coast to coast
06-21-2007, 01:27 AM
#19
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Day 7
Amarillo by Sunset:
We had stayed at a KOA campground cabin in Holbroolk Arizona. This little town was west of the Painted Desert and seemed still framed in the 60's. A small cabin with A/C but without TV offered some challenge for my son, but was a good endurance exercise. The morning started out well, and it was a good (but long) day. The starting temp was in the low 60's, and the air temp stayed pleasant all of the way through eastern Arizona. The boundary between Az and NM was marked by the rugged buttes of NM. The drive was cool all the way until Albuqueque, where concrete raised temperatures, but the driving became more pleasnt, after Albuquerque, and into the plains of Texas. We arrived at Amarillo by 7:00, after a 12 hour driving day. The next 4 days will be long as well. We plan to start out earlier tomorrow (Thursday), cross Oklahoma, into Arkansas and stay in the Mather Lodge in the Petit Jean State Park. This is reputed to have a spectatcular waterfall in the midst of a remarkable park. We'll see....we could use a recharge of the senses.
The car didn't fail in any way on this leg. The only performance item of concern that I notiuced was that the kickdown worked pretty consistently up to 80 mph, at which point I can't seem to activate it.
We had stayed at a KOA campground cabin in Holbroolk Arizona. This little town was west of the Painted Desert and seemed still framed in the 60's. A small cabin with A/C but without TV offered some challenge for my son, but was a good endurance exercise. The morning started out well, and it was a good (but long) day. The starting temp was in the low 60's, and the air temp stayed pleasant all of the way through eastern Arizona. The boundary between Az and NM was marked by the rugged buttes of NM. The drive was cool all the way until Albuqueque, where concrete raised temperatures, but the driving became more pleasnt, after Albuquerque, and into the plains of Texas. We arrived at Amarillo by 7:00, after a 12 hour driving day. The next 4 days will be long as well. We plan to start out earlier tomorrow (Thursday), cross Oklahoma, into Arkansas and stay in the Mather Lodge in the Petit Jean State Park. This is reputed to have a spectatcular waterfall in the midst of a remarkable park. We'll see....we could use a recharge of the senses.
The car didn't fail in any way on this leg. The only performance item of concern that I notiuced was that the kickdown worked pretty consistently up to 80 mph, at which point I can't seem to activate it.
06-21-2007, 03:37 AM
#21
928 Barrister
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
The kickdown in my '86.5 stops at 80, probably because at that point the car will accelerate well enough in third. No reason for you to worry.
If you're getting heat when the heater isn't on......AND your windows are open or the sunroof is open, you might want to check your motor mounts. If they are collapsed, the heat will come in through the tunnel from the cats and up past the foam thingie under the shifter. The foam is not sealing anymore since the engine has dropped. If it comes in anyway with the windows up and the sunroof closed, ignore the above.
Having crossed the desert twice each way with NO AC in June or August on the same roads you took, I understand your discomfort. But opening the windows just caused the heat to flood the interior because of my worn MMs.
If you're getting heat when the heater isn't on......AND your windows are open or the sunroof is open, you might want to check your motor mounts. If they are collapsed, the heat will come in through the tunnel from the cats and up past the foam thingie under the shifter. The foam is not sealing anymore since the engine has dropped. If it comes in anyway with the windows up and the sunroof closed, ignore the above.
Having crossed the desert twice each way with NO AC in June or August on the same roads you took, I understand your discomfort. But opening the windows just caused the heat to flood the interior because of my worn MMs.
06-22-2007, 11:58 PM
#22
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
day 8
day 8
Climate Shift: The early morning
We plan to leave Amarillo at 6:00 am...this requires a 4:30 wakeup call. This is after 4 hours of sleep, but we plan to make the Petit Jean State Park in Arkansas by late afternoon. The park's Mather Lodge came highly recommended and I was surprised to get a short term reservation. Its farther than I think I want to travel, but I'm willing to try it.
Before leaving, while adding a few pounds of air to the right rear tire, the air pump I purchased in Kingmon Az self destructs. Before I can get the valve loose from the tire, I'm a few pounds short.
I've been warned by family that the southeast is covered by rainclouds and to expect inclement weather. The air is damp in Amarillo. The window washer has never worked. The instrument panel lights are very dim (what causes this?). The left rear side marker and parking light do not illuminate. The crisp cool mornings are behind us and the entire Texas panandle is under cloud cover. Ten hours of driving are before us. We leave Amarailo and set out to Oklahoma in a dense fog.
Climate Shift: The early morning
We plan to leave Amarillo at 6:00 am...this requires a 4:30 wakeup call. This is after 4 hours of sleep, but we plan to make the Petit Jean State Park in Arkansas by late afternoon. The park's Mather Lodge came highly recommended and I was surprised to get a short term reservation. Its farther than I think I want to travel, but I'm willing to try it.
Before leaving, while adding a few pounds of air to the right rear tire, the air pump I purchased in Kingmon Az self destructs. Before I can get the valve loose from the tire, I'm a few pounds short.
I've been warned by family that the southeast is covered by rainclouds and to expect inclement weather. The air is damp in Amarillo. The window washer has never worked. The instrument panel lights are very dim (what causes this?). The left rear side marker and parking light do not illuminate. The crisp cool mornings are behind us and the entire Texas panandle is under cloud cover. Ten hours of driving are before us. We leave Amarailo and set out to Oklahoma in a dense fog.
06-23-2007, 12:17 AM
#23
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
day 8 cont...
The longest day
The fog in the Texas panhandle requires that either we slow down to 40 mph, or find some kind of path finder. We draft in behind a large passenger truck and set a safe following distance, but close enough to follow his tail lights. This works quite well while and the fog is low giving him visibility. we we track behind him.
West bound on I40. A semi has rear ended another semi and one cab is smashed and burned through. A milelong traffic jam follows. After the fog cleared, A Texas highway patrolman pulled up behind me and the truck we are following and pulls both vehicles over. We are just a few miles away from the OKlahoma order. We were doing 79 in a 70 zone. I am very concerned about the left tail lamp that is out. He examines my license and informs me that I may need to follow him back into Shamrock Texas, wait for the court house to open, arrange to see a judge and pay before leaving Texas. A deep, deep sinking feeling follows. Its one thing to deal with a traffic ticket, but a whole 'nuther thing to loose a half day when you haven't a half day to loose. I'm already tired. He visits his terminal for about 5 minutes, asks me to turn my lights on and then begins walking around my car. I wonder why sense I treated him politely, I am getting the 360 degree walkabout. He jots a note on the speeding ticket about the tail lamp, says I can mail a check in, and gave me written instructions about how to deal with points, once back in Md. Never am I so glad to receive "just" a $175.00 drive-by and be on my way.
Rain threatens half the way through Oklahoma, but begins to clear beyond that. We cross the Arkansas border about mid-afternoon.
The longest day
The fog in the Texas panhandle requires that either we slow down to 40 mph, or find some kind of path finder. We draft in behind a large passenger truck and set a safe following distance, but close enough to follow his tail lights. This works quite well while and the fog is low giving him visibility. we we track behind him.
West bound on I40. A semi has rear ended another semi and one cab is smashed and burned through. A milelong traffic jam follows. After the fog cleared, A Texas highway patrolman pulled up behind me and the truck we are following and pulls both vehicles over. We are just a few miles away from the OKlahoma order. We were doing 79 in a 70 zone. I am very concerned about the left tail lamp that is out. He examines my license and informs me that I may need to follow him back into Shamrock Texas, wait for the court house to open, arrange to see a judge and pay before leaving Texas. A deep, deep sinking feeling follows. Its one thing to deal with a traffic ticket, but a whole 'nuther thing to loose a half day when you haven't a half day to loose. I'm already tired. He visits his terminal for about 5 minutes, asks me to turn my lights on and then begins walking around my car. I wonder why sense I treated him politely, I am getting the 360 degree walkabout. He jots a note on the speeding ticket about the tail lamp, says I can mail a check in, and gave me written instructions about how to deal with points, once back in Md. Never am I so glad to receive "just" a $175.00 drive-by and be on my way.
Rain threatens half the way through Oklahoma, but begins to clear beyond that. We cross the Arkansas border about mid-afternoon.
06-23-2007, 12:23 AM
#24
Rennlist Member
The instrument panel lights are very dim (what causes this?).
06-23-2007, 12:41 AM
#25
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Day 8 conclusion:
By the time we arrive at Fort Smith Arkansas, I am totally exhausted, and eye-fatique is an equally great concern. I begin to wish at that poiint hat I hadn't obligated myslef to another 1.5 hour drive in the Petit Jean state park.
We stop at a a carquest parts store and ask for directions, once we are near the park. I decide that I'll revisit the store and make variuous repairs, the next day. We take the drive into the Petit Jean via Oppelo. Ici on parle Anglais. The locals pronounce the park's name as "PettyGene". We drive up into the park and up to the lodge.
The lodge is built on a rocky projection on a butte in the Ozark foothills and is separated into 2 halves joined by a spacious breezeway. The restaurant is in the left half and the building with rooms is in the right half. Through the breezeway, one sees a vast green valley, beyond which lies 100 miles or so of Ozark footills. The breezeway is deep and shady, allowing one to sit in a the relative cool, observing a spectacular landscape. The rooms are large, comfortable and completely finished in pine. The dining area overlooks the same vast landscape as the breezeway. Hummingbird feeders outside the window attract no fewer than 5 birds, flitting about. Any (very decent) meal costs about $15.00 for 2 people. Its perfect.....so perfect that I ask to prolong my stay an extra day. I needed this. The clerk is polite but gives me a brief look suggesting, "You fool! Don't you know you got a short notice reservation because its Thursday? We're booked for months on weekends!" My son and I take a hike around the water falls area. There are caves, grottos, and the sound of a waterfall, that we can't quite locate. I sleep truly restfully for the first time during the trip.
By the time we arrive at Fort Smith Arkansas, I am totally exhausted, and eye-fatique is an equally great concern. I begin to wish at that poiint hat I hadn't obligated myslef to another 1.5 hour drive in the Petit Jean state park.
We stop at a a carquest parts store and ask for directions, once we are near the park. I decide that I'll revisit the store and make variuous repairs, the next day. We take the drive into the Petit Jean via Oppelo. Ici on parle Anglais. The locals pronounce the park's name as "PettyGene". We drive up into the park and up to the lodge.
The lodge is built on a rocky projection on a butte in the Ozark foothills and is separated into 2 halves joined by a spacious breezeway. The restaurant is in the left half and the building with rooms is in the right half. Through the breezeway, one sees a vast green valley, beyond which lies 100 miles or so of Ozark footills. The breezeway is deep and shady, allowing one to sit in a the relative cool, observing a spectacular landscape. The rooms are large, comfortable and completely finished in pine. The dining area overlooks the same vast landscape as the breezeway. Hummingbird feeders outside the window attract no fewer than 5 birds, flitting about. Any (very decent) meal costs about $15.00 for 2 people. Its perfect.....so perfect that I ask to prolong my stay an extra day. I needed this. The clerk is polite but gives me a brief look suggesting, "You fool! Don't you know you got a short notice reservation because its Thursday? We're booked for months on weekends!" My son and I take a hike around the water falls area. There are caves, grottos, and the sound of a waterfall, that we can't quite locate. I sleep truly restfully for the first time during the trip.
06-23-2007, 01:01 AM
#26
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
day 9:
End of the dream
we delay leaving the park and decide to make another hike down to the falls. The base of the falls lies below a towering cliff, over which flows a gentle stream of water. This isn't Hawaii, but with just a thimble full of imagination....
Circumnavigating the base of the falls leads one to an open area just behind the waterfall itself. Two 20-something girls in bathing suites were taking turns posing behind the waterfall, taking pictures of each other. they correctly discovered that the falls is a photogenic spot...a VERY photogenic spot. No; don't ask....I didn't get involved in the picture session. My wife is reading these posts.
We reluctantly pack and check out. Petit Jean is for the soul, what the Canyon is for the mind. I leave Petit Jean with more regrets than any other place we have stayed in the trip..but leave we must.
We get a late start on the road to Nashville. before leaving the park area entirely, I stop at the carquest that I discovered the day before. I want to fix he windshied washers, tighten a door limiter-strap hex-bolt that threatens to fall out and most of all; fix the tail lamp.
Replacing broken hose splices and back flushing debris out of the washer hoses fixes the windshield washers. The door strap is tightened. The tail lamp problem is not the bulbs. I discovered that Porsche trained two types of 928 mechanics: those with normal anatomies and those with very long, thin arms like mine, without which I could never have loosened he left rear marker lamp housing without dropping the tail pipe . Bulbs and contacts were not he issue and fixing the tail lamp will have to wait until I have resource and proper space.
We arrive just west of nashville by 9:30.
End of the dream
we delay leaving the park and decide to make another hike down to the falls. The base of the falls lies below a towering cliff, over which flows a gentle stream of water. This isn't Hawaii, but with just a thimble full of imagination....
Circumnavigating the base of the falls leads one to an open area just behind the waterfall itself. Two 20-something girls in bathing suites were taking turns posing behind the waterfall, taking pictures of each other. they correctly discovered that the falls is a photogenic spot...a VERY photogenic spot. No; don't ask....I didn't get involved in the picture session. My wife is reading these posts.
We reluctantly pack and check out. Petit Jean is for the soul, what the Canyon is for the mind. I leave Petit Jean with more regrets than any other place we have stayed in the trip..but leave we must.
We get a late start on the road to Nashville. before leaving the park area entirely, I stop at the carquest that I discovered the day before. I want to fix he windshied washers, tighten a door limiter-strap hex-bolt that threatens to fall out and most of all; fix the tail lamp.
Replacing broken hose splices and back flushing debris out of the washer hoses fixes the windshield washers. The door strap is tightened. The tail lamp problem is not the bulbs. I discovered that Porsche trained two types of 928 mechanics: those with normal anatomies and those with very long, thin arms like mine, without which I could never have loosened he left rear marker lamp housing without dropping the tail pipe . Bulbs and contacts were not he issue and fixing the tail lamp will have to wait until I have resource and proper space.
We arrive just west of nashville by 9:30.
06-23-2007, 01:05 AM
#27
Under the Lift
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
There's a true speed demon - he wants the tranny to kickdown above 80!
No coast-to-coast roadtrip is complete without at least one ticket. You still have along way to go!
Overall it sounds like you are doing rather well. Charley covered the dash light thing. The sidemarker could be the bulb but often the wiring has just come off the housing. Unfortunately the left side rear marker is behind a wheel well liner in most years, and the wheel probably must come off to remove it.
No coast-to-coast roadtrip is complete without at least one ticket. You still have along way to go!
Overall it sounds like you are doing rather well. Charley covered the dash light thing. The sidemarker could be the bulb but often the wiring has just come off the housing. Unfortunately the left side rear marker is behind a wheel well liner in most years, and the wheel probably must come off to remove it.
06-25-2007, 12:19 AM
#29
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Day 10
We cross Nashville and drive towards Elizabethtown. We experience the only rain of the journey en route. Heat had begun to be a factor, but the gentle rain cools the air. We vear east at Elizabethtown and the rolling hiills alongside the Bluegrass Pkwy are easy on the eyes. The air is now cool. Crossing through the Daniel Boone National Forest presents the most green canopy seen so far. We leave "Kaintuck" and cross into West Virginia. The sun roof is open, and the air is cool and dry. Happy growling from our little "S" competes with XM. We are almost home. We stop at Elkview, NE of Charleston.