Cross Country trip.

[fdnyguy]

With mixed emotions, I am no longer an N/A man. Sold my 89 and bought a 98 with 155k. Also traded in my 09TDI and bought a 13 Passat TDI. Odd thing is, the 09 hit 2000 rpm @ 60, and the 13 @2000 is almost 75. So i tend to think i will get a helluva lot better mileage. Anyways, my plan is Syracuse, Toronto, Chicago (back to the US via Detroit), Route 66 to California, Austin and Tyler, Tx, Stuart, Florida, Chattanooga, Tn, Bristol, Va, DC area, Poconos, home. Would love to hook up and meet for a beer or two if anyone is interested. Thanks in advance.

Stay safe, stay well. Jimmy.

[Luckypabst]

Enjoy the scenery! I did my fourth cross country run in my Caddy this summer... 8500 miles in all and made it as far as Portland, ME before turning south then west.

Chris

[fdnyguy]

Enjoy the scenery! I did my fourth cross country run in my Caddy this summer... 8500 miles in all and made it as far as Portland, ME before turning south then west.

Chris

Thank you, Sir. Enjoying it so far. Canadian Customs broke my chops crossing, but nop biggie. I do have a question for the Western Canadians. I am in Calgary right now for a day or 2 then heading to Vancouver. Are there any requirements for crossing the Rockies? Like studded tires, stuff like that. I have the 13 Passat with All Season radials. And up for a beer if i pass anyone.

Stay safe, stay well. Jimmy.

[Wayland]

You are required to carry chains or have snow tires on your car. You can check http://www.drivebc.ca/ for current road conditions in BC.

[CRSMP5]

rt66 i think requires chains too... i know when i went west they had signs.. just cannot rember if 66 area did.. i gotta see petrified forest and go thru "city from lost room series/brain fart" on rt 66.. took that to alquirky nm.. then i went up to denver from there.. and i know that section has chain warnings.. aka must keep in car from date to date..

but enjoy the trip.. i am going to do it again.. but want spring or fall vs nov.. was too cold to camp/enjoy in places.. and my 13 days was dry too by luck.. just cold.. sucked to keep doors closed.. and heat in places.. hell there is a valley between denver and abq that sucks soooo bad.. i hated it.. i had my feet on dash/defrost with shoes off trying to get warm.. running 75mph with my rope for cruize at 4am.. the moose in middle of street was added bonus.. i waas like please kill me now..

[bbob203]

def get some chains jimmy.

[Syncroincity]

How do you like the Passat? Is it a manual? I'm getting very close to springing for one of these, the '12s are coming in off lease now. It's a step down from my '04 Passat refinement-wise, but I'm hearing very good things about the motor & car in general.

Have fun on your trip, take 'er easy! 

[fdnyguy]

How do you like the Passat? Is it a manual? I'm getting very close to springing for one of these, the '12s are coming in off lease now. It's a step down from my '04 Passat refinement-wise, but I'm hearing very good things about the motor & car in general.

Have fun on your trip, take 'er easy!  

Love it. The 09 Jetta hit 60 mph @ 2000 rpm, the Passat is 75 @ 2000, and yes it is a 6SP MT. Im cruising at 1800 rpm (67-70) and have gotten 49mpg on level land. 46.9 on the mostly level stretch from Medicine Hat to Calgary. Considering the Passat is longer, wider and heavier, its definitely an improvement. And rides real nice. Just worried about the hike over the Canadian Rockies. The damned auto stores here close too damned early..... lolol

Am enjoying it, my friend. Driving and seeing 2 countries is a trip to take. But they talk funny up here..... and bought Tyler a coffee (or was it tea?)......


Stay safe, Stay well. Jimmy.

[fdnyguy]

def get some chains jimmy.

Looks like that is the plan. Why I drew a blank on getting them is beyond me. Auto stores here close early on Saturdays. Ill leave early in the am and find one.

Stay safe, stay well. Jimmy.

[fdnyguy]

You are required to carry chains or have snow tires on your car. You can check http://www.drivebc.ca/ for current road conditions in BC.

Thanks for the link. It was what I was looking for and couldn't get it.

Stay safe, stay well. Jimmy.

[fdnyguy]

Well, made it to Vancouver after 14 hours of "fun"...lol Left Calgary at 6am yesterday to get a jump on the impending snowstorm, and still hit some anyway. Couldn't find chains, so I risked it. Snow got crazy, so I pulled into a town called Revelstoke and was going to get a hotel. Wasn't worried that much about driving in snow, but not having the chains in a totally unfamiliar area did throw a little stress on the situation, especially being in a mountain area that could hit you with 8 feet a snow in 15 minutes..
  
  So stopping by the firehouse (of course...), the fireman there looked on the BC highway cams and saw all was clear to Kamloops, but with the situation I had with no chains (and not a parts store there, either), he suggested that I  take the lower bypass of 97A at Sicamous. Awesome ride and Lake Mara was unreal. WOW. Since all was good, I took 97 all the way to Kelowna and jumped on 97C. And hit snow again. Turned around, went a total of 20 miles out of my way (looked like 97 to 3 was too long) and went back. Wasn't happy, but wanted to get there. This was 8 hours already, and the GPS is giving me another 4.5 hours to go,

  So, risking it, I take my time and at about the 4500 foot level, its clear and sunny. Sweet ride all the way to Merritt, and hoping it was like this all the way in. WRONG. As I descend, I hit more squalls and for some odd reason, it looked darker there than normal ( sounds odd but trust me), but I was now on schedule for a 19:00 arrival time. Was actually happy to hit rain at the 1,000 foot level and it was mostly fine all the way to Richmond (south of Vancouver).

 So, I may stay a day, or just cross back home. While I missed a chunk of the Trans Canada Highway by Kamloops, driving it from Toronto to Vancouver (in two parts, I picked it up at Winnipeg) was an experience I would love to do again, but maybe in the summer....lolol. And as an American, it REALLY made me appreciate the interstate system we have. The road crews on the TCH were awesome, and the roads were plowed and sanded almost instantly. I guess when you get snow like that, you get a system down...lol.

ANYONE who drives this road on a regular basis, you have my utmost respect. Especially in the cold season. All in all, I loved almost every minute of it.

Soon to be heading south..........

Stay safe, stay well. Jimmy.

 

[CRSMP5]

the guy i stayed with in san fran had a set of chains he gave me.. still go tthem.. they were a mis matched to his tire size.. but it was to skirt chain laws and it was best he could do when he got them... some reason they fit 195-50 r15s though (box says so at least).. which is what i have on my kubvan.  they suck in cold rain.. i cannot imagine they sell chains to fit them.. not a tire size id ever use in snow.. .

so every chance you get make sure to find/get a set.. mine came in sweet plastic box and all.. you will see chain laws in usa mountain zones headed west at this time of year.. thinking it was a nov 15th type of thing..

[fdnyguy]

the guy i stayed with in san fran had a set of chains he gave me.. still go tthem.. they were a mis matched to his tire size.. but it was to skirt chain laws and it was best he could do when he got them... some reason they fit 195-50 r15s though (box says so at least).. which is what i have on my kubvan.  they suck in cold rain.. i cannot imagine they sell chains to fit them.. not a tire size id ever use in snow.. .

so every chance you get make sure to find/get a set.. mine came in sweet plastic box and all.. you will see chain laws in usa mountain zones headed west at this time of year.. thinking it was a nov 15th type of thing..

I'm reversing the route this year... lol. North, then South. Going to drive to Eugene (doesn't one of our regulars live there?), then PCH from Cali for a ways, off to Sacramento to see my niece who just came back from Afghanistan, PCH to LA, see friends and family (guys that helped me buy another fire engine in CA, but THAT'S another story....), Texas with another possible Winslow stop on 66, Florida, TN, MD for Christmas at my sisters. Few days there, then home and back to the 100 hour work week routine... lol Til April, when I do Route 66.

Thanks for the tips.

Stay safe, stay well. Jimmy.