Starting tomorrow, Kathryn and I will be heading out on a road trip to Phoenix! (gonna go visit gramma) (10-15-10 to 10-23-10)

 

Today I changed the oil, and adjusted the shift linkage (so that 5th gear works again ) Aired up the tires,

 

I will make a photo-gallery of this trip, so everyone can see where Waterwagon3 has taken me on this adventure!

 

I know Superswampers aren't the best for highway travel, but this is a last minute trip and I had not enough time to prepare, nor enough extra money to just go buy tires on a whim (although in an emergency I should be ok with the CC)

 

If anyone in the Phx area wants to meet up for a beer/coffee/lunch/whatever just leave a message on the thread! I will be in town hopefully between monday and thursday.... planning to hit the road thursday evening sometime- with intent to reach AZ/CA state line before Fri morning... then to head back via I-10 and I-5....

 

I will update this thread as I go along! (or at least when I get to Phx!)

 

Anyway, if you see me along the highway wave me down for a chat! (or come help me fix the car )

 

 

Route plans-

 

On the way south, taking I-90 to 97, south to Tri-cities, then south I-82 to I-84, then I-84 to Twin Falls, ID then south on 93 alllllll the way thru NV to Vegas, into AZ and following 93 all the way to Sun City, AZ

 

On the way back, (changes possible) planning I-10 out of PHX towards Joshua Tree NP, then up thru Bakersfield and onto I-5/99 all the way up!

Edited October 15, 201015 yr by Ratty2Austin

If you're going south of Las Vegas, you can't (shouldn't) miss Hoover Dam. It is an awesome feat. Plan to spend a little time there if you can. Have a safe trip.

If you're going south of Las Vegas, you can't (shouldn't) miss Hoover Dam. It is an awesome feat. Plan to spend a little time there if you can. Have a safe trip.

 

plan for traffic if you try to see it though!

On the way south, taking I-90 to 97, south to Tri-cities, then south I-82 to I-84, then I-84 to Twin Falls, ID then south on 93 alllllll the way thru NV to Vegas, into AZ and following 93 all the way to Sun City, AZ

 

 

That's the route I took to Phoenix. But this is the route I took back.

 

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=N+Black+Canyon+Acc&daddr=39.5367,-119.80298+to:41.49461,-120.57378+to:I-5+N&hl=en&geocode=FQqv_gEdPFFR-Q%3BFTxIWwIdnPPb-Cmv6VIvTkeZgDFE2BFmNRQmfw%3BFVIoeQIdrDDQ-CnJqGPVxpDLVDFaJ0N1z1S59g%3BFW92vwIddg6t-A&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=10&via=1,2&sll=41.503435,-120.463715&sspn=0.569777,1.674042&ie=UTF8&ll=39.095963,-112.631836&spn=18.864653,53.569336&z=5

I took almost that same route home- except I went on some back conutry dirt highway near Pyramid lake- bypassing Reno.... (and practicing some low speed night rally moves ) pics soon, I am uploading the rest from the trip...

 

 

That's the route I took to Phoenix. But this is the route I took back.

 

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=N+Black+Canyon+Acc&daddr=39.5367,-119.80298+to:41.49461,-120.57378+to:I-5+N&hl=en&geocode=FQqv_gEdPFFR-Q%3BFTxIWwIdnPPb-Cmv6VIvTkeZgDFE2BFmNRQmfw%3BFVIoeQIdrDDQ-CnJqGPVxpDLVDFaJ0N1z1S59g%3BFW92vwIddg6t-A&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=10&via=1,2&sll=41.503435,-120.463715&sspn=0.569777,1.674042&ie=UTF8&ll=39.095963,-112.631836&spn=18.864653,53.569336&z=5

Was the bypass bridge around hoover dam open when you were down there?

Was the bypass bridge around hoover dam open when you were down there?

 

Actually, it was the opening week of the bridge! It was closed when we were on our way down, so I took highway 95 (bypassing the whole mess)

 

But on our way back, it was open! so we drove over it (in the night) Nice shiny and new... and def. a lot faster than the dam....

 

Anyway, since all the photos are up- here are a few of the trip!

(photos of waterwagon)

 

 

 

And to think, with long exposure, this was taken at 8pm (well after dark, with moonlight)

 

I did get to go offroad a little bit!

 

to watch some Baja truck racing!!!

 

And since I am not used to the Soutwest's soupy sand, I got stuck... LOL

 

Lucky for me, the people down here are friendly, and I did not feel bad for having a large truck pull me out of the sand... (this time, anyway- my bad for offroading alone)

 

Ahh... the southwest is nice... (sunsets=awesome!)

 

 

We went near Area 51 too.....

 

lol... (instead of a traveling gnome, I have Beaker!!!)

 

We also did about 40 miles or so? of dirt "highway" 445 and 447 over near Pyramid lake- this was a little crazy since it was night time- but that made it awesome!

 

 

 

Beaker's window seat....

 

 

So yeah... a fun trip, no trouble at all with the wagon (reliable!)

30mpg consistent, even with the Swampers! although the hum of those tires was a bit much for 3000 miles....

Nice trip!