Coast to Coast and Never Had to Leave the Couch Pt. 1
I'll be honest - this experience lasted three days, happened at the last minute, and turned out to be one of the best experiences of my entire life. I've always harbored a dream of traveling around the country to photograph people's car collections for a coffee table book, but the planning involved seemed daunting.
Then, out of the blue, a gentleman named Fernando J Alva Mirás emailed me, asking if I wanted to drive a 51-year-old Citroen DS across the country to Pebble Beach in just a couple of days. Without hesitation, I dropped everything and made it happen.
When I arrived at Fernando's beautiful cottage in Connecticut, I was greeted by a sight that set the tone for the adventure ahead. Parked in the driveway were a few fun cars, including the green DS convertible we would be driving.
His family welcomed us warmly and prepared a lovely lunch that we enjoyed outside on the back patio. As we finished up our meal and began packing the car, Fernando pulled out leather suitcases that matched the car's style perfectly. It added an extra layer of excitement and anticipation as we prepared to embark on our journey.
We then drove to his friend's house down the street, where another convertible DS was tucked away in the garage. We couldn't resist pulling it out for a fantastic photo opportunity before hitting the road again.
During our drive, Fernando shared the two main reasons for our cross-country journey. Firstly, the car had been purchased by a friend of his and needed to be delivered to Washington. Secondly, Citroen was the featured marque at the upcoming Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
While our car wasn't quite in Concours condition, needing some aesthetic work, it performed admirably on the road. Despite my initial expectations of potential issues with a vintage French car from the 60s, we didn't encounter a single problem throughout the entire trip. One remarkable feature of these cars is the hydropneumatic suspension, which allows you to drive over potholes without even feeling them. It's truly out of this world!
We established a rhythm of trading off three-hour driving stints, sometimes pushing on until fatigue set in. Our first fuel stop happened to be in Intercourse, Pennsylvania. As we pulled off the highway, a horse and buggy casually trotted by, a quaint sight to behold.
While Fernando filled up the tank, I ventured inside the gas station to grab some drinks and snacks. It was then that I discovered we were in a town humorously named "Intercourse." The gas station had a plethora of random items for sale, including souvenirs boldly proclaiming "I love Intercourse," with "PA" in tiny letters. Feeling the need to inject some humor into our journey, I spotted a mysterious $1 all-black wrapped air freshener. Curiosity got the best of me, and I added it to my pile. What was hidden beneath the wrapper? A cheeky image of a naked girl, of course. Childish? Perhaps. Irresistible? Absolutely.
As fate would have it, Fernando emerged with Rain-X, insisting that every old car should have this miracle product. Just as we rejoined the road, we were met with torrential downpours. The timely purchase of Rain-X turned out to be a stroke of luck, as we barely needed to use the wipers. It was a testament to the effectiveness of the product, and we were grateful for its assistance in navigating the heavy rain without fuss.
Our stop in Illinois led us to visit Dave Mitchell at Mitchell Motorcars, and what a spectacular place it was! Dave is renowned for restoring vintage cars, with a specialty in Packards. We were treated to a ride around the block in a stunning 1934 Cadillac Sixteen Town Car. The experience was nothing short of smooth and luxurious, and I couldn't help but imagine myself in the back, leisurely sipping some scotch.
Of course, it was only fair that we returned the favor, so we took Dave for a ride in our car as well. It was a delightful exchange of automotive experiences, showcasing the beauty and craftsmanship of different eras in the automotive world.
As we journeyed across the northern part of the United States, we found ourselves traversing through some of the most uneventful landscapes imaginable. Iowa, in particular, seemed to stretch endlessly with nothing but farmland and cornfields.
When our car needed gas, we took the next exit and followed a road that led into a small, rundown town. It turned out that the closest gas station was 13 miles down this road, and upon arrival, we discovered that the highest octane available was 85. This was quite a contrast from the 93 we had been putting in the tank so far. After a 40-minute detour, we were finally back on the highway.
As if to add insult to injury, the first thing we saw upon rejoining the highway was a gas station right off the exit. It was a comical twist to our adventure.
Additionally, during our stop at the World's Largest Truck Stop in Walcott, Iowa, we couldn't resist purchasing a trucker girl emblem as a quirky souvenir from the journey.
I'd say things started to get more interesting once we reached Nebraska. Driving through Omaha, the thought of getting some steak crossed my mind, knowing that the town is renowned for its beef. We decided to stop at a restaurant called Monarch.
Upon entering, we found it to be a nice establishment with a welcoming atmosphere. To our delight, the steak we had there turned out to be the best I've ever tasted. Even Fernando, who has experienced his fair share of fine dining, agreed wholeheartedly. It was a culinary highlight of the trip, and a testament to Omaha's reputation for excellent steak.
Choo Choo! I found myself hanging out the window, camera in hand, attempting to capture photos of a train to convey its speed. To my surprise, the conductor kept blowing the horn in response, adding to the thrill of the moment.
We managed to get far enough ahead of the train to catch the sunset, with the train passing by as a picturesque backdrop. Positioned just right, I was able to snap a photo of the train with the setting sun behind it, creating a stunning silhouette.
Not wanting to miss a beat, we hopped back into the car and drove ahead once more, aiming to capture the train at night with our car parked near the tracks. The excitement was palpable as we set up the shot, and my enthusiasm grew as I reviewed the photos we had captured. It was a true blast trying to capture these moments, and my excitement reached new heights when I saw the incredible images we had managed to create.
"Definition of a Hustla" by RAY LUV blared through the speakers as we pulled up to the Denver International Airport to pick up Fernando's buddies. Every year, they gather for a unique adventure as a group, and this year's destination was Boulder, Colorado.
Driving into Boulder, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were in our version of "The Hangover" movie: four guys cruising in an expensive classic car down a desert highway towards the city. The scenery was reminiscent of a movie set, and I couldn't help but be captivated by the surroundings.
If there's one place in the United States I would consider moving to, it would have to be Boulder. The breathtaking views and picturesque landscapes would make photography a dream, with stunning locations waiting to be discovered around every corner. It truly felt like a place where adventure and beauty intersected seamlessly.
The Airbnb where we stayed was nothing short of spectacular. The interior style resembled a Frank Lloyd Wright house, albeit a bit worn out. Perched on the side of a mountain, it offered stunning views of downtown Boulder in the distance.
The thunderstorms that rolled off the mountains were nothing short of intense. We watched in awe as they crept over the city, resembling something out of "Independence Day" when the spaceship entered the atmosphere.
During our time in Boulder, we dined at The Buff restaurant, where our waitress had the fitting name of Porsche, which added a certain allure to the experience. The Buff was a wildly popular breakfast spot, but with a wait nearing an hour, we decided to venture to a nearby restaurant to satisfy our hunger. The name Porsche certainly left an impression, adding a touch of intrigue to our dining experience.
One afternoon, we embarked on a hike up Sanitas Mountain. As we made our way up the trail, a young, fit woman jogged past us. Curious about the remaining distance, we asked her how long it would take to reach the summit. She confidently replied, "45 minutes."
However, after two hours of hiking, we found ourselves only about 85 percent of the way to the summit. It seemed our estimation of time and distance didn't quite align with the reality of the trail!
As our time in Boulder came to an end, we hit the road once more to meet up with Shawn Bowman and Gauthier Vandepeutte, both of whom owned Citroen DS wagons. We decided to grab lunch together and ended up having a delightful photoshoot.
During the shoot, I found myself hanging out of the hatch of the DS, capturing some unique angles. We even decided to add a bit of fun by wearing interesting masks, adding a whimsical touch to the photoshoot. It was a memorable and enjoyable way to wrap up our time together, capturing moments of creativity and camaraderie.
The absolute highlight of our entire trip was driving through the Colorado National Park. The roads were narrow, winding along the edges of cliffs where a mistake like texting and driving could result in a catastrophic plunge hundreds of feet down.
As we entered the park, the view was so breathtakingly overwhelming that I had to ask Fernando to pull over so I could catch my breath. It was a struggle to even photograph because I had never seen anything so stunning in my life. The sheer magnitude and beauty of the towering rock formations left me in complete awe.
After a short drive, I asked Fernando to pull over once again so I could take more photos. I couldn't help but try to capture every angle and perspective of this majestic landscape, knowing that no photograph could truly do it justice. It was a moment of pure wonder and admiration for the natural beauty that surrounded us.
We embarked on a thrilling climb through a dark tunnel nestled in the side of a rock formation. To access the tunnel, we had to navigate down a steep hill, and as we ventured deeper, the tunnel gradually narrowed. We found ourselves crawling towards a bright opening ahead.
As we approached the opening, we were greeted with a surprising sight—a grate above us revealed that we had stumbled upon a storm drain. It was a bit of an unexpected turn, and for all we knew, it could have been a mountain lion den! The adrenaline was definitely pumping as we made our way through.
Adding to the adventure, we encountered a herd of goats lounging casually on the side of the road. Feeling bold, I approached them for a closer look. Just when I thought they were relaxed, they suddenly decided to defy gravity and began scaling the face of a cliff. It was a jaw-dropping moment—goats climbing a cliffside with ease, leaving us in disbelief!
After leaving the Colorado National Park, we continued our journey through Utah and made a stop in Salt Lake City for a quick bite to eat. From there, we headed towards the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Unfortunately, we had just missed the races that occurred a couple of days before our arrival. However, we arrived just in time to witness a truly spectacular sunset over the vast expanse of the salt flats. Despite the windy conditions and the absurd number of black flies, watching the sun dip below the horizon was undeniably a highlight of the trip.
I won't dwell on Nevada too much, as it was easily the most uneventful part of our journey. Picture this: we were on a road that stretched endlessly, completely straight with a speed limit of 80mph. I must admit, I ended up dozing off for about an hour and a half. When I woke up, we were still on that same straight road, and the scenery hadn't changed one bit. It felt like a scene out of "The Book of Eli," where everything was desolate and time seemed to stand still. Nevada seemed like a vast, empty expanse, reminiscent of the eerie solitude portrayed in the movie. There was truly nothing out there to capture our attention, making it the most uneventful leg of our journey.
Well, hello, Truckee, California! We arrived in style to where my childhood friend Danielle Mulloy works. Upon reaching her place, we were warmly greeted by Miller, the famous German Shepherd. I had seen numerous Facebook posts about his exciting adventures, so it was a delight to finally meet him in person.
Danielle graciously took us out to explore Lake Tahoe and up to Donner's Pass. The views were absolutely breathtaking, and we were truly grateful for the fantastic time she showed us. Thanks again, Danielle, for an unforgettable experience!