Another one in the books
Made it back home earlier this week, and the adventure was a pretty epic success to say the least! 3,271 miles, 11 national forests, 4 national parks, and 27 California state scenic routes. The scenic routes are particularly important, as I've been on a mission to drive ALL the officially designated California scenic byways. I've now driven this car on all but one, the road through Death Valley, which I hope to go collect later this fall or winter.
This quest has also given me the opportunity to go through 27 out of 28 National Forests in the state, and I'm seriously kicking myself for somehow overlooking the opportunity to go step foot in Modoc National Forest, in the very north eastern corner, to make it 100%. I won't be able to live with myself, so I guess a future trip is the only answer! Could be cool to swing through there on an Oregon/Washington trip sometime maybe...
But yeah, absolutely zero issues with the car, other than the carbs maybe not always loving the 100+ degree temps we had for a few days. I have to say though, cooling wise, my awesome aluminum radiator by @midnightmotorsport was seriously impressive, and I do not believe this trip would have been possible without it. Like I said, 100+ degree ambient temps for days, peaking at over 110 at one point while also climbing steep grades all day long. The temp gauge stayed GLUED to the center of the dial, no questions asked.
Speaking of climbs, according to the data on my GPS log the total cumulative elevation climbed was 240,715 feet, with the highest elevation of the trip being 9,900 feet while on Tioga Pass on the east end of Yosemite. The car just eats it up! Frickin trooper.
As expected, I too was not at all ready to be finished and back home. I could seriously do this forever! If only there were a way...
