ANOTHER SIDE TRIP BEFORE HEADING HOME

[John]

I have decided after watching the weather channel for the past two
days, to wait a while longer before going back home by my normal
route through Tupelo, Mississippi, Birmingham, Alabama and Atlanta,
Georgia. There may be flooding in that area, due to heavy amounts of
rainfall after Katrina turned into a tropical storm and also some
congestion from people that had gone that far north to escape the
hurricane, I remeber what it was like the week following Hugo when
it hit South Carolina. I had my doctors appointment rescheduled to
next month, so there is no rush to get back home by this Friday.

I took a slight detour back over to the Quad Cities to see my sister
again, before going back home and I will travel a little south of
here to Mount Pleasant, Iowa to attend the Old Threshers Reunion,
which is held there every year http://www.oldthreshers.org/index.cfm?
fuseaction=home.frameset, Mike and Chris Hohnstein will also be
attending the event, so I will also have some familiar faces there.
I will leave Mount Pleasant to head back home after the event is
over.

John Finn
"FINN'S INN EXPRESS"
'82 BLUEBIRD WANDERLODGE 35FCRB
Hopkins, SC "ON THE ROAD IN MOLINE, ILLINOIS"
To Visit the Finn's Inn Express Remodeling Adventure go to;
http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/24977457

[George Lowry]

John,

We left Alamo, TN yesterday morning and took the most direct route to
Ft. Valley, GA. We ran into none of the problems you thought might
exist. Worst part was the high gas prices in GA and the large lines of
people waiting to fill up. The refugees did not appear to be anyplace
around, only the price gougers.

George Lowry
'95 WBDA 4203
Spearfish, SD currently in the Birds Nest

John wrote:
> I have decided after watching the weather channel for the past two
> days, to wait a while longer before going back home by my normal
> route through Tupelo, Mississippi, Birmingham, Alabama and Atlanta,
> Georgia. There may be flooding in that area, due to heavy amounts of
> rainfall after Katrina turned into a tropical storm and also some
> congestion from people that had gone that far north to escape the
> hurricane, I remeber what it was like the week following Hugo when
> it hit South Carolina. I had my doctors appointment rescheduled to
> next month, so there is no rush to get back home by this Friday.
>
> I took a slight detour back over to the Quad Cities to see my sister
> again, before going back home and I will travel a little south of
> here to Mount Pleasant, Iowa to attend the Old Threshers Reunion,
> which is held there every year http://www.oldthreshers.org/index.cfm?
> fuseaction=home.frameset, Mike and Chris Hohnstein will also be
> attending the event, so I will also have some familiar faces there.
> I will leave Mount Pleasant to head back home after the event is
> over.
>
> John Finn
> "FINN'S INN EXPRESS"
> '82 BLUEBIRD WANDERLODGE 35FCRB
> Hopkins, SC "ON THE ROAD IN MOLINE, ILLINOIS"
> To Visit the Finn's Inn Express Remodeling Adventure go to;
> http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/24977457
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

[George Lowry]

John,

We left Alamo, TN yesterday morning and took the most direct route to
Ft. Valley, GA. We ran into none of the problems you thought might
exist. Worst part was the high gas prices in GA and the large lines of
people waiting to fill up. The refugees did not appear to be anyplace
around, only the price gougers.

George Lowry
'95 WBDA 4203
Spearfish, SD currently in the Birds Nest

John wrote:
> I have decided after watching the weather channel for the past two
> days, to wait a while longer before going back home by my normal
> route through Tupelo, Mississippi, Birmingham, Alabama and Atlanta,
> Georgia. There may be flooding in that area, due to heavy amounts of
> rainfall after Katrina turned into a tropical storm and also some
> congestion from people that had gone that far north to escape the
> hurricane, I remeber what it was like the week following Hugo when
> it hit South Carolina. I had my doctors appointment rescheduled to
> next month, so there is no rush to get back home by this Friday.
>
> I took a slight detour back over to the Quad Cities to see my sister
> again, before going back home and I will travel a little south of
> here to Mount Pleasant, Iowa to attend the Old Threshers Reunion,
> which is held there every year http://www.oldthreshers.org/index.cfm?
> fuseaction=home.frameset, Mike and Chris Hohnstein will also be
> attending the event, so I will also have some familiar faces there.
> I will leave Mount Pleasant to head back home after the event is
> over.
>
> John Finn
> "FINN'S INN EXPRESS"
> '82 BLUEBIRD WANDERLODGE 35FCRB
> Hopkins, SC "ON THE ROAD IN MOLINE, ILLINOIS"
> To Visit the Finn's Inn Express Remodeling Adventure go to;
> http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/24977457
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

[John]

Thanks George,

What routes did you take to Ft. Valley? Where did you get your fuel
in route, or did you even have to get fuel? I'm going by what has
been posted on the Flying J web site and actual reports to trucking
company dispatchers by their drivers, as I know the ones that I have
talked to personally, I was in that business for over thirty years.
The situation will most likely be better by the first of the week,
when I leave here.

he fuel gauge on my 'Bird is not working, so I'm figuring my fuel
mileage in the worst senario of 5mpg to determine how far I can go
between fillups, so this will mean that I have to make at least one
fuel stop on my way home. I am not going to go by any route that has
long steep grades, as I don't want to put such a strain on my
3208NA, so that is why I'm going a little further in my route home.
I don't think that I couldn't make it on the steep grades, I just
don't like putting unecesary strain on the drive train, nor do I
want to become a rolling road block to the traffic that would be
coming up behind me on the roads, I consider that to be an unsafe
condition that I can avoid by going around the long steep grades.

I'm just going to enjoy my stay here and the friends that I have
here too, the terminal manager is a close friend of mine and I will
unload my motorcycle from the trailer and go for a cruise on Sunday
with him and his father, around the area.

There are no complaints here, as both Buddy and I are safe and
sound, with no threats to our lives, I thank God for that and my
prayers go out to those that are suffering along the Gulf Coast.

John Finn
"FINN'S INN EXPRESS"
'82 Bluebird Wanderlodge 35FCRB
Hopkins, SC
"ON THE ROAD IN MOUNT VERNON, ILLINOIS"
To Visit the Finn's Inn Express Remodeling Adventure go to;
http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/24977457



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, George Lowry
wrote:
> John,
>
> We left Alamo, TN yesterday morning and took the most direct route
to
> Ft. Valley, GA. We ran into none of the problems you thought
might
> exist. Worst part was the high gas prices in GA and the large
lines of
> people waiting to fill up. The refugees did not appear to be
anyplace
> around, only the price gougers.
>
> George Lowry
> '95 WBDA 4203
> Spearfish, SD currently in the Birds Nest
>
> John wrote:
> > I have decided after watching the weather channel for the past
two
> > days, to wait a while longer before going back home by my normal
> > route through Tupelo, Mississippi, Birmingham, Alabama and
Atlanta,
> > Georgia. There may be flooding in that area, due to heavy
amounts of
> > rainfall after Katrina turned into a tropical storm and also
some
> > congestion from people that had gone that far north to escape
the
> > hurricane, I remeber what it was like the week following Hugo
when
> > it hit South Carolina. I had my doctors appointment rescheduled
to
> > next month, so there is no rush to get back home by this Friday.
> >
> > I took a slight detour back over to the Quad Cities to see my
sister
> > again, before going back home and I will travel a little south
of
> > here to Mount Pleasant, Iowa to attend the Old Threshers
Reunion,
> > which is held there every year
http://www.oldthreshers.org/index.cfm?
> > fuseaction=home.frameset, Mike and Chris Hohnstein will also be
> > attending the event, so I will also have some familiar faces
there.
> > I will leave Mount Pleasant to head back home after the event is
> > over.
> >
> > John Finn
> > "FINN'S INN EXPRESS"
> > '82 BLUEBIRD WANDERLODGE 35FCRB
> > Hopkins, SC "ON THE ROAD IN MOLINE, ILLINOIS"
> > To Visit the Finn's Inn Express Remodeling Adventure go to;
> > http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/24977457
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >

[Tom Seitz]

John, What size fuel tank you got?? I have been told there is a
way around the bottom of Mt eagle but I have not looked in to it.
I have a 200 gal tank and have driven from my place to North of
the quad cities up and over Mt.Eagle.With 1/4 tank left. From where
you are you should make it to Atlanta easy and there is fuel here
now. It was crazy for a couple of days but it has setteled down a
bit now. Let me know if I can help. Tom 90 SP36 Alpharetta GA

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "John"
wrote:
> Thanks George,
>
> What routes did you take to Ft. Valley? Where did you get your
fuel
> in route, or did you even have to get fuel? I'm going by what has
> been posted on the Flying J web site and actual reports to
trucking
> company dispatchers by their drivers, as I know the ones that I
have
> talked to personally, I was in that business for over thirty
years.
> The situation will most likely be better by the first of the week,
> when I leave here.
>
> he fuel gauge on my 'Bird is not working, so I'm figuring my fuel
> mileage in the worst senario of 5mpg to determine how far I can go
> between fillups, so this will mean that I have to make at least
one
> fuel stop on my way home. I am not going to go by any route that
has
> long steep grades, as I don't want to put such a strain on my
> 3208NA, so that is why I'm going a little further in my route
home.
> I don't think that I couldn't make it on the steep grades, I just
> don't like putting unecesary strain on the drive train, nor do I
> want to become a rolling road block to the traffic that would be
> coming up behind me on the roads, I consider that to be an unsafe
> condition that I can avoid by going around the long steep grades.
>
> I'm just going to enjoy my stay here and the friends that I have
> here too, the terminal manager is a close friend of mine and I
will
> unload my motorcycle from the trailer and go for a cruise on
Sunday
> with him and his father, around the area.
>
> There are no complaints here, as both Buddy and I are safe and
> sound, with no threats to our lives, I thank God for that and my
> prayers go out to those that are suffering along the Gulf Coast.
>
> John Finn
> "FINN'S INN EXPRESS"
> '82 Bluebird Wanderlodge 35FCRB
> Hopkins, SC
> "ON THE ROAD IN MOUNT VERNON, ILLINOIS"
> To Visit the Finn's Inn Express Remodeling Adventure go to;
> http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/24977457
>
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, George Lowry
> wrote:
> > John,
> >
> > We left Alamo, TN yesterday morning and took the most direct
route
> to
> > Ft. Valley, GA. We ran into none of the problems you thought
> might
> > exist. Worst part was the high gas prices in GA and the large
> lines of
> > people waiting to fill up. The refugees did not appear to be
> anyplace
> > around, only the price gougers.
> >
> > George Lowry
> > '95 WBDA 4203
> > Spearfish, SD currently in the Birds Nest
> >
> > John wrote:
> > > I have decided after watching the weather channel for the past
> two
> > > days, to wait a while longer before going back home by my
normal
> > > route through Tupelo, Mississippi, Birmingham, Alabama and
> Atlanta,
> > > Georgia. There may be flooding in that area, due to heavy
> amounts of
> > > rainfall after Katrina turned into a tropical storm and also
> some
> > > congestion from people that had gone that far north to escape
> the
> > > hurricane, I remeber what it was like the week following Hugo
> when
> > > it hit South Carolina. I had my doctors appointment
rescheduled
> to
> > > next month, so there is no rush to get back home by this
Friday.
> > >
> > > I took a slight detour back over to the Quad Cities to see my
> sister
> > > again, before going back home and I will travel a little south
> of
> > > here to Mount Pleasant, Iowa to attend the Old Threshers
> Reunion,
> > > which is held there every year
> http://www.oldthreshers.org/index.cfm?
> > > fuseaction=home.frameset, Mike and Chris Hohnstein will also
be
> > > attending the event, so I will also have some familiar faces
> there.
> > > I will leave Mount Pleasant to head back home after the event
is
> > > over.
> > >
> > > John Finn
> > > "FINN'S INN EXPRESS"
> > > '82 BLUEBIRD WANDERLODGE 35FCRB
> > > Hopkins, SC "ON THE ROAD IN MOLINE, ILLINOIS"
> > > To Visit the Finn's Inn Express Remodeling Adventure go to;
> > > http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/24977457
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >

[John]

Tom,

I think that thw WAY AROUND the I-24 grade at Mount Eagle is on
US41, which was the way you took before the Interstae was built. I
have taken oversized loads down the mountain that way from the town
itself and it is as steep as the Interstate and only two lanes and
not a good option for me. I'm still going to see what Monday loo0ks
like and it is good to hear that the Atlanta area has settled down
some. I'm sure I'll spend more for fuel on my way home than what I
spent on the way here two months ago, as I have seen the price
continue to rise ever since I had left South Carolina. I have a 150
gallon tank, but with no fuel gauge working and getting anywhere
from 5.00 to 8.64 mpg depending on the road terain, conditions and
if there is a headwind, I'll just fill up around 500 miles or so,
just in case I can't find fuel then I'll leave myself a cusion, but
it doesn't seem to be that bad anymore except in spotty areas on my
way home.

I guess I'm just being paranoid, but I remember when I had my own
big truck back in the early 70's, I ran out of fuel in Arizona
during the first fuel crisis, but luckily I was just pulling up to
the pump to get my 50 gallon limit, that they were restricting us to
and then I still had to deliver the load and get back to that
particular truck stop to get more fuel, it bacame a roal pain in the
a** for a while.

John Finn
"FINN'S INN EXPRESS"
'82 Bluebird Wanderlodge 35FCRB
Hopkins, SC
"ON THE ROAD IN MOUNT VERNON, ILLINOIS"
To Visit the Finn's Inn Express Remodeling Adventure go to;
http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/24977457


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Tom Seitz"
wrote:
> John, What size fuel tank you got?? I have been told there is a
> way around the bottom of Mt eagle but I have not looked in to
it.
> I have a 200 gal tank and have driven from my place to North of
> the quad cities up and over Mt.Eagle.With 1/4 tank left. From
where
> you are you should make it to Atlanta easy and there is fuel here
> now. It was crazy for a couple of days but it has setteled down a
> bit now. Let me know if I can help. Tom 90 SP36 Alpharetta GA
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "John"
> wrote:
> > Thanks George,
> >
> > What routes did you take to Ft. Valley? Where did you get your
> fuel
> > in route, or did you even have to get fuel? I'm going by what
has
> > been posted on the Flying J web site and actual reports to
> trucking
> > company dispatchers by their drivers, as I know the ones that I
> have
> > talked to personally, I was in that business for over thirty
> years.
> > The situation will most likely be better by the first of the
week,
> > when I leave here.
> >
> > he fuel gauge on my 'Bird is not working, so I'm figuring my
fuel
> > mileage in the worst senario of 5mpg to determine how far I can
go
> > between fillups, so this will mean that I have to make at least
> one
> > fuel stop on my way home. I am not going to go by any route that
> has
> > long steep grades, as I don't want to put such a strain on my
> > 3208NA, so that is why I'm going a little further in my route
> home.
> > I don't think that I couldn't make it on the steep grades, I
just
> > don't like putting unecesary strain on the drive train, nor do I
> > want to become a rolling road block to the traffic that would be
> > coming up behind me on the roads, I consider that to be an
unsafe
> > condition that I can avoid by going around the long steep grades.
> >
> > I'm just going to enjoy my stay here and the friends that I have
> > here too, the terminal manager is a close friend of mine and I
> will
> > unload my motorcycle from the trailer and go for a cruise on
> Sunday
> > with him and his father, around the area.
> >
> > There are no complaints here, as both Buddy and I are safe and
> > sound, with no threats to our lives, I thank God for that and my
> > prayers go out to those that are suffering along the Gulf Coast.
> >
> > John Finn
> > "FINN'S INN EXPRESS"
> > '82 Bluebird Wanderlodge 35FCRB
> > Hopkins, SC
> > "ON THE ROAD IN MOUNT VERNON, ILLINOIS"
> > To Visit the Finn's Inn Express Remodeling Adventure go to;
> > http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/24977457
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, George Lowry

> > wrote:
> > > John,
> > >
> > > We left Alamo, TN yesterday morning and took the most direct
> route
> > to
> > > Ft. Valley, GA. We ran into none of the problems you thought
> > might
> > > exist. Worst part was the high gas prices in GA and the large
> > lines of
> > > people waiting to fill up. The refugees did not appear to be
> > anyplace
> > > around, only the price gougers.
> > >
> > > George Lowry
> > > '95 WBDA 4203
> > > Spearfish, SD currently in the Birds Nest
> > >
> > > John wrote:
> > > > I have decided after watching the weather channel for the
past
> > two
> > > > days, to wait a while longer before going back home by my
> normal
> > > > route through Tupelo, Mississippi, Birmingham, Alabama and
> > Atlanta,
> > > > Georgia. There may be flooding in that area, due to heavy
> > amounts of
> > > > rainfall after Katrina turned into a tropical storm and also
> > some
> > > > congestion from people that had gone that far north to
escape
> > the
> > > > hurricane, I remeber what it was like the week following
Hugo
> > when
> > > > it hit South Carolina. I had my doctors appointment
> rescheduled
> > to
> > > > next month, so there is no rush to get back home by this
> Friday.
> > > >
> > > > I took a slight detour back over to the Quad Cities to see
my
> > sister
> > > > again, before going back home and I will travel a little
south
> > of
> > > > here to Mount Pleasant, Iowa to attend the Old Threshers
> > Reunion,
> > > > which is held there every year
> > http://www.oldthreshers.org/index.cfm?
> > > > fuseaction=home.frameset, Mike and Chris Hohnstein will also
> be
> > > > attending the event, so I will also have some familiar faces
> > there.
> > > > I will leave Mount Pleasant to head back home after the
event
> is
> > > > over.
> > > >
> > > > John Finn
> > > > "FINN'S INN EXPRESS"
> > > > '82 BLUEBIRD WANDERLODGE 35FCRB
> > > > Hopkins, SC "ON THE ROAD IN MOLINE, ILLINOIS"
> > > > To Visit the Finn's Inn Express Remodeling Adventure go to;
> > > > http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/24977457
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >

[George Lowry]

Hey John,

We left Alamo, TN on US 412 to Jackson, TN. Then US 45 Corinth, MS;
Then US 72 to Decatur, AL; Then AL 67 to US 231 to US 278. Then US 431
to I 20 to US 27 to Newman, GA; US 19 to US 41 to US 341 to Ft Valley.
Made it in just a bit over 8 hours.

Roads were all very good except for going thru Newman, GA.

Hope this is of some help.

George Lowry
'95 WBDA 4203
Spearfish, SD Currently in the birds nest.

John wrote:

> Thanks George,
>
> What routes did you take to Ft. Valley? Where did you get your fuel
> in route, or did you even have to get fuel? I'm going by what has
> been posted on the Flying J web site and actual reports to trucking
> company dispatchers by their drivers, as I know the ones that I have
> talked to personally, I was in that business for over thirty years.
> The situation will most likely be better by the first of the week,
> when I leave here.
>
> he fuel gauge on my 'Bird is not working, so I'm figuring my fuel
> mileage in the worst senario of 5mpg to determine how far I can go
> between fillups, so this will mean that I have to make at least one
> fuel stop on my way home. I am not going to go by any route that has
> long steep grades, as I don't want to put such a strain on my
> 3208NA, so that is why I'm going a little further in my route home.
> I don't think that I couldn't make it on the steep grades, I just
> don't like putting unecesary strain on the drive train, nor do I
> want to become a rolling road block to the traffic that would be
> coming up behind me on the roads, I consider that to be an unsafe
> condition that I can avoid by going around the long steep grades.
>
> I'm just going to enjoy my stay here and the friends that I have
> here too, the terminal manager is a close friend of mine and I will
> unload my motorcycle from the trailer and go for a cruise on Sunday
> with him and his father, around the area.
>
> There are no complaints here, as both Buddy and I are safe and
> sound, with no threats to our lives, I thank God for that and my
> prayers go out to those that are suffering along the Gulf Coast.
>
> John Finn
> "FINN'S INN EXPRESS"
> '82 Bluebird Wanderlodge 35FCRB
> Hopkins, SC
> "ON THE ROAD IN MOUNT VERNON, ILLINOIS"
> To Visit the Finn's Inn Express Remodeling Adventure go to;
> http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/24977457

[John]

Thanks George,

That looks like a good route, I had thaught about using parts of it
before, but I didn't know what the grades were like, are there any
long steep grades on the Mississippi and Alabama portions of that
route? The good part is it would take me around Birmingham, which
can be a zoo at times, I would be able to use it as far as I-20 and
then head east to South Carolina. Thanks for your help, I have
decided to wait another day, as we are going motorcycle riding again
today.......AH!!! There is nothing like the retired life!!

John Finn
"FINN'S INN EXPRESS"
'82 Bluebird Wanderlodge 35FCRB
Hopkins, SC
"ON THE ROAD IN MOUNT VERNON, ILLINOIS"
To Visit the Finn's Inn Express Remodeling Adventure go to;
http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/24977457

//////////////////////////////////////////////////

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, George Lowry
wrote:
> Hey John,
>
> We left Alamo, TN on US 412 to Jackson, TN. Then US 45 Corinth,
MS;
> Then US 72 to Decatur, AL; Then AL 67 to US 231 to US 278. Then US
431
> to I 20 to US 27 to Newman, GA; US 19 to US 41 to US 341 to Ft
Valley.
> Made it in just a bit over 8 hours.
>
> Roads were all very good except for going thru Newman, GA.
>
> Hope this is of some help.
>
> George Lowry
> '95 WBDA 4203
> Spearfish, SD Currently in the birds nest.
>
> John wrote:
>
> > Thanks George,
> >
> > What routes did you take to Ft. Valley? Where did you get your
fuel
> > in route, or did you even have to get fuel? I'm going by what
has
> > been posted on the Flying J web site and actual reports to
trucking
> > company dispatchers by their drivers, as I know the ones that I
have
> > talked to personally, I was in that business for over thirty
years.
> > The situation will most likely be better by the first of the
week,
> > when I leave here.
> >
> > he fuel gauge on my 'Bird is not working, so I'm figuring my
fuel
> > mileage in the worst senario of 5mpg to determine how far I can
go
> > between fillups, so this will mean that I have to make at least
one
> > fuel stop on my way home. I am not going to go by any route that
has
> > long steep grades, as I don't want to put such a strain on my
> > 3208NA, so that is why I'm going a little further in my route
home.
> > I don't think that I couldn't make it on the steep grades, I
just
> > don't like putting unecesary strain on the drive train, nor do I
> > want to become a rolling road block to the traffic that would be
> > coming up behind me on the roads, I consider that to be an
unsafe
> > condition that I can avoid by going around the long steep grades.
> >
> > I'm just going to enjoy my stay here and the friends that I have
> > here too, the terminal manager is a close friend of mine and I
will
> > unload my motorcycle from the trailer and go for a cruise on
Sunday
> > with him and his father, around the area.
> >
> > There are no complaints here, as both Buddy and I are safe and
> > sound, with no threats to our lives, I thank God for that and my
> > prayers go out to those that are suffering along the Gulf Coast.
> >
> > John Finn
> > "FINN'S INN EXPRESS"
> > '82 Bluebird Wanderlodge 35FCRB
> > Hopkins, SC
> > "ON THE ROAD IN MOUNT VERNON, ILLINOIS"
> > To Visit the Finn's Inn Express Remodeling Adventure go to;
> > http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/24977457

[George Lowry]

John,

Just some rolling hills in MS & AL. Nothing that caused the cruise
control any problems. Really a nice drive....

George Lowry
'95 WBDA 4203
Spearfish, SD Still at the Birds nest.

John wrote:

> Thanks George,
>
> That looks like a good route, I had thaught about using parts of it
> before, but I didn't know what the grades were like, are there any
> long steep grades on the Mississippi and Alabama portions of that
> route? The good part is it would take me around Birmingham, which
> can be a zoo at times, I would be able to use it as far as I-20 and
> then head east to South Carolina. Thanks for your help, I have
> decided to wait another day, as we are going motorcycle riding again
> today.......AH!!! There is nothing like the retired life!!
>
> John Finn
> "FINN'S INN EXPRESS"
> '82 Bluebird Wanderlodge 35FCRB
> Hopkins, SC
> "ON THE ROAD IN MOUNT VERNON, ILLINOIS"
> To Visit the Finn's Inn Express Remodeling Adventure go to;
> http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/24977457
>
>

[John]

George,

Well, I took the same route that you did and I will agree that it is
a very scenic route, but that is where it ends, as the difference
between a '82 FC 3208NA pulling a 7000# trailer and a '95 WBDA shows
up big time, sort of like night and day. The trip as far as Decatur,
Alabama was no problem at all, but as soon as I crossed I-65 on Ala.
67 the hils were more than what my cruise could handel, as I had to
make runs for the hills, more so than my normal route between
Tupelo, Miss. and Birmingham, Ala. which is more suited for
my 'Bird. "Just some rolling hills" for your 'Bird, in some places
became 15 mph climbs. I'm not finding fault in your comments, it is
just that what is an easy drive for some 'Birds, can be a laborious
task for others, I'm sure that if I haden't been towing the trailer,
it would have been a lot easier. It also greatly affected the fuel
milege dropping it by 2 mpg compared to my normal route.

I didn't have a problem getting fuel, but there were a lot of gas
stations with numerous nozzles coverd and there was also talk by
some of the truck drivers about shortages at their terminals pumps,
but not at the truck stops.

Overall this route was good for a change of pace and scenery and I
appreciate the helping hand. I'll be home tomorrow.

John Finn
"FINN'S INN EXPRESS"
'82 Bluebird Wanderlodge 35FCRB
Hopkins, SC
"ON THE ROAD IN LEXINGTON, SC"
To Visit the Finn's Inn Express Remodeling Adventure go to;
http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/24977457

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, George Lowry
wrote:
> John,
>
> Just some rolling hills in MS & AL. Nothing that caused the
cruise
> control any problems. Really a nice drive....
>
> George Lowry
> '95 WBDA 4203
> Spearfish, SD Still at the Birds nest.
>
> John wrote:
>
> > Thanks George,
> >
> > That looks like a good route, I had thaught about using parts of
it
> > before, but I didn't know what the grades were like, are there
any
> > long steep grades on the Mississippi and Alabama portions of
that
> > route? The good part is it would take me around Birmingham,
which
> > can be a zoo at times, I would be able to use it as far as I-20
and
> > then head east to South Carolina. Thanks for your help, I have
> > decided to wait another day, as we are going motorcycle riding
again
> > today.......AH!!! There is nothing like the retired life!!
> >
> > John Finn
> > "FINN'S INN EXPRESS"
> > '82 Bluebird Wanderlodge 35FCRB
> > Hopkins, SC
> > "ON THE ROAD IN MOUNT VERNON, ILLINOIS"
> > To Visit the Finn's Inn Express Remodeling Adventure go to;
> > http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/24977457
> >
> >