Did everyone get back from GTG alive?

[katipo]

How did the GTG go...new ideas to pass along?

 

[Lug_Nut]

I don't envy, but express my gratitude to, the organizer who sold his/her soul in exchange for the fabulous weather.
p.s. I'm home after 3199.0 miles to, while there, and back.

 

[tomo366]

1806 miles here. Yesterday evening

 

[KERMA]

Made it last night. Me beat. But happy. Passed Ernie on the way. He was going 51 mph, me about 90.

 

[PeterV]

22802 miles round trip. The hours well I am ZZzzzzzzzzz...
great Fest and tahnk you to all. Especially the organizers YES its OVER... get some rest now.. As 2004 organizer let the mind relax.. It will take some time but it was worth it.
PeterV & Hamserdiesel.

 

[FanofAllDiesels]

22802 miles round trip.

What route did you and Julie take!

Becky and I made it back to Maryland around 3:30 a.m. We ended up taking 39S->74SE->70E home. It added a few hours to our trip but cut our tolls from ~ $30 down to $1.

Jeff

 

[Hamsterdiesel]

22802 miles round trip. The hours well I am ZZzzzzzzzzz...

Well, that says it all!

More like 2280mi round trip. We left about 4:30 am (central) got home midnight (eastern). The math regarding the time change is still a bit too much for my tiny exhausted brain but I believe it was 18.5 hrs door to door...or is that 19.5 hrs?

Anyway, landscaping was quasi-completed in our absence

, so recovery day was spent madly sprinkling about 2 acres...

(but still glad to be home!

Even the 'kids' are happy to see us...I think

)

 

[VelvetFoot]

Just got back. We took the SS Badger. Slept in Midland, MI. Stopped off at Niagara on the Lake for a little walk and lunch at the Prince of Wales Hotel.

Now where is that darn cat??

 

[canast]

Made it home fine. Did not have as far as most of you to go. But with the problem with "My TDI" after cleaning the intake. I did not look forward to going home in limp mode nor having to stay and be Topels first customer on Tuesday. Thank You to everyone especially Mrchill, Jsrmonster and Danix for your help as well as everyone else who threw ideas out on Sunday. I have to chuckle some from all of the people who asked 'Did you try cleaning your intake?' Who would have thought it was a $5 temp sensor. Once again THANK YOU!

 

[VW Derf]

Not yet, 5567km done and several thousand more before I'm home. After having the car for three years, this is the first 'real' road trip (besides the 7,000km drive home when I bought it new) and I'm lovin it!

BTW, who passed me in that blue Passat Wagon in Illinois?

 

[jimnms]

I must have been the last one to leave. I sletp until 10am, started packing the car at 11am. When I went out to the parking lot to start loading, it was just my car and some old buick in the parking lot. That place cleared out quick.

I still haven't made it home yet. I stopped in Chicago to visit a couple of friends. I was planning to leave this morning, but last night I got smacked upside the head with a feaver of 100.3°! Feeling better today, so I don't know what it was, maybe something I ate.

 

[deming]

It twas I in the 05 "dirty" Blue Passat Wagon on my into Moline, Illinois on I88. I had two co pilots in the back cargo area.

You were very close to Moline when you turned off for Iowa.
You should have dropped in for a sandwich and some B25 out of the barrell.

I did not make it to the Fest

We had to rescue a buddy out of New Orleans and made the trek to Fort Smith Arkansas and back.

 

[bluenb1]

jimnms, where you headed? Any word on your electricity or how things are back at home?

Sorry to hear about the fever.
Jeff

 

[mrchill]

1520 miles from michigan where I picked up my jetta to the fest and back home, all with no sightseeing. From home through Canada to michigan? 800, 900 miles maybe? Boy am I beat! Had a lot of fun though. Loads of cars and even more cows! I have NEVER seen so much corn in my life.

Thanks all you Midwesterners that made us all feel welcome. Thanks for the coordination....sorry I missed the awards and dinner, but the cars they were broken

. Thanks to the guys at Topels for the use of thier facility...cool! Thanks for the $2.75\gal B100!!!!

Cheaper than dino, and quieter.

Thanks to all the venders. Great prices, priceless info, and nice to put faces to the screen names (for those I never met). Thanks Peter V for the hoses that I stole from you. Thanks Jeff(Rocketchip) for your usual wealth of knowledge and your non stop chipping!

My ride home was much improved with the upgrade. Charlie....I forgot to get nozzles....again! Bummer!

Thanks to the folks who did the seminars. They were much appreciated...and needed. I'll have to vusut again sometime. It was a blast!

I was sick as a dog(why are dogs so sick?) all the way home so I kept my speed sub-light...85mph, till I got popped in Ohio for speeding, and given a ticket with no price

. As a result I dropped to 65 mph and gained 10 mpg....the fuel mileage savings will not equal the ticket but oh well! Got home safe and sound in my jett, only to find more tdi's for cheap in the want ad! Not as cheap as mine though

!

Ah well back to work, thanks all for your help and camraderie. Hope to do it again sometime. By the way, a recurring thing I noticed while there. Most who live in the midwest have said that they need more Tdi specialists in the area. Any who fit the bill should speak up! If no, perhaps a Bi annual Midwestern mini fest to address the problems and concerns of the folks who cant get it otherwise would help. Some of us in other parts of the country would be happy to come out and help. Food for thought!

Till next time be safe have fun and above all raise awareness....put biodiesel signs on all the cornfields! Good advertising! And there are soooooo many cornfields!

Happy motoring! CHILL

 

[ymz]

>>That place cleared out quick.<<

Everyone's probably trying to get a head start on their trek to TDI-Fest 2006...

Wish I was there

Yuri.

 

[TDIinRI]

Well, I took a LONG time to get back. Stopped in Chicago and return via Ontario, where RUL was $1.25/litre!!! I got back at 6.30 am this morning finally. Not sure as to the exact # of miles as of yet!

 

[251]

Ah well back to work, thanks all for your help and camraderie. Hope to do it again sometime. By the way, a recurring thing I noticed while there. Most who live in the midwest have said that they need more Tdi specialists in the area. Any who fit the bill should speak up! If no, perhaps a Bi annual Midwestern mini fest to address the problems and concerns of the folks who cant get it otherwise would help. Some of us in other parts of the country would be happy to come out and help. Food for thought!

We have a knowledgeable group in Michigan and there are also experts down in Ohio so some of the midwest is covered already actually.

 

[BKmetz]

I have NEVER seen so much corn in my life.

LOL! Good thing the fest wasn't in Iowa. Iowa has more corn than Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana put together.

 

[jimnms]

jimnms, where you headed? Any word on your electricity or how things are back at home?

Sorry to hear about the fever.
Jeff

Heading back to Vicksburg, MS Friday. The power to my neighborhood came on Thursday night (the day I left), but still as of today we don't have telephone or cable. I have a cell phone, so that's not a problem, but my internet is cable.

What's strange is the phones were working until the powere came on.

 

[katipo]

I have NEVER seen so much corn in my life.

LOL! Good thing the fest wasn't in Iowa. Iowa has more corn than Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana put together.

Should see the corns I have on my toes.

 

[jasonTDI]

I have NEVER seen so much corn in my life.

LOL! Good thing the fest wasn't in Iowa. Iowa has more corn than Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana put together.

Should see the corns I have on my toes.

uuueeewwwwwww!!!!!! WAY to much information! LOL!

 

[Mechnurse]

I made it after only 4116 miles.

GREAT TDI-FEST!!!

I want to thank everyone involved. TDI's rule and still get great MPG to boot!

 

[ymz]

>>uuueeewwwwwww!!!!!! WAY to much information! LOL!<<

Hey... he almost stole my line about being stopped by a motorcycle policeman who was wearing sandals... you should have seen the Corn on the Cop...

(I have no shame...)

Yuri.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Still not home. I drove west from the Fest through Wisconsin and found some really great and really empty roads. Made sure I didn't have power-on oversteer

and found the '97 spins right up to about 110 but is real slow to go faster. Maybe it still needs some loosening up.

Had to work in Chicago until tonight and am headed out in the wee hours. Might take 86 through NY state and visit Oneonta where I went to college 30 years ago

. Will stop by Amherst to visit my daughter in college. How did I get so old?

Had a great time with MrChill, TDIinRI, BeetleGo, PeterV, HamsterDiesel, and many others. I continue to marvel at how universally great TDIers are, and how much I have in common with this eclectic group. What a pleasure.

Be safe, everyone. See you in '06!

 

[SCarroll]

I arrived home at 5:00 P.M. today. I did get to spend the week with my parents and go to a motorcycle rally Friday night and Saturday morning. I did see a wrecked semi in Iowa this weekend, The overpass split it in half. He had to have fallen asleep. A motorcyclist did the same in eastern Colorado from what I could tell this afternoon. Heat fatigue is tuff on a biker. I do enjoy the cooler with a camelback (red BMW bike at the fest)I spent about $300 on High octane gasoline this past week

Steve

 

[VW Derf]

I finally got home at 8pm last night:

* 19 days of traveling
* traveled in 15 states and 1 province (headed home over LA and up Highway 1 through California)
* 9677km (6013miles) traveled
* Average Fuel economy (5.1l/100km | 46mpg US | 55 mpg CDN)
* Top speed ~ 195km/h | 120mph
* Best economy (4.25km/l | (55.26mpg US) | 66.37 mpg CDN)
* Furthest traveled in a day 1221km (759miles)
* Cheapest Diesel: Montana and Nebraska at $2.79 a gallon
* Most expensive Diesel: (home in BC @ $3.52US/gallon), but California came close @3.39US/Gallon)
* Fuel for the trip cost $400US... YIKES! Good thing I my fuel economy (I have an automatic) wasn't bad. Imaging what it would have cost a Hummer of Suburban.

I had a great time and thanks for all the work guys!

 

[Kayakkermit]

Welcome home Fred! Glad you made it safely.

 

[DIESELprogrammer]

We did 9 states and 3872 miles. Stopped off at Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Grande Tetons, and Yellowstone on the way home.

The Golf did great pulling the trailer up and down the steep grades even up to 9k feet in elevation. It sputtered a little one morning starting up at 7800 feet where we camped. It got down to about 38 degrees that night.

Fred: That little hesitation we had on the trip out that we discussed at the fest. I am thinking it was caused by the high tail wind gust that we had. Some of those were up to 50mph+. It was all head wind on the way home and I had no such problem.

The fest gave us the opportunity to do a lot more than just the fest. We had a great time throughout our vacation!

 

[jettafock]

Well 3167 miles 28 days 4 hours 52 mins later, I am finally back from Wis. Was a great trip and great fest. Nice to see many of the midwest clan. This trip marks a very sad day though for me. It is the last time I was in Wis as a Wis resident.

See you guys next year at the fest.

 

[jimnms]

jimnms goes to White Castle

I got home the morning of Saturday Sept. 10. After the fest I drove to Chicago and stayed a few days with a friend. I'm just now finding the time to get back to post my trip log. It's been sitting on my desk along with fuel recipts staring me in the face for almost a month now.

<font class="small">Code:</font><hr /><pre>
Odometer
4738 Trip Start
4794 Oil Change
4877 Fuel Stop Wynona, MS
5445 Fuel Stop Ashkum, IL (41.46 MPG)
???? I forgot to write my milage when I arrived in Lake Mills
5861 Fuel Stop Lake Mills, WI (39.78 MPG)
5873 Leave Lake Mills, WI
6003 Arrive & Leave Chicago, IL
6414 Fuel Stop Charleston, MO (38.45 MPG)
6496 Nap at Rest Stop in MO
6807 Fuel Stop Vicksburg, MS (40.53)
6812 Trip End
====================================================
2074 Trip Total
40.06 Average MPG
</pre><hr />
I had 3/4 tank when I started, and I was unable to fill up before I left because of lines at the fuel stations. Wynona, MS was the first place I could stop without the lines for fuel being backed up the off ramp. I was right at 1/2 tank when I topped of, and that's where I got the batch of red diesel. Between Wynona, MS and Ashkum, IL, it was all highway driving with the cruise set on 70 MPH (I still had 1/4 tank when I stopped btw). I was a little surprised at the low milage. I stayed the night in Joliet, IL and visited a cousin that lives there that day before heading on to WI.

I missed the exit for 39N to go into WI, I did not see a sign for 39N, but I did see one for 39S. It was about 30 minutes before I could find a place to turn around to go back. Once I got on 39N, I kicked the speed up to 85 to make up for lost time and I was still getting passed by everyone.

I didn't leave Chicago until late Friday afternoon. Then I ended up taking a detour though Indiana. It wasn't my fault, I swear.

I printed the directions to get home, and I had a map. I was on the Dan Ryan Expressway when it split into 90E and 94E. I wanted 94E, but there were no signs and no warning. I was coming around a turn when my lane split off and I ended up on the 90E Chicago Skyway.

I took the first exit that I could and pulled over into some parking lot. Looking at my map I eventually figured out I was in Hammond, IN. I found a road that would take me to 80W and then to 57S which would take me home.

Once again on 80W, it split into two divided highways 80W and 94W, no warning and no signs to tell you which one is which. Luckily I was in the right one, but then again it splits up with no warning and no signs into 80W and 294. Now there's three 2-lane highways running parallel with concrete dividers between them. Unfortunately I was in the wrong one this time. I was in the one that turned north onto 294. I had to go through a $2.50 toll both before I could exit again.

Once again I had to pull over, check my map and figure out where I was. I found a road that ran south that would take me right to 57S. It was dark by now and I was hungry. I had passed a couple of White Castle's along the way, and was reminded of the movie "Harold and Kumar go to White Castle." I began craving a White Castle burger, so when I finally got on 57S and knew I couldn't get lost again, I called my friend in Chicago and asked her to find me a White Castle along my way.

To make a long story, not quite as long, she found me one somewhere in Bourbonnais, IL. I stopped, grabbed a sack of 10, ate 4 and got back on the road. I stopped in Charleston, MO at a truck stop for fuel, ate a couple of my now cold White Castle burgers and trucked on. A little while later I started getting tired, so I figured I'd go ahead and pull into the next rest area and get some sleep while it was dark instead of waiting until the sun came up and cooked me in the car.

I pulled into a rest area about 4am, let the seat back and fell right asleep. I woke up about 9am when it started getting hot in the car. I got out, went in and used the rest room, it was airconditioned thankfully. I bought a Mountain Dew from the vending machine, go back to the car and eat some cold and now slightly stale White Castle burgers and drink my Mountain Dew.

The rest of the trip was pretty much uneventful.