Air-cooled in Oregon (Where it's Cool)

“Actually, it makes a lot of sense to ship a car halfway across the country so I can drive it in a different place for the summer.” 

The words sound absurd even as I’m saying them, but by the fifth or sixth run-through, my denial and confidence grow to the point where I have no trouble believing the line. 

Oregon is a beautiful place to drive. Thanks to my friend Daniel Sloan, I’ve gotten to see the far reaches of the Beaver State (actual nickname) on nearly a dozen road trips over the years. When he offered to garage my 911SC for the summer, so I could experience Oregon from behind my own familiar steering wheel, it seemed like a fun plan. Plus, I’d be beating the sweltering Texas heat, which is generally unpleasant in a 40+ year-old car with a lot of glass and no AC to speak of. 

Plans were made, a car was delivered, and over the last weekend in June, I joined Daniel and a group of friends on a birthday weekend in Summer Lake, Oregon. 

With highs in the 70s (°F) and lows in the 40s, it was just what I needed. With non-existent internet and nowhere to be, the weekend was relaxing and laid-back, but there was still time for a few activities, with visits to the Paisley Caves, Fort Rock, and the Summer Lake Wildlife Area.

There and back, plus a lengthy photo detour on the return trip, came out to about 700 miles, and, honestly, I was thrilled for just about every one of them. Seeing these familiar and unfamiliar roads out of the Porsche 911 windshield was a treat that I couldn’t get over. I look forward to going back.