1000 miles in a day in a Diablo......

So my wife and boys were out of town so I decided to go for a drive. I took my phone, a check card, a driver's license and a GPS. Didn't know where I would go so I decided to head south on the 101 towards Monterey with the intention of having lunch in Carmel or somewhere near there. Wasn't sure where.....

So I head to the Shell station (the ONLY gas that sees my cars) on the south end of Gilroy and there is a kid standing there who tells me that they are "out of gas". I was like "How is a gas station out of gas?". Anyway, I decided it is no big deal and head north to Morgan Hill to hit that Shell Station. Once filled up, I am ready to roll!

So I head south again on 101 until I got close to Salinas. As I was getting close, traffic got nasty and came to a stop.
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I finally get tired of the stop and start on a FREEWAY and get off at the next exit to turn around. Unsure as to where I will now go, I think "Well I am going to head over Pacheco Pass and take some pics by the San Luis Resevoir." I am heading back up the 101 and decide to "Go detour through San Juan Bautista" as I had never seen it before. So I get off on the 156 and head through San Juan Bautista. Then Hollister. As I get closer, I start thinking....

I am going to go to Vegas or L.A.!

As I head over Pacheco Pass I call Steve Gleaner of Driven Exotics and see if he wants to indulge in the lunacy with me. He is in the shop but is working to get a customer car done on time and can't go.

I press on....Passing San Luis Resevoir
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I get to I-5 and head south!!

I is about as flat and boring of a drive on the left side of the car as you can imagine. The right side has the Diablo Range which is at least something to look at. I settle in at a nice speed and soon am near Coalinga...... I stop at some truck stop for my first fill up on the day.
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I stretch the legs and go through a McDonald's drive thru for a snack on the go. The kids working there were going NUTS. I can't imagine they see many Diablos there....much less going through their drive through.

I have been on the road for a few hours and know that I soon need to make my decision...

Vegas or L.A.??

I had just been in Vegas a month or so before so I decided L.A. it is!!! So I don't veer or near Bakersfield. And soon the fruits of my decision are staring at me.....


What is that in the distance?? It's not flat anymore!!!
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Fun times ahead!!
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Grapevine ahead!
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Up the Grapevine!!
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Some lake on the Grapevine
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Into the San Fernando Valley!!!
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At this point, I decide if I am doing something this stupid, I am going to go have dinner on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills! I had never been there before and it seemed like the right thing to do in a Diablo. The whole "Pretty Woman" thing made me miss my old Lotus Esprit V8 TT but then I looked back down at my Diablo and forgot about that other car. ;-)

SO I punch it into the ol' GPS (note, my GPS time is off - I am actually rushing to get there before it gets too dark as it is around 5 or so now) and see some cool things/sites on the screen. Bel Aire Country Club. I can only imagine who is eating there right now.........

I was seeing signs for all these places I had heard of, only in songs. Santa Monica made me think of Sheryl Crow. And Mullholland.....
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I pass the Tesla dealership and am a bit excited since this is a "car trip" so I take a pic....
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I GET TO RODEO DR!!!

Louis Vuitton, etc..

I like it. Just like I imagined it would be like.....only Julia Roberts is not around in her hooker outfit in this one....
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I soon realize that there is NO parking on Rodeo Drive. Also not much open. So I find a restaurant on the next block over and they HAVE Valet. And they say I can park right in front! $20 for the cool valet who moved a Lexus to make room. Feel like Lloyd Christmas but with $20 bills... Ha!

Score!
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I am so "in the moment" I decide to sit outside on their outdoor seating by myself so I can stare at the car. It was a bit cold and I am sure the waitress hated me for it but......

A GREAT wedge salad. Some good little tacos too. And an awesome view of the car. A few Diet Cokes for some caffeine..... Cause I am DRIVING BACK TONIGHT!! ;-)


It is amazing how rich one can feel eating a $15 dollar meal when you drive down in a Diablo to do it on Rodeo Drive. ;-)
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I leave the restaurant and get back on the 101 North. Really was wishing it was daytime so I could head over to Malibu for a bit and jump into the ocean. Maybe stop at Neptune's Net for another bite to eat. But I continue on the whole way, stopping once for gas in (I believe) King City.

The gauges look GREAT the whole way. They don't move. The car feels and acts like it wants to go across the country. I think to myself that "I bet it could!".
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I pull into the driveway around 2am or so. Tired but HAPPY. Almost giddy.

Left for lunch. Got back the next day. With the exception of an hour or so for dinner, I have been driving for like 14 hours!

Can't wait to do it again!

Hey, would this be a good time to tell you guys about taking it 5 hours north to Tahoe the month before for a business meeting; fully loaded with a garment bag with 3 suits, a duffel bag, a guitar and a set of golf clubs (yes, they all fit perfectly!)? Or the few weeks before with Balboni.....

;-)

Oh yeah, one more thing...
Special thanks to my friend Steve at Driven Exotics for keeping my car fit enough to do crazy things like this!
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You are right about that! We'll have to get the crew together and do something stupid like this in a few months!