November 13, 2013
Anaconda, MT 132,654.1 (106.8 miles)
Today we made a side trip to Anaconda, MT to see a new friend and fellow bus owner Mitch G. and his family. Mitch offered to help me diagnose the issues affecting Sandy right now, that being a rough idle that stalls out and will not restart.
So away we went, using the heal toe method to keep the RPMs up get out of Missoula, MT and work our way a bit South East and up! And Up and Up!
If I thought we were up there yesterday, well today proved to that to be wrong. We were well over 1000′ above where we were yesterday. In fact, we hit 6,452 feet above sea level today as we crossed over the mountain working our way up to Georgetown Lake on MT-1, but I’m getting ahead of myself.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7wfh567WlpM/UoRZFi9Y5-I/AAAAAAAAC_o/eF1-NtsfiYs/s144-c-o/DSC06712.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundAndDownDay402#5945975359854405602″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”DSC06712.JPG” pe2_img_align=”right” ] When we left the RV Park we immediately got onto I-90 as I-90 and US-12 merged there. First thing I see are the beautiful mountains that reveal such a contrast to the human eye. On once side of the mountain, it is stark brown and a few Evergreen Trees scattered here and there, but on the exact opposite side you have lush green forests full of Evergreens. It all depends on which side is the rain side or rather sunny or shady side.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ltm0IbGiLFs/UoRZo2GXNrI/AAAAAAAADA4/Qli9nfSOKps/s144-c-o/DSC06722.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundAndDownDay402#5945975966287738546″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”DSC06722.JPG” ] As I did not want to take a chance getting stuck on the side of I-90, I did not stop for photo ops, but rather took pics while driving and I was taking a lot of pictures. Montana is currently tied with Wyoming as my favorite Mountain State as it simply looks like I picture the Wild Wild West to be.
Mitch had told me about a scenic route to his house on MT-1 and when I came across it, I took it. I am so glad I did too because from I-90, I could see snow capped mountains way in the distance. I was hoping, but not sure if we’d be crossing those mountains and sure enough we were.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VQQYgATMSfo/UoRah-lLYRI/AAAAAAAADC4/KEg05UQokQ0/s144-c-o/DSC06738.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundAndDownDay402#5945976947817013522″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”DSC06738.JPG” pe2_img_align=”right” ] MT-1 is a gentle upgrade similar to Lolo Pass and very opposite of the Cascades I hit a few days earlier. On these last two Passes, I was able to hold speed in 4th gear the entire climb until we hit one big switch back where I downshifted to third. The views from being up this high on a clear day such as today were simply amazing. I am quite sure Lexie was wondering why Daddy was grinning for an hour straight.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3sVkOhARXe0/UoRap-DeQnI/AAAAAAAADDI/IlusoF_9Ry8/s144-c-o/DSC06740.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundAndDownDay402#5945977085114598002″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”DSC06740.JPG” pe2_img_align=”none” ] [pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sUVXLhJBynI/UoRYgYR4tMI/AAAAAAAAC-g/c-7EcxpJ2xQ/s144-c-o/1113131323b.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundAndDownDay402#5945974721332425922″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”1113131323b.jpg” pe2_img_align=”none” ]
We pulled into Anaconda, MT just after noon and it is a quaint little town that not too many people know about or pass through, but they should as its quite nice here and that lake…Georgetown Lake….that should be a sailors paradise as the wind was strong a mile up! I pulled down Mitch’s street and immediately saw a yellow Squareback sitting on the street and just knew I was in the right spot. Later Mitch and his wife introduced me to their Westy sitting in the garage.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vdmZOOlh8Vc/UoRYtNGNkZI/AAAAAAAAC-s/jC4cARTcogE/s144-c-o/1113131722.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundAndDownDay402#5945974941668970898″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”1113131722.jpg” pe2_img_align=”right” ] We set up Sandy and then got to work doing some troubleshooting steps as Mitch walked me through them one by one. While we did not accomplish fixing anything today, we did rule out a number of issues. Tomorrow Mitch will teach me how to set the valves and make sure they are good as they are due for a check. Colin also gave us some tips on making some adjustments since we are up so high (a mile high to be exact) and see if that solves anything.
So off to be we go…our low for tonight here is expected to be 25* and I can feel the cold penetrating the uninsulated bus already. We just may be running the Buddy Heater all night, though I am hoping we can get bye with just the electric one as its much safer.
Till tomorrow.
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