Heading out tonight!

[orfunauto/Darrell]

We are leaving eastern N.C. tonight for west central Minnesota.  I've been working steady on the MCI 8 since I got it home from Minnesota this past May.  We're taking I40/85 to I77 north up to Charleston, WV.  Then I64 west to Louisville, KY, north on I65 to Indianapolis, west on I74 to Bloomington, IL, north on I 39 to Madison, WI and then I 94 west to western Minnesota.  My other half has not rode in the bus yet, so she's in for an adventure.  Wish us luck, and if you see a  white with two-tone blue stripes 8 on the highway, give us a wave!

[Ncbob]

Wonderful!  Enjoy your trip and the adventure but please do drive safely and keep us posted on your trip.

NCbob

[belfert]

If you have time, you could stop by my place for a few minutes.  You'll probably pass right by my house in the Minneapolis area on the Interstate and I'm literally two or three blocks from the Interstate exit.

If you're not familiar with the Minneapolis metro area, you'll want to take I694 through the metro instead of taking I94 through the two downtowns.  This is listed as the Twin Cities bypass.  I694 reconnects to I94 on the west side of town.

You might also stop to see Craig Shepard as he lives two or three miles off I94 on the opposite end of the metro area from me

[H3Jim]

Sounds lke a great trip, good luck on your adventure.  Keep us posted and take picures!

[Kwajdiver]

Sounds like fun, be safe and God Speed.

Bill

[Hi yo silver]

I'm jealous!  If you are ever coming down I-81 past Roanoke, let me know and I'll call Barn Owl  and see if the two of us can scrape up enough change to buy the coffee.  Enjoy your trip.
Dennis
(540) five nine one, 5219
Why do we write out our numbers like that?....

[DavidInWilmNC]

Have a good trip.  Take pictures along the way and be safe... the idiots are out there!

David

[orfunauto/Darrell]

Thanks folks for the encouragement.  I won't have access to the internet while traveling.  I haven't got that modern yet.   Belfert, if you email me your telephone number within the next hour, I'll give you a ring when I'm getting close.  Mine is nine one nine seven five zero two zero six six...  I'm a native Minnesotan (32 years there) so I'm very familiar with the Cities.   

Thanks again folks!

[Slow Rider]

I hope you have a wonderful trip and learn all about the idiosyncrasies of the MC8, that way you can teach me  

Silver we write them out that way to keep scrounge bots from getting them and posting your number all over the world

Frank

[Dreamscape]

Good Luck and God Bless you for a safe trip!

Pics, pics, pics and more pics please. 

Happy Trails,

Paul

Dreamscape

[orfunauto/Darrell]

3,126 miles and we're home! 
Absolutely no problems. 
Got as low as 6.3 and as high as 8.8 mpg - very satisfied!  Fuel prices were as high as $3.03 in MN, WISC, IL, IN, and as low as $2.63 in Wytheville, Va.

Lessons learned:  #1,  When checking the condition of the fan drive belt by releasing the tension - - make sure you put the switch back - - it will prevent the engine from shutting down for overheat protection while driving 70 miles per hour....  Lesson #2, same as number one, except you put it back after showing a friend how you screwed up in lesson # 1 --- DUH! 

Observations: For those who have a 4 speed, after 3,000 + miles, you will learn how to shift without making metal sawdust!

The Coleman roof airs worked excellent, even today with 100+ degrees of heat here in NC.  P.O. did an excellent job of insulating during conversion.

My addition of air horns came in handy in Minneapolis with the snarl of traffic due to the tragedy of the bridge going down.  Some little old lady figured she could move me over if she got close enough to my right front tire - NOT!

A personal question to those of you who organize rallies.  I've noticed that most of rallies planned are not in conjunction with holiday weekends.  As a working couple, we would love to see them planned around a three day weekend.  Is this possible?   

[Kristinsgrandpa]

Glad you made it, you passed within 20 miles (as the crow flies) of my house.

Ed

[belfert]

I think most rallies are not over holidays because folks often have family events or are busy with other events over the holidays.  Holidays are also a terrible time to travel.

I forgot all about calling you so you could stop on your way through.

[bubbaqgal]

For the rally at BK's in TN we thought about Labor day but most people said they would rather not because of other plans.  I wish there was a way to fix it so that everyone could come, working or not.  I know how hard it is because the two rallys Dallas and I had, I had to take vacation time which meant I was unable to attend other rally's that I wanted to attend.  Cat

[orfunauto/Darrell]

I can understand that Cat.  Belfert, sorry we missed the opportunity to meet you.  Kristensgranpa, you must be a southern Ohioan...  Our son-in-law is from NE Ohio. 

In two years, I'm going to join the retired set, and maybe then we can attend some rallies.  In the mean time, my other half gets only ten days a year, and with family in Minnesota, Alaska, and California, we have to set some priorities.  Bad part is, I get five and a half weeks vacation a year.  Linda really enjoyed her first trip in the coach -  and that is very important to future bussin' !!    I might just have to "batch it" to one of the closer rallies......