9,763 Miles in 30 Days

parnet · 10-03-2012, 06:43 PM

63 yrs. old and just came back from a bucket list camping odyssey cross country. Went to the Badlands, Black Hills, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and a great place called the Canyon DeChelly. Wife didn’t want to go, her idea of camping is a Holiday Inn. It was just me and my 135 loaded with a tent, sleeping bag air mattress, IPad, butane burner and my coffee pot. Have a CPO 08 vert bought last Sept. with SMG, sports pkg., the sport seats are great, premium, cold weather and I Drive. A few observations:
Vert or Coupe – It might be a chicks car but weather it was topless driving on the Needles Hgwy. in the Black Hills, going thru the Rockies, cruising down the Oregon Coast or blasting thru Death Valley at a buck ten listening to Deep Purple’s Highway Star it was orgasmic. The only thing missing was a 35 yr. old blond, with stretch marks on her lips, and a big fat dube.
Was leery of getting the SMG but had a ball with the paddle shifters and was glad I had it after a few traffic jams. Had it in sport most the time and stayed off the interstates as much as possible.
Run Flats-Suck changing over soon.
Gas Millage- Don’t know & don’t care, didn’t buy it for that.
IDrive was ok got me mostly in the right direction, what sucks is if you don’t use Hilda’s, Hal’s sister, directions she insists you U turn and go her way. What I did like was hooking up the IPad to it to listen to music and audio books.
The Front Bra-hideous looking but as you can see really effective. Especially on a section of Hgwy. 101 in California that had to be at least 10 miles of the cursed oily “loose gravel” Great driving roads out west except for California. Most of the roads I drove there sucked as did the price of gas. No wonder Arnold had a Hummer.
National Parks –Just unbelievable, each one its own beauty. Seems the National Park Service has their act together at least at that level. Want to cut the deficit, charge all the foreigners $300 to get in, all the places were loaded with them.
Bottom line is that it might have a harsh ride, have a small gas tank, be somewhat noisy with the top up, but boy I love that Friggin Car. Wife asked me if I got it out of my system told her next year its Colorado and Utah. Picture of Buffalo is in Yellowstone. Trying to copy and paste pictures, lets me copy but not paste?

Pig Farmer · 10-03-2012, 07:00 PM

Your story made me smile. You're clearly twice a young as those of us half your age. Keep it up!

ChristianReyess · 10-03-2012, 07:02 PM

That sounds like an amazing trip! I am glad your water pump didn’t go out while going 110 on Death Valley! lol

I would love to take a trip like that with a blone10, and my baby mikah (white 135i coupe) please upload pictures!

IZAGLO · 10-03-2012, 07:23 PM

Nice trip man,,,,,,,i am about 5 years younger than you and indeed this car is a blast...I also have the Step transmission, coming from driving a M/T the last 30 years and it is fun with the paddles..especially the transmission blirp when shifting under heavy acceleration...I do miss driving a M/T though as i do not drive much anymore so going back to M/T my next car...Keep up the cool trips!!!!!!!!!! Ditching the run flats is a GREAT idea, just get a tire with a stiff sidewall so the turn in is crisp and quick....My Yoko ADO8's are even better handling than the RFT and grip like mad in the summer.

mb135is · 10-03-2012, 07:44 PM

Fun post to read. 35 yr. old blonde quote made me lol.

Section147 · 10-03-2012, 07:46 PM

"...blasting thru Death Valley at a buck ten listening to Deep Purple’s Highway Star..." sounds like
something straight out of a Hunter S. Thompson novel. Great story very well told. Thanks!

parnet · 10-03-2012, 08:03 PM

Don't know what I' doing, hope pictures are attached. Same with me always a stick even my kids first cars were M/T. Since I already offended people in California let me just mention that Oregon is a beautiful state but they should put a bounty on the idiots on bikes who hog the road. They are all over the place. Thoughts on best driving song. Any Deep Purple song and Freebird are a couple of mine

Pangloss · 10-03-2012, 08:47 PM

Thanks for the reminders. Been a while since I did this and I need to do it again soon. I had planned a trip up to South Dakota and across to Idaho and the Bitteroots this year, but I had to cancel it. Maybe next year.

Utah is amazing, isn't it? It's hard to believe your own eyes in that state.

P1 · 10-03-2012, 09:25 PM

Great story and great pics. Would love to do that one of these days.

What's a "dube" though?

Bmwbreed · 10-03-2012, 09:52 PM

Great story man. I day I jus wanna drive cross country like that for no reason at all. I'm always on a schedule to get somewhere so don't hav time to stop and b leisure. But this reminds me of the drive I took from north Dakota accross to Montana an then followed thr Rockies down to Nevada. The scenery is beautiful and I saw a few elk and moose in Yellowstone.

bmw1racer · 10-03-2012, 10:32 PM

Awesome.

Hope you have many more Car Treks to come.

Black Flagged · 10-04-2012, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parnet

Don't know what I' doing, hope pictures are attached. Same with me always a stick even my kids first cars were M/T. Since I already offended people in California let me just mention that Oregon is a beautiful state but they should put a bounty on the idiots on bikes who hog the road. They are all over the place. Thoughts on best driving song. Any Deep Purple song and Freebird are a couple of mine

love the eagles or anything from the red hot chili peppers! And no offense taken from here in cali... A nice cigar and a few shots will always makes for a good evening... happy driving fellow addict

Rudolph610 · 10-04-2012, 06:50 AM

Great post! Thanks for sharing!

Isdaako · 10-04-2012, 06:56 AM

So, how full is your bucket?

parnet · 10-04-2012, 02:33 PM

About 1/8 full. Devils Tower was neat. Got some pictures of climbers but didn't see Richard Dryfuss

tuco44 · 10-04-2012, 02:48 PM

Totally great stuff, parnet, a great adventure and stunning pictures.

Solitary trips like that are wonderful, as you can see and do what you want, and move at your own pace. I would like to do something similar, but as I am slightly hearing disabled, I usually need my wife along for "interpretation".

This past March, I did drive from Palm Springs to BC alone, and I did enjoy the freedom of setting my own pace.

doublevanosrc · 10-04-2012, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P1et

What's a "dube" though?

Zombie1 · 10-04-2012, 02:57 PM

Amazing post sir hope to follow in your foot steps one day

pixelblue · 10-04-2012, 03:35 PM

excellent story!

bozola · 10-04-2012, 03:42 PM

I always say that there is a right reason to buy BMW and a wrong reason. This right here is the RIGHT reason... It's the love of the drive. And this drive sounds fantastic!

Dackelone · 10-04-2012, 04:26 PM

What a great adventure you had this last month! Thanks for sharing it with us.

ronssito · 10-04-2012, 09:20 PM

definitely a drug and alcohol theme here

anyhow, thanks for the post

10-03-2012, 06:43 PM	#1
parnet Private 10 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 135is convertable Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Summerville, Sc iTrader: (0)	9,763 Miles in 30 Days 63 yrs. old and just came back from a bucket list camping odyssey cross country. Went to the Badlands, Black Hills, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and a great place called the Canyon DeChelly. Wife didn’t want to go, her idea of camping is a Holiday Inn. It was just me and my 135 loaded with a tent, sleeping bag air mattress, IPad, butane burner and my coffee pot. Have a CPO 08 vert bought last Sept. with SMG, sports pkg., the sport seats are great, premium, cold weather and I Drive. A few observations: Vert or Coupe – It might be a chicks car but weather it was topless driving on the Needles Hgwy. in the Black Hills, going thru the Rockies, cruising down the Oregon Coast or blasting thru Death Valley at a buck ten listening to Deep Purple’s Highway Star it was orgasmic. The only thing missing was a 35 yr. old blond, with stretch marks on her lips, and a big fat dube. Was leery of getting the SMG but had a ball with the paddle shifters and was glad I had it after a few traffic jams. Had it in sport most the time and stayed off the interstates as much as possible. Run Flats-Suck changing over soon. Gas Millage- Don’t know & don’t care, didn’t buy it for that. IDrive was ok got me mostly in the right direction, what sucks is if you don’t use Hilda’s, Hal’s sister, directions she insists you U turn and go her way. What I did like was hooking up the IPad to it to listen to music and audio books. The Front Bra-hideous looking but as you can see really effective. Especially on a section of Hgwy. 101 in California that had to be at least 10 miles of the cursed oily “loose gravel” Great driving roads out west except for California. Most of the roads I drove there sucked as did the price of gas. No wonder Arnold had a Hummer. National Parks –Just unbelievable, each one its own beauty. Seems the National Park Service has their act together at least at that level. Want to cut the deficit, charge all the foreigners $300 to get in, all the places were loaded with them. Bottom line is that it might have a harsh ride, have a small gas tank, be somewhat noisy with the top up, but boy I love that Friggin Car. Wife asked me if I got it out of my system told her next year its Colorado and Utah. Picture of Buffalo is in Yellowstone. Trying to copy and paste pictures, lets me copy but not paste?
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10-03-2012, 07:00 PM	#2
Pig Farmer Major 340 Rep 1,293 Posts Drives: E92M Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	Your story made me smile. You're clearly twice a young as those of us half your age. Keep it up!
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10-03-2012, 07:02 PM	#3
ChristianReyess Private First Class 19 Rep 155 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: United States iTrader: (1)	That sounds like an amazing trip! I am glad your water pump didn’t go out while going 110 on Death Valley! lol I would love to take a trip like that with a blone10, and my baby mikah (white 135i coupe) please upload pictures!
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10-03-2012, 07:23 PM	#4
IZAGLO Mbira 30 Rep 1,011 Posts Drives: Sedonna Red 09 135i SOLD Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Garage cleaning Brake Dust iTrader: (3)	Nice trip man,,,,,,,i am about 5 years younger than you and indeed this car is a blast...I also have the Step transmission, coming from driving a M/T the last 30 years and it is fun with the paddles..especially the transmission blirp when shifting under heavy acceleration...I do miss driving a M/T though as i do not drive much anymore so going back to M/T my next car...Keep up the cool trips!!!!!!!!!! Ditching the run flats is a GREAT idea, just get a tire with a stiff sidewall so the turn in is crisp and quick....My Yoko ADO8's are even better handling than the RFT and grip like mad in the summer. __________________
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10-03-2012, 07:44 PM	#5
mb135is Captain 89 Rep 912 Posts Drives: '13 135is #180/586 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	Fun post to read. 35 yr. old blonde quote made me lol.
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10-03-2012, 07:46 PM	#6
Section147 Good To Be Alive! 13 Rep 617 Posts Drives: Lotsa Stuff Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: The North Coast iTrader: (2) Garage List 2018 Corvette Grand ... [0.00] 2017 VW GTI [0.00] 2017 Mazda CX-3 [0.00]	"...blasting thru Death Valley at a buck ten listening to Deep Purple’s Highway Star..." sounds like something straight out of a Hunter S. Thompson novel. Great story very well told. Thanks!
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10-03-2012, 08:03 PM	#7
parnet Private 10 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 135is convertable Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Summerville, Sc iTrader: (0)	Pictures Don't know what I' doing, hope pictures are attached. Same with me always a stick even my kids first cars were M/T. Since I already offended people in California let me just mention that Oregon is a beautiful state but they should put a bounty on the idiots on bikes who hog the road. They are all over the place. Thoughts on best driving song. Any Deep Purple song and Freebird are a couple of mine Attached Images
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10-03-2012, 08:47 PM	#8
Pangloss Lieutenant 28 Rep 563 Posts Drives: 2012 135i Convertible Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: South Florida iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the reminders. Been a while since I did this and I need to do it again soon. I had planned a trip up to South Dakota and across to Idaho and the Bitteroots this year, but I had to cancel it. Maybe next year. Utah is amazing, isn't it? It's hard to believe your own eyes in that state. __________________ 2012 135i convertible, DCT, Black/Beige, HK, Prem, M sport, no nav.
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10-03-2012, 09:25 PM	#9
P1 Lieutenant General 11593 Rep 11,147 Posts Drives: 2004 3/4 ton Duramax Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: United States iTrader: (1)	Great story and great pics. Would love to do that one of these days. What's a "dube" though?
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10-03-2012, 09:52 PM	#10
Bmwbreed Major 60 Rep 1,198 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW 135i Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Rota Spain (US Forces) iTrader: (3)	Great story man. I day I jus wanna drive cross country like that for no reason at all. I'm always on a schedule to get somewhere so don't hav time to stop and b leisure. But this reminds me of the drive I took from north Dakota accross to Montana an then followed thr Rockies down to Nevada. The scenery is beautiful and I saw a few elk and moose in Yellowstone.
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10-03-2012, 10:32 PM	#11
bmw1racer bimmerphile, technogeek 1000 Rep 3,786 Posts Drives: 2012 E82 6MT Sport Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW 128i Coupe [0.00]	Awesome. Hope you have many more Car Treks to come. __________________
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10-04-2012, 06:50 AM	#13
Rudolph610 New Member 0 Rep 11 Posts Drives: Stock 135i Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pennsylvania iTrader: (0)	Great post! Thanks for sharing!
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10-04-2012, 06:56 AM	#14
Isdaako Private First Class 1 Rep 160 Posts Drives: 128i Convertible Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Devils Tower iTrader: (0)	So, how full is your bucket?
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10-04-2012, 02:33 PM	#15
parnet Private 10 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 135is convertable Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Summerville, Sc iTrader: (0)	About 1/8 full. Devils Tower was neat. Got some pictures of climbers but didn't see Richard Dryfuss
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10-04-2012, 02:48 PM	#16
tuco44 Colonel 645 Rep 2,292 Posts Drives: 2018 340i xDrive M Perf Edtn Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Western Canada iTrader: (0)	Totally great stuff, parnet, a great adventure and stunning pictures. Solitary trips like that are wonderful, as you can see and do what you want, and move at your own pace. I would like to do something similar, but as I am slightly hearing disabled, I usually need my wife along for "interpretation". This past March, I did drive from Palm Springs to BC alone, and I did enjoy the freedom of setting my own pace.
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10-04-2012, 02:57 PM	#18
Zombie1 Colonel 172 Rep 2,347 Posts Drives: BMW 135i 2010 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Island long iTrader: (6)	Amazing post sir hope to follow in your foot steps one day __________________ Mods:-Berkexhaust -alpinaB3flash -CobbAP -Cobb FMIC -ER charge pipe tialQ bov -M3 front sway bar -M3 subframe bushings -M3 front upper and lower control arms -M3 guide rods -M3 rear upper control arms -Mfactory LSD -defiv lockdown kit -TC Kline SA coilovers /camber plates- HP rear toe arms
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10-04-2012, 03:35 PM	#19
pixelblue Colonel 140 Rep 2,234 Posts Drives: the silver bullet Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: northern virginia iTrader: (2) Garage List 2010 135i [8.90]	excellent story! __________________ "I would quote everything pixelblue said, but you've already read it. Take it from someone who's put the 1 through its paces"
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10-04-2012, 03:42 PM	#20
bozola Unloved BMW Addict 86 Rep 1,185 Posts Drives: Z3 Coupe, 3 318Ti Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: King County WA iTrader: (0) Garage List 1999 Z3 Coupe [10.00] 1998 318Ti [0.00] 1998 318Ti [10.00] 2008 128i [9.00]	I always say that there is a right reason to buy BMW and a wrong reason. This right here is the RIGHT reason... It's the love of the drive. And this drive sounds fantastic!
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10-04-2012, 04:26 PM	#21
Dackelone European Editor 10633 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	What a great adventure you had this last month! Thanks for sharing it with us. __________________ Dackel's European Delivery Museum Guide
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10-04-2012, 09:20 PM	#22
ronssito Private 1 Rep 79 Posts Drives: . Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Silicon Valley iTrader: (0)	definitely a drug and alcohol theme here anyhow, thanks for the post
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