click
Aug 22nd, 03, 04:41 PM
One chip, 2 runs, no errors ! Seattle and Back the story.
If someone else’s vacation slide shows bore you, I wont feel bad if you don’t read thru this, but for those contemplating any kind of trip with a first gen. Camaro, DO IT ! The journey can’t have a value put on it but the memories are worth a million. I will highlight with some photos here, but many more are at this site, feel free to view them. http://www.brainerd.net/~knudsen/69RS/SeattleShow/
The journey began on Wed. Aug. 13th at 8am and by 11am my wife and I were sitting in the lounge at the Moorhead, MN GMC dealer who was helping to stop a speedo cable that was leaking fluid down over my leg as I drove our first day. With a new speedo adapter and seal installed we were on the road again and into N.D. for the long trip across the flatlands and praries and hale bales.
We settled into Miles City Montana around 9pm and found out why it was so warm driving our first day, it had been 104 degrees out there. Phew, hot was the word. The Camaro purred along without a hitch, running at the highest, one notch over the half way or center of the temp guage. I was so happy with how that 350 and newly installed Qjet were working together.
http://www.brainerd.net/~knudsen/69RS/SeattleShow/Trip03.JPG
Thursday we headed out at 8am and made Cor D’Elane Idaho by nightfall. The trip thru the Rockies was awesome but with the forest fire smoke, not much was visible in the higher reaches.
As we neared Spokane motels, we spotted a huge cruise in at Dennys Chrome Diner, with mostly street rods coming from all directions, that was cool.
Friday we started out again at 9am after a free breakfast at Dennys cuz the kitchen lost our order slip. Love those mistakes. We pulled into the parking lot at the Host Hotel Days in in Bellevue around 330pm Friday and were greeted by DanB yelling “ Click” followed by the grip of the tall Hawaiian then the grin of DjD and more to follow. We threw our bags into our room and set out with others to the XXX drive in eatery, which was a blast and some cool cars too.
Then it was back to the hotel and after some much needed ‘bench chatting’ in the parking lot with a few brewskis, with no mosquitos, we crashed and were ready for the big show on Sat.
The NW Camaro club and its sponsors were awesome in their arrangements. The college was a perfect spot for this type of show, giving the folks looking for points grading a lot next to our cruiser class cars. What a great idea. Then came the fun part, all the folks that came out to see our cars. Its amazing the faces and smiles you see at a show. We met so many Team Camaro folks and enjoyed finally putting faces to names.
http://www.brainerd.net/~knudsen/69RS/SeattleShow/trip12.JPG
http://www.brainerd.net/~knudsen/69RS/SeattleShow/trip14.JPG
After a great supper and awards evening at the college, we returned to the hotel for more ‘bench sessions’ and a few moons I guessed I missed, right Dan?
Sunday we were honored to be able to drive out to Kevin’s home and view all his collection in the climate controlled basement.
http://www.brainerd.net/~knudsen/69RS/SeattleShow/trip24.JPG
What a stable he has and was so gracious to let us all in. I hope the power steering fluid my car puked on his hand laid stone driveway cleaned up too. If not, please send me the bill Kevin, Im insured. That was a new hose and there will be a refund of that price I paid for sure.
http://www.brainerd.net/~knudsen/69RS/SeattleShow/trip26.JPG
On Sunday, we were able to hook up with my cousin that I have living there near Seattle who took us to lunch, then we met friends of my folks that we have known for 40 years that had coffee with us at McDonalds, then my wife’s college friend who lives there met us for dinner, she took us to Ryans on the water for a great meal on the deck overlooking the water, boats and people. A true experience.
We crashed Sunday night and at 730am Monday I was on the phone with Bellevue Chev where they got us right in to replace the blown pressure hose on our power steering. It took a few hours to locate and repair it, but they did a great job of it and we left around 2pm Monday heading to Oregon.
My wife had also changed our rear spoiler sign to read now “Minn to Seattle and Back!”
Another highlight was on Tuesday when we got to McKenzie Pass and took in 3 sisters mountains, Mt Jefferson and others, all still capped with snow. It was there that my uncle was last photographed in 1943 before he left for the Philippines and was lost in the Death March of Battan in WWII. I stood next to the same sign area where he was pictured, my wife took my photo and I will merge his old photo with mine as a commemoration to the life he gave to our country, and present it to my dad this Sunday. None of us can ever forget those who serve.
http://www.brainerd.net/~knudsen/69RS/SeattleShow/trip35.JPG
While walking around the site, taking in all the views, we met a family from Germany and took their photo in front of the snow capped scene for them. We emailed it to them while they are still finishing their trip this week before heading home. I have a feeling we will become good friends with them thru email too.
On our trip down the east side of the Rockies from McKinley we came across a sad scene of a semi flat bed that took a corner too fast with a load shift of plywood panels. It was spread all over a tight turn and the truck was a mess. We presumed the driver was ok as it just slid to a stop but feel very sorry for him and his insurance company. Most of the time in the Rockies we had no cell signal so its hard to imagine calling for help that is an hour away.
http://www.brainerd.net/~knudsen/69RS/SeattleShow/trip38.JPG
We needed gas so along the lonely road was a place called Hampton, Oregon, where there was a café and gas station. The old coot working there would not let me pump my gas, state law he said, stupid I thought. No credit cards taken, just cash, so I peeled out a $50 and he opened the wooden drawer with no lock and waded through the 20’s for my change. Trusting sole. The bathrooms were in the café next door, it was long closed down, but they served the purpose and had a coffee can on the toilet asking for donations to keep the water running. Worth a photo right?
http://www.brainerd.net/~knudsen/69RS/SeattleShow/trip37.JPG
Our day ended in Boise where we found out the temp had risen to 105 that day, again no wonder we were hot. It was still 94 at 10pm there. We started at 7am on Wed. with a gorgeous sunrise over the mountains.
That would be our longest day in the trip but the views were constant and always mind boggeling to folks from the flat lands of the Midwest. Our windshield took a rock from a passing truck right in front of the steering wheel. Insurance will pay for a number matching LOF replacement as soon as I order it.
We arrived in Miles City Montana at 930pm. We left Thursday morning at 8am and arrived home at 830pm and ready for life back to normal.
Our total trip miles driven was 3927, our trip out was 1527 miles and we averaged 18.03 miles per gallon using the mid level octane fuel at every fill up.
Total miles on our return trip was 2400 miles where we averaged 18.2 mpg. I used 2 quarts of oil, finding a slight leak somewhere under the flywheel cover area but not bad at all. The tires all held pressure and so did the radiator. Considering how hot is was outside that is my most amazing realization was how cool the engine ran.
We kept a cooler full of ice and water bottles, kept an eye on the gauges and stared at the beautiful scenery all the time. One of the best parts of the trip were all the cars and cycles that past us, we only drove around 65 mph all the time. We got thumbs up, honks, smiles, waves and tail light blinks. At gas stations, there was not a time that someone didn’t walk up and compliment us on the Camaro. Young, old, ladies, gents, they all were glad to see a neat old car. That alone is worth just driving somewhere and back. If I get the a/c working again, Id do the same trip again, leaving more time to sight see.
Hope this helps someone make up their mind to go for a long ride and enjoy your car, we sure did.
Thanks to all for the encouragement to make this treck. You are all true friends.
[ 08-24-2003, 01:56 PM: Message edited by: click ]
If someone else’s vacation slide shows bore you, I wont feel bad if you don’t read thru this, but for those contemplating any kind of trip with a first gen. Camaro, DO IT ! The journey can’t have a value put on it but the memories are worth a million. I will highlight with some photos here, but many more are at this site, feel free to view them. http://www.brainerd.net/~knudsen/69RS/SeattleShow/
The journey began on Wed. Aug. 13th at 8am and by 11am my wife and I were sitting in the lounge at the Moorhead, MN GMC dealer who was helping to stop a speedo cable that was leaking fluid down over my leg as I drove our first day. With a new speedo adapter and seal installed we were on the road again and into N.D. for the long trip across the flatlands and praries and hale bales.
We settled into Miles City Montana around 9pm and found out why it was so warm driving our first day, it had been 104 degrees out there. Phew, hot was the word. The Camaro purred along without a hitch, running at the highest, one notch over the half way or center of the temp guage. I was so happy with how that 350 and newly installed Qjet were working together.
http://www.brainerd.net/~knudsen/69RS/SeattleShow/Trip03.JPG
Thursday we headed out at 8am and made Cor D’Elane Idaho by nightfall. The trip thru the Rockies was awesome but with the forest fire smoke, not much was visible in the higher reaches.
As we neared Spokane motels, we spotted a huge cruise in at Dennys Chrome Diner, with mostly street rods coming from all directions, that was cool.
Friday we started out again at 9am after a free breakfast at Dennys cuz the kitchen lost our order slip. Love those mistakes. We pulled into the parking lot at the Host Hotel Days in in Bellevue around 330pm Friday and were greeted by DanB yelling “ Click” followed by the grip of the tall Hawaiian then the grin of DjD and more to follow. We threw our bags into our room and set out with others to the XXX drive in eatery, which was a blast and some cool cars too.
Then it was back to the hotel and after some much needed ‘bench chatting’ in the parking lot with a few brewskis, with no mosquitos, we crashed and were ready for the big show on Sat.
The NW Camaro club and its sponsors were awesome in their arrangements. The college was a perfect spot for this type of show, giving the folks looking for points grading a lot next to our cruiser class cars. What a great idea. Then came the fun part, all the folks that came out to see our cars. Its amazing the faces and smiles you see at a show. We met so many Team Camaro folks and enjoyed finally putting faces to names.
http://www.brainerd.net/~knudsen/69RS/SeattleShow/trip12.JPG
http://www.brainerd.net/~knudsen/69RS/SeattleShow/trip14.JPG
After a great supper and awards evening at the college, we returned to the hotel for more ‘bench sessions’ and a few moons I guessed I missed, right Dan?
Sunday we were honored to be able to drive out to Kevin’s home and view all his collection in the climate controlled basement.
http://www.brainerd.net/~knudsen/69RS/SeattleShow/trip24.JPG
What a stable he has and was so gracious to let us all in. I hope the power steering fluid my car puked on his hand laid stone driveway cleaned up too. If not, please send me the bill Kevin, Im insured. That was a new hose and there will be a refund of that price I paid for sure.
http://www.brainerd.net/~knudsen/69RS/SeattleShow/trip26.JPG
On Sunday, we were able to hook up with my cousin that I have living there near Seattle who took us to lunch, then we met friends of my folks that we have known for 40 years that had coffee with us at McDonalds, then my wife’s college friend who lives there met us for dinner, she took us to Ryans on the water for a great meal on the deck overlooking the water, boats and people. A true experience.
We crashed Sunday night and at 730am Monday I was on the phone with Bellevue Chev where they got us right in to replace the blown pressure hose on our power steering. It took a few hours to locate and repair it, but they did a great job of it and we left around 2pm Monday heading to Oregon.
My wife had also changed our rear spoiler sign to read now “Minn to Seattle and Back!”
Another highlight was on Tuesday when we got to McKenzie Pass and took in 3 sisters mountains, Mt Jefferson and others, all still capped with snow. It was there that my uncle was last photographed in 1943 before he left for the Philippines and was lost in the Death March of Battan in WWII. I stood next to the same sign area where he was pictured, my wife took my photo and I will merge his old photo with mine as a commemoration to the life he gave to our country, and present it to my dad this Sunday. None of us can ever forget those who serve.
http://www.brainerd.net/~knudsen/69RS/SeattleShow/trip35.JPG
While walking around the site, taking in all the views, we met a family from Germany and took their photo in front of the snow capped scene for them. We emailed it to them while they are still finishing their trip this week before heading home. I have a feeling we will become good friends with them thru email too.
On our trip down the east side of the Rockies from McKinley we came across a sad scene of a semi flat bed that took a corner too fast with a load shift of plywood panels. It was spread all over a tight turn and the truck was a mess. We presumed the driver was ok as it just slid to a stop but feel very sorry for him and his insurance company. Most of the time in the Rockies we had no cell signal so its hard to imagine calling for help that is an hour away.
http://www.brainerd.net/~knudsen/69RS/SeattleShow/trip38.JPG
We needed gas so along the lonely road was a place called Hampton, Oregon, where there was a café and gas station. The old coot working there would not let me pump my gas, state law he said, stupid I thought. No credit cards taken, just cash, so I peeled out a $50 and he opened the wooden drawer with no lock and waded through the 20’s for my change. Trusting sole. The bathrooms were in the café next door, it was long closed down, but they served the purpose and had a coffee can on the toilet asking for donations to keep the water running. Worth a photo right?
http://www.brainerd.net/~knudsen/69RS/SeattleShow/trip37.JPG
Our day ended in Boise where we found out the temp had risen to 105 that day, again no wonder we were hot. It was still 94 at 10pm there. We started at 7am on Wed. with a gorgeous sunrise over the mountains.
That would be our longest day in the trip but the views were constant and always mind boggeling to folks from the flat lands of the Midwest. Our windshield took a rock from a passing truck right in front of the steering wheel. Insurance will pay for a number matching LOF replacement as soon as I order it.
We arrived in Miles City Montana at 930pm. We left Thursday morning at 8am and arrived home at 830pm and ready for life back to normal.
Our total trip miles driven was 3927, our trip out was 1527 miles and we averaged 18.03 miles per gallon using the mid level octane fuel at every fill up.
Total miles on our return trip was 2400 miles where we averaged 18.2 mpg. I used 2 quarts of oil, finding a slight leak somewhere under the flywheel cover area but not bad at all. The tires all held pressure and so did the radiator. Considering how hot is was outside that is my most amazing realization was how cool the engine ran.
We kept a cooler full of ice and water bottles, kept an eye on the gauges and stared at the beautiful scenery all the time. One of the best parts of the trip were all the cars and cycles that past us, we only drove around 65 mph all the time. We got thumbs up, honks, smiles, waves and tail light blinks. At gas stations, there was not a time that someone didn’t walk up and compliment us on the Camaro. Young, old, ladies, gents, they all were glad to see a neat old car. That alone is worth just driving somewhere and back. If I get the a/c working again, Id do the same trip again, leaving more time to sight see.
Hope this helps someone make up their mind to go for a long ride and enjoy your car, we sure did.
Thanks to all for the encouragement to make this treck. You are all true friends.
[ 08-24-2003, 01:56 PM: Message edited by: click ]