Date:         Fri, 12 Jul 2002 00:32:56 -0400
Reply-To:     KimBrennan@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Brennan <KimBrennan@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Day 5: West to East
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Actually today's report is rather boring. Deservedly so considering I'm crossing the Mid-west.

Wichita Kansas to mid-Indiana is what we crossed. Other than construction traffic and rush hour traffic in St. Louis, there has hardly been anything to report.

The throttle sticks a bit when the engine is hot (which is irritating in stop and go traffic, but barely noticable on interstate travel.) I suspect a mechanical problem with the cable itself, which I'm too lazy to look at until I get back home.

18 mpg average still. I sure wish the AC was working...

So, from Wichita we took I-35 (part of the Kansas Turnpike). Some construction along it, but that just cut speeds to 60mph instead of 65. Nothing special. When the turnpike became 335, we got off and continued on I-35 to Kansas City. Swept around KC on it's beltway (carefully avoiding most of the construction garbage there) and then hopped on to I-70 for the trek across Missouri.

We switched drivers and I went to sleep in the back, waking again when it was time to top up the tank and switch drivers again (about 45 miles from the St. Louis' suburbs.)

West of St. Louis we hit some early stop and go traffic until I-70 opened up to 3 lanes. Then I decided to go a different route through St. Louis (instead of I-70)...so I hopped on St. Louis' beltway and took that south to I-64...and headed into downtown.

Rush  hour. Bad move. Hit a parking lot about 3 miles from the Mississippi River. So Off the Interstate, crawl through the download until I get to the riverfront, and then hop back on to I-70 where everything merges. Across the river and stop for dinner in Illinois off of I-64

Switch drivers and head back to rest in the back across Illinois on I-64. Switch drivers in Indiana and go up to the time zone divider before stopping for the night.

Tomorrow should be much more interesting through Kentucky, WV and the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.