Rally --Road Trip #'s
The trip to Rally IV was fun.
I started in Seattle mid-day on October 5th and returned to Seattle at 5:30 p.m. on October 27th. A total of 22 "Bonding Days" with my GT.
I traveled through Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Colorado, Utah and Idaho. Nineteen days of sun and dry roads and rain on three days in Texas, Oregon and Washington. Generally no bugs except in Texas, where the Butterflies were migrating to Central America from the N.E. states.
I traveled a total of 6,960 miles round trip. The highest elevation was in S.E. Colorado @ 8,212' and the lowest was 4' along the Columbia River in S.E. Washington. More than half of my travels were on 2 and 4 lane highways rather than on the Interstate Freeways. Not all were truly free(ways) as I had to pay tolls 4 times in Oklahoma! Which is/was a novelty to me, as we have no toll's for using public roads where I come from.
During the trip I felt like I was Chevron and Holiday Inn's best customer. The Gt went through 353.40 gallons of 91/92/93 gasoline. For a trip average of 19.7 miles per gallon. The most I paid for a gallon of high test was $3.99 in Bakersfield, California. And the lowest priced, was in Scottsdale, Arizona of all places, at $2.57 per gallon. The trip long average price per gallon was $2.87. Fuel costs totaled $1,14.26.
I had no mechanical issues at all. Although I did have a bolt/screw come out of my right rear at the Texas Mile. Near as I can tell at about 165 m.p.h. on my first run. The car felt a little wobbly so I coasted to the finish line from the 3/4 mark. By the time I got back to the grid area it was totally flat.
I was able to borrow a jack from Team Jeff and wrenches from the good Dr. Frank to take the wheel off the car. About a 1/4" hole in it. Team Jeff loaned me his set of rear wheels and race tires so I could go out and play. Took 1 more run that afternoon down the airplane road at 178! THANK YOU both.
Discount Tire in S. Austin repaired the tire the next day---at no Charge. Thanks Discount Tire.
I was able to see some places that I had not been to before. Among the most memorable places were going through the Ozarks, driving above 5,000' in the mountains for three days in New Mexico, Colorado and Utah. Most beautiful place I saw was the Moab Canyon in eastern Utah. 110 miles through red rock canyons and high desert. Absolutely I am going back there and get into the back country. If you've not been there, I strongly suggest you find the time to do so. In my opinion this is the Most Beautiful place in the U.S.A. Absolutely Stunning!
Most unusual named place was a town called Muleshoe. Somewhere in Texas?
As you can imagine there were lots of cell phone pictures taken along the way. And the typical GT questions: What is It? How much did it Cost? How fast can it go? Did Ford really build it? Can I take a picture of it?
I had a great time, other than the flat tire, met some wonderful folks along the way, had some really nice meals too.
But the best times were in Scottsdale,Austin, College Place, Goliad, Sealy and Tulsa. Where I spent huge amounts of quality and very special time with all of you Ford GT Forum aficionado's.
I had a blast on the Trip and at the Rally.
Looking forward to 2010 and Rally V.
Personal Regards to All,
Jeff
