This thread is ridiculous. I get that. I attempted to pare it down. I could not.
First off, I am an enormous fan of the travelogue posts that a number of members have posted right here. Particularly the European deliveries. They mix two of my favourite issues: Footage of BMWs and footage of locations I might need been or hope to get to. Everyone knows what BMWs appear to be, but everyone seems to be all the time screaming for “extra pics!” And, BMWs out within the wild….properly, to me, that is simply one of the best.
M2 poster bwhip in Idaho has been a particular inspiration. His images across the Wallowa Mountains within the spring of 2018 have been my first encouonter – they’re simply spectacular. A search of that discussion board brings you to many extra of his journeys. If you have not discovered him, look him up. Simply wow. He manages to place the automobile in all of the images. I wasn’t fairly ready to try this.
Apologies up entrance if there are too many footage (90, that is all they permit). I wished to indicate the automobile, the roads and the encircling surroundings, generally managing to get all three in the identical photograph. You might need to truly click on on an image to get the entire thing as a result of the portrait ones kinda get cropped. The journey was in late September 2019, however life will get in the best way and after spending the final 8 covid months engaged on the yard and home I lastly discovered the time to type and edit the images. A bit of background…….
I’ve been by way of many various 5 collection, however the aim was all the time the M5. Wandering into this discussion board in early 2019 nearly drove me nuts, as a result of I had a 2018 G30 M550 and had put 36,000 miles on it in solely two years. Think about what enjoyable an M5 could be. After 2 check drives of a base & a comp, I settled on a base mannequin. I wished Donington Gray, however needed to drive 120 miles simply to see a DG Comp within the flesh in June.
My destiny was sealed – what a stunning automobile. I often order new automobiles, however thought I simply may be capable to snag a deal on a 2019 and I hoped for an even bigger low cost to assist take up any additional prices getting out of my M550 lease a 12 months early. The 2020’s have been nearly to hit the US.
My native dealership had 10 M5s earlier within the 12 months that simply vanished. The opposite supplier then bought a Donington Comp, however would not budge off MSRP. So I headed to automobiles.com to see have been all of them have been. automobiles.com confirmed 600 M5s within the US. Half have been base fashions. My predominant specs have been Donington, black wheels, Bowers & Wilkins, black leather-based and darkish carbon trim. There have been 2. One in Florida and the opposite in San Diego. I wasn’t capable of put a deal collectively through my native supplier, however SD provided a formidable low cost. So I flew down on a Sunday morning for six bucks utilizing Alaska miles and drove it 1200 miles house. With lease incentives I in the end bought an amazing deal off MSRP with a 36 mo 18,000 mile/yr lease, as a result of I used to be aspiring to drive the crap out of this automobile. I can even get a $0.25/mile refund for each mile below 54,000 all the way down to 45,000. I am proper at 22,500 after 18 months and Covid is telling me I will not hit 54,000. Oh,properly.
Scorching rattling! It is mine. Giddyup.
Day 2 – house and prepared for break in service and black grilles after its first wash.
Then off for Ceramic Professional and tints.
By September it was time for a 3,500 mile highway journey with the little lady to see the grand parks in Utah. (Simply click on out now if you do not have an hour to waste.) And after placing this collectively, I sadly realized there aren’t sufficient automobile pics – solely about 25. However, should you like rocks, you might be in for a deal with………………….
Part 1 Map – Portland to Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park
Day 1: Portland to Ontario, Oregon – 443 miles
Did not actually take pics, simply wished to get out of Oregon. I-5 to Salem, then east throughout central Oregon to Ontario. No freeways after Salem.
So. Many. Bugs. Needed to get it washed.
Day 2: Ontario to Park Metropolis, UT – 450 miles
Peeled off I-84 at Biggs, ID and took US Hwy 30 towards the Snake River. By no means take a freeway if you do not have to.
Headed in to Twin Falls, ID and as much as the Perrine Memorial Bridge. A lot of base jumpers right here. They only run out to the center of the bridge and leap off. Its 486 ft to the Snake River beneath. Somebody mentioned a man died the week earlier than as a result of his chutes did not open. Unhappy.
Shoshone Falls is simply upstream
Park Metropolis is superior. Solely skiied right here as soon as again within the day.
Day 3: Park Metropolis to Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park, UT – 260 miles
Took US Hwy 189 down the east facet of the Wasatch vary. Been listening to about Sundance, Robert Redford’s ski/movie pageant retreat for years, so we turned in. Very good.
Then on to the Brigham Younger College campus in Provo (we attempt to cease in any respect main faculties that we come throughout) and down US Hwy 89 towards Bryce. Very scenic two lane highway meandering amongst mountains and ranches.
Since we felt we have been now on pleasant phrases with Robert Redford, it solely made sense to cease at Butch Cassidy’s boyhood house additional on down Hwy 89.
Ultimately it is a left flip onto Utah Hwy 12 and the panorama radically adjustments. You enter the Colorado Plateau, which covers components of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona and the bottom turns rusty orange. I instructed my spouse that there might be no let up in in what we might be seeing over the following 7 days. (She has no concept. I did, however was nonetheless blown away at each flip).
We hit Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park within the late afternoon. The sky was blue, it was 70 levels and the sunshine was excellent. Nothing can put together you for this:
Day 4: Bryce Canyon – 75 miles
You may drive into Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park and spend a whole day driving 30 miles to the tip of the highway at Rainbow Level after which backtrack and cease in any respect the viewpoints (there are lots of) and hike alongside a number of trails. Had meatloaf for lunch within the outdated Bryce Canyon Lodge after which went again to a number of viewpoints for the second time. The panorama and colours are so completely different than another nationwide park, making it very distinctive and particular. The spikey issues are known as hoodoos.
Part 2 – Utah Grand Circle of Parks
Route is clockwise from Bryce
Day 5: Bryce Canyon to Moab, UT – 270 miles
The drive from Bryce to Moab was one of the gratifying days I’ve ever spent in a automobile. Utah Hwy 12 is to not be missed. It is western terminus begins at Hwy 89 west of Bryce and ends 124 miles later in Torrey, UT on the junction of Utah Hwy 24. It passes by way of among the most distant, various and ruggedly stunning landscapes within the nation. Magnificent mountain ranges, excessive alpine forests and dry rocky boulder fields that appear to go on ceaselessly. Grand Staircase Escalante Nationwide Monument is sort of 2 million acres of among the wildest land within the US.
Think about this on a horse!!!
The highway climbs as excessive as 9,600 ft and the Larb Hole Overlook at 9,200 ft (beneath) has vistas for 50 miles.
After Hwy 12 terminates in Torrey, you head east on Utah Hwy 24 towards Capitol Reef Nationwide Park. Hwy 24 ups its sport and the views truly turn into much more gorgeous. Its nothing however spectacular rocks. Mile after mile.
At 11 miles you’ll be able to flip into Capitol Reef Nationwide Park. A scenic drive will take you out and again amongst gorgeous vistas and rock formations. The colour palette is not going to disappoint.
Leaving Capitol Reef you head east to Hanksville after which a breathtakingly dry stretch of Hwy 24 northeast till you attain I-70. 35 miles solely and you then head south on US Hwy 191 towards Moab. Site visitors noticeably will increase as Moab is an especially in style vacation spot leaping off level for Arches and Canyonlands Nationwide Parks, off highway vehicling and white water rafting.
Pulled into Arches Nationwide Park round 4 PM and bought spectacular mild on the sandstone fins. Did not see any arches that day. Did not care. These have been astonishing.
Day 6: Arches and Canyonlands Nationwide Parks – 160 miles
Arches NP is only a few miles north of Moab. It’s insanely in style. The excellent news is that it is extremely unfold out and there are lots of, many sandstone towers and arches to have a look at or hike to. September is superior, weatherwise. I can not think about July or August when it may well recover from 100 levels. A pal simply returned from a September trailer journey. She mentioned they needed to shut the park entrance at 10am due to the crowds.
Been killing plenty of bugs. Man….actually, actually need a wash. It is killing me.
Balanced Rock. You may stroll all the best way round it.
The Home windows space very fashionable with insufficient parking. That is the North Window.
Generally you’re feeling the partitions closing in (heading to Sand Dune Arch)
Sand Dune Arch
Extra rocks
Canyonlands Nationwide Park is simply up the highway a couple of extra miles and on the west facet of the freeway from Arches. Headed there after lunch. The park is an unlimited wilderness excessive within the heart of the Colorado Plateau. You climb to six,000 ft to a plateau earlier than you attain the Island within the Sky Customer Heart after 23 miles. On the best way in, you cross Useless Horse Level State Park, well-known for the place Thelma & Louise met their demise.
Up on the plateau
How would you wish to sqeeze by on the surface of this highway?
Hey! There goes a Jeep! Not less than he could be on the within. Jesus, Joseph and Mary…..
From the Customer Heart its 12 miles to the tip of the highway. The viewpoints all simply drop away 1500 ft straight down. Mesa Arch is a couple of 3/4 mile hike in. Wonderful.
Inexperienced River Overlook. So dry. So desolate.
Again to Moab for dinner and a really deserved automobile wash. It took plenty of quarters.
Day 7: Moab, UT to Web page, UT – 275 miles
This was one of many days I used to be most trying ahead to. About to see issues I’ve solely seen in films or magazines my complete life. Heading south on US Hwy 191 it does not take lengthy earlier than you drive previous the Wilson Arch – simply sitting there on the facet of the highway.
A freebie.
You cross one other entrance to The Needles space of Canyonlands. A good distance in – excellent for an additional journey. South of Bluff we headed west on US Hwy 163 for one of the iconic (IMHO) stretches of highway within the US. That is film nation, the place a whole lot of Westerns have been made.
And, then, there it’s. A merely magnificent vista that I have been seeing footage of since I used to be little. It additionally occurs to be the place Forrest Gump gave up on his run throughout America. It is now known as Forest Gump Level.
After which, only a few miles additional is Monument Valley. Many, many cowboy films filmed in right here. John Wayne anybody? Clint Eastwood additionally filmed some memorable scenes right here for the Eiger Sanction.
There’s a gravel highway that runs about 23 miles to John Ford level, however I actually had no want to take a model new M5 there. Not less than not this journey.
From Monument Valley it is simply 125 miles to Web page, UT. Web page is right here due to Glen Canyon Dam and all of the scenic wonders that Lake Powell has to supply. Solely had time for the customer heart and film on the dam.
Glen Canyon Dam Bridge – they needed to construct it first, in any other case it was a 200 mile drive simply to get to the opposite facet of the river throughout development.
Glen Canyon Dam – 710 ft excessive, concrete arch development
Day 8: Web page, UT to Zion Nationwide Park – 245 miles
Man. What a day this was. Proper out of the gate on US Hwy 89 is Horseshoe Bend on the Colorado River. Sort of a protracted dry hike over a sandy hill to get to the point of view, however price it.
Bitter Springs is the flip off to run again north on US Hwy 89A to go to the Grand Canyon. However only a few miles in, the highway crosses the Colorado at Marble Canyon.
You cruise below the Vermillion Cliffs Nationwide Monument for about 25 miles – a large dry plain beneath an enormous escarpment. You may simply make out the highway within the heart of the photograph. We got here from the far horizon.
You then climb up into the hills and head south on Utah Hwy 67 at Jacob Lake. You journey 45 miles by way of spectacular forests and grassy plains and attain the tip of the highway on the North Rim of Grand Canyon Nationwide Park.
Had lunch on the lodge peering by way of a large window that neglected the canyon.
A view of the vastness
Leaving the North Rim
Obtained again on the highway once more towards Kanab, UT after a pair hours of exploring and 95 miles later we flip west on Utah Hwy 9 off of Hwy 89 at Mt. Caramel Junction, heading to Zion Nationwide Park. The panorama dramatically adjustments once more on the East Entrance. You recognize you are actually heading into some really hallowed lands. You actually do not know the place to look and there may be just about no place to park and take within the views.
So that you simply drive, hoping for somewhat sliver of shoulder to drag off and seize an image.
Checkerboard Mesa
Round each nook is one thing new and unbelievable.
Eventualy you drive into the Zion-Mt Carmel Tunnel (1.1 miles by way of the rock) and you then come out into the actually cool stuff.
The Tunnel has a number of home windows for mild and air flow.
Feeling small – may have to click on these pics
Decamped to Springdale for the evening. Springdale is a pleasant little city simply south of the principle Zion entrance. Tons of eating places and lodgings. There’s a free shuttle system that runs a number of miles up and down the principle drag.
Day 9: Zion Nationwide Park – Zero Miles
Hopped the shuttle to the north finish of city. Zion is car-free from March to November, so that you get on a second shuttle that travels up and down a 12 mile route with many locations to get on and off. Not ultimate if you wish to randomly cease and see one thing, which is just about ALL THE TIME as a result of Zion is gorgeous! I actually wanted to spend extra time climbing right here in my youth.
It is also very, very crowded……
No automobile pics in the present day
Dry waterfall
Alongside the Virgin River
Court docket of the Patriarchs
Extra
Alpenglow
Day 10: Zion NP to Ely, NV – 320 Miles
Headed west to catch I-15 north and ran as much as the Kolb Canyons entrance to North Zion. A really scenic 5 mile highway takes you previous a number of overlooks. It was mid-morning and the sunshine was fabulous.
Again to I-15 and as much as Cedar Metropolis. Grabbed some Subway sammiches, turned east on Utah Hwy 14 and headed to Cedar Breaks Nationwide Monument. Extra gorgeous surroundings, as Cedar Breaks is a poor man’s Bryce Canyon, with related hoodoos and shade. The elevation of the rim is over 10,000 ft.
Good spot for a Subway lunch. Not a soul round.
Aspens are my all-time favorites
Then it is again all the way down to I-15 and as much as Beaver, UT. West onto Utah Hwy 21 takes you thru among the most desolate and lonely land within the nation. The gorgeous fantastic thing about the final seven days is ripped away to a panorama of flat, dry valley flooring adopted by brief climbs over mountain ranges, then again down to a different flat, dry valley flooring. Over and again and again. Wash, rinse, repeat. I completely liked it. There have been just about no automobiles in both path and straight stretches that have been 20 miles with no flip. Cresting a summit would unfold the highway in entrance to the horizon, because it disappeared up into one other mountain cross.
I used to be capable of nab a private land velocity document that had been set in my 1993 Mazda MX6 on the best way to Solar Valley 26 years in the past, though I held it right here for less than 5 seconds.
Wanting again to the final vary, fifteen miles in arrears.
As we headed towards US Hwy 50 (which Life Journal known as the Lonliest Freeway in America in 1986) we handed the doorway to Nice Basin Nationwide Park. Though it was late within the day, we turned in, after all. 20 miles later we have been at 10,000 ft trying as much as Wheeler Peak at over 13,000 ft. The aspens and the autumn colours have been properly price it
Part 3 – Coming House
Day 11: Ely, NV to Winnemucca, NV – 272 miles
Principally dry and desolate, once more. No stops for sightseeing. No footage. No sights.
Day 12: Winnemucca, NV to Redmond, Oregon – 387 miles
Obtained nabbed by a state trooper from 2 miles away south of Burns junction. Going 81 in a 65. “Why have been you driving so quick?” As if he has to ask. Shit.
Day 13: Redmond, OR to Portland, OR – 188 miles
Leisurely drive house. The Santiam Cross over the Cascades on Hwy 22 is a favourite drive. A lot of shade in September because the leaves change.
Some Ultimate Ideas:
I’ve pushed almost 900,000 miles in my life. This 3,500 miles was completely among the finest. We attempt to take no less than one 2,500 mile highway journey a 12 months and a number of other every day journeys of 250 to 300 miles are fairly widespread. Nevertheless, this automobile and that surroundings and having my spouse beside me in her customary seat, turned this journey into an unbelievable reminiscence. The automobile perfomed flawlessly. It is an excellent cruiser, canyon carver and an absolute brute if you need it to be.
My aim is to some day step out of my automobile in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It’s going to take 4,000 miles to get there and a unique 4,000 miles to get house. That is a month on the highway at solely 300 miles/day. Cannot wait.
Congratulations should you made it this far. Solution to grasp in there. And, once more, I am sorry. However it could not be helped. Not less than 1 / 4 of the pics had an M5 in them. So, there’s that. I not noted 85% of the remainder of the images (700). However, you bought all those of the automobile.
Final edited by snowbimmer; As we speak at 05:38 PM..
