The Hagarstream is on the road

[Airslide]

Originally Posted by Smartstream

Come on Mike, you're taxing my feeble brain. I had to adjust the damn fan belts and replace a head light bulb this morning. I don't even know where we will camp tomorrow night yet.

I did add a switch so I can run the A/C fan without the compressor to circulate some air up front. If I turn the A/C down so it cycles on and off it squeals the belts every time it cycles on.

Cheers, Dan

I think after checking the fan belts on Lili's rig I decided they were ok.. ugh what a bear that job is. I cant even remember where the adjustment was? Not too hard to tighten but replacing... I needed longer arms...

Glad things are going well for you guys. Love the tour.

Vinnie

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by Airslide

I think after checking the fan belts on Lili's rig I decided they were ok.. ugh what a bear that job is. I cant even remember where the adjustment was? Not too hard to tighten but replacing... I needed longer arms...

Glad things are going well for you guys. Love the tour.

Vinnie

Hey Vinnie, glad you are still lurking around out there.

I don't think changing the belts is as bad as removing the dog house to get to them, especially when traveling and it's covered with maps and misc. junk. The real problem is the A/C belt only goes from the water pump to the compressor and not around the crank. You have to keep the fan/alternator belts extra tight to be able to drive the A/C. It's crazy to cycle on the A/C and watch the fan stop turning as the belts squeal away.

Glad you are enjoying the ride. We finally got into a state with $3.85 diesel. Maybe we can afford to keep going after all. I was getting tired of the $4.00 plus fuel.

Cheers, Dan

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by Smartstream

Hey Vinnie, glad you are still lurking around out there.

I don't think changing the belts is as bad as removing the dog house to get to them, especially when traveling and it's covered with maps and misc. junk. The real problem is the A/C belt only goes from the water pump to the compressor and not around the crank. You have to keep the fan/alternator belts extra tight to be able to drive the A/C. It's crazy to cycle on the A/C and watch the fan stop turning as the belts squeal away.

Glad you are enjoying the ride. We finally got into a state with $3.85 diesel. Maybe we can afford to keep going after all. I was getting tired of the $4.00 plus fuel.

Cheers, Dan

Hi, Dan. My 59 Ford has the A/C compressor running off of the water pump too; I have to make sure my Alternator belt is really tight. I worked on a few Ford Van Bus Conversions and they had Nine belts. They took two people just to adjust them. And it wasn't easy either.

Come on Dan, your fuel is cheap compared to normal California prices, not to mention Alaska and Canada.

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, Dan. My 59 Ford has the A/C compressor running off of the water pump too; I have to make sure my Alternator belt is really tight. I worked on a few Ford Van Bus Conversions and they had Nine belts. They took two people just to adjust them. And it wasn't easy either.

Come on Dan, your fuel is cheap compared to normal California prices, not to mention Alaska and Canada.

Yeah Bob it amazes me how tight the belts have to be to keep them from squealing. In the Airestream I have to kneel behind the engine reaching over the top to pry the alternator out while the wife squeezes in the passenger foot well to try to tighten the clamp bolt enough to hold the belt tension, not fun. My old Jag has a draw bolt on the adjuster. All you do is tighten the draw bolt until the belts feel good and tighten the clamp bolt. No pry bar required. I guess another project for when I get home.

As to the price of fuel in California, Bob that's why I got out of the state. That and taxes and everything else that is overpriced. By the way the diesel here near Atlantic City is $3.59 a gallon.

Cheers, Dan

[Smartstream]

Today we headed over to take a look at the Statue of Liberty. This is the welcome you get as you approach the area.


Yes a toll both. It seems around here you get to pay tolls everywhere you go.

Here are a couple of pics of the New York City skyline.



I guess it's mandatory when in the area to take pictures of the skyline. It was a bit hazy but Irene did her best.

This is a 9/11 monument located in Liberty State Park. A sad reminder.


And here is the lady herself.


They have scheduled some work on the statue next month so parts of the statue will be closed. As a result tickets to the crown have been sold out since mid July. Tickets to the pedestal must be purchased two weeks in advance. Pets are not allowed on the ferry or the island so we looked from the shore at Liberty State Park. It's still enough to send a chill up your spine thinking of all the people she has welcomed to this country.

From here we took the bridge to Staten Island just to say we were in NYC. I was a bit shocked at the $26 toll on the bridge. At least we escaped to the south for free.

We stopped at the AAA for another load of maps and headed for the Garden State Parkway.


It is actually a pretty nice highway and this one cost us $6 all the way to Atlantic City.

We drove around AC and by the casinos.



We are not gamblers so the casinos were just buildings to look at. I have to say I was not impressed by AC. I won't go into details.
On to the campground at Absecon.

Cheers, Dan

[Smartstream]

I've been a bit under the weather for a few days trying to fight off this cold. I'm feeling better now so I'll try to catch up.
We left Absecon and headed down the coast to our first stop to see Lucy.



Lucy is the world's largest elephant. She was built in 1889 as a real estate sales promotion. She has offices inside her body with access by a spiral staircase in each of her back legs. In spite of her age she seems very healthy.

The shoreline has many lovely beaches like this one near Egg Harbor.


We found this light house at Hersford Inlet.


It looks like a normal house for the most part. It was built in 1874.

Miniature golf also seems very popular in the area. We saw many well decorated courses like these.



We arrived at a town called Wildwoods and suddenly we were in the 1950's. The town has an old amusement park and many 50's style motels complete with artificial palm trees.


Everything was amazingly well kept and very inviting. It must be a very popular area as the motels all looked to be fully booked.

As we drove down the coast there were boats and marinas everywhere and many homes with private docks.


At the southern tip of the New Jersey coast we arrived at the Cape May Ferry. Here we boarded the boat for a cruise to Lewes, Delaware.

[Smartstream]

We arrived at Lewes late in the afternoon and decided to head to Washington, DC. It was just getting dark as we crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. I remember when I was stationed here in 1971 the horrific traffic jams on the bridge as people were trying to get to the beaches at Ocean City. Now there are two bridges and we drove the maximum speed limit all the way across.

By the time we reached DC it was raining and the city was alive with people celebrating the weekend. We drove by several of the monuments to see them brightly lit with spotlights. After a bit we headed to our campground on a farm west of the city. The next morning we headed back to DC. The first stop was Arlington. The bridge across the Potomac.


And the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery.


One of our first stops was the tomb of President John F. Kennedy.


From there we went to the Unknown Soldier Amphitheater.


And the single soldier guarding the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.


A soldier guards the tomb 24 hours a day, 365 days a year regardless of the weather. I hope you take a minute to read how the unknown soldiers were chosen. I found it to be very interesting.



Every American should visit Arlington at least once to appreciate the men and women who lost their lives fighting for our freedom.

[TinCrumpet]

Originally Posted by Smartstream

We arrived at Lewes late in the afternoon and decided to head to Washington, DC. It was just getting dark as we crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. I remember when I was stationed here in 1971 the horrific traffic jams on the bridge as people were trying to get to the beaches at Ocean City. Now there are two bridges and we drove the maximum speed limit all the way across.

By the time we reached DC it was raining and the city was alive with people celebrating the weekend. We drove by several of the monuments to see them brightly lit with spotlights. After a bit we headed to our campground on a farm west of the city. The next morning we headed back to DC. The first stop was Arlington. The bridge across the Potomac.
Attachment 141955

And the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery.
Attachment 141956

One of our first stops was the tomb of President John F. Kennedy.
Attachment 141957

From there we went to the Unknown Soldier Amphitheater.
Attachment 141958

And the single soldier guarding the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Attachment 141959

A soldier guards the tomb 24 hours a day, 365 days a year regardless of the weather. I hope you take a minute to read how the unknown soldiers were chosen. I found it to be very interesting.
Attachment 141960
Attachment 141961

Every American should visit Arlington at least once to appreciate the men and women who lost their lives fighting for our freedom.
Attachment 141962

For what its worth..I appreciate it I truly do..I often visit the American Memorial In the Gardens of the Grand Hall near where we live..
I just knew I wouldn't get to the bottom of the read..couldn't see it all for awash with tears..You should go to France that really slams it home..
Love me

[TinCrumpet]

Originally Posted by Smartstream

Today we headed over to take a look at the Statue of Liberty. This is the welcome you get as you approach the area.
Attachment 141328

[CENTER]Cheers, Dan

Ive been there Ive been to New York..I would very much like to go back as I very much like the New York Accent
Cant say were fans of gambling joints by the way

[Mike Leary]

I hope Danny Boy is not having too much fun to realize his window of opportunity to make a run back across country is running low on fuel. One year, we left Nova Scotia on the third week in October westbound and hit winter all the way across the Tran-Can.

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by TinCrumpet

For what its worth..I appreciate it I truly do..I often visit the American Memorial In the Gardens of the Grand Hall near where we live..

I just knew I wouldn't get to the bottom of the read..couldn't see it all for awash with tears..You should go to France that really slams it home..

Love me

I knew you would appreciate it Lili. Take a break and try to read the rest, it really is special.

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by TinCrumpet

Ive been there Ive been to New York..I would very much like to go back as I very much like the New York Accent


Cant say were fans of gambling joints by the way

I find New York to be way too crowded. I grew up and lived and worked all my life in a big city, Los Angeles, and I now prefer to be where there are no crowds and very few people. I guess maybe I'm just getting old.

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by Mike Leary

I hope Danny Boy is not having too much fun to realize his window of opportunity to make a run back across country is running low on fuel. One year, we left Nova Scotia on the third week in October westbound and hit winter all the way across the Tran-Can.

That may be the issue Mikey my friend, I don't plan on making a run anywhere. I'm moving at a leisurely saunter if anything.

We are in Virginia about to head down the Shenandoah Valley into the Great Smokey Mountains. No sign of Mr Winter around here.

Cheers my friend, Dan

[Smartstream]

Back to our regular tour, we crossed the Potomac into DC and proceeded to drive around in circles until Irene got all her desired pictures of the monuments and points of interest.

The Lincoln Memorial


The Jefferson Memorial


The Pentagon


The Capitol


The Washington Monument


The World War II Memorial


The White House


The Chinatown Friendship Archway


The National Cathedral


I could post more but I feel bad enough about posting the tax draining White House, Capitol and Pentagon that I couldn't bring myself to post things like the IRS and EPA buildings

Cheers, Dan

[Smartstream]

Last Monday we went south to Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. We didn't actually tour the estate as it has become a very commercialized operation. There are two massive gift shops, a high end restaurant and a food court. We instead went down the street a few miles and toured Washington's grist mill and distillery. The original buildings are gone but several years ago the foundations were discovered and the buildings were rebuilt on the original foundations.

The grist mill

Is a Oliver Evans design that connects all the machines from elevators to move grain and flour from floor to floor, to grinding stones, to packaging to one continuous process powered by the single water wheel. This is the only mill of this design in operation in the world today.

A docent explains the operation.


This mechanism increases the speed of the grind stones 17 times faster than the speed of the water wheel.


This is the distillery


The original distillery produced 4000 gallons of whiskey in it's first year of operation, 1798. In it's second year it produced 11,000 gallons. Here are two of the five stills.


Today they produce about 125 gallons twice a year using the original recipe and process. It is sold in the gift shop and is usually sold out on the day it goes on sale.

After the tour we drove north and found another Hagerstown. They spelled it wrong but Hagar didn't seem to care. Here he enjoys the entrance to the park.


And of coarse the Hagarstream wanted it's picture too.

[Smartstream]

The next day we continued north. You might wonder why turn north, well how's this for a reason.


Chocolate is always as good a reason as any.
Mr. Hershey built a town for his employees to live in while they worked at his factory.


This is one of several Hershey factories in the area.


The street lamps are shaped like the infamous Hershey Kiss.


We took the simulated factory tour and also took a higher education class in chocolate tasting. Naturally we passed.

The real reason for the side trip north was this.


The AACA Hershey Swap-meet, Car Show and Auction. For those not familiar Hershey is the mecca for antique auto collectors. This is the largest such event and people come from all over the world to look for parts and cars. It is really amazing to walk around the area and listen to all the foreign languages being spoken. My cousin sold a car here a few years ago to a guy from Holland.

Hagar looked at this nice Mini panel and thought it might be a bit too small.


We also came across a few vintage campers like this one which I believe is a 1926.


After much drooling I finally decided this one would look real nice in my driveway.


Unfortunately my bank account did not agree. I can always dream.

Cheers, Dan

[Fly at Night]

Love these photo essays.

Thanks so much for sharing!!

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by Fly at Night

Love these photo essays.

Thanks so much for sharing!!

Thanks Fly, I just keep babbling on hoping somebody finds some enjoyment in sharing our adventure.

When we get back on the left coast maybe we'll cross paths. We are really not too far from you.

Cheers, Dan

[Smartstream]

Leaving Hershey we headed toward a bit of history, Gettysburg. On the way however we passed through another must stop at York, Pa.


The Harley Davidson Factory. As an old Harley rider there are some things you just have to do. They have a very nice factory tour and Irene was dreaming about a new ride.


I guess it will have to go on the wish list for awhile.

Back to reality we headed to Gettysburg. This is another stop that brings home the true meaning of being an American.
The Eternal Light Peace Memorial


A few of many Cannon on display around the battlefield.


Looking toward Little Round Top.


This is at The Wheatfield looking down toward Devil's Den


This is the memorial of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address delivered at the dedication of the Soldier's National Cemetery November 19, 1863.


The Soldier's National Monument.


The Fighting at Gettysburg involved 163,000 men fighting for three days. At the end there were 52,000 casualties (killed,wounded,captured and missing). A major event in American History.

[Smartstream]

Saturday we drove the Skyline Drive and the first 100 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. It is more than words can describe so I'll just post a few pictures.





I will say the pavement on the Skyline Drive was absolutely perfect. I did not see a single pothole the entire 106 miles. It was very smooth like it was just paved last week. The Blue Ridge Parkway was also very nice but it was older pavement and did show a little wear in spots

We did adopt this little bear at one of the shops.


We were told that no bear was allowed to leave until it got a Good bye hug from Betty. We waited as Betty came from the office to bid farewell to our little Shannon.

Cheers, Dan