Sunday, June 21, 2015

Easter - 2015

OY! What a day! I left this morning intent on getting to Moab by mid-afternoon. No such luck.
There's a section of Interstate-70 that goes over two passes and has no services for 100+ miles. Being loaded with gear and towing the Honda CRV, I usually don't want to fill either the 60 gal water tank (480 lbs) or 75 gallon gas tank (400+ lbs). Getting over passes is hard enough without the added weight.

Well, by the time I mounted the first steep pass I had consumed half of my half filled gas tank. The next pass looked higher on the map. I pulled over at a side road that took a shorter path (37 mile vs. 80+) to a town with gas and it would let me travel through Capital Reef National Park.

Silly me. The map did not show that it went over an 8500' pass with multiple 8% grades. My engine kept overheating and at each of the three events I'd lose 2 gallons of coolant. But I do sometimes come prepared. I had 5 gallons in storage. I was nearly out of coolant for the final leg over the pass (8% grade for 3 miles with multiple switchbacks.)

Did I mention the 40 mph headwind?

I didn't want to risk losing it all with no place to pull off the 2 lane road. So, I unhitched the car, scouted the final leg and drove to the first gas station to fill-up on water.

You still with me?

Got gas and water. Returned to the RV being guarded by the mad dogs. Filled the radiator and made a fearless mad dash for the summit. Piece O' Cake! Made it without incident. Walked back two miles to get the car. Drove to the summit, co-joined the vehicles and cruised down the mountain backside to the gas station.
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Whew. Exciting!

Finally drove through Capital Reef National Park. WOW, was that drive impressive! It was hard to drive while gawking at theroadside scenery. I must return and explore more later.

While exiting the park I picked up a hitchhiker and drove him to the hostel in Moab.

So, a not so blessed 15 hr day, but definitely challenging and visually exhilarating.




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