The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk About to start 12 day California adventure.....

I'm new here..I live in upstate NY.
I bought a 51 3/4 ton from a friend in California. It's got a nice 235 w/ an S10 transmission. Drives out real nice. Truck is in primer & decent shape otherwise...a driver.

My son & I leave on Jan 3rd to fly out & pickup the truck. We're just going to be vagabonds (sp?) for 12 days. Driving where the good weather takes us. If it's rainy, we'll head for AZ. I look forward to having this special time with him & for bonding with the truck. When we're done, we're leaving the truck with my friend with plans to return in May to drive her cross country to New York.

Wish us luck!

If I get a chance, I'll post updates.

Sounds like a lot of fun. Wishing you good weather and few mechanical problems.

Sounds like fun!

Watch out on those freeways...

Dad...

I must have missed the memo???

Where do I need to be, and when do I need to be there, to tag-along?

Pictures, we want lots and lots of pictures.

That trip sounds like the makings of an awesome Stovebolt Saga. I hope you'll keep a journal or something, and write-up a story for Peg to post.

How old is your son?

Remember the words of Capt. Ron "well lets take her out...any thing that is going to happen, will happen out there"

Sounds like a good chance to have a road adventure with your son. Have Fun and be safe.

Cliff59

bring rain gear. storm is brewing here in cal. so ya never know what it will be like when your here. and bring tools

My son is 19. We've done other adventures in the past & have had a blast.

We try to stick with the back roads & stay off of the interstates as much as we can. We usually don't have definite destinations or a timetable...its the going, not the getting there that's best.

I figure that we better keep doin adventures when we still have the time (and he's still willing to be there).

Try AAA for regional /county maps, NOT state maps !!!!!!!

Might I suggest that you visit:
Kartchner Cave
was discovered by two splinkers decades ago. They kept the secret to themselves for years knowing they were the only ones to know about it's presents. They then told the land owner about it, (land's been in the family for generations) and the owner thought they were nuts. ''No such thing on my land'' he said.
It is about as nice a spot under this green earth, The park service did it right so as to NOT screw it up.
Enjoy your visit. call about reservations ... I know it soulds crazy but you have to remember the snowbirds live there this time of year
http://www.pr.state.az.us/parkhtml/kartchner.html
Arizona:

Grand Canyon and more ... http://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/grand_canyon/toroweap1.html

The Valley of Fire,
Just outside of Lost Wages is another wonderful drive through. The natural colors are natures palettes. And I can tell you the photos DO NOT even come close to what you will see.

http://www.desertusa.com/nvval/
http://www.desertusa.com/web_cart/db/pages/5013.html
In Utah: Bryce, Monument Valley, Zion, Natural Bridges
http://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/canyonlands/rainbow_l.html
http://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/arches/doubleoarch.html

In General all Southwest Parks:
http://www.americansouthwest.net/national_parks.html

I grew up in El Paso and have been all over the Southwest U.S., but never to the Grand Canyon. I'm planning on that as a vacation.

Some places I recommend:

The Rocky Mountains in Utah. If you can get to Zion National Park, there are rock formations that are phenominal. Reeally, anywhere in Utah mountains is beautiful, though.

Reno/Lake Tahoe/Donner Pass, Nevada/California. I don't know if I-80/US50 is on your planned route, but Lake Tahoe is amazingly gorgeous. If you ski, then all the better. If you gamble, you can do that, too.

If you're going to get further south, Carlsbad Caverns in Carlsbad, NM. Sure, it's just a cave, but when you get into The Big Room, it will take your breath away. It's too huge to describe and the rock formations are natural works of art.
Also, White Sands National Monument near Alamagordo, NM is gorgeous. I don't know if the park is open during the winter, though. Considering the climate in the desert southwest, I don't think it would be closed. It's miles upon miles of pure white gypsum sand dunes. Take the wife, as there is no better place for tanning.

Santa Fe, NM is just a relaxing place to go.

Along I-44 in Vinita, OK (just west of the MO state line) is the World's Largest McDonalds. It's good for a chuckle and you can eat your mcnuggets while traffic rolls by underneath you.

Your plans sound perfect and I highly recommend the adventure. My then 15 year old and I made the trek in the 59 from May to July 2004 and had a blast. He'd just gotten his learners permit and was a big help with the driving although quite nervous driving the truck. Had to feel for him at the end of each day as he was beat down good and ready for only a hot shower, dinner, and bed.
Take lots of pics and as Jed says sounds like a great experience to document.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by carolines truck:
Might I suggest that you visit:
Kartchner Cave
was discovered by two splinkers decades ago. They kept the secret to themselves for years knowing they were the only ones to know about it's presents. They then told the land owner about it, (land's been in the family for generations) and the owner thought they were nuts. ''No such thing on my land'' he said.
It is about as nice a spot under this green earth...

I'll second that one, it is a beautiful place. When I was in high school I worked for the Kartcheners doing general farm & ranch work. I drove my old 60 chevy all over that place. 2 years later I had moved to Ohio & read about the caverns in national geographic. that was the first I ever heard of it!

That is the kind of vacation I enjoy with the wife; pick a direction and drive as far out of the way as possible on county roads. It is an adventure that way but a specific destination with reservations put you on a schedule a level of anxiety. Vacations are for relaxation and an interstate highway don't belong in one. Good luck and have fun!

have a safe trip............regards....Fred

I want to thank everyone for the comments, encouragement and the ideas. I'm really excited...

I love this forum!

Thanks again

Where in Calif? the weather here in the SF bay area sucks big time right now. If here, make sure you bring a new set of wiper blades assuming your wiper works.

Have fun

The truck is just north of San Diego.

I've looked at the long range weather report & from Tuesday on, Southern CA is drying out with improving weather...

If we go north we'll probably go no further than Morro Bay...Paso Roubles...Bakersfield.

We want to avoid the rain, if necessary we'll go east to AZ.