Thinking about planning an all-day drive through Diablo Range of Central California, leaving from Bay Area early on a Saturday morning, heading down to Highway 25. From 25, take off on Coalinga Rd (runs near Hernandez reservoir and Idria mines), thru to Coalinga and then Highway 198 back West to Peachtree Rd, run Peachtee south to Highway 46, take 46 west to the coast (to Cambria) and then run Highway 1 north all the way back to Santa Cruz.

I'm sure this drive would eat up an entire day and may run early into the evening. We could all stop for lunch in Cambria.....last time I was down there I ate at this awesome BBQ place.

Anybody interested?

 

ok......check out these roads on Pashnit.com.

some of the BEST roads for WRX's in Calif!!!!!

 

i'd be down. just give us some notice and i'll make sure to have the day free just for this.

 

Driven most of them coming home from various ITN rallies over the years. Yes, they are GREAT roads!

Throw out some actual dates.

 

I'm thinking the last Saturday of April.......4/24?? I'll confirm w/ a post.

 

I'll be in Fort Stockton that weekend working the first Open Road Race of the season ... www.bborr.com ... how about the weekend before? The 17th.

 

Uh....I'll be in New Orleans that weekend eating gumbo.

 

depending on the date, we would definatally be into it

 

Cool.........sounds like we have some interest.

I will double check the date and keep posting more as I know.

I can post the exact route and mileage soon as well.

 

If you are going down that far, I would have to highly reccomend Old Hernandez road (unpaved- just a few miles between San Benito off 25, and Los Gatos creek/Coalinga Road).

A side trip tp New Idria might look tempting, but New Idria road is not really Subie friendly, one needs a higher clearence vehicle to get through it safely.

And while Peach Tree road is nice, Parkfield Grade totally kicks its ***- the grade is very twisty- and unpaved, but very smooth gravel up and over a mountain, then down into Parkfield, the Earthquake Capitol of California!

Sounds like a great trip, depending on when you do it I might just join y'all....

-Pete

 

Sounds like you know the area like I do. Yeah, I don't think I'd run a WRX over Idria. I took my Vanagon up over there years ago.....kinda hairy.

I did Parkfield years and years ago in my old VW. Don't remember much. I did visit Parkfield as part of a geology class.

 

The proposed date is 5/1/04.

 

i'm down!

 

I'm in