Maine - Philly - DC - Ashville NC - Columbus IN - Kansas - Maine

[Roving Beetle]

I am starting a rather long trip on Sunday (8th Nov.) I think I may have posted at least a little info on this in other threads?

Anyway I head out of here Sunday AM and make a b-line to Philly for a couple days to visit family. Then to DC to stay with a friend for a couple days. Onward to Asheville to stay with some more friends friday and over the weekend. Up to Columbus IN to see the funky architecture. My wifey will then fly home from near there to Maine.

I continue on to Kansas City of *all places* to pick up a 26 foot full keel "Luders" racing sailboat on a dual axle trailer for a customer, hook onto that and head for Maine, probably via a semi southern route.

So if you all see a dark green '97 Toyota 4runner with Maine plates on the side of the road...... PLEASE stop and help me out!!! :banghead: Or if it's late in the day and you pass me on the highway and I look tired flag me down and we'll stop and have a beer on my way to hotel or something. atriot:

Doug

 

[JustAddMtns]

I'd love to meet up when you are in Asheville, there a bunch of beer lovin, rover drivin weirdos that would likely come. If you wanted wheel that 4Runner we could do that to

I'll pm you my #

 

[Roving Beetle]

Thanks! It would be fun to meet up..... wheeling - I had better not! LOL, it would REALLY suck to break something when I am on a "business" trip.

I did just put four brand new fancy kevlar GoodYear Wrangler tires on her though...

Doug

 

[t1r_dc5]

I could meet up in Asheville as well, I'll talk with rick and see when you guys are meeting up!

 

[RVRSRVC]

Doug- I'm near Hershey/Harrisburg , and my family has a shop just NW of Baltimore, so if you need any assistance, don't hesitate to ask.
Have a safe fun trip!
Trevor

 

[Roving Beetle]

Thanks again all - we really should plan to meet up - maybe saturday sometime?? I'd love to meet and maybe even do a *LIGHT* trail ride or just catch a burger/beer.

Thanks again.

By the way on my way back to Maine I am thinking of a pretty southern route to avoid all the nasty weather that could hit the north. Recommendations on a decent route? Less hills the better of course.

Doug

 

[garrett]

To avoid NYC and NJ take 81 north through Harrisburg, PA and take 84 east into NY state. This puts you up on 95 north or all the mess. Not sure if that is your intended route, but I make the VA to CT all the time and is USUALLY less headaches.

Headed back south on Friday myself........and back up on Monday.......again.

 

[Drillbit]

Are you coming through KY on your way from Ashville to hoosier land? If so let me know and we can have a whiskey or two.

 

[Roving Beetle]

Thanks Marty! I am headed up from Asheville to Columbus IN - then over to Kansas.

Not sure that would get me very close to you... I need to look at map again.

Doug

 

[t1r_dc5]

Thanks again all - we really should plan to meet up - maybe saturday sometime?? I'd love to meet and maybe even do a *LIGHT* trail ride or just catch a burger/beer.

I know of an awesome burger place in West Asheville!

 

[gabriel]

stay clear or 81/84 in Penn when towing. I drove a 26' truck w/ trailer through there this summer and was passed by a prius w/ handicap sticker, an aluminum boat strapped to its top, and the oldest couple i have ever seen. Just use the GSP-tapenzee-684-84 route to bypass NYC traffic. Stop in for coffee, exit 7 york, we open at 6am. Good Luck.

 

[Roving Beetle]

stay clear or 81/84 in Penn when towing. I drove a 26' truck w/ trailer through there this summer and was passed by a prius w/ handicap sticker, an aluminum boat strapped to its top, and the oldest couple i have ever seen. Just use the GSP-tapenzee-684-84 route to bypass NYC traffic. Stop in for coffee, exit 7 york, we open at 6am. Good Luck.

Thanks! Never noticed you were in York... where are you/shop or? I'll see if we can pop in as it will be mid-morning by then and we may need a cup and a little break. atriot:

Doug

 

[Drillbit]

Thanks Marty! I am headed up from Asheville to Columbus IN - then over to Kansas.

Not sure that would get me very close to you... I need to look at map again.

Doug

Mapquest shows you coming up 75 to Lexington then over to louisville. If I knew when you would be there I might be able to meet you in Louisville, let me know when you have an idea.

Marty

 

[DiscoJen]

If you're planning on hitting through MO give me a shout!

 

[gabriel]

Thanks! Never noticed you were in York... where are you/shop or? I'll see if we can pop in as it will be mid-morning by then and we may need a cup and a little break. atriot:

Doug

St. Joe's Coffee. 1/2 mile off of 95. Exit 7, Get on RT1 south, 2nd set of lights on left, across the street from Irving/Hannafords. Everything is made from scratch and we do have a donut w/ bacon on it besides having the best coffee around.

Gabriel.

 

[Roving Beetle]

Thanks again all - hope we can meet up soon.

Spent the better part of today working on the 4runner. Putting in a trailer brake control, very large trans cooler, trans temp gauge, power inverter under the seat.... started building a cover for the rear "trunk" area so people can't see my massive stash of tools, booster pack, tie down straps etc.

Last couple days I have changed all the fluids in diffs/trans and motor to Amsoil synthetic, put some new vac lines on, changed the plugs, cleaned the throttle body, cleaned the MAF sensor, greased everything, checked everything and changed the fuel filter. Have I missed anything? :ack: Only thing I can think of is that the stereo is not working right - tomorrow we'll play with that!

Well.... there is a also still a huge dent in the pass side from the previous owners teen daughters driving. :rofl: I could care less about the battle scar at least till spring.

Doug

 

[Roving Beetle]

Headed out tomorrow morning! Good gawd I really went over that 'ol Yota..... she better hold up!

Thanks all for the offers to help if I need it - I hope I don't however it's nice to know I've got some back-up if needed! atriot:

And I hope to be able to meet up with some of you under "good" circumstances. We'll keep in touch and I'll be checking the boards and my emails through the trip.

Thanks again,
Doug

 

[Roving Beetle]

Gabriel, GREAT to meet you and your lovely wife. Meredith and I are still commenting on what a nice little place you guy have there. EXCELLENT pit-stop, good food and certainly the best coffee around. :applause:

Thanks again for the "bennies" (spelling?) they helped keep us going till we made it all the way here last night. Got to the house here at about 10PM.

Thanks again!

Doug

 

[gabriel]

Thanks, great to meet you guys and good luck on the rest of the trip...

Gabriel

 

[Lucasd2002]

To avoid NYC and NJ take 81 north through Harrisburg, PA and take 84 east into NY state. This puts you up on 95 north or all the mess. Not sure if that is your intended route, but I make the VA to CT all the time and is USUALLY less headaches.

Headed back south on Friday myself........and back up on Monday.......again.

I drive from CT to SC 1 or more times every year so I will second Garrett's advice about going north of NYC. On your way back north, take the Tappan Zee Bridge north of the city and then take 684 up to 84E over to Rt8 N. I84 can be bad but it's usually better than 95 or 15 in southern CT.