Tour from San Francisco Bay Area to National Meet

This is a working document and will be expanded as the event draws near. For the latest copy please visit http://goldenstate. ply33.com/PortlandTour

General

Two years ago there was a tour from the San Francisco Bay area to the national meet in Santa Maria, California. That tour took three days to cover about 300 miles. Every road, every turn, was pre-driven to assure that the roads and stops were appropriate. We avoided freeways where ever possible (only a few miles total were on freeways).

This tour is different. We are covering as many miles in one day as the entire Santa Maria tour. We will spend hours at a time driving on freeways (most of US 101 in California is a freeway). North of Eureka we are entering territory that is unfamiliar to the tour leader. Rest and sight seeing stops, restaurants and lodging have selected largely based on Internet searches. Consider this an adventure!

Questionaire Results

Early responders to the request for participants were given an email questionaire regarding what they would like on the tour. Here are the results:

Decision: Will assume 50 MPH for planning, probably actually drive around 55 MPH

2. How many hours per day are you comfortable driving your Plymouth?
“I’m used to driving for long stretches, but probably don’t want to push more than 9 hours per day. Again, whatever the group likes, I’m good with.”
“For old cars I think that 300/350 miles should be max. We did 500 plus in the Yellow Rose going to Omaha for the Chrysler convention and it was tough.”
“6-8 HRS”
“6-8 hrs is fine”
“Not to exceed 8 hours, preferably during daylight hours.”

Decision: Will try to keep driving to 6 hours but if the legs don’t work out allow up to 8.

3. How many hours maximum between rest stops?
“No bladder problems here lol...”
“A stop every 2 hours is about all my bladder can do.”
“2-3 HRS”
“3 hrs. between rest stops - Fuel range is about 200 miles.”
“I can get approximately 200 plus miles from a tank of gas so maximum driving”
time would be 4 hours.”

Decision: Rest stops every 2 hours, filling station every 150 to 200 miles.

4. What type of lodging would you prefer (cheap motel okay, specific chain, bed & breakfast, etc.)?
“Prefer less expensive lodging, but not at the expense of security for the cars. Prefer to stay away from bad neighborhoods and locations where cars are not within clear site of the rooms. Newer Motel 6s are fine, but typically something like Comfort Suites in the $80 to $100 range are better.”
“No Motel 6’s. Best Western or Comfort Inn are not too bad.”
“MEDIUM HOTEL”
“Any lodging is fine. Cheap motels don’t bother us at all, and if it’s just a night’s sleep (arriving late and leaving early), the cheaper, the better. If it’s a well known lodge, location, etc. we don’t mind paying the price.”
“I do not have a preference, whatever makes the majority comfortable.”

Decision: Will pick towns where AAA guide indicate several choices including at least one that is “a step up” from Motel 6.

5. Any specific sights you would like to see?
“I’m kind of interested in seeing the coastal area beyond Humboldt, but I’m very open to suggestions”
“Sights are up to the tour leader.”
“NO”
“Don’t really have specific sites, as we’ve been through Oregon a few times.”
“I really don’t know any specific sights to suggest, again, I am willing to go along with whatever is decided upon.”

Decision: No help here. I do have an idea for the first day north of SF as its an area I’ve traveled. For further north it will be a challenge.

6. Any specific route that you would prefer to take up and/or back?
“See #5”
“Route is up to you.”
“NO”
“We’ll be coming back on #5 (probably on our own). Plan to visit friends in Grants Pass. Would prefer not to go up #5, unless you are planning on Crater Lake.”
“It would be nice to travel one route going there and another coming back. I haven’t spent much time north from Los Angeles area so I am not too familiar as to which are more interesting routes.”

Decision: US 101 north from SF Bay area, taking three days. I-5 south taking two days.

7. Should I even ask if your willing to drive at night?
“I can drive at night just fine if needed.”
“No night driving unless it is needed to catch up due to a repair problem.”
“WILL DRIVE AT NIGHT”
“Night driving doesn’t bother us.”
“I am willing to do some night driving but not for an extended period since my eyes tend to get very tired at night.”

Decision: Night driving only to catch up from repair problems. We will be traveling during the longest days of the year so night driving should be unlikely even in event of repairs.

8. Other unsolicited answers:
“These are just my own thoughts. At present I think we will be doing the trip in 2-3 days and arriving on Wednesday. We will probably will only participate in the Thursday-Saturday trips and activities.”
“My wife will be flying up to the National Meet and flying back so she won’t be a factor.”

Expected Participants

North Bound Itinerary

South Bound Itinerary

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