Yesterday was the day I was both looking forward to and dreading: The long leg from Denver to Las Vegas. On the one hand, we’d get to go over the Rockies and enjoy the beautiful, cool mountain air. On the other hand, we’d be both putting this $800 taxi with nearly 400k on the clock through multiple big climbs. The amazing crew we met the day before told us that if we made it through the first climb outside of the city, we’d probably fine. Maybe.
The pucker factor was quite high and, to be safe, we put Otto in the camera car for the crossing.
Traversing the Rockies wasn’t something the cab loved — the underpowered four-cylinder that wasn’t quite running right, paired with a CVT made the climb, uh, gradual — but it did make it. That wasn’t even the scariest part of the journey. Driving deep into Southern Utah and knowing we were far away from any assistance wasn’t ideal. I also got to drive the taxi for the first time and it beeped at me the entire 90 or so minutes I drove. I’ll never be able to hear that sound again.
But it was all worth it both for photos like this and to arrive a little late (sorry) to Las Vegas to meet up with readers. One reader (shoutout YellowPosting Commissioner) even gave us a Zoox sticker. We made a full convoy drive down the Strip, which Jason will talk about later. It was awesome.
Jason did a huge drive yesterday, so he’ll be up later with a longer post and a lot of photos from Day 6 of our quixotic trip. I just wanted everyone to know that we’re still alive and (mostly) in one piece.
Also, I wanted to update everyone about the last stop of this trip… if we make it. I have to keep saying that. It would be bad luck for it to drive 95% across the country and crap out on the last, shortest leg. It’s also an Autopian vehicle, so it’s a real possibility that desert heat claims the vehicle (or the A/C finally dies).
We’ll be at The Horseless Carriage restaurant inside Galpin Ford tonight at 5:00 PMish. If you want to see the 2014 Nissan NV200 cab we bought meet the 2014 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet we bought (our insurance agent thinks we’re crazy) together for the first time ever. We hope to see you there!
Do y’all not realize how much time you could have saved on this road trip if you had just pooped and peed in one of those astronaut potty bags Jason tried out a few years ago??? Geeez Laweez, he proved they worked. Soooo did the fear of sticky residue left from adhesive around y’alls bung holes and royal jewels omit this option for the road trip? Good Ler’d, just when I was beginning to think the Autopian did things outside of the box. I’m truly disappointed. Missed opportunity and about five future articles for this site. Do better next trip, rrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. If I would have had more time, I would have driven up to Lawrence KS to see y’all, BTW. Glad you all kept safe. Next trip, potty in the astronaut bag, save time, and provide us with some gross story entertainment dammit!!!!
So, bust?
Or would writing a final update be anticlimactic?
Part of me (the foolish, impractical part) envies you guys, and part of me (the sensible part, which is quite modest) doesn’t. I’ve driven cross-country a few times in various vehicles, ranging from air-cooled VW campers, to rattly Nissan econoboxes, to my own ’84 GTI sans radio but avec exhaust leak. My all-time record from NYC to LA is two days and seventeen hours (in the GTI) hurrying because I was scheduled to begin a summer internship at ILM in Marin (the original Kerner complex, not in SF where it is now). After that run, I felt a bit deaf all summer.
It’s a slog. To be sure, there’s the potential for adventure and fun and excitement, but so many hours are just tiring and monotonous. Not sure that I would do it yet again myself, but if I had a good reason (like content creation, or love, or something like that) I probably would.
🙂
I saw that lead picture and said “oh hang on, they came through town.” I guess I should have been paying closer attention to the route 🙂
What is going to be playing on the radio when you pull into LA?
Going to California -Led Zepplin
California Love -Dre and 2Pac
California Dreaming -Mamas and Pappas
California Girls -Beach Boys
More like Hotel California….you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave….
More like Wilco’s California Stars: “I’d like to rest my weary head tonight …”
Man, that unlocked the memory of seeing Wilco at Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco circa 1996 . . . a life time ago.
LA Woman – The Doors
Beverly Hills Cop theme song (you know that one, not the one with the frog)
If you need to get pumped up for the meetup:
Take California- Propellerheads
Damn work got in my way and I missed the meetup!
Formally recommending “Operation: No Fare” for the final wrap-up.
See also the Police Academy bits about the shady taxi driver and his lying meter.