Chris Obert
autocrosser, X driver
On May 22 2009, 25 Fiat America Club members & guests gathered at the Golden Gate Bridge in anticipation of a three day approximately 1,000 mile journey covering Northern California back roads. We had 6 X1/9s, one BMW, one Fiat Barchetta, one Acura, two Yugos, one Honda, two 124s, one 131, and an Alfa Spider. Of the 16,000 miles we were collectively prepared for, one of the 124s suffered from a failed rebuilt air flow meter while crossing the bridge, and one of the Xs recently resurrected from an engine fire suffered from a collapsed fuel tank, but was able to continue.
We went north on Highway 1 from the Marin coastline all the way to just north of Westport after stopping for a wonderful box lunch that was picked up in Gualala. We took one of our favorite roads, Branscomb Road, east from the coast and ended our day’s drive just west of 101 in Redway at the Brass Rail Steakhouse & Motel. While the rooms had some room for improvement, our banquet was good. At least after parking lot margaritas served from the roof of an X1/9, the rooms and food seemed OK! 283.2 miles under us on the first day.
The next morning we were up too early for our pot luck breakfast, everyone left full. We got to drive thru the Giant Redwood forests just after 7 am and recover in the Rockefeller Forest before heading out to the Lost Coast & Mattole Point, the most western point in the continental USA. There 25 blue sweat shirted crazies took a group shot on the rugged coast’s great beach, it looked like a troop of smurfs had attacked the wild country! After driving on the most desolate paved coastal roads of California, we returned to eat lunch at the Samoa Cookhouse for all we could eat fried chicken with all the trimmings, just like Grandma used to make. We were accompanied by a local Mirafiori.com member, Dan Wilson.
Stuffed and back into our cars we said goodbye to the coast, Dan, and occasional fog, and drove eastward to one of this writer’s favorite canyon drives, the Klamath River Valley. About 150 miles of sweeping turns & river vistas later we turned south on what is probably one of the best no center line roads in Northern California, Scott River Road. We ended our day in the little town of Etna where we had more than half of the rooms at the only hotel in town, and all of the rooms at the only B&B. I can’t believe I was hungry again, but we had all you could eat dinner at the local bar where the owner cooks up a mean BBQ and we were accompanied by local Mirafiori.com & annual OR event regulars, Mike & Allison Pope. Lots of participants were ready to continue the party afterwards, and we ended up back at the B&B drinking, bench racing, and telling tall stories until late. 313 miles and a wonderful day, my arms were tired.
Many members were so impressed by the B&B that they are planning on going back in the fall just to spend a few days. I know how I will spend my days, and it will be exploring local paved roads, one of them Scott River!
Up again early for an all you could eat breakfast at the local greasy spoon before heading south thru the Trinity Alps. We ran out of small roads & time south of Redding, and took 5 to our exit at Corning where we headed southwest for a deli sandwich lunch at beautiful Black Butte Lake observation point. After that, a quick run down the western side of the Central Valley to Highway 20, where my braking leg was tiring. Then it’s back into the populated part of the state where we ended our tour at another eatery in Napa where we were joined by Kelly & Laverne Dicker of Wine Country Motors for a huge banquet where I could not even finish the food on my plate. 391 miles this third day, wow! That’s almost the 1,000 mile goal. When I add in my 95 miles to the start & my 111 miles home, that’s 1,195 miles in my X in three days.
A wonderful way to spend a three day weekend!
Pictures from folks on the tour can be viewed at
http://picasaweb.google.com/itsjasonyee/FiatMille?authkey=Gv1sRgCJr4rvXLvauBUQ&feat=email#
http://picasaweb.google.com/peter2280/2009_Fiat_Mille?authkey=Gv1sRgCIr589LDwKb0Tg&feat=email#
http://picasaweb.google.com/NaturesPalettes/FiatMille_May22242009?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-JvpKJmceCXw#
http://www.flickr.com/photos/k-dj/sets/72157618766587559/show/
http://picasaweb.google.com/POD1739/FiatMille2009?feat=email#
We went north on Highway 1 from the Marin coastline all the way to just north of Westport after stopping for a wonderful box lunch that was picked up in Gualala. We took one of our favorite roads, Branscomb Road, east from the coast and ended our day’s drive just west of 101 in Redway at the Brass Rail Steakhouse & Motel. While the rooms had some room for improvement, our banquet was good. At least after parking lot margaritas served from the roof of an X1/9, the rooms and food seemed OK! 283.2 miles under us on the first day.
The next morning we were up too early for our pot luck breakfast, everyone left full. We got to drive thru the Giant Redwood forests just after 7 am and recover in the Rockefeller Forest before heading out to the Lost Coast & Mattole Point, the most western point in the continental USA. There 25 blue sweat shirted crazies took a group shot on the rugged coast’s great beach, it looked like a troop of smurfs had attacked the wild country! After driving on the most desolate paved coastal roads of California, we returned to eat lunch at the Samoa Cookhouse for all we could eat fried chicken with all the trimmings, just like Grandma used to make. We were accompanied by a local Mirafiori.com member, Dan Wilson.
Stuffed and back into our cars we said goodbye to the coast, Dan, and occasional fog, and drove eastward to one of this writer’s favorite canyon drives, the Klamath River Valley. About 150 miles of sweeping turns & river vistas later we turned south on what is probably one of the best no center line roads in Northern California, Scott River Road. We ended our day in the little town of Etna where we had more than half of the rooms at the only hotel in town, and all of the rooms at the only B&B. I can’t believe I was hungry again, but we had all you could eat dinner at the local bar where the owner cooks up a mean BBQ and we were accompanied by local Mirafiori.com & annual OR event regulars, Mike & Allison Pope. Lots of participants were ready to continue the party afterwards, and we ended up back at the B&B drinking, bench racing, and telling tall stories until late. 313 miles and a wonderful day, my arms were tired.
Many members were so impressed by the B&B that they are planning on going back in the fall just to spend a few days. I know how I will spend my days, and it will be exploring local paved roads, one of them Scott River!
Up again early for an all you could eat breakfast at the local greasy spoon before heading south thru the Trinity Alps. We ran out of small roads & time south of Redding, and took 5 to our exit at Corning where we headed southwest for a deli sandwich lunch at beautiful Black Butte Lake observation point. After that, a quick run down the western side of the Central Valley to Highway 20, where my braking leg was tiring. Then it’s back into the populated part of the state where we ended our tour at another eatery in Napa where we were joined by Kelly & Laverne Dicker of Wine Country Motors for a huge banquet where I could not even finish the food on my plate. 391 miles this third day, wow! That’s almost the 1,000 mile goal. When I add in my 95 miles to the start & my 111 miles home, that’s 1,195 miles in my X in three days.
A wonderful way to spend a three day weekend!
Pictures from folks on the tour can be viewed at
http://picasaweb.google.com/itsjasonyee/FiatMille?authkey=Gv1sRgCJr4rvXLvauBUQ&feat=email#
http://picasaweb.google.com/peter2280/2009_Fiat_Mille?authkey=Gv1sRgCIr589LDwKb0Tg&feat=email#
http://picasaweb.google.com/NaturesPalettes/FiatMille_May22242009?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-JvpKJmceCXw#
http://www.flickr.com/photos/k-dj/sets/72157618766587559/show/
http://picasaweb.google.com/POD1739/FiatMille2009?feat=email#