Author Archives: Sparky
TN6 Hop 6: Jonestown PA to Florida NY
178 tow miles via I-81, I-84, US 6 and local roads. 179 truck miles. Cumulative tow miles: 1,368. Cumulative truck miles: 1,739. One extra truck mile to fill up. Yes, it’s true: Over 1,300 tow miles and we are back in Florida again. But this Florida is much cooler (68 degrees right now). If there … Continue reading
TN6 Hop 5: Dumfries VA to Jonestown PA
171 tow miles via VA 234, I-95, I-495 (around Washington DC), I-270, US 15, I-83 and I-81. 339 truck miles. Cumulative tow miles: 1,189. Cumulative truck miles: 1,560. The additional truck miles resulted from 2 trips to the GMC dealer for repairs, some errands and a trip into Alexandria to have dinner (a very pleasant … Continue reading
TN6 plan – Rev 2
The continuing unreliability of the truck (though performing flawlessly so far) has convinced us that we need to cut out any further sightseeing and head straight (or as straight as possible, given our intense desire to give NYC a wide berth) to our destination. I have cut a hop out of the itinerary and shortened … Continue reading
The end of the road for the Sierra?
The truck has been performing beautifully on the first 4 hops of the TN6. But I still don’t trust it. As evidence of that mistrust, I took it into a GMC dealer in Alexandria VA yesterday in the hopes of diagnosing the troubling email that the truck sent to me at the end of Hop … Continue reading
TN6 Hop 4: Wilson NC to Dumfries VA
224 tow miles via US 301, US 64, I-95, I-295 (around Petersburg and Richmond) and VA 234. 234 truck miles. Cumulative tow miles: 1,018. Cumulative truck miles: 1,221. This was a fairly painless hop, except to the rough roads (why can’t anybody create a bridge joint that doesn’t scramble the eggs?). The truck again performed … Continue reading
TN6 Hop 3: Savannah GA to Wilson NC
342 tow miles via I-16, I-95 and US 301. 459 truck miles. Cumulative tow miles: 794. Cumulative truck miles: 987. The extra truck miles were mostly consumed in traveling to Hilton Head Island SC on Sunday. That was mostly a huge disappointment. I was hoping the island would have an “outer banks” feel. Or at … Continue reading
TN6 Hop 2: Citra FL to Savannah GA
217 tow miles via US 301, I-10, I-295 (around Jacksonville), I-95 and I-16. 219 truck miles. Cumulative tow miles: 452. Cumulative truck miles: 528. Two hops with no truck problems! That has to be some kind of freaking record. At least it seems that way. I was actually more concerned about the state of the … Continue reading
TN6 Hop 1: Fort Myers FL to Citra FL
235 miles via I-75 and US 301. Truck miles: 309. Cumulative tow miles: 235. Cumulative truck miles: 309. Hallelujah! We actually got out of Fort Myers without the truck failing. In fact it performed flawlessly, thanks to its spanking-new turbocharger connector hose. The guys at Bayshore Truck came through again. That is the third time … Continue reading
The upside of breaking down
I suppose this comes under the heading “making lemonade out of lemons” but it occurs to me that being delayed 3 days at the start of the TN6 due to truck problems was not all bad. Good things: I got a chance to fix the broken line to the WiFi router. I got my CARES … Continue reading
The revised 6th trip north (TN6) plan
If you have been paying attention, you know that our (bleeping) truck has completely destroyed our original TN6 plans. I currently have a part on order and expect to have a new turbocharger connector hose installed by competent professionals by, at the latest, tomorrow (Friday) morning. So I need to revise the TN6 plan to … Continue reading