Graduation Road Trip 2014!

[TurboJake]

Turbojake, it is the plan to take 101 and 1, but do you mean take them South vs North? And I hope she likes fast :p

Yes. For starters, your view of the coast in uninhibited compared to taking it north. Having done it myself, driving south is the better direction to go, and you're in a prime starting location to take it that way.

[mrsleeve]

here you go something kinda like this. If you want some ideas on where you might stop for food and where you might stay if you want to make this into a couple of days let me know. The drive out to Marias Pass on HWY 2 is a gorgeous drive as well, but thats a good 3 hour round trip out and back from the west and back to the valley. You could come down from east side of the park and come across US 2 over the pass and then come into GNP's west gate from 2 coming from the East. You would miss the whitefish range coming down that way but HWY 2 is the more beautiful drive by a wide margin. I should have thought of that yesterday. Though when you are heading west on HWY 2 the best views will come in your mirrors. See the 2ed map link.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/48.9929467,-115.0600702/48.605555,-113.8836462/48.3415268,-114.0086157/Bigfork/47.6968891,-114.1751502/48.0946929,-114.2342887/Swan+Lake,+Mt/Seeley+Lake/46.5999477,-112.5915383/45.9997283,-112.6474208/@48.4069027,-113.8554106,10z/data=!4m27!4m26!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x5367a4abdd26ee9d:0x7623f0ea9ebf03cc!2m2!1d-114.0726134!2d48.0632864!1m0!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x5367bbd8d213806d:0x77a6a4db98e8dafb!2m2!1d-113.844821!2d47.9291146!1m5!1m1!1s0x535d0ba410e64771:0x167c8be694ba442d!2m2!1d-113.4845229!2d47.1793799!1m0!1m0!3e0?hl=en

If you come down this way and you were not able to find fuel in St Marrys or east glacier (still closed for the off season) when you get to HWY 2 go back to the east and get fuel in Browning, dont linger there too long though.... There is NO, NONE, ZIP, ZERO, places to get fuel till you get back to West Glacier or Coram If you take this route when you peel off of 89 onto 49 (AKA Looking Glass Hill Road) that road has been known to be full of frost heaves and chuck holes but its got some very nice views along it.... This would prolly be the best for scenery even this time of year. Though check the forecast for the days you plan to come over Marias Pass between East Glacier and Essex it has been known to snow up there even this late in the year....... If you look at this map there is a spot marked U.S. 2, on the north side of the road there is wide turn out, I highly suggest you pull out there get out and turn around to take a gander. Like I said when your heading west many of the best views will be behind you. There are many places where there will be a short yet steep hike to get you closer to the river if your feeling a little more adventurous...... Be very careful though this time of year the rivers are and flowing fast with all the spring melting going on........

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/48.998057,-113.6577931/48.4454152,-113.2155934/48.4184191,-113.7384506/48.6127534,-113.8802663/48.3419171,-114.0148488/48.0577031,-114.0759602/47.6923215,-114.1400373/48.0901246,-114.2327344/47.9247446,-113.8434065/46.5982669,-112.5927162/@48.3557814,-113.7585938,12z/data=!4m12!4m11!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!3e0

if the weather is right something like this might await you at that a fore mentioned turn out there are plenty more to pull over at as well....

Took that one in January a couple of years ago

[bradnic]

Wow I need I head out west again lol. Awesome ideas here
Congrats on the engineering degree OP! Pass those exams first :-)

[Wille30]

I also recommend San Diego and stay at the Banana Bungalow. When I was there in 2012 there was an amazing atmosphere, $1 drinks and its RIGHT on Mission Beach.

http://bananabungalowsandiego.com/

[s14pwd]

Bad News, car broke down in Helena,Mt. I think its a charging problem. Was going down the road and first anti-lock light came on, then no sound out of radio, weak window motors and finally hesitation. Luckily made it into town and got help at a gas station. Battery was dead, jumped it, same symptoms reappeared after 1-2 min idling. Have an Alternator from O'Reily's on the way.

Can anyone confirm, 1989 325i Alternator will work on an M3? I checked realOEM and same part number so I hope this works and is the problem.

BTW, people here are very friendly, plus one to Montana!

Shaun

[Todd Black 88]

Let me know when you are in Vancouver. The local group has meets Thursday nights, a drive planned to Mt. Baker for BBQ, and Thursday night drives up the sea to sky are starting up.

[Todd Black 88]

What are your interests? Have you been to Victoria or Vancouver before?

[s14pwd]

What are your interests? Have you been to Victoria or Vancouver before?

Been there a few times but I was much younger. Basically we want to see some unique items, I've seen most of the touristy stuff (Grouss Mountain (sp?), the botanical gardens yada yada) so if theres something locals know thats neat to see. The other thing is food. My girl loves sushi, so the best sushi place would be great to know.

And will definitely let you know when we roll into town, would love to tag along for a drive.

Shaun

[s14pwd]

Just an update. Alternator appears to have worked and made it to salt lake now.

[s14pwd]

Having car troubles just entered into southern California. Hwy 40. Cruising down the freeway had rough running near 3k rpm, similar to hesitation. Pulled over a few miles later, pulled plugs, they look bad so I replaced them with spares. Still bad. Pulled sprlark plug wires and seems like nothing different when I pull number 2. Its getting spark because it shocked me when I touched the body. Ideas?

[MT3CH]

Having car troubles just entered into southern California. Hwy 40. Cruising down the freeway had rough running near 3k rpm, similar to hesitation. Pulled over a few miles later, pulled plugs, they look bad so I replaced them with spares. Still bad. Pulled sprlark plug wires and seems like nothing different when I pull number 2. Its getting spark because it shocked me when I touched the body. Ideas?

Where about's in socal?

[s14pwd]

Where about's in socal?

Right now, Needles California for the night.

[s14pwd]

Also from running ideas through my mind, I think its an injector problem. Will test in the morning and post up results.

[ST1G]

PM me and I can give you some advice for Salt Lake

I'll give some advise right now; avoid it like the plague. I HATE driving in SLC and it's 100's of miles of suburbs.

your going to go right by Glacier NAT park rather than take I15 down why not come down US 93 and take in what you can of the west side of Glacier, not much is opened up yet but there is way more than there would be on the east side. If it were me (and I live in this area) I would include a little back tracking and come down 93, into the North end of the Flathead valley. Buzz over and make the run on the east side of lake McDonald in Glacier park up too the lodge entering at the west gate. Come back out head back for Columbia Falls, just before you get into hungry horse and the H-H NFS headquarters Hang a left and make the short 5 mile drive up too Hungry horse dam its actually pretty cool. Then head back for Columbia falls right before you cross the river make the turn for Big Fork down 106, and then make the run around Flathead Lake ( the largest NATURAL freshwater lake West of the Mississippi.) on MT35 Get to the south end in Polson and run back up N along the west shore heading for Kailspell on US 93. There are lots of little turn outs and state and county parks along both shores to take some time. Its not too busy around here yet with tourists and most stuff is not operational yet BUT there is some decent access given the time of year.


After the run around Flathead lake, I would head back out towards Big Fork and this time You can make the left on HWY 83 a few miles north of, or run all the way back to Big Fork and make the left on 209 over to 83 and then continue on south on 83, out along the swan river and one of my fav. lakes around here Swan lake. This will take you all the way down Seelly lake and keep going south till you get to MT 200. Turn to the east and head for HWY 141 and head south till you get to US 12 and swing back west till you get to I90. Head for Butte there and that will get back to I15 heading for the west side of yellowstone.

Now this will give you a whirlwind tour of this entire area hitting most of the high spots and could be done in 2 days but I have spent years doing it and still see something different every time. These loops will get you great views of the Columbia, Swan, both sides of the mission mountain ranges, and the Whitefish range to your left after you cross the boarder coming down 93 with the lower parts of the salish on your right.

I will say have at least a 1/2 tank of fuel each time you set out south from big fork its a long ways to get more.... To Seely lake is about a 100 miles, I love it down in Condon and will someday prolly buy a home there.

This man speaks the truth. It's absolutely spectacular. You will not regret this.

[s14pwd]

Switched Injector 1 and 2, the problem stays on cylinder 2. It seems like this could be a major problem.