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Chase the Sun Run 2015

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#1 · (Edited)
Chase the Sun Run 2015 (With teaser video)



Chase the Sun Run Route Map

I'm posting this very early to start getting feedback and planning for this run. I know a lot of you are on the Sky forums too so you may already have seen this.

This is not for the faint of heart. 270 miles. Over 6 hours of driving. A 13+ hour day.

The plan is to start in the desert at Bombay Beach at the Salton Sea. This is virtually a ghost town resort from the 1960s with a few residents remaining. We'll start here just before Sunrise. As the sun comes up, it will provide a unique picture opportunity as the sun rises over the desert. We'll stop in Brawley for breakfast. (For those wishing to stage the night before, there is also a Best Western Plus here. Probably be where I will stay.) Before or after breakfast (depending on time) we will stop and get gas.

From here, we'll be traveling up into the mountains. Part of the route is a highway once named one of the 10 must drive roads in the U.S. by Car and Driver. We'll be stopping in Julian, famous for it's apples but out of season by this time to rest and grab something to eat in Santa Ysabel at the famous Dudley's Bakery if folks are hungry. If not, we'll grab something in Fallbrook. There is a nice Irish pub there we can stop at. We'll fuel up in Fallbrook too as our next gas stop won't be until we hit Lake Elsinore.

Then we'll move on down the mountain to Fallbrook and a drive where the scenery resembles a Thomas Kinkaid painting. A nice twisty road where the sun filters through the trees next to quaint country homes. This will take us to the famous Ortega Highway by Lake Elsinore.

Finally we'll end up in Orange County and Dana Point. We may stop at the famous Mission San Juan Capistrano on the way as we will be driving right by it. We'll have dinner, possibly at Wind and Sea restaurant right on the harbor, and find a scenic spot by the beach to take a pictures of our cars as the sun sets over the ocean.

We will plan places and times where people can come and join or leave the ride since it will be a very long ride and not everyone will want to make the whole ride.

The route contains three very techinical sections of road, the road leading up from Borego Springs into the mountains, De Luz road in the Fallbrook/Temecula area, and the Ortega Highway. Those of you familiar with Ortega note that this is probably the "easiest" of the three technical sections. Because these sections can take a lot out of a driver, the sections of the route between them comprises of more relaxing roads that are, for the most part, still a bit twisty and scenic. I'll be posting a 30 minute video of the De Luz section later this week once I figure out why my computer isn't wanting to render out the final version...

I know this is a long run but it's been something I have been talking about for a long time and I want to do it. If it ends up just being me with some people coming and going along the way, that works too.

More detailed planning and route information including stops and meetup locations to come.
 
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#4 ·
We're not going to be in the summer months. We're doing it in the Spring. Thinking about doing it in April or May when the weather is good but I'm trying to minimize the change of rain. While we haven't been getting rain lately, those are the months it generally is most likely.

I was out today getting ideas about what I want for the end of the run. This was in HB but getting a shot of the cars in a similar manner is what I have in mind.

 
#6 ·
I wouldn't know first hand as I didn't see it until the 70s. LOL

Is that a targa top on your coupe?!?
 
#8 · (Edited)
Quick Update:


The date is set:
Saturday, May 9th, 2015

Itinerary (subject to change):
Start at sunrise at Salton Sea: 5:15 AM
Breakfast at Brownie's Dinner in Brawley, CA: TBD

Arrive in Julian, CA: TBD
Sandwiches available at Dudley's Bakery in Santa Ysabel: TBD

Gas and Meetup Point at Highway 76 and Interstate 15: TBD
Lunch planned at MaGee's Tavern in Fallbrook, CA: TBD (Note this stop and the stop at Dudley's are still very open based on the driving test I plan on doing this weekend.)

Meetup Point at S. Spring Street and Lakeshore Drive in Lake Elsinore, CA: TBD
Photo opportunity with the lake and mountains as a backdrop.

Arrive for sunset and photo opportunity at Dana Point: 7:00 PM
Dinner at Wind and Sea: 8:00 PM


Map has been updated 12/28/2014.

This is the most recent route as of 12/29/2014. I would edit the original post but I don't seem to have those permissions here. Please be sure to read any follow up messages for updates.

The route from Fallbrook to Dana Point is now set including a couple photo op spots.
Chase the Sun Run Route Map

Yesterday I ran the route from Fallbrook to Dana Point. The original route that I had planned to take was part dirt road (this is why you scout ahead) so I figured out a new route to take. Instead of going on the back side of Elsinore I decided to go along the front and found a great spot where we can take some pictures with the lake and mountains to our back. I'm anticipating that we're hitting this area with the sun over the lake a bit so it should be about what it was yesterday...absolutely perfect.

More importantly, I found the area in Dana Point where we can take a picture of our cars against the Pacific Ocean. It is a long stretch of road that just leads to a round-a-bout. Here is a shot of the stretch of road:



Which looks out over this view.



Got a shot of my car to give you some idea. This is in the round-a-bout.



The same location but shooting out more towards the open ocean.



And now back across the harbor with the sun in front of the shot...



It was still a little early thought so to give you some idea of the light I was getting about 20 minutes later...



By this time I was already at dinner. We stopped at the Wind and Sea restaurant on the harbor, which is where that last picture was taken from, and tried their fair. Prices are a bit on the high side with the average meal costing between $20 and $30. The food, however, was excellent! And the ambiance was amazing...




I also took video of most of the run (filled up a 32 gig card...need more cards) and will edit it to show the new route and highlights. I'll go over the route in that post in more detail.

I really like how this is coming together. I still need to make the Salton Sea to Fallbrook legs to get an idea of how long that will take and to make sure the route works. Today we made Dana point in about 4 hours but this was with some backtracking to find a good route through De Luz. I figure without that we're looking at under 3 hours for this leg. We'll have a meeting spot by the 15 freeway and the 76 for people who just want to run the Fallbrook leg and have lunch and another stop in Elsinore for people wanting to make the Ortega highway and dinner leg of the run.

Also, we have added a Facebook page for the run as well.
https://www.facebook.com/kappachasethesunrun
 
#9 ·
So here is the finalized itinerary. Times are fairly set but, as with all good plans, these are a bit flexible. We have meetup points in Bombay Beach, Brawly, Salton City, Borrego Springs, Santa Ysabel, Fallbrook, and Elsinore. If you don't want to make the whole run there you can join or depart at any of these locations. Some stops will be short...15 minutes...and others will be much longer...such as the 2 hours we have for breakfast and lunch.

Working on a sign up web site and a way to keep track of where we are on the run to make it easier to catch up with us.

Saturday, May 9th, 2015

Itinerary (subject to change):

Start at sunrise at Salton Sea: 5:15 AM
Meet at the south end of Ave. E on the shore of the Salton Sea (Dirt parking for about 10-15 cars).
Depart: 5:45 AM.

Drive to Brownie’s Dinner in Brawley, CA: 6:30 AM
990 Main Street, Brawley, CA 92227
Apx 30 miles from Bombay Beach.

Parking for 15+ cars and plenty of seating.
Gas station available immediately across the street. (8 pumps available)
Depart: 8:30 AM.

Highly suggest everyone fill their gas tanks here. All fuel readings will be based on having a full tank at this point.

Salton City Checkpoint 9:10 AM
36 miles from Brownie’s.
Stop on State Route 22 just past corner gas station.

This is the corner of State Highway 86 and State Route 22/S. Marina Dr.
This will serve as a meet-up point for those wanting to start the run later in the morning.
We will be dividing the group, if necessary, so that spirited drivers are up front and less aggressive drivers on in the rear here.
Depart 9:25 AM.

NOTE: State Route 22 is VERY bumpy for first 2 miles. Maximum speed apx 40 mph will be observed. It is rough for apx the next 3 miles and maximum speed will be 50 mph. After that we will be following posted speed limits.

The view in this area is incredible. It feels like you're off roading in the desert but we're on the pavement. On both sides of the road are ravines and chasms where folks are driving off road feet from the pavement. Great photo opportunities here for the navigators.

Borrego Springs Arrive/Depart: 10:10 AM
14 miles from Salton City Checkpoint.
Fuel just above 7/8ths

We are only stopping here just outside of town to gather up the group before heading into the hills. The run up the mountain from Borrego Springs is a technical section with great views of the desert behind us. There is a bit of a break before we hit another technical section on Hwy 78 before we get into Julian.

Julian Checkpoint Arrive/Depart: 11:15 AM
56 miles from Borrego Springs
Fuel just above 5/8ths

The drive from Borrego Springs up to State Route 2 is very technical and while we shouldn’t get vehicles in between cars, the group may get spread out. We will pause on State Route 22 in the long straight section before it dead ends into State Route 2 in order to gather up the group. If we feel we need to reshuffle the slow and fast groups, we will do it here.

State Route 2 is a fairly leisurely drive but after we turn on Highway 76, we see another very technical section of road so we will stay in our fast/slow groups if applicable. Just before we enter Julian we will be stopping at the Julian Library parking lot to regroup. For those planning on joining the group, do not do it in Julian, plan on doing it at Round Up BBQ for lunch.

We will get separated again moving through Julian and when we turn left at the stop sign to continue on Hwy 79 down to Santa Ysabel and Dudley’s Bakery.

Santa Ysabel: Arrive/Depart: 11:30 AM
7 Miles from Julian

This will just be a quick regroup.

Round Up BBQ: 11:45 AM
11 miles from San Ysabel. This is our Lunch stop. Huge parking lot and will try out the food sometime soon. This will be a good break as the next section is the most challenging of the trip and having a bit of a rest after the Borrego and Julian sections will help recharge our drivers before they get another workout.

Depart: 1:45 PM

This section of the drive will be up and over Palomar Mountain. There are some great views during the drive immediately after we turn off Hwy 76 onto State Route 7 (East Gate Road). We will turn onto State Route 6 (South Gate Road) to come back down the mountain. There are some great mountain views as we come back down SR 6. Navigators have your cameras ready for this leg. Important Note: South Gate Road is very twisty and down hill. We will be taking it easy down this road to preserve those who have stock break equipment. I drove this route mildly spirited and had no brakes two or three turns from the bottom of the hill. This is the most challenging section of the drive.

Gas and Meetup Point at Highway 76 and Interstate 15: 2:55 PM
This will be a quick gas up for those who need it and a join up spot for those that do not want to do the first half of the run. This will be our last gas stop before hitting Dana Point.

Depart: 3:15 PM

This section of the run will take us through the De Luz loop and the Santa Rosa Plateau. The Plateau is one of the last remaining areas of Oak Woodland in Southern California. Most of Southern California was once this Oak Woodland. The scenery is very beautiful and the drive calm and pleasant. While De Luz is tight and technical, the Plateau and Lake Elsinore area are open and gentle giving a good wind down from De Luz before we hit Ortega. The drive through Fallbrook will be another boring section but will probably come as a welcome break between Mt. Palomar and De Luz.

Meetup Point at S. Spring Street and Lakeshore Drive in Lake Elsinore, CA: 4:45 PM
This is a chance to gather the group together. Photo opportunity with the lake and mountains as a backdrop.

Depart: 5:15 PM

Base of Ortega Highway Meetup: 5:30 PM
This is just a quick 10 minute stop to gather the group together before heading over Ortega since we will probably become separated in Elsinore.

This is the Ortega Hwy leg of the run. Great views going up from the lake side of the mountain. Good photo and video ops for Navigators.

Depart: 5:45 PM

Ortega has some great views overlooking Lake Elsinore as it twists up the mountain. Navigators will once again have some great views out their side of the cars in the early section of this leg. Then Ortega goes into the woods and the turns get a little tamer for a while as it cuts through the National Forest. It drops down into Orange county and once out of the mountains the rest of the route is straight roads and cruising. We'll pass in front of the Mission San Juan Capistrano but there is not much to see here, sadly.

Arrive for sunset and photo opportunity at Dana Point: 6:45 PM

Sunset is supposed to be at 7:41 PM.
Dinner at Wind and Sea: 8:00 PM


Map has been updated 1/19/2015. This is a pretty finalized route. I may make a couple more test runs on the De Luz and Elsinore sections of the run just to get some better times but This should be pretty spot on.
Chase the Sun Run Route Map
 
#10 ·
Sign Ups are now open!

Now I have put together a quick and dirty little website for the run.

Official Web Site

In addition to being able to sign up for the run...and different sections of the run...on the site you will also find contact info for me as well as a link back to this thread and the Facebook page, a couple of hotel contacts I dug up for the start of the run and the end of the run, a full step by step itinerary for the run, and a fully detailed overview of the route complete with pictures from each stage all done in chronological order.

Check it out and get an idea of what you can expect on this run! Getting excited for this and hope to see you a lot of you folks out there.
 
#11 ·
Looks like fun, I should be able to go.
 
#12 ·
Will be glad to have you come out. I don't think we've met but I'd love to see your Coupe. Sounds like a hell of a car.
 
#13 ·
Went out today and scouted out Round Up BBQ. I swear the things I put myself through for you folks. Horrible day driving with the top down on a beautifully clear SoCal day with the temps in the low 80s...simply torture. And then had to have some great BBQ. My son had their short ribs and I had a Beef Brisket Sandwich. Both were great. Their BBQ beans were terrific and the baked potatoes salad with bacon was pretty good too. Prices are fair and portions are very large. My son ordered a 1/3 rack of ribs, the smallest portion they offer, and still came home with leftovers.

The view here is great, this is what you see out the large front windows of the establishment as you enjoy some great BBQ:





And we have ample parking. I walked out about half way into the parking lot to take this picture back towards Round Up.



Just over a month left to sign up before the run. Trying to get some numbers so I can let these places know about how many people to expect. These places can get pretty busy on the weekends and with this being Mother's Day weekend we may have more folks than usual so please...check out the sign-up page and register today. There is no charge to register.

Chase the Sun Run 2015
 
#14 ·
Just a few more weeks before the Chase the Sun Run on May 9th. Went out today to do some last minute route scouting (so I am familiar with the sections I don't drive regularly...nothing more embarrassing than leading a group on a run you plan and making a wrong turn...) and stopped off at the Lake Elsinore photo spot and meetup point. Enjoy and be sure to sign up for free on the Chase the Sun Run Website:

Chase the Sun Run 2015









 
#15 ·
The date is almost here folks.

For those that plan on going and meeting the group at one of the checkpoints, please be sure to like our Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/kappachasethesunrun?fref=ts&ref=br_tf

I will be posting there each time we reach and depart a checkpoint so you can keep track of where the group is on the drive.

I also made a Chase the Sun Run Route Guide that details the 9 major legs of the route with maps and directions. Please download and print this guide for the ride before you come out. Here is the link to the guide:

http://www.b17queenofthesky.com/Sky/CtSR2015/ws/route_pack3.pdf

Hope to see a number of you on the 9th!
 
#16 ·
We need a few more cars on this run. Would like to see some of the Solstices from this site show up.

Robo has put a lot of effort into a well organized run. Many miles driven to bring one of the best runs ever on the west coast. Come on out! Join where you can.
 
#17 ·
We have 18 cars signed up so far for this run. At least 10 will be making the whole trip including some folks coming in from AZ! Only a week left for you to sign up for the run and remember, if you don't want to make the whole trip, there are a number of options to join us for a part of the ride!

Remember, this is a free run...something for fun. Breakfast in the desert, lunch in the mountains, dinner by the sea...

Sign up on the website at:
Chase the Sun Run 2015
 
#18 ·
Lynn, Jake, and I are going. The sign up place would not my bogus E-Mail account. I do not give out my E-Mail address, and noEmail@none.com is already taken. We are staying at the Best Western in Brawley. We probably will not be out at the Salt and Sea at 5:15am. Jake and I may, but, Lynn will probably stay in the Motel room. We will all be their for breakfast. Is the BBQ place dog friendly? We are also staying at the Best Western in Dana Point because the other Motel is not dog friendly. Are any of the car washes in Indio good?
 
#19 ·
Oh man, no idea about the car washes in Indio. I'm probably going to try and wash mine in Temecula before I head out Friday and then just clean it up a bit Saturday morning. If you head out on the beach at Bombay Beach she'll get a bit of dust on her anyway.
 
#20 ·
Has it stopped raining in Temecula, pouring up here. I was going down tonight, but not with the rain. Hopefully it stops so I can make some of the run. This sucks Robo, sorry the weather isn't working out for you. I know how much work you have put into this. Maybe I will drive my FJ. lol, you would hardly notice it.
 
#21 ·
A run down of the run is posted on the Sky Forum. Robo will edit the other runs and make a smaller version. He has 3 separate videos for each area.

Over all from start to finish from my home, it was close to 600 miles I guess. Some brave folks from Arizona and Northern California did the whole thing. All in all I would guess 15 to 20 did the complete run. A lot of Kappas and for the first time, a very large Solstice turn out. Thanks for any from the site that made it.

I am sure Robo will post all videos on this forum.
 
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