March 30, 2009 - Finally got to Blythe this morning and moved the VW, “Der Bug,” to storage.  Then hooked up the truck, 4Runner and quad for the trip home.  It makes quite a procession……………….

…….and a lot of pedestrians did double takes as I went by.  So far we’ve come 150 miles and camped for the night.  530 more miles to go tomorrow,then hafta go back for Der Bug.  The guy in Lake Havasu City is jerking me around on buying the VW, so bypassed him and hit the road.

Wind was calm this morning, but started picking up as I went thru Phoenix and headed toward Blythe.  Now, on the way back, coming up the Colorado River with all this stuff behind me was fine and it all tows well, but the wind was getting blustery and was a crosswind.  Gotta really pay attention to steering with a high rig like mine when it’s windy.  If it really blows tomorrow, that would make it the 3rd storm in a week, since I started this move.  This is trip 3 of 4.  Gotta get rid of some toys.                   Lar.

March 31, 2009……………the tale continues…………….This morning I left the campground in Kingman, AZ at 8:30 AM and hit the road - I-40 - for the long run east to Santa Fe.  I was pretty nervous about the whole thing, because I wasn’t completely sure of the legality of my double tow.  Snuck out of CA real quick, then up to Kingman last night.  Now, over 500 miles to go, and any State Trooper in AZ or NM could stop me cold.  I had posted the question on a trucker’s forum the other day and a bunch of them said, “ah hell, just hook up and go for it.”  Yah, sure - they’re not paying the ticket.  I tried very hard to find a trailer to put 4Runner and quad on with no joy………so hooked up and went for it.  On the whole trip, I held the speed down - 65 in 75mph zones - and made sure to use turn signals and all.  Having the 4Runner brakes tied into the Dodge’s braking system is a joy.  You feel absolutely nothing back there.

I didn’t get far before I got a taste of tension.  Barely out of Kingman, about 20 miles, and there was a cop just finished writing a ticket and getting back into his car.  He looked up at me as I went by and my stomach sucked up tight.  “HoooooBoy, here we go, Lar,” I thought to myself and watched the rear view like a hawk.  Sure enuf, in just seconds here he came, coming like a bat outa hell……….and roared right on past me.  Sheeeesh………..I’d sucked up about a foot of upholstery and the truck wobbled some as the tension drained and relief nailed me.  Saw several more Arizona Highway Patrol cars, 2 with radar guns out, and all watched me go by, but none bothered me.  Phee-eew.  Now came New Mexico.  Would I get away with it here ??

20 miles into NM, just before Gallup, I found out - there was a Highway Patrolman sitting on the side of the road with the radar gun going.  No problem.  Then 2 more.  No problem.  “Migawd, I might actually make it,” I thought.  Then hit rush hour traffic in Albu-Quirky and No One wanted a long RV in front of them, so had to pull the old chicken game with the big ol’ Diesel Dodge and its’ long tow.  Just turn on the signal, make sure your victim has room to move a bit, then ease on over.  They may cuss some and give you the finger, but they do move.

Coming north on I-25 a gusty crosswind started up and gave ol’ tired Lar some minor fits.  Make a quick move on the truck’s steering wheel and in the rear view I could watch the quad whip back and forth……….and see other traffic scatter.  Not good, and especially don’t want a cop to see it.  Gotta be very smooth and careful.  Stressful, it is.  Altogether it took just about 11½ driving hours to go 675 miles.  No fooling around there.

Pulled into the campground in Santa Fe a little after 5:00 PM and started un-hooking everything.  Quite a job………………

Between the camper, 4Runner and quad, there’s just about as much weight as in the 30ft Sprinter home trailer behind the 4Runner in this pic.   The big Cummins diesel handles it fine.  Man, I love that truck.

There isn’t a decent Mexican restaurant in all of Blythe and I badly needed a fix, so just now got home from a huge feed of enchiladas, rellenos and posole from the great little place next door.  It’s nice when you walk into a place after 8 months and they go, “hey, Larry, when did you get back ??”………and give a big hug.  Yup…………Santa Fe’s da place.  Nice to be home.                        Lar.

P.S.  That was trip 3………now still gotta go back for Der Bug.  Anyone want to buy a car long distance ?? 

–
Larry Bourne
Santa Fe, NM
www.gogittum.com
www.gogittum.com/blog

Posted: September 29th, 2009 under 09 Santa Fe, 09-3-30 Road Train.
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