For those familiar with the area, I left Salem driving northwest on Hwy 22, went to SM, then back onto Hwy 22 to Hebo. Between SM and Hebo, the highway is full of curves as Hwy 22/SW Hebo Rd passes through the coastal range of mountains. In Dolph (just a name on a map, could not see anything there except an intersection of two highways), the name changes to 3 Rivers Hwy till Hebo. At Hebo, I turned south on Hwy 101...this is the highway that runs the length of the State of Oregon mostly with the Pacific Ocean in view. But the short section I was on is inland, and I was on it maybe 5 miles before turning eastward on Hwy 130/Little Nestucca River Rd. This was a fun road between 101 and Dolph...lots of curves with very little traffic. I think that was due to several one-lane bridges that I passed over, yet the road was paved nicely and well maintained. At Dolph, I then turned southeast onto 22 again, but now going in the opposite direction...still lots of fun, maybe moreso since on the way out I was stuck behind a semi and other traffic for 10 miles, but on the way back I did not catch up to traffic for many miles. Proceeded back to Spirit Mountain for a pitstop, soda, and some video poker. I think my $5 lasted 5 minutes on a nickel machine, lol. It was a good rest, and I headed back home to Salem, taking the usual 35 minutes or so.
I thorougly enjoyed the drive. The base Boxster is both a great touring car with ample cockpit comfort space and a very smooth ride while also being an aggressive go-cart with quickness and agility in the curves and hills. Loved the more aggressive sound and response with the sport button on, of course! Carving curves is just so easy with this car. I have said it before...point and shoot. Feels like it is on rails around curves. I am not a good rev matcher but I still love trying, and downshifting gets you into more torque, then that wonderful raspy note from the engine and exhaust fills your senses all over again. Curve after curve, over and over. I know I am preaching to the choir.
Heading home from SM on 22, I only had to pass a couple cars on some uphill vehicle passing lanes, but boy is that fun to downshift, accelerate pass the slower vehicle effortlessly in my gorgeous Porsche, change lanes at a comfortable distance, and slow a bit but not too much...cannot have them catch up can we, lol.
I got to play with cruise control for the first time today on the more boring parts of Hwy 22 near Salem. I had not read the manual on its use, but gosh it was very easy to figure out and use on the fly so to speak. I love how smooth it feels too, not hurky jerky as it operates. I manually deployed the spoiler several times today. Seems to be working, but I can't visually verify it is out from the cockpit. It was still out when I parked once, so I think it works fine.
As I reflect on my thoughts about this drive, I think I just determined that the key word to describe the Boxster is EFFORTLESS. It was just that in all that it did for me today...effortless steering, effortless shifting, effortless accelerating, effortless stopping, and it was just so effortless at looking good the whole time! 3 fun hours with just the Boxster and me today. The only thing better is 4 hours, 5 hours, etc, etc. Actually I might be tired after too much time out. I was not tired after 3 hours, but I was pretty fully satiated! Oh, I still think a built in catheter would allow me not to waste time on rest stops!
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