I know I posted this before, but with the wedding I have a hard time remembering what I did an hour ago.

I don't have the whole route planned out and parts of it depends on whether some MTN passes are cleared through the Sierra's north of Yosemite in 2 weeks. But in short the trip will be about 5000 miles, from Houston, TX to the wedding in Lake Tahoe, CA then Big Sur, CA then back to Utah and down through Colorado to Texas.

I have already done an oil change and put some sealant on the paint. I will check air pressures before we leave. Any thing I should check or make sure to bring?

 

http://www.autogeek.net/no-rinse-wash.html
For those giant bug splatters (works great)
micro fiber cloth
tire inflation kit
flares/reflective triangles

 

I gave you a list of roads to travel and places to see on your earlier post.

I'd like to update that info with a recommendation to avoid the wildfire areas in AZ. Especially to bypass Hwy 191 on at least the first part of your trip. You might enjoy it on your return if you drop down into AZ from UT and the fire is out by then.

Have fun and be safe.

 

Thanks, yeah the waterless wash will be important, I will also be taking to bug cleaner. Luckly once we get to tahoe I can wash the car at my Uncles.

we have changed the route a little, and I am trying to figure out if we should drive 633 or 709 miles in the first day. All other days will be about 500 or less

 

Bug cleaner....?????

 

one thing you might want to do is get a list of self serve car washes along the route you are taking, when washing, use the rinse cycle and your own chemicals

I took a trip to Lake Tahoe from MN last summer, and drove every paved mountain highway transversing the Sierra Nevada, there is a thread somewhere with pics. 88, 89, & 395 (back side of Sierra Nevada ) is a very scenic drive, 108, 4, & 88 were my favorite roads thru Sierra Nevada, very little traffic compared to 50 and 120 (Yosemite), also the road going thru Sequoia (198) is excellent if you hit it when there is little traffic, very early in the morning, during the day you'll be doing 20 behind a rec vehicle.

 

take a nice camera with you

 

Excellent recommendation!

 

Condoms

 

Lol....

Cell phone, camera, hotline phone numbers for emergencies, car chargers for electronics, co pilot, iPod and have fun!

 

You NEED this stuff!!!! use each night when you get to your hotel,ask the desk clerk where the nearest hand car wash is. I swear by this stuff,used it on my 5750 mile cross country trip in 09'...available at Pep Boys and others.

 

Thanks again for everything, As I have been reading the news i need some help with what to do about the fires. I posted this in the Southwest section, but here is another go at it.


We planned Stopping the first night in Roswell and the 2nd in Flagstaff.
But this dosen't look possible as Edgar is on evacuation notice. So we would go up through Albuquerque, but as I understand the smoke is thick there. I would take I-10 to Phoenix, but there are 2 fires south of I-10 not to mention I don't want to stay that far south. It looks likes either way will be traveling through smoke on the 2nd day.

thoughts?

 

Which part/parts of Colorado are you planning to go through? Depending on your route you could hit "The Million Dollar Highway" A.K.A. US550 and enjoy a few nice mtn passes and some really nice sights. SpeedTV had a Dangerous Drives episode dedicated to it last year and it has also been named one of the top 10 "Highways to Hell".....I think it came in number 2. It's not a bad drive at all. There are some spots, particularly Red Mtn Pass, that do not have guard rails and it can be a little in intimidating. It is my favorite drive in the Vette.

I live in SW Colorado and until yesterday we were under a huge smoke cloud but that is gone now.

I bet it's a mite bit cooler up here than in Houston right now

Good luck planning the trip and have fun and be safe!

 

Planning on comming from Moab over to Grand Junction, down to Durango. Then hopefully down into Santa Fe, I will be happy to get out of the houston heat, but hopefully it won't be nasty in Tahoe

 

A new roll of paper towels and glass cleaner. You won't get thru a day without picking up tons of bugs this time of the year.

 

Ok, I just got done watching the movie 127 hours......bring water!!

 

Moab is real nice. My wife and I both love Moab. Arches and Canyonlands are real nice National Parks.
If you are going from Grand Junction to Durango then you will be taking US550. It is a fun drive in the Vette. You will go through Ouray and Silverton, both really neat towns. You will go over Red Mountain Pass, Molas Pass, and another pass.....the name slips me at the moment. Right outside of Ouray you will go over a stretch of road that has no guardrail and in spots there is less than a foot of shoulder past the white line and then a 400-500 foot drop. It's pretty wild. Also while you are this creepy stretch there will be a cabin on the side of the mountain to your right. I think most folks miss it due to looking at the road. Between Ouray and Silverton you will go over Molas Pass,there will be a lookout on your left. I would suggested stopping and taking a look there at the lookout. Be sure and bring a big memory card for the camera.....there are lots of kodak moments on that drive. That is the only drive where I have really watched the hud g-force meter. There are some really fun curves on that road.

Depending on your route to Santa Fe, you may go through a little town called Pagosa Springs. If I were driving from Durango to Santa Fe that is the route I would take. If you do take that route, Highway 160, watch your speed (the LEO's patrol that quite a bit) and watch for deer and elk. The deer and elk aren't as bad in the middle of the day but at early evening and early morning they are unbelievable.
If you do think you will be coming through Pagosa Springs I will keep an eye out for ya. If you see a Yellow C6, it's me. And if you come through Pagosa Springs lemme know if you wanna meet up with a fellow C6'er. There is some good eatin' in this lil town if you come through around feeding time. It's not hot here and DEFINITELY not humid. Right now the humidity is at 7% I grew up in Arkansas and I know how miserable those hot humid summers are.

Well.....I have rambled on enough. I hope you have a fun, safe trip. And give me a holler if you come through here and wanna meet up.

 

Put a cologan bra on the front. You won"t regret it.......

Enjoy the drive.....

 

They also stick to Victory Red.

 

Thanks for the tips, I'm looking forward to CO and CA they seem to have some awesome roads that we just don't have.

Gearhead Jim, is the lower splitter all bugs?

I'm happy I put the paint film on when I bought the car, Luckily I put some on the headlights and fog lights this past weekend.