Road trip: California-Utah-Washington

[luckymike]

We’re taking the E420 on a little walk about. Headed to Utah first for a family reunion. Then we’ll head to Washington and finally south back to the San Francisco area.

I hope to update this thread as we go along, but if I’m having too much fun or get distracted, I might have to just throw a few pictures up at the end.

Note the handy nav system.

Anyone need a red Hot Wheels 500e? Who knew a Smith’s drugstore in Gardnerville, NV would have so many? I’ll send them for the price of postage. I have four to give away, keeping one for myself.

In Tonopah, NV, today. Car is running great and is happy. And I’m definitely in my happy place.

 

[Jlaa]

What a great trip …. I love that area around Tonopah!!

If you have an extra red hot wheels when you get back, I’d love to have one if you would be so inclined! Thank you!

 

[gsxr]

Beautiful country - looks like a fantastic road trip! That's Garnet Red on the E420, right? What a great color. Crazy about all the red Hot Wheels in Nowhere, NV... LOL. I see you really are taking the scenic route from the Bay to Utah. No boring I-80 through the desert!

 

[luckymike]

What a great trip …. I love that area around Tonopah!!

If you have an extra red hot wheels when you get back, I’d love to have one if you would be so inclined! Thank you!

I’ll put your name on one of them!

 

[luckymike]

Beautiful country - looks like a fantastic road trip! That's Garnet Red on the E420, right? What a great color. Crazy about all the red Hot Wheels in Nowhere, NV... LOL. I see you really are taking the scenic route from the Bay to Utah. No boring I-80 through the desert!

It’s Almondine. Looks really good in the sun.

Absolutely. No I-80 for me. No I-15, no I-5. I’d rather extend a trip by an hour and enjoy a more relaxed, beautiful drive. We love the roads less traveled. Less police, higher speeds, fewer cars. It’s fantastic!

 

[a777fan]

Safe travels Mike! If you come through Seattle, you’ll have to stop by.

 

[luckymike]

Safe travels Mike! If you come through Seattle, you’ll have to stop by.

Hey Jon! I hope to get over your way to see you and magicbigdaddy. I also have a cousin nearby in Edmonds. We’ll see!

 

[036]

More pics please

 

[TerryA]

@luckymike, Mike, It looks like your having a great time. I agree on the less traveled roads. Much more to see. It’s a big world out there try to see as much as you can.

Take Care

 

[gerryvz]

I would love to purchase one of the Hot Wheels if you have a spare. Hit me up when you return.

Best,
Gerry

 

[luckymike]

I would love to purchase one of the Hot Wheels if you have a spare. Hit me up when you return.

Best,
Gerry

OK, Gerry. You get number two.

 

[luckymike]

More pics please

Haha! We’ll try, 036.

 

[cascade]

Haha! We’ll try, 036.

Remember my rule: "Pics or it didn't happen."

@nocfn

 

[luckymike]

We are staying at the Mizpah Hotel in Tonopah. Our room feels like we are in a Wild Wild West episode. When the Chinese restaurant allows smoking, and you come from the San Francisco Bay area where you’re not used to that, you just eat in the car. And who doesn’t love a gratuitous Remus shot?

 

[luckymike]

Remember my rule: "Pics or it didn't happen."

@nocfn

Hello to Jim from the great beyond! I’m sure you’re happy to see your beloved Red Plum getting some well-deserved exercise.

 

[The Emperor]

Hello to Jim from the great beyond! I’m sure you’re happy to see your beloved Red Plum getting some well-deserved exercise.

Since joining me on the dark side, @cascade's powers have grown so that he is now a Force Ghost and can make appearances at will.

 

[luckymike]

Tonopah honors their military. We visited the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project. It’s 10 miles off the highway out in the desert. 540 foot tall tower, 10,000 solar collectors. Interesting. And oddly, there was this cool Mercedes out there, too.

 

[Jlaa]

Tonopah honors their military. We visited the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project. It’s 10 miles off the highway out in the desert. 540 foot tall tower, 10,000 solar collectors. Interesting. And oddly, there was this cool Mercedes out there, too.

I don't know anything about this technology, but thanks for posting - I find it fascinating that "cold" salt at 550F is used to absorb heat to turn into "hot" salt at >1000F to run a steam turbine. I wonder how the efficacy compares to photovoltaic electricity generation.

 

[a777fan]

I don't know anything about this technology, but thanks for posting - I find it fascinating that "cold" salt at 550F is used to absorb heat to turn into "hot" salt at >1000F to run a steam turbine. I wonder how the efficacy compares to photovoltaic electricity generation.

And seriously, what metals are the hot and cold salt circuits made of?

 

[luckymike]

I was wondering that too, a777fan. I read they used stainless steel. I guess they know what they’re doing but I didn’t think even that would hold up.

 

[Jlaa]

And seriously, what metals are the hot and cold salt circuits made of?

I was wondering that too, a777fan. I read they used stainless steel. I guess they know what they’re doing but I didn’t think even that would hold up.

Thanks Gents! This led me down a rathole --- I haven't thought of nuclear reactor design types ever since I took an elective in nuclear engineering in undergrad. I knew that knowledge which had completely left my brain 5 minutes after the final exam would come handy one day!!! (yes extremely nerdy)

So here ---- sodium-cooled-fast-reactors - https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/sodium-cooled-fast-reactor use Austenitic stainless steel. From here: Austenitic stainless steel - Wikipedia it mentions that Types 309 and 310 are utilized in high temp applications greater than 800 °C.

For what it is worth, this passage in the first link makes me feel like I'm reading something from Star-Trek and I have no idea what I am reading.

Sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) hexagonal wrapper tubes are designed to operate in the temperature range of 400–600°C under a high neutron flux of 1015 n/cm2/s. Austenitic stainless steel presently used for the wrapper tubes undergoes significant dimensional changes in terms of bowing of the fuel subassemblies due to differential void swelling originating from the uneven distribution of neutron flux and temperature in the reactor core. These dimensional changes result in severe fuel-handling problems, thereby restricting the fuel burn-up. In order to achieve a high fuel burn-up, ferritic-martensitic steels with inherent void swelling resistance are under active consideration for wrapper applications in future SFRs. However, irradiation-induced degradation in fracture properties in terms of the increase in ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) and decrease in the upper shelf energy (USE) are a matter of major concern for ferritic-martensitic steels [36]. The SiCf/SiC composite has a lower neutron-induced swelling, excellent creep behavior at high temperature and good compatibility with liquid sodium....

@luckymike, I mean Scotty ---- beam me up on your trip through Tonopah! ..... just maybe don't go to Tonopah Area 52.

 

[gsxr]

I posted some pics of our 034 out in the wild in a different thread (click here) so as not to clutter up the Almandine Road Trip Digest.

 

[luckymike]

I posted some pics of our 034 out in the wild in a different thread (click here) so as not to clutter up the Almandine Road Trip Digest.

Thanks, gsxr. Beautiful pics. I like your comment about Yellowstone being painted in 702 Metallic.

 

[luckymike]

UPDATE:

You know, the W124 cabin is a wonderful place to be. So efficient, so comfortable. It's so nice to be out on the open road, gobbling up interstate highway, all of the car's systems functioning in perfect harmony, that wonderful exhaust note, the scenery. Just fabulous.

-- Speed limit 70mph. Ahahahaha! Stock photo of a fun speed.
-- Shortly after a satisfying speed run, not to exceed 70mph, we came across this guy. I've been on plenty of "Open Range" roads but never actually seen any animals out on the road.

 

[luckymike]

Because Highway 6 isn't remote enough, between Tonopah and Ely, NV, we took a 6+ mile dirt road drive out to the Lunar Crater. So much for a fairly clean car. Speaking of car systems working perfectly, I've never been more proud of a cooling system. Both low and high speed fans are working in perfect concert with the temp gauge. This in spite of there being only about six strands of copper wire left at the fender-mounted resistor. Just before the trip I installed the Klink quarter-sized hole in the back of the left headlight to assist resistor cooling.

What a relief to get back to asphalt. But the Plum was totally competent on the horrible, washboard road.

Poor man’s SLS. Nice to get the ride height leveled out.

 

[luckymike]

Welcome to Utah!

Don't you love putting faces to names? Connected with Jason, a forum acquaintance, in Layton, UT. Jason treated the Plum to a free car wash at one of his three locations.

Jason's very handsome 85 500SEL. The absolute perfect stance.

 

[luckymike]

Welcome to Eden, UT. Very green hills. Alpine feel. Perfect temp.

Family dinner at I.D.K. Barbeque.

Anyone else love Scotcheroos?

 

[sheward]

I agree, the SEL is looking perfect. I really like brown as a car color. Your 034 looks perfect as well. Enjoying the trip thru your pics. I've never heard of a Scotcheroo, but I'm damn sure I like them.

 

[luckymike]

I agree, the SEL is looking perfect. I really like brown as a car color. Your 034 looks perfect as well. Enjoying the trip thru your pics. I've never heard of a Scotcheroo, but I'm damn sure I like them.

Thanks, sheward. The car is VERY happy. I'll tell him of your compliment. Stay tuned for a picture of after the car wash.

Scotcheroos are kind of like Rice Crispy treats but with some peanut butter and the chocolate layer. You would definitely like them.

 

[InOverMyHead1*]

Because Highway 6 isn't remote enough, between Tonopah and Ely, NV, we took a 6+ mile dirt road drive out to the Lunar Crater. So much for a fairly clean car. Speaking of car systems working perfectly, I've never been more proud of a cooling system. Both low and high speed fans are working in perfect concert with the temp gauge. This in spite of there being only about six strands of copper wire left at the fender-mounted resistor. Just before the trip I installed the Klink quarter-sized hole in the back of the left headlight to assist resistor cooling.

What a relief to get back to asphalt. But the Plum was totally competent on the horrible, washboard road.

Poor man’s SLS. Nice to get the ride height leveled out.

So, THAT'S where all that dust came from....

 

[InOverMyHead1*]

Welcome to Utah!

Don't you love putting faces to names? Connected with Jason, a forum acquaintance, in Layton, UT. Jason treated the Plum to a free car wash at one of his three locations.

Jason's very handsome 85 500SEL. The absolute perfect stance.

It was great to finally meet you and your wonderful wife, Mike. After all the help and advice you gave me getting that ol SEL back on the road after sitting more than 10 years, a quick wash is the least I can do. Steak and a beer or two next time.
Thank you all for the comments on the car! It's my dads. He parked it years ago due to some repairs it needed, and it sat for almost 12 years. He wanted to get rid of it, so my son and I took it and spent the last almost 4 years now getting it back on the road (many thanks to Mike and a whole bunch of others on another forum) with the goal of giving it back to him on his 75th birthday. That is in just over two months from now. I think he'll be happy, even if not everything is completely fixed yet. If anyone is wondering, the stance was achieved with a set of H&R lowering springs and new Bilstein B8 shocks (my sons idea. He was right...)

 

[InOverMyHead1*]

I agree, the SEL is looking perfect. I really like brown as a car color. Your 034 looks perfect as well. Enjoying the trip thru your pics. I've never heard of a Scotcheroo, but I'm damn sure I like them.

Thank you for the compliment. I appreciate it!

 

[luckymike]

Family reunion over. Next stop Fruitland, ID.

-- Ready to leave the 'cabin' in Eden, UT.
-- Leaving Eden
-- Murray, UT mural painted by my talented nephew. Check out his work: Home - DaVinci Works
-- Millstream Classic Car Museum in Willard, UT.

 

[luckymike]

-- A pleasant interstate.
-- An aggravating slow race on the interstate.
-- The wiper decides to stop mid-sweep on our way to the wet Pacific Northwest. Thankfully it was just a loose connector.

 

[luckymike]

More beauty on the way to Bremerton, WA.

 

[luckymike]

-- Bremerton shipyard.
-- View from my sister's house.
-- Visiting our favorite chiropractor. $36 vs. $76 in the San Francisco Bay Area.
-- Minecraft wall in our bedroom.
-- It's not a garage but it's off the street in the backyard. Happy about that.

Bad news. Fired up the car this morning to run some errands. Strange noise from under the hood. Resolved itself so I figured the air pump was going bad. No such luck. Later in the day, horrible screeching coming from under the hood again. Had my wife hit the AC switch while I observed the AC compressor clutch. Sure enough, each time it engaged, sickening sounds. Thanks to offline advice, I've ordered a Denso compressor to be waiting for us when we return home. We'll just finish the trip sans AC. Thankfully it's not a problem that stops the trip. Just an inconvenience.

We'll hang out a few days in Bremerton then on our way out of town, visit the LeMay Car Collection in Tacoma, visit an old friend, visit a Mercedes acquaintance in Vancouver and overnight in Ridgefield, WA.

 

[luckymike]

— Toured the USS Turner Joy today. Renewed respect for our servicemen.
— Hunting and gathering, and enjoying lunch in the car. What a life!

 

[InOverMyHead1*]

Looks like quite the adventure, Mike! Glad the wiper and AC didn't put too much of a damper on the festivities.
Keep posting the awesome updates!

 

[maw1124]

I need. To take. More pictures.

Epic fun looks like it's being had here. Something about 205k on the odo doing 120mph is inspiring, on many levels.

Cheers,

maw

 

[luckymike]

Goodbye Bremerton. Thanks for the great weather.
— Beautiful highways in WA.
— Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Look up “Galloping Gertie”
— Griot’s Garage. We heard they had a small car collection here. Unfortunately for us it was motorcycles this month. “Porsh” next month.

 

[luckymike]

The LeMay Collection, Tacoma. We saw only a small part of it. Very enjoyable.

 

[luckymike]

More LeMay.

Edited. It was late and I didn’t realize I had duplicated pictures. Here are some different ones.

 

[luckymike]

On our way to Ridgefield, WA. Such beauty. Not sure it’s worth the cost of admission, though, with all the rain!

 

[luckymike]

— Port of Ridgefield. Possibly the very essence of serenity. Really nice people here and not a million of them.
— Funny sayings in the old-school hardware store.

Next up, 10-hour drive to Ukiah, CA.

 

[luckymike]

— Leaving Ridgefield. Very nice neighborhood.
— There is just green EVERYWHERE.
— And the highways, wow.
— Still green in way northern CA but getting some brown. And wait for it…
— Welcome to California where we are VERY proud of our gas. 6.90/gal.
— Highway 20 west to…
— Clear lake. Surprisingly affordable homes.

 

[luckymike]

— Daughter‘s neighborhood in Ukiah. Cute.
— The Plum is loving being in a garage.
— A typical scene leaving Ukiah.
— Your tax dollars definitely at work on these super smooth roads approaching San Francisco.

 

[luckymike]

— The tunnel right before…
— THIS.

And we’re home. Some final thoughts tomorrow.

 

[036]

Lovely stuff.

 

[LWB250]

Great trip, Mike!

Even since living there, I never understood the term "northern California", as I always thought of it as places like Redding and Shasta, not the Bay Area.

Truly northern California is a breathtaking and very remote area, something I highly recommend people visit if possible.

Dan

 

[luckymike]

What a fantastic trip. 3,200 miles. Having not done the final top off to get everything accurate: about 142 gallons of premium, about 22.5mpg and just half a quart of oil. A wonderful mix of remote roads, busy interstates, solitude, gathering with family and friends, desert and the lush Pacific Northwest, Safeway sandwiches and homemade meals. An amazing automobile and the perfect road trip partner. My wife helps me keep track of the mileage. See attached pic. Does your copilot draw a little heart for you? I'm a lucky man.

This trip would not have been as enjoyable to me if we took it in, say, a Camry or Accord or whatever. It would have been more tedious than pleasurable. The comfort, the build quality, the sound, the power, the quiet at speed of these older Mercedes is just amazing. And when you visit the LeMay car collection, does one of the workers come over to you and say "That's a nice looking W124 you've got out there" if you're driving a more pedestrian car? No.

The car performed admirably. No idea why the a/c compressor quit. Last thing before the trip (clue??) I had discovered the low side Schrader was leaking. The shop replaced that and topped off the R134 with one pound. The only other issue we had was the wiper quitting mid-sweep. It's something in the connector and I'll dig into that at my leisure since it apparently never rains in California anymore.

We live in a wonderful country. When you take a trip like this, you see many different landscapes and experience many different people in a short amount of time. It's fascinating and wonderful. And all good.

I've enjoyed sharing this trip with all of you and have appreciated the comments along the way.

Reminder, I have one last red Hot Wheels 500e to send out for the cost of shipping.