Florida trip costly but fun!

[roadrunnertex]

Well,
The old GMC Buffalo made a round trip to South Florida (Delray Beach,FL) and back to Palestine, Texas.2500 miles round trip.7.1 MPG fuel use.
Fuel cost around $3.44 to $3.37 per gallon filled at the Pilot on the west side of Tallahassee,FL going down and coming back to Texas.Fuel cost total around $1300.00
Thank goodness for Walmart Parking lot's.
Stayed one night in DeFuniak Springs,FL going south and one night in Gulfport,MS heading west back to Texas.
Mechanical problems?We had one tire blow out.A right out side dual 25 miles from home going to Florida.
Changed the tire my self and had no other problems to speak of.
I had brought a extra tire and wheel along plus the spare.
Son-In-Law works for a GMC heavy truck dealer in West Palm Beach,FL found me 2- 315/80X22.5 used tires for $250.00 mounted one and brought the other tire back in the baggage bin.
The old GMC ran fine and used 2 gallons of Delo 40 wt oil for round trip.
We ran between 60&65 mph out on the interstates and less than that on 2 lane roads.
It 's good to be back home but we sure had a good time with the bus.
jlv

[redbus]

I think any time I can make A trip in the old bus without any major problems it is A good trip. Congratulations on yours.

[Dallas]

Way Col John,

Glad to hear you had such a great trip.

Dallas

[Green-Hornet]

Should have tooted yer horn when you went by.  I am north of West Palm between i-95 and Florida turnpike.

[Ncbob]

Nothing better than a bus trip to refresh the soul.  Happy to hear all went well.

Green Hornet...are you going to Arcadia this year...we're going to be at Jonathon Dickenson SP for a week following Arcadia then down to TY Park in Hollywood for 10 days then back to La Belle for a week before we come back to Bushnell.  Think we might hook up?

Bob

[Kwajdiver]

Guys,

Wish I had known you were stopping in Gulfport.  I would have come out to see you.  I'm down on the beach.

Sounds like you had a good trip.

Bill

[Dreamscape]

John,

Nice to hear you made it safe and sound.

Welcome back to Texas! 

Paul

[FloridaCliff]

John,

Glad you had a safe and relativly uneventful trip.

Wish we could have gotten together while you were down in the "Sunshine State", but maybe another day.

I may head out to Conroe this summer, so ya never know who will show up on your doorstep.   

Cliff

[roadrunnertex]

Fellow Bus Folk's are wonderful people.
I wish that all the bus people that were close by could have visited with us 2 old bus folks.
And yes it sure was good to get back to Texas.
Perhaps next trip we can see and meet some bus folks along the way.
Thanks you all.
jlv 

[AJ]

Congratulations for the great trip you have made.
On your tire blow out, how did it happen, was it an aged tire?  and were there any way to prevent it?
Just seeking to learn from your experience.

AJ

[roadrunnertex]

The tire was a Firestone HP-3000 LP radial 315/80-22.5 (DOT W14D 3HX 132)
Age? Old it was on the bus when I bought it.
No side wall cracking good tread and was inflated to 100 psi before the trip.
I guess old age was the cause?
Any one know how to read the DOT Code?
jlv

[tekebird]

13th week of 2002?

[pvcces]

2000 and later is four digit code; two for the week and two for the last two digits of the year.

At least, that's the way that I remember it.

Tom Caffrey