Safe Travels / Bon Voyage

Lug_Nut

TDIClub Enthusiast, Pre-Forum Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 20, 1998
Location
Sterling, Massachusetts. USA
TDI
idi: 1988 Bolens DGT1700H, the other oil burner: 1967 Saab Sonett II two stroke
In the words of Paul Simon:

Well, I'm on my way,
I don't know where I'm going.
I'm on my way,
Taking my time, but I don't know where.
 

n1das

TDIClub Enthusiast, Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2002
Location
Nashua, NH, USA
TDI
2014 BMW 535xd ///M-Sport, 2012 BMW X5 Xdrive35d, former 3x TDI owner
Leaving home now (Wednesday 2 PM EDT) for TDIfest.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
 

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
I'm leaving in the AM. Stopping overnight in Sudbury, Ontario, then on to Sturgeon Bay. See you all Friday!
 

PeterV

TDIClub Enthusiast, HO5G Doyen & Zen Master
Joined
Aug 17, 2000
Location
So, NH.
TDI
2000 Jetta 5 sp.
The v's are in Ohio resting up for the drive to the FEST!
 

1854sailor

Resident Curmudgeon
Joined
Aug 10, 2004
Location
Westerly, RI
TDI
2015 Golf SE SportWagen, 2015 Golf SE Hatch Back.
Heading out to Toledo in the AM, then the rest of the way on Friday. See you all there!
 

Lug_Nut

TDIClub Enthusiast, Pre-Forum Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 20, 1998
Location
Sterling, Massachusetts. USA
TDI
idi: 1988 Bolens DGT1700H, the other oil burner: 1967 Saab Sonett II two stroke
In Pittsburgh overnight after filling with B100 here.
Next stop is tomorrow just west of Chicago for another top-off with Bio. It's "only" B99, I think.
There's B10 at the public pumps 24/7, but the good stuff is hidden out back and accessible during business hours only).
 

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
I had about 45 minutes of panic trying to find my Passport. But I located it. And realized after that I also have a Passport Card, so I could have used that.
 

1854sailor

Resident Curmudgeon
Joined
Aug 10, 2004
Location
Westerly, RI
TDI
2015 Golf SE SportWagen, 2015 Golf SE Hatch Back.
In Pittsburgh overnight after filling with B100 here.
Next stop is tomorrow just west of Chicago for another top-off with Bio. It's "only" B99, I think.
There's B10 at the public pumps 24/7, but the good stuff is hidden out back and accessible during business hours only).
Are you using the NBB app to find fuel? I only run a max of B20 in the Passat, so I'm not going to go too far out of my way to find fuel. It looks like most places have B11 and some have B20. See you on Friday.
 
Last edited:

n1das

TDIClub Enthusiast, Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2002
Location
Nashua, NH, USA
TDI
2014 BMW 535xd ///M-Sport, 2012 BMW X5 Xdrive35d, former 3x TDI owner
Leaving home now (Wednesday 2 PM EDT) for TDIfest.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
I'm doing the 1240 mile drive straight through. EDIT: 1300 miles.

It's around 6:30 AM EDT Thursday and I'm taking a break and to get fuel at a service plaza on I-80/I-90 in Indiana, about 100 miles east of Chicago. This is my 2nd fuel stop. The 535d is returning 35 MPG while haulin' arse at 70+ on the highway. Looks like I'm ahead of the V's at the moment. :)

IIRC Illinois has a bio mandate for diesel fuel so I decided to stop for fuel while I'm still in Indiana. Max allowed bio concentration in the BMW is B7.
 

n1das

TDIClub Enthusiast, Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2002
Location
Nashua, NH, USA
TDI
2014 BMW 535xd ///M-Sport, 2012 BMW X5 Xdrive35d, former 3x TDI owner
The weather in Green Bay is beautiful today. We just stopped at a Hardee's to get some food and take a break. Only about 50 miles and another hour to TDIfest.

EDIT: Was beautiful when we arrived. Now clouded over and gloomy looking.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
 

jsrmonster

Veteran Member - TDIClub Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 22, 2002
Location
Red Lion, PA
TDI
15 Golf SW DSG, RC3 piped, 99.5 Jetta Rocket PD150 6spd 4motion, 2000 ASV110 RC6 "Silverbullet" 5spd Race Car, 2003.5 Cummins QCLB 4x4 "Blue Monster" Jeep CRD juiced, MB Sprinter van juiced up
All packed. Rolling out at 0300 ;-))
 

1854sailor

Resident Curmudgeon
Joined
Aug 10, 2004
Location
Westerly, RI
TDI
2015 Golf SE SportWagen, 2015 Golf SE Hatch Back.
Heading out from Toledo in the AM and stopping by a Portillo's along the way for lunch. Italian beef AND a Chicago style hot dog... Might also look for a pharmacy to pick up some Alka Seltzer...
 

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
Just got to Sudbury, Ontario about a half hour ago. Later start, rain on and off. But a beautiful drive, crossed into Canada in Odgensburg, NY. Shorter drive tomorrow down through the UP into WI.
 

aja8888

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Location
Texas..RETIRED 12/31/17
TDI
Out of TDI's
Left Texas 7:00 am Wednesday morning. Drove to Goodman, Missouri and had dinner with an old friend who moved there from Connecticut. We worked together in industry in the 1970's in the Naugatuck Valley.

Today left Joplin, Mo at 8:00 am and stopped about 125 miles into Mo for coffee and fuel. Wife left her cell phone in the ladies bathroom at the fuel stop and we did not realize it for two hours. Doubled back to the fuel stop and wasted 3.5 hours and drove another 250 miles. Phone was turned in to the desk clerk. Got to 30 miles north of Chicago tonight at 10:00 pm and checked into a hotel.

Driving in Thursday and only have about 3 hours travel time left (but I put in a VERY long driving day today).

Took the 2014 Passat for comfort reasons. I still don't completely trust the reliability of the 2003 Jetta with 302,000 miles on it that I am bringing back to life for a trip like this. Maybe next year it will go. Wife is happy she does not have to ride in the "noisy old car". :D
 

Lug_Nut

TDIClub Enthusiast, Pre-Forum Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 20, 1998
Location
Sterling, Massachusetts. USA
TDI
idi: 1988 Bolens DGT1700H, the other oil burner: 1967 Saab Sonett II two stroke
I'm here. Internet was dog-slow at the hotel outside Chicago last night so I gave up trying to post.
I'm glad I chose to take three days to get here as my back is quite ache-y from sitting that many hours continuously. Even stopping every two and walking around didn't keep the stiffness from returning. I hope I can relax it before the trip back.
 

tomo366

TDI Lifer, Member #68
Joined
Jun 30, 1997
Location
Kensington, Maryland USA
TDI
2015 Jetta SEL TDI
I left Hershey Pa at 9:45 Wed night stopped for the night in Somerset Pa at 12:45 Am left Somerset at 7 am yesterday and arrived here at 8:45 last night had some problems with double vision and my last 1.5 hours was harrowing to say the least 915 miles this place is beautiful! Thanks Organizers!
 

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
Got home about an hour ago. Didn't want to jet out early yesterday but I had to be here by now today, and wasn't sure I could do the 1280 miles alone in one stretch. Stayed in Toledo last night, left there at 6 AM. Filled up about 20 miles east of Toledo, and have 1/4 tank left after 740 miles. 75 all the way, A/C on most of the time.

Raining and squally here, but the drive was pretty. Only traffic on the Mass Pike. Blew through Chicago yesterday afternoon, didn't even have to kick it out of cruise more than a couple of times.

What a great weekend. Great people, beautiful location, lots of fun. Thanks to Eric, Fred, and all the organizers. You done good.
 

aja8888

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Location
Texas..RETIRED 12/31/17
TDI
Out of TDI's
What a great weekend. Great people, beautiful location, lots of fun. Thanks to Eric, Fred, and all the organizers. You done good.
Ditto on the above. Thanks guys and gals for a job well done!!:)

We are in Tomahawk, Wisconsin for a couple of days to visit with wife Evelyn's sister and husband. Took 3 hours to drive over here with no traffic this morning. Noticed the vacationers leaving Wisconsin in droves today. This afternoon I helped SIL's husband get his dock out of the lake they live on.

We will be heading to Texas Wednesday morning and hopefully arriving home Thursday night with a stopover south of St' Louis.
 

jsrmonster

Veteran Member - TDIClub Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 22, 2002
Location
Red Lion, PA
TDI
15 Golf SW DSG, RC3 piped, 99.5 Jetta Rocket PD150 6spd 4motion, 2000 ASV110 RC6 "Silverbullet" 5spd Race Car, 2003.5 Cummins QCLB 4x4 "Blue Monster" Jeep CRD juiced, MB Sprinter van juiced up
Great fest!! So nice to get out of the grind and see the country side. Must return to sturgeon bay again. Made it home - 1000 miles and 18 hrs seat time. Stopped about 4 times and no drama along the way. Great to see everyone again. Made a lot of HP this gtg if u add it up hehe. Jeff
 

NarfBLAST

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 3, 2002
Location
Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
TDI
2001 Golf 5MT
Left after breakfast and got home at 11pm Eastern time. I HAD A BLAST, on the way to the fest, at the fest, and on the way home!

Before leaving the hotel room I checked Google traffic and found there was an hour and a half delay on the Mackinac bridge. I pulled up a webcam and found half of the bridge packed with people! I googled some more and learned that they "walk the bridge" every labour day. The web page said it starts at 7am and "shuttle busses running until 2:30pm" so I figured it should be wrapping up by the time I get there.

I was miles away from the bridge when I hit traffic on the highway, so I stopped at this scenic lookout to check the map:



Then doubled back about a mile and found a quiet road along the shoreline:



That road took me right to the bridge and I merged with traffic just as the last walkers were being escorted off! AWESOME!

The first time I had ever crossed that bridge was at night, it is much more epic (and a little scary) during the day!



Anyway, home safe, had a great time, nice to see everyone!
 
Last edited:

n1das

TDIClub Enthusiast, Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2002
Location
Nashua, NH, USA
TDI
2014 BMW 535xd ///M-Sport, 2012 BMW X5 Xdrive35d, former 3x TDI owner
Just arrived at home. Trip was uneventful.

1280 miles driven, 20.6 hours of driving, 24 hours total trip time including our stops. I'm actually more wired than tired after a continuous low dose of caffeine and sugar from sipping lots of Coca-Cola along the way. (I'm not a coffee drinker)

Time for a nap after I unwind a little from the trip.
 

greengeeker

Vendor
Joined
Feb 8, 2006
Location
Cambridge, MN
TDI
2002 Jetta GLS
Did anyone else use their show and shine vehicle to haul a broken vw the day after TDIFEST? :cool:

I'm willing to bet I set the bar for the lowest mileage on Sunday for all attendees...including Jeff's beast of a van. :)

 
Top