SF, CA -> MD: I80 vs. I40 summit passes, permits, etc?

Hey, Foy!

Thanks for the further tips... yeah, MD is the new home for 'er -- been in SF for a long time, and between "time for a change" and "SF may not have gone to hell, but it is being lowered rapidly in the handbasket", when an opportunity arose, we took it. Maryland, here we are. As a life-long Californian, I'm making some adjustments (no decent burritos! lots of bugs! nice, polite people!), but on the whole, good.

I'll be climbing into a 1997 7.3 manual... figured that checked all the right boxes for the duty, and now just hoping it's in decent shape when I get there. And that "rare as hen's teeth" has me thinking the depreciation hit if/when I should decide to sell 'er shouldn't be too bad... of course, if she survives the drag out east, I may have a hard time parting with 'er.... hmmm... Key West is a lot closer now... ; )

Glad to hear I was right in thinking that the 5000# isn't going to be too much to ask. I could probably have gone with a lighter duty truck, but with the mountains in the way, I figured the turbo was a good idea, and I'm nervous/careful enough about taking a trip that "overkill" seemed like "just enough." After many trips to Tahoe in underpowered jalopies, I remember how nice it was to blast up Blue Canyon in the turbo'd Audi... if I have any more power than "pleasemakeitpleasemakeitpleasemakeitpleasemakeit" , I'll be smiling... and it sounds like I might... *knock*wood*!

I'll be tryin' out your tips (yes, already learned how to pick and enjoy crab!), and looking forward to learning the Severn, Magothy, etc -- that's exactly our new backyard. I hear the wind is light, though, and I may soon be wishing that instead of giant sails in a light boat, I had twin v8s... of course, at $3+/gal, maybe I won't mind not going very fast. I don't even want to think about the cost of running twin 500+hp motors these days!

Thanks again, Foy and all, appreciate all the insight!

I dunno about the "light winds", though. Annapolis isn't called the sailing capital of the US on account of doldrums.

If you get to thinking you want a powerboat, there are PLENTY of them available, for next to nothing. That buddy of mine sold his go-fast for $125k, having paid $360k for it FOUR YEARS prior, and essentially not using it for the fourth year. I doubt he had over 500 hours on her. And when he sold it, the premium gasoline it required $1,000 worth to fill up on was just under $5/gal.

Good to chat with ya, travel safe.

Foy

A 97 with a 7.3 and a manual? SWEET!!!! If you want to sell it, holler.

I *HIGHLY* recommend a fuel additive.

Foy, a friend of mine is a roofing contractor. He has a 2000 F-350 crew cab diesel for his crew. He's been through 7 transmissions since it was new.

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Originally Posted by glc

A 97 with a 7.3 and a manual? SWEET!!!! If you want to sell it, holler.

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Y'all have earned the right of first refusal on it, for all the help, for sure! Pretty happy to have found it... have a bunch of house-work to do once she's out here ("meh... let's do that once we have a truck" procrastination about to come due!), but after that, may be on the market...

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Originally Posted by glc

I *HIGHLY* recommend a fuel additive.

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Tip? Brands? Feel free to tell me to go Google it, but if you have a favorite, I am all ears!

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Originally Posted by glc

He's been through 7 transmissions since it was new.

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*Sputter* I thought _I_ had bad luck with them. That sucks. I gave up years ago (why, yes, yes I did drive a stick for years living in San Francisco... boat ramps ain't got nothin' on parallel parking on Stockton / Lombard / etc!)... part of me, I guess, had hoped that they'd gotten better, but doesn't sound like it!

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Originally Posted by Foy

I dunno about the "light winds", though. Annapolis isn't called the sailing capital of the US on account of doldrums.

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I figured it was the "sailing capital of the US" because Jobson is better at PR and self-promotion than he is at broadcasting races (*cough*or *cough*sailing*cough*), and/or because the winds are so light anyone can do it.

Kidding! ; )

I cut my teeth in the land of 25+kts right down the middle of the Gate, 58* water, and "what's a no-spinnaker flag?" being asked by the locals at every SF-hosted national regatta, but I have hope... I have heard that spring and fall get nice and breezy, with flat, warm water, so I'm actually pretty excited.

Excited enough to drag the boat across the country, despite my reservations!

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Originally Posted by Foy

If you get to thinking you want a powerboat, there are PLENTY of them available, for next to nothing. That buddy of mine sold his go-fast for $125k, having paid $360k for it FOUR YEARS prior, and essentially not using it for the fourth year.

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We have a _very_ different definition of "next to nothing" ; ) But, yeah, they do seem to have really taken a dive in the last year or so (no surprise!)... wish I had the spare change to take advantage of what looks to be a great buyer's market for toys... may have to find a little beater -- seems like a fantastic part of the world for cruising, which a nice comfy power boat does better than an ultralight racer, and winter would certainly be more fun with a big motor and a heated cabin over trying to sail!

Thanks again for all the tips and help, guys! Appreciate it! Happy Friday, all!

I'm very partial to Amsoil products. You might want to check their website for their various diesel additives.

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Originally Posted by Foy

I'd LOVE to see a "same vertical scale", side by side profile from, say, the junction of I-215 & I-80 to the junction of I-84 and I-80 at Echo Canyon, using I-80 one way and I-215/15/84 the other. Using "same horizontal scale" would graphically depict the distance difference, too, which I think is nominal. It's got to be a striking difference in profile. It still surprises me to see so many tractor-trailers crawling up Parley's headed E on I-80, especially in January when I normally visit UT.

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Path Profiler doesn’t give you any way to set the scale of the map you’re making, so this is about the best I can do. I laid out two routes of equal length - one beginning in SLC, the other in Ogden, with both ending at the same point east of Echo Canyon.


Google Map I-84 Ogden to Echo Canyon
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nyon2final.jpg


Google Map I-80 Salt Lake City to Echo Canyon
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...yon22final.jpg

Your mapping skills leave me in awe, Howard. Thanks for the links. Handy stuff!

It is a shame that Google won't let you build the scale the same size, as that doesn't tend to skew two routes a bit in a side by side comparison.

Having said that, it still is far and a way the best thing I've ever seen for a comparison like this, and it is a great visual tool!

As an old truck driver who has beem both ways many times I wouldn't go down to 40 just to miss a few hills. Going east on 80 your first long down grade would be coming off of Donner, and its only about five miles going east. The same for Parley Summit at Salt Lake. Sherman Hill between Laramie and Cheyenne is about the same also. My step son, who is also a trucker called last night and he was shut down in Cheyenne due to the road being closed for snow on Sherman. If you are going to run I 68 in Md, Big Savage Mtn is a 13 mile downgrade coming into Cumberland.

Thanks for the kind words, Judy. A year ago I didn’t know how to do any of this stuff, but I learned a lot by watching what you and others were doing with maps here on RTA. So I should say ….thank You! :-)

Michael – I’d love to see what Google Earth Pro can do, but they want 400 bucks for that. I’ve looked briefly at some mapping programs designed for bicyclists, but never had the time to really see what they do.