Winslow to San Diego
Route 87 & Wind Gusts to 40 mph
What's next after San Diego? This is a brief homecoming — not the end. In two days Ray ships the Z06 to Hawaii and flies out to meet it. The road trip is just getting started.
Day 5 was a long push — Winslow, Arizona all the way to San Diego, California. Nearly 500 miles, most of it into a relentless headwind that made the Z06 feel like it was dragging a parachute.
But first: Route 87.
The direct route from Winslow to Phoenix is a straight shot down I-17. Ray took the scenic way instead — south on Route 87 through the Mogollon Rim country, one of Arizona's most spectacular and least-traveled drives. The road drops nearly 4,000 feet in elevation over about 30 miles, winding through ponderosa pine forests and past canyon overlooks before leveling out into the Sonoran Desert below. It's the kind of road a Corvette was built for.
The wind, unfortunately, was not the kind of weather a Corvette was built for. Gusts hit 40 mph through the Phoenix metro and stayed strong all the way to San Diego. Ray arrived at 8:30 PM — tired, windblown, and home.
Photos from the Day
The Day's Route
Winslow, Arizona — "Standing on a Corner"
Ray started the day in Winslow, the small Arizona town immortalized by the Eagles in "Take It Easy" — "standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona." A fitting overnight stop for a road trip with a distinctly American soundtrack. The famous corner on Route 66 even has a mural and a bronze statue to mark the spot.
Route 87 — Winslow to Payson
The highlight of the day's drive. Route 87 south from Winslow drops off the Colorado Plateau through the Mogollon Rim — a dramatic escarpment that marks the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau. The road winds through pine forests, past canyon overlooks and down into the Tonto Natural Bridge area. Ray's verdict: "If you ever have the chance, Route 87 from Winslow to Payson is beautiful!"
Payson, Arizona
A brief stop in Payson, a small mountain town at the base of the Mogollon Rim. From here the road descends through the Mazatzal Mountains toward the Valley of the Sun.
Phoenix Metro — Into the Wind
The wind picked up significantly through the Phoenix area and didn't let up for the rest of the day. Gusts to 40 mph made for a workout behind the wheel of the Z06 — a low, wide car that catches crosswinds like a sail. Ray pressed on.
San Diego, California — HOME
Ray pulled into San Diego at 8:30 PM. Three and a half days, 2,560 miles from Bowling Green, Kentucky. State #3 (Arizona) complete. Home base reached. The Z06 was immediately booked in for service at Bob Stall Chevrolet — because in two days, it would be shipped to Hawaii.
What's Next: Hawaii
The Z06 was booked in immediately for service at Bob Stall Chevrolet in La Mesa — an oil change and once-over before the next leg. Because on April 30, Ray and his webmaster Edward would drive the car to Los Angeles and load it onto a cargo flight bound for Honolulu.
Hawaii is not a state you can drive to. But it is a state you have to visit if you're going to all 50. Ray had a plan.