Flagstaff - more hearse wose--to Ventura CA

Hey we finally finished the roasted pecans! Thanks Gma-they were awesome and we savored them the whole way!!

Well first off there is nothing weirder than driving into Flagstaff and having desert on one side of the car and snow on the other.

We got into town and got some delicious vegan pizza. It was lucky that we found the place because the west doesn't believe in lighting. Everywhere we go seems to be dark. There are no street lights, parking lot lights, nothing. Anyway...when we left from getting pizza it was quite apparent that the noise that was coming from the front right wheel had gotten much worse. We got out and rocked the wheel and it was definitely clunking and rocking. Heather suggested that we stop for the night and get it fixed. I continued to drive and after about 20 more feet, I whole-heartedly agreed.

We drove by a shop that had a 50's Buick out front and another in the garage. This seemed like the place to go and we luckily found a hotel a block away.

We got up early and loaded the hearse. I went to the shop and left Heather at the hotel to update the blog and take care of other details. There was no use for both of us to freeze out there...and it was freezing.

The guys at the shop great. The took me right in and allowed me to stay in there with them while we itemized all of the car's ailments. I will not bore you with all that is wrong with her.

The passenger side outer wheel bearings were trashed. Some of the bearings were actually missing. The inner race was starting to weld itself to the spindle. The brake pads had about 100 miles left on them. They were just about down to rivets. If we started down the mountain with those, who knows what would have happened.

Manny and the guys at TBS really took care of me. They worked with me to get out of there as cheaply and safely as possible. We were all taken care of and on the road by 2pm, and for under 500 bucks. It's a lot of money but a lot cheaper than it could/should have been.

If y0u are in Flagstaff, and need a hot rod built, I suggest you look them up. I'm sure if you mention the hearse they'll remember us.

We eventually got into California- Yay!
We drove around LA, boo-through traffic even though it was the middle of the night... We found a campsite in Ventura on the beach that had a late night registration. It was funny though- we drove up to another private campsite first and asked how much-55. then another guy came up and offered 33-but way too much to camp so we left. Funny- because by the time we get to the Ventura site we were so tired we paid 30 for this site with out realizing it...and there were RVs parked on the road for the night- but we still didn't register that that was free....oh well. Our site was right on the rocks, and on the other side of the rocks- ocean. Nice sight to wake up to. And less than an hour from Solvang, CA- where stage 6 of the Tour of California was to be held the next day.

Austin-El Paso-Albuquerue-Flagstaff

We left Austin the next day- heading towards old Route 66. Driving to El Paso was incredibly long-I10 runs though the middle of no where Texas. In El Paso we found a Best Buy that had the computer Cook had been looking for- its super tiny and lightweight, and less than 300 bucks! Just came out so mostplaces have been sold out so they let us buy the display model. So should be easier to update here while biking at coffee shops etc that have Wifi.

El Paso was otherwise boring...we thought the Mexican food would be good considering we were right on the border-but, meh, it was alright.. We did get to go through a border patrol check. They didn't even ask to see the back of the hearse. The scenery was pretty nice- finally getting into the desert w/ mesas around. Unfortunately it was cloudy at night so there weren't any stars....

We then took I25 north to Albuquerque to spend the night. In the morning we started to follow the pieces of Old route 66. The old hotels and cafes are really cool-the maps we got at the state welcome area show what year some of the places were built, some are still around and open. The junk yards were packed with old 40s and 50s cars. Makes us really wish we could haul them out to CA with us--too temping to stop and check em out!









running break for the puppy.




Rio Grande


going around Dead Mans Curve on old 66




Bridge built in the 30s for 66




Hiking at Red Rock national park


Surly, or well cattle dogs, really seem to fit in here...or anywhere with big sky/desert/mtns. Maybe the colors? or cattle around that need herding?

(FL-Day 14 beyond)

A little late, but I wanted to update with the pictures and stuff from the rest of the biking in the Keys.

After 7 mile bridge











Outside the hotel we stayed at in Grassy Key- most campsites here need to be reserved months out,a nd are really pricey. Others didn't allow dogs at tent sites-only RV sites. Silly.




More bridges






Wow terrible sunglass tan lines...


Dog Beach in Key West. Clearly Surly's favorite part!

















We stayed in Key West wih anther Warm Showers member...he was nice enough to let us stay two nights so we could have some time to check out the island. Not only that- but made us dinner! AND took us around the island giving us a local's synopsis of the history.

No really- is it the starter?? Graceland to Austin

Driving out through VA- the car was missing some- just short sputters. The next day as we were driving through Tennessee- it lost ignition and started back firing. (note- Surly doesn't like backfires). Cook would put it in neutral, and restart...and we'd keep on going. Unfortunately it kept getting more frequent. So started thep rocess to figure out what exactly was going on. It was quite the process. While driving through TN down I-40 Cook replaced a series of parts, all things that could be causing us to loose ignition. No one was sure exactly what it could be- since it idled great- and drove around the town great too- it was just fast/highway crusing speeds it didn't like. And BTW- we had lost the muffler from a backfire. The hearse is pretty conspicuous- but it is VERY consipcuous without a muffler.

So we changed the points, condensor, cap, rotor, coil. Still didn't work. Spark plug wires, distributor. Not quite. Had to buy a timing light to set the timing. Ran like crap still. Leaving Memphis, we pulled off the highway to double check the spark plug order- and across the street saw Don's Speed Shop- just what we were looking for actually- a shop with a bunch of big old cars out front. This shop was huge- and turns out they are all Don's. It isn't a busniess, just for fun for him now- and most the cars there are his personal collection. Still, he was nice enough to help us out w/ some ideas, since everyone else was stumped about where to go next. So Don and Cook wired directly from the battery to the coil, by passing the wiring at the starter. But that sent too much voltage to the coil and fried the points and ran like crap still- but we didn't loose ignition while driving. We put the previous bought points back in- just how it was... but we were pretty sure itwas at the starter. At the next advance so we could put in a ballast resistor and a switch...which finally fixed it! SO looks like the ORIGINAL ballast resistor went bad. So now- we have a nicely running car- we just have to pop the hood and turn the on/off switch to get it to start/turn off.... which wouldn't be so bad if a bolt on the hood hinge hadnt' sheered off making it not hold itself up anymore...

when we got into Austin we found a muffler shop open even though it was Sunday, and they got us a new muffler in less than 15 min, for fairly cheap. Also- turns out Cook had enough Marriott points for a free stay- so were staying in a super nice hotel and only have to pay the dog fee. and we found a bar that lets us come inside with the dog-can't complain about that either!

Also- the rest areas in Texas we've seen are the nicest we've ever seen! There aren't any '2 hour max parking' and there are security guards all night. The ones we've talked to said that we are more than welcome to sleep in the car and stay as long as we want. The hearse is surprisingly comfortable!

Will update later w/ pics from Graceland/Austin.

Pics!

Mini Graceland in Roanoke, VA.




new parts...




Working on the car at the Graceland campsite.


Graceland Too-
this guy is about an hour south of Graceland. His house is packed with Elvis stuff. It is supposed to be open 24/7 for a tour, just knock. Unfortunately, we got there are it looked like no one was home. The house was crazy looking, and looking in the windows- it was clearly packed. There are accounts of famous people stopping by int he middle of the night, presidents, etc...

Skipping ahead---"is it the starter?"

So funny thing... we were going to pack up the hearse to drive to CA. And it decided not to start. Cook was sure the motor had seized- since there was an oil leak and he had been driving it a lot. It might've run too low on oil while on the highway (even though it was filled the day before) and t hat was that. So long story short- we decided to get the hearse towed to Cook's friend Brian's shop, and tow his Cutlass there- so they could swap the motors. He thought they would be compatible pretty easily- but once everything was there- it was clear it wasn't going to be easy. But luckily- Brian asked for sure if it was the motor...and the second guessing started again. We ended up going down to Advance, buying a new starter just to see. Now we had been there ALL day- waiting for the guy to tow the Cutlass to show up. And half an hour or less later- the new starter was in stalled- and *gasp* the car started!
So all along- it was the starter. Lucky it wasn't the motor- which would've been very expensive to swap...but wow if only that was the first thing we tried. But at least we were able to get packed up and leave just a few days late...so instead of going to see the Tour of California from the start, we'd pick it up midway in Solvang, CA to see the Individual Time Trial.