(On route 145 heading Southwest from Telluride, CO, the mountains and high plateaus were extraordinary)
To me, driving cross country demands a car that can go fast, handle tight curves, maintain its power when traversing mountains at altitude, store plenty of gear, and still deliver exceptional fuel economy. Wrap those attributes into a car that starts at around 24K, and I can say definitely that the VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI is an excellent touring vehicle. As mentioned previously, Squeen and I both like to go fast (she even faster than me) and yet even at super quick highway speeds, overall we still averaged about 37 miles per gallon over the course of more than 2200 miles. The most startling thing about the Jetta TDI is that it only packs a 4-cylinder engine because nothing about its driving performance smacks of meekness. The car doesn’t wheeze or rev loudly at higher speeds. In fact, my only complaint with the Jetta Sportwagen TDI is that you can be going 70 miles per hour and the car will still hover at such a low rpm that it can take a second or two for the engine to rev high enough for the turbo to kick in if you want to pass someone. The alternative is to take the car out of automatic and use the DSG shifter to quickly accelerate, which, of course, is slightly more work but much more fun.
Once we got to Colorado, we felt like our trip really began. Both Squeen and I love small towns and while we’ve been enjoying our time in Asheville, NC we’re still open to heading elsewhere especially if we can be close to really good skiing, which Colorado offers in abundance. We passed through Pagosa Springs, Durango, Silverton, and Telluride but fell in love with Crested Butte. The small town set in a vast, expansive valley has much to offer that we like: a bike- and pedestrian-friendly culture, well-designed small homes, easy access to nature, welcoming locals, a well-stocked local bookstore, and awesome tacos. We ended up spending four days there and will very likely be back again.
(cruising through northeast Arizona on route 160, heading for Flagstaff)
I’ve been cross country several times now, and I believe it’s an experience from which all Americans could benefit. What stands out is the utter vastness of America. To traverse the plains of Oklahoma and Texas, shoot across the New Mexican Desert, head up into the soaring mountains of Colorado, trek across the empty spaces of northern Arizona and finally arrive at the wide expanses of beach bordering the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica is a profoundly moving experience. Not only does it rekindle in me a deep appreciation for the true awesomeness of nature, but it also connects me to our nation’s story and reignites my faith in American possibility, in our ability to seize our destiny and forge an abundant, opportunity-filled future, one that we can be proud of and look forward to. I believe that future will be green and I know that its story is already underway. And I also know that it will only accelerate because green is in both the self-interest of Americans and the national interest of America. It’s the best course of action to reach our collectives goals which is to say, good jobs and economic opportunities, high-performing schools, healthy communities, and a safer and more secure nation.
(chilling with Shaq during our stay in Crested Butte)
(spotting an old Mercedes diesel on the road in New Mexico and giving thanks that we decided to leave ours at home and upgrade to the Jetta TDI)
