74 & 243 Must Drive!

[itdnwiwbp]

Today I took the M Coupe out for sort of a last hurrah before I "put it away" next month for a very long time. I didn't really take any pictures cause I was too busy driving but all you SoCal folks should really do this drive if you never have! I started in Menifee, north on 215, west on 74 to Palm Desert, north on 111 to Palm Springs for lunch, north to 10 west, west onto 243 then picked 74 back up to head home. A complete blast! My fiancé was hyperventilating a bit because of the cliffs but I didn't even notice them cause I was too focused on the road! Anyway, definitely the most fun I have ever had in my car track days and autocross included (the road was pretty clear and MOST other road users were very accommodating and considerate).

The pic is the last scenic overlook on 74 before you descend into Palm Desert. The Coors Light wasn't mine. We brought wine instead. :-)

[TCZ4]

I just looked at that route on the map and it looks like a blast. Did it take you the entire day?

[itdnwiwbp]

I start out around 10am and got home around 3:00 if memory serves me correctly. I wasn't paying too much attention to the time, just trying to enjoy, but I'd say it took a total of maybe a little over 3 hours behind the wheel at just a hair over the speed limit (in secluded areas). ;-)

[TCZ4]

Your significant other didn't get nauseous?

[itdnwiwbp]

Hehe. She didn't get nauseous but she was definitely a little uncomfortable. I was working the curves pretty hard and she had a few drinks at lunch in Palm Springs.

[seank]

How was it driving back after a case of coors?

[itdnwiwbp]

I didn't even notice that in the picture (on my phone) until after I'd posted it up everywhere. We just had a glass of wine at the overlook. My fiancé did find a delicious peach mojito at Matchbox in Palm Springs. Actually she found several! ALMOST made me wish I wasn't driving!

[TCZ4]

I just wanted to say I did this last weekend and had a blast. Thanks for the tip. Since I was coming from Irvine, I took ortega hwy. Although the stretch from Lake Elsinore to Hemet was extremely boring... haha After that things started to pick up. Didn't have time to take 243 on the return trip, so I'll have to do that another day.

Stopped by Palm Springs and had dinner at TRIO. Turned out it was restaurant week, and had a nice prix fixe dinner.

Here is my pic from the same spot. It was a nice day trip for sure.

[itdnwiwbp]

Great pic! I should have ventured further from the wall (also would have cut out the Coors Light)! You'll definitely have to come back for 243 at some point. I'm picking someone up from SNA this Thursday evening so I decided to take advantage of the opportunity to do the Ortega Highway portion. Can't wait!