These sections were like a warm up, with wide lanes and
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| Surefooted and planted. It ought to be, considering its weight. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, Canadian Auto Press) |
generous shoulders in most parts although the occasionally shady and snowy patch looked tricky, which is why there is really no other option but to drive safely. However, as I cruised upward in elevation, snaking my way westward, the roads got narrower and the turns tighter, although the Audi's planted, surefooted grip on the road and its wonderful balance and steering feel made it seem like I was out on a very casual Sunday stroll. At times I thought to myself, "Is that it?" Well, no, that wasn't it. I eventually found myself connecting back to the I-70, after missing out on one spectacular setting for photos because it was one lane each way with little in the way of shoulders and I was simply too in awe of the view to process the situation properly.
As
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| Dual-zone climate control keeps you comfy, navigation keeps you on track, quattro keeps you from becoming one with the scenery. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, Canadian Auto Press) |
I cruised along the I-70 with the nav zoomed in so that I could spot twisties on future exits, I finally hit a spot that had a mysterious ramp where I could drive the S4 and take my fading light pictures of it communing with the Rockies. After snapping my glory shots and getting my shoes full of snow (the sacrifices we journalists make, eh...) it was back into my home of the past few days, those two-tone, Alcantara-leather lined Recaro seats and heading back to Boulder. But I just couldn't bring myself to head back just yet, so I chose the next random exit that the nav system showed snaking back and forth across the screen--yeah, that'll do. I don't remember the route number, but it was the road leading up to Winter Park ski resort; a bit more snowy in patches as I was closer to the interior where all the white stuff dumps. I found myself behind a Chevy Tahoe for a time, but he seemed to be pushing the limits of a vehicle too big and unwieldy for its own good, with the amount of body roll and lane drifting I saw. Meanwhile, back in my S4, the variable assist steering practically felt like it was straightening the road and those super stiff springs and dampers (the ones that made Tom wish for a Man-Bra) finally paid off because the car remained skillet flat through the sharp turns and switchbacks.
Eventually I found myself keeping a very close eye on the
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| In the blink of an eye, the S4's 344 horsepower can take you to anywhere in this picture. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, Canadian Auto Press) |
gauges, particularly the gas remaining until empty, and decided that I'd better head back before getting to a point where I was as likely to find an abandoned mine shaft as a gas station. The trip back down was slightly more mellow with a Cadillac Escalade in tow for a while, but he might have driven off the edge because it disappeared after a while--I found myself more focused on the road ahead than anything else. I decided to pack it in for the day with the moon coming up and feeling I should get home before everybody started thinking I ended up at the shallow end of a 2,000 foot ditch, so I chose the latest address from the Navigation's memory and started following the voice and arrows, back on familiar ground.
