Cali to Balti by Infiniti

[Cali 2 Balti G]

I see one of the new guys mentioning that he just drove his G cross Country.

I did the same thing in May hence my user name.

I got a sweet deal on a 2003 with 7900 miles. Flew in and drove it 2600 miles back to baltimore. We took route 40 out of California which paralled historic route 66. California to Arizona to New Mexico to Texas to Oklahoma to Missouri to Illinoie to Indiana to Ohio to West Virgina to Maryland. Did the drive in 3 days (first night slept in car, 2nd night hotel in New Mexico, 3rd night hotel in Missouri). Averaged about 26 mpg. Here are some pictures.

I started out Friday morning in Champaign, IL - woke at 4 am to take 2 hour drive to Chicago to catch 8am flight to Cali. Get to Cali at 10, wifey arrives at 10:30am from Baltimore. Sellers son meets us at airport and I see car in person for first time - a tear comes to my eye. I drive to credit union where we spend 2 hours signing $23k in Travelers Checks in $100 denominations. Leave LA about 2pm get stuck in the middle of LA traffic - but as we drive I'm seeing many sights that I've seen in movies - for example that big viaduct that is in the Terminator 2 chase . Arizona desert is absolutely beautiful - then it got dark.

First night - this is the first place we stopped for gas in the middle of the desert outside of Kingman AZ - gas station in the middle of nowhere - the wise cracking cashier had no front teeth (kind of reminded of The Hills Have Eyes) - no lights beyond the station and everything in the store was high as hell - the gas well - you see for yourself. Our plan was to sleep in the car a couple of hours but not at this spot. I like to be alive when I go to sleep - we drove another 65 miles to a TA truck stop.



2nd Day



Desert Platinum G in the Arizona Desert on the way to Grand Canyon.





ooh, aah

One of many roadside attractions along I40 and Rte. 66





New Mexico's Finest



New Mexico

There was a Jaguar rally on parallel route 66 - as we were travelling east on 40 we could see all types of vintage jaguars including 1 seat convertibles travelling west - we ran into one during a gas stop.



Texas - Cadillac Ranch is behind me. As my wife is driving I happen to look over and see the Cadillacs and I'm like ooh, ooh pull over.





Tourist traps in Oklahoma - I kept looking for cops only to find stores and gas stations.



How you like them Arches - first of two arches - must be a preview to the next Arch we would see on our journey. Simply amazing- In and Out may have the better burgers but they aint got there own highway overpass



Wifey posing in Missouri



St.Louis Arch

This is my carThis is my car on BUGS - this is what it looked like when we got back to Baltimore

After the 2600 mile test drive my OTHER woman got a new pair of shoes and some splashguards.



Modified by Cali 2 Balti G at 4:53 PM 10/9/2007

Modified by Cali 2 Balti G at 5:09 PM 10/9/2007
Modified by Cali 2 Balti G at 7:07 PM 10/9/2007

[SVTCOBRA]

Cool pics!! Thanks for sharing!Looks like a nice trip! Man, that is some serious buggage on the front bumper!

[Cali 2 Balti G]

This trip was pretty grueling actually - and my wife, bless her heart, didn;t make it any better. I couldn't rest while she was driving. - and I'm not talking about the usual husband being anal about his new (to him) car. My wife held the steering wheel at the 12 and 7 position - essentially one hand on the top and one hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. The steering on the G is pretty tight so if you move the wheel a little the car will turn - well we went down the highway slightly weaving side to side. So every time I felt that little jerk I would open my eyes thinking we were about to crash.

Other than the the scenery was beautiful, we parelled historic route 66 and also the BNSF Ry Transcontinental line. I'm a train modeler and I model BNSF which normally doesnt' run anywhere near Baltimore - so I got to see my subject up close running in the desert at high speeds - seeing whole trains stretched out from end to end.

My car has navigation - which displayed I-40, Rte. 66 and the BNSF Transcon visuals, etc -. We only passed one real speed trap to the left of us in Oklahoma - cop was on our left in the median - my wife is looking completely to the right at me in the passenger seat to say it ok for me to eat out of the bag of chips I grabbed from her lap. She had no clue she had passed a cop at all It did feel good passing cops out west at 80mph
Modified by Cali 2 Balti G at 7:16 PM 10/9/2007

[G_whizz]

LOL.. Great pics! Thanks for sharing!

[SVTCOBRA]

Other than the the scenery was beautiful, we parelled historic route 66 and also the BNSF Ry Transcontinental line. I'm a train modeler and I model BNSF which normally doesnt' run anywhere near Baltimore - so I got to see my subject up close running in the desert at high speeds - seeing whole trains stretched out from end to end.

I always wanted a big train layout! Thought I was going to get my wish, but the extra room turned into a sewing/embroidery room... I had purchased some MTH Railkings (20th century passenger line & Norfolk Southern line).......ended up selling them and my lionel zw transformer.... I think next time I'll go smaller with a z scale.Post pics of your layout.

Oh, and I found out today that our company sets up a Christmas train each year in the lobby of one of our buildings in Cincy. They've been doing it since the 1940's. 300 cars/50 enginesFound this vid of it which was pretty good.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv3zjXJ9VVA

[mikemart]

Other than the the scenery was beautiful, we parelled historic route 66 and also the BNSF Ry Transcontinental line. I'm a train modeler and I model BNSF which normally doesnt' run anywhere near Baltimore - so I got to see my subject up close running in the desert at high speeds - seeing whole trains stretched out from end to end.

Train modeler, huh? My father gets to drive those for a living! He loves it--been doing it for 28 years...

You should have come through Wyoming. Its so wide open, you'd probably freak out, being from a big city.

That was cool! I enjoyed reading it. I hope to go on a long road trip someday...hopefully in a rental and not with my wife!!

[SVTCOBRA]

I hope to go on a long road trip someday...hopefully in a rental and not with my wife!!

[Cali 2 Balti G]

I always wanted a big train layout!

First off understand that I aint done jack with trains since I got my G in May.

My layout is in a finished attic - the space is 17' x 21'. Layout is HO Scale I model BNSF, I kitbash HO trucks, and love HO vehicles in general.

Here are a couple of shots.

[soul_hfk]

great pics Lloyd thz and love the trains if only i had time and my boys (8,6) didnt brake EVERYTHING

[zozoka1212]

Great pics. This pics takes me back when I was young. I was into these trians so much.

Thanks for sharing them with us.

zozo

[SVTCOBRA]

Trains are very cool!!! I took my son on a train ride for his birthday one year. Thanks for the layout pics! Great hobby.

[G_whizz]

Now that is cool!! You should paint a train with the NiCO badge...

Seriously... that's a sweet set up

[rg_g35x]

Wow! Thanks for the pics and the story - sounds like a great trip. I've driven the northern states from Vancouver, Canada to Niagara falls (and then on to Ottawa). Then, when I lived in (Columbia) Maryland, drove to Vancouver from there, but went one state south for that trip, so I got to see a lot of the northern half of the U.S.

On the subject of model trains, I'm (pleasantly) surprised to see so many replies about this subject.

As a kid, I had a 4x8 layout that was on pulleys above my bed (tried not to think about being asleep one night and the pulleys letting go...). I told my wife that I wanted to get back into it, but she keeps telling me that model trains are for kids and old guys (I'm 38 - she thinks the minute I start a model train layout I'll instantly turn 55). I'm glad to see others have an interest in them - and people that share my interest in cars, and in particular the G35. I'm curious about the age ranges of the people that have an interest in model railroads? (give me some ammo against my wife on this subject?)

[SVTCOBRA]

I was in my mid 30's. Now in my mid 40's.Some things you never out grow, model trains being one of them. Fast cars being another!!!

[Cali 2 Balti G]

I'll be 37 this year and have been in the hobby for about 5-6 years.

I have to be honest though - I have somewhat lost interest in the trains and the G35 isn't helping. I could sell my collection and easily recoup 4-5k. Enough for an intake and exhaust on the G and a Big Flat screen and furniture for the attic, and still have money left over. Hmmmm....