I'm a new Bird owner

[Ryan Wright]

Brad,

> I was out at Paul Davis' place today and saw your coach. Looks very good in
> person..leather seats in good condition, paint and metal work look good.
> The woodgrain laminate will probably outlast us all. I think the guy who
> consigned his coach took pretty good care of it. I think he bought an '03
> Affinity from Paul.

How cool! Thanks for sharing that with me! I appreciate that you
checked it out and let me know what you found. I can't wait to get
down there. The next 48 hours are going to just drag by - but I'll bet
the two weeks after that fly!

> I'll agree with Chuck about Oklahoma City. The most ridiculous thing is
> that you have only one lane to turn east on I-40 for a couple miles, then
> north on I-35 in OKC. Traveling between Dallas and Wichita for nearly 30
> years, I'm an expert on that stretch of I-35. It's unusual NOT to have an
> NDE in OKC. If you happen to be near Perry (101 miles south of Wichita)
> Sooner's Corner, on the west side of I-35 has a pretty good breakfast buffet
> for a truck stop.

Thanks for the tips. By NDE, do you mean "Near Death Experience"?
Sounds like fun. ;-)

Any tips on routing around that area? I'm going to be a really fresh
Wanderlodge driver with only a few hours in the saddle when I hit OKC.

-Ryan

[brad barton]

Ryan,
Going through OKC is best, as others have already said, outside of rush
hour. Yes NDE is a near death experience. Going through after midnight is
also a good idea..since most of the drivers on the road after midnight are
truckers. Beyond Wichita, you can go straight north up 135 toward Salina
and I-70.
Driving my first Bird, it took me about 100 miles to feel comfortable. Some
advice I got from professional truckers: Use the convex mirrors to space
yourself in the center of the lane keeping equal spaces between the coach
and the pavement markers. Eventually you'll be centered naturally. Don't
worry about other people trying to get around you. They'll find their way
around. When surrounded by traffic and you're feeling crowded on both
sides, just look ahead as far as possible to stay in your lane. Turning
your head from side to side could cause you to lose your line. At first, I
liked the left lane..so I could be sure I wouldn't scuff my tires on the
right curb. In a three lane situation, I liked the center lane. As you get
used to knowing where your wheels are, you'll be okay in any lane. Also,
I'd recommend goinig to the Vintage Bird website for other good information
for rookie owners.
In an emergency, try to stop straight ahead..don't swerve and risk going out
of control or turning over. Unless death is right in front of you, stop
straight ahead.
You may find your coach has a slightly delayed steering response but you'll
get used to it. That's just the nature of a heavy coach.


Brad Barton 00LXiDFW
bbartonwx@...

_________________________________________________________________
Interest Rates NEAR 39yr LOWS! $430,000 Mortgage for $1,299/mo - Calculate
new payment
http://www.lowermybills.com/lre/index.js...moid=14888

[Pete Masterson]

Ryan,

Don't freak out on the OKC interchange. I passed through it on my
maiden trip enroute home (via Interstates 35-70-25-80) a year ago. I
can't recall exactly what time of day I went through, but I believe
it was afternoon on a Sunday. Traffic wasn't bad ... but it required
paying close attention. Note that I had no experience with a large
vehicle in the previous 40 years -- since my Army days.

Keep yourself well rested -- I stopped at nearly every rest stop
along the highways just to take a short break, take a little walk to
stretch my legs, and look over the coach.

I have to admit, that the relatively open freeways I encountered
helped me considerably by the time I had to contend with California
traffic as I neared reaching home...

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Johnson City Texas (apparently where "humidity" was
invented.)



On Apr 21, 2007, at 10:11 PM, Ryan Wright wrote:

> Brad,
>
>> I was out at Paul Davis' place today and saw your coach. Looks
>> very good in
>> person..leather seats in good condition, paint and metal work look
>> good.
>> The woodgrain laminate will probably outlast us all. I think the
>> guy who
>> consigned his coach took pretty good care of it. I think he
>> bought an '03
>> Affinity from Paul.
>
> How cool! Thanks for sharing that with me! I appreciate that you
> checked it out and let me know what you found. I can't wait to get
> down there. The next 48 hours are going to just drag by - but I'll bet
> the two weeks after that fly!
>
>> I'll agree with Chuck about Oklahoma City. The most ridiculous
>> thing is
>> that you have only one lane to turn east on I-40 for a couple
>> miles, then
>> north on I-35 in OKC. Traveling between Dallas and Wichita for
>> nearly 30
>> years, I'm an expert on that stretch of I-35. It's unusual NOT to
>> have an
>> NDE in OKC. If you happen to be near Perry (101 miles south of
>> Wichita)
>> Sooner's Corner, on the west side of I-35 has a pretty good
>> breakfast buffet
>> for a truck stop.
>
> Thanks for the tips. By NDE, do you mean "Near Death Experience"?
> Sounds like fun. ;-)
>
> Any tips on routing around that area? I'm going to be a really fresh
> Wanderlodge driver with only a few hours in the saddle when I hit OKC.
>
> -Ryan
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

[Pete Masterson]

This is great advice ... to help, I put a small piece of duct tape on
the top edge of the dashboard aligned with my normal angle of view
and the left side lane marker line. When the tape is 'on the line'
then I know I'm centered in my lane and the right side is going to be
OK. After a year, I don't pay much attention to the tape anymore...
but it's still there and is helpful in very tight situations (such as
a toll booth or construction zone).

Pete Masterson
aeonix1@...
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42'
El Sobrante, CA




On Apr 21, 2007, at 10:59 PM, brad barton wrote:

>
> <snip> Use the convex mirrors to space
> yourself in the center of the lane keeping equal spaces between the
> coach
> and the pavement markers. Eventually you'll be centered naturally.
> <snip>

[bwailinger@...>]

Ryan, Have a fun trip! If you divert through Walla Walla, we would like to meet
you and your Bird.

Bruce A
86PT38
M-F, OR.

----- Original Message -----
From: Ryan Wright
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2007 6:05 PM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: I'm a new Bird owner

Thanks for all the replies, folks. Keep 'em coming!!

> Ryan, let us know what route you might take. i'm sure some of us would like
> to meet you on the way home.

Likewise! I'd love to meet as many of you as possible and make some
new friends. We plan to spend a full week going home, just take our
time, learn about the coach and relax, so should be plenty of time for
socializing along the way. I have to be home by the afternoon of May
4th - have a camping trip with my father on the 5th. I can't wait -
he's going to be surprised when I pick him up in this! We were just
planning to take a car together.

My tentative route is just the quick Google Maps directions - here:
http://tinyurl.com/26lvyf
Feel free to look 'em over and if anyone is going to be nearby, let me
know! We'll be starting our journey sometime between the 26th and the
30th. (Since this is the wild Internet and none of us know who is
watching this, I should mention I'm a firm believer in the second
amendment. 'nuff said.) I'm sure we will divert from the main route
here and there to see any sights along the way, but I don't want to
get too indulgent and try to do too much. I just want to learn how
things work, get home in one piece, then take a longer vacation a bit
later when I'm more comfortable with the entire coach.

-Ryan




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[brad barton]

Pete,
I like your idea a lot. Even if I'm confident enough, having a mark of some
kind is handy for my wife or son when they drive the coach on rare
occasions. And the mark or tape on the dash means they don't have to take
their eyes so far off the road to check their lane position. Good advice.


Brad Barton 00LXiDFW
bbartonwx@...

_________________________________________________________________
Mortgage rates near historic lows. Refinance $200,000 loan for as low as
$771/month*
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tgage_text_links_88_h27f8&disc=y&vers=689&s=4056&p=5117

[Ryan Wright]

Brad, Pete: Thank you for the driving advice. This will all come in
handy. I'm sure I'll be just fine after the first hour or so, but it's
really nice to get some tips to help me feel more comfortable until I
get used to things.

-Ryan

On 4/22/07, brad barton <bbartonwx@...> wrote:
>
> Pete,
> I like your idea a lot. Even if I'm confident enough, having a mark of some
> kind is handy for my wife or son when they drive the coach on rare
> occasions. And the mark or tape on the dash means they don't have to take
> their eyes so far off the road to check their lane position. Good advice.
>
> Brad Barton 00LXiDFW
> bbartonwx@...

[whistles_n_bells]

Ryan:

Good travels with your new Bird. If you don't mind my two-cents worth -
from an old (long time - yeah, old too) bus driver. The lane positioning
will come soon enough. Interestingly, you'll find that your mirrors will
teach you this - no need to stare into them - occasional glances to
"line-up." This will become second nature. It's all part of the
"instrument scan."

Mirrors will also indicate to you whether or not your coach is
"dog-tracking." This is an occurrence of the rear not tracking true
with the front. When operating on a tangent stretch of road, check the
driver's -side mirror and you can see the curb-side fog line/shoulder
without much difficulty - conversely - the lane dividing markings
disappear behind the coach (again, on a tangent road), have it checked
out. If you find yourself in a tight squeeze, if your "dogging," you'll
likely side swipe what your squeezing between. Of course, the length of
the vehicle determines how offset the track is.

Hazards; use them for driving hazards. Many states have specific codes
with regard to their use - aside from the obvious. It was mentioned that
use of the hazards when merging with traffic is wise. It is if you are
entering on a grade which prevents you from accelerating to the flow of
traffic. Ex: Traffic at 60 MPH, you're coming on at 35 MPH and will be
unlikely to get into the flow quickly enough. Yes, kick them on until
enough vehicles are behind you to "build a cushion." Again,many states
have "Slower Traffic Use Flashers" signs posted - and compliance is
required. Long story short, whenever you get into a dangerous situation
- traffic suddenly slowing, greatly reduced visibility (dust storm,
sudden fog, accident sites that do not yet have emergency vehicles
present). You'll find that most of the old-hand bus and truck drivers
will be happy to give you some helpful and safe tips.

One more thought if I might, always give yourself an "out." Most folks
usually connect this to traveling at highway speeds - and this certainly
applies. As important, city traffic comes into play. Always give
yourself sufficient room to avoid having to back up. Allow enough space
between your front end the the rear of the vehicle in front of you -
enough to be able to pull around that vehicle in the event it breaks
down and can't move. This also applies to parking situations - enough
room to get around a close vehicle, but not enough to let another
vehicle (car) box you in. Observe fellow RV'ers using the "45 degree"
technique. This usually applies where the is no provisions for large
vehicle parking accommodations.

Again, have a safe "cross-country solo." You soon discover why so many
people drive professionally - as well as enjoy the motor home lifestyle,
with a quality bus.

Joe (Pappy) Hagan
St. George, UT
Wanderlodge lWannabe


-- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ryan Wright"
wrote:
>
> Brad, Pete: Thank you for the driving advice. This will all come in
> handy. I'm sure I'll be just fine after the first hour or so, but it's
> really nice to get some tips to help me feel more comfortable until I
> get used to things.
>
> -Ryan
>
> On 4/22/07, brad barton bbartonwx@... wrote:
> >
> > Pete,
> > I like your idea a lot. Even if I'm confident enough, having a
mark of some
> > kind is handy for my wife or son when they drive the coach on rare
> > occasions. And the mark or tape on the dash means they don't have
to take
> > their eyes so far off the road to check their lane position. Good
advice.
> >
> > Brad Barton 00LXiDFW
> > bbartonwx@...
>

[pattypape]

Pappy,

Good post lots more to think about.

Just jump in and find a Bird within your budget.

Bill 88 FC Michigan

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "whistles_n_bells"
wrote:
>
> Ryan:
>
> Good travels with your new Bird. If you don't mind my two-cents
worth -
> from an old (long time - yeah, old too) bus driver. The lane
positioning
> will come soon enough. Interestingly, you'll find that your mirrors
will
> teach you this - no need to stare into them - occasional glances to
> "line-up." This will become second nature. It's all part of the
> "instrument scan."
>
> Mirrors will also indicate to you whether or not your coach is
> "dog-tracking." This is an occurrence of the rear not tracking
true
> with the front. When operating on a tangent stretch of road, check
the
> driver's -side mirror and you can see the curb-side fog
line/shoulder
> without much difficulty - conversely - the lane dividing markings
> disappear behind the coach (again, on a tangent road), have it
checked
> out. If you find yourself in a tight squeeze, if your "dogging,"
you'll
> likely side swipe what your squeezing between. Of course, the
length of
> the vehicle determines how offset the track is.
>
> Hazards; use them for driving hazards. Many states have specific
codes
> with regard to their use - aside from the obvious. It was mentioned
that
> use of the hazards when merging with traffic is wise. It is if you
are
> entering on a grade which prevents you from accelerating to the
flow of
> traffic. Ex: Traffic at 60 MPH, you're coming on at 35 MPH and will
be
> unlikely to get into the flow quickly enough. Yes, kick them on
until
> enough vehicles are behind you to "build a cushion." Again,many
states
> have "Slower Traffic Use Flashers" signs posted - and compliance is
> required. Long story short, whenever you get into a dangerous
situation
> - traffic suddenly slowing, greatly reduced visibility (dust storm,
> sudden fog, accident sites that do not yet have emergency vehicles
> present). You'll find that most of the old-hand bus and truck
drivers
> will be happy to give you some helpful and safe tips.
>
> One more thought if I might, always give yourself an "out." Most
folks
> usually connect this to traveling at highway speeds - and this
certainly
> applies. As important, city traffic comes into play. Always give
> yourself sufficient room to avoid having to back up. Allow enough
space
> between your front end the the rear of the vehicle in front of you -
> enough to be able to pull around that vehicle in the event it breaks
> down and can't move. This also applies to parking situations -
enough
> room to get around a close vehicle, but not enough to let another
> vehicle (car) box you in. Observe fellow RV'ers using the "45
degree"
> technique. This usually applies where the is no provisions for large
> vehicle parking accommodations.
>
> Again, have a safe "cross-country solo." You soon discover why so
many
> people drive professionally - as well as enjoy the motor home
lifestyle,
> with a quality bus.
>
> Joe (Pappy) Hagan
> St. George, UT
> Wanderlodge lWannabe
>
>
> -- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ryan Wright"

> wrote:
> >
> > Brad, Pete: Thank you for the driving advice. This will all come
in
> > handy. I'm sure I'll be just fine after the first hour or so, but
it's
> > really nice to get some tips to help me feel more comfortable
until I
> > get used to things.
> >
> > -Ryan
> >
> > On 4/22/07, brad barton bbartonwx@ wrote:
> > >
> > > Pete,
> > > I like your idea a lot. Even if I'm confident enough, having a
> mark of some
> > > kind is handy for my wife or son when they drive the coach on
rare
> > > occasions. And the mark or tape on the dash means they don't
have
> to take
> > > their eyes so far off the road to check their lane position.
Good
> advice.
> > >
> > > Brad Barton 00LXiDFW
> > > bbartonwx@
> >
>