Go!!
August 9, 2005We are on the road as I write this - taking a mild detour through the streets of Edmond, Oklahoma. We departed Dallas at about 10:00 a.m. - right about when expected to depart, but perhaps a little bit later than when we had hoped to get on the road. Only minor glitches marked the departure - mostly getting the trailer hitched up to the r.v. The combination of the two vehicles is easily 65 feet.
We started out with me driving, Sonny in the navigator's seat, Jaybo and Smitty riding in the couches. For the first hour or so we watched an informational DVD about Sturgis. Actually, they watched and I pretty much kept an eye on the road and a hand on the wheel.
Traffic was pretty heavy coming out of Dallas and really did not thin out much until we got into Oklahoma. The rig drives pretty well, considering its size, and we seem to be generally making good time and are fairly comfortable at speed. It does get a little dicey when you have narrowed construction lanes (which we have seen twice so far) or a lot of traffic.
After about three or so hours (perhaps a little less), we were showing a half a tank of fuel and general signs of hunger. Accordingly, we stopped just south of Oklahoma City to take on fuel and food. Smitty filled us up - only 29 gallons on a total of about 200 miles (about 170 on our trip). Apparently the fuel gauge is a little on the conservative side.
We checked the bikes for some expected loosening of the straps - and there was some slack that we were able to take up - but the bikes were, and remain, very stable in the trailer. We did, however, determine that the trailer took out a sign of some sort. There is a dent or two and a gouge and puncture in the side of the trailer - oops. After a little bit on investigation, we figured that we had taken a sharp right turn perhaps a little too sharply and knocked down a sign with the front of the trailer, which then ran down the side of the trailer. Fortunately, none of the bikes are close to that exterior wall. The side door did get pretty well bent though - and it looks like we will not be able to access it. We also may have lost our air compressor - which took a pretty good hit.
In any event, having reviewed the damage and filled up on gas, we retired for a bit to eat some of Sonny's chili. Hot. Very hot. Speaking of hot, it is a little toasty in the r.v. - with this much size, it is not possible to keep it all cool. The driving area is reasonably comfortable - but it is over 95 degrees in the bedroom at the back of the r.v. - which is right over the engine.
We got back on the road again after a little bit with Smitty volunteering to put in a few hours behind the wheel. I-35 through Oklahoma City is apparently not continuous and staying on the main road turns into I-235 and goes into Edmond while I-35 diverts slightly to the east. It is a little confusing - and not Smitty's fault - Jaybo, in the navigator's seat, was sleeping.
Since I started writing this, we turned onto historic Route 66 for a bit - an unexpected but seemingly appropriate stretch on the "Mother Road" and got back to I-35. We are now about 135 miles out of Wichita, Kansas.
We checked the bikes for some expected loosening of the straps - and there was some slack that we were able to take up - but the bikes were, and remain, very stable in the trailer. We did, however, determine that the trailer took out a sign of some sort. There is a dent or two and a gouge and puncture in the side of the trailer - oops. After a little bit on investigation, we figured that we had taken a sharp right turn perhaps a little too sharply and knocked down a sign with the front of the trailer, which then ran down the side of the trailer. Fortunately, none of the bikes are close to that exterior wall. The side door did get pretty well bent though - and it looks like we will not be able to access it. We also may have lost our air compressor - which took a pretty good hit.
In any event, having reviewed the damage and filled up on gas, we retired for a bit to eat some of Sonny's chili. Hot. Very hot. Speaking of hot, it is a little toasty in the r.v. - with this much size, it is not possible to keep it all cool. The driving area is reasonably comfortable - but it is over 95 degrees in the bedroom at the back of the r.v. - which is right over the engine.
We got back on the road again after a little bit with Smitty volunteering to put in a few hours behind the wheel. I-35 through Oklahoma City is apparently not continuous and staying on the main road turns into I-235 and goes into Edmond while I-35 diverts slightly to the east. It is a little confusing - and not Smitty's fault - Jaybo, in the navigator's seat, was sleeping.
Since I started writing this, we turned onto historic Route 66 for a bit - an unexpected but seemingly appropriate stretch on the "Mother Road" and got back to I-35. We are now about 135 miles out of Wichita, Kansas.
posted at 1:00 PM
1 Comments:
I'm glad to hear that the J.E.R.C.** Express is making its way northward without too much incident. I imagine that once you get the RV parked, it will cool down, plus you'll be a LOT farther north!
I can't believe four guys trapped in a trailer chose to eat CHILI.
Carry on, wayward sons, and have a couple of beers for me!
**Jay, Eric, Rich, Craig
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