=20 [http://dmlmeet.blogspot.com/]
Hey guys, saw everyone posting their travel adventures, so I th= ought
I'd do the same even though its not that exciting.
Left Ca= lifornia later than I wanted to since a buddy of mine asked
for a last minu= te favor to bring some wheels with me to Denver. So
instead of leaving 2pm= from work, I left at 4pm from home. My route
is pretty simple, I-15 north= about 550miles, then I-70 East for about
550miles. Typical commuter traff= ic on the way out of town, bit not
too bad. 60miles and 1.5hr before traf= fic let go.
It was hot. Driving a race sprung, no AC, no radio = standard cab
across the desert in July probably wasn't the best plan. I'm = sure
the sign was broken, but the world's largest thermometer in Baker
said= it was 129F as I went past around 6:30pm. I don't drive all that
fast an= d got through Las Vegas at about 8 for my first fuel stop.
300.2mi (tire c= orrected) 14.929gal =3D 20.1mpg. Note I was sweating
like a pig.
So out of Vegas on through the NW corner of Arizona and into Utah. I
tha= t's a real speed trap, so again, just a few mph over the speed
limit. Gain= ing altitude and getting close to midnight it started to
cool off. I final= ly got to roll up the window and listen to some
books on tape off my lap to= p (no Radio, remember). Hang a right on I
70 and although I'm sure I had e= nough gas to make it across the
100mi no mans land, I chickened out and sto= pped in Salinas for gas
and grub. 300.4mi (no I didn't plan the 300mi tank= s) 16.902gal =3D
17.8mpg. Since it was 2am, a greasy Denny's breakfast pla= tter was
the only option. I couldn't have had less in common with the Morm= on
graveyard shift waitress, but since I was the only customer there she
in= sisted on trying to strike conversations. Now that I've been out
of the dr= iver's seat for almost an hour, there was a distinctive
squish sound and co= ld feeling as my 10hrs of sweat was found to be
hiding in the seat cushion.=
So back on the I-70, the Denny's deal started to hit me. About= half
way through the no mans land I pulled over and took a 3hr nap. When =
you see me on Wednesday, take a good look at the driver's seat I slept
in. = About as comfortable as sleeping on a fire hydrant. The sun
burning out m= y retinas at 7am woke me up. Although I fell asleep on
a lonely ranch road= off ramp, by morning there was three big rigs
catching winks behind me. G= uess they like to cluster. Back on the
I70, made short work of the rest of= Utah, although majestic, I've
seen it several times. Blasted through the = white trash cities of
western Colorado and decided to top off one more time= in Rifle.
268.7mi 15.094gal =3D 17.8mpg.
Up and over the Rocki= es. Always a fun windy trip, its too bad the
speed limits are so low even = in these optimal conditions. Down the
other side without incident, but com= ing out of the Rockies it starts
to get hot again. My destination was a pa= rking lot at the Denver
international airport, the Mt Elbert parking lot if= you must know.
The organizers already had everything set up, and some rac= ers were
taking practice runs. I found some friends from back home and swa=
pped to my race wheels (which was a lot harder than normal after a
20hr jou= rney and 5200ft). Teched, registered and boned out to my
hotel in Aura. T= he meager AC, compact toilet and dank smell of the
best Super 8 has to offe= r has never been so welcomed.
Good sleep tonight then start rac= ing tomorrow morning. If anyone is
passing near the air port tomorrow morn= ing, I'll be getting my butt
kicked at about 9am on the Mt. Elbert concrete= parking lot and again
8am on Sunday. I'd be hard to miss, the only pick u= p out there.
See you all Wednesday.
Jay W
505/28= 7 Dakota
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Posted by woodru= fj to National DML Meet at 7/14/2006 09:06:36 PM
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| Make your plans NOW to attend the National DML Meet in Colorado! |
| Date: July 15-23, 2006 - More info: http://meet.dakota-truck.net |
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