I'd much enjoy that in the Miata, I've only done that on a motorcycle. Unfortunately, the times I've done it on a bike have too often been with slow traffic. It does, however, allow you to pay more attention to the scenery
Nobody's mentioned US 60 through the Salt River Canyon. The wonderfully scenic and most curvy part of the drive is fairly short and often marred by slow traffic but the views are comparable to those you might see if you were able to drive through the Grand Canyon!
I've done almost none of the great local road in the Miata, I need to get out more....
It is just a matter of personal preference. I like lots of water, lots of green plants, and I only like sand at the coast.
No big deal, just different likes and dislikes. To me, this:
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Looks a lot better than this:
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So far, within the United States, I have driven in TX, NM, AZ, NV, OK, GA, AR, MO, KY, MS, IN, OH, LA, AL, TN, SC & NC. Texas, Tennessee and Arizona are the three that I have seen the most of, in that order.
That leaves a lot of places left to see, but only the NC/TN border area has me really wanting to go back. It is not the road at Deals Gap that has me wanting to go there in particular, the people and scenery were the major attractions to me.
I'd imagine westerners don't panic. They're probably aware of the possibility and are prepared to deal with it.
Depends on visibility. Not all the interesting bits are blind, but you still have to leave some reserve for gravel on the pavement and such.
Wotta wimp. :-)
The really nice thing about US191 is that almost no one uses it. You can drive for an hour without seeing another vehicle. Good thing, because in most places passing is a challenge. Impossible if you have a hang-up about double yellow stripes.
Any careful driver keeps an eye down the road for potholes, debris, animals, and other things that would not be good to hit, including missing sections of roadway.
Of the ones listed above, the missing section of roadway seems like the one that I am most likely to see and avoid hitting.
Since the only good way to deal with a missing section of roadway while driving a Miata is to stop, it would require that "westerners" be more capable at braking than other drivers.
Seriously, are the "westerners" calmly bringing their vehicles to a stop while the "easterners" go sliding off the missing section of road in a state of panic? That may be the sale you are offering, but I'm not buying it. ;-)
This sounds like it applies to any curvy road. It certainly applies to Deals Gap, where sliding off the road can T-bone the car into a large tree.
True.......I had a good friend kill himself in his Datsun 240Z about two blocks from the house where I grew up. I was very young and driving a
280Z at the time. It had a big impact to see that 240 that was barely recognizable as a Z-car. The damage to the tree was also quite impressive. Cars are not only death traps crashed hard, but they make one hell of a battering ram as well.
I still have fun when I drive, no granny driving here. I just try not to roll the dice when dealing with the lives of other people any more than I have to when we share a road together.
That sounds good, unless you break down in the summer. Then it is time to break out those desert survival skills....... ;-)
Pat, Pat, Pat. You don't slow down, you simply drive around the hole. The missing bits are always on straights, not in blind corners, and there's almost never any oncoming traffic anyway. Or any traffic, for that matter.
I'm not implying that easterners are incapable of dealing with such things, only that they are more prone to panic at unexpected inconveniences. And then, of course, they want to sue somebody.
:-)
Desert? Although US191 traverses plenty of desert farther north, the tasty part crosses two mountain ranges. It's cool and green.
You really must make the trip...preferably in a Miata.
My personal experience of Hawaii is limited to changing planes, but it has a reputation for beautiful roads...and draconian speed enforcement. I've been told that if you speed, even a little bit, you WILL be caught. Just a warning.
The road up Haleakala (sp?) is great, but traffic can be heavy and there's loads of bicycles coming down. And on the coast roads there's plenty of idiots renting Ferraris etc and then trying to pass in a blind rage at the traffic density.
On the Big Island we took the coast road south from Hilo, a Jeep would have been more fun. There are places that rent them, if I was going there again I'd get a Jeep and visit the peaks.
Hey, there's a fun place (lodge/resturant) about halfway up Haleakala that had decent food and the most stunning view I've ever seen, if you can get a window seat reservation. I felt like I was falling onto the other half of the island. This info is 10+ years old tho... it was called the Kula Lodge, in Kula, Maui. (Digs in files...) I've still got a brochure, phone then was
Thank you, I will remember that. I am still not sure if I will be driving at all while I am there, but that is nice to know.
Time to check some rental agencies. There is probably some type of convertible for rent.
The main issue is price, as this is a true budget trip.
So far my total spent for getting there and back, 3 hotel nights and 7 campground nights is under $450.00. It might hit $500.00 when I add in the cost to get to Maui and back from Honolulu.
That doesn't count food, of course. ;-)
If anyone has anything that they can recommend as a "must-see", or a "don't bother", please send me an email. I will see if there are any Hawaiian forums that are of any use, but this is a fairly well-traveled group, so who knows?
I am going in blind with no set plans on days 6 through 9, so anything is helpful.
I just called and they do have openings on my birthday while I will be there. You weren't kidding, what a fantastic dining area! The place just looks great overall.
My budget went up a bit, I think, and there will be a lot of cleaning up to do after 3 days on the trail before I can eat in there, but what a neat place to look forward to!
They said to call back later today to get a window seat, it is only 6:49 a.m. there now.
Yeah, I just googled it too... that picture of the dining area at the bottom of the menu? That's basically accurate but without the sense of vertigo... when you're actually there the sense of depth and verticality is amazing. Glad you'll be able to check it out!
I lived in Hawaii for many years and all of the "fun roads" lead to the beach, where the fun is. All of the roads that might be what Miata drivers call fun, are up in the mountains and would scare the crap out of you at any speed over about 15 MPH. The road that took you from one side of the island to the other does not go thru anymore. (replaced by a freeway) That road was a real expereance when the wind kicked up, very narrow. They would put up "Small Car Warnings" signs. I know they lost some VWs over the years when I lived there. As I remember it was about
700 ft. or more down and all rocks. I lost most of the convertable top off my 48 Chev one day going back to Honolulu. It sounded like a cannon going off.
My wife and I have been to Maui and the Big Island. We rented a very small Pontiac convertible (Sunfire) on Maui - there are some roads that the rental contracts do not permit you to travel on - like single lane dirt around the mountain with a 2000 foot dropoff - we went a mile or so on one before becoming aware that I was in a prohibited area - it is not marked on the road itself. I stopped when the road became one lane winding around the mountain and I realized that someone would have to back up for quite a ways if any vehicle came from the other direction.
We enjoyed the 38 mile bicycle ride down the central mountain. At the elevation you are planning, be sure to carry some warm clothing, there is considerable temperature variation as one gets into the heights.
On the big island - one excitement was rental flight time on a small helicopter for an hour - with a certified flight instructor - piloting the helo - about the size of a Miata, and able to travel in three dimensions instead of two. We also went to the top of the white mountain by 4wd vehicle (with a group) - it was 82 degrees at the beach, and a wind chill of minus
67 at the top (in December).
You will need a rental vehicle on either island, the only island with public transportation all over is Oahu.
They have a room available for $160.00 a night, and that is because it is not peak season. It's probably in the $250.00 to $300.00 range during the busy times.
That is a bit more than my normal cheap bastard hotel rates, but what the hell, staying there for a night or two, especially after doing the tent and air mattress thing, could be very worth it.
The rat trap hotels are about $60.00 to $70.00 a night.
Considering that this could easily be a once in a lifetime thing, I'll spring for the extra $100.00 or so, at least for one night.
I plan on plenty of beach time, but what I am looking forward to the most is the hiking and camping.
One of the campsites is described as similar to the area that you are in. "Extensive trail system in the forest reserve, including through a forest reminiscent of the conifer forests of the Pacific Northwest coast, and with the elevation at 6200 feet, it occasionally freezes at night."
Sounds kind of like what US191 has been described to me as. (just kidding)
Do you mean VW Hippie vans? My first vehicle was a Ford Econoline van. That one was quite an experience with high winds.
At least the fall would be quite scenic. ;-)
Wow, that would not be fun. Sounds like it could have been a problem for anyone behind you too!
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