HRH Posted June 16, 2013 Report Share Posted June 16, 2013 The time is finally here! I'm in the last throes of packing what I need and probably a lot of what I don't need in an effort to cover my bases. My first vacation of the year and I'm so glad because work is driving me nuts. Haven't been back to Flagstaff since a little after I graduated from NAU. Been about 10 years. My old maintenance supervisor buddy is letting me crash at his place and took the same vacation so we can go nuts. Or as nuts as one old guy and a semi-old guy can be. ;) Should be a blast, plan to hike Humphrey's again and do all the stuff I used to do in college. Hit the lava tubes, Sedona, maybe go visit the KC light factory in Williams. Didn't have time to replace the transmission in the red truck, but it should be fine. Just turned 180,000 the other day. I'm sure I'll have tons of pictures by the time I get home, I'll be sure to post them then. Wish me luck and pray to the Ratsun Gods for no breakdowns or catastrophes! Fokker out! 2 Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted June 16, 2013 Report Share Posted June 16, 2013 Have fun :thumbup: Quote Link to comment
Rocket Dog Posted June 16, 2013 Report Share Posted June 16, 2013 If you breakdown near Ventura give me a shout (after you call AAA) Quote Link to comment
HRH Posted June 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2013 You're saying I should shout "AAAAAA" for help? ;) I'm sure everything will go smoothly besides leaving way the heck later than I wanted to. Almost ready to head out. Oh, and Wayno, we had a guy with a huge hang glider strapped to his Subaru stop by NAPA Cheney the other day. He seemed a little off his rocker. Approved jump site, shmapproved jump site he said. I thought of you. :D Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted June 16, 2013 Report Share Posted June 16, 2013 You're saying I should shout "AAAAAA" for help? ;) I'm sure everything will go smoothly besides leaving way the heck later than I wanted to. Almost ready to head out. Oh, and Wayno, we had a guy with a huge hang glider strapped to his Subaru stop by NAPA Cheney the other day. He seemed a little off his rocker. Approved jump site, shmapproved jump site he said. I thought of you. :D I have been out of flying for so long now(over ten years now), I have not a clue who is flying where anymore, but it is getting close to the eastern Washington X-C flying season, so one should start seeing more hanggliders strapped to vehicles on the flats of eastern WA, but it is a sport that has less members than it used to have, I used to see a lot of gliders on vehicles, I have not seen one in years now, with all the forest roads being gated, their are no new sites to fly anymore, it's basically a dying sport/hobby. Have a fun trip. :thumbup: Quote Link to comment
HRH Posted June 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2013 If you plan on living in Montana don't have Cricket as a cell provider. I'm just now getting cell service again in Idaho Falls. Good news is truck is doing great. Mileage has been mid 22 the entire trip so far. Picked up a tailwind this last section, I may touch 23. Need to make it to about Provo tonight. Late start going to be driving a bit more still. 1 Quote Link to comment
yellowdatsun Posted June 17, 2013 Report Share Posted June 17, 2013 Route 89 through Utah is really pretty. It kinda parallels I-15, but is way more scenic. Quote Link to comment
HRH Posted June 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 Oh boy it has been a fun trip! I have lots to share including closed roads, detours of Baja origins and hiking the peaks with 70+ winds. Ill get you all updated when I get back. Leaving flag tomorrow morning, be home in a couple days! Oh and I went to the kc light factory in williams today and on the way there I saw what I think was a lime green 521 4x4 but forgot to check it out on the way back. Quote Link to comment
LenRobertson Posted June 21, 2013 Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 Matt - Reg mentioned yesterday at work you are on vacation and heading to AZ. We are already plotting to find a fixer-upper 510 on CL down there, so you can rent a dolly and tow it back. But I suppose prices there are way higher than cheapo Spokane. That day Karen and I went to your store in Cheney to pick up the 2nd Prism strut, we took back roads. Somewhere E of Sprague we saw a couple of rigs alongside the road with hang gliders on the roof, next to what I would call a really tall hill. I have a friend who does that and he mentioned a butte over there somewhere they use. He said it is better than driving all the way to Steptoe Butte and finding the wind too strong. Enjoy your vacation. Reg is doing bodywork on my 510 right now. You guys will have some catching up to do with yours. I caught him air sanding a door on his the other morning. It's 510 season I guess. Len Quote Link to comment
HRH Posted June 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2013 Wow Jayden I feel for you. I'm at a truck stop outside Idaho Falls and I just listened to the dumbest sounding southern trucker whose buddies have tracter tahrs on theys trucks. Just wow. Quote Link to comment
Jayden71 Posted June 22, 2013 Report Share Posted June 22, 2013 Wow Jayden I feel for you. I'm at a truck stop outside Idaho Falls and I just listened to the dumbest sounding southern trucker whose buddies have tracter tahrs on theys trucks. Just wow. :rofl: :rofl: Yeah there are some real winners out there lemme tell ya :sneaky: Did you stop at KJ's truckstop?? Quote Link to comment
HRH Posted June 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2013 Made it back safe and sound! Even better, no issues to report with the truck! Even without replacing the transmission like I wanted to. I definitely need to hang a turbo off the exhaust though. Gets good mileage at 8000 feet, but no get up and go. Amazing how much difference it is at 2000 feet around here. Dang near a rocket ship now. Lol. Jayden: Not sure if it was KJs. Still going through pics and video, but uploading one to youtube now; I'll have more tomorrow. Quote Link to comment
HRH Posted June 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2013 Here's right before that. 70 mph winds. Quote Link to comment
HRH Posted June 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2013 Ok, so I just totalled up the receipts for the Flagstaff trip. Note, I have NOT filled up the truck after coming back into town. I am just about empty. Fortunately the white truck should be rolling today and I did fill it's tank up. Knock on wood that will go smoothly because homie G is broke as a joke until next payday now! :D Total gas receipts (minus home fill up add $45) was $461.09 Average mileage being very conscious of mileage and at 65 mph most of the time (2750 rpm magic number for speed vs. load) was 21.73 mpg! Needless to say, I'm quite happy with the results. Especially considering that includes the 6 mile 6 percent grade going up to Flagstaff where I had it pinned in 4th the whole way up and the section through the rez with the hubs engaged (16.3 avg for that fill up) I was lucky enough to get tailwinds down and back, only had to fight head and side winds once or twice up and back. Quote Link to comment
HRH Posted June 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2013 Here's a video of the nice section of road on my detour through 20 on the rez. Funny thing was at the end of it, it was paved for about 5 miles and I rolled through a big "road closed" sign. Lol. Not that that stopped the locals though. I saw a Chevy Cavalier heading the opposite way, but he was going about 5 mph, not 30. Quote Link to comment
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