farlymac
PF McFarland
I felt pretty good today. One of the few times in the last year where I had the confidence to head out in the morning and see where the road leads me.
You see, I had some serious medical issues that I've been recovering from, and it's been a very drawn out process. One needs to be able to think that no matter what, you can do the things you were used to before all the doctors got involved.
So this morning I took off to mail some bills and drop off the rent, with the rest of the day wide open. I headed west since the territory was familiar enough that usually I don't need a map, but if necessary the phone is always there for a back-up.
I was looking for any road I had not been on before, and hoping I'd find a good spot to get out and get some nice scenery images. So I headed up the road to Mountain Lake (used for the filming of "Dirty Dancing"), only not the usual road I'd take. This one is supposed to go all the way to another road that eventually goes through one county in West Virginia before the road returns to being in Virginia. From there I would circle on around back to Roanoke on a state highway.
As I got past the lake, the road turned to gravel, which didn't surprise me as lots of the more interesting roads go up in the mountains where the population is sparse to say the least, so the counties don't waste their road dollars on paving them. Just last week I went by Campell's Mountain via Murell's Gap Road which is gravel all the way, and I had no issues with my Ford Escape handling the loose stuff.
But Mountain Lake Road goes over somewhat different topography, and there are lots of embedded rocks in the roadway. I came across one that the gravel and dirt had washed away from the face of a slab, and my front right tire struck it dead on.
Murdelated by P F McFarland, on Flickr
So I dug out the doughnut and jack, and had that all in place when a nice stranger stopped to help me while his two young sons peppered me with questions. I was glad he was doing the cranking on the jack because getting that low was an issue for me in my current state of condition. But I swapped the tires and tightened the lug nuts, and after getting the car off the jack and stowed away along with the remains of the full size tire and wheel we exchanged some pleasantries, while he let me know the road up ahead was in worse condition than where we were at the moment (somewhere in a triangular area bounded by "War Spur", "Lone Pine Peak", and "Minie Ball Hill". So after they left I turned the vehicle around and headed back from where I came.
At Mountain Lake I took the normal road so it would cut down on the mileage I'd have to do out on US-460 since I was running on a doughnut tire. Then I could stop at Newport on SR-42 to check the lug nuts. I pulled into the parking lot of the mini-grocery store, and discovered that while the lug nuts were okay, the spare was almost flat, so I had to air that up. After that my whole focus was now on getting 70 miles back to home instead of taking photos. I nursed the car along SR-42 to SR-311, and luckily the traffic was very light so I didn't hold up too many folks. I was always looking back to see when someone was coming up on me so I'd have time to find a pull-off spot to let them go by as I was usually going 10 to 15 mph under the limit.
Saw a lot of things I would have normally stopped for a snap or two, but maybe next time. And before I start taking those mountain excursions again I'm going to have to get me a more capable ride, or just give up on the idea. And I don't like giving up.
PF
You see, I had some serious medical issues that I've been recovering from, and it's been a very drawn out process. One needs to be able to think that no matter what, you can do the things you were used to before all the doctors got involved.
So this morning I took off to mail some bills and drop off the rent, with the rest of the day wide open. I headed west since the territory was familiar enough that usually I don't need a map, but if necessary the phone is always there for a back-up.
I was looking for any road I had not been on before, and hoping I'd find a good spot to get out and get some nice scenery images. So I headed up the road to Mountain Lake (used for the filming of "Dirty Dancing"), only not the usual road I'd take. This one is supposed to go all the way to another road that eventually goes through one county in West Virginia before the road returns to being in Virginia. From there I would circle on around back to Roanoke on a state highway.
As I got past the lake, the road turned to gravel, which didn't surprise me as lots of the more interesting roads go up in the mountains where the population is sparse to say the least, so the counties don't waste their road dollars on paving them. Just last week I went by Campell's Mountain via Murell's Gap Road which is gravel all the way, and I had no issues with my Ford Escape handling the loose stuff.
But Mountain Lake Road goes over somewhat different topography, and there are lots of embedded rocks in the roadway. I came across one that the gravel and dirt had washed away from the face of a slab, and my front right tire struck it dead on.
Murdelated by P F McFarland, on Flickr
So I dug out the doughnut and jack, and had that all in place when a nice stranger stopped to help me while his two young sons peppered me with questions. I was glad he was doing the cranking on the jack because getting that low was an issue for me in my current state of condition. But I swapped the tires and tightened the lug nuts, and after getting the car off the jack and stowed away along with the remains of the full size tire and wheel we exchanged some pleasantries, while he let me know the road up ahead was in worse condition than where we were at the moment (somewhere in a triangular area bounded by "War Spur", "Lone Pine Peak", and "Minie Ball Hill". So after they left I turned the vehicle around and headed back from where I came.
At Mountain Lake I took the normal road so it would cut down on the mileage I'd have to do out on US-460 since I was running on a doughnut tire. Then I could stop at Newport on SR-42 to check the lug nuts. I pulled into the parking lot of the mini-grocery store, and discovered that while the lug nuts were okay, the spare was almost flat, so I had to air that up. After that my whole focus was now on getting 70 miles back to home instead of taking photos. I nursed the car along SR-42 to SR-311, and luckily the traffic was very light so I didn't hold up too many folks. I was always looking back to see when someone was coming up on me so I'd have time to find a pull-off spot to let them go by as I was usually going 10 to 15 mph under the limit.
Saw a lot of things I would have normally stopped for a snap or two, but maybe next time. And before I start taking those mountain excursions again I'm going to have to get me a more capable ride, or just give up on the idea. And I don't like giving up.
PF
Horatio
Masked photographer
Now that sounds like my kind of misadventure! Glad you made it home safely without more mishaps. Being stranded in the middle of nowhere is not good, especially with spotty or nonexistent cell service. My Kia has NO spare, or jack, BTW, just a can of fix-a-flat and a tiny air compressor. I should probably rectify that.
lynnb
Veteran
Sorry to hear of your misadventure but at least it ended well. Lucky a friendly stranger could help share the load while you're still recuperating. I've had that experience of driving alone on a dirt road miles from anywhere with camera and anticipation and then getting an unpleasant surprise, so you have my sympathy. It's not something I'd want to repeat. Since then I've never traveled alone on little-used roads/tracks without cell phone coverage or someone knowing where I was headed.
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Serious rain has messed up the greater part of July in the Netherlands, and things aren’t looking up for August either.
Rain is the thing to mess up whole weeks and months in summer. It’s supposed to be warm, dry and sunny...
Rain is the thing to mess up whole weeks and months in summer. It’s supposed to be warm, dry and sunny...
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Sorry to hear you've not been well. It's good you got out and felt well. And crappy to have that kind of vehicle misadventure abort the photo mission... I'm glad you got through it with no further issues, just the PITA of having to nurse the car home and have it repaired.
Eh? Stuff happens, and you were well enough to handle it as best possible, so that's something to be happy about!
I've got to get my head around going out with a pointed intent to do a photo session; too much time "out and just wandering about looking for photo ops" for me. That to me is the true joy in your adventure: You were well enough to have something in mind to achieve and tried to make it happen. That bodes well...
Onwards, always onwards!
G
Eh? Stuff happens, and you were well enough to handle it as best possible, so that's something to be happy about!
I've got to get my head around going out with a pointed intent to do a photo session; too much time "out and just wandering about looking for photo ops" for me. That to me is the true joy in your adventure: You were well enough to have something in mind to achieve and tried to make it happen. That bodes well...
Onwards, always onwards!
G
AlwaysOnAuto
Well-known
Sorry to hear that adventure got cut short.
Inquiring minds want to know, how fast were you going when you hit that slab?
That is some serious tire damage to say the least.
As for me, with my recent heart surgery they don't even want me changing a tire any more so I'd be up the proverbial creek without a paddle in your situation. I hate the idea of being reliant on someone else to keep me going when I'm on a road trip.
Inquiring minds want to know, how fast were you going when you hit that slab?
That is some serious tire damage to say the least.
As for me, with my recent heart surgery they don't even want me changing a tire any more so I'd be up the proverbial creek without a paddle in your situation. I hate the idea of being reliant on someone else to keep me going when I'm on a road trip.
zuiko85
Veteran
What a day! Sure, in my 72 years I’ve had the occasional car break down, but not in a wilderness! Good that the kindness of strangers helped out, some day, in some way you may be able to help a stranger in distress. Nice to see people like that right on this forum.
charjohncarter
Veteran
I once went on a 3 hour fishing trip with a friend, but two flats later it ended up 28 hours. No phones in those days but being 19 at the time my parents thought it was normal. The final jolt was no fish, and my friend never got skunked.
farlymac
PF McFarland
I've got to get my head around going out with a pointed intent to do a photo session; too much time "out and just wandering about looking for photo ops" for me. That to me is the true joy in your adventure: You were well enough to have something in mind to achieve and tried to make it happen. That bodes well...
Onwards, always onwards!
G
I'm living the dream!
PF
farlymac
PF McFarland
Somewhere between 15 and 20mph. I had just dodged one rock and saw this one coming at the last instant and thought I had it clear, but it was not to be. Surprised it didn't smash the rear tire too. I know what you mean about the heart stuff. I have an implanted monitor to keep track of mine.
PF
farlymac
PF McFarland
Yeah, the weather is what prompted me to go on a mini-adventure. The wildfire smoke had cleared up, and rain was in the forecast for the next day, so I figured it was as good a time as any. When I came back down from Mountain Lake I could see the haze building up again, and as I drove along the back roads the clouds built up too. So I was toward the end of the good weather period of the day when the incident happened.
PF
Timmyjoe
Veteran
Hey PF, sorry to hear about your "rocky" adventure, but glad you're recovering from the serious medical issues.
I might have a "Things that can mess up your whole day" tale to give you a run for your money. Spent the last couple weeks planning and packing my motorcycle for a 2000 mile round trip to Sturgis this week. Was supposed to go last year but Covid kept me away. Headed out in the beautiful Sunday morning sunshine and all looked great. Got on I-90 (an absolute nightmare on a motorbike here in Chicago, but not too bad on a Sunday morning) and was cruising along at 75mph when all the idiot lights on my Speedo started flashing, the Speedo needle started swinging wildly back and forth, then pop, everything on the gauge shut off. No traction control, no ABS, no speed indication, no gear indication, zippo. Luckily the bike kept running long enough for me to make it to an exit and into a Guitar Center parking lot, before it completely died. Also I was lucky I had my tools and diagnostic gear with me (alway on long road trips) and after nearly half an hour I got the bike running again and limped it back to the house. So there goes the trip to Sturgis, and naturally the bike's warranty expired in June.
But I didn't die, and I was able to limp the bike back to the house, so I'll spend the day doing research on the internet, posting to this forum, and trying to figure out how to fix it; instead of riding the beautiful roads in Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota.
Best,
-Tim
I might have a "Things that can mess up your whole day" tale to give you a run for your money. Spent the last couple weeks planning and packing my motorcycle for a 2000 mile round trip to Sturgis this week. Was supposed to go last year but Covid kept me away. Headed out in the beautiful Sunday morning sunshine and all looked great. Got on I-90 (an absolute nightmare on a motorbike here in Chicago, but not too bad on a Sunday morning) and was cruising along at 75mph when all the idiot lights on my Speedo started flashing, the Speedo needle started swinging wildly back and forth, then pop, everything on the gauge shut off. No traction control, no ABS, no speed indication, no gear indication, zippo. Luckily the bike kept running long enough for me to make it to an exit and into a Guitar Center parking lot, before it completely died. Also I was lucky I had my tools and diagnostic gear with me (alway on long road trips) and after nearly half an hour I got the bike running again and limped it back to the house. So there goes the trip to Sturgis, and naturally the bike's warranty expired in June.
But I didn't die, and I was able to limp the bike back to the house, so I'll spend the day doing research on the internet, posting to this forum, and trying to figure out how to fix it; instead of riding the beautiful roads in Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota.
Best,
-Tim
Dralowid
Michael
...ever opened the back of the camera when not thinking? A film photographers messed day...
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
PF, I do hope good weather returns around your place, and you get to make the trip you planned!
Tim, oh no! Is this a (hopefully short) delay, or did you have limited time reserved for your trip?
AlwaysOnAuto
Well-known
Tim, if that had happened to me when I was riding I would have counted myself lucky it didn't happen out in the middle of nowhere.
farlymac
PF McFarland
Ah, Sturgis! Yeah, that is a road trip to experience, Tim. I won't be doing it on a bike though. Got turned off from them back in '72 and never again had the urge to get one. But I do understand the thrill of riding one. Hope it doesn't take too much to get yours back in running order.
PF
PF
Timmyjoe
Veteran
Had a limited amount of time, so not sure it's gonna happen this year.
I do, but on an early Sunday morning, every place feels like the middle of nowhere. I was so lucky to get it running enough to get it back home as the local dealer doesn't open again until Tuesday and I didn't want to leave it in the Guitar Center parking lot for two days.
Best,
-Tim
Timmyjoe
Veteran
I rode Chicago to Sturgis in 2012, '13 & '14 and this was going to probably be my last ride out. At 64 I'm starting to feel a little old for the long cross country solo rides.
Best,
-Tim
bluesun267
Well-known
As I read your story I was anticipating something much worse. I'm glad you made it out safely and here's wishing you many more productive future photo adventures!
farlymac
PF McFarland
Here's the result of the repairs, four brand new Generals.
Repairs Done by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Why four you ask? Well, with an all-wheel-drive system you need to have the tires equal in circumference or it un-balances the system resulting in damage to the drive train. So unless I could have gotten one new tire shaved to match my 25,000 mile set, that means having to replace all four. I was planning on dumping the Michelin's at some time or another anyway, just not this soon. Budgetary constraints meant not getting the Firestone's I wanted, but after comparing tread patterns I think I'll like these better. They're already quieter than the Michelin's were, and have a better snow rating.
PF
Repairs Done by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Why four you ask? Well, with an all-wheel-drive system you need to have the tires equal in circumference or it un-balances the system resulting in damage to the drive train. So unless I could have gotten one new tire shaved to match my 25,000 mile set, that means having to replace all four. I was planning on dumping the Michelin's at some time or another anyway, just not this soon. Budgetary constraints meant not getting the Firestone's I wanted, but after comparing tread patterns I think I'll like these better. They're already quieter than the Michelin's were, and have a better snow rating.
PF