Plan in it's infancy.. The synopsis is drive the COE to the Grand Canyon from NH during the summer of 2016. Maybe take route 66 some, part or all the way west of Chicago, sort of an American Nostalgia thing. Who wouldn't want to see the biggest ball of rubber bands? I think it would be really cool is to meet up with some other COE'ers especially if there were a few of our trucks all in one place. Other ideas are one of those drive-in theater deals where they show American Graffiti, some time hiking in the Canyon, maybe a little boating on Lake Powell or Mead. Ideas?? (Guess I better get out the garage and start wrenching!)
Depending on the date's maybe meeting up at Bonneville during speed week. Let's try to make some kind of get together happen.
I hope to have mine roadworthy by then. Sounds like a great idea. Bonneville is very possible, but I'd like to do the route 66 thing too!
If I don't get back to work on mine, 2016 will be out of the question. (and no one wants to come to Wisconsin)
My DT won't be in Bonneville and I doubt the Dodge is ready to go by then but I am just 30 miles from Rt66 where it goes through KS, you can stop by my shop and change oil, check things over if you need to. I have been telling the wife I want to go see the Grand Canyon again, we'll see. Jason Oh, the Hamb Drags are in August as well if you are thinking about that time period, usually the last weekend of Bonneville.
One of the main reasons for this trip is to hike the Grand Canyon. I'm not sure I can sell 110 degree temps in August. But I'll work on that... I guess I better know the COE's cooling is up to that task also, huh? ... The HAMB drags would be awesome (I didn't see a COE cl***).
Recommendation on Grand Canyon and surrounding areas (my neck o' the woods)... From Flagstaff, AZ hit the Grand Canyon South Rim, then travel up the east side to Lake Powell, back over to Kanab, Utah (lots of 50's cowboy movie history) and on up to Bryce Canyon. Head back south through Zion National Park and stop by my place in St. George for BBQ and story tellin', a place to crash, whatever. Head on southwest toward Las Vegas making a detour through the Valley of Fire State Park. It'll add about 300 miles to your trip but you'll see the some of the most amazing sites ever. Just a few ideas, but click here. Also, if you see the GC south rim you can skip the north rim. It's pretty but nothing like the south. Also, Northern New Mexico has some incredible Indian sites to visit and tour.
If you want to hike, then I would not worry about the Drags or Bonneville, it would be miserable in that heat. I was in Vegas in July one year, won't do that again. A couple years ago, the drags were almost as hot, I ended up going home earlier than usual, just wiped me out. Keep me in the loop when the time comes and I can leave the light on for you.
Thanks for the generous invites! Great info, guys... Keep it coming.. I do need to be sensitive to temperatures as high temps will certainly bother my wife and as I understand it hiking down into the canyon can increase the temp by an average of 27 degrees. That's one reason I'm thinking North Rim, the average high for August is listed as 75. Also the info I've seen says it's far less busy. We are not fans of "busy". I guess I better make sure the cooling system is up to the task with the AC on.
Dadio's advice is spot on. Precisely what we did back when. We hiked to the lunch pavilion (south rim?) and back out in one day back in the 90s during spring break. At 6 am it was below freezing, ice or snow packed trail, and we were hugging the wall on the way down. A little precarious. By noon when we'd reached the floor (6 miles of hiking) temps were in the 80s I think. I don't remember just how hot it got, the hike was only slightly more of an issue. When we emerged at 6pm, we were ferociously hungry and bread bowl stew has never tasted so good. A proper plan, packing, and wise consumption of water was critical on that hike. My brother and I were teens, in shape and faired pretty well, but that hike liked to kill mom and dad. We were naively ambitious then. Mom and Dad have taken on multi day hikes on the Appalachian Trail in recent years, though. That canyon hike was kind of the initial inspiration for them, I think. I did take notice of the (donkey/mule/burro/***/father-in-law?)'s which made the trek, daily, toting riders, still tended to leave more droppings at the narrower, scarier parts of the trail. Most alarming was the occasional mis-step hoof prints that dug off the edge of the trail, sometimes at a place of a very high drop. I don't think any ever actually fell, but I swear, I'd kill a donkey on the way down.... If you make the rt 66 route, or even I-40, I could go for a meet and greet in the OkC sector. I'm only about 5 miles from 40 and 10 or 15 from 66...
Hmmm... I had not thought of "near the edge" terrain... That could be an issue for my wife that isn't a fan of getting close to the edge on any of the mountains we hike. She likes to stay a comfortable 10 or 15 feet away while I walk as far as I can and look down.
Hey, is anyone still interested in some type of meeting this year. If gas prices stay down I would consider a road trip! Maybe late summer or fall?
At this point I suspect I won't be ready for a road trip this year, cuz while I am driving my COE, it's far from done or even ready to be driven in anything other than a sunny, dry day... Maybe late in the year, and that's a big maybe..
Sounds like an Epic trip...try to do it if all possible. We flew to Vegas last year and took bikes to Kingman then down 93 to Rt.89 across to Prescott-Jerome-Sedona-Flagstaff-Grand Canyon- around South rim and up to North side of Canyon then thru Zion back to Vegas thru Valley of fire. Really incredible... best trip ever and lifetime memories. Hope to do it again...good luck getting your ride done...also welcome to pitstop in Ohio
Will be at Good Guys in Scotsdale in November. If the Coe is ready i will be in it , if not I'll be in my 39 again . Blue
Just remember, late summer here in the desert is HOT. August and September usually see highs over 100, up to 120. Mid to late October is usually nice with cool nights.
Come up where the air is fresh and cool. Deuce days in Victoria BC, then a garage tour for 4 days in NW Washington on the way to G-Guys Puyallup
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