On June 14, Kathy and I completed a cross country trip from our home in Tucson, AZ to our birthplace in Lebanon, PA. Total mileage was 5246 miles.
We took our time with the longest day being just under 350 miles and the shortest being about 30 miles. On the way, our stops were; Las Cruces NM (at
Hal Kading's place), Monahans Texas, Jacksboro, TX, Arkadelphia, AR, Memphis, TN, La Vergne, TN, Kingsport, TN, Shenandoah NP, Virginia, and finally
just outside of Fredericksburg, PA, where we stayed for three weeks, parked at Kathy's aunt's farm. Several were two night stays.
The most we payed for a space was $54.00 at Graceland RV Campground in Memphis, the least was at Hal's place at the Las Cruces Airport.The rest were
at state parks, Forest Service campgrounds or C.O E Campgrounds ranging from $8.88 - $28.00 per night. The motorhome used a LOT of gas, and only a
pint of oil on that leg of the trip. The only problem I had with it was that the cruise control decided to take a break for about 50 miles somewhere
between Nashville (La Vergne) and Kingsport. It started working again the next morning and never failed again.
We spent 3-1/2 weeks visiting with family (mostly Kathy's and some of my extended family), with a side trip to the Flight 93 Memorial near Shenksville
(a very moving experience, by the way). I changed the oil while we were there. WE left PA on Memorial Day, after a huge family picnic at Kathy's
Aunt Sophie's house and headed up toward State College on Route 322.
First stop of the return trip was at Cook Forest State Park in PA, then on to Canton, then Mansfield, OH, Ft Wayne and Indianapolis, Indiana, (where
we met up with my nephew and his family for dinner), then on to Springfield, IL. two nights, (Land of Lincoln) Then to Hanibal, MO, Topeka and Dodge
City, KS, then to Amarillo, and Palo Duro Canyon, TX, where we camped for two nights, did some hiking, and took in a showing of "Texas The Musical"
(Highly recommended) in the park's amphitheater. Took our time going across New Mexico with stops in Roswell and Deming, then home on June 14.
Overall, the coach performed admirably with the speed averaging between 60 and 65 mph most of the way. The only problem I had was some fuel
starvation on the way up into the Mescalero Mountains at temps of well over 100 degrees, which I'll get into in a separate post when I have a chance.
The weather ranged from crosswinds across NM and TX, to torrential rains in East TX, AK, and TN, to misty rain in Kansas and Texas. Temps ranged from
the low 40s in VA to over 115 in TX, NM, and AZ. The Onan and roof air got a lot of use toward the end of the trip.
We had a great time and I would encourage all of you to take a trip like that if you have the time!
--
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles,
Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
We took our time with the longest day being just under 350 miles and the shortest being about 30 miles. On the way, our stops were; Las Cruces NM (at
Hal Kading's place), Monahans Texas, Jacksboro, TX, Arkadelphia, AR, Memphis, TN, La Vergne, TN, Kingsport, TN, Shenandoah NP, Virginia, and finally
just outside of Fredericksburg, PA, where we stayed for three weeks, parked at Kathy's aunt's farm. Several were two night stays.
The most we payed for a space was $54.00 at Graceland RV Campground in Memphis, the least was at Hal's place at the Las Cruces Airport.The rest were
at state parks, Forest Service campgrounds or C.O E Campgrounds ranging from $8.88 - $28.00 per night. The motorhome used a LOT of gas, and only a
pint of oil on that leg of the trip. The only problem I had with it was that the cruise control decided to take a break for about 50 miles somewhere
between Nashville (La Vergne) and Kingsport. It started working again the next morning and never failed again.
We spent 3-1/2 weeks visiting with family (mostly Kathy's and some of my extended family), with a side trip to the Flight 93 Memorial near Shenksville
(a very moving experience, by the way). I changed the oil while we were there. WE left PA on Memorial Day, after a huge family picnic at Kathy's
Aunt Sophie's house and headed up toward State College on Route 322.
First stop of the return trip was at Cook Forest State Park in PA, then on to Canton, then Mansfield, OH, Ft Wayne and Indianapolis, Indiana, (where
we met up with my nephew and his family for dinner), then on to Springfield, IL. two nights, (Land of Lincoln) Then to Hanibal, MO, Topeka and Dodge
City, KS, then to Amarillo, and Palo Duro Canyon, TX, where we camped for two nights, did some hiking, and took in a showing of "Texas The Musical"
(Highly recommended) in the park's amphitheater. Took our time going across New Mexico with stops in Roswell and Deming, then home on June 14.
Overall, the coach performed admirably with the speed averaging between 60 and 65 mph most of the way. The only problem I had was some fuel
starvation on the way up into the Mescalero Mountains at temps of well over 100 degrees, which I'll get into in a separate post when I have a chance.
The weather ranged from crosswinds across NM and TX, to torrential rains in East TX, AK, and TN, to misty rain in Kansas and Texas. Temps ranged from
the low 40s in VA to over 115 in TX, NM, and AZ. The Onan and roof air got a lot of use toward the end of the trip.
We had a great time and I would encourage all of you to take a trip like that if you have the time!
--
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles,
Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
