A big thanks to Skip and the NWCC gang for a great trip. For what it's worth here's what I managed to come up with.
NW Cobra Club Coastal Cruise 2012
Day 1
The second annual NW Cobra Club Coastal Cruise was due to launch from the Tacoma/Lakewood area of Washington on Friday. In order to meet the group by 8:00 on Friday morning I decided to buzz up to the Tacoma/Lakewood area on Thursday and stay over.
Given that the forecast temps were supposed to be in the upper 90’s on Thursday I left Portland around 11:00 in order to avoid the hottest part of the day. Leaving at 11 would get me there around 1:00 or 1:30 and would give me a chance to stop by the Lemay Auto Museum and have a look around in air conditioned comfort while waiting for the motel check-in time at 3:00.
As I was passing by Longview on the way up I5 I was mentally reviewing my packing for the trip. While it was forecast to be hot in the valley the coast was calling for typical Oregon summer temps in the 60’s. Mental check list:
Long sleeve T shirt – Check
Sweat shirt – Check
Jeans – Check
Shorts _ I was wearing them already so Check
T-Shirts – Check
Socks, underwear, toiletries – Check
Jacke(s) – I knew I would forget something. Was thinking so much about the heat on the way up to Tacoma/Lakewood I completely forgot about packing any of the 12 or so jackets I have that will cover just about any weather I run into driving the Cobra. A quick stop at Chehalis and $40.00 later I now had 13 jackets to cover any weather I run into driving the Cobra.
The museum was really impressive in the breadth of cars that they have on display. Something for everyone on matter what you vehicular tastes.
Friday dawned sunny and getting warm. Everyone met up at the McDonalds parking lot and got to touch base with the start-up crew. We had seven cars to start with and two more meeting us in Seaside.
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We hit the road and proceeded towards our first scheduled stop in Montesano about 60 miles down the road. About 10 miles west of Olympia we drove into the overcast that would be with us until just north of Astoria. The temps dropped a bunch and everyone was thankful for the planned stop. It was cool enough that I decided that I’d put on my new 13th jacket. Who says you can’t put on a jacket in a Cobra traveling 60 mph and driving with your knees. Piece of cake and never even almost crashed once.
Starting out in the sun
Driving into the coastal overcast
The stop in Montesano so everyone could warm up a bit and put on another layer or two. I wimped out and turned my heater on and left it on till Sunday afternoon.
As we got further south we finally broke out of the overcast and the sky started to clear up a little
As we neared Astoria we could see the coastal strat hanging just out over the water.
Still under clearing skies we could see the Astoria Bridge as we came in from the east.
We stopped at the Dismal Notch Roadside Park just to stretch out legs and hold a small car show for the folks passing by.
From there it was over the bridge (without leaving anyone on it this year) and into Astoria.
Did I mention it’s a pretty long bridge?
Into Astoria and onto another bridge to get out of Astoria and make the sort drop down to Seaside
By this time traffic was starting to build pretty good and we were in it for the rest of the way into Seaside. Not bad as traffic goes but definitely busy.
The stay at the Shilo was pleasant and we were warmly welcomed by the staff (“Did you bring in those beautiful cars”?) and, since it was still daylight, most of the guests thought the cars were pretty neat as well. Don’t know what they thought when we cranked up the next morning getting ready to leave. I know I set off at least two car alarms in the garage when I started.
Here’s a short video of the run to Seaside starting out in the sun, going to clouds and then back into the sun again. Typical NW terrain heading west from the valley going to rolling hills and then down into the coastal flats.
NW Coastal Cruise 2012 Day 1 - YouTube