concerns. My Bride bucket absolutely sucks to road trip in lol. No idea how I survived driving across the country because that seat is the number one reason why I prefer to daily my Subaru. 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AM3R, lost another burner 07/23/2018 at 16:32

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Haha yeah that is not even the exciting part. Pretty, but I do that part of the PCH every day on my commute. Hard life right? Picture above with my Miata was just on my lunch break one day.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/23/2018 at 16:48

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I would love to join!

AM3R, lost another burner > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/23/2018 at 16:49

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Jealous of your commute lol. My DC area commute was cool for a week, but growing up 20 min from the White House/all the monuments I got tired of the traffic instead 

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/23/2018 at 16:56

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Maybe because you had no other choice, or just excitement lol. My seats aren’t terrible, but not fun after a few hours. I should start looking into butt pillows haha

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor 07/23/2018 at 17:38

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After day 5, I did start sitting on a pillow for the highway sections. Was really awkard and didnt feel very safe but it definitely was necessary. It also doesnt help that my coilovers have a love for abusing me lol. I’m surprised Ferarri doesnt include butt massaging seat butlers with every purchase.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > CaptDale - is secretly British 07/23/2018 at 17:40

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dooooooo it! Which vehicle are you bringing?

CaptDale - is secretly British > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/23/2018 at 17:41

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It would have to be the Goat

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/23/2018 at 18:03

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I think that is a subscription option, like XM. The original owner must have lost the card.

Usually my hip gives out first. It’s not too bad if I can use cruise control and move around/stretch out my leg, but the 348 doesn’t have it. I’m sure CC would be more than useless with summer PCH traffic anyway

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor 07/23/2018 at 18:26

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Well the jaunt up to the SLO area on the 101 definitely helps to have CC. I know I definitely would have died without it on my trip. Haha probably the only feature that I would have considered essential in the car. And its a pain that my speed sensor is acting up so the CC doesnt work all of the time. I have to change my gear oil in order to pull that sensor though and I really dont feel like smelling like gear oil right now.   

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/23/2018 at 20:12

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Good luck and Godspeed LOL. I’ve been putting off the gear oil in the VW for quite some time. It’s a PITA

Leonardo DiCabriolet > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/23/2018 at 23:40

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Went up to the closure last year, and came back down. I’m in Orange County, would love to come along. You planning on taking the Miata or the STI?

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Leonardo DiCabriolet 07/24/2018 at 19:12

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Shoot me an email at rduncan5678@gmail.com and I'll include you on the mailing list for the event. More the merrier! Hoping to bring the Miata but I will not be unhappy to take the STi as a backup. But no real reason to doubt the Miata right now. I'll just bring plenty of oil lol.