Neste percurso de 5.866 quilómetros, os dois amigos passaram por cidades como Arkansas City, Oklahoma City, Albuquerque e Las Vegas.
Chegados a L.A., aproveitaram para gozar os privilégios do Oceano Pacífico na bela praia de Malibu, confraternizar com as celebridades em Hollywood e apreciar o estilo de vida de Beverly Hills…
Ainda na Califórnia, visitaram San Francisco e passaram a
famosa ponte Golden Gate com o MGB. No regresso, passaram por Salt Lake City, Denver, Colorado
Springs, Kansas City, St. Louis até regressarem a New York.
Ao todo, foram 7.704 milhas (12.398 quilómetros) percorridas
em 11 dias num MGB que se portou sempre à altura do que dele era esperado.
O relato desta viagem pode ser lido através dos links no final deste post. Neste espaço, deixo as fotos que retratam esta odisseia com os respectivos comentários no idioma dos dois aventureiros...
Passing from West Virginia, into Ohio over the Ohio River, about 6 1/2 hours, and 430 miles from home.
Tom checking the map on
Interstate 40 – an hour or two east of Columbus, Ohio. Good road, fast and
smooth, but a little boring.
Leaving the Kentucky
Turnpike, tolls in Kentucky totaled $1.40 with some booths under overpasses.
Waking well after the
sunrise, 100 miles east of Memphis Tennessee, on Interstate 40.
The shoreline of the
Mississippi River, across from Mud Island, Memphis.
Poverty was apparent in
some rural areas of Arkansas; and it seemed some dogs were even given
second class status.
400 miles into this warm, sunny day we stopped to bond with
the Oklahoma State sign, on I. 40.
And closer to Oklahoma
City, the sight of oil wells became common, still on I.40.
Rt. 66 sunrise east of
Amarillo, Texas – soon to be in New Mexico.
Dualized Rt. 66 in
Eastern New Mexico, ~10 AM MDT.
Just west of
Albuquerque, Rt. 66.
In less than great
weather we explored, some of this geological and historically fascinating park,
devoid of most living trees and shrubs, or today, even people.
Although it would have
been better under clear skies, we enjoyed the break.
50,000 year old Meteor
Crater is three quarters mile across and 570 feet deep.
Sun rising, Aug. 16,
1967, above the plateaus of the Navajo Reservation, 6 miles away, east of
Imperial Point, Grand Canyon.
Sunrise from Imperial
Point Lookout, Grand Canyon.
Writing home.
Angel’s
Window (note people on top,) with Humphries Peak near Flagstaff, about 56 miles
south.
On US 89 Alt., northern
Arizona, the 10 minute downpour would not give much relief from the heat,
especially after we put the top up.
The western entrance to
Zion – Mt. Carmel Tunnel, a masterpiece of 1920′s engineering.
The
switchbacks into Pine Creek Canyon, as seen from one of several cliff-side
windows.
Along
Rt. 9 in Utah, SW of Zion National Park.
Fremont
Street, Las Vegas – about 11:00 PM.
The
“Strip” and Sands marquee with Dean Martin headlining.
Sahara
with The Smothers Brothers, Vicki Carr, Pat Paulsen.
Grauman’s Chinese Theater on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Stop the car, run around with the tourists, and GO!
Bill
Cosby headlining the Whiskee a’ go go.
Palm-tree
lined streets in Beverly Hills.
Land
is at a premium in the canyons.
Eager to get in the Pacific Ocean.
California
Girls – Malibu.
Kowabunga!
Marty Surfin Malibu!
Pacific
Ocean Park, Santa Monica.
Well
patronized fur guy in gas station lot across from the Los Angeles Playboy Club.
Clear pools
like this would fill and empty in seconds with every wave. The sights and
sounds of the rushing sea water with its cool spray was exhilarating.
We
had most of the pathways and climbs to ourselves, but some, like this proved to
be an explorer’s paradise.
Clear
skies were giving way to fog rolling in over parts of the city of San
Francisco.
The
two towers of the Golden Gate Bridge are ~750’ (227m) above sea level, but you
could hardly see them today!
Tom
stopped the car in a pedestrian walkway so I could get this picture, somewhat
to the dismay of waiting tourists.
The
panorama of restaurants and attractions at Fisherman’s Wharf.
Turntables
enable the conductor, and many times the patrons, to manually turn the car around.
The
Streets of San Francisco.
On
the banks of the Tuolumne River, west of Yosemite National Park.
Redwood
grove in Yosemite National Park.
Ellery
Lake, off Tioga Road, Yosemite.
Possibly
near Tuolumne Meadow Rest Stop.
Near
the highest point in the park, Tioga Pass, ~9,500 feet (895 m) just prior to
changing in shorts and T-shirts.
Tioga
Pass Rd. is right there, that sloping horizontal line. Oh yeah! There are
several cars just barely visible in the original slide.
The
view of the road, the arid terrain, the 13,000+ ft, mountains (4000 m) of
the high White Mountains bordering Nevada, was palatable….except maybe to Tom,
who was …tired! The town of Benson Station is to the right; Mt Montgomery to the left
center, Mt. Dubois right center.
Looking
back at Interstate 80 tunnel in Green River, WY., 85 miles from today’s start.
My
manual 1961 Exa SLR, 50mm f2.8; and with 200mm f3.5 Vivatar fixed telephoto.
6
plus hours into the day, the Colorado State Line, Rt. 287.
The
Pikes Peak Auto Road, before overheating. Note the dust from the road in the
distance.
Tom
checking the radiator at MP 15, Pikes Peak, 12,000 feet, and the end the line
for us.
60
miles west of Hays, Kansas. Rest area on Interstate 70. Another
fine night sleep, at roadside America.
Kanapolis
State Park, Kansas. Ice cream cones, $.15; Malts and
shakes, $.30; Sundaes, $.20 to $.30.
Looking
back at the Wheeling Tunnel, just east of the Ohio River.
Rays
Hill Tunnel, Pennsylvania Turnpike near Breesewood.
Seconds
after stepping out of the MGB – one final picture, dirt and all.
Some
Statistics
Miles on
odometer: 7704 (12,398 km) +
roughly 50 additional miles on family miles tour in LA.
Most in one
day: 1118 miles
(1799 km) 21 hours.
Total
time:
~10 days, 19 hours.
Total
driving time: 183/2 = roughly
90 hours each.
Average Gas
cost: $.409 per gallon.
Highest:
$.449 (Grand Canyon/Yosemite); $.439,
Flagstaff Arizona.
Lowest:
$.309 (LA); $.319 (Western Pennsylvania).
Gas and oil
used: 289 US Gal.,
$117.80. 13 US Qts. Oil, Av. $.568 per quart.
Average
mpg
26.8 (8,77 Lts/100Kms).
All
expenses:
Food, room, purchases, entertainment, tolls, film, etc.:
(~$150 each.)
Performance of car:
Exceptional. No issues except Pikes Peak; no needed
repairs; engaging to drive; and surprisingly comfortable.
Links da descrição completa desta aventura:
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