PJ’s MG 2013 Oregon Trail Road trip

[lawnvett]

All

  was well dropping off the MGBGT V6 with Bill at On the Road Again in Morgan Hill, CA.  Bill was kind enough to drive me to the train station in San Jose using one of his personal MGs.  Caltrain was right on time and no problems transferring to BART for arrival at SFO.

 A few glitches with my flight to CLT so I'm writing from PHL should get to GSO this afternoon. It will be good to be home again.
Photo from On the Road Again showroom in Morgan Hill, CA.  My MG will be in good company

[lawnvett]

I stored my 74 MGBGT V-6 at On the road again restoration shop in Morgan Hill, CA in late July after driving from NC along the Oregon Trail to MG 2013 in Corvallis, OR..Now it's time to do part two of my road trip, I'll soon be homeward bound.

I will be flying back to to the West Coast Oct. 10,2013 and after visiting family for a few days in Silicon Valley, I plan to drive home to Winston-Salem, NC.  My route is flexible but has some specific goals:
1)  I'd like to meet other family and  MGExp members along the way and I am willing  to drive a little out of the way for such a get together.  May even stumble across a club meeting or an event to attend.
2)  I will continue to take photos for the Moss Motors Challenge, so you may be able to direct me to an interesting sign for an obscure named town or county.
3)  I love to hear from you if you know a great road I've just gotta drive while I'm in your area.
4)  I will be driving south on the Pacific coast highway on or about Sunday 10-13-13 and plan to do a photo op at Moss in Goleta,CA; then proceed eastward using mostly secondary roads through the souther states.  New Orleans is on the list.  I'm not sure about fed parks with the fuss in DC.
5)  I'll type a few sentences each evening and attach some photos, so email me if you wish to receive these trip updates.  Go here if you want to read my posts from July while following the Oregon Trail.
  http://www.mgexp.com/phorum/read.php?72,2409116,2425887#msg-2425887

Hope to hear from you with suggestions!  If there are duplicates or wish to unsubscribe just let me know.


PJ
pjlenihan   AT    me.com

[mowog1]

Happy trails.

[lawnvett]

Exciting landing San Francisco SFO
Almost a touch and go
A Continental aircraft was on our runway right where we were heading.
Very Exciting as our Captian pulled up at the last minute. Nice work USAirways!

We did a lap around San Fran then landed.

flew out here to resume my MG road trip, my V6 BGT has been in storage in CA for a couple of months, now it's time to have some more driving adventures in a 40 year old LBC. — with Brenda Bromfield

[rficalora]

Hi PJ - you know you are welcome here if you're headed this way to get to New Orleans.

[lawnvett]

Rented this little buggy for a day to get from SFO down to Morgan Hill, CA to pick up my V6 BGT from storage at On the Road Again.

Three cheers to Bill  Hiland and his crew for looking after my MG since the end of MG 2013.
They were also kind enough to give it a thorough inspection and service in prep for my 3000+ mile trip home to NC.

Great shop and they will be hosting the British Motor Trade Association annual meeting in a few months.

[BlownMGB-V8]

OK PJ, let's have a review of the engine and tranny in the Camaro. Good swap material?

Jim

[lawnvett]

seat of the pants felt similar to a V6 MG slower than the Roadmaster, this was not the highest HP offered in the Camero.

[mgb260]

PJ, You're a great MGB ambassador!

[lawnvett]

Reports and pics from the PCH  will be forthcoming, I've been loving my 3 days with my 4 year old grandson here in Campbell, CA.  My 35 year old son enjoyed a drive in the V-6 MG last evening as we did take out from an Indian Restaurant.  My son usually drives a late mode 3 series BMW, but was all smiles shifting thru the the gears of "Roxy".

Bill Hiland and his staff at On the Road Again were very kind to store my car since MG 2013 and they also gave it a thorough inspection before my 3,000 + mile trip home.  Other than lube and oil only one issue was observed:  a loose front wheel bearing.  Glad to know that has been sorted.

[lawnvett]

Started my day with a trip over to the airport see Brenda (my lovely wife) off on at 7:30 flight to Charlotte.  By 8 AM I was leaving San Francisco international Airport heading south on 280.  Stopped a little south of San Jose for breakfast before continuing to Monterey to pick up the Pacific Coast Highway. May look for a photo off at Pebble Beach cloudy conditions are supposed to clear for my trip down that scenic road
PCH hwy is such a wiggle rd the sky is clear a views couldn't be better. Near Big Sur as I type.  Now 65 miles south of Monterey enjoying a bowl of clam chowder at the Whale Watcher Cafe. I'm looking west out to sea but haven't seen a whale  
Been driving 5 hours will arrive near Moss Motors in  Golleta CA by the end of the day.
Throttle return is sluggish May need a new cable or spring.
Did 11 hours of PCH today; breathtaking views and lots of thumbs up and nice car comments.  overnighting in Oxnard

[pspeaks]

Lived at Point Mugu for four years; my GT loved it too. envy you PJ.

Paul

[lawnvett]

Day 2 eastbound
Not as much driving today as I visited a couple of car buddies.
First Roger in Ventura a new friend.  We had corresponded some on the MGExperience over the past year or so but met face to face for the first time today.  Roger's stories about his career  at
NASA were very interesting, he was one of the guys who did problem solving.  One example being portrayed in the movie Apollo 13 when they crew said, "Houston we
have a problem".  

My afternoon visit was with an all-round great guy, BILL Guzman.  My primary reason was just to say hello in person since I was in the area, but a secondary reason was selfish.  I knew Bill could help me solve a little throttle sticking issue with my car.  Sure enough, in no time he provided a replacement Return spring on throttle.


Then found a Vacuumed leak that need attention, but wouldn't stop there he also fabricated some aluminum to direct more air through the radiator and adjusted the carb.  Bill, you are a super guy and thank you again for helping a long distance MG driver.
BTW contact Bill if you are interested in V-6 power for your LBC he is the go to guy!

After all the fine tuning was completed and plenty of stories shared I hit the road again and drove about 2.5 hours to get to the other side of LA.  Tomorrow I think I'll go see if the Grand Canyon is open for business.

[lawnvett]

you guys like more photos right

[lawnvett]

Soon after getting out of LA I was able to connect with the historic RT 66   I must admit to being somewhat underwhelmed   The road surface was pretty rough and they were sometimes I was concerned about damage to the car   A trip down historic rt 66 was on my list of things to do.  I stopped at the route 66 Museum in Victorville ca. And took a few photos.
Then alternated between 66 and I 40 while I crossed the Mohave  desert.  Wouldn't want to cross it on foot.
Glad I have music and pod casts to relieve the monotony of the landscape.  
One highway warning sign said :  No services next 55 miles.  
This is my first time traveling by car across this part of California.
Altitude. 2500. To 2800.
Love my cruise control. And air con 75 mph 2500 rpm coolant to 185 F. Life is good today.  I pulled off the highway and drove up to Laughlin  before sunset.
I'm not much of a gambler but if I were there is plenty of opportunity here at the Edgewater Hotel and Casino in Laughlin Nevada.  But I must admit one of the major attractions for me was a hotel room for $19.95   Last night near LA I paid hundred and 39    
I just found out that the other side of the Colorado River in Arizona is in the mountain time zone so I'll gain an hour on my trip tomorrow.

[mgb260]

PJ!  Your in my neighborhood. Even though I have a house in WA I'm currently working in Kingman,AZ. The power plant is right off I40. Laughlin is about 35 miles away. I have enjoyed the buffets! I think the Grand Canyon is open. After that keep on I40 and you can detour down to route 66. Williams,AZ is a neat little town.

[lawnvett]

Thanks Jim I check out Williams.  I heard from a hotel person in Flafstaff that the Grand Canyon will be open until Friday, not sure after that.  
Pretty good food here all u can eat for $10.95. and a bed for $19.95.

[lawnvett]

At the start of this 4th day of of the MG road trip the elevation was almost 4000 feet here Clingman Arizona. By the end of the day I had climbed to 7000ft in Flagstaff  This is State number 13 on the moss challenge scavenger hunt.
200 miles driven mostly on historic Route 66, a bit slower than the parallel I-40.  I visited a couple museums and walked around downtown Williams, AZ.


It sure was nice to see trees again,
Much cooler up here may need to wear long pants.  I haven't tried the heater in this MG in probably six months I wonder if it works?

This 3.4 V six can pull these hills in fifth gear at 75 miles an hour without even raising the coolant temperature.  Sweet.

Tomorrow is Grand Canyon day!

[lawnvett]

[lawnvett]

Scraping frost from windscreen was my first task on day five of this road trip
I was warned to watch out for Elk crossing AZ hwy 180 N of Flagstaff. Perfect weather and a great 1.75 hour drive to the park.
So I'm texting and driving , just kidding. I do have a dictation app on my iPhone which is useful but prone to goofy stuff.
BTW the heater in the MG is Aok.

Visited an air & auto museum. one of those things where a roadside sign prompts a unscheduled and fun look and some old aircraft and brass cars.


Had an up close wildlife encounter got a photo of a deer 5 feet from the MG clearly not afraid of people or vehicles..

If a guy were afraid of height this canyon could be scary. I think I'll stay back from the edge, it's a long long way down.

Saw snow on mountains as I was southbound leaving the Grand Canyon park.

And just like the Eagles song, I did see the girl in the flat bed ford while I was standing on the corner in Winslow AZ.

Felt some really hard wood at the Petrified Forest National Park.

The sun was setting in my rear view mirror so must going in the correct direction. 350 miles today. Stopped in Chambers, AZ not far from the NM border.

[BlownMGB-V8]

Yes but the question PJ is, did she slow down to look at you?

Jim

[lawnvett]

Yep then I handed her the camera and she took the photo.   .   .   . and that all I have to say about that

[lawnvett]

not much to report today visited my wife's niece which was good, but no parks or cool sights on Historic Route 66. It was laundry day so swam in the pool while the clothes were washing, enough of the boring stuff.

[lawnvett]

well I've made it to O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A- where the wind.   .   .    .    .  and there is no fringe on the top of my buggy.

It's pretty scary when you're going 75 the posted speed limit and all of a sudden three lanes merge into the right shoulder because of a overturned travel trailer ahead sure am glad I went through the entire brake system earlier this year.
This morning drive was a little boring mostly I- 40

Exited for a couple of short segments of the historic route 66, but some parts of our great nation are more scenic than other parts.

In Amarillo I  stopped by the Cadillac ranch for the photo; was unable to park the MG near the tails up Caddys.  But I was pleasantly surprised just a mile up the road by three more Cadillac at an RV Park and that made a better photo.

Planning to visit another family member tomorrow in Oklahoma City, the up to Wichita to see a MG friend.

[pspeaks]

When my GT was a 4 cyl I drove it back and forth from Dallas to LA and San Diego 14 times stopping just for food and gas; I didn't think there was that many miles in a 1800 MG :-)  I was a lot younger then but it was tough.  I turned 70 yesterday so that's pretty much behind me; I envy your odyssey.

On second thought I might could do it but it would take a month and a lot of Holliday Inns.

Paul