What to do before 1200 miles?

[Kona-Vs]

HAVE FUN! I love road trips.

[2Bonthewater]

Jesus on the dashboard....everytime I hear that I think of this killer tune by
Clutch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88HJnar9e8w

[jeeperkate]

Today is the day! I should be meeting my VX in about 9 hrs! :-) Wish me luck!

[PK]

Take a bunch of lemons to suck on.

With 1200 miles to drive that smile will make your face ache.

Suck on a lemon to ease your aching facial muscles.

PK

[Gussie2000]

One more time the history repeats its self.....

Teenagers driving with no regards for the life of others and their own life.

@ 85 MPH without seatbelt is just playing with satan and he usually wins.

My sincere condolences to the family

[Vendetta]

Brutal way to mar what should have been a day of beautiful memories for you. Regarding the teens, do you know if it was the driver or passenger that died? For his own sake, I hope it was the driver, as he'd be spared living the rest of his life with the guilt of having killed his friend.

I see WAY too much of this kind of thing on Long Island. Makeshift shrines dot the parkways as testaments to the deadly combination of youth, recklessness, and horsepower a-plenty.

Glad things are right with your new VX though. I see it as a good omen that your trip and undamaged VX put you in a position to bring a measure of aid and comfort to those in need that day.
-V

[Ldub]

Brutal way to mar what should have been a day of beautiful memories for you. Regarding the teens, do you know if it was the driver or passenger that died? For his own sake, I hope it was the driver, as he'd be spared living the rest of his life with the guilt of having killed his friend.

I see WAY too much of this kind of thing on Long Island. Makeshift shrines dot the parkways as testaments to the deadly combination of youth, recklessness, and horsepower a-plenty.

Glad things are right with your new VX though. I see it as a good omen that your trip and undamaged VX put you in a position to bring a measure of aid and comfort to those in need that day.
-V

Well said V...

Kate...take some comfort in the fact that you did what you could, though the circumstances were all the way to "11" on the suck-O -meter...

Much gladness flows from the ol' dubster, knowing you & your new truck weren't harmed...at least physically.

Don't hesitate to get some grief/trauma counseling...

[Gussie2000]

You're absolutely right V.
s
I also have to witness every single day while working these kids playing around with kick ***** vehicules.

Camaros,SRT-8's,mustangs,corvettes,pontiacs,etc are vehicules that shall be banned for drivers under 21,but again,we suppossedly living in a free country...so....

[jeeperkate]

Yea....Ive come around a bit but dont think I will ever be the same. Im sure it will take some time

It was the driver that died and they were driving a 90s honda civic. It didnt look tuned but they were definitely moving.

VX and i made it to madison. I got a CEL about 2 hrs away in illinois after turning around quickly (i may have horsed it a bit) in a snow/wet covered mud parking lot. I filled up with gas a mile away and the VX promply stalled upon leaving the gas station. I thought i was in trouble, but it started back up a few minutes later and never caused another problem. As i drove into Madison the CEL turned off. I have no idea what it was but i can tell you that i need to take a good look at the t-case. There were some funny noises coming out of there when i was playing in that parking lot! Makes me very nervous.

Only other major issue is the passenger window - it is currently duct taped up. BAD!!

Otherwise i love it! It has great road manners. 18mpg average. Burns/consums oil inconsistently - i never had to add today :-) its fun to drive - ride is better than the jeep! 5 more hours tomorrow. Duluth bound in th AM.

[vt_maverick]

Sorry to hear about everything Kate. Enjoy the drive and get some pics posted when you get home.

[jeeperkate]

Well, I am home in Duluth, MN! The drive went great today, except that I didn't want to get the VX too salty and that was NOT an option today. The whole drive was wet salty roads. The oil total after 1200 miles was only about a half of a quart - not too bad I didn't think! The running total of mpg was between 16 and 18 the whole way - including when I had a wicked wind blowing so I was pretty happy with that as well.

So, I didn't take any pictures the first two days because of the incident - I was way too mentally/emotionally upset to concentration on doing something for myself, like taking pictures, no matter how simple the task was. However, I woke up this morning feeling a bit better and took out the camera for the VX's first snow fall :-)

Here she is in the parking lot with some fresh stuff!


Unfortunately, the fresh snow means SALT - here is how she looked when we got home -



This is after a nice bath. Happy Happy!



And, lastly here is a cool rock outcropping that I saw on the trip!



I know it seems lame to name the VX Black Betty, but I think that's it. My Honda is Black and she's called Mable. My Jeep is white and named Stella. The VX is Betty for short :-) I sing the song every time I step foot in the vehicle so I think the VX picked the name, quite frankly.

The VX goes to get tinted on Tuesday, hopefully, and then she will sit until spring so that she doesn't have to see any more road salt. Meanwhile I will collect the parts to take care of the window, headlight polishing, cladding refinishing, leather seat refinishing, etc. I go to Moab with my Jeep group in May (the week before the VXers go I think), so when I get back my concentration will be the VX.

I'm happy to be home and thankful that I arrived safely. I'm still mourning the loss of the man I didn't know, but it will get easier. I want to thank all of you for your help to get me to this point!! I appreciate the knowledge and friendship of this awesome VX group!

[VXorado]

I go to Moab with my Jeep group in May (the week before the VXers go I think), so when I get back my concentration will be the VX.

Nice pin stripe

Take a 2 week Moab trip and meet the VX crew. You don't need the VX, we'll put up with your Jeep

[jeeperkate]

Nice pin stripe

Take a 2 week Moab trip and meet the VX crew. You don't need the VX, we'll put up with your Jeep

You like that pin stripe? I think I am taking it off Not because of you ...because I'm not sure I like it. I was planning to take it off this summer, maybe it will grow on me before then! OR, maybe I will change it to a PINK stripe

HAHA - I would love to spend two weeks out there, but it was terribly hard to get one week off of work let alone two. Maybe next year my jeep group can go the same week the VXers go and we can all have a grand old time That would be fun!

[VXorado]

You like that pin stripe? I think I am taking it off Not because of you ...because I'm not sure I like it. I was planning to take it off this summer, maybe it will grow on me before then! OR, maybe I will change it to a PINK stripe

I've just never seen a pin striped VX before and it doesn't look bad but I'm not sure if I like it either.

I support your decision to remove it

[Ldub]

Take a 2 week Moab trip and meet the VX crew. You don't need the VX, we'll put up with your Jeep

My thoughts EXACTLY...

But maybe extend your Jeep vaca by just a few days instead of a whole week...just in case you don't like us......as IF......

SHE'S A BEAUTY...

And Black Betty is perfect...

As a MN saltmonger, I'm sure you gave her nether regions a good hosing too...ND doesn't use much salt, but I have to drive a few miles into MN every day...I H-8 roadsalt...

Glad the rest of your journey was uneventful & that you're coming to grips with the unfortunate choices made by another.

Seriously consider extending your stay in Moab...