Okay, so today me and the fiance hop in the car and head out to Eureka Springs to go get our marriage license. Its 163 miles one way and Im hades bent on seeing just how far the Focus can go on one tank of gas on the highway. So other than just driving somewhat normally no big plans.
Well I get into southern Missouri and get on state road 86. OH MY FREAKIN LORD!!!!!!!! Folks, I have been on some serious roads across this country and even overseas. My favorite up to today had been a few roads in Tennessee, but Im telling you now OH WHAT A RUSH!!! this road is. After you get past Table Rock Lake you turn on to this road that is state road 86 that becomes something else then becomes highway 23 into Eureka Spring and it is the MOST glorious 10 - 15 miles of in your face, seat of your pants, suspension tweaking, rubber burning twisties I have EVER saw. LORD HAVE MERCY!! IT WAS LOADS OF FUN!!!!!
The trip towards Eureka Springs heading south bound I was strapped behind three mini-vans that I was convinced their tranny had broke and couldnt do more than first gear. I was LIVID. We were slowly taking these turns I was nearly screaming in horror that such a fine road was being totally wasted on such pond scum transportation as those mini-vans.
Finally as we went past Table Rock I had just enough straight away to drop the gears and scream past them, but I ultimately was only able to enjoy just a few miles of the road.
Well we get into Eureka Springs, stop by the bed and breakfast we having the wedding at, then get our marriage license, so some shopping and pile back into the car to head back. We get out of town and back onto the twisty road and Im stuck behind some bohemoth of a diesel truck and figure I might as well just settle in and eek down the road. THEN, THEN it turns off the road and there is nary a car ahead me. BAM, I take off. For about 15 of the most wonderful miles I have every driven I was in heaven. I dont recall ever dropping below 50 mph. There litterally isnt a 1/4 mile stretch on this road that is straight. I had a Taurus behind me when I took off that apparently wanted to keep up with me. He should have known better as I lost sight of him after about the second turn.
When the ride was over I looked over at my fiance with a grin on my face that was bigger than the Focus wheel base. All she could say is "You sooo deserve a beating". Mission accomplished.
The down side now is Ive got to clean her seat out, and probably change out the passenger side door panel because it has huge hand grip marks in the door handle. It was worth it though. I havent had an opportunity to test my driving skills like that in quite some time. She is so going in another car when we go back to get married, LOL.
I sure am glad I had the shift controller cause it made it a thrill of a ride. Several spots where I was able to slap it to 2nd and turn about 3000 - 3500 rpm and just pour into the turns and accelerate very nicely out of them. I am so going to have such wonderful dreams about that stretch of highway. I wish I had had a video camcorder mounted on the dash so I could re-live it a few times.
I was certain that my exploits through the twisties was going to blow my mileage clean out of the water with he rpm's I was turning in places, but I get back with over 360 miles on the trip odometer and I still got a 1/4 tank of gas left. Geesh, Im wanting to fill it back up and go back tonight.
Well there ya have it, my fantastic voyage.
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
Yes there are some jewels out there.
It's fun when you find a piece of road that you don't have to go too far over the speed limit to really enjoy it.
My favourite is still I15 between Helena and Great Falls Montana.
Only problem is that the speed limit is exceded much of the time.
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A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams...John Barrymore
I just had another thought about this. The Focus is what makes many of these drives a pleasure. I'm still surprised by this little car's capabilities when I get back in to it after having spent time in the various rental vehicles that I'm stuck in when travelling.
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A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams...John Barrymore
Can you find the stretch on maps.google.com or globexplorer.com ?
Well Im gonna try. The problem is that mapquest didnt put me over this road. In fact it had me routed down through Tulsa then heading to AR then north to Eureka Springs and something like 200 miles to get there. From all the storm chasing I have done in Kansas, Missouri and so forth I knew there had to be a shorter way.
When I got home before the trip I pulled it up on Delorme and sure enough I was able to shave some 40 miles off the trip and it routed me through Missouri then down south to Eureka Springs.
I'll see if I can save that map and post it up with details on that road.
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
Now, if you look at the map you will see Roaring River State Park. Follow the road that goes to Chain-O-Lakes. See where its turns from a east bound direction and turns nearly 90 degrees south bound? Thats the beginning of that road. It turns into highway 23 as you cross into Arkansas heading to Eureka Springs. The map doesnt do those twisties justice. Looking at the map though it appears closer to 10 miles than 15. All I know it was fun and long enough that you just smiled at the end.
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
And I take it you are still getting married after she soiled herself.
I've got Chelly trained and she just knows I'll push it on the twisties. But she does the same thing so we get along that way...
There is also Rt9 or 6 in Pensilvania or near buy. Its a mountain run. Twisty up and twisty down. I had people coming in the opposite dirrection honking at me because of my speed and how I was takign the corners. I had about 6 foci in front and 1 behind me. I drove really slow to allow those in front to get some distance than I plow through soem corners and slow down to make sure the one behind me made it through. I had loads of fun and didn't scare me passenger too bad.
And I take it you are still getting married after she soiled herself.
Yeah, I told her she could ride out there with her parents next time. I'll lead them to the twisties but then they are on their own. Hope they bring a map! I wonder if I could rent a GTO for a day or two?
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
The back end of Elmwood Rd. in Pownal, used to be nicely paved and was loads of fun to drive, now however, it's a bit bumpy and makes for a very jittery ride with the SVT suspension over it.
The road going from Plymouth, WI to Kiel WI is nice too. Some nice fast curves, some awesome long straights with "belly hills". Oddly enough it goes right past Elkhart Lake (Road America, anyone?)
