This post is long overdue. My mother's health took a bad turn on July 5 and I needed to speed up the trip home. She passed away at age 93 on July 9. Her passing was very quiet and both my brother and sister were there at the time. I found comfort in making it back before she died, I am sure it was helpful for Mom to see all her children while she was still lucid and aware of what was happening. It was important for me to be there, so I am glad the Healey came through for me.
I will continue later with the denouement of the Healey trip.
I are back (7/30/08):
The other Bill Sullivan was not able to return home with me. He decided to stay for a few days in San Diego to help out Joyce who was recovering from a broken arm. We said goodby and I joined Judy and Doug Wrobel who graciously agreed to follow me home with Agatha Healey riding along in her rock star trailer. We also had the Lee's and Kell's taking the same route in their RV's, so there were plenty of recovery options should Healey 100 act up.
We wound through San Diego's freeways to end up on I-8. Traffic was light once we got to the edge of town. Few vacationers (this was July 4th holiday weekend) flock to the Imperial Valley deserts in July and we could see why. When we descended into Octotillo, CA, the temps were around 105F at 11AM.
We continued on I-8 to AZ 85 headed to Phoenix. We stopped often for gas, the Wrobel's rig only had about a 150 mile range. I appreciated the breaks, it was getting hotter and hotter in the Healey. A ton of air leaks around the firewall turned into tiny blowtorches. I thought I should try to track these down and plug them when I get home. Things peaked around the bleak and brown Sunrise, AZ on the 101 Loop road north of Phoenix. Judy said it was 113 F on their indicator. The Healey was running hotter, sitting around 210 F. There was a SW tailwind, this tends to cut of flow through the radiator.
We motored onto I-17 N towards Flagstaff. They we began the longest ascent of the entire trip. This is a very long climb, probably 6000 ft over 10 miles or more. We started hot, with the engine around 210 and the cockpit around 150. There were passing lanes and turnouts on the hill, and quite a few trucks were pulled over with steaming engines, a bad sign. I continued up at about 60 mph, slowly pulling away from the Wrobel's. I did not want to slow down or stop, if I did I was sure Healey would boil and vapor lock. I did crest the hill with the engine at 220F. This was as hot as she ever got and the engine kept running OK. At the top of the hill we were drenched with a late afternoon thundershower. This cooled things off so fast I thought I would crack. My pitiful wipers swiped meaninglessly at the storm, but I could still see and we made it to Flagstaff, rather cold and tired. What an oasis after dealing with Arizona's deserts. Cool weather, cool pines, and incredible mountains, Flagstaff is a treat.
Doug generously provided a frequent flyer room at a brand new Hilton Charter hotel. What comfort and luxury! We crashed early after dinner, satisfied that we managed 450 miles of very hot driving with few problems.
I will continue later with the denouement of the Healey trip.
I are back (7/30/08):
The other Bill Sullivan was not able to return home with me. He decided to stay for a few days in San Diego to help out Joyce who was recovering from a broken arm. We said goodby and I joined Judy and Doug Wrobel who graciously agreed to follow me home with Agatha Healey riding along in her rock star trailer. We also had the Lee's and Kell's taking the same route in their RV's, so there were plenty of recovery options should Healey 100 act up.
We wound through San Diego's freeways to end up on I-8. Traffic was light once we got to the edge of town. Few vacationers (this was July 4th holiday weekend) flock to the Imperial Valley deserts in July and we could see why. When we descended into Octotillo, CA, the temps were around 105F at 11AM.
We continued on I-8 to AZ 85 headed to Phoenix. We stopped often for gas, the Wrobel's rig only had about a 150 mile range. I appreciated the breaks, it was getting hotter and hotter in the Healey. A ton of air leaks around the firewall turned into tiny blowtorches. I thought I should try to track these down and plug them when I get home. Things peaked around the bleak and brown Sunrise, AZ on the 101 Loop road north of Phoenix. Judy said it was 113 F on their indicator. The Healey was running hotter, sitting around 210 F. There was a SW tailwind, this tends to cut of flow through the radiator.
We motored onto I-17 N towards Flagstaff. They we began the longest ascent of the entire trip. This is a very long climb, probably 6000 ft over 10 miles or more. We started hot, with the engine around 210 and the cockpit around 150. There were passing lanes and turnouts on the hill, and quite a few trucks were pulled over with steaming engines, a bad sign. I continued up at about 60 mph, slowly pulling away from the Wrobel's. I did not want to slow down or stop, if I did I was sure Healey would boil and vapor lock. I did crest the hill with the engine at 220F. This was as hot as she ever got and the engine kept running OK. At the top of the hill we were drenched with a late afternoon thundershower. This cooled things off so fast I thought I would crack. My pitiful wipers swiped meaninglessly at the storm, but I could still see and we made it to Flagstaff, rather cold and tired. What an oasis after dealing with Arizona's deserts. Cool weather, cool pines, and incredible mountains, Flagstaff is a treat.
Doug generously provided a frequent flyer room at a brand new Hilton Charter hotel. What comfort and luxury! We crashed early after dinner, satisfied that we managed 450 miles of very hot driving with few problems.
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