I know from my motorcycle trips, my favorite road in the US is the "million dollar hwy" from Silverton, Co, to Ouray, Co----it's filled w/switchbacks, lots of elevation changes, great vegetation & wildlife, and it's a hair-raising ride!!!
What are some of your favorites---for beauty, and challenge????
Leaving Helen, GA going north towards Hiawassee is pure ectasy in the M5. The road is straight uphill for 1,500 ft to one of the highest points in GA then straight back down for 10 or so miles. I told teutonaddict I thought I could get the front end off the ground at one particular bend and was nearly succesful. 15 mph 90 degree turns are awesome at 35 or 40.
This road is a favorite for motorcyclists coming up from Hotlanta.
Originally posted by aces full:
What are some of your favorites---for beauty, and challenge????
Last week I had the opportunity to drive from Jefferson City, Mo. to St. Louis, Mo. I decided to take the trip via highway 94. This is a two lane blacktop road that follows the Missouri river along the bluffs of the river. It was a trip of about 120 miles. Now this isn't like driving up Pacific Coast Highway mind you, but it's a pretty stretch of the Missouri River valley. The road has lots of twisty's and long straight stretches. Because parts of it are in the Missouri River flood plain there are spots where you can see a long distance so you can see if there are cops or anyone else for that matter coming the other way. These were great places to let the beast stretch it's legs. I hit 140 mile/hour on more that one occasion on these stretches.
There were also lots of curves, uphill, downhill and varying radius curves. The beast went through these like it was on rails. I don't think I let the revs drop to under 5k on whole trek except for the occasional other car which was always passed with the greatest of ease. It was exhilarating. The whole trip took less than two hours and I'll tell you I was exhausted but grinning from ear to ear at the end. This was the first time I'd driven that hard for this long a period of time and I can't wait to do it again!
This is the sort of driving where the beast really shines. It handled flawlessly and performed beautifully. It sounds corny but this really is the ultimate, ultimate driving machine.
BMurphy, you are right on. On my birthday in March, I played hooky from work, drove through Dahlonega, took highway 19 up to Neels's Gap (fabulous switch backs up approximately 7 miles), past Vogel State Park, right on 180 for about 10 miles or so to Highway 17, and then right on 17 and up the mountain into Helen. This is the reverse course you described. In several places I had 3 wheels in the air!! Take a right on Alt 75, then another right on 348 (it may be closed for repairs). This will take you back to 180 for another spin up and over Neel's Gap. Simply fabulous!
Well here in Colorado there are MANY cool roads. But a great strech is from Morrison to Evergreen just west of Denver. If traffic is light it provides a great oppertunity to swing from corner to corner in the Beast (and Beast Jr.)
Saw Mill Parkway between I-684 and I-87 in NY (goes by Chappaqua, the Clintons' new place). That road must have been designed by car enthusiasts, except for the occasional stop light! But it has everything you could want, including blind curves on downhill slopes!! Truly an exciting drive.
[This message has been edited by Anzir (edited 08 May 2001).]
Best Roads In America To Drive The Beast
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