On the road...again!

[mustang6984]

I woke up to 34 degree weather this morning. I'll be heading out in about 30 minutes. I think Alvin is right. She also doesn't want me to get that hood he sold me...I've been trying to pick that up since fall of '19...couldn't haul it in my Explorer...then when I bought the truck I was beginning the move...so...one way or another...I'm getting it this time! LOL!!!    Mother Nature needs to calm down!

There are a lot of charging stations at Capital Mall in Olympia...probably in Seattle too. Haven't seen any along the trip...but since I don't stop except for fuel and motels...probably won't.

Always Rich...

[mustang6984]

Made it to Pasco WA. Left Alvin's place around noon after having breakfast and visiting for a bit. Last leg of the trip out will be tomorrow. Should make Port Angeles before dinner. Having breakfast here in Pasco with a buddy, then lunch in Olympia with another.
When I left Alvin's place I enjoyed the first part of the trip with no head wind! HOORAH! Fuel economy towing the trailer had been between 9.5 and 11.5 mpg. YUCK! Today...no wind...mpg's were between 12.5 and 14! Much better. Hills sort of kept it down for a bit.
Off to bed then back on the road tomorrow. 

[mustang6984]

Made it to Sequim WA last night. Got in about 7 or so. BUT...discovered there were not ANY motel/hotel rooms in Sequim or PORT Angeles or the new casino hotel 6 miles east of Sequim to be had! So...I had dinner with my son and his lady, then went to the place my ship had been before I moved to MO...and parked my trailer. My son has a couple of garages there so that was where the trailer was going to be any how.
We have a room for the rest of our stay, but this is where Sasha and I laid our heads last night!   

[CobraJoe]

Sleeping in the trailer sure beats sleeping in the truck. 

[Ford Blue blood]

Reminds me of the weekend I move from Va. Beach to Covington, TN.  The Navy movers had already packed up our stuff, closed on the house and was heading west with the truck full of plants, "survival gear", tools and a trailer on behind with the 48 1/2 ton on it.  The wife was driving the 36, the oldest daughter was driving the other daily driver.  Goal was to stay in TN that evening.  Got to Bristol and hit the motel we stayed in while on "house hunting" trips.  Full!  No other hotels had rooms.  Forgot......it was race weekend......

The clerk was great, she said she would call around while we got some supper.  She did say we could sleep in the vehicles and use the staff bathroom.  Got back and she said that she had a cancellation and we could have the room even though there were folks on a waiting list.  Guess she felt sorry us.

[mustang6984]

Yes it does! Was cold that night...very cold...and those packing blankets kept me toasty warm!

I was hoping for cancellations too...but Murphy was with me apparently...no one had squat. Interesting is the fact that the casino had just opened a new hotel with over 200 more rooms...and still there was nothing!

Well we are back on the road today...heading to Missouri. Gonna be a caravan...my son towing his '68 Mustang (packed full with parts for it) on a tow dolly, his girlfriend driving his car and I will be hauling my 24' box trailer with his Bronco in it and all the rest of their "stuff'. Hope to be home by Sunday...going as far as the Tri-Cities tonight in WA...then on to Billings tomorrow. Off on a fun run! LOL!!! I'll be in touch.
Oh...and I know I have said this before...but this is the last trip. Has to be this time...no one/nothing left here...all the family will now be in Missouri...other than the daughter and her family...and they are in Sacramento.
Fill-in time later tonight.   

[alvin stadel]

Hugh, not trying to break your bubble but, the weatherman says high winds, rain with some snow starting this evening. I guess it is to last into Sat. so be carefull on the passes.  I would like to think it won't amount to much but who knows.  The more I get to know you I realize I am not the only guy that was born under the wrong star. Take care

[mustang6984]

Oh..weather is the least of my problems right now.
My son was towing the '68 Mustang behind his truck with a tow-dolly last night and it lost 4 lugs off the left rear wheel in Randle WA. Luckily no one hurt, no damage to the car other than the lost lugs, but it happened at around 11:00 p.m. and we were supposed to make Pasco for the night.
So after an hour plus calling around finally found a tow truck and had it towed to Packwood. I had him wait with the car for the truck, his girlfriend and the kids (one in my truck that had been with him) and Bob in his truck came ahead to Pasco with me. I was the only one who can drive well at night visually...so sending them anywhere alone was not an option. With the back end of my white car trailer as their target they were able to follow me alright.
He finally arrived probably around 5:00 a.m. after we got here about 3:30. (I know...long way away, but I have a buddy here with a shop and tools, and issues with Bob's truck are giving me concern...so...a little preventive maintenance is in order before we continue.)
So around noon today I will head back over with him and recover the '68 and get it here and then Saturday start toward Missouri...again!
This issue of challenges is getting to be old...real old! Yea...that star seems to have had a long reach!   

[alvin stadel]

Wow Hugh, it seems like it just never ends for you. I would have to have a 5th in the glove box just to keep me going.  Good luck hope to see you tomarrow if not it won't be the end of the world. Just stay safe and keep everyone lined out.  Take care.

[CobraJoe]

I'm with Alvin.... a 5th just makes sense   

[mustang6984]

After the day we had, might make that a couple of 5th's! But I think we have a handle on the issue. Got it back to Pasco just about 15 minutes ago. (11:50 PDT). Still have a couple of small things to deal with on it. BUT...as we were leaving today to go retrieve the '68 Pony...noticed the BRAND NEW tire on the left rear of the twin trailer tires is flat! SHEESH! 
So...tomorrow a.m. early...off to O'Reillys to get the proper studs for the axle...put them in and the Pony will be good. THEN...air up the trailer tire, drive to a tire shop, have the flat fixed...THEN perhaps we can continue this sojourn east!
Not sure at this point how far we will go tomorrow, but Billings is only 8 hours from here...so...there is that possibility. If not...then one day this summer Bob and I will take a car holiday, and I will take him to a couple of places I have seen in my travels that I know he would like, and we will take in Alvin's place as well so the two of them can meet, and Bob can see Alvin's collection. He would like it I know. And I know he and Alvin would become fast friends.

I am ready for this last trip to be done though! Both my son and his lady need to be at work on Wednesday...so we need some smooth sailing from here on. Also I need to show her where her new store is that she will be working in. Hugh Jr. knows where his is. And they both need a day to sit on my front porch and just diffuse! (any of the forum is welcome to join us...we have PLENTY of adult beverages!  We even have plenty of chips and  Might bring some chairs though...we're   touch short on those at the moment.   

[alvin stadel]

I am not sure about the rest of you guys, but as I read about the travels and trials of our friend Hugh its about like watching a soap opera.

[mustang6984]

I was thinking it feels more like I am living in a horror film...

[RICH MUISE]

Alvin, Agreed...........the good thing about it all is how well he's handled each and every situation.

[mustang6984]

Well...we got on the road from Pasco about 2:30 this afternoon after using my friend Bob Kiddy's shop, tools and son to get the Mustang to see things our way. 
After that pretty much uneventful...thankfully! Hugh Jr is towing the Mustang behind his '93 Ranger with a 4.0 V-6/5-speed...and doesn't have much acceleration when in the mountains...and said he hasn't used 5th gear since we left Port Angeles for the most part...so his fuel economy is ugly. But other than that it is towing well enough. I figure once we get clear of the mountains and out onto the mostly flat highway of Montana and beyond he'll get the 5th gear to exercise a bit. I too have been challenged for fuel economy for the same reason. But generally (from previous experience) I see high 13's to low 14's miles/gallons once I am out of the mountains.
Traveling with kids (4) is also a bit different than with just Sasha or my wife...more stops...so we only made it as far as Stone Creek after leaving Bob's. Sadly this means no stopping at Alvin's on the way back, as both Hugh Jr and his lady are to be at work on Wednesday...and we will probably not make it to Shell Knob until early to late evening Tuesday. Oh well..best laid plans of mice and men eh?
We stopped for the night around 2:40...it is now 3:25...so I am off to bed in a few...we will be back on the road around 11:a.m. And the silver lining here? this is definitely the last trip from WA to MO...nothing left in WA now to move!
Night all!    (or is that morning...?)