Itinerant Air-Cooled Greetings From Hot Barstow

Post by **Amskeptic** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 5:05 pm

Just a quickie, this Starbucks has a busted air conditioner and they are closing it.

Just did the Las Vegas to Barstow run. It is 117* outside. My dad is a trouper but this heat is getting to him.

Engine did fine, oil 245* case at lower left 220* (air flow) exhaust pipes at about 765* taco plate 240* it is hot but running well. Did some truck drafting hopscotch up the hill, works good. So disappointed that this Starbucks had no a/c. . . .

Out into the frying pan. . .
Colin

vwlover77 · Post by **vwlover77** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 5:57 pm

Safe travels, and here's to finding an oasis soon. That kinda heat is hard on anybody....

Post by **Amskeptic** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 9:35 am

It was a refreshing descent into the Riverside area down the I-15, I could feel the instant that the Pacific Ocean moisture hit us at 3,000 feet. By the time we reached the 215 split, the temps had dropped a good 25 degrees down to a crisp 86*. Once we were in chilly temps, I could finally put my foot into it and get moving without fear of melting that plucky little engine.
My dad was sitting on the middle bench seat with his hands on the front seat partitions rocking back and forth like an inebriated sailor in a nor'easter as we diced the fast-moving traffic. He remembers these cars when 50mph was the recommended top-speed.

Found his aunt's house at dusk in a rough part of town. I asked if parking security would be a problem and they said, "we are the problem, so don't worry about it."

Next morning, drove down to San Diego to spend a day with Mike Converse and his quickly-becoming-restored Westy. We had plenty to discover, like brake adjustments shocks calipers and missing cooling flaps on his engine.

This morning I am off to the family reunion.
Colin

dingo · Post by **dingo** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:15 am

I asked if parking security would be a problem and they said, "we are the problem, so don't worry about it."

thats classic ! made me bust out laughing...

Post by **Amskeptic** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 11:34 am

Here are two pictures of that heated descent through the valley outside of Shoshone. It was eight miles from crest to crest.

This was the leading view.

And this was the other end. Lovely warm day

glasseye · Post by **glasseye** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 11:45 am

Fabulous!

Make the rest of the world green with envy, why not?

Birdibus · Post by **Birdibus** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 4:16 pm

gotta love the foreshortening! Awesome long vista! Nevada?... You were in soCal during a nice cool spell... the heat is on again in a couple days.

soulful66 · Post by **soulful66** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 7:23 pm

WOW! what an amazing view.
Best Regards,
John

Post by **Amskeptic** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 6:13 pm

There is something almost otherworldly out in these desert valleys. Before your eyes is Evidence Of Time exposed by the absence of any vegetation. These mountain ranges are sediment-striped from ancient days as sea floor. Wind and severe rare downpours have eroded their sharp edges and caused immense gentle slopes. I adore the Silence. You can see an oncoming 18 wheeler approach from 10 miles away just silently gliding towards you until the final mile. . . that's a ten minute progression at highway speed.