Date: Sun, 26 Dec 2010 13:42:33 -0800
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Travel Report: Oregon to California Via I-5 mostly (long post)
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I escaped the wet northwest and arrived, with no problems, at my
destination near Salton Sea in the So Cal desert. Warm and dry here. So
far, it seems like there are fewer Recreators out and about this season.
I left Lyle, Wa. about 4pm (70mi. East of PDX) after some close checking
of the various road condition sites along my considered routes. Every road
showed slick, snowy or icy except Interstate 5, which I find very boring to
drive...but I was all packed and ready to roll, so I took that one anyhow.
I finally broke out of the Gray about Ashland, Oregon...seeing the bright
moon, about 9pm.
The "new" Jetta 2.0 liter inline is working flawlessly. I didn't really
even notice any of the smaller passes that used to see me over in the slow
lane with the big rigs. I did negotiate some of Siskyou Pass with a
downshift from 5th to 4th, but kept my uphill speed to about 60mph at ~
4000rpm.
At around Yreka, California, I encountered a BIG headwind. High wind
warning were posted and when I stopped for fuel near Weed, my gas cap blew
away and I could barely stand in the gusts. Very cold, too, at the top of
the divide near Mt. Shasta. Motoring right into that and climbing, I still
kept my speed at 65...(my chosen cruising speed) but my fuel consumption was
the highest I have ever seen at 18.9 mpg! Despite recently tightening my
external mirrors...the driver's side couldn't stand against what must have
been 60+mph headwinds and 75mph vehicle speed..(that is 135 apparent
wind!)..
Over all mpg on this 1300-mile "power- drive" was right at about 22, which
is almost two mpg less than I was getting with my older 1.8 liter inline VW
motor. I attribute the higher fuel consumption to higher cruising speed,
mostly. I spent $175 on gas to cover 1300 miles. Paid a high of $3.49 a
gallon for mid grade. Also I may be slightly out of timing spec, since I
timed the motor 'by ear'. This whole drive, the prevailing winds were sort
of reversed, too. Normally heading south east, there is often a tailwind.
I pulled into a TA truck stop near Corning, Ca and caught a few hrs of
sleep. On one edge of the big rig parking there was a border of trees with
room to snake the vanagon in. After a bit of moving toys and tools around,
I crawled into my sleeping bag, anticipating a boring foggy drive down the
central valley in the morning...but at sunrise I was pleased to see the
south winds had blown most of the normal winter fog away. At Sacramento, I
opted to take the 99. A little less 'generic freeway' than the 5
interstate. And I must say, traveling on Christmas day was a great call,
traffic-wise.
It never ceases to amaze me how fast California drivers go, especially
when they are nose to tail on the freeway, rapping on cell phones, doing
make up, etc. I pushed my cruising speeds up to 70-75 and I was still
being passed by everyone by at least 20mph, it seemed. I did not care to go
much faster in that traffic, given Vanagon brakes and some of the very poor
road surfaces..
With my recent shocks, new tires and my peppy little 2.0liter hotrod motor,
I never felt like I didn't belong out there and I was pretty comfortable
with it all, but I must say, I do prefer smaller highways. Prudence and
weather reports of mountain blizzards and coastal flooding...that kept me on
the Super Slab....which is not so super..having been last repaired when
Eisenhower built em, from the conditions I saw...
I pulled into our desert campsite well after dark, using my roof mounted
unity spotlight to find where my SO had put us this season. Driving around
in sand and mud, due to recent 3+ inches (annual rainfall already) of rain
in the past week. Today, sitting in the library parking lot in my shorts
and flip-flops using the public Wi Fi and contemplating a bike ride soon.
A good journey, all in all, so far.
Don Hanson
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