The Prelude
Well I have a wedding to attend in Kenosha Wisconsin of all places.
And after checking over the 'stable' to see who's turn it is I was reminded....
2003 Chev Malibu -
On the disabled list (again), this time due to a leaky and vocal power steering pump.
Just about every part is suspect on this boat anchor.
Looks like I'll eventually have to pull the motor to actually get at the offending hydraulic device cause it's wedged into an impossible location. Very low mileage and the AC still blows cold ! A fine example of a dying breed, and what went wrong with the American Automotive Industry.
2003 Honda Odyssey Van - Made in Canada in case you didn't know that.
Such a trooper, Almost 300 000 kms and it still runs like a top.
All systems go except for the AC, which blows warm
Not a good choice for a tour into The Rust Belt during the summer.
A very comfortable choice for 3 seasons though.
2008 BMW E84 3.0 SI -
I had to use the model code so as not to upset anything that just might be eavesdropping.
Polished and primed with Shell Ultra.
Even swapped out the rims back to the stock run flat Bridgestones that I use for 'touring'.
All systems are a go. Oil is fresh.
Only a Driver's Remedial Tutorial indicated cause a couple of dash buttons have slipped out of memory.
Like is outside air the one with the circle around the A ? or is it the other one ?
Plus I have to figure out how to reset the average MPG.
Leafing through the BMW Manual always reveals something new, if you consider "new" as something you used to know but forgot.
Actually this tour will be less of a tourist event and more of a express super slab marathon. I've been to Detroit many times when I worked across the border back in 1978. I hope the fires have burned themselves out by now. The visit to the Ford Dearborn Assembly Plant where they made Mustangs and Capris was certainly interesting.
But hold on :
The GPS is confused by the route. Even the CAA trip planner was confused.
Two routes are fighting it out.
One takes in Detroit.
The other veers north to cross the border at Flint Mi (home of the leaded water poisoning event), continuing on past East Lansing Mi and the used to be home of Oldsmobile. I wonder if there is an added hazard to put out fires with toxic leaded water ? Maybe just a moot concern.
Near Chicago both routes reunite and scoot past the urban areas, so there is no conflict from then on.
So if this is my last post, well you know where to look for my body.
I didn't mention the Harley Davidson Factory in Milwaukee Wi, which is just minutes north of my destination.
I'm keeping that potential to myself cause any excitement involving motorcycles is tainted with Post Traumatic Stress.
But in life it's always the choice between which fork offers the less damage, so there is always the potential that driving 10 hours with SWMBO in the passenger seat might just reveal a more desirable route to get forked !
Stay tuned ...
Bumpy at the Wheel
Well I have a wedding to attend in Kenosha Wisconsin of all places.
And after checking over the 'stable' to see who's turn it is I was reminded....
2003 Chev Malibu -
On the disabled list (again), this time due to a leaky and vocal power steering pump.
Just about every part is suspect on this boat anchor.
Looks like I'll eventually have to pull the motor to actually get at the offending hydraulic device cause it's wedged into an impossible location. Very low mileage and the AC still blows cold ! A fine example of a dying breed, and what went wrong with the American Automotive Industry.
2003 Honda Odyssey Van - Made in Canada in case you didn't know that.
Such a trooper, Almost 300 000 kms and it still runs like a top.
All systems go except for the AC, which blows warm
Not a good choice for a tour into The Rust Belt during the summer.
A very comfortable choice for 3 seasons though.
2008 BMW E84 3.0 SI -
I had to use the model code so as not to upset anything that just might be eavesdropping.
Polished and primed with Shell Ultra.
Even swapped out the rims back to the stock run flat Bridgestones that I use for 'touring'.
All systems are a go. Oil is fresh.
Only a Driver's Remedial Tutorial indicated cause a couple of dash buttons have slipped out of memory.
Like is outside air the one with the circle around the A ? or is it the other one ?
Plus I have to figure out how to reset the average MPG.
Leafing through the BMW Manual always reveals something new, if you consider "new" as something you used to know but forgot.
Actually this tour will be less of a tourist event and more of a express super slab marathon. I've been to Detroit many times when I worked across the border back in 1978. I hope the fires have burned themselves out by now. The visit to the Ford Dearborn Assembly Plant where they made Mustangs and Capris was certainly interesting.
But hold on :
The GPS is confused by the route. Even the CAA trip planner was confused.
Two routes are fighting it out.
One takes in Detroit.
The other veers north to cross the border at Flint Mi (home of the leaded water poisoning event), continuing on past East Lansing Mi and the used to be home of Oldsmobile. I wonder if there is an added hazard to put out fires with toxic leaded water ? Maybe just a moot concern.
Near Chicago both routes reunite and scoot past the urban areas, so there is no conflict from then on.
So if this is my last post, well you know where to look for my body.
I didn't mention the Harley Davidson Factory in Milwaukee Wi, which is just minutes north of my destination.
I'm keeping that potential to myself cause any excitement involving motorcycles is tainted with Post Traumatic Stress.
But in life it's always the choice between which fork offers the less damage, so there is always the potential that driving 10 hours with SWMBO in the passenger seat might just reveal a more desirable route to get forked !
Stay tuned ...
Bumpy at the Wheel