road trip

[tonycarreon]

leaving tomorrow for copper mountain, colorado. should arrive on thursday and spend the weekend there. start the return trip on monday. around 3600 miles round trip. this will be the first time for the boxster to visit the states of iowa, nebraska and colorado.

according to google maps, the "suggested" route is north along the ohio and indiana state lines, passing near chicago and then on. i'm not yet certain if that's the way i'll go. a run-in with an indiana state trooper on the same stretch of I80 back in january requires me to keep my record clean in the state for another 7 months.

usually on my road trips i end up leaving around noon. i think this time i will try to head out early!

[Dave S.]

I live in Colorado about 45 miles SW of Denver and my folks still live in Rockford, IL. I've made that trip at least a dozen times and always use the route you show. From the Chicago area at least, it is the fastest way out here. Too bad you have to drive across Iowa and Nebraska - (I think the only thing worse is Kansas). At least after you get through Denver the roads start to get interesting.
Have a good trip and I'm sure you will enjoy that Bozster when you get out here.

Dave S.

[blue2000s]

I used to drive that route between home in Denver and Indiana (school). There's not much interesting to see through eastern Colorado, Iowa and Nebraska, sorry residents, but there just isn't. At least Iowa is hilly.

If you have the time, you could take the northern route through Wisconsin, Minnesota, S Dakota and Wyoming. Much prettier scenery.

I've been in Seattle for 8 months now and am really missing Colorado's roads. But not the heat wave they're having.

Have a good trip!

[Jager]

Who was it that told me to check my spare tire before starting my road trip??? I also carry a kit for tire repair but that was not much help with the damage I had.

Have fun, I am!

[tonycarreon]

quite a few police on the PA turnpike. quite a lot of construction too.

currently in austintown, oh. going to try to make it to south bend, in - another 300 miles or so.



"Porsche Parking"

[Overdrive]

I like the "Additional Parking" sign in the background...can someone photoshop in a sign in tony's row that reads "Porsche Parking"?
:dance:

[tonycarreon]

made it to omaha, nebraska last night. pretty uneventful except for all the traffic around chicago. took me almost 3 hours to go 90 miles between the general traffic (i guess i shouldn't try to get through during rush hour) and the construction - i swear half of 80 was limited to 45 mph in the "work zone" though there were no workers to be seen.

here come the pics...

[tonycarreon]

i wish i knew what my a/c was set at... been this way for a while. just have not fixed it with module master's new panel.




wheee...

[tonycarreon]

if you can't go around, go through! mountain tunnel in PA.



nice fixer-upper. i think it's around $150 / month...



and finally - my windshield is quite schmeared!

[Overdrive]

Time for a quick stop at Wal-Mart/Target/gas station for some glass cleaner...or the ever-present squeegee cleaner next to the pump at the gas station.

[houstoer]

Originally Posted by tonycarreon

quite a few police on the PA turnpike. quite a lot of construction too.

currently in austintown, oh. going to try to make it to south bend, in - another 300 miles or so.



"Porsche Parking"

SWEEEEEEEET !! the way the good man meant it to be !

[tonycarreon]

yay! picked up the car this afternoon. new water pump installed. staying an extra night in colorado then start the trip back home.

so far on this trip i've replaced the water pump and ignition switch. sadly the driver's side arm rest has gone flaccid. lifted it up one morning to put my wallet in there. heard a *snap* and it fell back down.

[Overdrive]

Wait a sec...you had to replace the water pump on your trip? Did I miss something above? It didn't fail on you, did it?

[tonycarreon]

Originally Posted by Overdrive

Wait a sec...you had to replace the water pump on your trip? Did I miss something above? It didn't fail on you, did it?

it was "failing." as i was leaving omaha i started hearing what i thought was an occasional brake dragging. as i got into colorado i noticed it was more of a rattle/grinding noise and had gotten a lot more constant. was scared it was the IMS bearing going out.

after a little more thought i remembered seeing some crust on one of the coolant hoses last week when i did an oil change. hooked up the durametric and watched the cam shaft deviation numbers and they didn't change. so figured it had to be the water pump or a pulley.

took it to a denver p-shop and they confirmed the water pump was going out. the pulley was wobbling and the bearings had started to grind.

it was the original pump - the tech said he did have to cut the gasket. 92k miles on it.

[tonycarreon]

driving through kansas - i think there's more "bug" than paint on the car now.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by tonycarreon

driving through kansas - i think there's more "bug" than paint on the car now.

Beware: The great Bug Hunter Cometh! :troll:

[Mark_T]

Originally Posted by Dave S.

... (I think the only thing worse is Kansas). ...

Dave S.

Never driven across Saskatchewan on the Trans-Canada, have you?

[Overdrive]

Originally Posted by tonycarreon

driving through kansas - i think there's more "bug" than paint on the car now.

I think your car's saying "EWWWWW! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!! GET IT OFF!!!"

In other news, your radiators must've gotten housed after all that, might wanna check em...and it's probably a good thing you don't have that 3rd radiator in this instance. That's a crazy amount of dead insect.

[Frodo]

Been doin' some night time driving, eh?

[kpm]

At least you missed the earthquake here.