SL Diesel - Road Trip (Canadian Rockies) - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

courtney · #31 07-11-2015, 04:11 AM

glad the trip is going good!

love that mpg, what a cool car

stay safe

nobby · #32 07-11-2015, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mach4

Made it to Canada. Yea!

One thing of note was I've yet to see an accident on this trip.

And we are in Canmore!

Funny.....We,ve already covered 4000 kms and haven't seen an accident, either.

Continued safe travels.

dude99 · #33 07-11-2015, 11:56 AM

Quote:

heavy Friday traffic in Portland and Seattle.

yeah its always like that. The I5 sucks in rush hour. Welcome to my neck of the woods! You picked a good time to come up as its cooler this week. Much more pleasant temperature right now.

charmalu · #34 07-11-2015, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mach4

Survived LA post rush hour traffic - Arrived Bakersfield safely.

Nothing picture-worthy.

What? you didn`t stop and see Buck Owens Crystal Palace?

He put Bakersfield on the map.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5P6zdlPJ34

https://www.google.com/search?q=buck+owens%E2%80%99+crystal+palace&biw=853&bih=569&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=mU-hVZO6MYnp-QG-m4mABw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&dpr=1.5

Charlie

Druk · #35 07-12-2015, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmalu

https://www.google.com/search?q=buck+owens%E2%80%99+crystal+palace&biw=853&bih=569&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=mU-hVZO6MYnp-QG-m4mABw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&dpr=1.5

OMG!

...............

mach4 · #36 07-13-2015, 12:27 AM

Another fantastic day in Canada. Made the trip from just outside Vancouver to Calgary, just a hair under 600 miles. The car continues to perform logging 34.9mpg for this the 4th tank...couldn't be happier.

Finally got a chance to catch a picture of the car along the way.

It was a nice Sunday for cruising and there were other project cars out enjoying the open roads.

The Rocky Mountains are spectacular and the weather cooperated fully. Here's some representative images...

mach4 · #37 07-13-2015, 12:29 AM

And some more...

mach4 · #38 07-13-2015, 12:38 AM

And a few more...

One rather interesting thing that I observed along the way, were these animal bridges. The highway is fenced to prevent wildlife from getting on the highway, but these bridges are placed strategically to allow them to get from one side to the other.

I couldn't tell if these horses were heading to the Calgary Stampede or just out for a Sunday afternoon walk.

dieselbenz1 · #39 07-13-2015, 08:02 AM

Yee Ha ya made it Mach4! What Mach4 failed to mention was the Coquihalla Highway it's about a 120 mile length of highway starting around 400 foot elevation with the summit at about 4000 feet and yes a solid 60 mile climb but a fun ride down the other side. Owner operator truckers hate it. Too much stress on there rigs in both directions some end crawling the entire length. Welcome to Calgary Mach4!

mach4 · #40 07-13-2015, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieselbenz1

Yee Ha ya made it Mach4! What Mach4 failed to mention was the Coquihalla Highway it's about a 120 mile length of highway starting around 400 foot elevation with the summit at about 4000 feet and yes a solid 60 mile climb but a fun ride down the other side. Owner operator truckers hate it. Too much stress on there rigs in both directions some end crawling the entire length. Welcome to Calgary Mach4!

Yea, I couldn't help thinking about what the road would be like in winter. I like to watch Highway Thru Hell and can't believe what the truckers and travelers deal with. It's an amazing highway for sure, one I've wanted to run(in summer) for a long time.

dieselbenz1 · #41 07-13-2015, 10:14 AM

There is a bypass to the Coquihalla which was the old number 1 highway it will add a couple hours to the journey more switch backs but no real long climbs more up and down much easier on the trucks. Way more scenic more intense driving as its mostly single lanes and yes you pass through Hells gate.

nobby · #42 07-13-2015, 08:49 PM

Finally connected with Paul in Hinton, Alberta.

euroamg · #43 07-13-2015, 10:51 PM

If you go around Vancouver area again let me know.. Maybe a little meet would be great.. It would be nice to see the 380sld

mach4 · #44 07-13-2015, 11:03 PM

Today started in Calgary with a nice drive back to Banff after spending the night there. Calgary is out on the plains and is definitely cowboy country. Yesterday was the last day of the Calgary Stampede so all the news stations had results and profiles of the various event winners. The biggest event seemed to me to be the Chuck Wagon Races. Definitely a different culture, but very cool!

Something else caught my eye and that is that all the hotels have electrical boxes by each parking stall - yup, to plug in engine heaters in the winter so they'll start the next day. Wonder how the old 617 engine would do under those conditions? ...not gonna happen anytime soon, however!

Leaving Calgary you quickly begin to see the Rocky Mountains off in the distance with the long perfectly straight roads belying the twists, turns and ups and downs ahead.

As you get closer, it's as if the mountains rise directly out of the flat with no transition.

We had another day of great weather and warm, comfortable temperatures.

The Benzypalooza wasn't the only car event in town as there was a huge gathering of Model T vintage cars out for a run through the mountains - must have been two dozen or more presumably running from Banff to Lake Louise.

The car did really well again, posting a very respectful 36.2 mpg including all the stops for scenic viewing, grades and road work.

I chased Nobby and mrelbe all day but, as it turned out, they got an earlier start and overnighted in Canmore which was the better part of an hour closer, so they were already settled in in Hinton by the time I got in.

Tomorrow on to Kamloops.

Got to see the first real wild life today (pictures below).

mach4 · #45 07-13-2015, 11:09 PM

Here are some scenic images from the day. Everything is so spectacular it's really tough to pick the images.