Goin' for a Little Ride

[smartnhappy]

I'm planning to go on a 'driveabout'..... the Canadian equivalent of an Australian 'walkabout'. :drive:It'll be an unofficial 'Whatever-MPG Challenge'. Everything will be stock..... tires, tire pressures, vehicle weight, driving habits, etc.I hope to post my progress, status and mileage figures as I go. I plan to leave London, Ontario on or about Saturday, May 07th to Sault Ste. Marie, on to Thunder Bay (08th), to Brandon (09th), to Medicine Hat (10th), to Calgary (couple of days - 11th & 12th), to Kamloops (13th), to Vancouver for about a week (14th to 20th), to Vancouver Island (a few days - 21st to 23rd), then wander back to Ontario via an as-yet unplanned route.I've got friends and/or relatives to mooch off of in Calgary and Vancouver.I plan to visit Flying Tiger in Vancouver one day for some service and stuff.I'd like to meet fellow Smarties in any or all of the cities I plan on stopping in, either for breakfast, dinner or just coffee. My schedule isn't etched in concrete yet, but it's fairly firm. It's the plan I'm shooting for.Let me know if meeting up is possible anywhere along my trek.Love to meet y'all.

[bilgladstone]

I'll be watching your progress. Depending how things go your end and mine, I might be up for a run up to Kamloops!Bil

[MikeT]

Excellent, please post in the Vancouver Island sub forum when you know when you might be getting here. We will have a get together in your honour.

[Schwalli]

Great idea!

[smart_fan]

Have a fabulous trip! Be ready for some snow on the way, especially in Alberta and parts of BC--I've never crossed the Rockies in May without driving through some of the white stuff. I'm starting to think it is some kind of curse Enjoy!Laura

[smartnhappy]

I'll be off and running as of Friday morning.... a day earlier than planned. I must be eager to get going.Plans are....London to Sault Ste. Marie on Friday the 6thSaturday (7th)... to Thunder BaySunday (8th)... to Brandon ManitobaMonday (9th)... to Medicine HatTuesday (10th)... into Calgary for a couple of days (meet some local car owners?)Thursday (12th)... to Kelona BC (maybe hook up with Bil Gladstone?)Friday (13th)... to Vancouver (maybe meet up with some local Smarties?). Plan some work, accessories and maybe a re-map.Over to the Island at some point for a few days (meet with Mike and some of the local group?)Back to Vancouver for the 19thHead back around the 22nd, taking the northern USA route.I'm packing 3 x 4 litre jugs of local Ontario maple syrup for a friend in Calgary and some original art works for another friend in BC.It's a lot of driving and maybe a bit overly-optimistic in daily goals, but we'll see.Should be an adventure.

[bilgladstone]

Will you be able to post updates to the forum in transit?I will hope to meet you on the 12fth in Kelowna.Bil

[Huronlad]

Safe trip, Bill.

[smartnhappy]

Will you be able to post updates to the forum in transit?

Hope to be able to do so daily.

Safe trip, Bill.

Thanks, kindly. Edited May 6, 2011 by smartnhappy

[smart142]

Bon voyage! I did a similar trip 2 years ago with my daughter and absolutely loved it!

[Shirl]

Enjoy and safe travel. Bill and I went on a drive about and had a blast.

[MikeT]

See you on the extreme west coast soon!

[smartnhappy]

Friday @ 9:30PM.... made it to Sault Ste. Marie. The first leg is on track.Battled 30 to 50 km head winds from Flint to the Soo.... most of the trip.ScanGuage shows 4.2 l/100km for the day (about 33 litres total). Car working very well.Toll at the Macinack bridge is $3.50 US, but they charge $4.40 Canadian, a 20 % premium... those bas***ds.Hell of a boring drive... nothing to see. Devided highway virtually the entire way. I only fell asleep a couple of times.I'll never again complain about the quality of the roads in Ontario.Some of what Michigan calls highways would barely qualify as trail-quality in Ontario... absolutely terrible condition.I thought my little car was going to loose it's front suspension, or at very least, it's dentures!!Long sleep tonight, fuel-up in the morning and off to Thunder Bay.I'll post accurate stats when I calculate them.Cheers

[cneuf802]

My wife and I work in Virden Manitoba, about 45min west of Brandon. If you pm me your likely time of arrival on Sunday we "might" be able to meet you for coffee at the Virden Tim Horton's. It's just off the highway on the west side of Virden. I say "might" as the highways we can take to work are getting few and far between due to the flooding Assiniboine. In fact we are down to on one highway for North / South access and it might flood over before the end of the weekend.

Here is a link Manitoba Highways Conditions map. IT is usally updated fairly often just so you're aware of what's going on flood wise in Manitoba

http://roaddata.gov.mb.ca/map/gmap/map.asp...49.8&zoom=9

Safe Travel

Chris

[smartnhappy]

Thanks for the link Chris.Plans changed and I'm staying in Winnipeg Sunday night.Unfortunately I don't know what time on Monday I'll be going thru your neck of the woods, but if you're available during the day and interested, you can PM me a number and I'll try to call on my way thru. I'm on the road at 519-872-1199.If not, oh well, we tried.Cheers (and stay dry), Bill

[smartnhappy]

Second stint was Saturday from Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay.Terrific trip with perfect weather, very little traffic and NO wind.What a wonderful drive. Scenery is so stark, bold and unspoiled, unlike Michigan... nothing but billboards along the entire route. From the 'old' Laurentian mountains (grade 5 geography?) to Lake Gitchagoomie (?) (Superior), you've got it all.The locals said there were no bugs and no tourists this time of year, but it sure wasn't tourists splattered all over my windshield.Drove non-stop from Wawa to Thunder Bay... 480 km... 5 hours... one tank. Amazing what caffeine will do to a decaf drinker.Tomorrow I'm trying Red Bull !! I may drive non-stop all the way to the coast.Car's working perfectly. No oil consumption at all. Tire pressure @ 30 psi. Scanguage showed 4.2 l/100km again today over 2 tanks, good considering the mountainous ('old', remember) terrain.Most of the route was posted @ 90 kph. I averaged somewhere around 95 to 100 kph.Yesterday's US speed posting was 70MPH most of the way, and I probably averaged around 110 kph with the head winds.My plan is NOT to maximize mileage but just report on my real-world stats, with no special prep, steel wheels, sails or grappling hooks for passing trucks Sunday's plan is from Thunder Bay to Winnipeg, if it hasn't floated away by then.Ever westward,Bill

[bilgladstone]

I did Red Bull for awhile but switched to that little "Five Hour Energy" shot. It's mostly high-density B vitamins plus the same caffeine as one strong coffee, and a few other pretty natural ingredients. Less fluid volume than a can of RB too, so you don't have to make so many pee-breaks Plus no energy crash once it wears off.

2cts

[adelaide J]

Hi BillIf you take your time coming home there is a smart gathering at the Dells Wisconsin the weekend of June 10-11-12. Elaine & I will be there but I think you will be home by then. Have a great time on your trip John & Elaine

[cneuf802]

Just a heads up about the weather in manitoba as you pass through. There is a significant rain event in the forecast over the next couple days. We're expecting 40 to 60mm of rain throughout southern manitoba. So you're probably going to get wet and encounter some wind passing through on Monday.

Also the city of Brandon has declared a state of emergency. The river is rising fast and there are worries about the dikes holding or not. So there may be a lot of activity when you pass through. If you have some extra time and the traffic isn't too bad you can drive into town by going south on 18th street for a look. The water is almost 6 feet high next to the super sandbag dike.

You can see pictures here: http://www.ebrandon.ca/photo.aspx?picture_id=20171

And aerial photos here: http://www.ebrandon.ca/photo.aspx?picture_id=20108

As far as energy drinks I find that Grape flavored NOS (blue bottle with purple cap) works really well for me and tastes better than alot of the other energy drinks. Redbull does nothing for me

We are going to be in Neepawa Monday around noon (chasing down the snap-on tool dealer for and E18 socket to do the brakes monday) . Depending on what time you come through brandon we might be able to meet for coffee at the Tim's in Brandon on the highway.

I'll pm you our number.

Chris and Lynn

[smartnhappy]

Arrived in Winnipeg around 6PM local time, just before a thunder storm with another downpour (as if they need any more rain here!).Great day's ride again, showing 4.2 l/100km for the day again over 2 fill-ups, averaging about 110 kph all day.Still no oil consumption, and everything working fine.Once again very little traffic en route. I'll tell you, this IS the time of year to travel central Canada.Scenery from the Manitoba border to Winnipeg is the same as when I lived out here in 1958... non existent! Flat as hell.Tried a Red Bull... nothing, so I'm going back to Tim's regular brew. At least I know the effect, and it's the cheapest option.Will contact Chris and Lynn on my way thru Brandon area tomorrow, and Maybe hook up for a coffee (high-test, of course).Next stop will be Regina, Swift Current or Medicine Hat, then into Calgary to visit friends and have a little break from driving.Maybe even treat L'il Toot to a car wash (I know Glenn would be washing his every night before tucking it in).Cheers.

[HIGH IQ]

Bill:Welcome to Winnipeg.Looking forward to meeting you later this evening. I will also try to reach other smart owners to see if they are available for coffee.Ron

[smartnhappy]

I got a call from Ron, above (HIGH IQ) out of the blue to get together for a coffee. He saw my cell # listed earlier. He's been watching my adventure unfold and didn't want a 'fellow Smartie' passing thru the Winnipeg area unheralded.He picked up coffees (decaf for me, of course) and came right to my motel.This gentleman typifies the friendly, welcoming nature of so many Smart car owners I've met over the years.We're very different people, but with a surprising amount in common when it comes to our vehicles.To take time out to drive across town at night to meet a complete stranger says a lot about Ron, and I thank him very much for the hospitality.As per his request, if my return trip brings me back thru Canada, I'll certainly let him and the local club know. I'd like to meet them all.Thanks for the friendly welcome.

[smartnhappy]

Tuesday from Winnipeg to Swift Current, Sask.840 Km @ 105 vs 100 kph limit in Manitoba, and 110 vs 110 kph limit in Sask.Brutal head and cross winds (30, gusting to 60 kph reported) caused 5.0 l/100k Scanguage reading today (yuk!).Fill-ups of 14.2 and 17.0 litres, plus maybe 6 litres out of a 3rd fill-up. Headwinds suck!!Stopped in Brandon hoping to meet up with cneuf802 - Chris and Lynn Neufeld (?), but they had to travel north and weren't able to when I went through.Wasn't meant to be. Oh well, maybe on the way back, I hope.Topped up with about ½ pint of oil today, just to be kind to L'il Toot and keep the stick at the 'top'. All else is A-OK.3,018 Km from London to Swift Current... and my ass is still attached. Actually the car is amazingly comfortable.Calgary tomorrow and overnight at a friend's place (yay, free!), then travelling to Kelowna for Wednesday night.Bil Gladstone.... if you or anyone else in Kelowna is around and up for a coffee Wednesday night, leave me notice - PM, respond here or my cell# above.I look forward to some home cooking and good coffee (either!).Cheers.

[cneuf802]

Sorry we missed you for coffee I needed to travel north east instead today in order to track down the snap-on tool dealer for an E-18 socket for the brakes. I couldn't find one anywhere else. We really hope to catch you on the way back. Either in Virden or Brandon. Assuming of course that we can get to either one through the flood waters :)Safe travel Chris and Lynn

[bilgladstone]

Tuesday from Winnipeg to Swift Current, Sask.840 Km @ 105 vs 100 kph limit in Manitoba, and 110 vs 110 kph limit in Sask.Brutal head and cross winds (30, gusting to 60 kph reported) caused 5.0 l/100k Scanguage reading today (yuk!).Fill-ups of 14.2 and 17.0 litres, plus maybe 6 litres out of a 3rd fill-up. Headwinds suck!!Stopped in Brandon hoping to meet up with cneuf802 - Chris and Lynn Neufeld (?), but they had to travel north and weren't able to when I went through.Wasn't meant to be. Oh well, maybe on the way back, I hope.Topped up with about ½ pint of oil today, just to be kind to L'il Toot and keep the stick at the 'top'. All else is A-OK.3.018 Km from London to Swift Current... and my ass is still attached. Actually the car is amazingly comfortable.Calgary tomorrow and overnight at a friend's place (yay, free!), then travelling to Kelowna for Wednesday night.Bil Gladstone.... if you or anyone else in Kelowna is around and up for a coffee Wednesday night, leave me notice - PM, respond here or my cell# above.I look forward to some home cooking and good coffee (either!).Cheers.

I will very much try to clear the decks for you on Wednesday evening. Will call on your cell as it gets closer.Do you know where you will be staying and time you might arrive? I think I might be able to hook you up with a free overnight - and possibly some home cooking Bil