ChrisBennet XCountry Tour This week

[ChrisBennet]

Originally posted by bigchillcar
so, not coming through arkansas/little rock, now chris? route changed?

Looks likely that we'll still be going through Little Rock AK. (My copilot forgot to consult before changing the route to go through a snowstorm...)

-Chris

[ChrisBennet]

OK, we've got places to stay in DC with non-Pelican's we want to visit (I won't be riding your couch Jim).

I think we'll be taking Rt81 from DC to Knoxville then Rt40 to Nashville then Memphis and Little Rock.

So Wednesday night looks like Knoxville (500 miles), maybe a little before.

Anyone in Knoxville or between Roanoak and Knoxville want to get together for supper?

-Chris

[mjshira]

if you come through Indiana you are welcome to our guest bedroom, I am back in town this Friday night. safe travels

[ChrisBennet]

This is the latest proposed route:

-Chris

[bigchillcar]

chris...any rough idea when you'll be rolling through little rock? not lots of excitement of the variety you may be looking for here..lol, but i've got a spare bedroom and couch, or could meet for lunch or dinner. you're right..it would be nice to meet another pelican or two. i was actually in littleton, nh last summer twice for two weeks..flew into manchester..beautiful country up there. there's another pelican here in little rock, too - 74cookiecutter.

[9dreizig]

Ryan, They are leaving tomorrow am at 9 East coast time, staying over in the DC area.. that would put them at your place around Wed night I suspect

[bigchillcar]

chris says on here that wed. night looks like knoxville. i have family there, but not pelicans (very old folks..not lots of fun..lol). i think it's about 8 hours from knoxville to little rock roughly. my place is easy to reach. i think i'm having a flight review on thursday, so thursday afternoon/evening would work fine for me..nothing happening on friday - i just became gainfully unemployed, so i'm returning to a prior profession in aviation. again, you guys will be welcome to bunk with me. we can order food in or go out and eat.

[bigchillcar]

funny, just noticed that chris and i have almost same number of posts and joined within a few months of each other. sounds like we both need an offline life..

[74cookiecutter]

Hey just got the email on this thread.
Ryan, call me if Chris stops in AR. You do still own that cell phone don't you?
We can show him a knee slappin good time. Maybe introduce him to Bill or one of his girl friends.
Ya'll come back now, ya hear!

[yel911]

Chris, you've got your work cutout for you pal!!! To get your co-driver laid, in just 3K miles!!! FYI, Vegas has hookers, but trying to find one that DOESN'T eat meat???!!!!! Have a safe trip, and I'm there for you if you need a chase vehicle, but only to the Ma. border!!! Thanks for leaving my 3.2 conversion for a trip to Tahoe for 2 weeks of skiing....priorities pal.
Moe,

[ChrisBennet]

Here's the car:



Gotta go now. See you on the road.
-Chris

[bigchillcar]

chris: sent you a pm with my contact info and directions to house in little rock.

be careful! i made this same drive all the way from littleton, nh last summer, but darned if i didn't get lost somewhere in mass. and wound up in the wrong state for a while?! actually, i drove thru delaware, the virginia outer banks and north carolina as part of my drive back to little rock.

[Quicksilver]

I'm up in Anchorage this week.

Drop by and I'll put you up!

[9dreizig]

OK guys here's the update.. Just spoke with Chris and Charles.. looks like they will be getting into Nashville or Memphis tomorrow night. Does anyone want to meet them?? They will probably grab a hotel room but would love some Pelican company...
The good news is they got over 15 mpg on the first tank!! ( comes out of my pocketbook). The bad news is it seems they have a boost problem,, breaks up when they hit it relatively hard ( overboost relay problem maybe???? any turbo experts along the way ???)
Todd

[yel911]

Todd,
I called them yesterday afternoon, the radio died in western Ma., do you think Charles is singing to Chris????!!!! Poor Chris.....
Moe

[ChrisBennet]

We arrived safely in DC last night. I stayed with my buddy Robert
in Alexandria and Charles stayed up in Bethesda.

Robert and Charles (hwgeek) being blinded by flash:


We managed around 15 miles per gallon and a little over 500 miles after a late start. Today I think we are heading to the Blue Ridge Parkway on our way to Knoxville or possibly Nashville.

-Chris

[ChrisBennet]

[bigchillcar]

got your pm, chris...sounds like we'll be meeting up on thursday. ya'll keep drivin' carefully...
ryan

[HWgeek]

... and yes I am wearing sunglasses

Its the EconoLodge on I40 just around Knoxville (exit 398) Free wifi. life is good.

Been a fun ride, dragged Chris onto the Blue ridge parkway, which is DEFINITELY A COOL DRIVE!!! We only stayed on it for about 45 miles, had to get back on I81 to make up some distance and time. Chris has an interesting post on what he "did" on that drive... and we got some nice pix from the car going around the windy corners!

Car had some hard start problems - solid crank, but didn't grab any fuel. We futz'ed with in Bethesda and banged (literally) on the relays. Lo and be hold is started. Met Robert in Alexandria and it "died" again during breakfast at Bob Evans.

Again futz'ed with it. and lo and behold is started. Should be interesting what happens tomorrow morning!

Looks like we will in fact be stopping in Little Rock for the evening, bigChillcar, Chris should be ringing you tomorrow to do the details.

Oh and Chris keeps forgetting I am dragging him to the Grand Canyon, unless he really wants to miss it Tath would put us near Las Vegas... I think Phoenix might be too far south for us northerners.

Cheers!

Charles

[ChrisBennet]

Hi guys,
I sent Charles (HWgeek) the pics to post. Night all.
-chris