2018 Vacation thread
Former Moderator
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Houston/Durango
I will have a GoPro mounted, and I’m taking the Nikon. Most of the Travel distances are short from camping spot to camping spot, so there will be lots of time for fishing, hiking, and canoeing - and chatting with the locals. The roadways in the north are unpaved, but maintained mainly for the truck traffic. Lots of ferry crossings, often with delays. I have some great travel guides. Lots to see...
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Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Denver Metro Area
I will have a GoPro mounted, and I’m taking the Nikon. Most of the Travel distances are short from camping spot to camping spot, so there will be lots of time for fishing, hiking, and canoeing - and chatting with the locals. The roadways in the north are unpaved, but maintained mainly for the truck traffic. Lots of ferry crossings, often with delays. There are some great travel guides. Lots must things to o see...
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,032
Likes: 2,317
From: Delawhere???
Jim, I just did a Google Street View for a lot of your route. What a fantastic trip you have in store! I definitely wouldn't want to take my S on those dirt roads in the Yukon!
This is one of those once in a lifetime trips, for sure.
Enjoy!
This is one of those once in a lifetime trips, for sure.
Enjoy!
Former Moderator
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,122
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From: Houston/Durango
Gene, I’m not doing it in the S2000 though. There is a pic on page 2 of this thread of my little tear drop trailer that I have been working on to take along behind the Jeep for sleeping.
This is the route for the first section of the trip:
The second half of the trip is mostly in Alaska (route details undecided so far), and then back down the west coast - fishing in the Gulf of Alaska, Fairbanks, Denali, Deadhorse, Arctic Wildlife Refuge, Prudhoe Bay...
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 65,402
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From: Smalltown
We leave tomorrow for Niagara Falls with the grandson and his cousin. I had lunch with the grandson today and he told me today was the longest day ever. I guess he's looking forward to this trip. I so hope he enjoys it. 
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 252
Likes: 11
From: Columbia, Maryland
So far in 2018 all from base home in Maryland: Everything now is about visiting our 18 month old granddaughter whenever possible.
Christmas into New Years: Trip to Austin, TX for babies first Xmas. Only got in about 40 miles of riding.
January: 9 day vacation to San Diego. Got in about 215 beautiful miles on my bicycle and toured the most amazing collection of breweries with my step-son and his family.
February: Presidents week trip to Austin for baby's first birthday with return work trip to Detroit/Toledo area.
March into April: A ten day Easter trip to Austin visiting the kids. Only one 42 miles bike ride because we made an offer on a 2nd home (close to kids) and this trip was to confirm we wanted the house we bought sight unseen before the back out period ended.
April had to go to Vegas for a week for work, detoured through Austin on the way home for another week and closed on the new house. Spent the week buying appliances and some furniture. Got in one 46 mile bike ride.
May I finally got back to the Rock the Dragon event with S2Ki gang and 77 other S2000's. Made a six day trip out of it first meeting Bama Dave in Marion and we did Back of the Dragon, next day hit the Snake and other twisty roads to Asheville where a group had a nice dinner. Drove on the Dragon many times, did Devil's Triangle both ways, Cherahola Skyway at night and day and many other drives. Routed back to hit the Snake the other way and did Back of the Dragon both ways again. 2250 miles, torched a set of tires, very high average speed for the week and still averaged over 20 mpg. Amazing car.
May into June, Memorial Day week trip back to California first to Los Angeles with two epic rides into the mountains in my old stomping grounds where my son used to live and then up to Paso Robles for Firestone Walker Invitational with the kids, a bunch of their friends, another epic bike ride to the coast and back over the mountains, and stayed at a multi-million dollar AirBnB we rented as a group. Just a spectacular week in Central Coast.
June 13--17 a work trip to Pittsburgh but mostly pleasure for two nice bike rides for 70 miles and a wedding.
Upcoming is the big one:
All the training for next Friday, flying to Munich on 6/29 and driving to the Italian Alps in Bormio, Italy at the foot of the Stelvio, Gavia, Mortirollo and Cancano which are all bike rides we will do in the rain next week (if the weather is correct). Then we transfer to Alta Badia in the Italian Dolomites for another series of rides, finally transferring to Kaprun, Austria for a final set of rides in the Tyrols. Return to the US on July 15. Planning over 500 miles and over 60,000 feet of climbing. Taking my Pinarello Prince which even with lights, pedals and geared down to 11-32 with a heavy cassette is still only 16 pounds. I've done two week Alps and Pyrenees trips like this twice before and dodged the rain, doesn't look like it this time.
Current plans are for an Austin trip over Labor Day, then one in October for Formula One at COTA, then back down for Thanksgiving. Also have a slew of track days on schedule for the track car since i have missed all of them first half of the season due to Europe trip and other issues.
Not sure how I'm still employed!
Stuart
Christmas into New Years: Trip to Austin, TX for babies first Xmas. Only got in about 40 miles of riding.
January: 9 day vacation to San Diego. Got in about 215 beautiful miles on my bicycle and toured the most amazing collection of breweries with my step-son and his family.
February: Presidents week trip to Austin for baby's first birthday with return work trip to Detroit/Toledo area.
March into April: A ten day Easter trip to Austin visiting the kids. Only one 42 miles bike ride because we made an offer on a 2nd home (close to kids) and this trip was to confirm we wanted the house we bought sight unseen before the back out period ended.
April had to go to Vegas for a week for work, detoured through Austin on the way home for another week and closed on the new house. Spent the week buying appliances and some furniture. Got in one 46 mile bike ride.
May I finally got back to the Rock the Dragon event with S2Ki gang and 77 other S2000's. Made a six day trip out of it first meeting Bama Dave in Marion and we did Back of the Dragon, next day hit the Snake and other twisty roads to Asheville where a group had a nice dinner. Drove on the Dragon many times, did Devil's Triangle both ways, Cherahola Skyway at night and day and many other drives. Routed back to hit the Snake the other way and did Back of the Dragon both ways again. 2250 miles, torched a set of tires, very high average speed for the week and still averaged over 20 mpg. Amazing car.
May into June, Memorial Day week trip back to California first to Los Angeles with two epic rides into the mountains in my old stomping grounds where my son used to live and then up to Paso Robles for Firestone Walker Invitational with the kids, a bunch of their friends, another epic bike ride to the coast and back over the mountains, and stayed at a multi-million dollar AirBnB we rented as a group. Just a spectacular week in Central Coast.
June 13--17 a work trip to Pittsburgh but mostly pleasure for two nice bike rides for 70 miles and a wedding.
Upcoming is the big one:
All the training for next Friday, flying to Munich on 6/29 and driving to the Italian Alps in Bormio, Italy at the foot of the Stelvio, Gavia, Mortirollo and Cancano which are all bike rides we will do in the rain next week (if the weather is correct). Then we transfer to Alta Badia in the Italian Dolomites for another series of rides, finally transferring to Kaprun, Austria for a final set of rides in the Tyrols. Return to the US on July 15. Planning over 500 miles and over 60,000 feet of climbing. Taking my Pinarello Prince which even with lights, pedals and geared down to 11-32 with a heavy cassette is still only 16 pounds. I've done two week Alps and Pyrenees trips like this twice before and dodged the rain, doesn't look like it this time.
Current plans are for an Austin trip over Labor Day, then one in October for Formula One at COTA, then back down for Thanksgiving. Also have a slew of track days on schedule for the track car since i have missed all of them first half of the season due to Europe trip and other issues.
Not sure how I'm still employed!
Stuart
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,032
Likes: 2,317
From: Delawhere???
Yep, so we all have mud flaps all around to protect the trailers and Jeeps. I think we are prepared for the dusty and muddy conditions on the Dempster Highway. I’m more worried about the black clouds of mosquitos and no-see-ems than the dirt though... LOL
Gene, I’m not doing it in the S2000 though. There is a pic on page 2 of this thread of my little tear drop trailer that I have been working on to take along behind the Jeep for sleeping.
