Trip to Rally V

[RALPHIE]

Day 1

Well, I decided to leave a day early - for in order to meet Jeff (PL510*Jeff) in Green River, Utah, on Thursday evening, it would require a 12-14 hour drive, leaving at about 4:00 am. Since the morning light currently arrives about 6:30, this meant 2½ hours in early morning darkness. Travel over highways of "Open Range" and lots of deer is not too safe, so I opted to divide it into two days.

My first leg was from Mammoth to Tonopah, Nevada - a 127 mile jaunt that requires a fuel stop at Tonopah if heading eastward. So, I left Mammoth Lakes, CA about 7:15 this morning and headed over Benton Crossing Road to US 6 at Benton. It's a fun road with lots of high speed corners. From Benton to Tonopah is just straight roads, with a few high speed curves going up and over Montgomery Pass.

From Tonopah, I continued east on US 6 for 50 miles to Nevada SR 395 - the "Extraterrestrial Highway" which circumvents Area 51 in Nevada. Just very open country with a few small mountain ranges to cross. The tiny town of Rachel is located about halfway down the highway - its trademark is a tow-truck with a long boom to which a flying saucer (about 10' diameter) has been picked up.

All-in-all, pretty desolate country

 

[RALPHIE]

Day 1 (Continued)

Near the junction of US 93 is an "Alien Museum" - took this picture of it about 2 years ago in winter. Joining US 93 I drove over to Caliente - which only exists because the Union Pacific Railroad goes through there between Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. Arrived there right at noon, so I stopped for lunch at the "Brandin' Iron" Cafe. I had an excellent grilled chicken salad - way too much for me to eat, for $6.99 - wow! Let's see, 318 miles in 4 hours, 45 minutes - hmmm, 67 mph average (could have been a lot higher)

After lunch, I stopped to see the old UP Railroad Station - which has been used as the town offices and library for the last 50 years or so.

From Caliente, I drove north up US 93 (pretty valley & cliffs) to Panaca, then headed east on Nevada SR 319/Utah SR 56 over two more small ranges and down into Cedar City to spend the night.

This leg of the journey is shown here:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sou...37.657732,-116.18042&spn=4.99178,7.042236&z=7

 

[RALPHIE]

Day 2

As Cedar City is on the west edge of the Mountain Time Zone, it stays dark quite late in the morning. Consequently, I waited until 8:30 am to leave the Travelodge (ugh!, don’t ever book this place). I drove back to the center of town and turned east on Utah SR 14 for about 20 miles to the turnoff to Cedar Breaks National Monument (SR 148). See Picture 1.

It was still cool at that altitude at about 9 am, but I took some pictures from a few locations, then drove back to SR 14. (Pictures 2-4)

 

[RALPHIE]

Day 2 (Continued)

I continued east on SR 14 to the junction with US 89, stopped where sheep were grazing (open range) next to the road, and past Navajo Lake, a natural lake formed by a volcanic ridge. Pictures 1 & 2.

Turning north, I drove about 20 miles and turned east on Utah SR 12 through a Red Rock Canyon for about 14 miles, where I then turned south on Utah SR 63 and drove into Bryce Canyon National Park. In the park, I took the road to Inspiration Point, parked the car and walked up to the top of the Point to take some pictures. Pictures 3-5.

 

[RALPHIE]

Day 2 (Continued)

As I returned to the GT, the normal group of sightseers were also interested in taking pictures of the car. Picture 1.

I then drove back to SR 63, and back to SR 12 and continued east to Escalante, UT, where I stopped for lunch and fuel. Another great lunch at a local eatery, the Circle D Restaurant, where I had a soup & salad, the soup being a chicken and dumpling/noodle with vegetables – mmmm. The little cafes in the small towns of America always seem to have the best food. It's homemade, and never expensive!

I then continued northeast on SR 12 through some of the most beautiful country I’ve seen in the Southwest US, all the way to Utah SR 24, (Pictures 2,3 &4). If you ever visit this area of Utah, make sure you take this road from Hanksville to Bryce Canyon – and if you’re in a GT, you’ll be in heaven. There’s one short curvy section about 1½ miles long along the spine of a ridge no wider than the road with no guardrails and a dropoff of ~1,500 ft or more on each side – wow!!!

It's filled with canyonlands that eventually drain to either Lake Powell or the Colorado River, with mountain passes that go over 9,600 ft! (Picture 5)

 

[RALPHIE]

Day 2 (Continued)

At Torrey, UT, I headed east on SR 24 to Capitol Reef National Park (Pictures 1 & 2), then on to Hanksville, UT, and then north to its junction with eastbound I-70 just west of Green River, UT. To the west is a nice view of the San Rafael Reef (Picture 3). I then joined I-70 and drove east to Green River where I checked into the Comfort Inn to wait for Jeff Larson.

Map of today's roads -

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sou...-112.259674&sspn=0.625184,0.88028&ie=UTF8&z=8

 

[dbk]

That is awesome Ralphie. Thanks for the updates. You are a man's man!

 

[GTJack]

Ralphie
You are a champ for sharing your journey and pics with all of us....and for making those of us that cant make it this year very envious. I would have been leaving Sunday except for wifee's sudden surgery. Wishing all of you a GREAT time. Next year!!

 

[Piccola]

Thanks for sharing your journey with us! Those pictures are so beautiful!! Looks like you are truly making the most out of your trip. Say hi to Jeff for me and drive safe!! :thumbsup

 

[AJB]

Ralphie...looking forward to seeing you, Jeff et al in a few days..
If there was a 'land bridge" from the US to Europe, I am convinced you would have driven to LeMans
last June.!
andy (AJB)

 

[steved57]

Thanks for the pic's, we live in such a beautiful country !! Ralphie, ever thought about taking up "travel writing/photgraphy" I think you would do well !!

 

[RALPHIE]

Day 3

For drivers who enjoy GT-type roads (you know, the twisty ones), today’s drive would be pretty boring, but the scenery at times was pretty fantastic. Jeff & I got onto I-70 in Green River, and got off of it in Colby, Kansas – 575 miles later. Yet, once we got to the Rockies at Grand Junction after 100 or so miles, a cloudless day presented us with fantastic views as we cruised along at about 75-85 mph most of the time. There’s a nice wide canyon between Grand Junction and Rifle (Picture 1) and then Glenwood Canyon east of Glenwood Springs (Picture 2) is always a treat.

Then, the Eagle River valley past Beaver Creek and Vail offers spectacular views of the upper valleys and peaks (Picture 3), made even more beautiful by the fall colors of the Aspens (Picture 4). Then, upon reaching Denver, all traces of hills or mountains disappear and the Plains become very plain with boring straight line high speed cruising (Picture 5). Thank someone for high speed limits on the Interstates here.

 

[RALPHIE]

Day 3 (Continued)

One last picture along the way - my buddy, Jeff, along I-70 in Kansas.

 

[standj]

Great Story!!!! Safe trip and enjoy the rally.

John

 

[AtomicGT]

Amazing Ralphie, this is my home state. Makes me proud as your pictures are awesome!

 

[FordGT4fun]

thanks Ralphie for the wonderful pictures. it reminds me my first trip to USA in 1991. I hope you will also cover with text and pictures the Rally fo all those who can not participate to VIR.
Enjoy the Rally
Pierre

 

[BM SoCal]

Enjoyed the great photos and narrative. Thanks!

 

[Triheart7]

Great pictures and narrative. Thank you for sharing!

 

[fjpikul]

Yeah, these guys were bushed when they got to my house. They beat the rain here though. Have been showing them some of Jamal's favorite hangouts.

 

[Matech GT1]

Epic ! Ralphie, I want your life

Matech