Don't worry. You may not see one, but you will definitely hear one. Frightened the living daylights out of me, on the road from Death Valley to Lone Pine.Quote:
Originally Posted by benjis_monikuss
Lifey
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Don't worry. You may not see one, but you will definitely hear one. Frightened the living daylights out of me, on the road from Death Valley to Lone Pine.Quote:
Originally Posted by benjis_monikuss
Lifey
Hahaha I guess I'll keep my ears peeled then!
I'm so excited to have 80% of the trip pretty much pinned down now! Our days are marked at around 6 hours of driving each on the way down and 8 or so on my way back up solo. Time to get where we need to go and time to enjoy the shenanigans along the way. I get to see a few awesome waterfalls and even a couple of the famed US National parks. Then there's all the extra's like Powell's Bookstore, famous pies from the HiLo in Weed, going to George Lucas' hometown, VEGAS BABY and everything in between. It'll definitely be an experience that I'll never forget. There's just so many amazing things to see and do!
Actually, if pies are a big attraction -- ah I remember your comment about being a chef... One of my all-time favorite pie shops in the world. Open only a few months each year -- when the road is open from snow.... The fresh pies are served at 10,000 feet. Check out Pie in the Sky near Bishop, California!
Lots of snow on the road right now, so unclear when opening day will be for FRESH PIES. But here is the FB page & I am sure the opening date will be posted. Look at the photo of the parking lot taken on March 31st!
Mark
Don't let it worry you. You will arrive home with a list of things to see and do on your next trip..... and the one after that...... etc. It is addictive.Quote:
Originally Posted by benjis_monikuss
Right now I am on my seventh! :-)
Lifey
I will dog ear their page and check it out when we are in that area, mmm pie! I won't have snow tires so snowy/ icy passages are out of the question... and an inexperienced north Queenslander when it comes to driving in snow, period! Lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Sedenquist
I think you are right! The next trip I am planning would be a trip through either the upper west coast/ slightly inland and keep going north in BC towards Yukon next summer.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lifemagician
I've yet to explore any further east of Denver, CO in the states so there's always that too haha.
That's not an issue in the summer months -- believe me no one would ever open that road if ice was still possible. It has some steep sections -- but the route is gorgeous.Quote:
Originally Posted by benjis_monikuss
Yeah, every time I think about that mud pie I start salivating....
Mark
I was just wondering if anyone was aware of any extra expenses we might occur on the road? Isn't there a fee for Death Valley NP? Is it small? Just curious and organising how much cash to carry on me.
All national parks have a fee, and they vary greatly. You can check on the national parks site just how much each one is. You may find that buying an annual pass for $80 will be cheaper than paying individually at each park. For instance, four parks may cost $25 or thereabouts... the $80 pass will cover that.... and all the occupants of your vehicle.
If at the end of your trip you do not have any further use for it, it is nice to donate it to a charity for their or to give to a family who could not afford it.
Lifey
I think DV would be our only NP along the way so I guess in that case I just need the one pass? And I can just get that off a website?
You can pay it when you get there. From memory, you pay at the visitor centre. Others who have been there more recently than I can probably confirm that.
Lifey
Awesome, thanks!
The pass is $20 per vehicle and is good for 7 days.
Unless you are planning to go to more NP's during the year's time, the Annual Pass ($80) may not be worth it. We had to figure out our own needs for this summer, so it pays to look at the national park sites and do the math.
Donna
The only tolls in the area are the bridges in the SF area. They all do accept cash except the Golden Gate, where you have to either have a FasTrak transponder or go on a license plate photo system. You can prepay or they will mail you an invoice.
Perfect! Well $20 it is.
And we decided to skip SF this time around, we're sticking to the 1-5 then we'll go through Stockton to the CA 99 and head to Bakersfield from there.
Also, when in the Seattle area I'm wondering if it's possible to avoid the I-5 (assuming this would be busier?) and taking the 405 on that leg? Or are they both pretty much the same?
Does anyone know about having to obtain an international driving permit to drive in the states? My Canadian friends drive there all the time so I'd assume my Canadian licence would be fine? Just don't want to get any unwanted trouble.
An international driver's licence is no more than a translation of a licence which has not been issued in English. If your licence is in English, no need to bother.
Lifey
Your Canadian license is valid here, but you also need proof of insurance that's valid in the US.
Oh, would my provincial car insurance be enough or do I need to purchase some kind?
All you should have to do is verify with your insurance company that it's valid here, and possibly get an ID card proving it. I know our insurance is valid in Canada and our insurance companies do offer ID cards, so I assume yours is probably the same.
Yeah, I looked it up and my insurance is valid in every state/ province in Canada and America and even some in Mexico hahaha. Good to know. I will have insurance papers in the dash, they don't present us with ID cards.
I'd recommend photocopies, not the originals!
It is also a good idea to carry photo copies of most other important documents, such as your passport, credit card(s) and anything else for which you may need to quote a number when reporting it lost or stolen.
Lifey
When travelling my method is to put all copies of relevant papers, photos and documents in a selection of emails and then send to myself – say Google Gmail – and saved them in the travel section. Very good back up system and no need to worry about misplacing any papers.
And this way you can do it at some leisure before setting off on your trip.
Eris, my reason for carrying the paper is two fold. If I am involved in an accident, or should happen to fall sick, I have on me, in my luggage, in my purse and in two places in my car, all those details, as well as all the family's phone numbers, my blood group, etc., all on one sheet of paper. Having it all on my computer, which I do, would be useless in an emergency.
Lifey
Lifey please keep an open mind.
Over a couple of years ago I had a real emergency when I fell and severely broke a hip bone when out walking. Was impracticable to carry all the required travel paper work on a hike. I was in the vastness of Oregon away from the car where my papers were stored.
My wife and I were ambulanced to hospital many miles away.
In this emergency it was easy to access all the information that was needed from my emails at the hospital . It is surprising the amount of various information that is needed in USA when requiring urgent expensive medical aid costing many thousands of dollars. Seem reluctant to go ahead unless their boxes are ticked.
Chances are a single sheet of paper would likely to have missed some required vital information needed for action to proceed quickly in a case like I was experiencing. Eris.
All fantastic tips and once again I'm going to do a mixture of both. I'll have my photocopies and email myself the scans; great ideas! Thanks.
Alrighty! We are one week out from departure, we have our routes and back up routes ready and now we're just finalizing the last details. So our final route, that we are pretty happy with is;
Day 1
Home
Bellingham (for groceries to fill our cooler)
Olympia for gas
Portland for Slappy Cakes & Powell's Bookstore (hoping these are open Memorial Day, will be confirming this week)
Multnomah Falls
Albany for our overnight stay
Day 2
Albany
Eugene for gas
We'd like to head down the Willamette Pass and go see Crater Lake as this is a shorter day. I've been watching webcams and weather reports every day and I'm hoping we'll have a beautiful, sunny and warm day, if not we'll simply continue on the I-5
Medford for gas
Weed for the night
Day 3 (really hasn't changed)
Weed
Red Bluff for gas
Modesto for gas... and I'm a George Lucas nerd
Bakersfield for the night
Day 4
Bakersfield
Through previously discussed route of Death Valley
Vegas for 3 nights
My return trip
Day 1
Vegas
Alamo for gas
Ely for gas
Twin Falls for the night
Day 2
Twin falls
Boise for gas
La Grande for gas and food
Kennewick over night
Day 3
Kennewick
Lake Easton SP for breakfast/ lunch
Bellingham for the last cheap US gas
Home.
Now just taking care of the last details; getting $US, pre trip car inspection, packing, setting GPS, making sure I have enough SD cards for camera etc. It's all very exciting!
Without re-reading the whole thread, is there a reason why you are going all the way south to Bakersfield when you could be taking the scenic drive through Yosemite NP on the Tioga Pass [CA120] ? [Which is currently open] Not only is it a nicer drive, [imo] it is less miles, although will take slightly longer.
Have a great trip ! [Look forward to hearing all about it]
Deadlines and such. It's why I kicked plans to see 101 and SF etc, we are happy with what we have for this trip but that doesn't mean there won't be more in the future. We've already started saying 'in a few years we'll fly into ______ and do a round trip road trip to here, here, and here' haha. We feel pretty happy with our list of attractions including Multnomah Falls, Crater Lake, Death Valley and Vegas. Yosemite will just have to wait until another time but you can bet when that time comes I'll be right back here getting invaluable information off you guys!Quote:
Originally Posted by Southwest Dave
I understand you won't have time to stop in Yosemite, but the drive over Tioga is wonderful and once you take Death Valley into consideration it adds little to your actual drive time. You could be in Lee Vining within an hour after you would have arrived in Bakersfield. If that didn't appeal you could go from Weed to Bishop CA via Reno and down the scenic 395 on the east side of the Sierras in the same time as Bakersfield and be closer to Death valley. Just a thought. [or two]
Those are a great couple of thoughts for sure. I know we having a booking in Bakersfield but it was at my partner in crime's request so I could look into our availability.
If we were to take an alternate here, is there still plenty of DV to see via this route?
Weed - Bishop via 395 like suggested. Then stay in Bishop.
Bishop 395 to the 136/ 190 through DV to Pahrump. I know it shaves about 100 miles off the trip though on slower roads. It's definitely a tough choice this close to D Day hahah!
Oh yeah ! The only difference is from where you approach the park. You would in fact have more time to spend in DV. It's worth considering imo if you can cancel the Bakersfield reservation without penalty.Quote:
If we were to take an alternate here, is there still plenty of DV to see via this route? -
What ever you decide I'm sure you will have a great trip !
So my friend says our plans are interchangeable. Now I'm definitely swaying hahaha. Google didn't help, everything that popped up was beautiful! We could get a place in Bishop for about the same price we were going to pay in Bakersfield and then we get a waaaaay nicer 3rd day. Damnit, I'm such a pushover with this stuff =P And now I get to have Pie In The Sky!
Win, win ! lol And you may have time for stop at Mono Lake. ;-)Quote:
And now I get to have Pie In The Sky!
That is my intended stop if we do this (which it looks like we will), what a hauntingly stunning place!
What would be the easiest point to get onto the 395 from Weed? the 36 at Red Bluff? I wonder if we would have time for a drive-by of Lake Tahoe? If we timed it right maybe we could hit Mono at dusk. It's a long day of slower driving but it's incredibly tempting.
I will say that there really is no reason at all to preplan your gas stops. In fact, I would pretty strongly advise against it - because it is simply too planned and too rigid.Quote:
Originally Posted by benjis_monikuss
It's one thing to do a little preplanning for cheap fuel, i.e. topping off your tank in Washington before crossing back into Canada, or topping off on cheap OR fuel before heading into CA, and it is always good to understand your surroundings - like knowing you do have to take advantage of the relatively small number of gas stations on US-93 in Nevada - but planning every city to stop for fuel otherwise is just over the top.
Off I-5, take CA-89 to CA-44 to Susanville. You are looking at 425 miles from Weed to Bishop, so you don't have time to waste around Tahoe. You may want to make a reservation in Lee Vining so you won't miss the view on 395 between there and Bishop after dark.Quote:
Originally Posted by benjis_monikuss
Over the top is kind of my thing. Just about everything about our days are estimates except for overnight bookings. The gas stops are estimates based off my tank to keep my nerves in check. If we see something cool before we need to gas up, I'm sure that place will have a gas station I can use instead. I'm simply the kind of person who likes an outline.Quote:
Originally Posted by Midwest Michael
Perfect, thank you! The cheapest Lee Vining booking left is triple what we paid for our Bakersfield one, which means we will either see Mono Lake earlier or sacrifice the daytime view from there to Bishop.
I never plan our fuel stops exactly, but knowing where the fuel might be super-expensive and avoiding those, is important if you have a vehicle like ours that can swallow 35 gallons quickly. If we're at a hotel with internet (and that's what we always want), I use the evening's relaxation to look ahead on gasbuddy.com to see where fuel is cheaper than other places. As a *general* rule of thumb, fuel is usually cheaper on the outskirts of larger cities than in the middle of the boonies. Some states, like California, have obnoxiously high fuel taxes that cause the gasoline to cost 40c/gal more than in the neighboring state. (We will wait until Arizona to fill our fuel tank, for that reason, or fill up just before we enter the state.) So I can understand your need to "preplan" your fuel stops. You just might want to wait until the night before each travel day, because gasbuddy can help you get better prices.
Donna