The Trip Thread

mrvermin

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2007
Location
GTA
TDI
2001 Jetta TDI
Ok, Have you left for the Fest yet?

Post travel diaries here.... Picts.... The route you took.... Interesting stuff that you saw or that hapened to you while on your way to the Fest....

Come on, I know a few have left already :cool:

MrVermin
 

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
Left Saturday morning for THMalloy in Cumerland, RI for B99 biodiesel, but I didn't have my usual 55 gallon drum trailer this time.




I was delayed there by another TDI owner also buying fuel. Good thing we chatted! While comparing coolant fan operation when the A/C was on I opened my hood to see the oil fill cap on the fuel pump! I had loosened it Friday evening thinking that I'd top off the oil, but the oil level was OK.

Got to Asheville, NC where at 3 AM some sleepy (under-the-influence?) driver that had just passed me spun into the guide rail about 100 yards ahead of me. No serious damage was apparent, just a big skid mark. Yes, I bet both types of skid marks! His rear bumper was pretty well scuffed but didn't look to be torn or dislodged as he took off. I had to get off my brakes and back on the fuel because of traffic behind me when I heard a big 'POP'. At first I though I had run over something that the crasher had left in the road, but it was the turbo connection at the outlet of the 'pancake' pipe that had come unclipped.
I pulled over, got out the tools I had brought, and was under the car when an ambulance pulled up. Apparently another driver had called in the spin accident, and by now I'm the only one left at the scene. I'm OK, I explained the accident and that everyone else had left, so the ambulance left. Then Mayberry's finest pulled up and I explained it again.
The Asheville B99.9 station opened at 8 so I had time for a quick nap before they opened and I could fill up.

I continued down and called home from somewhere around Birmingham to check on the weather in New Orleans and it wasn't looking good! So I cranked up the speedo to 80+ MPH to get here as quickly as I thought I could. I burned more fuel, but the early arrival tonight means I can get an early start tomorrow and hopefully get on the road in the afternoon rather than in the rain and wind on Tuesday. I'll not head further south to a biodiesel station even closer to the gulf, but will just head straight north and get what I can where I can.

The early departure from New Orleans may put me in Ypsilanti a day early, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, is it?
 
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VeeDubTDI

Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 2, 2000
Location
Springfield, VA
TDI
‘18 Tesla Model 3D+, ‘14 Cadillac ELR, ‘13 Fiat 500e
A day early would be fine! I'm getting into town at 4pm on Wednesday.

Quite the adventure you're having. :cool:
 

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
"Twice" in a lifetime

... And you may ask yourself "Where does that highway go to?"
and you may say to yourself "My God! What have I done!?!?!"





In Miss, and headed north.
 

VeeDubTDI

Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 2, 2000
Location
Springfield, VA
TDI
‘18 Tesla Model 3D+, ‘14 Cadillac ELR, ‘13 Fiat 500e
Car is packed with A/V equipment... clothes and miscellaneous items are going in tonight. Hitting the road bright and early tomorrow!
 

VeeDubTDI

Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 2, 2000
Location
Springfield, VA
TDI
‘18 Tesla Model 3D+, ‘14 Cadillac ELR, ‘13 Fiat 500e
Just entered PA! Cruising right along. Gorgeous weather!
 

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
Well the wheel shake at 60 turned out to be a bit more than just a lost wheel weight. I mean, the wheel balance doesn't get worse climbing and go away completely, at the same speed, when coasting in gear now, does it?

I stopped in to Paramedick's to see if my suspicions of a worn CV were validated, and unfortunately it was.
We pulled the right side axle and cleaned the dried grease out and saw deep galling in the inner hub (axle side). The balls looked good and there was a bit of burnishing on the outer hub (flange side). No axles were to be had by then (stores closed at 8) so I re-filled the joint with new grease, left the Sonett and dolly there, and headed up to the Dayton area where I had a room waiting.

The plan was to have an axle brought to the 'fest and I'd use the tools borrowed from Paramedick to replace it there, and to head back to "Vur sales" after the fest to retrieve the SAAB and dolly.
In Dayton I located an axle, yes, a re-man, but I checked it before paying. The stock clerk wanted to know if I was going to buy it before he took the box down from the shelf, because he didn't want to put it back if I didn't want it. I replied that I wasn't going to pay for crap parts and if he had confidence in his product he shouldn't have concerns. It look quite good, not a re-cut the hub, slap a new boot on it quickie, but had what look like new inner and outer, new race, and a proper retaining clip rather than a circlip.

So by 10 I had the old one out, by noon I had the new one in.



I'll shower up, then test drive it, return the trashed one for it's core value refund, and see if I can return the borrowed tools and get the SAAB and dolly today.
 
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VeeDubTDI

Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 2, 2000
Location
Springfield, VA
TDI
‘18 Tesla Model 3D+, ‘14 Cadillac ELR, ‘13 Fiat 500e
Sounds like an epic adventure.

I'm in Ohio now - 30 miles left to go on the turnpike. Should be pulling in at 5pm.
 

VeeDubTDI

Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 2, 2000
Location
Springfield, VA
TDI
‘18 Tesla Model 3D+, ‘14 Cadillac ELR, ‘13 Fiat 500e
I've only made this trip a few dozen times before. ;)

At Aubree's having food with GeekDrew, Sprocket and Sprockette. :cool:
 

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
Reunited again. The tandem is in the lot here in Dayton.
I'll fill up at Jatro biodiesel again, and now that I have the "trunk" with the jugs I can fill those too.
Then it's on to MI.
 

The Ripster

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 4, 1999
Location
UP of Michigan
TDI
None at this time
Leave in the morning and then after stopping a few places on the trip across the UP and then lower Michigan, should arrive about 6pm or so. Looking forward to helping stuff the bags once I get settled if you need another set of hands. Just a little over 500 miles just in the state of Michigan.
 

compu_85

Gadget Guy
Joined
Sep 29, 2003
Location
La Conner, WA
TDI
... None :S
Spacemonkeymafia and I left DC at 10:00 last night (when I got off work... yuck!). We're in Ohio now... should be to the hotel soon!

-J
 

mrvermin

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2007
Location
GTA
TDI
2001 Jetta TDI
Left Toronto last night at about 3am! At hotel now, all checked in :cool:

Looking forward to seeing everyone when they arrive :D

MrVermin
 

VeeDubTDI

Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 2, 2000
Location
Springfield, VA
TDI
‘18 Tesla Model 3D+, ‘14 Cadillac ELR, ‘13 Fiat 500e
A bunch of us are out at dinner in Depot Town. We'll be back around 9 - then on to goody bag stuffing!

Today has been a busy day. I need a nap.
 

n8ronJ

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2007
Location
Niagara Frontier - Somerset, NY
TDI
2014 BMW 328d XDrive, 2003 Jetta GLS TDI 5speed Platinum Grey (sold), 2010 Jetta 6speed (bought back)
Boost gauge finally in and working. Meeting rocketeer928 in the morning for breakfast and it's on to TDIFest via the great white north. Should be pulling in by 4pm tomorrow.

doing laundry and packing would be a good idea right now...
hoping to remember to post a quick pic in the morning with the pair of 03 platinum grays. ;)

Praying for a smooth / uneventful ride...
 

vikingrob

Veteran Member
Joined
May 18, 2004
Location
Minneapolis
TDI
2021 Tesla Model 3 (delivery estimate May 2021)
I got in about 6pm EDT today - I split the drive over two days (spent last night in Madison, WI). On the return trip, considering taking 90 and 52 from Tomah back to Minneapolis.
 

VeeDubTDI

Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 2, 2000
Location
Springfield, VA
TDI
‘18 Tesla Model 3D+, ‘14 Cadillac ELR, ‘13 Fiat 500e
I saw you guys. Got scared to introduce myself. I'm at the bar watching the bears game
Don't be scared! We don't bite.

Feel free to introduce yourselves and hang lend a hand if you want. If you'd rather relax and enjoy vacation, that's fine, too... But still introduce yourself. :)
 

loganbmx4gt

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2011
Location
Jackson, TN
TDI
97' Passat (1Z), 02' Golf
Left at midnight. Sitting at the Speedway in elizabethtown, KY currently. We will be leaving here shortly for Newark, OH.
 

VeeDubTDI

Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 2, 2000
Location
Springfield, VA
TDI
‘18 Tesla Model 3D+, ‘14 Cadillac ELR, ‘13 Fiat 500e
We had over 125 check-ins on day one. Good numbers! I hope those of you who are still traveling get here safely!
 
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