Sometimes a driving adventure presents itself when you least expect it. I had just finished up a walk-through at a rental home in Waddell, Arizona on Thursday afternoon for a cousin who’s moving to the area from Pennsylvania. Pulling out of the subdivision on Olive Avenue, I looked to the west and saw the 4,000-foot White Tank Mountains in the distance. I had two hours to kill until meeting a couple of friends for dinner, so I decided to see where that road would take me. (See red pin at left on the below map)
The four-laner went down to two lanes a mile or two before I approached the entry gate at White Tank Regional Park. Entry was $6 and I saw a sign stating “Ice Cold Water $1,” so I grabbed one of those as well from the nice senior couple that was working the booth. “I’m a first timer,” I said, “What is there to do in here?” The man told me that the park has 28 miles of hiking trails. I glanced down at the ILX external temp readout and noticed that it indicated 108 degrees, then responded, “Hiking? Not on a day like today!” He just shook his head and rolled his eyes, “You’d be surprised. We have a ton of locals out there right now.”
I headed on into the 30,000-acre park and proceeded along the winding, two-lane paved road that had dips and curves giving my suspension a workout. The landscape was dotted with hundreds of towering Saguaro cacti and a few jackrabbits scampered across my path as I worked my way through the park at 25 to 35 miles per hour. The road went 3 miles along the base of the mountains until it hit a roundabout, where I looped back. I took a side loop on the return trip via Ford Canyon Rd which became Waterfall Road. Despite the temperatures, I did take the opportunity to hike around long enough to get a few stray cactus needles attached to my socks. Ouch.
White Tank is definitely a place I’ll be visiting again for some hikes when the weather cools off. It’ll make a nice backdrop for some automotive photography, too. Glad I was able to find it!
These massive Saguaro cacti are probably centuries old. According to the National Park Service, the Saguaro must mature to 100 years in age before it even begins to grow an “arm”!
You all know I’m big on dates & anniversaries. Yesterday, June 12, was the 2-year anniversary of the day I took ownership of the ILX from John Watts of Acura’s Digital Marketing team.
The car had just 16 miles on it. It’s been a fun ride so far!
Posted in ILX, Road Trip on June 11, 2014 by tysonhugie
Odometer (Legend): 529,755
Odometer (ILX): 84,086
Leg Distance: 1,307 Miles
On Sunday morning, I slid open the window of room 418 in the historic Pollard Hotel in Red Lodge, Montana around 6:15 a.m. Fresh rains had left moisture on everything in sight, and the smell was better than any “spring rain” scented laundry detergent has ever been able to duplicate. This was the real deal.
Still digesting Saturday night’s steak dinners and anxious to hit the highway, we opted out of the complimentary sit-down breakfast in the lobby and fired up the ILX for our next day on the road. Multiple route choices presented themselves, but ultimately we decided to take Highway 78 to the northwest which would link us to Interstate 90 and through Bozeman, Montana. The 49 miles between Red Lodge and Columbus passed through rolling green hills with scattered farms throughout. Every home had a red barn in the backyard.
Dad took over the wheel for the next 97 westward miles to Bozeman, then the next 80 miles to West Yellowstone via Highway 191. We admired the wildlife and the scenery as we paralleled the Gallatin River.
By the time we arrived in West Yellowstone, we’d worked up an appetite (you know, from all that sitting in the car). Outpost Restaurant had opened for lunch just 15 minutes prior, so we stepped through the antler-lined entryway and grabbed a table. Our server started reciting the day’s specials: “First of all, we have a homemade meatloaf with mashed potatoes and steamed veggies, and then we have baked chicken and…” I knew already what my dad would be ordering. We are both suckers for meatloaf. It was well worth the $9.99.
Despite having seen a bear in Yellowstone Park the day prior, we wanted to see a little more wildlife before heading back home, so we pulled off Highway 20 just west of Rexburg, Idaho and visited a drive-through wildlife park called “Bear World.” Seriously. $16 each for adult entry gets you a ~25 minute driving tour that loops through a (secured / fenced) park that’s home to 45 bears as well as numerous elk, deer, and other critters. As the attendant swung the gate open for us, we were instructed: “Windows rolled up at all times. Speed limit is 3-5 miles per hour. Do not stop or back up.” Dad and I did oblige, mostly. It was unreal to see a brown bear come waddling out of a watering hole and shake his fur off, then mosey right alongside the ILX as if we weren’t even there.
In Idaho Falls, I had dad take the wheel and we sailed southward at 75 miles per hour toward the Utah state line. The icing on the cake for this day’s drive was when my dad introduced me to a new (to me) stretch of road called Weston Canyon. It’s known as Highway 36 and located in southeastern Idaho. The two-laner winds past two reservoirs: Deep Creek and Weston Reservoir, both nestled in lush green valleys and surrounded by scattered farms.
I settled in for the night in Salt Lake City, Utah in anticipation of my trip’s long 10-hour remaining stretch for the following day. The next morning, I was up & out the door by 6:30 in the morning and headed southbound on Interstate 15 through southern Utah, Las Vegas, Nevada, and then on in through northwestern Arizona and dropping down into Phoenix. By the time I got home, the temperature had crept up to 110 degrees. I wished I was back at Beartooth Pass breathing the fresh, cool mountain air, but feeling satisfied at another trip checked off the bucket list!
Here are the rest of the pictures from this third leg of one of my biggest trips of the summer so far. Here is our departure from Red Lodge with drops of water on the car and a crisp, refreshing breeze in the air.
Columbus, Montana is the only place I’ve ever seen 85.5 octane fuel offered.
The following picture is for blog reader Carlos in Florida, who alerted me to the fact recently that this week is the 30th anniversary of the world premiere of Ghostbusters in 1984. I noticed the “Ellen” movie theater in Bozeman, Montana was hosting a Ghostbusters movie trivia night. Carlos, how well would you have done in the competition?
We hit road construction for a few miles on U.S. 191 southbound between Bozeman, and West Yellowstone, MT.
Soon, we arrived in West Yellowstone and got rained on by just a few sprinkles.
Meatloaf at the Outpost Restaurant! Highly recommended. Half-eaten, sorry.
Photos from Bear World, between Rexburg and Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Check out the lengthy Park Rules and Guidelines. “Always give animals the right-of-way!”
Sage advice.
First elk sighting.
Getting access to the bear zone.
And there he goes. Right off the bat, there was a brown bear (fresh out of a nearby pond) sauntering across our path.
Our last diversion for the day: Weston Canyon in southern Idaho.
Great roads – we saw a few motorcyclists out this way.
Selfie! From the passenger seat, too — not a place I’m sitting very often.
Check out this fuel economy over the 750 miles from Cooke City, Montana to northern Utah! All those 45-65 mph roads really translated into some great MPGs.
In central Utah, speed limits are 80 for most of the time so I set the cruise control accordingly.
Quick stop in southern Utah – back in red rock country.
Onward into Nevada.
And home sweet home! Thank you all for being a part of this trip.
Posted in ILX, Road Trip on June 10, 2014 by tysonhugie
Odometer (Legend): 529,752
Odometer (ILX): 84,031
Leg Distance: 229 Miles
“Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam, where the deer and the antelope play.” Surely the 1873 poem “Home on the Range” was written about Yellowstone National Park! In fact, it happens to have been written just one year after then-U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant named that 3,500-square-mile area as the country’s first national park. In the couple hundred miles driven in my Acura ILX on Saturday, my dad and I saw hundreds of the massive animals for which the park has become famous.
Saturday was the long-awaited day for our trip on the Beartooth Highway. By the time the morning sun had peeked over the eastern horizon, my dad and I had already made our way to Jackson, Wyoming’s best breakfast joint: The Bunnery. Known for its “OSM” (oat, sunflower, and millet) bread, the Bunnery serves up French toast that ranks as one of my favorite breakfast dishes.
Highway 89 beckoned as we set our sights on the towering Rocky Mountains. Grand Teton, at 13,700 feet, stays snow-capped and glacier-covered for the entire year. There are half a dozen or so turnouts where people can park alongside the road and admire the mountain range.
We paid our $25 entry to Grand Teton National Park (which also covered us for Yellowstone) and continued on. Though the speed limit through much of the parks is only 35 mph, the slower pace allows for more appreciation of the scenery all around. The winding two-lane road travels through a variety of landscapes – from densely wooded and immensely tall lodgepole pine forests, to grassy rolling hills, past rivers and lakes and always in sight of those magnificent mountains. My dad was on wildlife watch. “Be Bear Aware,” advised the roadside signs. We did see a bear at one point – and so did dozens of other visitors who had pulled off the road and set up their tripods for the occasion.
Yellowstone is a famous place for studying geologic activity. Today, over 3 million people visit the park each year. Their first destination is usually Old Faithful, a famous geyser which erupts every 91 minutes. Yellowstone even also has an active volcano called the Yellowstone Caldera. We visited Lower Falls, at 308 feet, which are the tallest falls in the park. The sound of the water crashing down was loud even from a distance!
After probably driving within the park for 100 miles, we finally made our exit out the northeast entrance. The town of Silver City wasn’t more than just a few buildings, but within 4 miles we’d arrived in a settlement nestled at the base of the peaks in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness: Cooke City. My dad is always intrigued with places like Cooke City and asks: “What do people do here?” Due to seasonal road closures, the city is essentially isolated for the better part of a year. No doubt the hot place in town was Beartooth Café, where we ordered burgers and talked with the locals about what it’s like to live in such a rugged place.
Beartooth Highway first opened on June 14, 1936 after a painstaking construction effort. Its lesser-known name is U.S. Route 212. From Cooke City, we’d be dipping back into northern Wyoming for a stretch, then re-entering Montana. I put on my sunglasses, buckled up, and gripped the steering wheel tightly. We were ready. We were about to experience a road that’s a favorite of motorcyclists and sports car enthusiasts from all over. Over the course of one specific 12-mile stretch, we rose about 3,000 feet in elevation. At the summit, Beartooth Pass, the elevation tops out at a whopping 10,947 feet. Weather conditions are volatile at best – with severe thunderstorms, heavy winds, and snowstorms common – even during the summer! We lucked out and didn’t encounter any of that. Annual road closures take effect from mid-October until Memorial Day.
I pulled the ILX off the road for several breathtaking photo-ops. Fresh snow runoff had created dozens of waterfalls all around us. The higher in elevation we got, the higher the snow drifts alongside the road – sometimes towering above us at 3 or 4 times the height of the car. I cannot imagine what a chore it must have been for the snowplows to first blaze their way through the pass a couple of weeks ago for the first time this year. While temperatures only dipped as low as the mid-40’s Fahrenheit, it would have still been a very chilly ride for the few motorcyclists we saw along the way. Each turn presented a new dramatic vista. Clear mountain air allowed us to see many many miles into the distance.
At one point we pulled over and watched from a distance as some daredevil skiers rocket down the hillside on what appeared to be a totally vertical slope. We also were able to see “the” Bear’s Tooth for which the road was named. From there, it was a white-knuckle descent for about the next 20 miles. Switchbacks had been blazed through the hillside but it was hard to believe just how technical the road was about to get. Some of the hairpin curves made almost complete circles as we made the 6-8% grades. I used my 6-speed manual transmission to brake the car rather than ‘riding’ the brakes down the grade.
After what seemed like a forever-long descent, we finally found ourselves at ground level and continued the remaining 15 or so miles into the town of Red Lodge. Our hotel was the historic Pollard Hotel on Broadway. It was the first brick structure in the town, dating back to 1893. The Pollard (and its associated ‘friendly ghosts’ that haunt it) has been a long-time icon in the valley. There’s an entire room located at the southeast corner called the “history room” – chock full of pictures and newspaper articles related to The Pollard’s past. That room, incidentally, was at one time the town’s post office.
Dad and I enjoyed the chance to stretch our legs and wander around the historic downtown district. An old movie theatre had been converted into a gigantic candy store. We ate dinner at Bridge Creek Restaurant just a few blocks from our hotel, then called it a night, leaving the hotel room window open and enjoying the breeze.
Here are the rest of the pictures and a short video from this segment of the trip! Come back tomorrow for Part III!
“Million Dollar Cowboy Bar” in Jackson, Wyoming – dating back to 1937. I asked the hostess at the gift shop why it was called the Million Dollar Bar, and she told me that it had cost that much to build or renovate.
Antler arch at the entrance to Jackson’s Town Square.
Entering Grand Teton National Park.
My dad told me an interesting statistic: 99% of people see only 9% of the park. I don’t know how true that is, but I tend to believe it. There is so much uncharted wilderness. Here’s a sulphur pond.
Distance sign.
Yellowstone Lake is huge. It covers 136 square miles and is the biggest body of water in the park.
Typical scenery.
Sign for Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.
Distances after exiting the Northeast entrance to the park.
Arrival in Cooke City.
Beartooth Cafe: Our lunch spot for Saturday.
“Top of the World.” Contrary to what you’d think, this place is not at the summit of Beartooth. The road continues its ascent well beyond the site of this convenience store.
Nearing the crest at 10,947 feet.
It will be awhile before all this snow melts.
Love the scenery.
The “actual” bear tooth-shaped formation in the mountain, for which the road was named.
Pointing my finger at the bear’s tooth.
Welcome to Montana!
Postcard we bought that shows the zig-zagging highway as it makes its descent.
Arrival in Red Lodge, Montana. (Population: 2,125)
Checking in at The Pollard.
Nice store name!
Enjoyed this article in The Pollard’s “History Room.”
We saw the charred remains of an SUV that had caught fire earlier in the afternoon.
Candy store!
The place smelled like popcorn. Bags of popcorn were available for sale for $0.25 each.
Old service station, still in use.
For kicks, I decided to compare Red Lodge weather with my hometown weather. There was a 40-degree difference!
Posted in ILX, Road Trip on June 9, 2014 by tysonhugie
Odometer (Legend): 529,750
Odometer (ILX): 83,995
Leg Distance: 1,009 Miles
I’ve got a super-sized helping of road trip mania for you this week! Here’s the lowdown:
Five days: Thursday through Monday
Six states: Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana
Two national parks: Grand Teton National Park & Yellowstone National Park
Total miles: 2,545
Total time in the ILX: Estimated 45-50 hours
Other Acura sightings: Legend, 0; ILX, 1
There are a lot of “bucket list” roads I’m systematically crossing off as I experience them. Earlier this year, I learned of a road that was an absolute must-see: Beartooth Highway. I took one look at my Rand McNally 2014 road atlas and saw this squiggly line straddling the Montana / Wyoming border. “What is that?! I must experience it!” I thought.
The trip write-up will be published in 3 parts.
The first leg of my drive from Scottsdale, Arizona to Logan, Utah was a 12-hour trek that I’ve done dozens of times in the past. It was the drive from Logan onward that became a new adventure. When I arrived at my dad’s place around noon on Saturday, he was outside working in the yard. His duffel bag was packed and he was ready to rock and roll as my copilot for this latest crazy road trip. My dad have road-tripped many times together before, and it’s due in large part to his appreciation for our beautiful country that I have such an itch for exploration. In 2006, dad and I drove my Legend from Utah to Alaska & back – a memorable 7,000+ mile trip across some of the most beautiful terrain I’ve ever laid eyes on.
Before I was ready to leave Logan, we had to stop at the best pizza place in town: Fredrico’s. Located near the Utah State University campus, it’s been a landmark in Cache Valley for decades. After savoring some butter-drenched garlic bread, I took the wheel as we pointed the Acura’s nose northward. Within 25 minutes on Highway 91, we’d already passed the Idaho state line. After fueling at a gas station called La Tienda in Franklin, I decided to turn the reins over to my dad for a stretch. He got in the car, hit the brake, and held the start button. Nothing happened. “You have to push the clutch in,” I instructed him. We had a good laugh. He’s gotten so used to driving his auto-transmission Hyundai Sonata.
Scattered clouds looked over us as we wound our way through the Cache National Forest. We made a pit stop in Mound Valley at a home where my grandfather lived when he was growing up. I’d asked grandpa for the home’s address a number of weeks ago. “It doesn’t have one,” he said. “Just look for the first house on the left after you cross the Bear River the second time on Highway 34.” Sure enough, his directions were spot-on. I could tell right away why my relatives had at one time settled in that area. Looking around at the views and feeling the comfortable temperatures, it was tough to believe I’d left the cactus-lined, scorching hot desert just a day prior. Dad and I stopped the historic Henry Store, dating back to 1908 and operated by a single family for more than 70 years before closing down.
Soon, we closed in on our nightly destination. Jackson is home to around 10,000 people and nestled at the base of the massive Grand Teton mountains. The cowboy culture runs strong, and Broadway Avenue is lined with more elk and moose statues than I could count. Traditions run strong in my family. Growing up, each time we visited Jackson, my dad would park our truck at the same location & snap a picture. Here for your viewing enjoyment is a sampling of the photos we’ve taken in the last 22 years.
1992 (I’m standing at center with my legs crossed)
1997 (I’m standing at far right)
2000 (I’m standing 2nd from right)
2014 (There I am!)
Look at how much those pine trees have grown! It’s crazy what a couple of decades will do. We checked in at the Painted Buffalo hotel and got settled in before walking up to the town center. One of Jackson’s best-known features is the elk antler arch that stands at each corner of the park. Each arch was constructed in 1960 and for decades has welcomed tourists.
We dined at the Mangy Moose Saloon in Teton Village. From our table in the dining room, we could watch out the massive back windows in the log cabin structure and see the ski slopes in the distance. Tired and needing maximum rest for the following day’s travels, we retired at the Painted Buffalo for the night.
Next up: Beartooth Highway in all its glory. Tune in next time for that.
Here are the rest of the pictures from that first leg of the journey.
Beaver, Utah
Quick meet-up with my friend Branson in Salt Lake City, Utah. Branson has a Cayman White Pearl 1995 Legend LS coupe 6-speed with 156,000 miles on the odometer. It’s immaculate!
My dad and I departing from Logan, northbound on Highway 91 toward the Idaho state line.
Pit stop near Grace, Idaho at my grandfather’s old farmhouse.
Roadside scenery along Idaho Highway 34.
Entering Wyoming!
Freedom, Wyoming. This garage has been out of commission for awhile.
Post office doesn’t look very modern, either.
Even the gas pumps are a blast from the past. They’re set at $0.42 / gallon.
Final stretch into Jackson as the highway travels along the Snake River.
Back to the grind! Here’s just a quick slideshow recap today from a fun-filled 3-day holiday weekend. First off, a drive on the Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday afternoon.
The city was bustling with holiday traffic.
I met up with my (Legend-owning) friend Jessie for a bite to eat at Smashburger.
And got a quick picture at my favorite casino: Excalibur.
Once I arrived in my hometown of St. George, Utah, I took my brother’s BMW M3 turbo for a spin.
Power to the max.
Lots of custom work here. And it pays off: The car has been dyn0-tested at > 500 wheel horsepower.
I also drove another German 6-speed that day: My friend Buck’s 2005 Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor.
This car replaces his outgoing Acura RSX.
Family BBQ at the park. Left to right: Bentley (brother), Kyann (sis-in-law), me, Tia (mom), Kali (sis-in-law), Payton (brother).
With my younger brothers.
Beckam
Vivienne
Rex
Love those kiddos! Sunset from my mom’s back deck in Washington, Utah.
And the song that got me dancing in my seat on the way home to Phoenix yesterday.
Give it a listen here with me. Hope everyone had a great weekend!
I’m not usually one to trespass. I’m a clean-cut, straight-A-student kind of guy. But deep down inside of me, I’ve always liked exploring buildings that are off-limits. I guess part of the thrill is that of potentially getting caught. One of my favorite adventures recently was exploring an old deserted ghost town called Modena, Utah in fall 2012.
For 5 years now, my weekday afternoon commute has taken me through the Salt River – Pima Indian Community. Daily I’ve passed within 50 yards of this looming 3-tiered abandoned structure south of the Beeline Highway, but I’ve never taken the time to dig deeper — until yesterday. I decided to finally see if it was even possible to access the building. I hit the brakes in the ILX and took my next left-hand turn. Just before entering the driveway of an abandoned double-wide trailer, I veered onto a one-lane dirt road and pointed the car toward the concrete building to the east.
I could tell that the road at some time was paved, but decades of aging had returned it almost completely to earth. I dodged a couple of huge potholes. Soon, I saw that the square building had a 10-foot-tall chain link fence all the way around it (and barbed wire looped around the top). Except, there was an opening just wide enough to drive through. It was too tempting to resist.
I pulled the ILX into the fenced-off area and hopped out for a few pictures. One step out of the car and noticed the pavement was glistening in the sunlight. “Crap,” I thought. The entire ground was absolutely covered in shards of glass from broken bottles. I was hoping my Michelins would hold on. And they did.
I hurriedly took a couple of shots with my cell phone since my Nikon was at the house. The north end of the building at the ground level was totally open, so I peeked inside. Elaborate graffiti artwork adorned every surface, and a few stray pieces of garbage at the far end of the room were probably someone’s furniture at one point. I didn’t take the time to climb the staircase and view the upper floors of the building, but I’d like to go back – and armed with a better camera.
So what is this place? Its history dates back to 1963 when it was known as the Beeline Dragway. It was opened that year as a 1/4-mile drag race track. In those days, races were held on Saturday nights in the summertime and on Sundays in the winter – with some cars hitting speeds up to 200 miles per hour.
The raceway has been closed since 1975 when the lease expired with the Indian community. It has since been replaced by larger, much more modern facilities elsewhere in the valley including Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) and Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. Unfortunately, today there’s not much left of the Beeline Dragway. Some 40 years after its closure, the only memory of Beeline that still stands is this graffiti-tagged main building.
Here’s an overhead view of the area. Beeline Highway is along the top, with the lone building in the center of the screen as the structure which I entered. The track itself extended horizontally toward the east from the main building.
I like to think about what the reaction would have been if, 50 years ago, I pulled up at Beeline Raceway in a 2013 Acura ILX. For the 12 years that it was open, this building was witness to the height of the muscle car era.
I found this really neat video from 1969 when the Beeline was at its heyday.
Thanks to D25 reader Ryan for sending me this pic of his TL arriving in his home state of South Dakota. Nothing like a little road trip to kick-start the summer.
And a huge congratulations to our Italian reader, Francesco, on hitting an impressive 320,000 kilometers in his Fiat!
Thanks to all of you who continue to share your milestones with me. Keep ’em coming.
How did it take me this many years to succumb to the temptation and check out “THE THING”? I’m not sure, but I finally took the opportunity to visit a roadside attraction that I’ve passed by dozens of times. It’s located along the remote reaches of Interstate 10 in southern Arizona, in the desert landscape between Tucson and El Paso. I took my 2013 Acura ILX for a day-trip on Saturday to see what this place was all about.
Leaving the Tucson area eastbound, motorists are assaulted right away by bright yellow billboards in rapid succession, advertising this so-called “Mystery of the Desert.” It’s enough to make you wonder, “What in the heck is it?” And that’s exactly what the entrepreneurs who run “The Thing” want you to do! By the time I arrived at Exit 222 for Johnson Road about 40 miles later, I had counted upwards of 15-20 billboards with various messages luring me in.
You really can’t miss this place. Just when you start zoning out as the interstate makes its way through some rocky outcroppings, your eye is caught by the giant yellow structure. There might as well have been a fishing line reeling my ILX into the parking lot because I had taken the bait big time. I plunked down $1 cash and told the cashier, “One adult admission please.” The man pointed to a door against the back wall and said, “Go through the door. Follow the yellow footprints. The Thing is in the third building.” And off I went toward the entrance.
I thought that the entrance door would lead me into a dark, enclosed room of some sort. My eyes were blinded when it instead opened up to the outside. The adventure just kept getting weirder. Yes, there were yellow painted footprints on the sidewalk ahead of me, so I followed the cashier’s instructions to see where they’d take me. It felt like some sort of treasure hunt. Each of the 3 buildings was a giant warehouse of sorts with artifacts on display. The first had a couple of antique cars (1932 Buick and a 1937 Rolls-Royce), each covered up in a thick layer of dust.
I picked up my walking speed a little bit. “What is this stuff? Take me to The Thing already!” I thought to myself. I paused just momentarily to check out a few other things. Mannequins, an old phonograph, various vintage pieces of furniture, guns, and Indian artifacts. Cool, but I wanted to see The Thing. Continuing on I went: Building 1, then outside, then Building 2, then outside, then, I entered Building 3 at last. A colorful banner told me that I’d arrived. I felt like Clark Griswold when he finally spotted the perfect family Christmas tree.
There it was.
“It’s A Wonder!”
Yes, indeed. So, there was The Thing in all its glory, enclosed in a cinderblock vault with a plexiglass cover over the top. So, what was it? I think I’m going to be a tease and let the secret remain. Hahaha!
I grabbed a mushroom Swiss hamburger at the Dairy Queen attached to the gift shop before heading back toward Phoenix. It felt great to finally know what The Thing was. Here are the rest of my pics from the trip!
Pit stop in Benson, Arizona near Tombstone
Sandstone rock formation on I-10
Exiting at Johnson Road where The Thing is located
From the outside, the warehouses at The Thing are painted vivid colors.
I followed the dirt road around toward the Big Rig parking because I wanted the full experience.
Hype? Yeah, lots of it.
In we go.
Souvenirs galore. Yes, this place is a definite tourist trap.
Here are those yellow footsteps.
Building #1
The 1937 Rolls. Sign reads: “This antique car was believed to have been used by Adolf Hitler. The Thing is, though, it can’t be proved.” Clever.
More footsteps leading to the next building.
This one felt like a museum.
Edison phonograph. “Plays Cylindrical Records,” the sign said.
What the heck? A bedroom set in this building.
Post-tour lunch @ DQ.
And back to Phoenix I went! Drive time was about 2.5 hours each way.
Posted in ILX, Maintenance on May 11, 2014 by tysonhugie
Odometer (Legend): 529,358
Odometer (ILX) (Loaner!): 1,565
“Weren’t you just here?” asked the attendant on the service drive when I pulled into Acura of Tempe on Saturday afternoon for some ILX maintenance. “Probably,” I said. It’s no wonder I started using a punch-card to get a free oil change after every 4 paid oil changes. I get my money’s worth out of coupons like that. After last weekend’s long trip up north, the ILX’s “Maintenance Minder” told me that it was finally time to go in for a check-up.
Things were fairly quiet over there.
In she goes.
A challenge, though, soon became apparent. The technicians were not able to remove the locking lug nut on my left rear wheel in order to rotate the tires. I had to leave the ILX with them – potentially until next Tuesday – and take home a loaner car. So, for the time being, I’m in a snazzy Silver Moon Metallic ILX with the 2.0 liter automatic. And, just 1,500 miles on the odometer. It’s as if I’ve gone back in time.
Hoping for good news next week on the fix for that stuck-on wheel.
Check out this wicked ride that found its way to my driveway for a few days. My friend Dan flew to LA and allowed me to ‘babysit’ his pride and joy.
The stacked quad exhaust tips pictured below are a dead giveaway. What we’re looking at here is a 2011 Lexus IS-F. Its 5.0 liter V8 propels this car up to speed with alarming urgency. The IS-F is Lexus’ highest IS offering, with a no-holds-barred approach to delivering the most powerful, best-handling, and most aggressively-styled sports sedan from the brand. While the V8 is clearly audible at idle and emits a nice rumble, it’s the post-4,000 RPM range that really lights this car on fire.
In that higher rev range, the IS-F’s cabin fills with the deafening roar of the V8 and before you know it, you’re passing every Corvette in sight. The instrument cluster is dominated by a massive blue-needled tachometer. The speedometer, at less than half that size, hides in the lower right-hand corner. Ride handling is sharp and responsive. There’s just one way to describe this car, and I apologize for the language, but: It’s badass.
Photo quality won’t do these gauges justice, but it’s the best I could get at 68 mph at nighttime. I wanted to show just how tach-centric this setup is. And how, even at freeway speeds, the needle doesn’t even act like it’s awake yet — lingering in the 7:00 position like the car’s barely at idle.
One local tradition that I have with a few of my friends (when I’m in town on a weekend, anyway) is to attend a car show just a few miles to the north which takes place every Saturday afternoon. This time, in addition to the IS-F, we had a few other cars to take. Jack showed up in a (loaner) Mercedes SL550 roadster.
Matt brought his 2014 Infiniti Q50 3.7 Sport.
And Mike brought a (loaner) Mercedes S550 sedan. Jack and Mike were staying at the Four Seasons in Scottsdale which apparently allows guests to use its Benz fleet. Who knew? I think I’ll stay there the next time I need a stay-cation.
The S550 gauges are entirely electronic, with the instrument panel being dominated by two rectangular screens.
Arrival at the Scottsdale Pavilions car show.
Later, my friend Kyle showed up in his stunning 2005 Pontiac GTO 6-speed. Its exhaust note and corresponding rumble are enough to set off a car alarm here and there.
And Walter brought the 2015 Acura Legend coupe concept.
Did you know that Alice Cooper drives an Acura NSX? I watched him pull into the parking lot with this but I didn’t realize until well after I’d already left the show (and my friend Mike posted a picture online with Alice) that it was him! The car is an automatic with 35,000 miles on it. Wild wheels!
We had a great time at the show. Here are a couple of last photos from my weekend fun.
Even my “courtesy loaner vehicle” 2.0 liter ILX wanted in on the photoshoot.
1992 Acura NSX: 270 horsepower
2013 Lexus IS-F: 416 horsepower
2014 Acura ILX 2.0: 150 horsepower
Looks like I had my choice of a wide range of power alternatives this weekend.
Lastly: I’ve gotta send a shout-out to my friend Joe who brought me a gorgeous canvas print of my ILX. He had this printed up from a photo taken during our Canyon de Chelly drive a couple of weeks ago.
Thanks, Joe! I’ve got this proudly displayed for now on the dresser in my bedroom.
Posted in ILX, Road Trip on May 8, 2014 by tysonhugie
Odometer (Legend): 529,310
Odometer (ILX): 78,764
Trip Distance: 340 Miles
A rainbow shimmered in the mist far below as I watched thousands gallons of the Snake River tumble to the canyon floor ahead of me. Even from a viewing platform at the opposite end of the canyon, the sound of the water crashing down was powerful. Idaho’s name is the “Gem State,” and I cay say with a certainty that Shoshone Falls must be one of the state’s hidden gems. Even more impressive: Shoshone, just outside the small town of Twin Falls, is a full 50 feet taller than world-famous Niagara Falls at the New York – Ontario border!
I was inspired by my friend Josh’s recent post about his visit to Shoshone in southern Idaho, so when I put together a plan to visit some family in northern Utah for a long weekend, I figured it was well-worth the 5-hour round trip drive to lay eyes on the “Niagara of the West.” I was right. For anyone in the western U.S., you need to see this place.
After exiting Cache Valley last Saturday morning, most of my drive was on Interstate 84 westbound which routes northwesterly through some rolling hills of northern Utah. Amenities are few and far between along this stretch. Thankfully, Utah has posted the speed limits through that region at 80 miles per hour so the drive goes fairly quickly. I set the cruise control at the ILX at 80 which revs the 2.4 liter at around 3,400 RPM. A critical pit stop – of course – was when I got a photo at the Idaho state line. Josh had agreed to meet me at the falls, so at this point we were nose-to-nose in opposite directions on I-84.
From there, I-84 and I-86 intersected and I headed due west through the small southern Idaho towns of Rupert and Burley. You may remember Burley from a trip through this same area last year to a family reunion. Exiting the interstate toward Kimberly, I crossed the mighty Snake River on Hansen Bridge, a 1966 replacement to a suspension bridge that was initially constructed in 1916 as one of the only gorge crossings in the area.
As Josh and his 2005 Acura TSX finished up the last few miles of his westward trip toward Twin Falls from Boise, I had a few minutes to explore historic downtown Twin Falls. I stumbled across a charming little Volkswagen / Porsche repair facility on Main Street called R.S. Garner Enterprises.
Josh and I met at the best sushi place in town, “Sushi Ya” on 2nd Avenue. The all-you-can-eat menu hit the spot. After lunch, I took a moment to admire the condition of Josh’s TSX. Aside from a total of 3 or 4 dings in the body, the condition looks more like a 90,000 mile car than a 401,000 mile car. I got a kick out of Josh’s description of how he sets up his windows & sunroof for optimal wind distribution throughout the cabin when he’s on his drives. We cranked up our 2.4 liter engines and headed toward Shoshone just a few miles away.
Park entry was $3 and gave us access to Shoshone as well as an adjacent lake called Dierkes Lake. Shoshone was everything it was cracked up to be. The falls tumble 212 feet to the canyon floor. Certain sections of the falls have individual names: Bridal Veil, Two Graces, and Sentinel. Water levels vary throughout the year, but at certain times it’s possible to see the entire span of the canyon flowing with water. It’s also possible to see the falls nearly completely dry, as the Snake River is utilized for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation. Josh and I hiked around the south rim of the canyon for a few minutes and admired the scenery. It wasn’t far from this place where famous stunt devil Evel Knievel attempted to jump a sky-cycle (motorcycle) across the entire (1,500-foot-wide) Snake River Gorge back in September 1974. His attempt failed but he survived, caught by the wind and carried to the canyon floor by his parachute.
From Shoshone, we cruised a few minutes up the road and visited Dierkes Lake which was bustling with recreation on a Saturday afternoon. There is even a diving board set up there for swimmers, and we saw others who preferred to cliff-dive into the blue-green water.
Our last stop before we headed separate ways was the I.B. Perrine Bridge. It was completed in 1976 and stands 486 feet above the canyon floor. Josh and I parked our Acuras at the north end of the bridge and walked down beneath it. The bridge is a popular place for “BASE” jumpers and we watched a couple of crazies jumping off it with parachutes and sailing to the river below.
I had a great time seeing some of Idaho’s beauty and I thank Josh for joining me for this adventure! He and I will be getting together soon for more drives. “I’m only 5-6 hours away from so many national parks!” he said. Only someone with 400,000 miles on his Acura would say “only” in reference to a 6-hour drive. Haha.
Here’s a video that contains a few of the photos from our trip as well as a short clip.
Heading out on a bright Saturday morning from Providence, Utah. The Wellsville Mountain Range in the distance will be snow-capped for awhile yet this year.
I-84 West was a pretty lonely place aside from a handful of truckers out and about.
Not long after crossing into Idaho, two freeways merged together.
I set my sights on Twin Falls.
Stay Alert – Stay Alive! It’s easy to get into a daze in this desolate stretch of southern Idaho.
Clever road name.
I took this one in Burley, Idaho for a friend named Conor. Didn’t have the chance to try the menu!
Crossing the 1966 Hansen Bridge.
Parked at the overlook of the ravine near Hansen Bridge.
Made it to Twin Falls!
Can’t miss this place: “Stinker” gas Station. The Stinker name was coined originally in 1936 when the first station opened in Twin Falls.
A few shots of the VW repair facility called R.S. Garner Enterprises on Main Street.
Getting closer to the falls!
Best sushi place in town!
Battle of the bugs.
Josh takes a minute to refuel (only 91 octane for the TSX!) and clean up his windshield.
Here’s where the odometer sat at that very moment: 400,798.
I followed Josh the 4 or 5 miles to the area on the south side of the Snake River Gorge where Shoshone Falls was located.
Quick photo-op.
Happened to enter right behind a nice looking Acura MDX.
Brochure in-hand and ready to roll.
Here are some shots of the falls.
I can only imagine what these must look like when water is at full capacity.
Looking westward through the canyon at some of the cliffs.
Small waterfalls alongside the road.
Parked at Dierkes Lake.
Josh crossing the Snake River on the Perrine Bridge.
And here’s a look eastward through the ravine.
View underneath the Perrine Bridge.
View to the west, including a golf course.
Back on the road to run up a few more miles en route to Logan, Utah.
Passed this Canterbury Green 1994-95 Legend L/LS sedan but the driver didn’t even notice my thumbs-up.
Thanks for coming along! And a huge thanks to Josh for being a great host in showing me around Twin Falls. Be sure and follow his blog at TSX Travels for more of his insightful posts about driving his Acura around Idaho.
My grandpa gave me a look of disgust on Monday morning when I pulled into his driveway in southern Utah. “You’ve got so many bugs on the front of that car, they’re causing wind drag!” he said. He had a valid point. I had slain a fair number of insects on my travels of Utah and Idaho over the course of a long weekend.
Last Thursday, I said sayonara to the desert and headed for northern Utah’s Rocky Mountains. I had a lot time in the driver seat and enjoyed every minute of it. In honor of hitting 77,777 miles on the ILX, in this post I’ll share seven of the memorable highlights from my nearly 2,000-mile, 4-day adventure.
1) Driving a 1931 Ford Model A. The award for the oldest vehicle I’ve ever driven can now go to this 1931 Ford which my uncle recently purchased.
I’m standing here with Russell, after taking my uncle Brett’s car for a drive. It’s a 3-speed on the floor but the transmission requires a great deal of finesse to operate. It’s the first time I’ve ever made an attempt at “double-clutching.” I learned (quickly) that this old Ford does not like to down-shift. I ground a few gears!
2) Getting up close & personal with a 1.2 million pound steam locomotive. Ten years after that Ford rolled off the production line, another piece of vintage metal was born. This Union Pacific steam locomotive was on display in Ogden, Utah when I was rolling through the area this weekend so I stopped at Union Station to take a look. A lot of other folks had the same idea, apparently. It was busy out there!
The reason for the excitement was that this locomotive had been parked in southern California since 1961. It’s now being moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming to be fully restored. UP 4014 is one of 25 “Big Boy” locomotives built for the Union Pacific Railroad. It was delivered in 1941 and weighs in at 1.2 million pounds. This locomotive is so long (132 feet) that its frame is articulated and thus able to better negotiate curves. And perhaps the most important statistic of all: From 1941 through 1961, UP 4014 traveled 1,031,205 miles. That’s my kind of high-miler!
The size of the wheels is more readily appreciated when a young child stands next to them.
Impressive engineering for being 73 years old!
3. Taking my Grandma and Russell to dinner. These two are great company. I provided the shuttle ride to Olive Garden; they covered the bill! That’s my kind of arrangement. Grandma made sure our waitress brought out fresh/soft breadsticks. Before we all headed to the restaurant, I pulled the ILX around to the backyard for a picture.
In we go!
And enough leftovers for at least another couple of meals.
Back to the house.
4) Trying out the world-famous (okay, maybe just state-famous) restaurant called Angie’s. Angie’s, in Logan, Utah, serves breakfast all day. I highly recommend the meat omelet. But the menu item Angie’s is best known for is the “Kitchen Sink.” It’s a gigantic banana split-type dessert, served up in a metal mini sink. Anyone who can finish the $13 item is awarded a bumper sticker that states “I cleaned the sink at Angie’s.” Someday I’ll attempt it.
Todd, Tia, me
Here’s what that bumper sticker looks like.
Not my picture, but here’s an example of a Kitchen Sink.
5. Hitting lucky 7’s on the ILX near Brigham City, Utah. If only the outside temperature had been 3 degrees higher, I would have really hit the jackpot.
6. Paying a visit to a friend who’s an Acura-holic like me. In St. George, Utah, I visited my friend Blair. Here, you can see his 2008 Acura TL Type-S in Kinetic Blue Pearl (my favorite color!) as well as his 1989 Acura Legend L coupe. What you don’t see are his other 1989 Legend coupe and his 1991 Legend coupe which are in the garage.
Fancy!
Blair recently turned 100,000 miles in the TL and he shared a picture with me. I’m catching up quickly.
7. Visiting Utah’s original statehouse. Here’s a little trivia: Utah’s original capital was actually located in the middle part of the state, in Fillmore, before it was moved to Salt Lake City. The 1852 statehouse still stands.
A few final photo randoms:
Mantua, Utah along Highway 89-91 in Sardine Canyon leading into Cache Valley.
My friend Ryan who was working on his Honda S2000 (which he later let me drive!).
Quick pic at the 1884 Logan, Utah Mormon temple.
A couple of scenes from Jacob Lake, Arizona (7,920 foot elevation).
What a blast this weekend was! There’s one more feature story on the way. Come back Thursday.
drivetofive 