We drove through deserts, past mountains, along dramatic coastlines and through towering redwood forests as we made our way along the beautiful California coast on this 11 day Eagle tour.

Once more in partnership with Tour de Force, this was a prime example of how Eagle ownership can offer up a world of excitement and adventure!

This was arrival day for both our clients - and their cars. Although five members of the tour kept their cars in the US, for the other ten this would be the first time they had seen their E-types for a good while.

For those leaving from the UK, the E-types were prepped at our headquarters in East Sussex and then shipped to California so that it was a seamless process with the Eagle team and partners Tour de Force on hand at every stage beginning to end.

It promised to be an exciting and memorable trip. Driving through California takes you through the heart of multiple landscapes and environments and how better to experience those than in an Eagle? We were very fortunate to have world-renowned automotive photographer (and old friend of Eagle) James Lipman along to record the journey...

We stayed at the excellent Hermann Bungalows, created by designer Steve Hermann. Evoking the glamour of the golden age of Hollywood, this proved to be an excellent location for welcome drinks, an excellent dinner on the terrace and a chance for our guests to get to know each other, and for some, to be reacquainted.

Rest - and a shakedown or two...

The second day was all about preparation, rest, and recuperation for those who had travelled a long way to be here. Many of our guests were very happy to make the most of the excellent facilities at Hermann Bungalows, whilst others took the opportunity to visit the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway or just enjoy a drive under the Californian sun in anticipation of the journey to come.

Whilst this was happening, the Eagle team took the opportunity to give each E-type a post shipping clean and ensure all were ready for the drive ahead.

Dramatic scenery and a journey through the Joshua Tree National Park

It's best to start a journey like this in style, and on day three after making our way out of Palm Springs we entered the stunning desert landscape filled with the eponymous trees that make Joshua Tree so special. It is difficult not to be in awe of such spectacular scenery and a coffee stop in the park with all of the cars lined up in the desert definitely turned a few heads of passing tourists!

After a thrilling 40 miles, our lunch stop was at the remarkable FurstWurld, a creative venue that hosts musicians, poets, filmmakers and artists from all over the world, situated on the aptly named Desert Shadow Road. Furst is an acronym for Forlorn Utilitarian Residue Selectively Transformed and the art here celebrates reuse and repurposing of materials.

Post lunch we travelled 25 miles on to Pioneertown in San Bernardino County. Pioneertown is an 1880s-themed town developed as a shooting location for Western films and TV series, created in 1946. With pre-dinner drinks at the Red Dog Saloon and dinner at an airfield restaurant nearby, it was a fitting end to a great day for us all.

A long leg to New Cuyama...

Day four was to be a longer driving day so after an excellent breakfast in Pioneertown we set out driving north west as the expansive desert turned to green wooded hills and the Los Padres National Forest. The roads here were truly stunning, winding through the undulating forest with spectacular views creating the perfect combination for these cars to eat up the miles. 

After another fabulous lunch stop at the Red Dot Kitchen punctuating our journey, we came out of the hills and into the valley of New Cuyama, Santa Barbara. After settling into the Cuyama Buckhorn , a fabulously renovated Motel, we were treated to a wonderful low key dinner accompanied by live country music which rounded off a long but satisfying day on the road.

Landscape, history...and goats

A shorter driving day allowed us to start with a guided walk around the hills of Cuyama with a local forager and his group of goats. 'Cuyuma' is the Chumash (Native American) word for 'clams' as the whole area is covered in millions of fossilised clam shells.

Founded in 1822, the area began to rely heavily on oil and gas production after the discovery of the South Cuyama Oil Field in 1952. Now the area is back to agricultural use and is known as 'the Hidden Valley of Enchantment'. Sam, our guide, is also the lead bartender at the Cuyama Buckhorn and a local wilderness expert. Aside from venturing through the canyons and valleys, Sam discussed the unique ecosystem and what makes this area so special. He is also a dab hand at preparing trailside non-alcoholic cocktails using seasonal plants.

After stretching our legs during an educational morning, we were once again in our E-types and headed back into the hills where the landscape changed once again to a more rocky, barren terrain. Green fields soon greeted us again as we approached the coast for a very welcome lunch stop in Carpinteria, a small seaside city renowned for surfing and known as the "World's Safest Beach" - their slogan since 1912.

Then inland and onward to the picturesque town of Los Olivos, nestled amongst the rolling green hills and plethora of vineyards - our stop for the next two nights was to be The Inn at Mattei's Tavern in the Santa Ynez Valley. This beautifully designed and historic venue was first established in the 1880s and is now a luxury destination. Dinner was at Bar Le Côte, opened exclusively for our group that night, where we enjoyed a lovely seafood meal in the centre of Los Olivos.

A busy and fascinating day.

Polo!

After day 5, a rest day seemed entirely appropriate and our clients had the opportunity to enjoy the excellent facilities at The Inn at Mattei's Tavern and rest for the morning. The afternoon was a different matter however - it was time for polo.

Conveniently nearby, the beautiful grounds of La Herradura Polo Club served as the venue for us to try our hands at this fascinating sport. Although most of those taking part stayed firmly on the ground practicing on foot, four brave souls took to horseback for a small match guided by some very patient four-legged experts (not forgetting the professional instructors!). Once scores were settled and everyone was safely back on terra firma, we then had the opportunity to try some excellent local wines and also an authentic Asado - an Argentinian BBQ - under the starry Californian sky. 

A truly magical end to the day.

Pure California...

Back on the road through the beautiful rolling hills of Los Olivos, we drove some freeway miles, took a light lunch and then made the most of the faster paced roads above the beautiful valleys, with the road to Carmel taking us along the stunning coastal highway.

Upon arrival in Carmel, the E-types had a well-earned clean and we made the short trip to an excellent local bistro for great steaks and fabulous wine.

Through San Francisco to Point Reyes

This was a real driving day, heading through San Francisco and on to Point Reyes, our destination for day 8. Before hitting the freeway we stopped at a small local coffee shop with an impressive selection of automotive memorabilia where we even found an E-type model!

From here, we wound our way through the statuesque redwoods on some wonderfully twisty roads putting these fabulous cars through their paces to our lunch stop at Alice’s Restaurant in Woodside. This unassuming stop at a crossroads in the forest has become a well-travelled destination for petrolheads with many stopping for a coffee or bite to eat whilst exercising their two or four wheeled toys on the surrounding roads.

We continued our journey up and over the hills and then descended down into San Francisco and across the Golden Gate Bridge - a definite bucket list moment! A short distance over the bridge we ducked off the main road again and onto some more fabulous hilly roads before tracing our way along the Tomales Bay to our destination for the day, the Lodge at Marconi. Set amongst a stunning wooded, coastal landscape with views of Point Reyes Peninsula the rooms are dotted around in clusters with a central firepit for evening sundowners.

Dinner tonight was a short walk to the wonderful Tony’s Seafood Restaurant on the waterfront overlooking the bay. Amazing cocktails and oysters greeted us with a band playing through the evening. The seafood was incredible at this renowned eatery and we were blessed with a beautiful sunset in the background across the bay to finish off the evening.

Choices, choices...

This morning gave people a choice between taking part in a talk about the fascinating history of the Lodge at Marconi, set within the 62-acre historic state park overlooking Tomales Bay - or to take an interesting and informative walk around the beautiful woodland with a local twitcher and artist to learn about birdlife in the area. Both were incredibly informative and became great topics of conversation for the day.

We then were back on the road and we headed inland, winding our way up and up on an unmade road until we popped out on top of a hill to a stunning and wonderfully named Crow Peak Ranch. Lunch had been laid out for us perched on top of the hill looking over the valley - truly spectacular.

Then it was time to head back out to the coast road and on to the unique Sea Ranch Lodge set in Sonoma County on 53 acres of dramatic Northern California coastline. Perched on top of a cliff, there were stunning views of the sea and the location was perfect for enjoying coastal walks, with plenty of seals to spot in the bay and, if lucky, a possible whale sighting just off the coast.

Dinner was at the Lodge with views from the restaurant looking out across the sea.

Rest and relaxation - plus photo opportunities

Day 10 was a well-deserved rest day with an opportunity for guests to relax, walk along the stunning coast or to go for a cooling swim. Some also took advantage of the dramatic coastal scenery of the Pacific Coast Highway for a photo shoot with Jamie or a spot of sightseeing in the local area. A lovely lunch was laid out for us to either eat there or take further afield on a picnic if required.

Dinner was once more at the Lodge restaurant which proved to be a favourite with everyone!

To the lighthouse...

We continued up the coast to the Point Arena Lighthouse which made for a great coffee stop. The view from the top of the lighthouse was incredible, obviously helped with having a group of Eagle E-types parked at the base. We then headed inland again through woodland and vineyards to our farm lunch stop.

The destination for the day was Elk, the most northern point of our trip. Dinner was at the wonderful Michelin-starred Harbour House Inn, known for offering an exciting tasting menu from many locally foraged ingredients.

The final day

For the final driving day we headed away from the coast for the last time and into the wine country heaven of Sonoma.

A couple of who are Eagle customers very kindly hosted our group for an excellent lunch at their beautiful home up in the hills which also gave us the opportunity to discover their wonderfully eclectic collection of vehicles.

After one last drive down through Sonoma we arrived at our final destination, the Madrona in Healdsburg. Here, most of the cars were loaded back onto lorries for the journey home, their 1,500 mile adventure successfully completed in style.

We had a lovely final dinner at the hotel which included a prize-giving with awards including best wardrobe, best screenplay and best stuntman. Post dinner drinks in the bar rounded off a wonderful trip nicely - Ciao!

A classic slice of California, experienced in style with incredible driving through some of the best landscapes that can be experienced anywhere.