2,357 mile Road Trip
07-09-2013, 10:39 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
2,357 mile Road Trip
Wow!!! Just got back from a road trip that covered 12 days of vacation and 2,357 miles in my 2013 Convertible with my wife. What a fantastic trip and the car was just perfect during the entire time. 
I got about 3.5 to 4 of the 11 cu ft for my one soft bag and wife took the rest for two soft bags and two smaller makeup type bags. And she even found space to store a couple of sweatshirts she bought and some other items.
We averaged 26.9 mpg during the entire time and that included crawling in traffic for Chicago rush hour and a couple of road constructions zones. Hard to believe that this sports car has performance and fuel economy of this level.
Traveled from our home on the Canadian border down to Minneapolis for a work day, then off to Illinois following roads along the Mississippi River that gave me a chance to test the handling a bit to visit friends in Sterling/Rock Falls. Off through Chicago to Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, MI for wife's family obligatory visits for a couple days and then up to Mackinac Island for three days over the 4th of July before returning home.
Used Star Lines Ferry to travel over to the island after I parked the car in their inside storage area myself which they charged me just $8 a night, worth every penny. If you haven't taken time to visit Mackinac Island, make the trip - utterly relaxing. Be sure and stay on the island, the crowds travel back in the evening and the best times IMHO are late evening and early morning when its just the residents and hotel/B&B guests.
Then back on the road across the UP through Duluth and up the North Shore of Lake Superior to Grand Marais followed by a run on MN-1W back home. Fantastic views over Lake Superior going up US-61 and then MN-1W was a terrific drive of twists and elevation changes. Had some rain and fog early on that road which challenged me a bit, cleared up later and really got the chance to push the car - never an issue and a great road for this car to show its capabilities.
Had rain a couple of days and the car drove just fine, but loved having the top down every chance we had. And boy did it turn heads every time I stopped for fuel or overnight stays. Many discussions and folks sharing their own dreams or experiences.
Spent last night cleaning the car both inside and out, no chips or other issues other than a build up of brake dust which took some extra effort to resolve.
I've got a few pictures on the camera to download later this week.
Already talking about a trip next year to Colorado Springs for the annual reunion of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment - Blackhorse!
I got about 3.5 to 4 of the 11 cu ft for my one soft bag and wife took the rest for two soft bags and two smaller makeup type bags. And she even found space to store a couple of sweatshirts she bought and some other items.
We averaged 26.9 mpg during the entire time and that included crawling in traffic for Chicago rush hour and a couple of road constructions zones. Hard to believe that this sports car has performance and fuel economy of this level.
Traveled from our home on the Canadian border down to Minneapolis for a work day, then off to Illinois following roads along the Mississippi River that gave me a chance to test the handling a bit to visit friends in Sterling/Rock Falls. Off through Chicago to Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, MI for wife's family obligatory visits for a couple days and then up to Mackinac Island for three days over the 4th of July before returning home.
Used Star Lines Ferry to travel over to the island after I parked the car in their inside storage area myself which they charged me just $8 a night, worth every penny. If you haven't taken time to visit Mackinac Island, make the trip - utterly relaxing. Be sure and stay on the island, the crowds travel back in the evening and the best times IMHO are late evening and early morning when its just the residents and hotel/B&B guests.
Then back on the road across the UP through Duluth and up the North Shore of Lake Superior to Grand Marais followed by a run on MN-1W back home. Fantastic views over Lake Superior going up US-61 and then MN-1W was a terrific drive of twists and elevation changes. Had some rain and fog early on that road which challenged me a bit, cleared up later and really got the chance to push the car - never an issue and a great road for this car to show its capabilities.
Had rain a couple of days and the car drove just fine, but loved having the top down every chance we had. And boy did it turn heads every time I stopped for fuel or overnight stays. Many discussions and folks sharing their own dreams or experiences.
Spent last night cleaning the car both inside and out, no chips or other issues other than a build up of brake dust which took some extra effort to resolve.
I've got a few pictures on the camera to download later this week.Already talking about a trip next year to Colorado Springs for the annual reunion of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment - Blackhorse!
07-10-2013, 12:02 AM
#3
Racer
Very nice trip. We took ours to Yellowstone last year with the Corvette Club (3,600 miles) Floridathis past winter 2,500 miles and going to Mackinac this summer with 15 other Corvettes Your right you can't beat'm for a great road car. Glad to hear your enjoying the Vette
427
427
07-10-2013, 05:29 AM
#5
Le Mans Master
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07-10-2013, 07:42 AM
#8
Racer
Thread Starter
07-10-2013, 01:59 PM
#11
Racer
07-10-2013, 04:21 PM
#13
Racer
Thread Starter
Didn't even have to carry the bags to or from the dock, they loaded them right on golf cart, drove us to and from the car.
07-11-2013, 11:41 AM
#18
Racer
Thread Starter
So it seems, they worked just fine for the touring and handled the rain fairly well but I wasn't pushing them either in trying to do some sightseeing. I could sense the limits on MN-1W coming home that last day going through the forests on a great driving road. Looking forward to a trip back over to the North Shore on a nice clear day when I can really push the handling on dry roads.