Seattle Solvang trip

[richard]

Just one day and I'll be in Seattle for a few days to meet the DROPS roadster fanatics .
Ted Heaton and Steve Carter guide me through US roadster land and arrange several trips for me.
At first I planned to drove (April 26) from Seattle to Solvang to LA and fly back May 4.
Another option is to fly from Seattle to LA and drove from LA to SF and back to Solvang and LA.
If I go for the last option what would be the best route to travel arround.(also have to stop in San Jose to look at a rear axle).
Any recommendations.

[greydog]

Sure.
Given the time you have, I'd take I-5 south to Grants Pass, Oregon. Then cut over to US 101 and go south until you get to hwy 20. Take 20 west to Ft Bragg to catch Hwy 1 south until you get to Lompoc. Then 246 east into Solvang.

Depending on when you come thru Portland, I'd be happy to buy you a beer!
Dan

[GeoffM]

As a tourist who has spent some time in the same area you will be driving, I would recommend the following:
I-5 down to San Jose
17 South out of SJ to Santa Cruise
From Santa Cruise, hook up with Hwy 1 to Monterey ( go check out Laguna Seca)
Hwy 1 South out of Monterey
- Big Sur
- San Simeon (Hurst Mansion)
At Cambria take 46 East to Paso Robles (Hotel Cheval if it's in the budget)
Then south out of Paso Robles on 101 to Solvang.

If you have time you can do a more scenic route between Seattle and San Jose but I would make sure you have enough time to explore the area between SJ and Solvang....beautiful coast, great wine and food.

[fj20spl311]

Hiway 1 is a great idea, but I is closed just north and south of Big Sur due to mud slides.

BIG SUR
Landslide closes Highway 1

Highway 1 has been closed by a new landslide south of Big Sur, Caltrans said Thursday.

The closure is at Alder Creek, about 64 miles south of Carmel. The highway has been closed off and on there since a March 28 mudslide.

"This area of Highway 1 continues to be extremely unstable," Caltrans said in a news release.

Caltrans did not estimate how long the road would be closed after the most recent slide.

Highway 1 remains closed near Rocky Creek north of Big Sur. Caltrans has estimated temporary repairs there would be finished by early May.

[dbrick]

As a tourist who has spent some time in the same area you will be driving, I would recommend the following:
I-5 down to San Jose
17 South out of SJ to Santa Cruise
From Santa Cruise, hook up with Hwy 1 to Monterey ( go check out Laguna Seca)
Hwy 1 South out of Monterey
- Big Sur
- San Simeon (Hurst Mansion)
At Cambria take 46 East to Paso Robles (Hotel Cheval if it's in the budget)
Then south out of Paso Robles on 101 to Solvang.

If you have time you can do a more scenic route between Seattle and San Jose but I would make sure you have enough time to explore the area between SJ and Solvang....beautiful coast, great wine and food.

Being from the East Coast, we were just awed by the ride up to Monterey and back in 2009. I agree with the Hwy1 from Monterey south. There is a beach along the way with hundreds of seals, worth a stop. Hearst Castle was cool, but ate up a good part of the day, but don't miss it if you won't be passing it again. Cambria is very nice, we ate lunch here, it was great, get the Reuben or Pastrami sandwichhttp://www.moonstonebeach.com/ stayed at the Sea Otter Inn right down the road. It's a nice one day drive to Solvang from there, either through Paso Robles or continue on Hwy1. The only place we hit traffic was going through Pismo Beach on a sunny Sunday, weekdays might be better.

[dbrick]

Thttp://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi

his highway information is the latest reported as of Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 20:57 .

SR 1
[IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA]
NO TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ARE REPORTED FOR THIS AREA.

[IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA]
IS CLOSED 6.8 MI NORTH OF THE SAN LUIS OBISPO/MONTEREY CO LINE - DUE TO A
LAND SLIDE - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

IS CLOSED 13.7 MI NORTH OF BIG SUR STATE PARK /AT ROCKY CREEK/
(MONTEREY CO) FROM 0800 HRS TO 2000 HRS 7 DAYS A WEEK THRU 5/15/11 - DUE TO A
SLIP-OUT - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

1-WAY CONTROLLED TRAFFIC 13.7 MI NORTH OF BIG SUR STATE PARK
/AT ROCKY CREEK/ (MONTEREY CO) FROM 2000 HRS EACH NIGHT TO 0800 HRS
EACH MORNING 7 DAYS A WEEK THRU 6/1/11 - DUE TO A SLIP-OUT

1-WAY CONTROLLED TRAFFIC 5 MI SOUTH OF THE JCT OF SR 84
/AT THE PEBBLE BEACH ENTRANCE/ (SAN MATEO CO) 24 HRS A DAY THRU 0001 HRS
ON 6/30/11 - DUE TO CONSTRUCTION

1-WAY CONTROLLED TRAFFIC AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS FROM 2.5 MI SOUTH TO
1.5 MI SOUTH OF PACIFICA (SAN MATEO CO) FROM 1700 HRS EACH NIGHT TO 0700 HRS
EACH MORNING MONDAY THRU FRIDAY THRU 4/22/11 - DUE TO CONSTRUCTION

IS SUBJECT TO LANE REDUCTIONS IN EACH DIRECTION 0.5 MI SOUTH OF LUCIA
(MONTEREY CO) FROM 0700 HRS TO 1700 HRS MONDAY THRU FRIDAY THRU 9/2/11 -
DUE TO CONSTRUCTION

[IN THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA]
NO TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ARE REPORTED FOR THIS AREA.

[Curtis]

I got to meet Richard tonight. Steve brought him by and we went for a ride in my 66. Lots of roadster talk. Makes me want to go to the Netherlands again.

[richard]

After two weeks in the US I am back home.
Still a little tired but it's almost weekend.
I had the best roadster holiday I could wish.
The first five days I stayed in Seattle with Ted Heaton and Steve Carter.
The did a great job in showing me around in the DROPS roadster world of Seattle.
They arranged several meets where I learned a lot more about the roadsters, met a lot of nice roadster people and bought some nice parts (sorry).
I was lucky with weather, four days no rain and one day (last) a little.
We even went to the barbecue from Ross and his parts storage in Canada.
The time there was limited but I could find several nice parts again and kept some money for the rest of the holiday.
We shipped all the parts on Monday (all arrived Steve!!)
The plan was to rent a car, drove to Solvang and visit Michael Spreadbury and Mike Young on the way there.
Unfortunately it was not possible to visit Michael at his shop because of his daily job. He also didn't make it to Solvang so I have to wait one more year to see some of the artwork from him and his Datsun wizard team.
Instead of driving to Solvang Steve booked a flight to LA and rent a car for me.
When I arrived after a two hour flight a drove back to San Jose and picked a race roadster currie 8inch rear axle with disc brakes up.
Went to see the Golden Gate and took some photos there.
The way back I visit Mike Young.
We talked about roasters and he showed me his and his storage in SF.
He was busy packing his car.
We drove Thursday to Solvang.
I had a great time in Solvang.
Found 4 early datsun side emblems 63/64 wich I like more then the fairlady.
Got me some other nice parts also in Solvang.
Crowe from Spellbound cars showed a new special roadster chassis for big engines like a Mustang V8 engine with a 9inch rear axle.
I made more then 300 photos in Solvang.
Met Alvin without his roadster.
Followed a lesson from Keith in adjusting SU's.
Jeff and his family prepared a perfect roadster show with barbecue. Thanks Jeff, Gaby, Mitch (hope I spelled it right) and I liked the beef jerky (bought it everyday).
After Solvang I drove to LA were I visit Dean on Monday morning to buy some parts for my roadsterfriends at home.
Around noon I went to Stan Chernoff's house to see his parts and cars. He had a lot of original parts and a lot of roadster knowledge just like Mike.
In the evening I drove to Vista.
The next morning I visited Les Cannaday at his shop.
He had a perfect restored original BRE race roadster which must be finished in four weeks. There were several other roadsters almost ready from restoring and he he was busy with another original BRE roadster
race car.
Wow that BRE car was really nice car to see.
Round noon I went back for LA to drop the rear axle at the shipping company.
Went to the mall to buy another suitcase to take all the extra parts and shirts with me.
Flew back on Wednesday and arrived here Thursday (no trouble with customs ) round noon at home.
I had a really good holiday. Saw and learned a lot about the roadsters and want to thank everybody and hope to see you again next year.

Richard

[richard]

Spellbound chassis

[Curtis]

.......

Crowe from Spellbound cars showed a new special roadster chassis for big engines like a Mustang V8 engine with a 9inch rear axle.

..........

Richard

Okay, who has info on this? Is this the tube chassis thread? Search didn't get it for me.

[Linda]

You are the ultimate roadster fan, Richard!
Glad your holiday worked well, you really got around!
That's a nice shot of you in front of the cars at Solvang.
Be sure to post a link to your photos when you can.
I'll bet your friends were jealous of your trip....

Curtis, see "tube chassis " thread for info

Linda