drivetofive

Acura ILX + TL Drive to Death Valley National Park, California

Posted in California, ILX, National Parks, Nevada, Road Trip on July 20, 2014 by tysonhugie

Odometer (ILX): 89,689

Odometer (Legend): 530,150

Trip Distance: 901 Miles

“This could be scary,” Sofyan mumbled as we rolled our suitcases up the front walkway to Longstreet Inn & Casino in Amargosa Valley, Nevada. The hotel, visible for miles on Highway 373 in the barren desert, had loomed like an oasis on the horizon while we approached it (photo below). The sound of country music and horribly off-key karaoke filled the air while I and my 3 traveling colleagues checked into our rooms for the night’s stay. We were weary from a full day of adventure in Death Valley National Park, one of the country’s most oft-overlooked and yet most scenic landscapes. And the evening’s agenda was just what we needed to unwind: A dip in the pool, a home-cooked meal topped off by apple pie, and the clearest nighttime sky I’ve seen in a long time – with stars so visible it was as if we’d pulled them closer to earth.

“Death Valley” sounds like such an enticing place to visit in the middle of the summer, doesn’t it?

On July 10, 1913, a record 134 °F (56.7 °C) was measured at the Weather Bureau’s observation station at Greenland Ranch (now the site for the Furnace Creek Inn), the highest temperature ever recorded in the world.Daily summer temperatures of 120 °F (49 °C) or greater are common, as well as below freezing nightly temperatures in the winter^. July is the hottest month, with an average high of 115 °F (46 °C) and an average low of 88 °F (31C (reference).

The area was named a national monument in 1933 and became a national park in 1994. It receives nearly a million visitors annually. Death Valley got its name from prospectors who passed through the area in 1849 when the California gold rush took place, though reportedly only one death took place. My first and only experience with the area was in August 2011 in the Legend coupe when I paid a visit to a close friend and automotive spy photographer Brenda Priddy who spends her summers there.

Joining me for this trip were a few friends. Sofyan, host of the 2theRedline YouTube auto review channel, had flown in from Washington, D.C. for the occasion, and my local friend Peter also came along.

Our day started out in Las Vegas, a city that never sleeps. Glassy-eyed and a bit tired from a night out on the town, we made our way to Johnny Rockets for delicious Belgian waffles with strawberries & whipped cream. That sugar rush was enough to bring me to my senses. Jason Pawela from Driven for Drives arrived and we set out with his 2010 Acura TL and my 2013 Acura ILX in search of some adventures. Highway 160 – “Blue Diamond” took us westward toward Pahrump, Nevada. A slow-moving 65 mph limit felt like it should have been 85 mph: The arrow-straight highway made its way through the desert and Sofyan, who’s visiting from Washington, D.C., commented on the landscape. “So what IS a tumbleweed?” he asked. Oh, you city folks!

A little beyond Pahrump, we took a left on Highway 190 toward Death Valley National Park. A few brave travelers – most from other countries, it seemed – joined us at the entrance sign for pictures. Our first stop was at Furnace Creek. It’s a place with $5.56 premium Chevron gas and a breeze that feels like a blow dryer in your face. We were able to find a saloon/restaurant – “49er” — serving up lunch so we were grateful for the opportunity to refill our bellies. All four of us ordered the exact same meal: Turkey club w/o red onion. It hit the spot. A stop at the national park visitor center was in order, so we could pay our $20/car entry fee and legalize our visit. A sign inside the gift shop announced: Heat-Related Deaths Since April 2014: 2. That’s a sobering thought.

Peter, Sofyan, Tyson, Jason

Jason and I swapped car keys and headed out toward Badwater Basin, some 17 miles away. Badwater is the lowest elevation point in North America, at 282 feet below sea level. I enjoyed seat-time in the 305-horsepower TL with its 3.7 liter V6. Torque for days! The sound system and level of refinement were clearly superior to the ILX, but I did briefly miss the more nimble feel of my smaller sedan. Regading Badwater: Legend has it that a traveler once got to this point and was severely dehydrated. He could not even get his horse to drink from the shallow pool because the water was so salty. Thus the place was named “bad water” and it stuck. Receiving fewer than 2 inches of rain per year, Badwater is one of the driest places in the world. We hiked out a little and Jason filled a Ziploc bag with sand, then we gratefully sought refuge from the oven inside our nicely air conditioned Acura sedans.

Just 85 miles from Badwater stands the tallest mountain in the contiguous 48 U.S. states, called Mount Whitney (14,505 feet). You may recall a trip from last summer when Jason and I drove the highest elevation paved road in North America: Mount Evans in Colorado, at 14,265 feet. I would have loved to visit Mount Whitney if time permitted.

We wanted to make sure and take home some Death Valley dust on our cars, and I knew just the place to find it. “20 Mule Team Road,” just a few miles from Furnace Creek, is an amazing one-lane, one-way dirt track that winds for 2.7 miles along some terrain that looks like another planet. Jason and I weren’t afraid of doing a little off-roading. In fact, after our first lap of Mule Team, we switched drivers. Sofyan drove the ILX and Peter drove the TL – and we did it all over again. Kicking up dust in style.

The last place I wanted to check out was Stovepipe Wells, a small settlement about 23 miles north of Furnace Creek. It’s nestled in between expansive sand dunes. As we approached, it was evident that the wind activity was high because of the wisps of sand sweeping across the roadway. Because of Death Valley’s notoriety as one of the hottest climates in the world, it is an optimal place for automakers to test out the durability of prototype / pre-production vehicles. Sure enough, as Sofyan pulled my ILX into the parking lot at Stovepipe Wells, we spotted 3 white 2016 model year GMC Canyon Diesels out for evaluation. I picked up 2 Gatorades for $3 – best purchase of the day by far. I was parched.

We made our way out of the park on Highway 127 just as the sun dipped down in the western sky. We got a few photos at the California/Nevada state line and then made our entrance into the Longstreet for the night. A great day with great friends.

Enjoy this video and the rest of these pictures from our trip!

Peter at the wheel of the ILX; Sofyan in the backseat

Backseat vantage point: something I’m not used to seeing!

Sunset over the Hoover Dam bypass bridge at the AZ/NV state line

View from our hotel in Las Vegas: Excalibur

Catching the water show at Bellagio

Saturday morning: A destination in mind

Ruins in an abandoned Nevada town

Next stop: Furnace Creek

Thanks to Jason for some awesome “rolling shots” of the ILX

We made it

Sign reads: CAUTION! EXTREME HEAT DANGER

Elevation: Sea level as we made our way toward Furnace Creek

How’s $5.59/gallon for Premium sound?

Lunch spot

A brisk 115 degrees Fahrenheit at the National Park Visitor Center

Although, the ILX only showed 113 degrees at the time

Shot of the ILX in the TL sideview mirror

Warning at Badwater Basin. “Walking after 10 a.m. not recommended.”

Checking out the sights, 282 feet below sea level.

Pit stop along the “20 Mule Team Canyon” trail.

Hitchhiking due to broken down Acuras. Not.

Stovepipe Wells

GMC Canyon Diesel prototype that was out for hot-weather testing near Stovepipe

Crossing back into Nevada from California for the night

Sunday morning’s return drive to Phoenix: Gigantic cow

And the world’s largest firecracker!

Thanks for coming along!

9 Comments »

Throwback Thursday: Legend Drive to “Spiral Jetty” in Utah

Posted in Legend, Road Trip, Throwback, Utah on July 17, 2014 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend): 530,083

Odometer (ILX): 88,611

What type of alien life form would have created something like this?

I don’t remember how I found out about the Spiral Jetty, but once I learned of it, there was no stopping me from going there. It was Saturday June 18, 2005 and for some reason or another, I was in & around Salt Lake City, Utah that weekend.

Spiral Jetty is a 1,500-foot-long, 15-foot-wide, work of art on the north shore of the Great Salt Lake. It was actually constructed by a human – Robert Smithson – in 1970. It’s made of mud, salt crystals, basalt rocks, and water. Construction took only 6 days and cost $9,000. Due to varying water levels of the lake, it’s possible at times for the spiral coil to be completely submerged. On the day when I visited, it was clearly visible but partially underwater. I would’ve loved to hike out on top of it, but that would’ve definitely ended in some wet sneakers & socks.

The Great Salt Lake is a bit fascinating itself. It’s the largest salt water lake in the western Hemisphere and the 4th largest “terminal” lake in the world. It covers 1,700 square miles and is a remnant of ancient Lake Bonneville which covered most of Utah. But how salty is the Great Salt Lake? Salinity ranges from 5 to 27%. For comparison, the salinity of the ocean is 3.5%. I won’t be filling my canteen from the Great Salt Lake anytime soon. Here’s an attempted “selfie” (though that word didn’t exist in 2005) thanks to a remote timer on my camera with the lake in the background.

Though I learned that the road to the Spiral Jetty was unpaved, that didn’t keep me from taking my then-173,000-mile Acura Legend coupe out on a Saturday morning adventure. In all, I remember driving about 9 miles one-way on a gravel road. The last couple of miles progressively got more and more technical. By the time I got to the last hundred yards or so of the drive, the road had narrowed to just one skinny lane with huge ruts and jagged rocks everywhere. I did my best to weave around them – fearing that I might scratch one of my 17″ chrome rims or, worst case scenario, catch a rock on my oil pan and cause some even more serious damage to the car.

I did make it, though, and celebrated with a photoshoot of my filthy Legend and a partially submerged work of art in the background.

The area around the jetty was littered with metal waste: Empty, rusted barrels, vehicle hulks that had been abandoned and vandalized decades prior, etc.

I made my exit and stopped for a photo in the barren wilderness of northern Utah.

Remarkably, the Legend survived unscathed and after running it through a coin-operated car wash in Salt Lake City, I took it to a Legend “meet” at Sugarhouse Park that very same afternoon. Though we hadn’t planned it that way, every single Legend that attended was a 2-door coupe. I wonder how many of those guys still have their cars, 9 years later?

I know for a fact that Jeff, who was driving that Canterbury Green coupe parked on the end, is now in a black 2008 Acura TL Type-S after having spent the last 8 years in a CL Type-S. He’s been as brand loyal as they come!

Summertime fun from years past. Thanks for coming along with me to Memory Lane.

7 Comments »

Pre-NALM Maintenance

Posted in Arizona, Maintenance, NALM on July 14, 2014 by tysonhugie

Odometer (ILX): 88,482

Odometer (Legend coupe): 530,082

Odometer (Legend sedan): 144,615

I heard a crackle of thunder on Sunday afternoon from inside the house, and I thought my ears were playing tricks on me. I’d been outside earlier in the day and it was absolutely cloudless at the time. Then the sound came around again, and I decided to investigate.

What I found when I looked out the windows was a torrential summertime “monsoon” downpour. First thought: “Crap, I left the ILX moonroof partially ajar and windows vented!” Second thought: “WHERE IS MY CAR KEY?” as I frantically looked on the kitchen table and then ran to the desk in my bedroom where the key was sitting. I bolted outside shoeless and rolled up the windows, then sought cover and recorded this video.

The past week has been busy for getting the cars up to date on service needs. I am preparing, along with 27 other registered participants from across the country, for a road trip to this year’s National Acura Legend Meet which kicks off in 10 days in Los Angeles, California. Here is a thread on the Legend forums where people are talking about their preparatory activities.

Legend coupe:

Replace steering rack & pinion (remanufactured) – first time this has been done
Replace passenger side inner axle boot – second time this has been done
Replace spark plugs – third set including the originals; went with NGK
Perform alignment – multiple occurrences of this

Legend sedan:

Change oil & filter with 5W30
Replace burned out 3rd brake light bulb
Perform full inspection – all looks good!
Recharge a/c (pending this Wednesday)

NSX (not going to NALM, but still getting some attention):

Change oil & filter with Castrol GTX 10W30
Recharge a/c

ILX (not going to NALM, but still getting some attention:

Change oil & filter with 0W20
Rotate tires

The sedan’s oil had last been changed on January 4th, just 209 miles prior.

Ready to rock and roll.

Desert Mist Metallic: Paint code YR-506M.

Where to this coming weekend? Well, I’m expecting company and we’ll depart in the ILX on Friday afternoon to a national park in California. That’s all I’m going to divulge for now, but stay tuned because this is going to be a hot ride in some hot Acuras. Have a great week!

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4th of July Weekend Part 3: McCall, Idaho to Scottsdale, Arizona

Posted in ILX, Maintenance, Road Trip on July 9, 2014 by tysonhugie

Odometer (ILX): 88,204

Leg Distance: 1,177 Miles

The return trip from this vacation went by quickly thanks to good music and good company. About 5 hours into the 17-hour journey, I picked up a copilot in Salt Lake City and we spent the rest of the drive trading off shifts at the wheel. It sure was tough to leave behind the beauty of the mountains and especially the comfort of cooler temperatures. My 3-mile run on Saturday morning along the lake in McCall was surrounded by scenes like this.

We spent the day lounging on the deck and doing a little antique shopping in McCall. That evening, we celebrated my niece’s birthday at a restaurant called Lardo’s. If you can get past the name, the place really does have quite a bit to offer! I headed south on Highway 55 after dinner and spent the next 105 miles winding through the Boise National Forest next to the beautiful Payette River.

From Salt Lake City, my friend Jeremy hopped aboard and we continued the rest of the journey together. Having originally intended to spend the night in St. George, Utah, we decided to press onward. Black storm clouds on the horizon had other plans for us: Within 5 miles of entering the Virgin River Gorge on Interstate 15, traffic came to a standstill due to construction delays, and the clouds began to unleash. The construction and adverse weather conditions were further complicated by much-heavier-than-normal holiday traffic. The delay in the Gorge cost us about 30 minutes, and then the slow-moving traffic elsewhere on I-15 in torrential downpours cost us even more.

By the time we arrived in Las Vegas, we were exhausted and ready to call it a night, so we did so. I pulled the rain-soaked ILX into the Hilton Garden Inn in Henderson for a late night check-in, anxious for a fluffy pillow and a good night’s sleep.

On Monday morning, conditions were much more suitable for road tripping. We made time for a pit stop at the Mike O’Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. The bridge, completed in 2010, is better known as the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge. Before its construction (which cost $240 million), traffic was formerly routed OVER Hoover Dam. To walk across the bridge is a bit unnerving if heights are of concern. The span covers some 1,900 feet and looms 880 feet above the surface of the Colorado River far below. But the view of the dam from there is, dare I say it, “dam” good.

The rest of our drive was an easy one with a quick fuel stop in Kingman, Arizona and then a few hours of desert two-laners on Highway 93 on into the Phoenix area. The closer we got to Phoenix, the higher the temperature climbed — right up until the 110-degree mark. I sure wished I was still sitting on the cabin deck in McCall, Idaho.

Thanks for coming along on the trip! Here are the rest of the pictures.

Dinner at Lardo’s with Ali and Beckam. Poor lighting for the pic, but phenomenal food.

Another neat dining establishment I wish I’d had time to check out: “Dollar Bill’s Casual Fine Red Neck Dining,” in Cascade, Idaho. What a name!

Arrival in Salt Lake City, Utah on Interstate 15 southbound.

Picking up Jeremy and giving him some time at the the wheel.

Taken near the Hoover Dam at the Arizona/Nevada state line.

Total trip time & distance: 41 hours, 39 minutes and 2,521 miles since I departed last Wednesday.

And that’s a wrap to the trip!

MAINTENANCE UPDATES

Now, it’s time to get down to business and get some updates on how these cars are staying on the road.

Here’s a photo while driving the Legend to get some maintenance done, and following Jeremy in my ILX.

The Legend coupe is currently getting a new power steering rack, fresh spark plugs, and a CV axle boot. I’ll pick it up tomorrow. These maintenance items are in preparation for the road trip to NALM later this month in Los Angeles.

The ILX went in today for a “B1” service including an oil change with 0W20 oil, new engine air filter, and a tire rotation. It set me back $118.69. The technician’s inspection noted that my rear brakes are down to 3MM. Also, I’m coming up on a 90k service interval which calls for replacement of the serpentine belt and a coolant flush. What surprised me was how far the car allowed me to drive on that same oil change. Since my last appointment on May 14th, I drove 9,274 miles on one oil change, and the car’s Maintenance Minder still told me the oil had 15% life remaining.

The dealership is undergoing some renovations inside & out. Think they have enough flat-screen TVs in the Customer Lounge?

Inspection notes.

And back on my way!

Later!

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4th of July Weekend Part 2: Boise to McCall, Idaho

Posted in ILX, Road Trip on July 7, 2014 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend): 530,040

Odometer (ILX): 88,114

Leg Distance: 173 Miles

Every day that I’m behind the wheel is an independence day. Drive time means freedom from the stresses of the workplace, freedom from chores, from worries, and from problems. It’s a time when the most pressing concern on my mind is keeping my vehicle between the white lines while making sure I don’t miss out on any amazing roadside attractions. For this year’s July 4^th holiday, I swapped car keys with my friend Josh Clymer of TSX Travels and spent a hundred miles at the helm of his 2005 Acura TSX. Our route took us from the Boise, Idaho metropolitan area through forested, curvy highways escalating to 7,000 feet in elevation in the mountains northeast of town.

From our meeting/departure point near the Boise airport, Josh ensured that I made myself comfortable by helping me get the seat, mirrors, and steering wheel just where I wanted them. “The nav is already programmed,” he said, “You’re going to lead the way.” And with that, we were off to explore the open road by about 9:00 in the morning. Our first attraction was Lucky Peak State Park shortly after we got on Highway 21 and started heading north. The two-lane highway progressively got more technical and it required full attention most of the time, but I couldn’t help but steal a few glances at my own ILX in the rearview mirror periodically.

My two-way radios were nothing but a static-fest, but that’s okay because I was glad to shut mine off. The only sounds I wanted to hear were the harmonious growl of the TSX’s finely tuned 2.4 liter and the buffeting of mountain winds throughout the windows-down cabin. Every so often, the smell of fresh pine trees would be overtaken by the scent of campfire and it brought back memories of so many nights I spent in the great outdoors as a kid.

About 40 miles into our drive, we entered the town of Idaho City and pulled into the General Store. A young man was sweeping the front porch. I asked him to take a photo of us, and then inquired, “So what’s there to do in Idaho City today?” To my surprise, he laid out the entire weekend’s schedule for us, including the plans for a parade which was to begin at noon. He wondered where we were from. When I asked him if he knew where Phoenix was, he said, “I’ve heard of it.” Josh piped up immediately with, “It’s like a frying pan with sand.” I nodded in approval at that description.

Now armed with my GoPro video camera mounted up, we started our next leg: Idaho City to Lowman. Here’s where the road started dishing out some real surprises. Josh had told me to go ahead and ‘open up’ the TSX if I felt so inclined. My better judgment told me I probably didn’t want to ask too much of a car that had 408,800 miles on the odometer. But the car begged for a little torture, so I obliged. Sweeping banked curves of Highway 21 provided the optimal place to test out the suspension tuning. I remember coming into a 25 mile per hour (“recommended”) curve at probably double that. “Whoa, Nelly,” I thought. But aside from a howl from the TSX’s tires, the switchback was easily managed and Josh stayed right on my tail in the ILX, rowing through its 6-speed gearbox. I found the manual mode in the TSX seamless and handy, especially on the downgrades where I wanted to take it easy on the brakes.

I found it miraculous that on a holiday we had the road almost entirely to ourselves. By the time we arrived in Lowman, my stomach was ready for fuel and Josh had just the right place in mind: Sourdough Lodge. A place he discovered by chance when stopping during a traffic back-up, I dare say the Sourdough Lodge now ranks as one of my favorite restaurants to get an omelet. Midway through our breakfast conversation, Josh said, “Oh, wait a sec – I have to show you something,” and he headed for the door. He brought back a white envelope and threw it on the table. I opened it up and saw that it was the original purchase contract for his TSX, dated December 29, 2004 when the car had 5 miles on it. Josh knows that I go crazy for documentation, so this was a real find.

I got a kick out of the phone booth in front of Sourdough Lodge: A sign taped above it said, “Will eat your hard earned money. Courtesy phone inside.” Full and happy, Josh and I headed out to take a cutoff road that would get us to Highway 55. Along the way, we stopped and admired the sights and gushing sounds of the South Fork of the Payette River. It was time to swap cars again, and I thanked Josh for allowing me some seat-time in his TSX. The next 70 miles took me through more heavily wooded forests. Parade traffic in the town of Cascade cost me a 20-minute delay, but I didn’t mind one bit. How could I complain? I had my windows down and moonroof open, and it was July. Try doing that in Arizona without getting cooked.

It was a great evening in McCall, Idaho with my family at my brother’s cabin. As I drafted this blog entry from a lounge chair on the back deck whilst admiring a glass-smooth lake, I can think of very few places I’d rather be spending the holiday weekend. Ice cream and a phenomenal fireworks show over Payette Lake capped off an amazing Independence Day.

Here are the rest of the photos and a video from this piece of my weekend journey.

First, Josh taking the wheel of the ILX.

Odometer of the TSX. I forgot to get one before we departed, but I have this in-motion shot from once we got going on I-84 at the beginning of the day. Yep, that says 408,823 miles.

Idaho City, Idaho.

Highway 21 northbound in all its wooded glory.

Scenic turnout.

Pull-out near Lowman so we could re-group.

Most of the day, there was little to no cellular service. Having a reliable car is critical.

Like an oasis in the desert, the Sourdough Lodge shone like a beacon along the road. We were hungry.

I got a kick out of Josh’s mileage log. Daily he records his business miles for the road-warrior TSX.

Sourdough Lodge omelet. Two thumbs way up.

Following Josh back toward a cutoff that would take us to Highway 55.

Unmatched scenery as the road winds along the South Fork of the Payette River.

Water levels are high due to spring runoff. The sound of water rapids is something I could listen to all day long.

Looking west along the river.

Goofy ol’ me.

Here’s where Josh and I parted ways. I headed north to McCall; he headed south to Boise.

I took this for my friend Chris who shares a last name with the name of this (very small!) town.

Finally, I arrived in McCall.

This is how I spent much of the afternoon, sprawled out in a lounge chair at my brother’s cabin.

Later that night, ice cream with my niece Addy.

And fireworks over the lake. Couldn’t have asked for a nicer evening!

Come back next time for the wrap-up of my Idaho driving adventure.

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4th of July Weekend Part 1: Scottsdale, Arizona to Boise, Idaho

Posted in ILX, Road Trip on July 3, 2014 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend): 530,029

Odometer (ILX): 86,638

Leg Distance: 1,071 Miles

Brigham City, Utah. I had a few minutes to kill while waiting for my friend Nick to meet me for some hometown food, so I sprawled out on my back on the grassy lawn in front of Peach City Drive-In and enjoyed the incredible summertime weather. As I looked above me, the whispy clouds drifted across the sky and the sun peeked through the leaves with a glisten in the light breeze. Coming from a place where A) It’s 110 degrees, and B) Hardly anyone landscapes with grass, this was quite a rich experience. I was in my element.

That is, until I heard the sputter of a sprinkler head a few feet away from my face. Within seconds, the oscillating nozzle made its way with gushing water right toward me. I thought quickly enough to shield my iPhone from the water as I darted across the grass to safety, but my shirt and sunglasses got soaked. Nick pulled up a minute or so later and I had to explain, “No, this isn’t sweat. I just got attacked by the sprinklers and I think everyone inside the restaurant is laughing at me right now.”

It’s a 5-day holiday weekend for me and I’m making the most of it by exploring some new turf up north. Tonight, I’m in stationed in the capitol of the Gem State of Idaho, in Boise. Tomorrow, I’m meeting up with none other than Josh of TSXTravels.com for a scenic tour of the surrounding area en route to my brother’s cabin in the town of McCall. It’s already been a memorable 1,071-mile trip so far. Enjoy a few of the photos from this first piece of my journey.

The was just dipping below the horizon around quarter to eight last night as I neared Hoover Dam in Nevada.

I made some time to meet up with my friend Jessie and Devon in Boulder City for some Panda Express dinner.

In St. George, Utah, I dropped off a transmission at my brother’s place. That unit is going into a Lexus IS300 that my brother is building. Sure was fun to hoist that into / out of my trunk by myself (Payton wasn’t home at the time of drop-off).

Saturday morning meet-up with mom before heading northbound on I-15 from St. George

Mom knows me best. She took a couple of “spy shots” while I was driving ahead of her on Bluff Street.

Bonus points to her for also getting the rear quarter panel of a 2nd generation Acura TL!

Peace!

In Salt Lake City, I made a couple of friend visits but soon continued onward.

Brigham City (population 18,000) is the proud home of the World’s Greatest Wild Bird Refuge, according to a sign that spans its main street. The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge covers some 74,000 acres and was established in 1928.

I couldn’t help but stop at “Chim-Chiminey” Fireplace and Stove Shop on Main Street.

The sign immediately made me think of this Mary Poppins Song.

Soon, I arrived at Peach City Drive-In at 300 North Main Street.

Peach City has been a landmark in Brigham City since 1937 but its current location dates back to 1957.

Here’s that darn sprinkler that blasted me.

Nick arrived in his gorgeous 2006 BMW 325xi and we prepared to dine.

Grilled cheese, waffle fries, and… fry sauce. This might be a Utah thing, but “fry sauce” is the best. It’s basically a combination of ketchup and mayonnaise. And it’s incredibly delicious.

Heading out again on I-15 to I-84 westbound.

Storms loomed ahead and at one point the torrential rains forced me to put the windshield wipers into high gear.

It was during these thunderstorms that the temperature cooled to a refreshing 65 degrees outside.

By the way, I’m having a tough time adjusting to these daylight hours! Back home, sunset was at 7:40 p.m. Here in Boise, it was 9:25 p.m.! Anyway, here I am, relaxing for the night with many more adventures yet to come.

Thanks for joining!

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530k Milestone & Flagstaff Quick Drive

Posted in Arizona, ILX, Legend, Milestones, Road Trip, Spy Shots on June 29, 2014 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend): 530,024

Odometer (ILX): 85,452

Took me long enough to get to 530k!

Friday, I drove the Legend to work and achieved a milestone on the way home from the office. I took a few cell phone shots of the car just shortly after the roll-over. They aren’t the best quality but you get the idea.

I have a few maintenance items to address before driving it to Los Angeles next month for NALM. I might go ahead and have the spark plugs changed (last replaced at 434,000). There’s also a leaking inner CV boot on the passenger side, and I’ve been told the A/C lines at the compressor are leaking, though the system still somehow blows ice cold air.

These were taken just east of Phoenix on the Beeline Highway near the Saguaro Lake turnoff.

Yesterday, I escaped the Phoenix heat for a few hours and met up with some friends in Flagstaff, Arizona. It’s only about a 150-mile drive each way via I-17 so I was easily able to get up and back comfortably over the course of the day. It sure was great to spend some time in “only” 90 degree temperatures as opposed to the 110 degrees at my house.

The only photos I grabbed were at Exit 317: Fox Ranch Road.

Perfect day for a drive.

Think anyone will mind if I park the car there? I was a rebel for a few seconds.

I thought it would be fun to share a few “spy shots” that friends have sent me over the last couple of weeks since I recently started saving them. My friends know how Legend-crazy I am, so I frequently get text messages of random sightings from the road.

From Tim

From Terrance

Another from Terrance

From Paul

From Mike

From Jim

Another from Jim

From Beau

Haha, to those who have my phone number or email: Keep the pics coming!

4 Comments »

NALM Registration for July 24-27 Event in Los Angeles

Posted in NALM on June 25, 2014 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend): 529,904

Odometer (ILX): 85,018

My friend Jeff sent me the below picture via text message. He works for the province of Alberta and wanted to show me just how far north his team was stationed today, in the town of Grande Prairie. The sign states “Alaska” with an arrow.

My first thought was, “That looks so familiar!”

Sure enough, after a little digging, I discovered that I took a picture of the exact same sign 8 years ago. It was May 2006 and my dad & I were on our way to Fairbanks, Alaska and passing through. Our weather wasn’t nearly as nice.

It really is a small world!

Just a quick plug to those of you who may reside within a day’s drive of Los Angeles – or perhaps a couple of you crazies who would be willing to drive even longer than that: Registration for this year’s 10th Annual National Acura Legend Meet is now open. The event will be headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California and held July 24th through 27th.

This will be the 10th time I’ve driven to NALM since its first event in 2005 in Dallas, Texas. I’ve enjoyed the program each and every year, and I’ve continued to build quality friendships with others who share similar interests.

My home in the Phoenix area will be a staging area of sorts for at least 3 Legendary road trippers who are coming through from the eastern United States. Even more exciting for me is that I’ll be able to have both my Legend coupe and my Legend sedan in attendance, thanks to my friend Chris from Baltimore who will fly out and make the 6-hour drive via I-10 from Phoenix with me.

This year’s NALM will include a special kick-off ceremony at Honda’s private museum at the company’s headquarters in Torrance. Must see!

A detailed itinerary is pending but here’s the basic layout of events.

These two are ready to rock and roll!

Hope to see some of you there!

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New York City

Posted in Misc Travel on June 23, 2014 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend): 529,846

Odometer (ILX): 84,912

I stumbled with droopy eyes off a United Airlines flight at Terminal C in Newark, New Jersey at 6:14 a.m. on Saturday morning. It felt like 3:14 a.m. to me on Arizona time, but my exhaustion was quickly put to rest when my friend Conor pulled up to the passenger pick-up area in his beautiful Satin Silver Metallic 2004 Acura TSX to provide the finest in luxury transport services.

Our destination was none other than the Big Apple: Conor and my other friend Brad rolled out the red carpet for me on a two-day trip to New York City this weekend. My last trip to Manhattan had been nearly 3 years ago. I tried to convince Brad and Conor that I knew my way around but I would have been truly lost without them.

All it took was one step out of Brad’s place at 95th Street & 2nd Avenue after catching a quick power nap, and I said, “This weather is amazing!” I hope each and every one of New York City’s 8 million residents had been enjoying it as much as I was. By the way, that’s double the population of Los Angeles. Saturday was an action-packed day of sightseeing and exploration, with key visits to Central Park, Grand Central Station, and Times Square.

Here are a few photos from our adventure.

The ILX took a chill pill in the East Economy lot at Phoenix Sky Harbor.

Awaiting my redeye flight from PHX-EWR: A full two hours early and wondering how I’ll ever be able to sleep on the plane.

Early morning Saturday arrival in Newark.

In a sea of yellow cabs, one car stood out: it was Conor’s silver 2004 TSX.

Driving through the Holland Tunnel which opened in 1927 and connects Manhattan with Jersey City, New Jersey. It’s located underneath the Hudson River.

Arrival at Brad’s place on 95th Street after our tour through town.

A full 30-40 degrees cooler than home! I enjoyed every second of this weather.

This is how you get around in NYC.

For some reason this subway map is so much more overwhelming to me than a road map! Stop here, transition here to another train, be mindful of special hourly constraints, so much to keep in mind. Just give me some car keys.

Tyson, Brad, Conor before brunch at a neat place called “Trend” located on the Upper East Side.

Central Park was bustling with activities, including a wedding and a couple of festivals.

We wandered up to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir.

Times Square with thousands of tourists. The woman to my right was not amused by being in my picture.

Grand Central Station, which receives 21.6 million annual visitors.

Bryant Park

ILX sighting! I ended up seeing a few of these around. In all our wanderings, though, we only saw two Legends: A blue 1991 coupe and a gray 1987 coupe — both in Brooklyn, and both within a block of each other!

Dinner at Grimaldi’s Pizzeria in Chelsea. Highly recommended. But take note: It’s cash-only!

Sunday morning, a trip to Conor’s place in Brooklyn Heights, complete with some important reading material.

… and a look at the “shrine” of Acura memorabilia in his living room.

Brooklyn Heights Promenade — the best view of NYC in my opinion.

Awakening Vanessa the TSX from her slumber for my shuttle ride back to EWR airport.

Bon voyage!

Last view. Vanessa, incidentally, turned over 128,000 miles en route that afternoon.

I had a blast this weekend and I extend my thanks to my great friends for their hospitality!

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550,000 Miles in 32 Months

Posted in Blog on June 20, 2014 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend): 529,841

Odometer (ILX): 84,836

I walked into the kitchen after work (and exhaled because it’s been a stressful work week and it’s 108 degrees outside) and started thumbing through the junk mail I’d picked up outside. The following conversation ensued.

Roommate: Going anywhere fun this weekend?
Me: Yeah, I’m catching a flight to New York tonight.
Roommate (turns away from whatever he’s cooking): You’re FLYING somewhere?

It’s true. If I can survive tonight’s redeye, I’ll be in Manhattan tomorrow and making a quick turnaround to come back to Arizona on Sunday night. Whirlwind trip. But you all know, that’s how I roll. Or, in this case, fly.

Meanwhile, I’ll leave you with a fun video. Can you imagine driving 7,500 miles per week? An oil change every week. Around-the-clock operation. Nissan provided a Chandler, Arizona-based delivery company with an NV3500 utility van for the ultimate in real-world durability testing. The results are impressive to say the least. Just one unscheduled maintenance item: an alternator replacement somewhere in the 300,000 mile range. Check out this video!

I’ve personally met Nissan Engineer Craig Pike who appears in the video. Should I send him a job application to be a test engineer?

Thanks Dillon for providing the sweet ILX wallpaper here. Have a great weekend.

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